Bulk Freight News & Industry Updates - Stay Ahead in Trucking

Mitch Carlson, CEO of Green Corridors LLC, intends to create a cargo thoroughfare stretching from Laredo, Texas, to Monterrey, Mexico, where freight shuttles are guided not by human hands but by a state-of-the-art autonomous system. “Picture a conveyor belt, an independent track,” Carlson told FreightWaves in an interview. “The idea is you have 10 trailers in Monterrey and the trailers get picked up and loaded on 10 shuttles. That platoon of 10 shuttles leaves immediately and starts he

The trucking industry has been facing unprecedented challenges in recent years, with a shortage of qualified drivers, rising fuel and insurance costs, a slew of new regulations to comply with, the threat of self-driving trucks looming, and now economic uncertainty caused by tariffs. Unfortunately, some questionable decisions are being made in light of the difficult conditions that truckers and trucking companies have been experiencing. Sadly, some of those choices can have an adverse i

Creditors are claiming millions of dollars from two trucking companies and a distribution service provider after all three companies filed for bankruptcy at the start of this week. Palatine, Illinois-based trucking company Dolche Truckload Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Northern District of Illinois on Sunday.  According to the filing obtained by FreightWaves, Dolche Truckload has up to 49 estimated creditors. The company has $1-$10 million in assets and $1-$10 mil

Skyrocketing premiums, legal unpredictability, and insurer exits are upending the trucking insurance market – and brokers who don’t adapt are putting clients at risk.   According to Kenny Planeta (pictured), a transportation broker at Heffernan Insurance Brokers, the old playbook is no longer working. “The rate squeeze is dramatic,” Planeta said. “Insurance rates have skyrocketed while driver pay, equipment costs, and fuel costs have all increased.

Freight activity tends to slow down a bit as the months get warmer, so what’s behind the recent increase in freight entering the market? Plus, you’ve heard the complaint from members of the public or an elected official – that truckers don’t pay their “fair share” of the cost of our highways. But what do the cold, hard numbers tell us? Then, breaking down the merits of a traffic ticket service. And finally, how a love of driving led a bus driver to a career in trucking.

The trucking industry has been facing unprecedented challenges in recent years, with a shortage of qualified drivers, rising fuel and insurance costs, a slew of new regulations to comply with, the threat of self-driving trucks looming, and now economic uncertainty caused by tariffs. Unfortunately, some questionable decisions are being made in light of the difficult conditions that truckers and trucking companies have been experiencing. Sadly, some of those choices can have an adverse i

The trucking industry is facing a tepid financial outlook amid volatile market conditions compelled by the ongoing tariff-fueled global trade war, experts said. DAT Freight & Analytics found in its monthly data analytics report for May that while long-term freight contracts should see a modest increase of between 2% and 4% this year, the spot market is expected to see in

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), on June 11, 2025, deputies responded to the Love’s Travel Center and the 419 Rest Area on I-40 for a report of suspects targeting truckers. “These victims would be approached by (1) suspect and escorted to a group of other co-conspirators. The victims would be asked to play a betting game, and the victim would be conned out of their money and jewelry,” JCSO said.

Everybody talks about scaling. More trucks, more drivers, more freight. But here’s the uncomfortable truth nobody wants to say out loud: Not every carrier is built to scale — and not every carrier should.   Because growth isn’t always about adding trucks. Sometimes growth looks like refining your lanes, raising your rates, tightening your operations, and taking home more by doing less.

Washington, D.C. —  Truckers and environmentalists have joined together to demand Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies enforce existing hazardous material rules when it comes to hauling oilfield waste — including the water and sands used to frack and extract oil and gas. The organizations, led by Truckers Movement for Justice, claim hazardous payloads are

According to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), two commercial vehicle enforcement details took place in late April and early May 2025 along I-84 at Cascade Locks, Umatilla, and Farewell Bend Ports of Entry and La Grande and Emigrant Hill Weigh Stations. During these two details, officials say that “more than 490 commercial truck drivers who bypassed an open weigh station were s

Recent identity verification changes by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration are having a major impact on the number of newly minted operating authorities, according to research from CarrierOK. Beginning in early 2025, the FMCSA rolled out a new identity verification process that starts with applicants being redirected to Idemia, a third-party identity verification vendor. The next steps include the collection of personal information including biometric data to verify a carrier’s i

U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) has introduced "Connor’s Law," a piece of legislation that would codify President Trump’s Executive Order requiring truck drivers to maintain a basic English language proficiency (ELP) in order to be licensed to drive on American roads. The legislation is named after Connor Dzion, an 18-year-old who was killed in 2017 in a crash in Northern Florida by a distracted truck driver who was found unable to speak English or read signs warning of upcomi

The axing of dozens of regulations this week by the U.S. Department of Transportation has raised concerns from trucking industry experts concerned about compliance and safety. While the majority of the 52 deregulatory actions affecting the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Highway Administration provide 60-day comment periods to allow for public protest, most if not all will likely be taken off the books.

