Volvo Wins U.S. Clearance Over China-Tied Vehicle Ban
Volvo Car AB, majority‑owned by China’s Geely Group, secured a specific authorization from the U.S. Commerce Department to continue importing and selling connected passenger vehicles in the United States, sidestepping a ban that takes effect with the 2027 model year. The clearance follows intensive talks on governance, technology and data‑security safeguards. Volvo, which has invested more than $1.3 billion in its Charleston, South Carolina plant, also sources models from Sweden and assembles a popular SUV in Belgium to offset higher China‑origin tariffs. The approval lets Volvo pursue its growth plans without interruption.
Oil Prices Rise After U.S. Strikes on Iran
U.S. forces carried out self‑defense strikes in southern Iran, reigniting supply concerns in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude jumped 4% to $97.14 a barrel, while U.S. crude fell 2.7% to $94.01. The rally helped the S&P 500 gain 0.4% and...
Hendrickson Introduces High-Efficiency Electric Drive Axle
Hendrickson unveiled the Electraax, a high‑efficiency electric drive axle for Class 6‑7 medium‑duty trucks and school buses, on May 4. The modular unit integrates a lightweight axle, single‑speed gearbox, motor and inverter into a single package, developed with Driventic. Internal testing shows...
How TMS Vendors Are Bringing AI to Trucking’s Back Office
Transportation management software (TMS) vendors are embedding artificial intelligence to turn back‑office functions from manual, spreadsheet‑driven processes into automated, data‑driven actions. AI‑powered document processing now extracts information from bills of lading, invoices and emails, feeding it directly into TMS platforms...
STG to Exit Chapter 11 in Coming Weeks as Court Backs Plan
STG Logistics, an intermodal and drayage carrier based in Dublin, Ohio, is set to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy within weeks after a court confirmed its reorganization plan. The restructuring slashed more than $1 billion of funded debt and will inject a...
What Is the Lowest-Cost Regional Freight Format?
Humble Robotics CEO Eyal Cohen says its battery‑electric, cabless Class 8 autonomous truck could become the lowest‑cost format for short‑haul freight. The prototype moves 40‑foot containers dock‑to‑dock and is slated for a customer pilot within 12 months, with later adaptation to...
Chrysler Turns to Models Under $30,000 to Revive Brand
Stellantis announced that Chrysler will broaden its portfolio with three new crossover utility vehicles, including two priced under $30,000. The move expands the brand beyond its recent minivan‑only focus and positions it in the $25,000‑$35,000 segment where no American brand...
NYSE, Crypto Exchange to Offer No-Expire Oil Futures
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the owner of the NYSE, is partnering with crypto exchange OKX to launch perpetual oil futures tied to Brent and WTI benchmarks. Unlike traditional futures, these contracts never expire, allowing continuous exposure without physical delivery or roll‑over....
April Trailer Orders Defy Seasonal Expectations Again
U.S. trailer orders surged in April, with ACT Research reporting a 126% year‑over‑year increase to 19,400 units and FTR Transportation Intelligence noting a 100% rise to 19,953 units. Both sources showed sequential gains, defying the usual spring slowdown that typically...
Freight Tonnage Stays Flat After Strong Start to 2026
Freight tonnage held steady in April 2026, with the ATA For‑Hire Truck Tonnage Index unchanged at 117.8, marking a 3.5% year‑over‑year gain and a 2.6% increase for the first four months versus 2025. The Cass Freight Index showed a 4.4%...
Eagle Vision Launches AI Damage Reporting Tool
Eagle Vision Security unveiled Intelligent Damage Reporting (iDR), an AI‑driven platform that scans trucks and trailers for visible damage in real time. The system combines high‑resolution imaging, video analytics and centralized reporting to automate inspections at logistics yards, terminals and...
Kroger Plans Big Price Cuts to Take On Walmart, Costco
Kroger’s new CEO Greg Foran announced a company‑wide push to lower prices on thousands of items while accelerating store openings and service upgrades. The strategy, dubbed the “five Fs” – fresh, fast, affordable, friendly and personalized – aims to win...
