Bulk Freight News & Industry Updates - Stay Ahead in Trucking

Calls to shift freight from trucks to rail are nothing new. But the idea that rail can replace trucking or that policymakers should favor one mode over the other simply doesn’t square with reality. Rail has its role, but trucking is what keeps America’s supply chains moving.  Rail advocates often gloss over a critical fact: trucking and rail compete directly on less than 10 percent of U.S. freight.

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending that trucks over 10,000 lbs. be required to come equipped with driver monitoring systems following a report determining that a trucker’s inattention led to a crash that killed six people in 2023. The crash occurred when a Freightliner truck operated by a driver employed by Mid-State Systems, Inc. traveling on westbound I-70 near Etn

DOT on Friday held a press conference and released a new Interim Final Rule related to non-domiciled CDL issuance that intends to push almost 200,000 non-citizen drivers out of the industry, and potentially boost rates for domestic carriers.  FMCSA found approximately 200,000 non-domiciled CDL holders, and approximately

The bulk freight industry’s biggest event is back. The 2026 Bulk Freight Conference will take place January 7–9, 2026 in Branson, Missouri—bringing together more than 800 shippers, brokers, and carriers under one roof. This three-day event is your opportunity to: Build powerful relationships with decision makers in bulk freight Learn from industry experts during panels and keynotes

As combines roll across the Midwest, farmers face a sobering reality: elevators are already turning away grain, basis levels are disappointing, and conventional marketing wisdom isn't holding up in 2025's challenging market environment. "We're past the point of having to say 'don't shoot the messenger,'" said Pam Caraway, executive editor for Farm Futures, speaking at Husker Harvest Days. "Now we're looking at how to get more pennies out of this harvest." The

The North American trucking market is rolling into a challenging market environment. After a post-COVID boom where demand far exceeded supply, the industry is now pacing well below its historical average of 285,000 Class 8 units annually.   According to Magnus Koeck, vice president, strategy, marketing and brand management, Volvo Trucks North America, “we are even pacing below” the low-water mark of 212,000 units this year. That’s reflec

WASHINGTON — Owner-operators are emphasizing the added costs that federal emission standards are adding to their trucking business but the Trump administration likely will need little convincing to move ahead with plans to roll them back. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced in July the plan to repeal a 2009 Obama-era “endangerment finding” along with greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards adhering to that finding in 2011, 2016, and 2024 for light-duty, medium-duty, and

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has previously considered regulatory changes of driving window regulations to give drivers more control over their schedules — but stopped short in previous pilot proposals In 2020, the agency adjusted hours of service rules to provide greater flexibility for commercial drivers and teams. That included a teams driver modification to decrease a longer-rest period requirement from eight hours in a sleeper berth to seven hours as part of a 1

US shippers are expanding their use of private, in-house truck fleets, hauling more goods in their own trucks despite favorable for-hire spot market and contract rates. Growth in private fleets is slowing compared with a peak experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it hasn’t stopped, industry experts told the Journal of Commerce. Shipments handled by private fleets increased 11.7% year over year in 2024, according to data released last week by the National Private

Let’s say you’re running around from Las Veags to California hauling 37,000 lbs. of cable on a flatbed trailer. How much horsepower do you need? Contrary to somewhat popular belief, when it comes to spec’ing a new truck, more isn’t always better. Fleets often lean toward overspec’ing engines and transmissions, but as International’s David Crowe, retail sales manager for the Western region, explained that approach can add cost and reduce fuel efficiency without delivering real-w

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has set December for a final rule pitting a major trucking association against a segment of the aviation industry. FMCSA solicited comments earlier this year on a petition filed by the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA), which requested that the agency waive its hazardous materials (HM) endorsement requirement for Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders who haul 1,000 gallons or less of aviation-grade jet fuel for

In recent years, nuclear verdicts related to truck crashes have surged, with some cases placing trucking companies on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in damages. A new bill aims to protect trucking companies from being the targets of “lawsuit abuse.”