A pair of bills backed by Texans for Lawsuit Reform, aimed at reducing large jury verdicts in personal injury and trucking accident cases, died this legislative session. Senate Bill 30 — filed with the goal of “curbing nuclear verdicts” — and Senate Bill 39 were two of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priority bills for this legislative session. Under SB 30, a jury would have heard if an attorney referred their client — and others over the past two years — to a specific doctor. That provi

A South Florida trucking executive convicted in November on eight counts in a Ponzi scheme fraud totaling well over $100 million was sentenced Friday to 23 years in prison.  The fraud began in January 2020 and was ongoing when Singh was indicted in June 2023. He ultimately was convicted of eight counts of wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy. Jurors only deliberated an hour before convicting Singh at his trial in November, according to the Miami Herald. The same art

Making the jump to operate under your own authority is a big step—and it can get overwhelming fast with all the permits, filings, and costs involved. That’s exactly why BulkLoads Permitting exists: to guide you through the entire process from start to finish. Here’s what we help with: ✔ Setting up your LLC or sole proprietorship ✔ Filing DOT and MC numbers ✔ BOC-3, UCR, IFTA, IRP, and drug testing registration ✔ Helping you stay com

I could barely believe it when I realized I've been writing this column for 15 years. I was recently looking through my files and reflecting, when I also realized that while time has marched on, many of our industry's issues remain. You could pick up a 2010 trade publication and find articles relevant to 2025. Our need to chime in when Congress considers these issues has also not changed. At a recent U.S. House Highways and Transit subcommittee hearing on how trucking boosts Ame

Operational costs are steadily rising, making it more important than ever to find strategic ways to reduce expenses and improve efficiency. R.E. Garrison Trucking (CCJ Top 250, No. 110), headquartered in Cullman, Alabama, was looking for ways to reduce expenditures amid the industry’s economic downturn. Established in 1959, the asset-based carrier offers logistics and freight management services. With more than 800 drivers and 250-plus non-driving employees,

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced sweeping deregulatory action at agencies including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). On May 29, Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy announced that 52 “burdensome” regulations have been targeted for cuts across the FMCSA, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The rule cuts were enacted in response t

A new Flock Freight and Drive Research study reveals a significant surge in truckload underutilization. “We’re seeing more half-empty trucks on the road than ever before, a result of a soft freight market where low costs make shipping empty space less of a concern,” said Chris Pickett, Flock Freight CCO. “Shippers rely on truckload freight for its flexibility and ability to quickly bring goods to market—a need that won’t disappear even as the market rebounds and the

The pair of semi trucks cruising down Interstate 70 between Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapolis may seem unremarkable at first glance. But these rigs are part of a groundbreaking pilot project that could reshape America’s freight industry. Launched in April through a joint initiative between the Ohio and Indiana Departments of Transportation (DOTs), the project tests semi-autonomous “platooning” technology, in which a lead truck operated by a human driver is linked to a follower truck via

During President Donald Trump’s first term, meaningful driver pay reform seemed to be a possibility with a willing ear in the White House, yet it didn’t happen despite some moves around overtime and independent contractor classification. After Trump lost to eventual President Joe Biden, bipartisan legislative efforts to roll back the motor carrier exemption to paying drivers overtime were introduced in Congress multiple times, to no avail. Such efforts have been back in the headlines this yea

A storied name in Kansas City business showed it's not through growing with its acquisition of a company with agribusiness operations in Canada and the upper MIdwest.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is proposing 18 rule changes aimed at simplifying regulatory compliance for truck drivers and motor carriers. According to a list of notices published on Tuesday, the proposed rules, to be formally released on Friday, will have 60-day comment periods. The rules include:

WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has opened fiscal year 2025 applications for three discretionary grant programs that emphasize driver safety training, truck parking and trucking applications that employ real-time data. “These grants, which could total more than $90 million, will fund projects that advance the development and delivery of motor carrier safety training to non-Federal employees and provide commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operator training to fut

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shared updated guidance for law enforcement on how to evaluate whether a commercial vehicle driver is sufficiently fluent in English to avoid a citation or out-of-service order. In late April, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) requiring the enforcement of existing English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for truck drivers. The EO sought to reverse a 2016 policy that stated that commerc

Farming is an uncertain business and “penciling out” the year’s crop and profit margins at the dining room table always involves some guesswork when it comes to final input costs and revenue. With tariffs making headlines, this fall and subsequent crop years may have additional uncertainty when it comes to the bottom line, as tariffs could impact input costs, market access and crop prices. Cornell University professor and economist Wendong Zhang,

We know the freight world doesn’t run on empty promises—it runs on tools that actually get the job done. With real features already live—like contract-to-load linking, mobile tools for shippers, fleet management, driver pay, and more—BulkTMS is designed to streamline operations for carriers, brokers, and shippers alike. And we’re just getting started. AI-powered tools, advanced analytics, and OCR are on the horizon. Want to see how it fit

In America’s farm country, there is a steady heartbeat that pulses throughout the fields—the faith community. It’s not confined to Sunday sermons or midweek Bible studies. It’s in the calloused hands that till the land, in families who pray over the crops, and in pastors who bless the harvest. As a small farmer from Georgia, rooted in faith, family, and the rich soil of the American South, I know how powerfully faith and farming walk hand in hand.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is gearing up to formally request a big change: a federal time cap on personal conveyance use by truck drivers — specifically, limiting it to no more than two hours per day. Why? Because the data’s in — and it doesn’t look good. After reviewing more than 41,000 roadside inspections, CVSA found that 38% of drivers are using personal conveyance incorrectly. In plain terms, that means nearly 4 in 10 drivers are stretching the rule beyon

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is preparing to reduce its workforce as part of a larger effort by the White House to dramatically slash the total number of federal workers. During a recent town hall, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told USDOT workers that layoffs, or “reductions in force” (RIF), are coming soon, according to a report from CBS News.

With tariffs continuing to cause havoc along trucking supply chains, shippers and carriers are adjusting their strategies to save costs from current and potential future duties. Carriers such as Paccar, Schneider National and J.B. Hunt in recent earnings calls noted changes in shipper behavior in response to tariff uncertainty. “As part of this scenario planning process, some customers are considering ways to alter supply chain freight flows and/or their country of origin sourci

Eight electronic logging devices from Gorilla Fleet Safety LLC have been taken off the list of registered ELDs by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  These ELDs were placed on the FMCSA’s Revoked Devices list due to the company’s failure to meet the minimum requirements set forth in federal regulations. The removals are effective May 12, 2025, for the following devices: AllwaysTrack Command Alkon Trackit ELDX Gorilla Safety C

Oregon regulators have suspended the operating license of a trucking academy in Hillsboro following revelations that Skyline CDL School was linked to alleged involvement in a bribery scheme to obtain commercial driver’s licenses for its unqualified students in Washington. That alleged fraud was detailed in a story published two weeks ago by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Oregon regulators said they were unaware of Washington’s investigation and suspension of the school until contacted by th

Let’s face it—managing your fleet shouldn’t feel like a juggling act. If you’re still using spreadsheets, text messages, or notepads to handle dispatch, invoicing, and tracking, you’re likely spending more time and money than you need to. BulkTMS is built to simplify the way bulk carriers operate. With BulkTMS, you can: Assign loads in just a few clicks Track trucks live as they move Send invoices

Firefighters rescued the driver of a semi-truck after a crash left the truck’s cab dangling over the side of an elevated highway in Kentucky. The Louisville Fire Department said in a social media post that it responded Sunday morning to the crash on Interstate 65 just south of the Kennedy Bridge and found the cab hanging precariously off the interstate. The highway is elevated above 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to

Kenworth announced last week a major update to its electric vehicle lineup at ACT Expo in Anaheim, California. The company introduced an updated T680E battery-electric truck and launched the industry’s first Class 8 vocational battery-electric truck, the T880E. The announcements come as Kenworth expands its zero-emission vehicle portfolio with advanced powertrain technology, extended range capabilities and new driver-focused features. The updated T680E and all-new T880E both feature a

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is applauding Congressman Mike Collins (R-Georgia) for continuing to lead the effort to stop the costly and risky practice of criminals purposefully crashing into trucks in an attempt to shakedown motor carriers for a payout.In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi that was co-signed by six of his colleagues, Collins urged the Trump Administration to form a specialized task force dedicated to investigating and prosecuting staged accident fraud.

