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Bank exits squeeze truck financing for mid-size fleets Truck financing has become more difficult for carriers trying to replace aging equipment after a freight downturn that lasted roughly three and a half years. The challenge is not only that fewer banks are lending to trucking. Many carriers also emerge from the downturn with weaker financial…
# Georgia Appeals Court Sides With Transcontinental Carriers The Court of Appeals of Georgia ruled in favor of Transcontinental Carriers, Inc. in its dispute with Lewis Bennett, according to the case information available for the Sept. 9, 2026 decision. But the excerpt provided does not include the underlying facts, the legal issue, or the court’s…
Federal transportation and law enforcement agencies are expanding a crackdown on commercial driver’s license fraud, with officials asking the trucking industry to help identify suspected illegal activity involving drivers, training schools and other participants in the licensing system. Federal agencies target CDL fraud Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced…
Surging tanker rates signal mounting pressure in global energy markets Freight rates for very large crude carriers, or VLCCs, have climbed to unprecedented levels as disruptions around the Middle East reduce the number of tankers available for service. Data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler indicates that VLCC earnings could remain above $100,000 per day into…
# Military Appeals Court Upholds Babbitt’s Conviction The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces has upheld the conviction of Navy Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Eric C. Babbitt. The ruling leaves in place a military-judge conviction and a dishonorable discharge, according to the case record and available docket information. Babbitt’s case reached the nation’s highest…
U.S. diesel prices are expected to remain elevated as distillate inventories approach their lowest level in more than two decades, according to projections from the Energy Information Administration. The agency forecasts a national average diesel price of $5.55 per gallon in the fourth quarter. Distillate inventories expected to fall The EIA expects U.S. distillate inventories,…
DUI Charge Filed After Semi Allegedly Strikes Scranton Bridge and Leaves Scene A tractor-trailer driver is facing DUI and drug-related charges after police said the vehicle struck a bridge in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and left the area. According to a September 11 statement from the Scranton Police Department, officers were called to the intersection of Luzerne…
A long-haul truck driver is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review Minnesota’s refusal to recognize his valid concealed-carry permits from Georgia and Florida. The case raises questions about whether states may require licensed drivers to disarm or comply with separate firearm-storage rules when crossing state lines. Challenge centers on Minnesota reciprocity rules Jeffrey Johnson,…
Road closures, security perimeters and memorial events planned for the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks could create delays for truck drivers in parts of New York and other states on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026. Lower Manhattan closures and security measures Family members of victims of the Sept. 11 attacks and the 1993 World…
A seemingly ordinary trailer transaction can quickly become a serious financial problem for owner-operators and small carriers, according to industry scam warnings. Buyers are urged to verify the seller, financing details and trailer location before sending money or personal information. Warning signs in trailer transactions Scammers may advertise trailers at unusually attractive prices or provide…
Fuel Surcharge Gaps: What Carriers Miss on Every Load Fuel surcharges are intended to protect carriers from sharp changes in diesel prices. But according to Matt Cartwright, CEO and founder of Magnus Technologies, many fleets are not recovering the full cost of the fuel used to move each load. The problem is often not the…
White Paper: Q3 2026 Shipper Rate Report Examines Freight Market Conditions FreightWaves has published information on its Q3 2026 Shipper Rate Report, a quarterly market analysis produced in partnership with Trimble and built around data from the SONAR platform. The publication is designed to give shippers a view of freight rates, demand and capacity conditions,…
Seasonality Pushes Tender Rejections and Rates Higher Ahead of the Fourth Truckload carriers gained additional pricing power as freight volumes remained elevated and more drivers prepared to take time off around Independence Day. The DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index increased to 75 for carriers this week, up from 70 the previous week. The three-month…
A group of truck drivers has secured a favorable ruling in federal court in a lawsuit alleging that a trucking company misclassified them as independent contractors while controlling key aspects of their work. Drivers Challenge Contractor Classification The drivers argue that they functioned as employees rather than independent contractors. According to the allegations, they were…
Kodiak expects to deploy driverless trucks for long haul by end of the year Kodiak AI says it remains on track to begin driverless long-haul commercial service by the end of the year, following continued progress in the engineering, testing and validation work required for deployment. The company, which develops autonomous driving technology for heavy…
A federal appeals court is weighing whether states may issue non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) that remain valid beyond the expiration date of an applicant’s work authorization. The case could affect thousands of immigrant drivers, commercial driving schools and motor carriers nationwide. California challenges federal funding penalty The California Department of Motor Vehicles filed a…
Man accused of stealing semi-truck rammed patrol cars before arrest in Everett A man in his 30s was taken into custody Thursday morning after allegedly stealing a semi-truck from a grocery store parking lot in Everett, Washington, and repeatedly ramming police vehicles during the ensuing pursuit. Four Everett police officers were transported to a hospital…
