Industry News

News from the world of Trucking

• The Future of Weigh Station Bypass    (2026-05-18)
  In the trucking industry, speed still dominates performance conversations. Consistency is the better measure. A truck that runs the same timetable every trip is worth more to a fleet than one that runs fast on its good days. Inconsistency breaks plans, erodes margins, and strains customer relationships. Especially in a tight market, consistency is what separates fleet value from fleet activity
• Bypass Turns Into Savings    (2026-05-18)
  A weigh station stop can seem like a small delay. But across a fleet, those minutes turn into measurable hours, fuel, and cost. The real value of bypass is not moving faster. It is building predictability that adds up.
• Workhorse Group foresees continued growth of medium-duty electrification    (2026-05-14)
  Electric commercial vehicle maker Workhorse Group says medium-duty fleet electrification is nearing a “tipping point” as fleets increasingly focus on operating cost savings and scalable support infrastructure. The company reported […]
• Mexico Heavy-Duty Output Rises for First Time in 17 Months    (2026-05-14)
  For context, through the first four months of 2026, Mexican heavy-duty vehicle production was 21.97% lower year on year at 41,071 trucks and buses.
• Ford Rallies 21% in 2 Days on AI-Driven Energy Business Bet    (2026-05-14)
  Ford is the latest old economy manufacturing company to be swept up in the hype around AI after the automaker’s pivot toward energy storage sent its stock surging. 
• Autonomous Trucks Are Here, But When Will They Scale?    (2026-05-14)
  Autonomous trucking is shifting from early pilots toward full-scale commercial launches. How quickly might driverless trucks become more widely available?
• Trucking Rates Edge Higher as Capacity Tightens in Q1    (2026-05-14)
  Spot and contract rates edged higher during the quarter, while many carriers sharpened their focus on internal efficiency and operational improvements.
• U.S. Ships Millions of Reserve Oil Barrels Overseas Amid War    (2026-05-14)
  Nearly half of the crude oil released from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve is being exported, a fresh sign of how severely global supplies have tightened.
• Supreme Court Says Broker Liability Case Can Proceed    (2026-05-14)
  The high court ruled unanimously in favor of Shawn Montgomery, who lost part of his leg after an accident on an Illinois highway in 2017.
• THRC launches updated HR assessment tool for employers    (2026-05-14)
  Trucking HR Canada has launched an updated version of its HR Circle Check tool, a free assessment platform designed to help trucking and logistics employers evaluate their workplace and human […]
• House Passes CORCA Cargo Theft Prevention Bill    (2026-05-14)
  The House approved the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is set to defend President Trump’s fiscal 2027 budget request.
• Bid Season Gains Spur Optimism in Trucking    (2026-05-14)
  Ongoing headwinds weighed on trucking in the first quarter, but carriers also pointed to emerging tailwinds. Trucking firms cited better pricing power.
• Feds Say Trustee Should Take Over First Brands Case    (2026-05-14)
  A trustee can complete the bankruptcy “at a fraction of the existing costs,” the U.S. Trustee said in its request to convert First Brands to a Chapter 7 case. 
• Oil Prices Dip With No Clear Ending to Iran War    (2026-05-14)
  Brent crude, the international standard, fell 0.1% to $105.54 per barrel.
• Desert Discovery Reveals $1 Million Lego Cargo Theft    (2026-05-14)
  Sheriff deputies responding to a report of suspicious activity in California’s Mojave Desert stumbled upon $1 million in Lego products and two stolen trailers.
• SCOTUS shocker: High court says brokers are accountable for hiring unsafe carriers    (2026-05-14)
  The ruling marks a far different outcome that what many legal experts had predicted.
• Honda Records Its First Annual Loss on Costly EV Strategy    (2026-05-14)
  Honda forecast a return to profit for the fiscal year through March 2027, at $1.7 billion.
• The Supreme Court just told every freight broker that they can be sued    (2026-05-14)
  The Supreme Court ruled unanimously today that state negligent-hiring claims against freight brokers are not preempted by the FAAAA. Twenty-eight thousand brokers just woke up in a different legal universe. The post The Supreme Court just told every freight broker that they can be sued appeared first on FreightWaves.
• SCOTUS rules 9-0 against brokers in Montgomery case    (2026-05-14)
  The so-called safety exception of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (F4A) includes the freight brokerage industry in its umbrella, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday in the closely-watched case of Montgomery vs. Caribe Transport II. The decision of the court was unanimous. Its immediate impact is that the Supreme Court decision clears up conflicting circuit […] The post SCOTUS rules 9-0 against brokers in Montgomery case appeared first on FreightWaves.
