Industry News

News from the world of Trucking

• $500,000 shipment recovered after theft attempt in Ontario    (2026-01-12)
  A truckload shipment of connectivity hardware valued at around $500,000 was recovered intact after an attempted theft was detected in Mississauga, Ont., according to Overhaul. The shipment originated in Southern […]
• Activist investor Ancora carves out niche in transportation sector    (2026-01-12)
  Activist investment firm Ancora Alternatives has led five separate change campaigns in the transportation industry and sees further opportunity for engagement in the space. The post Activist investor Ancora carves out niche in transportation sector appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Reduce the Impact of Heavy-Duty Repairs    (2026-01-12)
  Apply strategies to ensure unexpected over-the-road repairs don’t negatively impact your business.   Key activities to save time, reduce cost, improve repair quality, and stay up to date on repair progress.
• Prime expands refrigerated operations with Western Flyer Xpress deal    (2026-01-11)
  Prime Inc. announced a strategic partnership that transitions the refrigerated operations of Western Flyer Xpress into Prime’s Power Fleet Program. Prime, based in Springfield, Mo., is the largest refrigerator transportation […]
• Mexican National Arrested at Border After Alleged Kidnapping Spree Fits Pattern FBI Has Tracked for Decades    (2026-01-11)
  A 35-year-old Mexican national working for an Arizona-based trucking company was arrested at the border after allegedly targeting middle school girls and multiple women during a single night in Ellensburg, Washington. The case fits a disturbing pattern the FBI has tracked since 2004 through its Highway Serial Killings Initiative, which has linked more than 850 murders to long-haul truck drivers and currently tracks 450 active suspects. The post Mexican National Arrested at Border After Alleged Kidnapping Spree Fits Pattern FBI Has Tracked for Decades appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Tennessee Becomes Latest Target in Duffy’s CDL Compliance Crackdown    (2026-01-11)
  Tennessee has notified approximately 8,800 CDL holders that they must provide proof of citizenship or lawful presence by April 6 or face an automatic downgrade to a standard driver's license. The move follows Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's escalating enforcement campaign that has already frozen California's non-domiciled licensing program and threatened multiple states with the loss of federal highway funds. The post Tennessee Becomes Latest Target in Duffy’s CDL Compliance Crackdown appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Borderlands Mexico: Tariff noise to stay loud in 2026, Flexport warns importers    (2026-01-11)
  This week in Borderlands Mexico: Tariff noise to stay loud in 2026, Flexport warns importers; Echo Global Logistics launches EchoXBorder; and LS Cable & System USA opens logistics hub near Po The post Borderlands Mexico: Tariff noise to stay loud in 2026, Flexport warns importers appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Warehouses empty in December    (2026-01-10)
  Inventory levels dropped at their fastest clip in over ten years according to the LMI in December. This lean management strategy could be a boon for trucking. The post Warehouses empty in December appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Another Truckers Association Sues FMCSA Over CDL Freeze    (2026-01-10)
  The Chinese American Truckers Association filed suit against FMCSA and California DMV this week, challenging an indefinite licensing freeze that has stranded qualified drivers in bureaucratic limbo. The post Another Truckers Association Sues FMCSA Over CDL Freeze appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Dragon in the Cab: How China Quietly Embedded Itself in American Trucking    (2026-01-10)
  Congress is scrambling to block Chinese purchases of farmland near bases. But nobody is systematically vetting who climbs into the cab to haul freight to and from military installations. Given everything we now know, shouldn't we at least ask the question? The post Dragon in the Cab: How China Quietly Embedded Itself in American Trucking appeared first on FreightWaves.
