Industry News

News from the world of Trucking

• STB rejects “incomplete” UP-NS merger application    (2026-01-16)
  The Surface Transportation Board rejected as incomplete the merger application by Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern to create the first transcontinental railroad.   The post STB rejects “incomplete” UP-NS merger application appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Trump Casts Doubt on Hassett as Next Fed Chair    (2026-01-16)
  President Trump said if Hassett were to leave the White House National Economic Council, it would deprive the administration of one of its most powerful messengers of the economy.
• Guillaume Giroudon to Lead Operations at Mack’s LVO Plant    (2026-01-16)
  Guillaume Giroudon will become general manager of Mack Trucks’ Lehigh Valley Operations manufacturing plant in Macungie, Pa., the Volvo Group division said.
• Cass TL Linehaul Index climbs amid shipment decline    (2026-01-16)
  December data from Cass Information Systems showed truckload rates continued to step higher as shipments moved lower. The post Cass TL Linehaul Index climbs amid shipment decline appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Florida harbor pilot dies after fall from vessel    (2026-01-16)
  A harbor pilot died while disembarking from a cargo vessel on Florida’s northern Gulf coast. The post Florida harbor pilot dies after fall from vessel appeared first on FreightWaves.
• New bill gives Trump power to blacklist foreign ports    (2026-01-16)
  Legislation empowers the President to ban vessels from U.S. waters if they call on foreign ports that have nationalized or confiscated U.S.-owned assets. The post New bill gives Trump power to blacklist foreign ports appeared first on FreightWaves.
• DTNA Q4 Truck, Bus Sales Decline 27.5% Year Over Year    (2026-01-16)
  Daimler Truck North America sold 34,017 trucks and buses in Q4 2025, down 27.5% from 46,906 vehicles in the same period a year earlier, parent company Daimler Truck said Jan. 16.
• 2026 Trucking capacity: Why it will tighten and who gets trucks first    (2026-01-16)
  Trucking capacity has been steadily exiting the market over the past couple of years. These exits, however, came on the heels of the massive COVID-era oversupply, cushioning their impact on the market. With capacity continuing to tighten going into 2026, the industry will start to feel the effects of this long-term constriction.  Underneath the day-to-day, […] The post 2026 Trucking capacity: Why it will tighten and who gets trucks first appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Cargo thieves sentenced to prison for hijacking trucks    (2026-01-16)
  Members of an organized criminal gang that stole trucks with millions of dollars of merchandise received prison sentences ranging from nearly three years to 13 years. The post Cargo thieves sentenced to prison for hijacking trucks appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Union Pacific CEO tells customers they will benefit from merger    (2026-01-16)
  Union Pacific's chief executive fired back at rivals who oppose the merger to create the first transcontinental railroad. The post Union Pacific CEO tells customers they will benefit from merger appeared first on FreightWaves.
• 57 US, Canadian carriers receive 2026 TCA Elite Fleet certification    (2026-01-16)
  The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has announced the 2026 class of Elite Fleet certified carriers. Now in its second year, the program recognizes for-hire truckload fleets that demonstrate excellence in […]
• FedEx Files to Spin Off Freight Unit Into Stand-Alone Company    (2026-01-16)
  FedEx Corp. has filed to spin off its freight division into its own stand-alone business, the company announced Jan. 16. The separation is on schedule to be completed June 1.
• Cox Automotive Launches Cox Fleet for Trucking    (2026-01-16)
  Cox Automotive unveiled Cox Fleet, a new fleet services brand that combines its commercial vehicle maintenance and roadside operations under a single organization.
• Texas Cancels 6,400 CDLs for Immigrant Drivers    (2026-01-16)
  The Department of Transportation has threatened to withhold federal highway funds from any state that didn't work to scrub licenses with discrepancies.
• Sales at Daimler Truck Down 8% in 2025 Amid US Slump    (2026-01-16)
  Weakness in Daimler Truck's key North American market was largely to blame for the decline, with sales slumping 26% to 142,000 vehicles.
• Supreme Court Sets Jan. 20 for Next Opinions    (2026-01-16)
  A ruling against Trump on tariffs would undercut the centerpiece of his economic agenda and deliver his biggest legal defeat since returning to the White House.
• Asia-US shippers could see lower rates from Red Sea return    (2026-01-16)
  A return of major liners to the Red Sea could return massive capacity to shipping and further pressure rates in an uneven market, an analyst says. The post Asia-US shippers could see lower rates from Red Sea return appeared first on FreightWaves.