Earlier this month, Aurora Innovation kicked off driverless truck operations in Texas, starting off with a freight route between Dallas and Houston for commercial customers. The SAE Level 4 trucks, operating without a safety driver in the cab, have been making the 250-mile route that has been the focus of quite a bit of testing by several autonomous truck developers, many of which have been getting driverless truck infrastructure ready.

When you think about your trucking operation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration safety scores, you’re likely thinking about how to reduce truck crashes and violations, improve driver safety and truck maintenance, even about your entire safety culture. What you might not realize is the damage outdated data about your fleet in the DOT system can do to those scores, even if you’re doing everything else right.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy assured lawmakers that safety will not be sacrificed in the wake of a major workforce reduction plan that he is getting ready to roll out. “We are working through some ideas right now on how we can streamline the department, and when we’ve completed those ideas we will no doubt share them with you for your consideration,” Duffy told a House Appropriations subcommittee on Wednesday.

Mass layoffs continue across freight-related companies in the U.S. and Germany. More than 3,500 job cuts have been announced since April 30, according to media reports and Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notices. Since Jan. 1, more than 30,000 freight-related layoffs have been announced, impacting workers in food production and distribution, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and logistics. Among the companies facing layoffs this month, m

A Connecticut trucking company owner was charged May 7 for his role in an alleged fraud scheme against Amazon. According to a press release from Marc H. Silverman, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Ameer Nasir, 24, of Trumbull, Connecticut, was charged with 13 counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each count. The indictment alleges that Nasir registered 23 trucking businesses with Amazon Logistics to

It’s no secret that the trucking industry faces labor challenges, though there’s debate over what exactly the problem is: high driver turnover or a true driver shortage. While the industry has sought multiple solutions, one option is to look at the upcoming generation. “We're trying to put a Band-Aid on the problem,” Lindsey Trent, president and co-founder of the Next Generation in Trucking Association, said. “For years, it's just been about stealing drivers from one another … instead

You should decide how you get paid—not your factoring company. Too many factoring companies make it easy to get in… and tough to get out. You’re stuck with contracts, monthly minimums, and fees you didn’t even know were there. They end up in control of your cash flow, not you. Smart Freight Funding was built to change that. We offer: No long-term contracts No monthly volume requirements Clear, upfront pricing—no hidden fees You choos

Following its introduction in the U.S. House in April, members of the Senate this month introduced a bill that would block the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from requiring speed limiters on heavy-duty trucks. Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Oklahoma) introduced the bill in the House last month and, on May 8, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Montana) introduced it in the Senate. Dubbed the Deregulating Restrictions on Interstate Vehicles and Eighteen-Wheelers (DRIVE) Act, the

Rates are down, and any change in that trend doesn’t appear likely in the near future. It’s critical for truck drivers, especially those with their own authority, to negotiate rates in a poor market. Tom Crowley and Aron Lynch of OOIDA’s Compliance Department recently spoke with Land Line Now and provided some best practices for negotiating rates. “Without knowing your cost of operation, how do you know where your break-even point is?” Crowley said. “Whe

Bills updating the grain indemnity program and allowing the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship clean titles on livestock they take over, advanced Thursday from the Iowa House. Lawmakers appear to have resolved differing opinions on grain indemnity limits and including credit-sales, which has been a roadblock for similar bills in the past, though the Senate will have to give final approval to the amended bill. Rep. Norlin Mommsen, R-DeWitt, who managed the bill,

As trucking companies make decisions about their truck purchases amid economic uncertainty and tariffs, Paccar “is really well positioned,” with its footprint in North America, according to Feight. Paccar has a Peterbilt factory in Denton, Texas, a Kenworth plant in Chillicothe, Ohio, and a Renton, Washington plant. Paccar considers those locations as the principal three Class 8 truck plants that it uses for U.S. production, according to Feight. “We are an American company that

As the food and beverage industries face pressure from the Trump administration to phase out artificial dyes, ADM's ingredients unit is seeing more demand for natural colors, which Luciano hopes could drive future growth for the beleaguered nutrition business. ADM's nutrition unit, which includes its flavor and ingredients businesses, has struggled to regain its footing following a criminal probe into the segment's accounting practices. The investigation, which looked into whether ADM

Several trucking industry stakeholders voiced issues that are most prevalent in the industry, as members of Congress work on a multi-year surface transportation bill. The Truckload Carriers Association, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters were among those who spoke on several key matters pertaining to the efficient movement of goods and safety for truckers during a Subcommittee on Highways and Transit hearing on March 26.

