A recent online media event led by the Oregon Trucking Association indicates the challenges facing the freight hauling industry run deeper than many realize.
Oregon Trucking Association president Jana Jarvis, and Combined Transport president Mike Card, touched on the 80,000 national driver shortage and the supply chain snarls. But some were taken aback when Card pointed out the country could face a shortage of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) sensors.
During the virtual meeting, Card indicated the trucking industry is steadily experiencing a DEF sensor shortage. That’s largely because the fluid used in these devices is imported from China and South Korea. Card has been bringing attention to this issue at various forums and had this to say.
“We had a driver. We had a truck. But we couldn’t roll because there were no DEF sensors available,” Card reportedly said. “We tried to get them to give us software, so we could run our trucks without sensors, but it was a mess, and we lost many minutes.”
When DEF sensors lack the required products or malfunction, they typically shut the truck down because it doesn’t appear to comply with emissions standards. Members of Congress such as Sen. Marsha Blackburn have been bringing pressure to bear on the EPA to resolve this very issue. In October, the Tennessee senator worked diligently to prevent the truck shutdowns highlighted by Card.
“I write to express regarding the unavailability of replacement DEF sensors for American truckers. As you know, the global microchip shortage is causing extreme hardship for trucking companies. I urge the Environmental Protection Agency to redouble its efforts to facilitate and approve a software concern solution to quell this dire situation,” Sen. Blackburn reportedly stated in a letter to the EPA. “Time is of the essence. If approved, this would lift a tremendous burden on truckers and motor carriers across the country,”
Although fleet owners and others gained approval to decommission DEF sensors, the software needed continues to be something of a challenge to trucking outfits. Without the fluids and semiconductors used in DEF sensors, efforts to increase smog inspections in California could result in West Coast truckers getting fined or sidelined. Oregon Trucking Association president Jarvis agreed that challenges such as truck inspections and other heightened environmental regulations add stress to the supply chain.
Jarvis indicated they are “a piece of the overall inefficiencies in the trucking industry in general, but it isn’t the contributing factor to the port problems.”
Source: fleetowner.com
If 80,000 more trucks were put on the road, where would we put them. The roads are full and no place to park. Soooo if you have 80,000 more then the slow downs will be greater so nothing moves quicker. I’m lucky I’m not on the road much. Semi retired. Go out just enough to see how lucky I am. Takes lots of $$$$$ to get my truck out of the shed. And I also don’t put up with a lot of the bull, quit doing that 50 years ago. Just saying 80,000 more trucks will only screw things up more, especially when the economy falls, and it will. Been through all that before too.