Industry News

News from the world of Trucking

• From Box Truck to Big Rig – What It Really Takes to Make the Jump Into A Semi. (Part One)    (2025-11-19)
  A lot of people start trucking behind the wheel of a box truck. It makes sense. It’s cheaper to enter, easier to insure, simpler to operate, and gives you a way to learn without jumping straight into the deep end. A box truck feels like the starter home of trucking — a stepping stone toward […] The post From Box Truck to Big Rig – What It Really Takes to Make the Jump Into A Semi. (Part One) appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Crackdown on foreign truckers threatens US farm labor    (2025-11-19)
  U.S. Custom Harvesters is urging FMCSA to clarify a CDL exemption for H-2A workers – and to exempt other visa holders – to prevent a bureaucratic crisis from crippling the nation’s crop harvesting workforce. The post Crackdown on foreign truckers threatens US farm labor appeared first on FreightWaves.
• USDA to Announce Farm Relief Plan in Early December    (2025-11-19)
  The Trump administration intends to release its long-awaited plan to offer relief for beleaguered farmers early next month, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Nov. 19.
• Airbus nabs five orders for A350 freighter at Dubai Air Show    (2025-11-19)
  Airbus has new orders for its next-generation A350 freighter from airlines in Azerbaijan and Abu Dhabi. The post Airbus nabs five orders for A350 freighter at Dubai Air Show appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Trimble Unveils Next-Gen TMS, AI Agents    (2025-11-19)
  At its Insight 2025 tech conference, held Nov. 16-18, Trimble showcased a variety of new AI agents and workflows designed to streamline tasks and boost efficiency across all its systems.
• Labor Department Cancels Full October Jobs Report    (2025-11-19)
  The Labor Department said it will not release a full jobs report for October because the government shutdown meant it couldn't calculate the unemployment rate and some other key numbers.
• Senators Introduce Human Trafficking Prevention Bill    (2025-11-19)
  A 2024 DOT committee report determined that the human trafficking along transportation systems generates an estimated $150 billion in illicit annual profits.
• UPS compensates for lost use of grounded MD-11 cargo jets    (2025-11-19)
  UPS is making adjustments to keep shipments moving after taking 27 MD-11 aircraft out of service for inspections trying to help customers with stranded goods in a warehouse damaged during the Nov. 4 crash of a UPS flight. The post UPS compensates for lost use of grounded MD-11 cargo jets appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Weekly rail freight lower but still ahead of 2024 for year    (2025-11-19)
  Rail freight commodities and intermodal shipments were lower in the latest week’s data but remained ahead of 2024 for the year. The post Weekly rail freight lower but still ahead of 2024 for year appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Maersk relocates North American HQ to Charlotte    (2025-11-19)
  Maersk is moving its North American headquarters to North Carolina after many years operating out of northern New Jersey.  The post Maersk relocates North American HQ to Charlotte appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Truck cameras aren’t enough; they need policies to succed: Moseley    (2025-11-19)
  A “how-to” guide on the use of cameras in trucks was on the agenda at Trimble’s Insight meeting. The post Truck cameras aren’t enough; they need policies to succed: Moseley appeared first on FreightWaves.
• 3PLs should generate $27 in pipeline for each $1 in marketing, report says    (2025-11-19)
  A new industry benchmark compares the effectiveness of marketing strategies among freight and logistics companies. The post 3PLs should generate $27 in pipeline for each $1 in marketing, report says appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Medium-Duty Truck Sales Drop 25% From Prior Year in October    (2025-11-19)
  U.S. medium-duty truck sales dropped sequentially and compared with the prior year in October amid ongoing tariff headwinds and market uncertainty, according to data from Omdia Automotive.
• Kodiak Expands Partnership With ZF    (2025-11-19)
  Kodiak AI and ZF's relationship extends to the autonomous truck developer's earliest days, when Kodiak’s founders approached ZF to co-develop a steering system.
• Cargo theft surges 29% in Q3, as thieves target electronics, food     (2025-11-19)
  California and Texas were the nation’s top hotspots for cargo theft in the third quarter, fueled by high volumes of goods moving through major freight corridors. The post Cargo theft surges 29% in Q3, as thieves target electronics, food  appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Big Three Auto CEOs Invited to Testify Before Congress    (2025-11-19)
  The last congressional hearing that featured the top executives of Ford, GM and Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) was in late 2008, when financial and automotive crises were hitting the economy.
• EPA to Proceed With 2027 NOx Rules Timeline    (2025-11-19)
  “We are encouraged by several proposed adjustments that should help lower costs and ease implementation,” ATA Vice President of Energy and Environmental Affairs Patrick Kelly said.