New research by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has linked repealing the 12% federal excise tax (FET) on new trucks and truck equipment to a significant reduction in crashes and, as a result, significant cost savings. In its report released on Wednesday, ATRI, the research arm of the American Trucking Associations, found that the accelerated replacement of old trucks with new ones spurred by repealing the tax would reduce the cost of advanced driver assistance sys

Lately, it feels like every time there’s a truck accident posted online, the comment section turns into the same broken record: “Must’ve been one of those foreign drivers.” “Probably someone with a non-domicile CDL.” “Another reason they’re taking our jobs.” Let me be crystal clear: That line of thinking? It’s full of assumptions, it’s dangerous, and it completely misses the real problem. This issue with non-domi

Today, the American Trucking Associations commends the House of Representatives for passing two key resolutions that will undo damaging emissions regulations set by California and prevent the Golden State from setting de facto national emissions policies in the future.  Earlier this month, ATA sent a letter urging Republican congressional leaders in the House and Senate to put these measures on the floor. H.J.Res. 87, which was introduced by Rep. John James (R-Michigan) and approved by

Private fleets have long dominated the employment of light-duty truck drivers, although the revolution in home delivery has cut private fleets’ share of those drivers from about two-thirds traditionally to barely more than half today, assuming we consider parcel and local delivery businesses to be “for-hir

Our Insurance Quote Calculator makes it easy to find out if we can help lower your insurance costs. It only takes a few minutes to complete — and the more accurate your info, the better we can estimate potential savings for your operation. Quick and simple No need to send over all your details yet Get an instant sense of your savings potential Once you see what the scale says, don’t wait — reach out and let us help you lock in those savings.

You might not think about bees when you're buying cucumbers or berries, but they're behind nearly every bite. Now, a wave of colony collapses in Texas is threatening the bees we rely on and the food supply they help sustain. What's happening? Texas farmers are seeing major declines in their honeybee populations. According to Food & Wine, commercial beekeepers across the state have lost around two-thirds of their colonies in the past year. A survey by Project

Truck & Trailer Leasing Avenue of Joliet, Illinois, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 16 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The company stated in the petition that it has both assets and liabilities of $10 million-$50 million and said that money would be available to pay unsecured creditors. The largest unsecured creditors are Bank Midwest of Kansas City, Missouri, owed about $818,000, and De Lage Landen Financial Services, owed about $623,00

Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced steps to rescind a dangerous Obama-era policy that dismissed English language proficiency (ELP) requirements for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. This action prioritizes safety on America's roadways in line with President Trump's Executive Order signed today. At the direction of Secretary Duffy, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will take immediate actions to execute the Pr

The month of March is usually a strong one for U.S. sales of new Class 8 trucks, and it often sets the tone for the upcoming summer. Because the month closes the year’s first quarter, carriers often adjust purchase investments to impact quarterly results and set up their fleets for the next quarter. True to form in 2025, U.S sales of new Class 8 trucks rose significantly in March — up by 18.8% from February sales figures. According to data received from Wards In

A 46-year-old Canadian trucking company has been put into receivership at the request of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), which said the carrier owes it $6.7 million. Kingsley Trucking ceased operations on Thursday, the same day that the British Columbia Supreme Court placed the carrier into receivership due to the company’s being “unable to secure a transaction, financing, or other arrangement to address the defaults or repay the Indebtedness owing to the Bank,” according to court filings.

