Burmese Python Pulled From Semi Truck Engine in Miami-Dade

Miami Firefighters Removal Python From Semi Truck

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Venom One team responded to a bizarre emergency when a truck driver found a Burmese python inside his semi-truck engine.

Lt. Jolie Vandervlught carefully Miami python removal the snake from the tractor trailer’s engine bay in a rescue caught on video. The animal was secured without injuries to firefighters, by standers, or the driver.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/ff48c7_02d81746af394d438c73c2b1efe57df4/360p/mp4/file.mp4

Two Python Incidents in 24 Hours

Officials reported two python rescues in two days:

• Aug 23: Python found in a semi-truck near SW 248 Street.

• Aug 24: Another python discovered in a backyard near NW 62 Terrace.

Both were safely removed by Venom One.

Invasive Species Threat

Burmese pythons are a major invasive species in South Florida, preying on native wildlife and disrupting the ecosystem. Sightings rise in summer, and encounters near urban areas are becoming more common even on highways and in vehicles.

Safety Reminder

Authorities urge residents and truckers:

• Do not attempt to capture pythons

• Call wildlife officials immediately

• Stay at a safe distance until trained teams arrive

This python in a semi-truck engine highlights the unusual challenges drivers and residents face in South Florida. Thanks to Miami-Dade’s Venom One, both incidents ended safely.

How Trump Tariffs Could Reshape the U.S. Trucking Industry

The trucking world is once again bracing for turbulence not from fuel prices or labor shortages, but from trade policy. The Trump administration recently unveiled a sweeping expansion of import tariffs, targeting roughly 400 new product categories. Among them are essential pieces of the trucking puzzle: trailers, semi-truck parts, and components that rely heavily on steel and aluminum.

What the Tariffs Mean for Trucking

For fleets, owner-operators, and logistics firms, these tariffs are more than just numbers on a government list. A 50% duty on imported trailers and certain replacement parts could translate into steep cost increases across the industry.

• Fleet expansion becomes pricier: Companies looking to add new trailers will face higher purchase prices.

• Repair and maintenance costs rise: Replacement parts sourced from overseas could double in cost, squeezing smaller carriers already working on tight margins.

• Ripple effect on shippers: When trucking expenses climb, shippers often feel the impact through higher freight rates.

Why This Matters Now

The U.S. trucking industry is navigating a fragile recovery. Freight volumes have softened compared to previous highs, and profit margins are already under pressure from insurance premiums, labor shortages, and elevated fuel prices. Introducing additional import costs could put further strain on small to mid-sized operators the backbone of American freight.

Domestic Production vs. Global Trade

One of the administration’s goals is to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. In theory, tariffs could push trailer and parts production back into the U.S. But in practice, it will take years to scale up domestic capacity, leaving fleets with few immediate alternatives.

Larger carriers may have the financial resilience to absorb or delay these costs, but smaller operators risk being squeezed out of the market. As history shows, tariffs often hit the most vulnerable businesses hardest.

The Road Ahead

The question now is how fleets will adapt. Some may delay equipment purchases, extend the life of existing trailers, or shift maintenance strategies. Others might pass on higher costs to customers, further inflating shipping rates across multiple industries.

For policymakers, the challenge will be balancing the long-term ambition of building a stronger U.S. manufacturing base with the short-term disruption it causes to vital industries like trucking.

Reefer Market Slows Down This Spring

As the spring season progresses, the refrigerated (reefer) truckload market has settled into a more stable pattern, mirroring broader truckload trends rather than leading them. The sharp fluctuations seen in late 2023 and early 2024 have given way to relatively consistent activity between March and early April.

Key Highlights

• Looser Capacity, Lower RejectionThe Reefer Outbound Tender Reject Index (ROTRI) has hovered below 5% since March, after previously climbing above 8% through much of Q4 and early 2024.

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• Spot Rates Reflect RelaxationReefer spot rates, tracked by the Reefer Truckload Index (RTI), have similarly softened suggesting easing tension in refrigerated freight lanes.

Chart of the Week: Reefer Tender Reject Index, Reefer Truckload Index – USA  SONAR: ROTRI.USA, RTI.USA

What’s Driving the Shift?

Several seasonal and regional factors have contributed to the decline in reefer tightness:

• Harvest Season Normalizes While unpredictably timed crop runs such as out of California's Central Valley can create sudden rate spikes, the spring window this year saw a more subdued recovery, keeping volatility in check .

  
  

• Winter Freeze Demands Fade Extreme cold in the Midwest during January pushed reefer demand and rejection rates higher, especially on routes like Chicago to Dallas. As temperatures warmed, that spike gradually reversed

Regional Rebound

• In the Pacific Northwest, tender rejection rates soared past 30% in September 2023, linked to the rush of produce freight like apples, potatoes, and hops. Those highs have since eased as seasonal demands stabilized.

  
  

• Midwest rates also cooled as weather improved, and by late March, before new disruptions, the reefer market appeared to be settling into a more sustainable rhythm.

  
  

What This Means for Shippers & Carriers

• With more trucks than loads, capacity remains plentiful, keeping rates and tender declines in check.

  
  

• Even amidst softer spring volumes, produce season may still act as a bellwether delayed or compressed harvests could reignite market tension, especially if capacity conditions tighten again.

  
  

Bottom Line

Spring 2024’s reefer market feels less erratic than previous years, returning to levels of availability and pricing more consistent with broader truckload conditions. While volatility is down, this calm may only be temporary as harvest seasons mature and capacity shifts. Keep an eye on heat maps and SONAR indices they remain critical indicators for rapidly changing reefer dynamics.