• USA Truck returned to private Arkansas-based ownership structure    (2026-01-10)
  USA Truck has returned being a privately run fleet with Arkansas-based ownership, which the company says marks a new chapter in its more than 40-year history. DSV has agreed to […]
• Last mile provider FAST Group’s post-merger meltdown: PE-backer freezes fund amid financial red flags    (2026-01-10)
  In the fast-paced world of e-commerce logistics, mergers are often hailed as game-changers, promising synergies, expanded networks, and economies of scale. But for FAST Group—the entity born from the August 2025 merger of Australian parcel delivery firm Sendle, U.S.-based FirstMile, and ACI Logistix—the honeymoon was short-lived. Just months after the deal closed, Sydney-based Federation Asset […] The post Last mile provider FAST Group’s post-merger meltdown: PE-backer freezes fund amid financial red flags appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Former, current USA Truck execs acquire TL carrier from DSV    (2026-01-09)
  Arkansas-based truckload carrier, USA Truck, has been acquired by a group of current and former leaders. The post Former, current USA Truck execs acquire TL carrier from DSV appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Lyft, Uber Drivers Protest Waymo Robotaxis in San Francisco    (2026-01-09)
  Drivers for Lyft and Uber protested self-driving Waymo taxis in San Francisco on Jan. 9, urging state regulators to exercise greater oversight of autonomous vehicles.
• Trump Promises Oil Execs 'Total Safety' in Venezuela    (2026-01-09)
  President Donald Trump called on oil executives to rush back into Venezuela as the White House looks to quickly secure $100 billion in investments to revive the country's petroleum reserves.
• North Carolina’s 54% CDL Failure Rate Exposes Licensing Rot    (2026-01-09)
  North Carolina's non-domiciled CDL program just posted the nation's worst audit numbers: 54% of licenses reviewed were issued illegally. Nearly $50 million in federal funding is at stake. But if you've been paying attention, none of this should surprise you. The post North Carolina’s 54% CDL Failure Rate Exposes Licensing Rot appeared first on FreightWaves.
• EquipmentShare, Motive to Weigh Marketing IPOs Next Week    (2026-01-09)
  EquipmentShare.com Inc. and Motive Technologies are set to begin formal marketing for their initial public offerings as soon as next week, according to people familiar with the matter.
• The USPS Tells Contractors No More Immigrant CDL Drivers. Here’s How We Got Here.    (2026-01-09)
  USPS didn't track deaths. It didn't verify who was authorized to transport its freight. And it kept hiring carriers with conditional safety ratings while 79 people died in contractor crashes over three years. Now, with Duffy's DOT threatening to revoke California's CDL program and USPS's first enforcement attempt collapsing within days, the Postal Service is trying again, this time claiming safety as its priority, a priority it ignored for a decade. The post The USPS Tells Contractors No More Immigrant CDL Drivers. Here’s How We Got Here. appeared first on FreightWaves.
• FTR Expects ‘Marginless Recovery’ for Trucking in 2026    (2026-01-09)
  The freight market outlook is underwhelming, with marginal rate increases unlikely to cover the ongoing rise in carriers’ costs, according to FTR Transportation Intelligence analysts.
• Texas carrier ordered to pay more than $100K to fired driver     (2026-01-09)
  A Texas trucking company must rehire a driver and pay $100,000 in damages after investigators determined the driver was fired for raising safety complaints. The post Texas carrier ordered to pay more than $100K to fired driver  appeared first on FreightWaves.
• German company joins push to replace traditional truck mirrors    (2026-01-09)
  Aumovio has applied for an exemption to replace traditional truck mirrors with its camera system, aiming to join other manufacturers already authorized. The post German company joins push to replace traditional truck mirrors appeared first on FreightWaves.
• First Brands Sues Founder’s Brother for Fraud    (2026-01-09)
  Bankrupt auto parts maker First Brands Group has sued Edward James — its former executive and the brother of company founder Patrick James — and its largest creditor Onset Financial.
