May 2026 could mark a turning point for freight, but the wait may be hard on carriers Industry analysts are signaling that conditions in the freight market may improve as the calendar moves toward 2026. The message, however, comes with a warning: the timeline for a true reset could arrive too late for some fleets…
The 10 Playbook Stories That Defined Trucking in 2025 — And Why They All Point to the Same Truth Look back at trucking in 2025 and a clear pattern shows up across the year’s biggest conversations: the industry spent just as much energy sorting out misinformation and expectations as it did reacting to real operational…
Short line operator rail R.J. Corman president Goss retires NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — Raymond (Ray) Goss, president of the R.J. Corman Railroad Co., will retire effective Jan. 30, 2026, the company announced. Goss is departing after a five-decade career in the rail industry, including seven years leading R.J. Corman’s short line and switching operations. R.J. Corman’s…
Arkansas State Police seeking semi truck that ‘forced’ Dodge Charger off the road in hit-and-run Arkansas State Police (ASP) is investigating a hit-and-run crash that occurred on Interstate 530 South near the 34-mile marker at approximately 11:30 a.m. on December 30, 2025, according to a media release issued Wednesday. Troopers said the driver of an…
Trucking’s top 10 regulatory headlines of 2025 In 2025, trucking regulations were not background noise. They directly shaped day-to-day operations, safety compliance, and the freight market conditions drivers and fleets had to work through. From emissions rollbacks to aggressive action against CDL mills, the year’s biggest regulatory moves landed where it counts: equipment choices, enforcement…
ANA, Nippon Cargo Airlines begin to merge cargo businesses ANA Holdings has started reorganizing its cargo-related companies as it moves forward with integrating Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA). The goal, as described by the company, is to strengthen the group’s cargo setup and support future growth after the NCA integration is completed. A central piece of…
Diesel prices ease again, down 37 cents from 2025 high as fuel costs stay in focus The national average on-highway diesel price fell 4 cents last week, bringing the average to $3.50 per gallon. Gasoline also moved lower, down 3 cents to a national average of $2.81 per gallon. For working drivers, a few cents…
CBP Agents Join CDL Enforcement Efforts in Southern California Operation U.S. Border Patrol agents have taken a direct role in a recent enforcement effort involving commercial driver’s licenses, joining with federal investigators in a two-day operation in Southern California that resulted in the arrest of 45 immigrant drivers. According to comments provided to Transport Topics,…
Company cited for tire violations after commercial vehicle crashes into ditch, Wisconsin troopers say A commercial vehicle went into a ditch Tuesday afternoon along Highway 63 near 770th Street in the town of Trenton, prompting a response from crews, according to the Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP). WSP said no one was hurt in the crash….
17 years later, Teamsters locals will get payments into benefit trust More than 17 years after a dispute involving Oak Harbor, Teamsters locals are set to receive a long-delayed payment into a benefit trust, according to information from last week’s development. The amount involved is more than $23 million, which the locals say one of…
Illinois sheriff follows stolen cargo trailer’s GPS tracker to warehouse stuffed with over $2 million in stolen goods The Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) recovered more than $2 million worth of stolen items after using GPS data from a stolen cargo trailer to locate a warehouse in Oak Forest, Illinois. According to the CCSO, the…
Tariffs, enforcement and cargo theft reshape U.S.–Mexico trade in 2025 The heavy-duty vehicle industry saw exports plunge nearly 60% in September as shippers and manufacturers adjusted ahead of a major policy change: a 25% U.S. tariff on medium- and heavy-duty trucks that took effect Nov. 1. Mexico is a key production base for heavy trucks…
ATA, safety groups slam driverless truck warning system Major trucking and safety groups are criticizing a warning approach tied to driverless and automated driving systems, arguing that the method is unproven when it comes to keeping inattentive drivers engaged and maintaining safety on the road. The pushback matters for working drivers because warning systems are…
DHL Supply Chain Plans to Add Tesla Semi Tractors to U.S. Fleet DHL Supply Chain says it expects to add multiple Tesla Semi tractors to its U.S. Class 8 fleet in the next 12 months, part of the company’s longer-term effort to reduce emissions across its operations. The company also confirmed plans to integrate a…
Pride & Polish awards: Finalists square off Overdrive’s Pride & Polish competition is set to wrap up Tuesday, Dec. 30, with the final awards presentation scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern time. The event marks the conclusion of a reader-focused contest that spotlights show-quality trucks and the operators who keep them looking their best. For professional…
