Inside Arka Express’ Safety-First Fleet Strategy
Arka Express, a 800‑tractor carrier based in Illinois, has built a safety‑first fleet strategy that hinges on telematics, AI dashcams and truck‑specific routing software. By deploying Samsara’s on‑board platform and Trucker Path for Fleets, the firm cut speeding, distracted driving and low‑clearance bridge incidents by roughly half. The carrier is also standardizing its tractors on Freightliner, which sharpens buying power and eases maintenance. These moves have delivered up to 3% fuel savings, reduced out‑of‑route miles and bolstered driver retention.
The Future of Sustainable Fleets: Electric, Hydrogen, and AI Transformations in 2026
The seventh State of Sustainable Fleets report shows U.S. transportation firms scrambling amid regulatory uncertainty, fuel‑price volatility, and the loss of federal EV incentives. Diesel remains dominant but registrations fell 16% YoY, while 38% of fleets are adopting efficiency technologies...
Petty: A Legendary Star
Mari Roberts, senior vice president of North American supply chain COEs at PepsiCo, has spent 26 years building the company’s private‑fleet capability while championing the Certified Transportation Professional (CTP) credential. Her 16‑year tenure as a faculty member of the Private...
Fleets Explained: How Carriers Can Beat Traffic Congestion
The American Transportation Research Institute’s 2024 Cost of Congestion report shows trucking congestion cost $108.8 billion in 2022, a 15% year‑over‑year rise. Congestion wastes more than 6.4 billion gallons of diesel, translating to $32.1 billion in fuel expenses, and adds over $7,500 per...
This Week in Trucking: Freightliner Safety Tech, Clearinghouse Security
Freightliner announced new driver‑assistance features—Cross‑Traffic Assist and Active Side Guard Assist 2 with left‑turn protection—set for 2027 models, while the FMCSA tightened security on its Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse by adding identity verification for all users and previewed a new carrier...
Five Good Things: When Trucking Shows up, From Crash Scenes to Community Giving
J.B. Hunt Transport honored 54 drivers who have logged up to 5 million safe miles, underscoring the company’s safety culture. Carrier celebrated planting 1,009,514 trees in 2025, moving toward its 5 million‑tree goal for 2030. Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund awarded more than...
How Fleet Payments Are Evolving in the Era of Digital Tolling
Digital tolling is rapidly expanding across the United States and Canada, pushing fleets to handle a growing volume of fragmented toll transactions. Traditional prepaid and card‑based payment methods are straining finance teams with constant reconciliation and limited spend visibility. In...
FMCSA’s Latest Enforcement Actions Shift Compliance Burden to Fleets
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has broadened enforcement across CDL, English‑language, and medical qualification rules, compelling carriers to audit driver files and upgrade monitoring systems. Non‑domiciled CDLs, training‑school decertifications, and language‑proficiency testing now require ongoing validation, increasing compliance...
Paccar, Volvo CEOs See Production Picking up From Q1 Pace
Volvo Group and Paccar CEOs said production rates are picking up after a weak first quarter, but they differ on how many build slots will be available in the coming months. Volvo idled U.S. plants 25‑30% in Q1 and plans...
Diesel Prices Decline Nationally While Gasoline Costs Rise Across U.S. Markets
Diesel prices slipped nationally this week, with the EIA reporting a 5‑cent drop to $5.351 per gallon, while gasoline climbed 8 cents to $4.123 per gallon. The West Coast saw the steepest diesel decline at 9 cents, whereas the Rocky...
Rohlwing: Can RFID Finally Replace the Boot-O-Meter?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted Auburn University Transportation Research Institute a $1.9 million grant to evaluate RFID‑enabled smart‑tire sensors for commercial trucks. The study will examine three scenarios—parked‑truck checks, fixed‑reader depot scans, and continuous in‑motion monitoring—to see if...
Clark: How Smart Fleets Manage Evolutionary Technology Change
Jane Clark’s analysis highlights that fleet operators are opting for evolutionary, not revolutionary, technology changes. By emphasizing total cost of ownership, gradual upgrades, and proven reliability, fleets mitigate financial risk and preserve uptime. Infrastructure and service readiness emerge as the...