• J.B. Hunt sees TL rates climbing 20% over next 2 years    (2026-05-14)
  Executives at J.B. Hunt Transport Services said at an investor conference this week that truckload rates are likely to increase 20% over the next two years as carriers restore margins. The post J.B. Hunt sees TL rates climbing 20% over next 2 years appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Roadcheck Day 2 Nearly Tripled Day 1 Volume. The Violation Data Shows Where Trucks Are Failing.    (2026-05-14)
  The Day 2 Numbers Through two days of the 2026 International Roadcheck, FMCSA inspection records show 6,406 total inspections conducted, 11,010 violations logged, 2,055 out-of-service orders issued, and 5,217 distinct carriers inspected. Data via searchcarriers.com/blitz, which aggregates live FMCSA inspection records and refreshes daily during the event at no cost. Isolating Day 2 from the […] The post Roadcheck Day 2 Nearly Tripled Day 1 Volume. The Violation Data Shows Where Trucks Are Failing. appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Lower revenue, higher costs drive Hapag-Lloyd to loss     (2026-05-14)
  Hapag-Lloyd posted a loss in the first quarter as lower volume and weaker rates hit earnings. The post Lower revenue, higher costs drive Hapag-Lloyd to loss  appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Amazon’s AI Success Sends Stock Toward $3 Trillion Club    (2026-05-14)
  The cloud-computing and e-commerce giant has a market value of $2.9 trillion after adding $432 billion this year.
• House Approves Higher-Ethanol Gasoline in Biofuels Boost    (2026-05-14)
  The measure, which passed 218-203 in a vote May 13, still needs approval in the Senate, where its prospects are uncertain, and then support from the president.
• Allegiant Air and Sun Country Complete Merger    (2026-05-14)
  Along with passenger flights, Sun Country brings into the fold cargo flying for Amazon, as well as charter trips.
• Crucial changes in latest NJ independent contractor rule impacting truckers    (2026-05-14)
  Changes in the New Jersey independent contractor rule, revealed last week, are taking some of the edge off earlier hostility to the proposal when it was first introduced. But what remains is still being viewed by those who hire independent contractors as an ABC test that will be one of the most stringent in the […] The post Crucial changes in latest NJ independent contractor rule impacting truckers appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Cargo theft is changing, and the risk is now inside the truck    (2026-05-14)
  Cargo theft is not slowing down. It is adapting. What used to happen outside the operation is now happening inside it. The post Cargo theft is changing, and the risk is now inside the truck appeared first on FreightWaves.
• U.S. weekly rail traffic again beats 2025 levels    (2026-05-14)
  Industrial improvement led rail freight modestly higher as grain and chemical shipments topped volume gains.  The post U.S. weekly rail traffic again beats 2025 levels appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Roadcheck: Inspectors 'behind the curve' on new breed of ELD cheats    (2026-05-14)
  After hearing about some cutting-edge techniques to catch bad actors using overseas ELD hacking services, inspectors in New Hampshire...
• FMCSA issues first non-domiciled CDL rule exemption    (2026-05-14)
  FMCSA is allowing states to issue non-domiciled CDLs and CLPs to citizens of Freely Associated States who live in the U.S. and...
• New Diesel Engines Come With Fewer Headaches, OEMs Say    (2026-05-14)
  “We made sure that going into 2027, our service intervals are improving,” International Motors Director of Engineering Navtej Singh said at ACT Expo.
• Ohio, Kentucky celebrate start of Brent Spence Bridge project    (2026-05-13)
  The states of Ohio and Kentucky have officially launched the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project, one of the largest infrastructure projects in the United States.  “Today, after decades of planning […]
• Senate Confirms Warsh to Lead Federal Reserve by Slim Vote    (2026-05-13)
  The Senate narrowly confirmed Kevin Warsh as chair of the Federal Reserve, setting up a controversial leadership transition at the U.S. central bank.
• Ford Shares Surge on Energy Storage Outlook    (2026-05-13)
  Ford stock surged May 13 after Morgan Stanley issued a bullish call that the automaker’s energy storage business could soon make a deal with hyperscalers. 
• OEMs See Positives in Third-Party Safety System Ratings    (2026-05-13)
  Attendees of the 2026 Advanced Clean Transportation Expo heard original equipment manufacturers welcome the prospect of IIHS ratings for larger vehicles.
