Trucking Industry News
AI-powered summaries from FMCSA, FreightWaves, Transport Topics, DAT, CDLLife, and Heavy Duty Trucking. Updated every 15 minutes.
Wabash recalls 900+ trailers for loose underride guard bolts
Wabash is recalling more than 900 model year 2027 van trailers produced between April 20 and June 5 because rear underride guard bolts may not meet federal safety standards. The supplier failed to ti...
Degraded Aftertreatment Systems Costing Fleets $30 per Truck Daily in Wasted Fuel
A mixed-class fleet analysis by Questar revealed that mechanically degraded aftertreatment systems are costing fleets as much as $30 per vehicle per day in excess fuel consumption, according to findin...
Waste Connections Relies on Data and Telematics to Manage 18,000 Trucks
Waste Connections manages a fleet of more than 18,000 connected trucks by leveraging data analytics and telematics systems, according to Heavy Duty Trucking. The waste hauler's approach centers on co...
Prime Inc. Opens $7.9M Driver-Focused Used Truck Dealership in Springfield
Key Details Pedigree Truck & Trailer Sales, the exclusive dealer for Prime Inc.'s used fleet, is building a new $7.9 million flagship dealership in Springfield, Missouri. The 11,887-square-foot f...
Multi-Fuel Strategy Beats Single Solution for Fleet Decarbonization
Why It Matters Fleets pursuing alternative fuels and zero-emission vehicles need realistic expectations. Industry leaders warn against seeking one perfect solution, emphasizing that successful decarb...
AI Fleet Optimization: When Technology Meets Driver Expertise
Key Details Fleet operators face mounting pressure to implement artificial intelligence systems for route optimization, fuel efficiency, and maintenance scheduling. The technology promises significan...
Master Summer Cooling System Maintenance to Avoid Truck Breakdowns
Why It Matters Summer heat pushes heavy-duty truck cooling systems to their limits, especially during peak hauling season. A single cooling system failure can strand you on the roadside and cost thou...
Kempower's Dual-Connector Charger Bridges CCS and Megawatt Charging Gap
Key Details Kempower unveiled the Mega Satellite Flex charger at ACT Expo in May, featuring both CCS and MCS connectors in a single unit. The flexible dispenser supports high-power CCS charging up to...
Small Fleet Operators Face New Compliance Pressures After Broker Liability Ruling
Key Details Small fleet owner Jamie Hagen of Hell Bent Xpress in Aberdeen, South Dakota, is navigating a shifting landscape where brokers now face legal liability for carrier negligence. The May Supr...
Small Fleet Owner Breaks Down Real Challenges: Fuel, Freight Rates, Safety
Why It Matters Small fleet operators face mounting pressures from volatile fuel costs and unstable freight rates. Jamie Hagen, a veteran fleet owner, shares candid insights into the struggles threate...
K&B Transportation: Why Fleets Must Embrace AI Now
Key Details Lance Evans of K&B Transportation is urging the trucking industry to adopt AI technology before falling behind. Speaking in a recent HDT Talks Trucking segment, Evans emphasizes that ...
Supreme Court Freight Broker Liability Ruling: What Drivers Need to Know
Why It Matters The U.S. Supreme Court issued a significant May ruling that changes liability standards in the trucking industry. Freight brokers can now be held responsible for damages when contracte...
Small Fleet Owner Jamie Hagen Breaks Down Today's Brutal Operating Reality
Hell Bent Xpress owner Jamie Hagen pulls no punches when discussing the current state of small fleet operations. In a candid conversation on HDT Talks Trucking, he addresses the headwinds crushing mar...
Why Integration Problems Cost Trucking Dealerships More Than Data Lock-In
Key Details Data fragmentation across dealership, OEM, fleet, and upfitter systems is draining millions from the trucking industry. While dealerships have long blamed 'data lock-in' - the difficulty ...
Kenworth Promotes Peter Ahrens to General Manager Role
Key Details Kenworth announced two major leadership promotions effective July 1. Peter Ahrens moves up to general manager and Paccar vice president, while Joe Adams becomes assistant general manager ...
Supreme Court Ruling: Brokers Face New Liability for Contracted Truck Accidents
Key Details In May, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision holding freight brokers legally liable for damages when contracted trucks cause accidents. This ruling fundamentally changes liab...