• How to change a truck tire at 46 below zero: 'Don't panic'    (2026-01-16)
  Alaska-based Dalton Highway heavy hauler Troy Call's got plenty experience at those temps. Long Haul Paul here salutes Call and...
• US House panel advances cargo theft legislation    (2026-01-16)
  Bipartisan legislation that freight transportation stakeholders view as critical in the fight against cargo theft passed the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 13. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) […]
• Oops! TQL seeks return of incorrect commission payments    (2026-01-16)
  TQL incorrectly made higher payouts to some brokers, is clawing them back. The post Oops! TQL seeks return of incorrect commission payments appeared first on FreightWaves.
• ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Trucking sentiment improving, reflecting ‘cautious optimism’    (2026-01-16)
  The mood in trucking is improving, ever so slowly, based on the latest reports to cross our desks. ACT Research characterizes it as ‘cautious optimism’ as clarity around EPA27 emissions […]
• Venezuela’s New Leader Favors Foreign Investment in Oil    (2026-01-16)
  Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez used her first state of the union message Jan. 15 to advocate for opening the crucial state-run oil industry to more foreign investment.
• Tesla Pores Over 8,313 Potential FSD Traffic Violations    (2026-01-16)
  NHTSA granted Tesla a five-week extension to start addressing a defect investigation into its cars violating traffic laws while its Full Self-Driving system is engaged.
• Taylor Express closure leaves drivers sleeping in trucks, employees jobless    (2026-01-16)
  Taylor Express shut down without warning on Jan. 12, cutting off support and leaving some truck drivers sleeping in their rigs while trying to get home, former employees said. The post Taylor Express closure leaves drivers sleeping in trucks, employees jobless appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Walmart Names New US Chief Ahead of CEO Change    (2026-01-16)
  David Guggina, who has been the chief e-commerce officer of Walmart U.S., has been promoted to CEO of the division — the company’s biggest and most important business.
• J.B. Hunt Misses Revenue Estimates on Freight Slump    (2026-01-16)
  J.B. Hunt handled fewer longhaul, coast-to-coast shipments during the quarter, with intermodal volumes shifting toward shorter hauls in the eastern U.S.
• Canada Agrees to Cut Tariffs on Chinese EVs    (2026-01-16)
  Breaking with the United States, Canada has agreed to cut its 100% tariff on Chinese electric cars in return for lower tariffs on Canadian farm products, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Jan. 16.
• Aurora, McLeod deliver industry’s first driverless trucking link to TMS platform    (2026-01-16)
  Early rollout driven by customer demand gives McLeod users immediate access to Aurora Driver capacity The post Aurora, McLeod deliver industry’s first driverless trucking link to TMS platform appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Trade Policy and Tariffs Fuel Nearshoring Momentum    (2026-01-16)
  Transportation companies such as C.H. Robinson and XPO have already added services and warehouse space to support customers in Mexico that are shipping or are planning to ship to the U.S.
• Cost management drives Q4 beat at J.B. Hunt    (2026-01-16)
  J.B. Hunt Transport Services beat fourth-quarter expectations as cost reductions more than offset a revenue decline. The post Cost management drives Q4 beat at J.B. Hunt appeared first on FreightWaves.
• The Stagecoach Robbing Era and The Evolution of Freight Fraud    (2026-01-16)
  The freight industry moved $14 trillion in goods last year. It cannot function without trust, trust that the carrier picking up your load is who they claim to be, trust that the broker paying you will actually pay, and trust that the load you accepted exists. That trust has been systematically exploited for decades. At its root, every form of freight fraud, chameleon carriers, double brokering, cargo theft, identity spoofing, comes down to one question: Are you who you say you are? The post The Stagecoach Robbing Era and The Evolution of Freight Fraud appeared first on FreightWaves.
• FMCSA removes 3,800 schools from Training Provider Registry amid 'CDL mill' purge    (2026-01-16)
  FMCSA this week took another 3,800 CDL schools down amid a full-court press on bad actors in trucking, starting with 'CDL mills...
• DOT says it will use AI to hunt down fraud, illegal drivers    (2026-01-16)
  DOT Deputy Secretary Steven Bradbury said AI could help root out 'foreign illegal drivers' who are 'eating the lunch of American...