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has temporarily suspended enforcement of its biennial update requirement during the transition to the new Motus registration system. The agency also has stopped inactivating USDOT numbers for carriers and other registrants that have missed the required filing. Enforcement suspended during Motus transition FMCSA said the suspension will remain in…
A proposed change to Pennsylvania law could allow local police departments to use radar for speed enforcement, ending a restriction that currently limits radar use by municipal officers. The measure could affect motorists and commercial drivers traveling through the state. Current Radar Restrictions Pennsylvania is currently identified as the only state that prohibits municipal police…
A long-haul truck driver is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review Minnesota’s refusal to recognize his Florida and Georgia concealed-carry licenses when he travels through the state. Challenge centers on state permit recognition The case, Johnson v. Jacobson, was filed on behalf of Jeffrey Johnson, a full-time truck driver represented by the Liberty Justice…
Time for new “incentives”: Port terminal operations could help truckers with demurrage, detention Motor carriers are once again facing responsibility for demurrage and detention charges, ending a break that lasted just over a year. The change has renewed concerns among port drayage carriers that they can be billed for delays they did not cause and…
Q3 2026 Carrier Rate Report points to firmer rates and slow capacity response FreightWaves’ Q3 2026 Carrier Rate Report outlines a freight market in which rates have strengthened, truckload rejection levels have moved higher and available capacity may not return quickly. The quarterly publication, sponsored by Trimble, combines responses from a carrier survey with data…
Groundbreaking for $669M East Coast container terminal moves ahead despite legal challenge Construction is underway on Delaware’s largest maritime infrastructure project: a $669 million container terminal planned for 137 acres of former DuPont industrial property along the Delaware River in Edgemoor. The Delaware Container Terminal, or DCT, is designed to expand the state’s container-handling capacity…
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has launched a dedicated tip line for suspected commercial driver’s license fraud as federal agencies expand efforts to identify unqualified or improperly licensed commercial drivers. Tip line targets suspected CDL fraud Homeland Security Investigations, an ICE division, is working with the U.S. Department of Transportation and other federal partners to…
Family-owned flatbed carrier focuses on home time and driver training McElroy Truck Lines has built its business around two priorities that can be difficult to balance in flatbed trucking: keeping drivers consistently connected to home and developing inexperienced drivers into professionals. Based in Cuba, Alabama, a small community near the Mississippi state line, the family-owned…
Federal appeals court judges are weighing whether states may issue non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) that remain valid beyond the expiration date of an applicant’s federal work authorization. The dispute could affect state licensing programs, trucking employers and thousands of immigrant drivers. California challenges federal funding penalty The California Department of Motor Vehicles petitioned the…
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years for $1.5 Million Cargo Theft Scheme A Philadelphia man has been sentenced to 121 months in federal prison for his role in a cargo theft conspiracy that targeted tractor-trailers carrying interstate shipments throughout the city. Haneef Palmer, 33, also was ordered to serve three years of supervised release…
Truck drivers traveling through New York City and other areas should expect temporary road closures, security restrictions and traffic delays on Friday, Sept. 11, as communities mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Officials are advising motorists to check state 511 systems and Department of Transportation closure updates before beginning a trip. Lower Manhattan…
A group of truck drivers has secured a significant ruling in a federal lawsuit alleging that a trucking company misclassified them as independent contractors, shifting business expenses onto the drivers while retaining control over their work. Drivers Challenge Contractor Classification The drivers argue that the company treated them as independent contractors on paper but operated…
A seemingly ordinary trailer transaction can quickly become a costly problem for owner-operators and small carriers. Industry guidance urges buyers to verify the seller, financing information and trailer location before sending money or arranging pickup. Warning signs to watch for Listings involving little or no credit information, an open or unsecured storage location, or limited…
Six Plead Guilty in Louisiana Bribery Scheme That Helped More Than 100 Applicants Obtain Fraudulent CDLs Six people have pleaded guilty in a Louisiana bribery scheme that allowed at least 124 applicants to obtain commercial driver’s licenses without completing required testing and training, according to federal prosecutors. The scheme operated through the Louisiana Office of…
Danger of Social Isolation OTR: Truckers Don’t Have to Be Alone Long periods on the road can make social isolation an occupational hazard for professional truck drivers. Clifford Petersen, a trucker with 27 years behind the wheel, says drivers need to recognize the mental-health risks that can develop when loneliness, stress and personal problems are…
Panama Canal reverses planned draft restrictions as water conditions improve The Panama Canal Authority has postponed a planned reduction in the maximum authorized draft for vessels using the Neopanamax locks, allowing the largest ships to continue transiting at the current 48-foot limit. The reduction to 47.5 feet had been scheduled to take effect Oct. 1….
