AI Chip Export Drive Stalls Inside Commerce Department
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is struggling to keep pace with President Trump’s push to expand U.S. AI‑chip exports. Turnover has hit roughly 20% of rulemaking and licensing staff, and tighter, hands‑on license reviews have stretched processing times to an average of 76 days—double the 2023 pace. The slowdown has created a multi‑billion‑dollar export backlog and a 25% drop in licenses processed across sectors. While BIS secured a 23% budget boost for FY2026, most of the funds target enforcement, not the staffing gaps that undercut its core licensing function.
DTNA Q1 Sales Decline 24.5% Year Over Year
Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) reported a 24.5% year‑over‑year drop in Q1 2026 sales, moving 29,432 trucks and buses versus 38,992 a year earlier. North American volumes also slipped 13.5% sequentially from Q4 2025, dragging the global Daimler Truck total...
Federal Court Hears New Case Against Trump's Latest Tariffs
The U.S. Court of International Trade is hearing arguments on April 10 to overturn President Trump’s temporary Section 122 tariffs, which impose a 10% duty on most imports and are set to expire on July 24. The tariffs were introduced after the Supreme...
Oil to Test Wartime Highs If Hormuz Standstill Drags
Oil could revisit wartime price peaks if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked until July, JPMorgan Chase notes. The market expects half of normal oil flows to resume by May and full capacity by June, but a slower return to...
US Oil Exports to Hit 5M Barrels a Day Amid Global Crunch
U.S. Gulf Coast crude exports are set to reach a record 5 million barrels per day in May, up sharply from roughly 3.97 million in March. Asian refiners are snapping up the cargoes to replace Middle Eastern supply disruptions, prompting a surge...
USPS Proposes 4-Cent Stamp Increase to 82 Cents
The United States Postal Service announced a proposal to raise the price of a first‑class stamp by four cents, from 78 to 82 cents, pending approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission. The 4.8% increase would be the eighth stamp hike since...
Ex-First Brands Officer Says He Was Unaware of Alleged Fraud
Former First Brands chief strategy officer Michael Baker filed a motion to dismiss a civil lawsuit that implicates him in the auto‑parts supplier’s collapse. Baker alleges founder Patrick James and his brother concealed fraudulent accounting and used his Wall Street...
Third-Generation Leader Guides Volvo Truck, Plant Evolution
Volvo Trucks North America poured $400 million into a comprehensive overhaul of its New River Valley plant in Dublin, Va., ahead of the launch of the latest VNL long‑haul and VNR regional‑haul models. Serial production of the revamped VNR began in...
FedEx, Pilots Set Tentative Contract After 5 Years of Talks
FedEx Corp. and the Air Line Pilots Association have reached a tentative labor agreement after nearly five years of negotiations. The deal provides an immediate 40% hourly wage increase for pilots, followed by 3% annual raises beginning in 2028, and...
Former Negotiator Says Time Favors Canada in USMCA Talks
Former Canadian chief negotiator Steve Verheul told a Bank of Montreal panel that mounting economic pressure on the United States gives Canada a strategic advantage in the upcoming USMCA review. He cited the war in Iran’s disruption of energy, aluminum...
Transport Fuel Costs Could Test M&A, Investment Bank Says
William Blair’s investment‑banking head says transportation, logistics and industrial firms have been able to pass higher fuel and input costs to customers, keeping M&A activity robust. Global dealmaking hit about $1.3 trillion in Q1, but that momentum could fade if energy...
KTG Acquires Fellow Canadian Carrier Sharp Transport
Kriska Transportation Group (KTG) announced the acquisition of Sharp Transportation Systems, a Canadian temperature‑controlled carrier specializing in medical supplies and furniture. The deal, completed March 31, adds Sharp’s Midwest and Northeast network and cross‑border capabilities to KTG’s portfolio. KTG expects operational...
Christmas Comes Early — but Not in a Good Way — for Toymaker
Learning Resources, a U.S. toymaker, purchased a month’s worth of low‑density polyethylene ahead of anticipated price spikes caused by the Iran‑Israel conflict. Prices for the plastic have risen up to 55% in China, Vietnam and India, and supply shortages are...
Hyundai Turns to Cape of Good Hope to Avoid Strait of Hormuz
Hyundai Motor Co. is rerouting its cargo ships around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope to bypass the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran‑Israel conflict, adding several weeks of lead time. The automaker has shifted to weekly supply‑chain meetings and higher...