• When It May Be Time to Use a Third-Party Driver Recruiting Company — And When It’s a Mistake    (2026-01-09)
  There’s a moment most small fleet owners reach — usually late at night, staring at parked trucks — where the thought creeps in: “Maybe I just need help finding drivers.” It sounds simple. Logical, even. But recruiting isn’t just about finding people. It’s about filtering, selling, onboarding, and retaining — all at the same time. […] The post When It May Be Time to Use a Third-Party Driver Recruiting Company — And When It’s a Mistake appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Truck transportation jobs flat in December, lowest since 2021    (2026-01-09)
  Excerpt: The number of truck transportation jobs in November and December were the same, according to the BLS.  The post Truck transportation jobs flat in December, lowest since 2021 appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Dart Transit Group Sold After 90 Years of Family Ownership    (2026-01-09)
  The acquisition does not change day-to-day operations. The Dart name and operating entities remain unchanged, and drivers, customers, leadership and staff will remain in place.
• Amazon Plans Walmart-Style Big Box Store Near Chicago    (2026-01-09)
  Amazon is planning a 229,000-square-foot store selling groceries and general merchandise in the Chicago area, a fresh attempt at physical retail that borrows from stories like Walmart and Target.
• TCA reveals 2025 Fleet Safety Awards division winners    (2026-01-09)
  The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) announced 18 division winners in the 50th annual TCA Fleet Safety Awards competition. These annual awards recognize truckload carriers that demonstrate an exceptional commitment to […]
• First Brands Judge OKs Examiner to Probe Fraud Allegations    (2026-01-09)
  Martin De Luca, a partner in the law firm of Boies Schiller Flexner, has been asked by the U.S. Trustee to put together a report on the allegations of mismanagement and fraud aimed at First Brands.
• North Carolina could lose $48M in federal funding for non-domiciled CDL issues    (2026-01-09)
  FMCSA found the state's DMV improperly issued non-domiciled CDLs to citizens of Mexico, likewise for longer terms than the drivers...
• DOT’s Duffy targets N.C. over non-domiciled CDLs    (2026-01-09)
  North Carolina has become the latest state threatened with the loss of millions of dollars in federal funding by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over the issuance of non-domiciled commercial driver’s […]
• Trump Ready to Pivot If Court Overturns Tariffs, Aide Says    (2026-01-09)
  The Supreme Court held an opinion day Jan. 9, but no decision came on the legality of the president’s sweeping levies imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. 
• North Carolina CDL Violations Mirror Other States’ Issues    (2026-01-09)
  The latest enforcement action from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy against a state over issuance of non-domiciled CDLs included a familiar list of alleged offenses.
• Sluggish Hiring Closes Out Frustrating Year for Job Seekers    (2026-01-09)
  Employers added just 50,000 jobs last month, nearly unchanged from a downwardly revised figure of 56,000 in November, the Labor Department said Jan. 9. The unemployment rate slipped to 4.4%.
• USPS insourcing forces Denver contractor to layoff 700 workers    (2026-01-09)
  The U.S. Postal Service is bringing in-house the operation of its Denver regional mail hub and ending its relationship with a private contractor, which will result in large job losses. The post USPS insourcing forces Denver contractor to layoff 700 workers appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Should You Scale in 2026? The Questions That Matter More Than Truck Counts    (2026-01-09)
  Every cycle creates the same temptation. Rates start to firm up. Capacity thins out. Enforcement tightens. Someone tells you, “Now’s the time to grow.” And for some carriers, that will be true. But for many others, scaling in 2026 without the right foundation will quietly turn a survivable business into a fragile one. The mistake […] The post Should You Scale in 2026? The Questions That Matter More Than Truck Counts appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Susquehanna says TL recovery requires kick start from demand    (2026-01-09)
  Susquehanna said truckload’s supply side has the market set up for a recovery but demand will have to kick in at some point to prolong an upcycle. The post Susquehanna says TL recovery requires kick start from demand appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Trump to Meet With Oil Executives on Venezuela    (2026-01-09)
  Among the companies attending are Chevron, which still operates in Venezuela, and Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips, which both had oil projects in the country that were lost in 2007.