With a new administration in Washington bent on changing federal immigration policy and enforcement, many in and around trucking have wondered: Does trucking have an "open borders" problem? At the Mid-America Trucking Show in March, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration got peppered with questions about English language proficiency and "non-domiciled CDLs," CDLs issued by one state to residents of another, or of a foreign country. Those are "li

Layoffs and bankruptcies hit multiple sectors of the supply chain throughout April, as new or soon-to-be-imposed tariffs continue to weigh on freight markets. Truck & Trailer Leasing Avenue of Joliet, Illinois, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 16 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The company stated in the petition that it has both assets and liabilities of $10 million-$50 million and said that money would be available to pay unsecure

Nearly 600 carriers, brokers, shippers and owner-operators gathered at the Branson Convention Center April 16-18 for the 2025 Bulk Freight Conference. The conference, hosted by BulkLoads and presented by Smart Freight Funding, is the only event in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to the bulk freight sector. “We hear it time and again: ‘Thanks for creating a space where the little guy can be he

In 2025, the national conversation around English proficiency and trucking safety resurfaced with new intensity. Two executive orders, signed by President Donald Trump, renewed emphasis on English language requirements, both at a cultural level and at the level of commercial motor vehicle operations. On March 1, an executive order formally designated English as the official language of the United States. It revoked Executive Order 13166, which had promoted multilingual government servi

Apollo Global Management forecasts a severe U.S. recession triggered by recent tariffs, which will lead to widespread layoffs in the trucking and retail sectors amid rising economic uncertainty. The report, available on Apollo’s website, paints a grim scenario: The trucking industry, critical to U.S. logistics, faces significant challenges as tariffs disrupt trade, particularly with China. A sharp decline in container ship voyages from China is expected to reduce freight volumes

Starting or expanding your trucking business is a big move—and the paperwork can feel overwhelming. That’s where we come in. BulkLoads Permitting makes it easy to get your operation up and running. Whether you're starting a new trucking company or adding a brokerage division, we’ll walk you through the entire process—from securing your DOT and MC numbers to handling IFTAs, BOC-3s, and more. Here’s what you get with us: Fast turnaround (as little as 3 weeks)

An Indiana truck driver says he will retire early after winning the fourth-largest jackpot in Hoosier Lotto history. An unnamed truck driver who lives in Perry County, Indiana, claimed a $42.5 million Hoosier Lotto jackpot, according to an April 25 news release from the Hoosier Lottery. Lottery officials say that the truck driver won a free ticket after matching two out of six numbers on a previous drawing, and then redeemed that free ticket at On t

After decades of substantial U.S. agricultural trade surpluses, staggering agricultural trade deficits over the past two years have caught the nation’s attention. For fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 – September 2024), USDA’s Economic Research Service estimates that there will be a record $32 billion agricultural trade deficit. The fiscal year 2024 deficit follows the current record deficit of $16.7 billion set in fiscal year 2023 and would be only the fourth agricultural trade deficit in

Spring is planting season for Missouri farmer Jared Wilson. It’s his only opportunity during the year to get his corn and soybeans sown and sprayed. Not getting it right would affect his yield. But every year, he says, he struggles to get his John Deere equipment to do the job. Broken down combines, tractors and harvesters have cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix.  “Time absolutely means money in this business,” Wilson said. “When you have machines that are failing at thos

J.B. Hunt’s contracting process takes roughly 18 months to close, according to Brad Hicks, president of dedicated contract services. But the timing of when deals sign and close will drive the company’s ability to return to positive revenue and operating income growth in 2025. In Q1, revenue for the carrier dropped 1% to $2.92 billion, while operating income dropped 8% to $179 billion. The revenue decline was driven by dips across most of the carrier’s segments, including dedicated cont

Volvo Trucks North America plans to lay off up to another 350 workers from a Virginia plant as part of job cuts affecting up to 980 employees across the country since the beginning of the year. Employees at the New River Valley plant in Dublin, Virginia, were notified of the workforce reduction on Thursday, and their last day at the facility will be June 27, Volvo spokesperson Janie Coley said. “Heavy-duty truck orders continue to be negatively affected by market uncertainty abo

Class 8 truck purchases grew by 4.5% during 2024, indicating that the demand for new trucks remains strong. Although companies can utilize a variety of cab types, sleeper styles may have the best return on investment (ROI). They present initial opportunities to decrease long-haul operational costs by eliminating the need to cover motel or hotel rooms. Drivers can pull over and sleep in their cabs, which also gives them additional time to rest by removing the check-in and ch

Across rural America, where fields stretch wide and small towns knit our communities together, agricultural cooperatives serve as cornerstones of economic strength and resilience. As CEO of Alliance Ag and Grain, I’ve seen every day how our co-ops help keep southern Kansas farming communities running strong day in and day out. From the outside, cooperatives may resemble any other business. But they’re far more than that. And today, as America’s farmers take on the challenge of feeding