Proterra to Offer U.S. Cell Option for Batteries From 2027
Volvo Group’s Proterra division will add a U.S.-made battery‑cell option to its Onyx platform, with shipments slated for the first quarter of 2027. The move responds to rising tariff pressures and OEM demand for domestic content, while the current South...
FHWA Targets Bridges, Congestion in Infrastructure Projects
The Federal Highway Administration announced the remaining $3 billion of its Bridge Investment Program, targeting planning and new bridge projects under $100 million. To date, FHWA has awarded more than $708 million in large bridge grants and $407 million in competitive awards, with minimum...
Trucking Gained in Q1 as Supply Tightened, Costello Says
American Trucking Association chief economist Bob Costello said the industry posted a modest Q1 gain as supply tightened, driven by stricter FMCSA driver‑license and language rules and a gradual whittling of excess capacity. The U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index showed...
DOL to Require English Proficiency for Foreign Truck Drivers
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that, effective around June 14, 2026, all labor certification filings for foreign commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers must include an English‑language proficiency standard. Employers who omit the requirement will receive a Notice of Deficiency and...
Maverick Raises Pay for Flatbed Over-the-Road Drivers
On May 31, Maverick Transportation will raise flatbed over‑the‑road driver pay by four cents per mile. Student drivers’ starting rate climbs to 59 cents per mile, translating to $73,000‑$80,000 in first‑year earnings, while experienced drivers will earn 63‑67 cents per...
Shell Wins Investor Backing for Higher Executive Bonuses
Shell Plc shareholders voted overwhelmingly (over 95%) to raise the maximum long‑term share award for CEO Wael Sawan from 600% to 900% of his salary. The change could lift Sawan’s 2026 total compensation to more than $25 million, up from $18 million...
Windrose U.S. Assembly Plants to Be Operating by End of 2026
Windrose, a battery‑electric Class 8 truck startup, will begin final assembly of its R700 tractor at two Aertssen Logistics facilities in Rincon, Georgia and Tacoma, Washington by the end of 2026. The partnership replaces an earlier plan to import fully built...
Tankers Entering Hormuz During War Are Making Their Way Out
Since the February U.S.-Israeli strikes, most non‑Iranian tankers that entered the Persian Gulf have now left with cargo, but roughly 100 remain anchored out of fear of Iranian attacks. Bloomberg vessel‑tracking shows 19 oil and LPG carriers crossed Hormuz between...
Ford in Talks to Supply Pickups to Military in North America
Ford Motor Co. is in active talks with defense ministries across North America and Europe to supply converted F‑Series pickup trucks, including Super Duty models, for military use. The automaker highlighted its Ford Pro platform as a foundation for vehicle and...
S&P’s Mobility Unit to Sell $2B of Notes Ahead of Spinoff
S&P Global’s Mobility Global unit announced a $2 billion note offering with 3‑, 5‑, and 10‑year maturities, timed ahead of a planned mid‑2026 spin‑off. The unit also secured a $500 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility to bolster liquidity. Goldman Sachs, Morgan...
Industrial Production Rises by Most in Over a Year
U.S. industrial production jumped 0.7% in April, the strongest rise in more than a year, surpassing Bloomberg economists' forecasts. Manufacturing output, which makes up roughly three‑quarters of total industrial activity, increased 0.6%, driven by a 3.7% surge in motor‑vehicle and...
Trump Says He Didn’t Discuss Extending Tariff Truce With Xi
President Donald Trump told reporters he did not discuss extending the U.S.-China tariff truce during his May 15 meeting with Xi Jinping, even though trade ambassador Jamieson Greer said the two sides explored a “Board of Trade” that could cut...
Autonomous Trucks Are Here, But When Will They Scale?