3PL victory: TQL tossed as defendant in Colorado liability trial Total Quality Logistics has been dismissed from a Colorado lawsuit arising from a fatal crash involving steel beams, giving the third-party logistics provider a legal victory even as courts continue to disagree over when freight brokers can be held responsible for carrier-related accidents. U.S. District…
How do drivers want to be appreciated? “Show me the money!” Truck drivers have offered a clear answer about what would make them feel appreciated during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week: cash. An online poll asking, “How do you want to be appreciated during Driver Appreciation Week?” found that 51.35% of respondents chose cash. The…
80 drivers face job losses as Wisconsin trucking company fails to find buyer A small trucking company in Wisconsin is shutting down after failing to find a buyer, putting dozens of driving jobs at risk and ending the operations of a business that also maintained its own shop and office staff. Sparhawk Trucking and Sparhawk…
Pain at the Pump: These States Are Trying to Offer a Break Fuel costs are putting pressure on motorists, trucking companies and independent drivers as lawmakers in several states move to suspend motor fuel taxes or delay scheduled increases in 2026. Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Utah are providing fuel-tax relief or postponing planned rate…
New Canadian tariffs hit $20 billion in U.S. goods, pressuring cross-border supply chains Canada’s dollar-for-dollar retaliation against the United States took effect just after midnight Tuesday, placing tariffs of up to 50% on nearly $20 billion worth of American goods entering the country. The measures cover approximately C$27.6 billion in U.S. imports and extend a…
Canada trade fight not so broad for key imports, analyst says Headlines describing a sweeping U.S. ban on Canadian dairy, alcohol and motor vehicles do not tell the full story, according to trade compliance analysts reviewing the fine print of the new measures. President Donald Trump signed a series of proclamations Tuesday that will prohibit…
ZF CEO calls China the “center of gravity” for electric trucks China is becoming the main market to watch in the development of electric trucks, according to ZF CEO Mathias Miedreich. Electric trucks already account for about 30% of China’s truck market, and ZF expects that share to move toward 50% as manufacturers, fleets and…
Ohio Senators Urge State and Federal Governments to Block Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants Ohio’s two U.S. senators are calling for changes to state and federal policies that allow some undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses after a fatal crash in northeastern Ohio involving a driver who held a Connecticut credential. Sen. Bernie Moreno sent…
New legislation would criminalize all staged crashes at federal level A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. House would make it a federal crime to knowingly stage or fabricate any motor vehicle crash and then submit a fraudulent insurance claim. The Stop Auto Fraud Act of 2026 was introduced Sept. 3 by Reps. Laura Gillen,…
Supply Chain AI Investment Is Growing, but Execution Remains the Biggest Challenge Artificial intelligence is moving quickly from pilot programs into daily supply chain operations, but many companies are still struggling to turn their investments into measurable business results. Research cited by FreightWaves shows that most supply chain organizations expect to deploy artificial intelligence or…
E-commerce facilitator ShipStation eyes major global expansion ShipStation is planning to expand its international presence through acquisitions, partnerships and additional freight capabilities, as the company works to become a broader logistics platform for online retailers and other shippers. CEO Tom Madine outlined the strategy during an interview with FreightWaves Today at ShipStation’s headquarters in Austin,…
Tesla launches robotaxi service with steering-wheel-free Cybercabs By Bernard Condon NEW YORK — Tesla sent dozens of self-driving Cybercabs onto the streets of Austin, Texas, on Thursday, launching a robotaxi service built around vehicles that have no steering wheels, brake pedals or other manual controls for passengers to use in an emergency. The rollout is…