The ‘ingenious strategy’ behind most truckers’ least favorite week of the year: International Roadcheck From champagne and party hats to the presents under Christmas trees, and the everyday freight that keeps businesses open, truck drivers move the economy year-round. They work long hours, spend extended time away from family, and keep freight moving through nights,…
Why the Northeast is quietly running out of diesel Diesel supply and demand dynamics in the Northeast are shifting, and the New York region is a clear example. Weaker demand for conventional diesel and heating oil is being linked in part to a new factor showing up more often at the pump and in fuel…
OPEC+ Likely to Confirm Oil Production Pause, Delegates Say OPEC+ is expected to stick with a planned output pause when it meets this weekend amid growing signs of global oil oversupply, according to three delegates. For trucking, oil supply decisions matter because they can influence fuel markets, and diesel prices tend to follow broader crude…
Global 2025 LNG Exports Had Biggest Jump in Three Years Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in 2025 are estimated to have increased 4% from last year to 429 million tons, according to Kpler, which tracks shipping data. Kpler’s estimate would mark the largest annual increase since 2022, when exports climbed 4.5% compared with the…
Illinois sheriff follows stolen cargo trailer’s GPS tracker to warehouse stuffed with over $2 million in stolen goods Investigators in Cook County, Illinois, traced a stolen cargo trailer’s GPS signal to a warehouse that authorities say was packed with stolen merchandise worth more than $2 million. According to Patch, the investigation began after insurance-company investigators…
30 days to comply: FMCSA details truck broker trustee purge The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is outlining new compliance timelines tied to enforcement actions that can affect both training providers and motor carriers. According to the agency, certain failures—such as not maintaining required information or not providing it when requested—can trigger removal proceedings for…
“Theft Ring” Nets Nearly $400,000 Worth of Lobsters on Costco Run A high-value seafood load bound for Costco warehouses in Illinois and Minnesota was reportedly hijacked, with the shipment valued at nearly $400,000, according to information shared by Rexing Companies. Dylan Rexing, president and CEO of the Indiana-based supply chain company Rexing Companies, said he…
Multiple people charged for interstate transportation of stolen cooking oil to be converted to biodiesel A federal grand jury in Portland returned a six-count indictment on September 24, 2020, charging Ariwite and Adams with conspiracy and theft of funds from a Tribal organization. Prosecutors said the case involved interstate transportation of stolen cooking oil that…
DOT, California locked in battle over 17,000 CDLs California and the U.S. Department of Transportation are in a standoff over about 17,000 non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The dispute centers on CDLs issued to immigrants whose license expiration dates extended beyond the period of their legal authorization to be in the United States. The issue…
The Patrick and Barbara Kowalski Freight Brokers Safety Act: Good Hearts, Bad Outcomes By fining freight brokers and directing money toward safety upgrades, the Patrick and Barbara Kowalski Freight Brokers Safety Act aims to deter risky load decisions and reduce preventable crashes. The basic idea is straightforward: if a broker hires a questionable carrier or…
Tariffs, enforcement and cargo theft reshape U.S.–Mexico trade in 2025 Exports tied to the heavy-duty vehicle industry dropped nearly 60% in September as manufacturers and shippers moved ahead of a new U.S. tariff on medium- and heavy-duty trucks, according to the information provided. The 25% tariff took effect Nov. 1, creating a clear deadline that…
North Shore unveils US semiquincentennial locomotive NSHR 2238, the North Shore Railroad Company’s hand-painted Semiquincentennial locomotive, has debuted in Northumberland as a rolling mural tied to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary. The locomotive’s artwork is designed to honor Revolutionary War history and to mark the national semiquincentennial milestone. For working drivers who spend long hours moving…
Ocado Ends Exclusivity Terms After Setbacks to Kroger Deal Ocado Group Plc has ended exclusive arrangements to supply its automated grocery warehouse technology, a move that comes as investor pressure builds following setbacks tied to its partnership with Kroger Co. in the United States. Ocado is known for automated systems used in grocery fulfillment warehouses—technology…
Borderlands Mexico: TCS is betting on Monterrey as cross-border trade gets more complicated Cross-border freight is facing a more complicated operating environment, and one carrier is leaning into Monterrey as a key hub. This week’s Borderlands Mexico update highlighted TCS’ focus on Monterrey while also tracking major industrial real estate moves in Texas that could…
Tariffs, enforcement and cargo theft reshape U.S.–Mexico trade in 2025 Exports tied to the heavy-duty vehicle industry dropped nearly 60% in September as manufacturers and shippers reacted ahead of a new U.S. tariff on medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The 25% tariff went into effect Nov. 1. With a large share of Mexico-built heavy-duty trucks moving…