A bipartisan bill in the U.S. House of Representatives would give dry bulk haulers a little more flexibility at the scales.   Rep. Rick Crawford, a Republican from Arkansas, and Rep. Salud Carbajal, a Democrat from California, introduced the VARIANCE Act, which allows for a 10% shift in weight variance along the axles of tank trucks carrying dry goods, without any increase in the overall federal gross vehicle weight (GVW) limit. Under current law, when stopped at a we

“Everything we do at ODOT is driven by safety. We’re committed to reducing deaths on our roadways and vehicle automation technologies can be part of the solution,” said ODOT Director Pam Boratyn. “Many vehicles on the road today have some degree of automated driving systems including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and automatic braking. All of these features are designed to improve safety and reduce driver stress.” The trucks, from EASE Logistics, use platooning technology

Lawmakers have introduced legislation that they say would increase the efficiency of the transportation of dry goods by tank trucks. The Vehicle Axle Redistribution Increases Allow New Capacities for Efficiency Act (VARIANCE Act) was introduced last week by Congressmen Salud Carbajal and Rick Crawford. The bill seeks to allow for a 10% load shift variance on each axle’s weight as long as the overall weight of the tank truck does not exceed 80,000 po

Grain Craft, the largest independent flour miller in the nation, announced they signed an agreement to acquire the North American dry corn milling assets from global agribusiness and ingredients company, Bunge.  The acquisition includes the addition of approximately 600 team members and six milling facilities. This includes three dry corn milling facilities in Crete, NE; Atchison, KS; and Danville, IL.  It also includes three dry masa facilities in Muleshoe, TX; Red Oak, IA; and Worthi

If you're relying on text threads, spreadsheets, or notebooks to manage your trucks—you're working harder than you need to be. That wasted time adds up fast and takes away from what matters most: running and growing your operation. BulkLoads TMS gives you the tools to work smarter: Send dispatches with just a few clicks Watch your fleet in real-time Get paid faster with automated invoicing Keep all your load docs in one organized place Don’t

Trucking and logistics provider J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. on Tuesday said that its customers are still trying to figure out how to adapt to new tariff-related stresses, and said it had lost some business to rivals offering lower shipping prices. Shares fell 6.2% after hours on Tuesday. The remarks from executives came during J.B. Hunt’s JBHT -1.63% conference call to discuss its first-quarter results, which were better than what Wall Street analysts expected. <

After a strong start to the year which built upon a recovery that began in 2023, booking volumes for U.S. containerized imports dropped 20% from their January peaks, despite still being 30% higher year over year compared to 2024. This abrupt change appears to be directly linked to anticipation of tariff increases, said container data analyst Vizion. Shippers, reacting to rumors and speculation, rapidly frontloaded shipments to beat potential cost hikes. However, as tariff-related uncer

Mack Trucks said Thursday it will lay off up to 450 workers from factories in Pennsylvania and Maryland due to the impact of tariffs and other economic factors. The company will cut between 250 to 350 jobs at the Lehigh Valley Operations in Lower Macungie Township, Pennsylvania, over the next 90 days. Mack Trucks will lay off between 50 to 100 workers from its factory in Hagerstown, Maryland, by May 2. This is in addition to 43 people already laid off earlier this year from the Hagerstown

Peterbilt last year achieved record market share in heavy duty (15.3%), thanks in part to the strength of its newest truck, the Model 589. With its 2023 debut, the 589 took the mantle of Peterbilt’s over the road tractor from the venerable Model 389, and joined a regal trucking lineage: the 351, 379, 389 and the 359. Replacing a legacy model with such a rich heritage is risky, but Peterbilt General Manager Jake Montero said reception has been positive, adding the company built m

More than 15,000 commercial motor vehicle drivers will need to get new medical exams before May 10 after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration took action against two Houston-area chiropractors it found weren’t complying with federal commercial motor vehicle driver medical exam regulations. The FMCSA issued Notices of Proposed Removal from the National Registry of Medical Examiners of Jenny Le and Dustin Mai for failure to adequately perform USDOT physical qualification exami

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says that thousands of truck drivers will need to obtain new medical certification after the agency deemed two Houston-area doctors non-compliant with physical qualification examination regulations. On Friday, April 11, FMCSA announced that over 15,000 unexpired Medical Examiner’s Certificates (MECs) issued by Dr.  Jenny Le and Dr. Dustin Mai between March 2023 and March 2025 have been voided.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a transportation bill allocating a two-year, $11 billion budget, including funds championed by the state trucking association, for new truck parking spaces. “Transportation is vital to our state’s economy. It connects Ohioans to jobs, education, health care and entertainment. This budget reaffirms our commitment to providing our great state with a transportation system that is safe, reliable and prepared for the future,” DeWine noted recently while signing 

