Cargo Theft Trends Shift in 2026 as Organized Crime and Impersonation Rise
Cargo theft incidents fell 5.3% in Q1 2026 to 767 events, yet confirmed thefts rose to 596 and losses stayed near $131.6 million. Organized crime is shifting focus to major freight hubs, with spikes in California and a 119% surge in New Jersey. Thieves now prioritize high‑value, easy‑to‑resell items such as personal‑care products. Impersonation scams using credential theft and fake carriers have become the leading threat, prompting calls for lifecycle‑wide verification and stronger cyber defenses.
March Truck Tonnage Shows Strongest Annual Growth Since 2022
U.S. truck freight activity rose in March 2026, with the ATA For‑Hire Truck Tonnage Index increasing 0.3% month‑over‑month to 117.0 and 3% year‑over‑year, the strongest YoY gain since October 2022. First‑quarter tonnage was up 2.1% YoY, marking the best Q1...
Fuel Prices Decline as Diesel and Gasoline Markets Ease After Volatility
U.S. diesel and gasoline prices slipped this week, with diesel down 21 cents to $5.403 per gallon and gasoline down 8 cents to $4.044 per gallon, according to the Energy Information Administration. Despite the declines, both fuels remain well above...
Truckload Rates Hit Two-Year Highs as Diesel Costs Surge
Truckload freight rates have surged to two‑year highs in March, propelled mainly by rising diesel costs. Spot rates climbed to $2.52 per mile for vans, $2.97 for reefers and $3.09 for flatbeds, with fuel surcharges accounting for most of the...
This Week in Trucking: Medical Card Extension, CDL Changes, and Industry Scrutiny
The FMCSA extended paper medical examiner certificates until October 11, postponing a full digital transition for drivers. It also cleared nine states to re‑issue non‑domiciled CDLs while withholding $73 million in federal highway funds from New York for alleged licensing failures. A 60 Minutes...
Spot Market Shift: Flatbed Gains While Van and Reefer Rates Cool
The U.S. freight spot market is diverging, with flatbed rates climbing for the 15th week while dry‑van and refrigerated (reefer) rates ease. Flatbed spot prices rose 8 cents to $2.58 per mile, volumes grew 6.2% and year‑over‑year rates are 15‑21%...
This Week in Trucking: Idaho Speed Limits, Iran Conflict, and Rising Fuel Costs
The trucking sector faced a mix of regulatory, geopolitical, and cost pressures this week. Idaho enacted House Bill 664, raising the interstate speed limit for semi‑trucks to 80 mph, matching passenger vehicles, effective July 1. Ongoing conflict in the Middle East spurred...
Oil Prices Climb Toward $100 as Ceasefire Uncertainty Shakes Markets
Oil prices surged toward the $100 level as doubts grew over a fragile cease‑fire between the United States, Iran and Israel. On April 9 U.S. crude jumped 6.8% to $100.79 a barrel while Brent rose 3.7% to $98.24, still well above...
How California Fleets Are Tackling $7 Diesel With Electric Trucks
Diesel prices in California have surged past $7 per gallon, a 55% increase since early 2026, prompting carriers to confront soaring fuel surcharges that jumped 20% in just two weeks. In response, many fleets are accelerating purchases of battery‑electric trucks,...
Freight Market Sees Covid-Era Extremes Return as Capacity Tightens
The latest Logistics Managers’ Index shows freight capacity tightening to a 39.2 reading, the sharpest contraction since 2021, while transportation pricing surged to 89.4, the fastest rate growth since March 2022. The gap between capacity and pricing marks the most...
FMCSA Launches Truck Parking Study, Seeks Driver Feedback Nationwide
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has launched a study titled “Quantifying the Benefits of Creating New Truck Parking Spaces” to tackle the persistent truck‑parking shortage across the United States. The agency is collecting roughly 1,000 driver survey responses,...
Dizzying Fuel Prices Mostly Outside Gas Stations’ Control
U.S. gasoline prices have risen above $4 per gallon, the highest level since 2022, driven primarily by surging crude oil costs linked to geopolitical tensions such as the Iran war. While consumers often blame stations, retailers only capture roughly 10%...
WIT Names 2026 Top Women to Watch in Trucking
Women in Trucking (WIT) announced its 2026 Top Women to Watch, naming 75 professionals across the trucking ecosystem. Selections were based on achievements and measurable impact over the past 12‑18 months, spanning carriers, logistics firms, equipment makers, technology companies, and...