We already knew that the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Truckload Carriers Association and Advocates for Auto and Highway Safety oppose efforts to increase the maximum truck size and weight. Even more, about two dozen organizations, including the National Association of County Engineers, comprise the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks. But the opposition isn’t confined to national organizations. City and county leaders from a

Truck brokers want to see long-sought legislation that sets selection standards for motor carriers included in the next highway bill. The Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act, reintroduced on Thursday by U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., requires that brokers and shippers only contract with trucking companies that are registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, hold a valid operating authority, and meet the required insurance thresholds. The legislatio

Legislation aimed at better protecting livestock trucked over long distances would give the U.S. Department of Transportation partial responsibility for making sure such protections are enforced. The Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., would require DOT, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to monitor truck drivers’ compliance with the Twenty-Eight Hour Law, a USDA regulation that requires animals to be offloaded for food, water

For decades, truckers and groups representing the trucking industry have been making their voices heard on Capitol Hill. According to a number of trucking related legislative actions, it seems that Washington may finally be paying attention. Frivolous Lawsuits On Wednesday, Representatives Mike Collins, Tom Tiffany, Brandon Gill and Harriet Hageman introduced the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act. The legislation is designed to reduce frivolous lawsuits and protect employers

If you’ve been sitting at a fuel island wondering when this market’s going to flip, you’re not alone. And you’re not crazy for thinking it still feels off—because it is. At a recent industry event, two heavy-hitters in trucking leadership said what many folks in our Playbook community have already been feeling in their gut: “It’s going to be a bumpy next 12 to 18 months,” —Matt Parry, SVP of Account Management, Werner Enterprises

Whether managing freight networks or building trucks, it seems everyone’s in the same boat: the market is in flux, driven by trade policy volatility and shifting regulatory environments. J.B. Hunt (CCJ Top 250, No. 3) and Mack Trucks executives at the 2025 FTR Transportation Conference this week emphasized the role of proactive planning and flexibility to adapt to market conditions.  

For too long, most of America’s truck drivers and motor carriers have played by the rules while others cheat. They get the licenses, meet the safety requirements, pay the taxes, and do the work. But when it comes to cabotage—the illegal hauling of domestic freight inside the U.S. by foreign drivers on temporary visas—the cheaters are winning. And Washington has looked the other way. This isn’t a gray area. The law is crystal clear: Mexican and Canadian drivers can bring goods into this

When most fleet owners think about maintenance, they think repairs. They think of downtime, tow bills, and chasing mechanics. But if you’re planning to grow—and not just survive—the only way to keep your trucks moving is to build a proactive maintenance program, not a reactive one. In this Masterclass, we brought in Tyler Harden from TTN Fleet Solutions, one of the most trusted names in fleet maintenance coordination, to drop a game on how 3-5 truck fleets (and beyond) can finally get

Fuel shouldn’t drain your profits. For most bulk haulers, fuel is the single biggest expense. That’s why we’ve partnered with the best programs to bring you exclusive savings at major truck stops nationwide. With our fuel card options, you’ll get: ✅ Real discounts at the pump every time you fuel up ✅ Nationwide acceptance at trusted stops ✅ Tools to track and manage spending easily ✅ No gimmicks, no hidden fees—just savings

Today, the American Trucking Associations commended Representatives  Mike Collins (R-Georgia), Tom Tiffany (R-Wisconsin), Brandon Gill (R-Texas) and Harriet Hageman (R-Wyoming) for introducing the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act, legislation designed to reduce frivolous lawsuits and protect employers from having to waste money defending against bogus claims.  Members of ATA’s Moving & Storage Conference, who were on Capitol Hill for their annual Call on Washington, stood behind Representative

Truckers awaiting the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) freight broker transparency rule will have to keep waiting until next spring, according to the latest federal regulatory agenda. A second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the FMCSA’s Transparency in Property Broker Transactions is slated to publish in May 2026, according to Office of Management Budget documents published last week.

