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Good morning! 

Welcome back to The Highway Hustle, your weekly road map to trucking trends, regulations, and insider tips with a side of sass and a dash of diesel.

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🌐 Global Gears Turning: The trucker employment pool is changing fast. Dive into the world of trucking as it crosses borders and boundaries.

🏛️ Red Tape Roadblocks: Navigating the maze of regulations with more twists and turns than a mountain pass. We’ve got more bureaucratic bumps than a Washington D.C. baby shower. 

🍁 Maple Leaf Mystery: Why are our neighbors up north playing musical chairs with trucking jobs? 

Rev up your engines, and let's roll out.

🚚🤠 P.S. Got a hot take or a cool story? Throw it in the back, and let’s haul it together!

⛽ Joe’s Fuel Corner

• Avg. Gas Price: $3.07

• Avg. Deisel Price: $4.00

• Priciest Gas State: California ($4.60)

• Cheapest Gas State:  Mississippi ($2.61)

That's the fuel lowdown for now. Keep an eye on those pumps! 🚚💨

Heavy Load of Laws: Truckers Weigh In on the Regulatory Overhaul

Let’s shift gears and chew on some food for thought served hot off the legislative griddle.

 You know the golden trucking truth: "If you got it, a truck brought it." 

But here's the rub: Folks up in the high seats are piling on the regulations heavier than a double-decker burger at a truck stop.

Let's rap about the fact that, since World War I, Uncle Sam's been slapping a Federal excise tax on trucks like they're luxury yachts. We're talkin' a steep 20 to 30 grand on every shiny new rig. 

And just when they holler about wanting these diesel beasts cleaner and leaner, they tie 'em down with more red tape than a bureaucrat's birthday present.

Now, the government's got a wild hair to cap truck speeds with limiters, turning lanes into lullaby strips where big rigs can't even keep up with grannies in their hatchbacks. That's about as useful as a screen door on a submarine when it comes to keepin' the heart of commerce pumpin'.

The message is clear: We must rein in the regulation rodeo. At least that’s what Congressman Doug LaMalfa was stressing when chewing into the Biden administration this week. 

Think Washington will listen? Let us hear your thoughts.

The Global Gear Shift 101: The Growth and Impact of Foreign Drivers

Dispatchers are opening doors for more foreign drivers, language barriers notwithstanding. This global workforce influx impacts the American trucking landscape in significant ways.

Let’s dive into how the trucking industry is evolving with an increasing number of foreign-born drivers and what it means for American truckers, especially owner-operators.

Key Stats:

1. Immigrants constitute 19% of the U.S.'s 1.2 million long-haul truckers.

2. States like Texas and California, with substantial immigrant populations, are seeing a spike in foreign-born truckers. In California, 47% of truckers are immigrants, while Houston boasts 40%.

3. Countries contributing to this workforce include Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, China, India, Poland, Ukraine, Cuba, and Afghanistan.

This trend is reshaping the industry's economics. Many foreign drivers support families abroad, where the cost of living is substantially lower. For instance, living in Mexico costs 63% less than in the U.S. Other countries like India and Ukraine offer even greater disparities, up to 82% and 77% less expensive, respectively.

What's in it for American truckers?

For American owner-operators, this means stiff competition. Immigrants can afford to work for less because their earnings go further abroad.

And that’s no shade on immigrants, either– folks in the Hustle Highway community come from all sorts of backgrounds.

The grind and desire to build a better life knows no borders. 

More competition or not, if you aim to be an owner-operator, ensure you're prepared.

Here’s the idea cannon: 

💵 Paying cash for your truck and trailer, if possible and saving yourself from steep interest payments help reduce your overhead in the future.

🔍 You can also save that 5-7% fee by ditching the dispatcher– use that time during breaks and loading to scout for freight on the many online marketplaces.

🤝 Using brokers is all fine and dandy, but don’t miss out on building your personal edge by fostering direct relationships with shippers. Use brokers for backups. Many won't take this extra step – it's your chance to stand out.

🌐 Leverage local knowledge and experience to create niche services, mentorship programs, or joint ventures with foreign drivers. If you’ve been in the biz for a while, you may be that indispensable guide or partner that can turn perceived competition into collaborative success.

🚀 It’s about to be 2024; technology is off the chain, yet many folk are still using the same stuff as when Bill Clinton was President. Stack up your digital literacy, logistics technology, and advanced trucking software and gain that competitive edge.

Stay safe and profitable out there!

P.S. Got a bone to pick with brokers? We’re all ears. Email us your thoughts, and let's chat! 🚚💨

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🇨🇦Canada’s Trucking Industry Has a Catch-22

The Canadian labor market's latest update reveals a surprising twist! With 64,000 new jobs added in September, there's a buzz in the transportation and warehousing sectors. But here's a head-scratcher: despite this job surge, there's still a whopping shortage of 20,000 truck drivers. 

What's going on?

It seems the industry isn't quite hitting the mark in making trucking an appealing career choice. The result? A gap that keeps widening.

Key Takeaways:

📣 The Shortage Speaks Volumes: This deficit isn't just about numbers; it's a sign that trucking needs a major PR facelift. The industry must step up its game in showcasing trucking as a dynamic and rewarding career.

💚 What Drivers Really Want: It's not just about the paycheck. Drivers are seeking a better work-life balance, more predictable home time, and a sense of stability. And let's not forget: guarantees matter, especially when pay-per-mile doesn't cut it in tough conditions.

🧠 Breaking the Experience Paradox: New drivers are stuck in a Catch-22, needing experience they can't get. Companies need to rethink their hiring strategies – offering training and mentorship might just be the key.

🚛 The Power of Reputation: In today's digital age, a company's reputation can make or break its ability to attract top talent. Positive reviews and a strong community presence can give firms an edge.

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