Five Good Things: Industry Goodwill Shines Through Driver Support, Education Funding, and Volunteer Efforts
Kenworth launched a limited‑edition TourAmerica paint scheme and donated a T680 sleeper truck to the Freedom 250 mobile museum tour. The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund raised more than $10,000 at the 2026 Mid‑America Trucking Show, while the Truckload Carriers Association...
Bussone: One Decision, Two Very Different Cost Structures
Frank Bussone explains that fleet operators face a strategic choice between unbundling truck ownership, financing and maintenance or opting for full‑service leasing. Unbundling gives large fleets direct cost control and the ability to negotiate each component, while full‑service leasing trades...
How Cargo Theft Is Changing in 2026
Cargo theft losses surged 60% in 2025, reaching an estimated $725 million, while confirmed incidents rose 18% to 2,646 cases. Thieves are now deploying “Trojan horse” drivers who infiltrate vetted carriers and using sophisticated email hacks to execute double‑brokering scams. The...
Mitigating Driver Identity Fraud without Slowing Hiring
Carriers are turning to integrated digital onboarding workflows to accelerate driver hiring while combating a surge in identity fraud. By embedding biometric verification and automated checks into applicant tracking and HR systems, fleets can reduce time‑to‑hire, lower candidate drop‑out, and...
Roeth: Simple, Inexpensive Ways to Be More Fuel Efficient
Fleets can achieve measurable fuel‑economy gains by fine‑tuning electronic engine parameters, optimizing routes, and reducing idle time. Adjusting six categories of engine settings can add roughly 0.5 mpg, translating to 5‑8% savings when diesel exceeds $5 per gallon. Driver habits remain...
General Motors Names Commercial and Fleet Division GM Fleet—Again
General Motors has reverted its commercial‑vehicle unit’s name from GM Envolve back to GM Fleet, citing customer‑driven demand for clearer branding. The change does not signal a strategic overhaul; the division will continue offering a single‑point‑of‑contact model that bundles vehicles,...
Heller: How to Make Meetings Valuable
The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Safety & Security Division teamed with the North American Transportation Management Institute (NATMI) for a four‑day annual meeting in Oklahoma City, June 7‑10. The event focuses on peer networking, the latest FMCSA regulatory updates, and emerging...
Beyond the Digital Fax Machine: Moving Trucking From EDI to API
The trucking sector is abandoning legacy Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) for real‑time API standards, a shift likened to moving from a digital fax to a DoorDash‑style tracker. Industry bodies such as the Digital Standards Development Council (DSDC) and the Scheduling...
Proactive Fleet Strategies: Leveraging AI, Integration, Predictive Maintenance for Future Success
A NAFA Institute panel highlighted how AI‑powered cameras, telematics integration, and predictive maintenance are reshaping fleet management. Real‑time in‑cab coaching slashed unsafe driving incidents for companies like SavATree and the City of Akron, while API‑linked data streams unlocked hidden cost...
How Is Your Fleet Celebrating America 250?
FleetOwner is launching a campaign to commemorate the United States’ Semiquincentennial, inviting trucking companies to share stories and photos that reflect the industry’s role in America’s 250‑year journey. Participants can submit narratives about how trucking embodies the American spirit, as...
Roeth: Trucking Moves Closer to Autonomy
The article details three autonomous‑trucking projects managed by DriveOhio and reviewed with the Indiana Department of Transportation. A platooning trial on rural Ohio highways covered 24,422 miles, operated in platoon mode 40% of the time and saved roughly $1,200 (about...
Using Data as a System for Action
Trimble’s Transporeon platform is reframing data from a passive tracking tool into a proactive “system of action” for motor carriers. In a virtual roundtable, executives highlighted how network‑level vetting and real‑time visibility can curb cargo theft and accelerate recovery from...
Beyond the Hype: How to Find Real Operational ROI in AI
The article argues that fleet operators must move beyond generic large language models toward purpose‑built AI decision engines that can act, not just report. It defines the shift from "systems of record" to "systems of action," emphasizing deep API integration...