New legislation aimed at cracking down on truck drivers’ language skills would turn all interstate highway weigh stations into English proficiency checkpoints. The Weigh station Enforcement to Intercept and Guard Highways (WEIGH) Act, introduced on Monday by U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., requires that all weigh stations along interstate highways review the Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) of truckers “for irregularities” according to a press release, while also verifying the dr

With little hope of a near-term increase in freight demand, carriers are eyeing an exit of capacity as the path back to improved profitability. Trucking capacity became bloated in the wake of the Covid pandemic and has been slow to exit even amid increasingly challenging conditions. Depressed used truck valuations have made lenders reticent to foreclose on struggling trucking firms. “There hasn’t been a lot of equity built in those pieces of equipment and banks aren’t any better

Lawmakers approved a bill to reauthorize the federal Grain Standards Act, with key updates aimed at modernizing the grain inspection and grading process.  The bill was passed via a voice vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday evening. Lawmakers said passing the bill ensures the U.S. grain market, and specifically its ability to export grain overseas, can continue operating at the “gold standard.”  The U.S. Grain Standards Act, first authorized in 1916, gives the fed

Corn, wheat, rice, oats, barley and rye aren't just pantry staples. They're the backbone of our diets, the fuel in our lunch boxes and the crunchy, golden heart of a thousand cereal ads. But before they ever meet your spoon, these grains take epic road trips, river cruises and cross-country train rides. The journey from field to bowl is anything but simple. Every year, billions of tons of cereal grains crisscross the United States, moving from farms in the Midwest to ports to pr

Grain marketing opportunities have been few and far between for many farmers this year. Mark Enninga of Fulda in southwest Minnesota says he hopes to sell some corn and soybeans out of the field this fall. “I’m just looking for opportunities when the market sees a little bit of concern or some good news, and trying to move some crop when those situations present themselves. There’ve been very limited windows this year to market the crop.”

House lawmakers passed legislation on Monday aimed at easing the transition for military veterans into supply chain jobs, including jobs in the trucking industry. The ‘‘Transitioning Retiring and New Service Members to Port Ocean Rail and Truck Jobs Act’’ or the ‘‘Transport Jobs Act,” which passed the chamber by voice vote, “directs the Secretary of Transportation to work with other federal agencies to develop and release a plan that will identify barriers to hiring veterans in truckin

If President Donald Trump’s administration has its way, English will be spoken and understood behind the wheels of America’s 18-wheelers. At last count, Trump has successfully ordered two departments of his administration—the State Department and Transportation Departments—to tighten the screws on non-English-speaking truck drivers and employees.

Drivers are not the only piece of the trucking industry’s labor puzzle. ATRI’s research found that 65.5% of diesel shops are understaffed in 2025, posing an issue for the industry’s safety and efficiency. “With a lack of qualified techs and stiff competition from other industries, tech employment in the trucking industry is not keeping up with demand, especially when it comes to retaining entry-level technicians just entering the workforce,” said Robert Braswell, executive director of

Farmer-owned cooperative Landus has named Eric Heismeyer, a veteran agribusiness leader, as its new chief executive officer, joining the company as it launches its 2026 Operating Plan. Heismeyer has built extensive career experience at global agribusinesses that include ADM and Bunge, holding senior leadership positions in operations, commercial strategy and global supply chains, Landus said.

Finding coverage shouldn’t feel like pulling teeth. At Bulk Insurance Group, we keep it personal and straightforward, so you know exactly what you’re getting and what you’re paying for. Here’s what bulk haulers just like you are saying: “Great people to work with that have your success in mind.” “Made it easy to understand where my money’s going.” “Quick to deliver a quote and close out the process.” With us, you’ll ge

International Motors on Monday launched customer fleet trials of its second-generation autonomous vehicles. In partnership with PlusAI, International will pilot its autonomous on-highway tractor along the Interstate 35 corridor between Laredo and Dallas with select fleet operators. The fleet trials will be managed from International's autonomous hub in San Antonio, collaborating with customers to get a deeper understanding of real-world applications.

