All articles tagged with #trucking
FedEx Freight fired Mike Lyons, its chief specialized services and commercial officer, after an internal investigation found conduct that violated the company’s Code of Conduct. Lyons, who led commercial strategy and customer experience and had 19 years with FedEx, will have his duties reassigned while the carrier searches for a replacement.
U.S. transportation officials are removing more than 110 CDL training schools from the federal registry and targeting another 160+ for removal as part of a nationwide crackdown on fraud in trucking, including English-language proficiency violations. The initiative includes audits of third-party CDL testers, Homeland Security Investigations sweeps across 23 states, and a DOJ task force to pursue trucking-related fraud and criminal activity, expanding oversight from drivers to the schools and testers involved.
The Trucking Association of New York endorses the federal crackdown on CDL training providers, aligning with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who said the agency, in partnership with Homeland Security, has removed more than 300 CDL training programs to improve safety on the roads.
The Trump administration announced emergency closures of 110 commercial trucking schools tied to more than 5,000 drivers who failed English-language proficiency tests, with California singled out as the biggest problem state. The action is part of a broader effort that includes a nationwide audit of third-party testers and plans to shutter about 160 more schools for issues like unlicensed instructors and missing paperwork. Since mid-2025, the administration has revoked over 28,000 CDL licenses for English-language failures. California’s DMV has also faced license cancellations and funding penalties amid clerical errors, while immigrant-rights groups argue the rules worsen driver shortages and unfairly target legal workers. Authorities cite dangerous incidents linked to some misqualified drivers, underscoring ongoing enforcement concerns in the industry.
The Trump administration ordered 110 truck-driver training providers to cease operations, including three Wisconsin schools, after alleging they certified immigrants for CDLs who later failed English-based roadside tests. The action is part of a broader safety-driven crackdown with investigations and emergency removals from the training registry; ICE subpoenas were issued to at least one operator, and some schools claim they were unaware of the shutdown as inspectors review testing providers and English-language requirements for licensing.
Diesel prices in the U.S. are nearing a record, averaging around $5.62 per gallon, due to a tighter global supply, refinery disruptions from wartime shocks, and chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. Diesel is a globally traded, inelastic fuel, so price spikes ripple through trucking, farming, and consumer costs for freight and goods, with little near-term relief as refineries run near capacity and inventories stay lean.
President Trump unveiled the Freedom Haulers initiative to fast-track veterans into trucking by allowing qualified veterans with heavy-vehicle experience to waive the CDL road-skills test (and, in participating states, some knowledge testing) with expedited training for others; advocates, including a veteran trucking executive, say disciplined veterans are safer on the road and the industry needs drivers, while the plan also targets removing unqualified illegal alien truckers. About 34 states are on board, Trump cited data of veterans having 42% fewer accidents, and officials highlighted strong pay in trucking (roughly 80,000 to 100,000 dollars annually).
Trump administration proposes rolling back Biden-era heavy-duty truck emissions rules, arguing it would save about $12 billion for truckers and lower prices for goods by eliminating DEF-related deratings and speed restrictions on new highway and nonroad engines, while preserving roughly 90% of NOx reductions and easing emissions-warranty requirements; supporters say the changes boost supply-chain efficiency and consumer prices while maintaining environmental protections.
A California jury awarded $52.1 million after a crash involving a USPS‑subcontracted load, ruling that carrier liability can extend to independent contractors up the supply chain under California law; the decision focused on vicarious liability and Hours of Service violations, signaling heightened exposure for carriers that use subcontractors or independent operators and prompting scrutiny of how firms structure and document contractor relationships.
Amazon announced a full-scale Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) service open to third-party shippers, moving from inbound-only to a hub-and-spoke pallet-delivery network with next-day pickup, same-day drop-trailer options, and real-time tracking. The expansion, under Amazon Freight within Amazon Supply Chain Services, broadens offerings to non‑Amazon shippers and could position Amazon as a freight broker rather than an asset-based LTL carrier, potentially disrupting traditional carriers and shifting competition toward freight brokers like C.H. Robinson and Echo Global Logistics.
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court held that a trucking broker can be sued for negligent hiring of a dangerous hauler, rejecting industry efforts to shield brokers from liability and potentially pressuring brokers to vet carriers more carefully amid ongoing concerns about unsafe trucking practices and reconstituted “chameleon” carriers.
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously allowed Shawn Montgomery to sue CH Robinson, a major freight broker, for liability in a 2017 semi-truck crash that cost him part of his leg, a decision that could expand broker accountability and push for stronger trucking-safety practices across the industry.
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Shawn Montgomery can move forward with a lawsuit against freight broker C.H. Robinson over a 2017 semi-truck crash, applying a safety-regulations exception that could increase brokers’ liability and potentially raise insurance costs and consumer prices, though the decision does not guarantee a win and the industry warns of broader consequences.
Rising diesel prices—about 41% since the Iran-related conflict began to an average near $5.38 a gallon—are crushing cash flow for small owner-operators who pay the fuel bill and lack automatic surcharges, while many long-haul carriers shielded by contracts and hedging see steadier profits; with a post-pandemic oversupply and volatile spot rates, some independents are parking rigs as freight demand remains uncertain, even as a few survivors tighten budgets and push back on unprofitable loads.
A surge in diesel prices driven by Iran’s conflict and the near-cessation of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is squeezing small operators and potentially lifting inflation. While big carriers can shrug off costs via surcharges, independent truckers face tighter margins, delayed repairs, and pressure to raise freight rates, with broader risks to groceries and the economy if prices stay elevated.