Safety Validation, Not Technology, Is Autonomous Trucking's Real Challenge
Why It Matters Autonomous trucks are advancing rapidly with major manufacturing partnerships now in place. However, proving these systems are safe enough for nationwide deployment remains the industr...
Beyond Maintenance: Hidden Costs of Trailer Tire Failures
Key Details Tire failures cost fleets far more than what appears on the maintenance bill. When a trailer tire fails on the highway, the true expense includes missed delivery windows, customer relatio...
Nussbaum Boosts Driver Pay and Launches Profit-Sharing Plan
Key Details Nussbaum Transportation has rolled out its largest compensation overhaul in company history, effective May 26. The Hudson, Illinois-based carrier is targeting irregular-route OTR dry van ...
Hino's New Le Series Electric Truck Arrives Q3 with 348 HP
Key Details Hino Trucks is launching its Le Series battery-electric medium-duty truck in two configurations: the L6e at 25,950 pounds and L7e at 33,000 pounds GVWR. Production begins in the third qua...
Multi-Speed EV Transmissions: The Missing Piece for Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks
Key Details Sigma Powertrain is challenging conventional EV wisdom by developing multi-speed transmissions specifically designed for heavy-duty electric trucks. The startup argues that while single-s...
ACT Expo 2026: Latest EV and Autonomous Truck Tech in Las Vegas
Key Details The Advanced Clean Transportation Expo took place in early May 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, showcasing the newest electric, autonomous, and alternative-fuel truck technologies...
Hendrickson Launches Electraax E-Axle for Class 6-7 Medium-Duty Trucks
Key Details Hendrickson has unveiled the Electraax, its first-ever electric drive axle, developed in partnership with Driventic. The integrated e-axle is purpose-built for Class 6-7 medium-duty appli...
Real-Time Threat Intelligence Sharing: What Trucking Needs Now
Key Details The trucking industry has plenty of cybersecurity reports and cargo crime data, but lacks actionable, real-time intelligence that fleet operators can immediately use. Drivers have histori...
Peterbilt Launches Freedom 250 Special Edition Model 589 Tribute Truck
Key Details Peterbilt Motors has unveiled the Freedom 250 Special Edition Model 589, a limited-production tractor commemorating America's 250th birthday. Only 250 units will be produced, making this ...
Why Truck Insurance Premiums Soar Despite Falling Crash Rates
Key Details Truck insurance costs have climbed nearly 38% between 2015 and 2024, reaching 10.2 cents per mile according to new research from the American Transportation Research Institute. This surge...
FMCSA Delists 12+ Noncompliant ELDs: Drivers Have 60 Days to Switch
Key Details The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration removed more than a dozen electronic logging devices from its registered list on May 20 for failing to meet federal requirements. Motor car...
April Freight Volumes Maintain Peak 2022 Levels Despite Flat Tonnage
Key Details The ATA's For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index remained flat in April at 117.8, following a 1% increase in March. Despite the pause, the index is up 3.5% year over year and has climbed 4.7% since...
Fleetworthy Unifies Safety, Tolls, and Weigh Station Tools on Single Platform
Key Details Fleetworthy has launched a unified platform integrating three critical fleet management functions: Safety and Compliance, Toll Management (formerly Bestpass), and Weigh Station Bypass (fo...
Supreme Court Broker Liability Ruling: What Drivers and Carriers Need to Know
Key Details The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a major decision on broker liability that's reshaping how the trucking industry handles legal responsibility. The ruling centers on whether freight broke...
Supreme Court Broker Liability Decision Tightens Safety Accountability Across Trucking
Key Details The Supreme Court's May 11 ruling on broker liability clarifies that freight brokers can be sued for negligent hiring when they select unsafe carriers that cause serious crashes. The case...
Trailer Orders Surge 126% Year-Over-Year in April Surprise
Key Details Preliminary net trailer orders reached 19,400 units in April, up 3% from March and jumping 126% compared to April 2025. Seasonally adjusted, the April volume equates to 26,800 units. ACT ...
April Rate Gains Driven by Fuel Costs, Not Freight Demand
Key Details North American truckload spot and contract rates climbed sharply in April, but the increases were primarily driven by rising diesel fuel costs rather than stronger freight demand. Nationa...