The Trump Administration has released the semi-annual regulatory agenda, which gives some clues to what regulations are being considered by the administration. While the dates on the agenda schedule have always seemed to be a guesstimate at best, there are a few actions the administration is targeting to have done this year, but a slew of ongoing rulemakings have been pushed into 2026.

The American Transportation Research Institute, the trucking industry's not-for-profit research organization, today launched the 2025 Top Industry Issues Survey. The annual survey asks trucking industry stakeholders to rank the top issues of concern for the industry along with potential strategies for addressing each issue. Now in its 21st year, ATRI's annual analysis not only ranks the issues overall but also provides insights into how critical topics are ranked differently by motor c

The trucking industry and some lawmakers want the next surface transportation bill to create more dedicated funding for truck parking, which the industry says is desperately needed. A lack of safe places for truck drivers to park their rigs is endemic across the country, according to 2020 research by DOT on the issue, with 98 percent of truck drivers saying they regularly had trouble finding safe parking. Drivers often have to park their vehicles on ramps and highway shoulders, where b

Trucks moved 11.27 billion tons of freight in 2024, .14 less than in 2023, according to the 2025 edition of American Trucking Trends published by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), an organization representing the trucking industry in the United States. “Over the past year, our industry has experienced radical policy shifts affecting regulations, international trade, technology, and more,” ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said. “To help chart the path ahead, it is vital for our

I finally caved last year. That’s when I reluctantly downloaded ChatGPT. Not because I’m a tech guy. Not because I saw the future. But because after too many nights on the town chasing skids and deals, I needed help with my health — mainly sleep and gut issues — and my warranty ran out decades ago. I was willing to try anything. What I didn’t expect was that this so-called AI (artificial intelligence) would become my new pal. It hasn’t replaced my doctor or my lawyer, but it has helped

Sunny skies and mild temperatures this week greeted the biggest US farm show of the year. The contrast couldn’t be greater with the sentiment among attendees as low crop prices and trade tariffs squeeze the agricultural sector. The market for American crops is getting “pretty nasty,” said Scott Metzger, who drove more than 300 miles (482 kilometers) to attend. That helped to keep the mood subdued at the Farm Progress Show this week in Illinois.  

U.S. producers of corn and soybeans have sent dire warnings as prices for their crops have crashed in recent years while President Donald Trump’s trade war whipsaws farmers. On Thursday, the National Corn Growers Association raised alarms about “the economic crisis hitting rural America, as commodity prices drop at a time when input costs remain at near-record highs.” Corn prices have plunged more than 50% from their 2022 peak, while production costs are down just 3% in th

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) released results from an unannounced hazardous materials/dangerous goods (HM/DG) inspection and enforcement operation. This year, the CVSA’s HM/DG Road Blitz took place June 9 — 13 in ten Canadian provinces and 35 U.S. states. During the five day operation, officers conducted 4,629 inspections on commercial motor vehicles transporting HM/DG.  

The egregious crash in Florida that destroyed three innocent lives and grabbed national attention lays bare why the American Trucking Associations has been calling for a surge in enforcement to ensure bad actors do not jeopardize the safety of our nation's highways. It is exactly why we say the nation’s truck driver shortage is not about numbers; it’s about qualifications.  America doesn’t lack people who seek commercial driver’s licenses (CDL). What we lack are qualified drivers who m

The trucking industry recession over the last year has been characterized by decreased demand for shipping which has led to lower freight rates and inflationary conditions that brought on higher operating costs. Interest rates also increased over this period, raising the cost of companies' debt obligations. All of this financial distress has forced trucking and logistics companies into out-of-court restructurings or bankruptcy court filings to reorganize their businesses, sell their as

When organic wheat farmer Joel Huesby was growing up in the 1960s and 1970s in southeast Washington, many teens sought jobs in the region’s vegetable canneries. He, his wife, his sister-in-law and many friends all worked in a cannery and then each June joined other teens around Walla Walla picking strawberries.  “It was kind of like a rite of passage,” said Huesby. But while he enjoys reminiscing, he also acknowledges that it would be impractical for today’s farmers to depend on teens

