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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is beginning a review of federal vehicle lighting requirements to address headlight glare and update testing standards for newer lighting technologies. The review will focus on factors including beam intensity, headlight aim, mounting height, adaptive systems and LED lighting. NHTSA to Review FMVSS 108 NHTSA announced Oct. 6 that…
North Dakota blitz puts 122 out of service; bulk-mail contractor pleads guilty to fraud Federal, state and local agencies identified 122 out-of-service violations during a recent commercial vehicle safety operation in Williston, North Dakota. The inspection effort also produced 494 total violations and 47 enforcement actions, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The…
The AI Boom: Why It’s Replacing E-Commerce in Global Freight The growth engine for Asian air freight is shifting. Shipments tied to artificial intelligence, semiconductors and data center construction have overtaken cross-border e-commerce as the leading source of demand on several major routes, prompting airlines and logistics providers to reorganize capacity around technology manufacturing hubs….
R&R trucking CEO reports $12.7 million in assets after company collapse Richard “Rich” Francis, CEO of the collapsed R&R Family of Companies, has disclosed nearly $12.7 million in personal assets in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing that provides the clearest accounting yet of his finances following the trucking group’s shutdown. Francis filed schedules and a…
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted a five-year exemption affecting Level 4 autonomous trucking operations, clearing the way for companies to expand driverless freight services on U.S. highways. The exemption addresses how autonomous trucks warn other motorists when they are stopped because of a mechanical problem. Exemption Changes Roadside Warning Requirements Under existing…
EPA Expands E15 Waiver to More Light-Duty Vehicles, but Heavy-Duty Trucks Remain Excluded The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expanded approval for gasoline containing up to 15% ethanol, known as E15, to include model year 2001 through 2006 passenger vehicles. The decision followed an earlier waiver covering model year 2007 and newer cars and light trucks….
Nearly all commercial driver’s license and commercial learner’s permit holders must now rely on electronic medical certification records rather than paper medical examiner’s certificates, following the expiration of a temporary Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration waiver. Alaska is the only state exempt from the change. Paper medical certificates no longer accepted in most states As…
How Long Will Consumers Have to Pay Higher Gas Prices? Higher gasoline and diesel prices pushed U.S. inflation higher in September and began spreading into transportation, warehousing and food costs, according to economic data released Oct. 15. The latest figures show how energy costs can move through the economy. Fuel prices affect consumers directly at…
When an electronic logging device (ELD) malfunctions, drivers must continue documenting their hours of service and create a paper record until the device is restored. The process is intended to preserve an accurate record of the current day and, when necessary, reconstruct the previous seven days. Continue Tracking Hours on Paper The Federal Motor Carrier…
Owners of trucks equipped with certain PACCAR engines may continue pursuing claims that the company breached its engine warranty, a federal court has ruled. The decision clears a procedural hurdle for the lawsuit but does not determine whether PACCAR is liable or certify the case as a class action. Court Allows Warranty Claims to Proceed…
Preliminary September 2026 data show conflicting year-over-year trends in Class 8 truck orders, with ACT Research reporting a decline and FTR Transportation Intelligence recording modest growth. Both firms said regulatory uncertainty and the timing of manufacturers’ order books are influencing fleet purchasing decisions. Regulatory uncertainty weighs on fleet planning ACT Research analyst Carter Vieth said…
Hurricane brings IFTA relief as two cargo thieves face prison State tax relief for disaster-response haulers and a federal cargo-theft conviction highlighted several developments affecting truck drivers and carriers. Alabama has temporarily suspended certain International Registration Plan (IRP) and International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) requirements for vehicles traveling through the state as part of interstate…
Netradyne expands AI agent lineup for fleet safety teams Netradyne has expanded the artificial intelligence tools available through its Netradyne Intelligence platform, adding a ready-made Campaign Agent, a custom agent builder and conversational answers based on live fleet data. The update is aimed at helping fleet safety and operations teams reduce the time spent sorting…
Diesel Prices Surge 20 Cents as Supply Pressures Intensify Ultra-low sulfur diesel futures rose roughly 20 cents in about two hours Tuesday, adding to concerns among truck operators already facing high fuel costs and tightening inventories. The sharp move came after the contract had briefly traded lower, then recovered and accelerated higher. The volatility reflects…
Diesel price relief has yet to reach trucking companies despite recent federal actions and an agreement involving the United States and Russia. Fuel supplies remain under pressure from geopolitical disruptions, tight inventories and resilient demand, while industry officials caution that some announced tax measures do not amount to a direct reduction in diesel costs. Federal…
Warehouse cramming is about to begin as shippers prepare for peak season Warehouse space is becoming a central concern for shippers as the end-of-year freight surge approaches. On an episode of Freightonomics, FreightWaves analysts Zach Strickland and Anthony Smith examined how companies are preparing for the seasonal increase in freight and what tighter warehouse capacity…
When an electronic logging device (ELD) malfunctions, drivers must continue complying with federal hours-of-service requirements and use paper records until the system is restored or replaced. Record the Current Day’s Hours The driver should immediately begin documenting the current day’s record of duty status on paper. The paper log must reflect all duty-status changes, including…
Speeding stop reveals alleged hours-of-service violations on Ontario truck trip A traffic stop on Highway 11 near Mattawa, Ontario, led to multiple charges against a truck driver and his employer after officers identified alleged hours-of-service and record-keeping violations. The driver was stopped at about 9 a.m. on October 11 on Highway 11, east of Mattawa….