• Gina Raimondo Says Trump’s Tariffs Will Be Hard to Remove    (2025-11-19)
  Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore, Raimondo argued that the political cost of unwinding tariffs is too high for any future administration, regardless of party. 
• project44 achieves cash flow breakeven, 40%+ ARR growth in Q3 2025    (2025-11-19)
  p44 is shipping software faster, with fewer people. The post project44 achieves cash flow breakeven, 40%+ ARR growth in Q3 2025 appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Hyundai CEO Says US Apologized Over ICE Raid on Factory    (2025-11-19)
  The September incident, which saw federal agents detain 475 workers at a Hyundai-LG Energy facility, hasn’t dented Hyundai’s commitment to investing in the U.S.
• US Trade Deficit Narrowed in August as Imports Declined    (2025-11-19)
  The goods and services trade gap narrowed almost 24% from the prior month to $59.6 billion, the Commerce Department said. The report was delayed from Oct. 7 by the federal government shutdown.
• China's Shift From Diesel Trucks Changes Global Fuel Demand    (2025-11-19)
  Electric trucks now outsell LNG models in China, so its demand for fossil fuels could fall, and "in other countries, it might never take off,” according to an analyst.
• Tesla Approved for Autonomous Rideshare Service in Arizona    (2025-11-19)
  Tesla was allowed to begin offering autonomous rideshare service in Arizona, clearing the way for its nascent robotaxi business to expand to a new state.
• Will Jenkins’ Journey to grow freight brokerages    (2025-11-19)
  Journey offers freight brokerages recruiting, consulting, and training. The post Will Jenkins’ Journey to grow freight brokerages appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Loose wire led to ship collapsing Baltimore bridge: NTSB    (2025-11-19)
  Investigators said an improperly placed label on a wire caused a container ship to lose power and crash into the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore in 2024. The post Loose wire led to ship collapsing Baltimore bridge: NTSB appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Trade volatility pushes LA port towards new record    (2025-11-19)
  Steady October volume has put the Port of Los Angeles within reach of 10 million TEUs for a record third consecutive year. The post Trade volatility pushes LA port towards new record appeared first on FreightWaves.
• 30 truck drivers among 37 arrested in I-90 Border Patrol effort | Diesel prices spike 25 cents over month    (2025-11-19)
  Border Patrol agents conducted a four-day enforcement effort along the New York State Thruway that resulted in 37 arrests, 30...
• Outside in: Miss Flatbed Red's portraiture, videography chronicling trucking history and culture    (2025-11-19)
  What began as a way for a bored spouse to pass the time at a truck show has grown into one of the more well-known social media...
• NTSB Finds 2 Blackouts Disabled Ship That Hit Key Bridge    (2025-11-18)
  Investigator Todd Gianelloni said the NTSB believes that if the crew had used infrared thermal imaging to inspect the connections, the loose critical wire might have been discovered ahead of time. 
• October truck tonnage falls to lowest level since January    (2025-11-18)
  Truck tonnage in the United States fell in October to its lowest level since January, the American Trucking Associations reported on Nov. 18.  ATA said its advanced seasonally adjusted truck […]
• Trucking takeaways from Trimble: volume down, driver population sliding    (2025-11-18)
  A panel at the Trimble Insight conference took on the issue of trying to forecast the freight market in 2026. The post Trucking takeaways from Trimble: volume down, driver population sliding appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Harbinger lands $160M Series C, inks initial FedEx deal for 53 electric trucks    (2025-11-18)
  Electric vehicle maker plans to deliver the EV chassis to FedEx by the end of 2025 The post Harbinger lands $160M Series C, inks initial FedEx deal for 53 electric trucks appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Rail merger could raise prices, hurt US ability to compete, say GOP legislators    (2025-11-18)
  Republican legislators in a letter to federal regulators warn that the merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern could create a rail colossus and with it raise prices and hinder U.S. competitiveness. The post Rail merger could raise prices, hurt US ability to compete, say GOP legislators appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Judge Backs Yellow Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Plan    (2025-11-18)
  Hedge fund MFN and its affiliate objected to confirmation of the plan because they believe the unsecured creditors will have too much influence on where the funds are dispersed.
• Truck driver coercion fear looms over sleeper berth test    (2025-11-18)
  Trucking and safety groups are warning FMCSA that its pilot program for more flexible truck driver rest rules poses a high risk of driver coercion. The post Truck driver coercion fear looms over sleeper berth test appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Analyst Says Machinery Maker Caterpillar Isn't AI Darling    (2025-11-18)
  Caterpillar was always an unlikely winner in the AI craze. It makes the bulk of its money selling the equipment like yellow earth movers that has made it a stalwart of American industry.