• New Engine Oil Standards Are Coming — Here’s What Truckers Actually Need to Know    (2026-01-09)
  Starting January 1, 2027, new heavy-duty diesel engines will hit the road. And when engines change, oil has to change with them. That’s the entire story. Under upcoming EPA regulations, heavy-duty diesel engines must achieve significant emissions reductions: an 80% decrease in nitrogen oxides (NOx) and a 50% cut in particulate matter. Furthermore, these rules […] The post New Engine Oil Standards Are Coming — Here’s What Truckers Actually Need to Know appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Susquehanna upgrades American Airlines and Sun Country on projected demand recovery    (2026-01-09)
  Both airlines’ price targets were raised to $20/share. The post Susquehanna upgrades American Airlines and Sun Country on projected demand recovery appeared first on FreightWaves.
• North Carolina Could Lose $50M Over Non-Domiciled CDLs    (2026-01-09)
  North Carolina is the ninth state to be targeted since Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy launched the review last year to make sure only qualified drivers hold licenses to drive trucks.
• CBO Predicts Federal Reserve to Cut Rates in 2026    (2026-01-09)
  The Federal Reserve is expected to cut short-term rates in 2026, with its key interest rate settling at 3.4% toward the end of President Donald Trump's term in office in 2028, according to the CBO.
• Portland re-opens Oregon’s only container terminal    (2026-01-09)
  The Port of Portland has re-opened Terminal 6 under private management in a move to give new life to the troubled facility. The post Portland re-opens Oregon’s only container terminal appeared first on FreightWaves.
• FMCSA's random drug testing rates for 2026, and more HOS-relief and other regs news    (2026-01-09)
  The random drug and alcohol testing rate for FMCSA-regulated workers hasn't been changed since 2020. Also: FMCSA proposes change...
• The fight before Christmas: How DOT blew off California’s last-ditch effort to save 17K non-domiciled CDLs    (2026-01-09)
  DOT seems to have had enough of California's repeated attempts to keep 17,000 non-domiciled CDL holders on the road in newly uncovered...
• PlusAI reports improved KPIs ahead of 2027 commercial launch    (2026-01-09)
  PlusAI reports further progress toward commercial deployment of its autonomous trucking technology, with improvements across key safety and operational readiness metrics in the second half of 2025. In a news […]
• DOT threatens to revoke North Carolina’s CDL authority    (2026-01-08)
  Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened to withhold $50 million from North Carolina after an audit found the state illegally issued over half of its foreign driver CDLs. The post DOT threatens to revoke North Carolina’s CDL authority appeared first on FreightWaves.
• International Lines Up EPA 2027 S13 Powertrain    (2026-01-08)
  “We are marching forward as though this emissions regulation lands at the beginning of 2027,” said Dan Kayser, executive vice president of commercial operations at International.
• Dart Transit sold to private equity firm    (2026-01-08)
  Dart Transit, a Minnesota-based trucking fleet founded in 1934, has been sold to private equity firm Avkha Equity Holdings.  Terms of the Jan. 1 transaction, which includes Dart Transit, Dart […]
• GM’s EV Charges Spike to $7.6 Billion as US Demand Crumbles    (2026-01-08)
  General Motors will take another $6 billion in charges tied to production cutbacks in its EV and battery operations as the financial fallout spreads from the weakening U.S. market for EVs.
• International ready for 2027 EPA rule with S13 powertrain    (2026-01-08)
  International Motors said its 2027 S13 integrated powertrain meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s emissions requirements for 2027 model year trucks.  The S13 carries over more than 90% of the […]
• FMCSA to restore trucking’s emergency relief window    (2026-01-08)
  Regulators are proposing to restore the automatic emergency hours-of-service exemption from 14 days back to 30 days to prevent delays during disaster relief efforts. The post FMCSA to restore trucking’s emergency relief window appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Knowing Your Numbers Is One Thing — Using Them Is Where the Advantage Actually Shows Up    (2026-01-08)
  Part One laid the groundwork for why knowing your numbers matters in trucking. Not in a motivational way. Not in a “be a better business owner” cliché way. But in a very real, very practical sense: if you don’t know what it actually costs you to run your truck, you’re not negotiating freight — you’re […] The post Knowing Your Numbers Is One Thing — Using Them Is Where the Advantage Actually Shows Up appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Congress Faces Jan. 30 Deadline on Transportation Funding    (2026-01-08)
  Absent enactment of a DOT funding bill by Jan. 30, certain transportation agencies would shut down or operate at minimum staffing levels.