Maximize Fuel Efficiency: 50 Proven Fleet Cost-Cutting Strategies
Key Details Fleet fuel savings don't require new equipment purchases. Leading operators like Nussbaum Transportation achieve 9+ mpg averages through data-driven decisions, driver coaching, and operat...
Fontaine Fusion Flatbed Recall: 247 Trailers Grounded for Structural Risk
Key Details Fontaine Trailer has issued a "do not drive" recall affecting 247 Fusion flatbed trailers manufactured between February 28, 2025, and March 31, 2026. The trailers may have weake...
2026 Green Fleets: Real-World Emissions Cuts That Actually Work
Key Details Heavy Duty Trucking's 2026 Top Green Fleets demonstrate that sustainability doesn't require a one-size-fits-all approach. The 20 selected fleets, ranging from small operations to large ca...
SCOTUS Ruling Opens Door to Broker Negligent-Hiring Lawsuits
Why It Matters The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that freight brokers can face state-level negligence claims for hiring unsafe motor carriers. This landmark decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transpo...
VMRS: The Critical Missing Link for Fleet AI and Predictive Maintenance
Key Details VMRS, the Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards managed by the American Trucking Associations' Technology & Maintenance Council, has served the industry for nearly five decades. Acc...
California's $1B EV Truck Rebate Program Launches June 26 with Up to $120K Incentives
Key Details The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is launching the Clean Fuel Reward program on June 26, offering point-of-sale rebates up to $120,000 for electric commercial trucks. More than $1...
Fleet Safety Tech Stack: How K&B Transportation Reduces Crash Risk
Key Details K&B Transportation is deploying a comprehensive suite of safety technologies to minimize crashes and protect drivers. The fleet utilizes camera systems, speed management tools, cell p...
Fleet Safety Tech Trends: AI and Cameras Shape 2026 Compliance
Key Details Transportation attorney Brandon Wiseman, President of TruckSafe Consulting, recently discussed major regulatory shifts affecting trucking fleets on the HDT Talks Trucking podcast. Wiseman...
Mack MP13 Engine Hits 540 HP, 3% Better Fuel Economy for 2027 EPA Standards
Key Details Mack Trucks revealed its EPA 2027-compliant MP13 diesel engine at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Las Vegas, delivering up to 540 horsepower and 1,950 lb.-ft. of torque. The new...
AI Adoption Surges in Fleets, But Data Quality Crisis Holds Back Real Gains
Key Details Generative AI adoption among private fleets has exploded to 87.1%, according to new Fleet Advantage research presented at the National Private Truck Council's 2026 Annual Conference. The ...
Hirschbach to Operate 500 Aurora Autonomous Trucks Starting 2027
Key Details Hirschbach Motor Lines and Aurora Innovation signed a non-binding agreement to deploy 500 Aurora Driver-equipped trucks, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027. The companies anticipat...
Western Star Expands 2026 Star Nation Event to Celebrate Driver Skills
Why It Matters Western Star is tackling the industry's driver shortage by elevating the profession itself. The OEM recognizes that professional truck operators perform complex, high-skill work that o...
HDT Seeks Fleet Leaders for 2026 Innovators Award - Deadline May 15
Key Details Heavy Duty Trucking is now accepting nominations for its prestigious Truck Fleet Innovators 2026 award program. The submission deadline is May 15, and winning leaders will be recognized a...
Freightliner's Detroit Assurance Gets Intersection and Turn Safety Upgrades
Key Details Freightliner is rolling out enhanced safety features for its Detroit Assurance suite, launching with 2027 Cascadia models. The Active Brake Assist 6 (ABA6) system now includes Cross Traff...
Criminals Plant Fake Drivers at Real Carriers to Steal Cargo
Key Details Cargo theft rings have developed a sophisticated new tactic called the "Trojan Driver Scam" that infiltrates legitimate, fully vetted trucking carriers by planting operatives as...
Truckstop.com Expands Heavy Haul Tools with Wize Load Acquisition
Key Details Truckstop.com has acquired Wize Load, a rate-intelligence platform for heavy-haul freight, to strengthen its specialized cargo offerings. The company is doubling down on technology design...
Mack's Digital Driver Guide Puts VIN-Specific Truck Info at Your Fingertips
Key Details Mack Trucks has launched the Mack Digital Driver Guide, a virtual owner's manual that delivers customized information based on your truck's specific configuration. Drivers can access the ...
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