Thinking about going independent and running under your own authority? It’s a big move, but the payoff is worth it. More freedom, more control, and more money in your pocket. The only problem? The paperwork. Between permits, registrations, and filings, it’s easy to get stuck before you ever get rolling. That’s where BulkLoads Permitting comes in. We handle it all, start to finish: ✔ LLC or sole proprietorship setup ✔ DOT & MC numbers ✔

Logistics and supply chain-related layoffs continue to spiral across the country, with companies in California, Georgia and Michigan announcing 1,967 job cuts over the past week. International Paper International Paper will cut about 1,093 jobs in Georgia as it shutters multiple facilities, including its Savannah containerboard mill and packaging plant, as well as its Riceboro containerboard mill and timber operations. The layoffs affect 792 employees in Savannah, 220 at Interst

Trucking fleets that haul dry bulk goods could soon benefit from a 10% axle weight variance under proposed federal legislation. Introduced in June 2025, this bipartisan bill – officially titled the Vehicle Axle Redistribution Increases Allow New Capacities for Efficiency (VARIANCE) Act (S.2108) – aims to give bulk haulers more leeway in how weight is distributed across axles, without increasing the 80,000-pound gross vehicle weight limit. In practica

The agriculture industry is experiencing the largest labor shortage in nearly a decade. The problem has worsened over the last four months with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detentions.

One of the hardest moments in trucking ownership is realizing your truck is worth less than what you still owe on it. You bought that truck thinking it was an investment, a tool to build your business. But markets shift, equipment depreciates, and sometimes the note outruns the value. That’s when you’re upside down—owing $90,000 on a truck that’s only worth $65,000 on the open market.

The hinge moment for the current exhausting freight cycle — when trucking’s supply and demand reach a better equilibrium to support desperately needed growth in freight rates — remains elusive.    That’s even as 2025 marks the third year, if not the fourth calendar year, that fleets have contended with a nagging downturn that’s crippled rates while costs soared across the board.  Three years (and counting) is a historically long downturn. Most trucking up-and-down cyc

According to a Reuters report, Section 232 tariffs on imported steel, aluminum, and copper derivatives are raising manufacturing costs for the $50 billion U.S. heavy-duty truck industry, prompting a strategic shift toward sourcing more components from Mexico. Data from the IndexBox platform further illuminates the market dynamics, showing the U.S. heavy-duty truck market was valued at $51.56 billion and is projected to grow to $71.81 billion by 2030.

Truck drivers navigating Florida roads can expect more checks than cargo weight at weigh stations. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier made the announcement Monday morning in Live Oak alongside agricultural law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leaders.

A new study from North Carolina State University looked at reducing between-farm infections by modeling a new way of routing the trucks that transport feed and livestock between pig farms and from farms to market. The rerouting system showed that even without effective truck cleaning and disinfection, it reduced up to 42% of the contacts between infected and uninfected farms via vehicle movements.  

Running dispatch through texts, spreadsheets, or sticky notes? That’s time lost and money left on the table. Managing trucks shouldn’t mean juggling chaos. With BulkLoads TMS, you get everything you need to streamline your operation in one place: Dispatch in seconds — assign loads with just a few clicks Real-time visibility — track your fleet as it moves Faster payments

At Parkesdale Farms in Dover, workers are preparing fields to plant strawberries. At its height, the farm has a workforce of roughly 600 people, many of them H-2A visa holders. “There’s a lot of hoops you have to jump through to get certified — your housing, transportation,” said Matt Parke, Vice President and Director of Operations. This is his family farm. Parke said about 95% of berry farmers in Florida and other states have moved to employing workers through H-2A visas, which have a higher