• FTC charges against fuel card provider Corpay held up on federal appeal    (2026-01-08)
  A Corpay appeal of a lower court ruling on deceptive practices was swatted away by a 3-judge panel. The post FTC charges against fuel card provider Corpay held up on federal appeal appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Chevron Accelerates Venezuelan Oil Shipments    (2026-01-08)
  Chevron, the sole Western supermajor permitted to pump Venezuelan oil, is loading tankers at the fastest pace in seven months as the U.S. government moves to control the nation’s crude riches. 
• 2026 AV bill a game changer for heavy trucking    (2026-01-08)
  New legislation establishes a federal framework for autonomous trucking by authorizing commercial freight pilots while preempting conflicting state regulations. The post 2026 AV bill a game changer for heavy trucking appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Estes to surpass 14,000 doors in 2026    (2026-01-08)
  Less-than-truckload carrier Estes Express Lines provided an update on recent capital investments on Thursday. The post Estes to surpass 14,000 doors in 2026 appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Trans-Pacific container rates are rising – will volumes follow?    (2026-01-08)
  Container rates on the eastbound trans-Pacific are climbing, but several factors are likely to weigh on a rebound. The post Trans-Pacific container rates are rising – will volumes follow? appeared first on FreightWaves.
• CES Shows How AI, Software Are Redefining Truck Technology    (2026-01-08)
  Many exhibitors and speakers at CES highlighted the shift toward software-defined vehicles that can be upgraded over time through remote updates without requiring hardware changes.
• Private equity firm acquires Dart Transit, ending 90 years of family ownership    (2026-01-08)
  Avkha Equity Holdings acquisition positions Dart Transit as a growth platform across the U.S. truckload market, officials said. The post Private equity firm acquires Dart Transit, ending 90 years of family ownership appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Global Growth to Slow as Trump’s Tariffs Hit, UN Says    (2026-01-08)
  The global economy is forecast to expand 2.7% this year, down from an estimated 2.8% in 2025, the U.N. said in its World Situation and Prospects study released Jan. 8.
• EXCLUSIVE: FMC Chief of Staff Hoang moves to private sector    (2026-01-08)
  Longtime FMC veteran Mary Thien Hoang is leaving the maritime regulator for the private sector. The post EXCLUSIVE: FMC Chief of Staff Hoang moves to private sector appeared first on FreightWaves.
• FMCSA’s Barrs: Innovation Done Right Can Save Lives    (2026-01-08)
  FMCSA's new leader touted the life-saving potential of emerging technologies in the transportation industry at CES 2026 and said the agency will work to eliminate barriers to innovation.
• Prolonged post office closures focus of House bill    (2026-01-08)
  Four House lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require the U.S. Postal Service to be more forthcoming with information about temporary post office closures, which inconvenience communities. The post Prolonged post office closures focus of House bill appeared first on FreightWaves.
• DHL opens a new life science and healthcare hub in Annville, Pennsylvania    (2026-01-08)
  DHL Supply Chain is continuing its commitment to the life sciences and healthcare logistics market with the completion of a strategic new distribution hub in Annville, Pennsylvania. A facility designed to meet the complex demands of an evolving healthcare supply chain.  Set to open later this year, this one-million-square-foot Center of Excellence isn’t just another […] The post DHL opens a new life science and healthcare hub in Annville, Pennsylvania appeared first on FreightWaves.