• FMCSA 'Immediate Suspension' rule for brokers takes effect | $1M fine for carriers who hire illegal drivers: State bill    (2026-01-16)
  After being delayed last year, the rule that allows FMCSA to suspend brokers for not maintaining $75,000 in financial security...
• Part that broke in UPS cargo jet crash had history of failure    (2026-01-15)
  The National Transportation Safety Board said Boeing knew of previous failures in a structural component that broke on a UPS MD-11 freighter in November, causing a fatal crash. The post Part that broke in UPS cargo jet crash had history of failure appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Rivian CEO, Mack Trucks Leader to Keynote ACT Expo 2026    (2026-01-15)
  Event expands focus on digital technologies alongside zero-emission vehicles The post Rivian CEO, Mack Trucks Leader to Keynote ACT Expo 2026 appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Canada’s Titanium going private with a 40%+ bump in stock price    (2026-01-15)
  Canada’s Titanium Transportation is going private at a big premium to its Wednesday stock price. The post Canada’s Titanium going private with a 40%+ bump in stock price appeared first on FreightWaves.
• First look: J.B. Hunt’s Q4 beats consensus    (2026-01-15)
  J.B. Hunt Transport Services beat fourth-quarter earnings expectations Thursday after the market closed. The post First look: J.B. Hunt’s Q4 beats consensus appeared first on FreightWaves.
• McLeod Completes Autonomous Truck Integration With Aurora    (2026-01-15)
  The collaboration between McLeod and Aurora, first announced Aug. 28, enables trucking businesses to book and manage autonomous truck capacity using their existing McLeod TMS.
• Red Granite Equipment opens in Wisconsin    (2026-01-15)
  Red Granite Equipment has commenced operations across the state of Wisconsin and beyond. The company offers sales, parts and service support for purpose-built solutions from manufacturers including Palfinger, Cross Country […]
• MySavant.ai launches AI-powered nearshore workforce for logistics and supply chain teams    (2026-01-15)
  For years, nearshoring has been sold to logistics operators as a simple equation: move work closer, add people, lower costs. In practice, that model has begun to crack under its own weight. As freight markets remain volatile and operational margins stay thin, the industry is confronting a harder truth, scaling by headcount alone rarely delivers […] The post MySavant.ai launches AI-powered nearshore workforce for logistics and supply chain teams appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Taiwan Trade Pact Pledges $500 Billion for US Chipmaking    (2026-01-15)
  Under the terms, which the White House was poised to announce Jan. 15, duties on Taiwanese shipments would fall from the previous 20% rate — putting them on par with Japan and South Korea.
• New year, new gains for U.S. rail freight    (2026-01-15)
  U.S. rail carload freight and intermodal shipments for the first week of this year improved nearly by double-digits. The post New year, new gains for U.S. rail freight appeared first on FreightWaves.
• DOT's Bradbury Highlights Safety, Funding at TRB    (2026-01-15)
  The Trump administration’s infrastructure agenda is committed to project delivery for improving safety and economic growth, a USDOT official said at TRB's annual meeting.
• Saia reboots LinkEx as Saia Logistics    (2026-01-15)
  Less-than-truckload carrier Saia said it is renaming its LinkEx logistics business to Saia Logistics. The post Saia reboots LinkEx as Saia Logistics appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Saia rebrands LinkEx as Saia Logistics    (2026-01-15)
  Saia is rebranding its logistics arm, LinkEx, which will begin operating as Saia Logistics, the company announced Jan. 15. The move aligns Saia’s freight and logistics services under a single […]
• House Transportation Panel Signals Optimism on Highway Bill    (2026-01-15)
  House Transportation Committee Chairman Sam Graves on Jan. 14 told colleagues he expects to schedule consideration of the bipartisan highway bill in a couple of months.
• 4 States Have Begun Charging Higher Diesel, Gas Taxes    (2026-01-15)
  The states of Michigan, New Jersey, Minnesota and Florida adopted fuel-tax increases for 2026, while just one state — Utah — reduced its motor fuel tax rates.
• USA Truck Secures $50M Trailer Lease From TEN    (2026-01-15)
  Transportation Equipment Network closed a $50 million enterprise lease agreement with USA Truck, providing a long-term trailer fleet as the carrier moves forward under new ownership.
• ATA Begins Surveying for 2026 Driver Compensation Study    (2026-01-15)
  The last ATA Driver Compensation Study found truckload drivers earned median annual pay of $76,420 in 2023, a 10% increase compared with the level reported in 2021’s study.