A new study from North Carolina State University looked at reducing between-farm infections by modeling a new way of routing the trucks that transport feed and livestock between pig farms and from farms to market. The rerouting system showed that even without effective truck cleaning and disinfection, it reduced up to 42% of the contacts between infected and uninfected farms via vehicle movements.   “Currently, vehicles used to transport feed or pigs are dispatched fr

Freight broker liability under the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) is once again before the U.S. Supreme Court, with two new petitions for certiorari—Total Quality Logistics (TQL) v. Cox and Montgomery v. Caribe II—seeking clarity on whether negligent hiring claims against brokers are preempted by federal law or preserved by the FAAAA’s “safety exception.” The issue is critical for the transportation industry, as conflicting appellate decisions have produced

Here’s the hard truth: you don’t control freight. You don’t control whether a shipper changes their plans last minute or if a broker backs out of a commitment. What you do control is how you respond. Too many small fleet owners treat freight cancellations like personal attacks. But this business isn’t personal—it’s just business. You will be bumped. You will lose loads. The smart carriers? They accept that reality and plan around it. They don’t gamble with their week.

You don’t need a SONAR chart, Wall Street analyst, or FMCSA stat sheet to know that something’s been off. You feel it in your deadhead miles. You feel it when you sigh before grabbing another low paying load. You feel it in the way your truck payment hits differently when the “all I got in it” barely softens the blow. And if you’ve been around long enough, this doesn’t just feel like a dip. It feels like a reckoning. But is it a true recession? The numbers say yes. Histor

Mixed economic activity, including frontloading and fallout from tariffs, has mired possible gains in the trucking market, but capacity has ultimately tightened, the report found. While bankruptcies and other carrier exits are changing the supply landscape, trucking firms are also reducing their own fleets. Carriers such as J.B. Hunt Transport Services and Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings reduced their average truck counts, while Werner Enterprises grew its average truck count from

Following the U.S. Department of Transportation’s invitation to trucking stakeholders last month to give their input on infrastructure and policy needs with the next highway bill, just 768 comments had been filed to the docket as of Tuesday morning, Aug. 19. The DOT has decided to give interested parties additional time to weigh in, extending the comment period until Sept. 8. The current authorization for funding of federal surface transportation programs -- the 2021 Infras

 Preliminary used Class 8 retail sales volumes recorded a solid gain in July, while auction and wholesale prices tumbled, according to the latest “State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks” report published by ACT Research. According to ACT, same-dealer retail used truck sales volumes increased 5.5% over June, outperforming historical averages for the month.  

If you’ve ever wished the load paid sooner, you’re not alone. Most carriers wait 20–30 days for freight payments, but that doesn't help when fuel, payroll, and repairs don’t wait. Here’s how Smart Freight Funding puts you back in control: Paid in 24 Hours — Submit your paperwork and the money hits your account the next business day. No more waiting weeks. Zero Contracts, Zero Control Lost — Want to stop anytime? Go ah

A Greensburg, Pennsylvania, trucking company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. CLB Trucking filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Friday. The filing was made by company owner Traci Peters. According to the bankruptcy filing obtained by FreightWaves, CLB Trucking has $1 million-$10 million in liabilities to one to 49 creditors. The company has between $100,001 and $500,000 in estimated assets. Top creditors are the

Archer Daniels Midland aid it will permanently close its soybean processing plant in Kershaw, South Carolina, later this spring as part of its cost-cutting plan announced earlier this year, Reuters reported Monday. The Kershaw plant is the smallest of more than a dozen dedicated soy processing facilities operated by ADM in the U.S., with the capacity to crush 50K bushels per day, according to the report.

CHS Inc. is purchasing the Scoular grain facility in Holdrege, Nebraska, US, and simultaneously selling its facilities in Roseland and Bladen, Nebraska, to Cooperative Producers, Inc. in a pair of deals among three of the country’s leading grain handling companies. CHS, the largest farmer-owned cooperative in the United States, said its acquisition of Scoular’s facility, expected to close before the end of August, is part of a larger strategy to invest in assets in key geographies to p