• The AI advantage: Motive and GEICO’s fleet safety plan    (2025-11-18)
  Motive and GEICO are joining forces in a new partnership aimed at changing how commercial fleets approach safety and insurance costs. The collaboration pairs Motive’s AI-powered Driver Safety and Fleet Management technology with GEICO’s expanding commercial auto insurance offerings, giving businesses the opportunity to improve safety performance while earning meaningful premium savings. The partnership arrives […] The post The AI advantage: Motive and GEICO’s fleet safety plan appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Reelables has Series A at $10.4 million to upgrade supply chain tracking with smart labels    (2025-11-18)
  Reelables is stepping into its next chapter with fresh capital and a clearer mandate: scale fast and redefine how the supply chain sees itself. The London-based company, known for pioneering a fully printable active smart label, announced a $10.4 million Series A round that positions it to accelerate manufacturing, deepen engineering resources, and bring its […] The post Reelables has Series A at $10.4 million to upgrade supply chain tracking with smart labels appeared first on FreightWaves.
• CBP Sting in New York Hands 30 CDL Holders to ICE    (2025-11-18)
  The Nov. 8-11 dragnet, called Operation Bear Cave, focused on intercepting immigrants holding state-issued CDLs but who lacked permanent legal status driving commercial vehicles.
• Why Demand — Not Truck Attrition — May Decide the Fate of Small Carriers in 2026    (2025-11-18)
  For the past year, there’s been a steady belief floating around the industry that once enough capacity leaves the market, rates will finally rise. It sounds reassuring. It sounds straightforward. But it’s also dangerously incomplete. Because the reality small carriers deal with every single day tells a different story: capacity exits are temporary, but demand […] The post Why Demand — Not Truck Attrition — May Decide the Fate of Small Carriers in 2026 appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Kroger Closes 3 Automated Fulfillment Centers    (2025-11-18)
  Kroger said it will close facilities in Pleasant Prairie, Wis.; Frederick, Md.; and Groveland, Fla., in January, and will monitor the performance of its five remaining facilities.
• Lineage announces Texas cold-storage facility amid tariff turbulence    (2025-11-18)
  Lineage is pushing ahead with expansions in Texas, Indiana and Louisiana amid tariff-driven volatility in the market. The post Lineage announces Texas cold-storage facility amid tariff turbulence appeared first on FreightWaves.
• The Load Board Goes Down, Now What?    (2025-11-18)
  When you’re a one-truck owner-operator or a small 3–5 truck fleet, your morning rhythm is clockwork: coffee, pre-trip, open the load board, refresh, refresh again, stare at the rates, call brokers, negotiate, roll. But all it takes is one outage—DAT glitches, Truckstop freezes, the phone app crashes, or the entire system goes offline—and you’re stuck. […] The post The Load Board Goes Down, Now What? appeared first on FreightWaves.
• What Home Depot’s Q3-2025 Earnings May Tell Truckers About Freight in Q1    (2025-11-18)
  The moment Home Depot dropped its Q3-2025 earnings (along with updated guidance), it wasn’t just Wall Street that took notice. If you’re running a one-truck or five-truck fleet, you should’ve been watching too. Because what Home Depot does in its stores and warehouses eventually shows up on the load board, in your balance sheet, and […] The post What Home Depot’s Q3-2025 Earnings May Tell Truckers About Freight in Q1 appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Say Goodbye to the Ford Focus    (2025-11-18)
  The last unit, a white five-door hatchback, rolled off the line at the Saarlouis plant in Germany this month, marking the end of a car that sold more than 12 million units worldwide, Ford said.
• US Postal Service makes U-turn on last-mile delivery    (2025-11-18)
  After the U.S. Postal Service deemphasized last-mile delivery service for parcel consolidators, the new chief now says workshare partnerships are a path to revenue growth. The post US Postal Service makes U-turn on last-mile delivery appeared first on FreightWaves.
• MapUp’s FuelGuru shines at F3: FirstFleet’s live demo proves power of smarter fuel routing     (2025-11-18)
  When the lights came up at FreightWaves’ F3: Future of Freight Festival this fall, few expected one of the most talked-about sessions to shift the conversation away from agentic AI and toward something a little more grounded: fuel routing.  That’s exactly what happened when MapUp took the stage with FirstFleet, Inc. to debut its new […] The post MapUp’s FuelGuru shines at F3: FirstFleet’s live demo proves power of smarter fuel routing  appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Non-domiciled CDLs back in action after court blocks FMCSA rule?    (2025-11-18)
  FMCSA told states they're free to issue non-domiciled CDLs again, but even states you might suspect have not re-started issuance...