From Diesel Prices to Cyberattacks: How the Iran War Is Affecting Trucking
Rising diesel prices, driven by Iran‑related oil flow disruptions, have pushed crude near $100 per barrel and added an estimated $40 billion in fuel costs across the U.S. trucking sector. The surge in fuel expenses is compressing margins, prompting carrier exits...
Diesel Surge Lifts Spot Rates but Squeezes Fleet Margins
Recent diesel price surges lifted total spot rates for dry‑van, refrigerated and flatbed trucks to their highest levels since late 2022, adding more than 10 cents per mile. When fuel surcharges are removed, linehaul rates slipped 3.5‑8 cents per mile, cutting actual revenue...
Fleet Advantage Launches Free Audit to Help Fleets Cut 2027 Truck Costs
Fleet Advantage has launched a complimentary Capital Cost Avoidance Program (CCAP) audit, debuting at the ATA Technology & Maintenance Council meeting in Nashville. The audit offers a procurement calculator, pull‑forward purchase strategies, and identifies incentives that can offset up to...
This Week in Trucking: CDL Crackdown, Diesel Price Surge, and Tech Updates
California DMV cancelled about 13,000 non‑domiciled CDLs and FMCSA blocked future issuance, tightening driver supply for out‑of‑state operators. The U.S. Department of Education proposed Workforce Pell Grants to fund 8‑15‑week CDL and technician training, though program length may limit impact....
Flatbed Spot Rates Keep Climbing, Reaching Strongest Week Since 2022
Flatbed spot rates surged to their strongest level since October 2022, rising more than 5 cents per mile and pushing weekly volumes up 5.3%, the highest since May 2022. While dry‑van and refrigerated segments posted modest week‑over‑week declines, their rates...
Federal Court Lets NYC Congestion Pricing Continue
A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Department of Transportation acted arbitrarily in trying to rescind approval for New York City’s congestion pricing program, allowing the toll system to remain in force. The decision keeps peak‑hour truck tolls at...
FMCSA Chief Vows to “Clean Up the Mess” In Modern Trucking
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Derek D. Barrs announced a sweeping enforcement push at the Truckload Carrier Association convention, targeting fraud, unsafe operations, and regulatory loopholes. The agency is purging shell carriers, removing over 7,000 dubious CDL schools, and...
Diesel Prices Rise Sharply, While Gas Increases Remain Modest Across the U.S.
U.S. diesel prices jumped 10 cents to $3.809 per gallon for the week ending Feb. 23, with the Midwest posting the steepest regional rise of 13 cents. The West Coast continues to lead in absolute cost, averaging $4.465. By contrast, gasoline...
FMCSA Reinstates Field Warrior ELD to Registered Device List
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has reinstated Forward Thinking Systems’ Field Warrior ELD to its official registered device list as of February 25 2026, after the model was removed in December. The device (model FW‑BYOD, identifier FTSFW1) can again be...
FMCSA Proposes Extending State Emergency Exemptions to 30 Days
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has proposed extending state‑issued emergency exemptions from the current 14‑day limit to 30 days, aligning them with federal emergency timelines. The change does not broaden the scope of exemptions, which remain limited to...
ATA Seeks Expanded Compliance Latitude for EPA 2027 NOx Rules
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has asked the EPA to soften key provisions of the 2027 nitrogen‑oxide (NOx) emissions rule for heavy‑duty trucks, arguing that the required technologies are not yet proven in real‑world use. ATA’s letter cites ongoing freight...
Dry Van and Reefer Spot Rates Slip as Flatbed Spot Rates Climb
Dry van and refrigerated spot rates slipped week‑over‑week, with dry van down about 6 cents and reefer down roughly 17 cents, yet both remain 22‑33% above last year. Flatbed spot rates, by contrast, posted modest gains of just over 4 cents and are...
Chicago Freight Bottleneck Named Worst in Nation, ATRI Reports
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has named the I‑294/I‑290/I‑88 interchange in Chicago the most congested truck bottleneck in the United States, overtaking Fort Lee, New Jersey. The 15th annual Top Truck Bottleneck List, based on 2025 GPS‑based truck data, shows...
FMCSA Revokes Nine ELDs; Carriers Have 60 Days to Replace Noncompliant Devices
On February 12, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration revoked nine electronic logging devices—GTS ELD, UTruckin, ELD365 ELOG, Ironman ELD, Factor ELD, and four AirELD versions—after they failed to meet Title 49 CFR technical standards. Motor carriers have a 60‑day...