Trucking Profitability in 2026: Why Operational Discipline Drives Growth
Trucking profitability in 2026 is no longer dictated by market cycles but by precise operational discipline. Executives at Optimal Dynamics’ strategy session reported bid spreads narrowing to 5‑10% and fleets increasingly walking away from unprofitable freight. Data‑driven lane‑level analytics and...
New Rapid Heating Technology Promises Cold Start Emissions Reductions
Bosch unveiled its Rapid Catalyst Heating (RCH) system, a 12‑volt‑powered add‑on that quickly brings catalytic converters to operating temperature during engine start‑up. In tests, the technology slashed cold‑start tailpipe emissions by up to 65% in pickup trucks and 50% in...
Distracted Driving: One Month of Awareness Isn’t Enough
Distracted‑driving fatalities remained at 3,208 in 2024, showing no decline despite overall traffic deaths falling. Lily Transportation combats the issue with year‑round safety coaching, weekly “tailgate” sessions, and real‑time in‑cab alerts powered by Samsara. The company also relies on the...
How Predictive Maintenance Is Driving the Third Wave of Fleet Technology
Predictive maintenance is the centerpiece of the fleet industry's third wave of technology, leveraging richer vehicle data and software‑defined architectures to shift from reactive repairs to proactive, insight‑driven operations. Modern platforms access hundreds of internal signals, enabling remote diagnostics, over‑the‑air...
How Titan Freight Systems Cut Distracted Driving and Boosted LTL Efficiency
Titan Freight Systems, a Pacific Northwest LTL carrier, has leveraged a three‑model Freightliner fleet, AI‑based driver‑assistance, renewable diesel and a purpose‑built transportation‑management system to hit a 98% True On‑Time Delivery rate. The AI safety suite slashed distracted‑driving incidents by 96%...
High Fuel Prices Could Persist for 'Months,' Despite U.S.-Iran Ceasefire
Diesel prices jumped to a national average of $5.64 per gallon, more than $2 above last year, while gasoline rose 13 cents to $4.12 per gallon. The West Coast saw diesel near $7 per gallon, the highest regional level. Although...
Roeth: How Fleet Data Helps Shrink Diesel Costs and Improve Efficiency Amid High Fuel Prices
Fleet operators are turning to connected data to combat diesel prices that have risen above $5 per gallon. Geotab’s latest Sustainability and Impact Report shows fleets cutting idle time by up to 30%, saving 270‑400 gallons of diesel each year....
2026 Vocational Tire Outlook: Volatility to Value
The U.S. off‑the‑road (OTR) tire market ended 2025 with steady demand as fleets emphasized uptime and cost control amid economic uncertainty. Replacement tire sales outperformed new OEM purchases, and dealers shifted to lean, just‑in‑time inventories. For 2026, analysts from Bridgestone,...
Fontana: Is the Customer Always Worth Keeping?
Gino Fontana argues that not every client justifies continued service, urging logistics firms to scrutinize profitability and resource consumption. By applying the Pareto principle, companies can focus on the top 20% of customers that generate 80% of revenue while identifying...
Volvo Trucks' $1.2B North American Investment: Navigating Tariffs, EPA 2027, and the Prebuy
Volvo Trucks North America announced a $1.2 billion investment, allocating $500 million to expand its New River Valley plant and $700 million for a new facility in Monterrey, Mexico. The spend aims to shield the company from cross‑border tariffs and prepare for the...
The Impact of API CL-4 Engine Oil on Fleet Maintenance, Fuel Economy, and Uptime
The American Petroleum Institute will launch API CL‑4 and its low‑viscosity variant API FB‑4 in January 2027, superseding the current CK‑4 and FA‑4 categories. The new specifications are engineered to meet stricter 2027 emissions rules, improve piston‑deposit control, and extend oil‑drain intervals. FB‑4’s...
Fleets Are Considering New Fuel Purchasing Strategies
Fleet executives are re‑evaluating fuel purchasing tactics as diesel prices hit record highs. A recent FleetOwner survey of 23 readers shows only about one‑third currently buy fuel in bulk, while nearly half have contractual agreements. Among those without bulk or...
Ryder, International Launch Autonomous LT Near Laredo
Ryder System and International Motors have launched a joint autonomous trucking pilot on a 600‑mile daily route between Laredo and Temple, Texas. The pilot uses a factory‑integrated International LT equipped with PlusAI’s SuperDrive Level 4 software, with a safety driver on...