At ACT Expo 2026, leaders from Aurora, Waabi, PlusAI, Torc and Kodiak confirmed that autonomous‑truck technology has moved beyond proof‑of‑concept and is entering full‑scale commercial deployment. Aurora announced hundreds of driverless trucks on the road by year‑end and new Dallas‑Oklahoma...
Trucking Rates Edge Higher as Capacity Tightens in Q1
Trucking spot and contract rates edged higher in Q1 as driver shortages and carrier exits tightened capacity. Analysts said the rate gains were uneven, with spot‑dependent carriers still feeling a lag in margins while larger firms with mixed freight mixes...
U.S. Ships Millions of Reserve Oil Barrels Overseas Amid War
The United States has shipped roughly 13 million barrels of crude from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to Europe and other markets, accounting for about 40% of the oil released so far. The release is part of a broader Trump‑admin plan...
Supreme Court Says Broker Liability Case Can Proceed
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Shawn Montgomery can pursue a lawsuit against C.H. Robinson, the third‑party logistics broker, for a 2017 Illinois crash that left him partially leg‑amputated. The decision overturns a lower court dismissal and affirms that federal...
Bid Season Gains Spur Optimism in Trucking
Truck carriers reported a more constructive contract bid season in Q1 2026, with rate lifts and tighter capacity signaling early tailwinds. Executives at J.B. Hunt and Werner Enterprises said pricing power is improving and they now see a line of sight...
The Future of Weigh Station Bypass
Weigh‑station bypass has shifted from a convenience to a core fleet strategy, with consistency now outweighing pure speed. PrePass’s Mile Marker 2026 Index, based on 1.6 billion authenticated events in 40 states, shows an average bypass saves 7 minutes, half a gallon...
Trump Puts Trade Ahead of Iran for Xi Summit Priorities
President Donald Trump announced that trade will dominate his upcoming May 14‑15 summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, explicitly stating that Iran will not be a primary discussion point. He claimed the United States has Iran "under control"...
US to Unveil New Data Spotlighting Hormuz, Global Reserves
The U.S. Energy Information Administration announced a new quarterly report that will begin publishing on May 13, providing detailed data on global strategic petroleum reserves and LNG flows through key shipping chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz. The datasets are...
Tesla Sees ‘Many Thousands’ of Semis Being Built in 2026
Tesla announced it will build "many thousands" of Class 8 battery‑electric Semis before the end of 2026, with a long‑term goal of 50,000 units per year. The first Semi rolled off the high‑volume Reno line in late April, and the company...
Oil Prices Back Over $100 as Hormuz Remains Closed
Brent crude surged 1.8% to $101.80 a barrel as the Strait of Hormuz remained closed following U.S. forces disabling two Iranian tankers. Meanwhile, U.S. employers added 115,000 jobs in April, far exceeding expectations and propelling the S&P 500 toward record highs....
Uber-Backed Electric Scooter Rental Firm Lime Files for IPO
Lime, the Uber‑backed electric scooter and e‑bike rental firm, filed for an IPO targeting a roughly $2 billion valuation. In 2025 the company generated $886.7 million in revenue but posted a $59.3 million net loss, widening from the prior year. Lime now operates...
Amplify Battery Cell Manufacturing JV Faces More Delays
Daimler Truck announced a $235 million impairment charge as the Amplify Cell Technologies battery‑cell joint venture in Mississippi encounters further delays. The 2.6‑million‑square‑foot plant, projected to cost $2‑3 billion, had already seen its production start pushed from 2027 to 2028, and the...
Box Makers Struggle to Pass on War Costs
Packaging producers are feeling a double hit as the Middle East conflict pushes diesel and energy costs higher while consumer demand remains weak. The war‑driven surge in transportation expenses forced Sonoco to absorb an $8‑$10 million quarterly hit and Smurfit Westrock to...
Lyft Projects Strong Q2 as Premium Services Expand
Lyft projected second‑quarter gross bookings of $5.3‑$5.43 billion, topping Wall Street forecasts, and adjusted EBITDA of $160‑$180 million. The company highlighted a 35% surge in premium chauffeur and high‑value rides, reflecting its push into higher‑margin services. Recent acquisitions of European taxi platforms...