Chinese-made van trailers are facing final U.S. trade duties that could significantly increase their cost after import. The trailers are subject to a 130% antidumping cash-deposit rate and a separate 135% countervailing duty rate. Final duties target Chinese van trailers The duties stem from allegations that Chinese manufacturers sold van trailers in the U.S. at…
Federal prosecutors have announced several trucking-related fraud cases involving alleged fake transportation records, nonexistent freight movements and fraudulent payment schemes. The cases include guilty pleas in Florida and Connecticut, as well as a broad vehicle-related fraud indictment in Colorado. Florida trucking owner pleads guilty Khayyam Arif Oglu Farajov, 40, of Orlando, Florida, pleaded guilty to…
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted a five-year exemption allowing qualifying autonomous trucking companies to use cab-mounted warning beacons instead of placing traditional roadside warning devices after a vehicle becomes disabled. The exemption could support broader deployment of Level 4 driverless trucks on U.S. highways. Exemption Addresses Roadside Warning Requirements Existing federal requirements…
Troopers target fatigued truck drivers on I-5 Fatigued driving is drawing renewed attention from highway safety officials, who are treating drowsiness as a preventable crash risk alongside impaired and distracted driving. The information available describes a Maryland safety initiative rather than providing operational details about a specific I-5 enforcement effort. Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration Highway…
Kodiak AI, Charger Logistics launch autonomous Laredo lane Kodiak AI and cross-border carrier Charger Logistics have begun hauling freight on a 435-mile route between Dallas and Laredo, Texas, extending Kodiak’s autonomous trucking operations into one of the busiest freight corridors connecting the United States and Mexico. The service currently operates with a safety driver behind…
Mexico truck exports soar 145% as U.S. demand accelerates Mexican manufacturers sharply increased heavy-duty vehicle production and exports in September as U.S. customers prepared for new emissions requirements, according to data from Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) and industry group ANPACT. Mexico produced 15,181 heavy-duty vehicles in September, up 121.4% from 6,857…
Washington State Patrol is emphasizing the dangers of fatigued driving and urging motorists to make safe decisions before tiredness affects their ability to operate a vehicle. The campaign includes increased attention to driver behavior and the risks fatigue poses to commercial and passenger vehicle traffic. Fatigue Can Impair Driving Ability State officials said fatigued driving…
The AI Summit introduces fleets to AI’s potential and pitfalls Artificial intelligence is moving from a technology discussion into day-to-day fleet operations, but many fleet managers are still determining where it can deliver practical value and where it creates additional risk. Those questions were the focus of The AI Summit, a special educational track co-hosted…
Chinese van-type trailers and related subassemblies now face final U.S. trade duties following affirmative determinations by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission. Final duties take effect The final orders impose a 130% antidumping cash-deposit rate and a 135% countervailing duty rate on covered Chinese van trailers and subassemblies. The antidumping…
Iowa troopers share photos of commercial vehicle violations as a reminder to conduct thorough pre-trips The Iowa State Patrol’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Unit is reminding drivers to take a close look at their equipment before starting work after recent inspections uncovered several serious defects. In social media posts, Iowa troopers shared photographs from commercial vehicle…
Truck owners pursuing claims against PACCAR over alleged fuel-injector failures cleared an important court hurdle after a judge ruled they do not have to prove the engines violated federal emissions standards to pursue warranty allegations. The ruling does not determine whether PACCAR is liable and does not certify the case as a class action. Warranty…
Former Florida trucking company owner Khayyam Arif Oglu Farajov has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges in connection with a scheme that allegedly generated more than $1 million through fraudulent freight transactions, federal prosecutors said. Owner Admitted to Fraud and Money Laundering Farajov, 40, an Azerbaijani national who operated Talishco LLC in…
Nearly all commercial driver’s license and commercial learner’s permit holders must now rely on electronic medical-certification records rather than paper Medical Examiner’s Certificates. Alaska is the only state covered by an exception allowing certain CDL and CLP holders to use paper certificates temporarily. NRII waiver expires nationwide The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s temporary waiver…