Roeth: Why Trucking Cycles Through Booms and Busts, and What Fleets Should Expect
Michael Roeth explains that trucking is inherently cyclical, with new‑vehicle sales fluctuating between roughly 350,000 and 200,000 units in a single year. Downturns are triggered by a mix of economic slowdowns, geopolitical events, rising diesel prices, and regulatory shifts such...
Fuel Price Volatility Continues as Diesel and Gasoline Averages Tick Upward
U.S. on‑highway diesel rose 3 cents to $5.401 per gallon and gasoline increased 3 cents to $3.990, according to the EIA’s March 31 report. The West Coast saw the steepest diesel jump, up 29 cents, while the Gulf Coast posted modest declines. AAA’s independent...
Is Broker Liability About to Change?
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, a case that asks whether the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) preempts state negligent‑hiring claims against freight brokers such as C.H. Robinson. Lower courts dismissed the claim, but...
Gaskins: How Data and Data Analytics Improve Asset Utilization and Loaded Miles
Patrick Gaskins explains how real‑time fleet data and predictive analytics are reshaping trucking operations. By giving dispatchers minute‑by‑minute visibility, carriers can match loads to trucks, cut empty miles, and lift loaded‑mile percentages. Integrated network‑wide platforms further align operations, sales, and...
Roeth: Fleets Need to Prepare for Fuel Volatility Like a Squirrel Prepares for Winter
Diesel prices have surged from $2.55 per gallon in 2020 to nearly $5 in 2022, underscoring the volatility that fleets now face. Michael Roeth urges operators to treat fuel efficiency like a squirrel stockpiling for winter, investing in engine optimization,...
Why Are U.S. EV Truck Costs Rising While Europe’s Fall?
U.S. Class 6‑8 electric trucks have risen 27% in price since 2020, with a sharp 40% jump between 2020‑2021, while comparable European models fell 32% and 23% respectively. The International Council on Clean Transportation attributes the U.S. increase to larger battery...
2026 FleetOwner 500: For-Hire Fleets with the Most Trailers
J.B. Hunt Transport has claimed the top spot on FleetOwner’s 2026 For‑Hire list, overtaking FedEx as the largest U.S. carrier by trailer count. The ranking reshuffles most of the top ten, with ContainerPort Group moving to fourth, R+L Carriers rising to...
Diesel Tops $5 Nationally as Gas Inches Closer to $4
U.S. diesel prices broke the $5‑per‑gallon barrier, reaching a national average of $5.07, while gasoline edged toward $4 at $3.79. The surge stems from heightened Middle‑East tensions, notably the war against Iran, which have pushed crude oil above $100 a...
From the Road to Recruitment: Tammie Dean Empowers Women in Trucking
Former owner‑operator Tammie Dean now leads recruitment at Lily Transportation, using her active Class A CDL to evaluate and match drivers. She founded the Lily Ladies committee, which provides mentorship, CDL training, scholarships, and networking to boost female representation. Women now...
Harbinger Launches Cabover Work Truck as Hybrid and Electric
Harbinger Motors unveiled the HC Series Cab, a medium‑duty low‑cab‑forward truck offered in both battery‑electric and plug‑in hybrid configurations, at Work Truck Week 2026. The hybrid model delivers up to 500 mi of range and the vehicle features a 42‑ft turning...
Roeth: How Diverse Teams Are Helping Fleets Tackle Efficiency and Sustainability Challenges
Michael Roeth, executive director of NACFE, argues that diverse teams are reshaping the trucking sector by enhancing problem‑solving and accelerating the adoption of sustainable technologies. A recent data‑potluck gathering showcased an eclectic mix of ages, genders, ethnicities, and professional backgrounds,...
Shaver: How to Retain Newly Hired Drivers and Reduce Early-Tenure Turnover
Leah Shaver outlines how the first 120 days of a truck driver’s employment are pivotal for long‑term retention. She highlights that early pay gaps and unmet expectations drive most turnover, making transparent earnings essential. Consistent check‑ins, milestone recognition, and data‑driven...