• Nobody Is Asking the Hard Questions About What Happens When an Autonomous Truck Breaks Down on the Highway at 2 AM. Let Us Start.    (2026-05-13)
  This article is not an argument for or against autonomous trucks. It is not a prediction about what the freight market looks like in 2035, and it is not an endorsement of any technology company’s safety record or business model. It is a set of questions that the industry — carriers, drivers, regulators, first responders, […] The post Nobody Is Asking the Hard Questions About What Happens When an Autonomous Truck Breaks Down on the Highway at 2 AM. Let Us Start. appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Pharma, Food, Flatbed, and Automotive. The Four Re-shoring Freight Lanes Small Carriers Can Actually Win — and the One They Should Stop Chasing.     (2026-05-13)
  The Gap Between the Headline and the Freight The White House published a press release on April 22, 2026, titled “Trump Effect: American Manufacturing Is Roaring Back as Factory Activity Hits Four-Year High.” The ISM Manufacturing PMI did reach 52.7 in March 2026 — a multi-year high that signals genuine expansion in domestic manufacturing activity. […] The post Pharma, Food, Flatbed, and Automotive. The Four Re-shoring Freight Lanes Small Carriers Can Actually Win — and the One They Should Stop Chasing.  appeared first on FreightWaves.
• The Load Board Is Busy Because Shippers Are Panicking — Not Simply Because the Market Recovered. Here Is the Difference That Matters.    (2026-05-13)
  What Is Actually Driving the Freight Right Now The surge in freight movement that started in late April and is accelerating through May 2026 is not the organic demand recovery that small carriers have been waiting three years to see. It is, in large part, a tariff front-load. Shippers who import goods from China, Mexico, […] The post The Load Board Is Busy Because Shippers Are Panicking — Not Simply Because the Market Recovered. Here Is the Difference That Matters. appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Rep. Larsen Highlights Bipartisanship in Highway Bill Debate    (2026-05-13)
  Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), House T&I Committee ranking member, said talks on a highway bill are advancing as the panel prepares to schedule legislative action.
• The 2026 CVSA Roadcheck Opened Yesterday. Here’s What the First Day of Real Data Actually Shows.    (2026-05-13)
  What Day 1 Actually Produced FMCSA inspection records show Day 1 produced 1,580 inspections across 1,417 distinct carriers. Total violations logged: 2,637. Out-of-service orders issued: 496. That works out to an average of 1.67 violations per inspection — a 31.4% out-of-service rate against total inspection volume. Data via Search Carriers, which aggregates live FMCSA inspection […] The post The 2026 CVSA Roadcheck Opened Yesterday. Here’s What the First Day of Real Data Actually Shows. appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Hormuz Oil Flows Fell Nearly 30% in Q1, EIA Says    (2026-05-13)
  Flows of crude oil and fuels through the Strait of Hormuz fell by nearly 6 million barrels per day in Q1, the start of a seismic energy shock.
• Coupa bets big on AI,  optimization as supply chains face new volatility     (2026-05-13)
  Coupa Inspire 2026 is highlighting how companies are using AI-driven sourcing, network optimization and automation tools to cut costs, speed procurement and navigate increasingly complex global supply chains. The post Coupa bets big on AI,  optimization as supply chains face new volatility  appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Iran War Is Going to Make Oil Changes More Expensive    (2026-05-13)
  A broad group of industrial lubricants known as base oils, which are used to make motor oil, are in very short supply with no signs of easing on the horizon.
• How inspectors are catching remote ELD cheats: Roadcheck in Tennessee    (2026-05-13)
  Roadcheck's ongoing through May 14. On the ground Day 1 at the I-65 scale in Giles County, Tennessee, highway patrol troopers...
• Oil Prices Steady Following Discouraging Inflation Report    (2026-05-13)
  The price for a barrel of Brent crude slipped 0.9% to $106.84.
• FedEx board approves spinoff of LTL unit    (2026-05-13)
  The board at FedEx has formally greenlit the spinoff of its freight division. The post FedEx board approves spinoff of LTL unit appeared first on FreightWaves.
• UP-NS say revised merger application is ‘comprehensive and complete’    (2026-05-13)
  Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern defended their revised merger application, calling it "comprehensive and complete" while rebutting calls for its rejection. The post UP-NS say revised merger application is ‘comprehensive and complete’ appeared first on FreightWaves.
• ATA Continues Push for Excise Tax Repeal on New Trucks    (2026-05-13)
  Bill sponsors say the federal excise tax can add between $15,000 and $30,000 to the purchase price of a new truck, which discourages fleet turnover.