Trump, Xi Summit Set Despite China's Hesitance on Iran
U.S. President Donald Trump is moving forward with a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14‑15, even as Chinese officials express unease about the unresolved U.S.–Iran conflict. The meeting, already postponed once due to the war,...
Americold, EQT Form $1.3 Billion Cold Storage Venture
Americold Realty Trust is transferring 12 cold‑storage warehouses into a $1.3 billion joint venture with private‑equity firm EQT, which will own 70% of the assets while Americold retains a 30% equity stake and day‑to‑day management. The deal will generate roughly $1.1 billion...
US States Have Revoked 28,000 Non-Domiciled CDLs
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that more than 28,000 illegally issued non‑domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) have been revoked across 26 states, part of a broader crackdown that could eliminate up to 194,000 foreign‑licensed truck drivers from...
RXO Boss Optimistic About Supply-Side Recovery
RXO reported a Q1 net loss of $36 million on flat revenue of $1.43 billion, while highlighting growing momentum across its brokerage and managed‑transportation units. The company saw a 2.8% rise in truck‑brokerage revenue to $1.1 billion, even as overall brokerage volume fell...
DTNA Q2 Sales Pacing 50% Ahead of Q1
Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) reported Q2 sales pacing 50% ahead of the first quarter, after a Q1 slump where sales fell 24.5% year‑on‑year to 29,432 trucks and buses and revenue dropped 29% to $4.51 billion. Orders surged 86% YoY to...
Cyber Cargo Theft Cases Surging, FBI Warns
The FBI has warned of a sharp increase in cyber‑enabled cargo theft, noting that criminals are using spoofed emails, fake URLs, and fraudulent load‑board listings to hijack freight operations. By delivering malicious executables disguised as carrier‑broker agreements, thieves gain undetected...
Gasoline Costs 50% More Than It Did Before the Iran War
U.S. regular gasoline surged to an average $4.48 per gallon on May 5, a 50% increase since the Iran war began. The spike follows a 31‑cent weekly rise driven by crude oil climbing to $112 a barrel as the Strait of...
US Gasoline Inventories Face Record Summer Lows
U.S. gasoline inventories are projected to fall below 200 million barrels by the end of August, the lowest seasonal level since 2014. Morgan Stanley’s base‑case scenario expects stockpiles to reach 198 million barrels, a record low for any time of year, while...
Lucid Misses Revenue Expectations After Delivery Disruptions
Lucid Group reported first‑quarter revenue of $282.5 million, well below the $389.2 million analysts expected. A seat‑supplier quality problem halted Gravity SUV deliveries for 29 days in February, limiting deliveries to 3,093 vehicles despite producing 5,500. The automaker reaffirmed its 2025 production...
VTNA Unveils EPA 2027-Compliant D13 Engine
Volvo Trucks North America unveiled a D13 engine that meets the pending 2027 EPA nitrogen‑oxide emissions rule of 35 mg/hp‑hr. The power unit, offered on the VNL and VNR Class 8 trucks, delivers up to 540 hp and 1,950 lb‑ft of torque across 13...
Marathon Leaning Into Unusual Fuel Voyages During Iran War
Marathon Petroleum leveraged its North American‑sourced crude base to launch a series of unprecedented fuel shipments as the Iran‑related war shut the Strait of Hormuz. The refiner sent ultra‑low‑sulfur diesel from Los Angeles to Australia, naphtha to Asia, jet fuel to...
Cummins Improves Outlook After Q1 Results
Cummins reported first‑quarter net income of $654 million and revenue of $8.4 billion, a 3% increase year‑over‑year. Strong demand in power‑generation markets, especially data centers, lifted earnings, while North American heavy‑ and medium‑duty truck volumes fell 20%. EBITDA reached $1.3 billion, including a...