Multiple people charged for interstate transportation of stolen cooking oil to be converted to biodiesel Federal prosecutors have brought charges tied to the alleged interstate movement of stolen cooking oil that was intended to be converted into biodiesel, according to the information provided. The case is being handled in federal court in Portland, where a…
The Patrick and Barbara Kowalski Freight Brokers Safety Act: Good Hearts, Bad Outcomes By fining brokers and funding safety upgrades, the Patrick and Barbara Kowalski Freight Brokers Safety Act aims to deter risky broker-carrier pairings and make highways less dangerous. The basic idea is simple: if a broker hires a driver or carrier that turns…
OPEC+ Likely to Confirm Oil Production Pause, Delegates Say OPEC+ is expected to stick with a planned output pause when it meets this weekend, according to three delegates, as signs point to a growing global oil oversupply. For truck drivers, oil supply decisions matter because they can influence diesel prices over time. When the market…
Diesel prices down 37 cents since hitting 2025 high mark, reefer rates on holiday tear U.S. diesel prices continued to ease last week, extending a downward run that has followed the 2025 high point. After a six-cent decline week over week, the national average price for a gallon of diesel moved lower again, bringing the…
HOS waivers expand to more than 20 states as FMCSA responds to regional emergencies The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued or extended three separate Hours of Service (HOS) waivers affecting truck drivers across more than 20 states, according to recent federal notices. Two of the waivers apply to states in the Northeast and…
Maine troopers target unsafe car behavior around trucks in high-traffic areas Maine State Troopers recently conducted enforcement details aimed at passenger-vehicle behavior around commercial trucks, focusing on areas with consistently heavy truck traffic: Bangor, Winthrop, and the greater Portland region. Troopers said the effort is being led by the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit (CVEU) and…
Commercial vehicle with several serious equipment violations rolls through Iowa scale house Des Moines, Iowa — Iowa drivers are being advised that traffic enforcement has shifted in a significant way: law enforcement officers are now officially issuing citations for handheld electronic device use while driving. The change is tied to a slate of new state…
New Jersey Grants $13M to Hydrogen Drayage Truck Port Pilot New Jersey is paying $13 million to fund a near-term experiment testing the ability of hydrogen-powered drayage trucks to move cargo at the Port Newark Container Terminal. The state funding is going to Rutgers, which will use the money to test the technology in New…
New Jersey Grants $13M to Hydrogen Drayage Truck Port Pilot New Jersey is putting $13 million into a near-term pilot to test hydrogen-powered drayage trucks moving cargo at the Port Newark Container Terminal. The funding is going to Rutgers, which will use the state support to help run the demonstration and evaluate how the equipment…
USDOT announces $118 million in grants aimed at stronger CDL standards, better enforcement, and veteran pathways WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation announced $118 million in competitive grant awards on Dec. 30, 2025, directing the funding to state and local partners to strengthen commercial driver’s license (CDL) standards, enhance enforcement efforts, and support military…
California’s long wait for autonomous trucks may soon end California may be moving closer to allowing autonomous (AV) trucks, a shift that would open one of the most important freight markets in the country to driverless trucking operations. The eventual allowance of AV trucks in California is expected to significantly expand the national autonomous trucking…
Hours-of-service weather waivers from FMCSA now span more than 20 states The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued or extended three weather-related Hours of Service (HOS) waivers that now cover truck operations across more than 20 states. According to the agency’s notices, two of the waivers apply to states in the Northeast and the…
New Jersey Grants $13M to Hydrogen Drayage Truck Port Pilot New Jersey is putting $13 million toward a near-term pilot program that will test hydrogen-powered drayage trucks moving cargo at the Port Newark Container Terminal. The state funding is going to Rutgers, which will run the effort as a practical experiment focused on day-to-day port…
GDP grew 4.3% in Q3, and it was ‘healthier’ growth The Q3 GDP report showed the US economy expanding at a 4.3% annualized rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The BEA’s Tuesday release put a strong headline number on third-quarter real gross domestic product (GDP). For trucking, GDP matters because it’s…
FMCSA considers Hours-of-Service exemption for commercial vehicle drivers responding to railroad emergencies The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on Dec. 17, 2025, asked for public comment on an Hours-of-Service (HOS) exemption request from Hulcher Services, Inc., a nationwide emergency response provider to the railroad industry. According to the request, Hulcher’s drivers are responsible for…