English proficiency a ‘life-and-death safety standard,’ OOIDA says The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is backing efforts to reinforce federal English-language requirements for commercial truck drivers, saying the rule is fundamentally a highway safety measure. OOIDA President Todd Spencer made the case for English proficiency at an event focused on commercial vehicle safety. He said drivers…
Is Trucking Capacity Coming Back? Why New Capacity Isn’t Entering the 2026 Freight Market New trucking capacity is not entering the U.S. freight market, even after roughly a year of elevated tender rejections, according to FreightWaves SONAR data published Oct. 7, 2026. The data points to a market tightening because trucks and drivers are leaving…
Orlando trucking owner pleads guilty in $1 million USPS freight auction fraud An Orlando trucking and freight brokerage owner has pleaded guilty to defrauding the U.S. Postal Service of nearly $1 million by claiming payment for transportation work that his company did not perform. Khayyam Arif Oglu Farajov, 40, owned and operated Talishco LLC in…
Five military veterans have been named finalists for the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award, which recognizes service members who have built careers in the trucking industry. This year’s winner will receive a new Kenworth T680. Five veterans selected as finalists The finalists represent multiple military branches and trucking companies: Mohammad Arzola — U.S. Marine…
Driver Poll Examines What Recruiters Should Explain About Bonuses A new driver poll is focused on a common part of the recruiting conversation: what information should come first when a carrier representative mentions bonuses. The question asks drivers what they most want to know right away when a recruiter discusses incentives such as sign-on bonuses,…
Chinese van-type trailers and related subassemblies face steep new U.S. trade duties after federal agencies determined that the imports injured the domestic trailer industry. The measures include a 130% antidumping duty, a 135% countervailing duty, and continued Section 232 tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. ITC finds material injury The U.S. International Trade Commission issued…
Trucker Reports Locked Steering Led to Humvee Load Loss on I-295 in Virginia HANOVER COUNTY, Va. — A tractor-trailer hauling two up-armored Humvees crashed Friday morning while exiting Interstate 295 in Virginia after the driver reported that the truck’s steering locked, according to Virginia State Police. The crash occurred at approximately 7 a.m. on Oct….
A federal executive order temporarily authorizes the use of tax-exempt, red-dyed diesel on highways and defers the federal diesel tax through the end of the year. The measure could reduce fuel costs for truckers and other diesel users, but the actual savings will depend heavily on state tax policies and enforcement rules. Federal diesel tax…
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is supporting a proposed federal rule that would make violations of English language proficiency requirements an out-of-service violation for commercial drivers. Proposal Would Align Federal Rules With Inspection Standards The rulemaking would align the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations with current enforcement tolerances in the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria…
State police agencies in six Northeastern states will conduct a three-day enforcement operation targeting dangerous, distracted and commercial vehicle violations on major highways and cross-border corridors from October 13 through October 15, 2026. Six States Join Regional Enforcement Effort Massachusetts State Police announced “Operation Wicked Safe” alongside law enforcement partners from Connecticut, New Hampshire, New…
Freight’s Next Move Matters More Than the Last 18 Months The freight market may be entering a new phase, but the most important signals will come from what companies do next rather than from the difficult conditions of the past year and a half. That was the central message from Chris Wofford, founder and managing…
Red dye diesel break is being greeted with a big yawn An executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Oct. 5 is intended to provide temporary relief from high diesel prices, but trucking groups and fuel marketers say the measure offers limited practical help for over-the-road fleets. The order, titled “Emergency Tax Relief on…
Factory backlogs build as freight and steel costs climb Unfilled orders at U.S. factories continued to grow in August while shipments stalled, adding pressure to manufacturers, suppliers and the trucking companies that move materials and finished goods through the industrial supply chain. The Census Bureau reported Oct. 2 that unfilled factory orders increased 0.6% to…
Truck buyers are taking a wait-and-see approach, OEMs say North American Class 8 truck orders were mixed in September as fleets entered the traditional fall buying season while manufacturers managed full 2026 backlogs and transitioned to Model Year 2027 production. ACT Research estimated preliminary North American Class 8 net orders at 18,700 units in September,…