• Are you ready for FMCSA’s new Motus registration system?    (2026-05-13)
  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is reminding motor carriers that several legacy systems will be taken offline on Thursday night as the agency transitions to the next-generation Motus system. […]
• FMCSA Unveils Motus to Modernize Carrier Registration    (2026-05-13)
  FMCSA is launching a new online registration dashboard for freight industry companies that has fraud protections and cellphone accessibility.
• We have a long-haul problem and Hirschbach proved it    (2026-05-13)
  The American trucking industry built its workforce narrative on a myth, and the modern driver, who wants to be home by Friday and isn't interested in sleeping in a cab for two weeks, is the one exposing it. The post We have a long-haul problem and Hirschbach proved it appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Amazon Puts Alexa Inside the Shopping Search Bar in AI Push    (2026-05-13)
  The new tool — called Alexa for Shopping — supplants Rufus, the shopping assistant bot that summarized product reviews and suggested purchases.
• Wholesale Prices Skyrocket With Diesel Up 12.6%    (2026-05-13)
  Energy prices climbed 7.8% from March to April and 22.7% from a year earlier. Gasoline soared 15.6% from March and diesel jumped 12.6%.
• Nissan Reduces Losses and Expects to Return to Profit    (2026-05-13)
  Quarterly sales declined nearly 2% to $22 billion. Nissan said it was working on cost cuts and other efforts to become more profitable.
• Texas probes CDL schools, warns CVS over supply chain practices    (2026-05-13)
  The Texas Attorney General’s Office is investigating CDL training programs while also challenging supplier diversity policies at CVS Health. The post Texas probes CDL schools, warns CVS over supply chain practices appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Outpost launches second-generation gate kiosk that deploys in one day    (2026-05-13)
  Outpost launched its second-generation gate automation platform on Wednesday, introducing a ruggedized kiosk that deploys in as little as one day and slashes gate operating costs by up to 70 percent. The Austin, Texas-based truck terminal owner and automation company now processes more than 3 million gate events annually across its network of more than […] The post Outpost launches second-generation gate kiosk that deploys in one day appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Railroads cheer crime bill passage, want DoJ to gear up supply chain theft fight    (2026-05-13)
  House passage of a bill to fight retail crime won approval from a rail trade group, who called on the Justice Department to do more to fight supply chain theft. The post Railroads cheer crime bill passage, want DoJ to gear up supply chain theft fight appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Volvo D13, Mack MP13 updates for EPA 2027 | Cargo theft legislation heads to Senate    (2026-05-13)
  The “Combating Organized Retail Crime Act' would establish an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center to improve...
• US trucking groups oppose calls to suspend federal fuel taxes    (2026-05-12)
  Three U.S. trucking associations have joined together to oppose proposals to suspend federal fuel taxes.  “We understand and appreciate the desire to provide relief to Americans facing higher fuel costs. […]
• Trump Puts Trade Ahead of Iran for Xi Summit Priorities    (2026-05-12)
  President Donald Trump said he would prioritize trade discussions over the Iran war during his summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
• State of Sustainable Fleets 2026: Fleets diversify amid policy shifts    (2026-05-12)
  The seventh annual State of Sustainable Fleets report lands as fleets face one of the most uncertain environments in decades. Tariff disruptions, regulatory reversals and a prolonged freight recession have suppressed new vehicle orders across every drivetrain. Federal policy shifts erased the previous federally driven push toward zero-emission trucks.  The rollback of greenhouse gas vehicle […] The post State of Sustainable Fleets 2026: Fleets diversify amid policy shifts appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Waymo Issues Robotaxi Recall After San Antonio Flood Incident    (2026-05-12)
  Waymo is recalling thousands of robotaxis to fix a software issue that could cause the autonomous vehicles to drive on flooded roads.
• Trump Tariff Refund Payments Continue Rolling Out    (2026-05-12)
  The Trump administration is in the process of issuing more than $35.5 billion to importers who successfully filed for tariff refunds.
• Court Lets Trump 10% Tariffs Stand While Appeal Is Considered    (2026-05-12)
  A federal appeals court has temporarily paused a ruling that declared President Trump’s latest 10% global tariffs unlawful.
• CVSA Roadcheck and enforcement is crucial to national security    (2026-05-12)
  An investigative analysis of the security gaps in American commercial trucking, from terrorism to trafficking and how CVSA Roadcheck plays an important role. The post CVSA Roadcheck and enforcement is crucial to national security appeared first on FreightWaves.