• Werner Premium Services: Tailored logistics for high-value, high-stakes freight    (2025-11-18)
  From pharmaceutical products that must remain within a strict temperature range to high-value technology moving across borders, high-stakes freight demands a higher standard of care. Werner Premium Services represents the company’s go-to-market strategy for specialized freight that demands more than standard handling. This division builds on Werner’s core operation with advanced capabilities and added layers […] The post Werner Premium Services: Tailored logistics for high-value, high-stakes freight appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Toyota Lays Out $912M Plan to Boost US Hybrid Production    (2025-11-18)
  Factories in West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and Missouri will see 252 new jobs as a result of the initiative, the world’s biggest carmaker said in a statement. 
• White Paper: 2026 TMS Buyer’s Guide    (2025-11-18)
  Transportation decisions in 2026 carry more weight. The right system can steady your network and keep you ahead of constant disruption. The 2026 Transportation Management Software Buyer’s Guide helps logistics leaders cut through noise and focus on finding a system that drives growth. Inside, you’ll find practical guidance on: This guide is a roadmap from […] The post White Paper: 2026 TMS Buyer’s Guide appeared first on FreightWaves.
• FMCSA Wants More Details From California on CDL Compliance    (2025-11-18)
  Agency's letter to the state Department of Motor Vehicles outlined a series of actions California must take to rectify what FMCSA has determined are problematic processes and systems.
• ‘Ugly’ fees On Chinese ships concern US ag exporters    (2025-11-18)
  Now-paused port fees on Chinese ships were a misguided attempt to revitalize U.S. maritime fortunes at the expense of American exporters, a trade group leader says. The post ‘Ugly’ fees On Chinese ships concern US ag exporters appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Mexico Concedes Airport Slots to US for Travel, Freight    (2025-11-18)
  Sheinbaum said that talks with U.S. carriers will go on but the feeling is that cargo airlines are satisfied with the agreement over slots at two airports.
• Four straight weeks of increases in benchmark diesel price    (2025-11-18)
  The benchmark diesel price used for most fuel surcharges has risen for four straight weeks. The post Four straight weeks of increases in benchmark diesel price appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Atlantic LNG Freight Rates Surge to Highest Since Early 2024    (2025-11-18)
  The spot rate to hire an LNG vessel for delivery from the U.S. to Europe jumped 19% to $98,250 per day, the highest since January 2024. Costs to hire a tanker in the Pacific Ocean also jumped 15%.
• Transflo taps Dwayne Primeau to lead fleet telematics ecosystem    (2025-11-18)
  Transflo has named Dwayne Primeau president of Assured Telematics Innovation by Transflo. The post Transflo taps Dwayne Primeau to lead fleet telematics ecosystem appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Fewer empties, steady trade: Oakland port’s volume shift    (2025-11-18)
  The Port of Oakland saw loaded containers improve 2.2% October from September as global shipping rebalanced. The post Fewer empties, steady trade: Oakland port’s volume shift appeared first on FreightWaves.
• PCS unveils Cortex AI to streamline workflows for brokers, carriers    (2025-11-18)
  Freight moves fast, and even the most seasoned carriers and brokers can struggle to keep up. Opportunities appear in inboxes and vanish before the recipients can react. Drivers call with urgent issues at delivery stops, emails pile up and the clock keeps ticking. PCS Software wants to change that. The company demonstrated Cortex AI – […] The post PCS unveils Cortex AI to streamline workflows for brokers, carriers appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Zoox to Give Free Robotaxi Rides in San Francisco    (2025-11-18)
  California regulators still have to approve Zoox's application to charge for rides in San Francisco — a clearance that Waymo received in August 2023 after overcoming safety concerns.
• China Ramps Up Purchases of US Soybeans After Pause in Trade    (2025-11-18)
  State-owned agriculture trader Cofco Group booked nearly 20 cargoes of the American oilseed on Nov. 17 for delivery in December and January, Bloomberg reports.
• Home Depot Lowers Forecast on Weak Housing Market    (2025-11-18)
  Home Depot's third quarter was mixed with fewer violent storms reaching shore, more anxiety among U.S. consumers and a housing market that is in a deep funk.
• NTSB Set to Vote on Cause of Baltimore Bridge Disaster    (2025-11-18)
  The vote is scheduled a day after Maryland officials more than doubled the estimated cost to replace the bridge and added two years onto the projected completion date — to 2030. 
• US-China Trade Truce May Ease Logistics Costs, DP World Says    (2025-11-18)
  “It will definitely be positive for the cost of logistics,” said Mohammed Akoojee. “Up until now, the trade war has increased the cost of logistics in terms of freight rates and duties.”
• Lending Firm Raistone Seeks Rescue After First Brands Demise    (2025-11-18)
  Trade finance platform Raistone is looking to sell itself after the collapse of its biggest client, auto parts supplier First Brands Group.