Federal regulators have extended until 2030 a sleeper berth exemption for a large private fleet owner despite opposition from safety groups. Collegedale, Tennessee-based McKee Foods Transportation (MFT), which has operated under an exemption since 2015, will continue to have added sleeper berth flexibility with the extension approved by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The exemption allows those who operate in driving teams among the company’s 732 drivers (accord

A truck driver was transported to the hospital after one of his truck tires exploded in his face as he inspected it on the side of Interstate 40.  The incident happened late last week at about 2:!5 a.m. Thursday, April 3rd in Lenoir City, Tennessee.  According to 10 News, a truck driver hauling liquid laundry soap was heading east on I-40 near mile marker 364 when he pulled over onto the shoulder to inspect the trailer for an unspecified reason.

House Republicans have introduced resolutions to eliminate Advanced Clean Trucks and other California vehicle emission rules despite the Government Accountability Office stating precisely that Congress cannot do that. On Thursday, April 3, Rep. John James, R-Mich., introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to reverse the Environmental Protection Agency waiver for Advanced Clean Trucks. On the same day, Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., introduced a resolution to terminate the

Cyprus is known for its warm seasons, empowering farmers all over the island. Many of these hard workers woke up recently to a cold snap, though, that ravaged fields of crops in one fell swoop. They lost everything, from hardy potatoes to blossoming fruit trees — all covered in a layer of frost. What's happening? One night of cold weather was enough to destroy months of work for Cyprus farmers. Social media is ablaze with photos of frozen produce as far as the eye can see. "Months

For an industry critical to 8 in 10 communities nationwide, saying the surface transportation reauthorization bill in the 119th Congress is under the radar would seem a stretch. Yet, North Carolina Republican Rep. David Rouzer thinks it just may well be. And it certainly should not, he contends. The highway bill, as it will be colloquially known, is crucial to the trucking industry to grow and retain its workforce; ensure seamless compliance with federal, state and local rules a

Despite solid fundamentals, sentiment in the U.S. manufacturing sector has mostly been informed by buzzy anxieties over economic growth. Take durable goods, for example: After a surprising beat on new orders in January, analysts expected a correction in February. Instead, new orders for durable goods grew 0.9% month over month (m/m) against consensus expectations of a 1% m/m drop, while January’s growth was revised up to 3.3% m/m.

The U.S. economy finds itself at a crossroads following President Donald Trump’s dramatic announcement of sweeping new tariffs on imports. While some economists fear the tariffs could stoke inflation, key economic indicators – including bond yields and truckload volumes – are flashing warning signs that a recession from suppressed consumer demand and business activity may be the more pressing concern for policymakers and investors alike. On Wednesday, Trump unveiled what he called “the

The transportation sector is the largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are the fastest-growing source of transport emissions, driven by the expansion of e-commerce and consumer demand for fast delivery. Trucks’ disproportionate impact on emissions and community health underscores the urgency of adopting cleaner, more efficient technologies and practices.   In 2024, As You Sow engaged several freight and logistics companies with

Multiple law enforcement agencies partnered for a commercial vehicle inspection and enforcement operation in the Lewisville, Texas, area last month. On April 1, the Lewisville Police Department (LPD) released the results from the March 18 commercial vehicle enforcement operation. See highlights of the results below. Citations issued: 21 Warnings issued: 244 Level 1 inspect

A new study by the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) found that congressional proposals to allow heavier tractor trailers on highways would lead to major damages to the nation’s local bridges if enacted into law. It’s an update on an earlier 2023 report by CABT, which describes itself as a nonprofit grassroots organization with coalitions of approximately 3,000 local supporters in all 50 states. CABT says its supporters include law enforcement officers, local government officials,

Some factoring companies make it easy to sign up but nearly impossible to get out. Monthly minimums, hidden fees, and strict terms can leave you stuck and strapped for cash. Smart Freight Funding is different No Contracts No minimums Full Transparency You decide what shippers and brokers to factor - it's that simple. Whether you want to factor one customer or all of them, we make it easy, fast, and on your own terms. Don't let anyone