• Whitmer Warns of Worsening Car Industry Under Trump Tariffs    (2026-01-15)
  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a speech at the Detroit Auto Show that the administration's tariff strategy has hurt American auto manufacturing and is benefiting Chinese competitors.
• Robocar Startup Tensor May Seek New Funds Before US IPO    (2026-01-15)
  The San Jose, Calif.-based company could seek $300 million to $400 million, a source told Bloomberg. A listing in the U.S. could take place as soon as the end of this year or early 2027.
• Maersk to Return to Red Sea as Stability Improves in Region    (2026-01-15)
  The voyage marks another step toward normalization of global supply lines, after Yemen-based Houthis in 2023 began attacking vessels, forcing shipowners to sail south of Africa.
• Bloodhound Tracking Device launches Tracker 1, the covert tracking solution for containers    (2026-01-15)
  For most of its life, the global dry box container has operated in the shadows. Once it leaves the terminal, visibility drops off quickly. Unlike trucks or railcars, containers have historically been treated as static assets. Steel boxes that move through the system but rarely speak for themselves. Tracking was viewed as optional, expensive, or […] The post Bloodhound Tracking Device launches Tracker 1, the covert tracking solution for containers appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Ford Stresses Importance of USMCA Trade Pact    (2026-01-15)
  “We built our entire vehicle business as an industry between Canada, Mexico and the U.S.,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said Jan. 15 in a Bloomberg TV interview. “We have to get this revised.”
• BNSF Warns Rail Megamerger Risks Higher Prices    (2026-01-15)
  Katie Farmer, BNSF’s CEO, said the industry should question whether it’s an “accurate premise” that Union Pacific’s proposed takeover of Norfolk Southern will lead eventually to growth in shipping volume.
• C.H. Robinson makes its legal written case before SCOTUS on broker liability    (2026-01-15)
  C.H. Robinson has filed its brief with the Supreme Court on the issue of broker liability. The post C.H. Robinson makes its legal written case before SCOTUS on broker liability appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Stellantis CEO Filosa Wants to Keep the Carmaker Intact    (2026-01-15)
  Antonio Filosa is overseeing a wide-ranging review of the automaker’s global operations in bid to stabilize the company after suffering dramatic market-share declines under Carlos Tavares.
• Tennessee carrier shutting down, laying off 145 workers    (2026-01-15)
  A permanent shutdown of Smoky Mountain Logistics will leave 145 drivers and staff without jobs by Feb. 28. The post Tennessee carrier shutting down, laying off 145 workers appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Venezuela’s Dark Fleet of Oil Tankers Emerges    (2026-01-15)
  The supertanker Marbella, whose location was a mystery for more than a year, turned on its transponder this past weekend to reveal it was sitting off the coast of Venezuela.
• Maersk returns to Red Sea with India-US service    (2026-01-15)
  Maersk is returning to the Red Sea for the first time since Houthi rebels began attacking shipping in 2023. The post Maersk returns to Red Sea with India-US service appeared first on FreightWaves.
• PlusAI Moves a Step Closer to Going Public    (2026-01-15)
  This is PlusAI’s second attempt to go public. The company announced plans to merge with Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. V in a 2021 deal that valued the company at $3.3 billion.
• US Seizes Fourth Sanctioned Oil Tanker Tied to Venezuela    (2026-01-15)
  The Veronica is the fourth tanker seized since the U.S. ouster of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid almost two weeks ago.
• Oil Tanker Rates Jump as US Push Into Venezuela Shifts Flows    (2026-01-15)
  The global oil industry is working through the consequences of Washington’s move. For shipowners, that means higher rates on some routes as current and future oil flows are redirected.
• The Trucking Fraud Network That Killed Seven Marines and The Last Defendant in The Crash Faces Trial    (2026-01-15)
  Dartanyan Gasanov, co-owner of Westfield Transport, is scheduled to stand trial on March 2, 2026, in Springfield, Massachusetts, on federal charges related to the June 2019 crash that killed seven Jarheads Motorcycle Club members. He reportedly rejected a no-time plea agreement and chose to fight the charges at trial. Meanwhile, the driver who killed seven people was acquitted, remains free under an immigration supervision order, and becomes eligible to petition for his license back in June 2026. The post The Trucking Fraud Network That Killed Seven Marines and The Last Defendant in The Crash Faces Trial appeared first on FreightWaves.