US Charging Networks Race to Keep Up as Gas Prices Boost EVs
U.S. electric‑vehicle charging networks added 605 high‑speed stations in Q1, a 34% year‑over‑year increase, bringing the total to roughly 13,500 public fast chargers. The surge coincided with a spike in gasoline prices to $4.82 amid the Iran conflict, reigniting consumer...
States Weigh Motor Fuel Tax Holidays as Pump Prices Surge
States across the political spectrum are urging governors to enact short‑term motor‑fuel tax holidays as pump prices climb to record levels. Georgia led the charge, signing a 60‑day suspension that has already shaved roughly 33 cents off gasoline and 37 cents off...
International Sells Springfield Plant, Sunsets CV Series
International Motors announced the sale of its historic Springfield Assembly Plant to Canadian defense vehicle maker Roshel after General Motors terminated its medium‑duty Silverado contract. The transaction, terms undisclosed, includes over 2 million sq ft of manufacturing space and will end production of...
Duffy Opens Door to Airline Mergers Amid Fuel Volatility
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signaled openness to airline mergers as jet fuel prices spike amid the Iran‑related closure of the Strait of Hormuz. He told CNBC that President Trump favors large deals, but any consolidation would still undergo scrutiny by...
TMC AI Summit: The Convergence of Technology and Maintenance
The Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking Associations will host an AI Summit during its 2026 Fall Meeting in Pittsburgh, September 20‑24. Co‑hosted with Transport Topics, the summit will examine how generative, agentic and deep‑learning AI can...
Deere Agrees to Pay $99M to Settle 'Right to Repair' Lawsuit
John Deere agreed to a $99 million settlement to resolve a class‑action lawsuit accusing the company of monopolizing farm‑equipment repairs. The deal, still pending court approval, covers customers who paid for large‑scale repairs between January 2018 and the settlement date and includes...
Oil Prices Rise Ahead of Trump's Deadline to Reopen Hormuz
Oil prices surged on April 7 as President Donald Trump set a final deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, pushing U.S. WTI up 3.9% to $116.83 a barrel and Brent to $110.55. The heightened geopolitical risk dragged the...
DOT Budget Blueprint Lifts FMCSA Funding to $946 Million
The Trump administration’s fiscal 2027 budget request allocates $946 million to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, up from prior levels. Of that, $398 million would fund safety operations while $548 million would support safety grants aimed at high‑risk carriers. The broader Department...
US Shale Drillers Expected to Lift Crude Output
U.S. shale drillers are gearing up to increase crude output after a 68% price surge triggered by the Iran‑Israel conflict and Hormuz closure. With West Texas Intermediate trading around $115 per barrel—well above the $62‑$70 profit threshold—companies like Continental Resources...
Shipping Constraints Mount as US Crude Exports Test Limits
Overseas demand for U.S. crude has surged amid the Iran conflict, pushing export volumes toward record levels. Analysts now argue that practical constraints limit Gulf Coast shipments to under 6 million barrels per day, far below the often‑cited 10 million‑bpd capacity. The...
Autel CV Diagnostics: Broad Coverage. Real Capability. Proven Value.
Autel introduced a three‑tiered CV diagnostic suite—MD600CV, MS908CVII, and MS909CV—designed for heavy‑duty technicians across fleets, independent shops, and owner‑operators. The handheld MD600CV delivers rapid triage with bidirectional engine functions, while the tablet‑based MS908CVII offers full Class 1‑9 coverage and faster shop...
Hankook Truck Tire Production Line to Begin Rolling in July
South Korean tire maker Hankook will begin producing truck and bus radial (TBR) tires at its Clarksville, Tennessee plant in early July 2026, marking the first U.S.-based manufacturing of its truck tires. The Phase 3 expansion, part of a $1.6 billion investment,...
US Doubles Hormuz Reinsurance Guarantees to $40 Billion
The U.S. International Development Finance Corp. announced on April 3 that it is doubling its maritime reinsurance guarantee to $40 billion, adding AIG and Berkshire Hathaway to a consortium that already includes Chubb, Travelers, Liberty Mutual, Starr and CNA. The expanded program...
Titanium Transportation Closes Management‑Led Buyout
Titanium Transportation Group completed its management‑led take‑private transaction, valuing the company at $2.22 per share. The deal closed March 31, transferring ownership to TTNM Management Acquisition Ltd after shareholder and court approvals. As a result, the company will delist from the...
C.H. Robinson Launches Fuel Relief for Carrier Network
C.H. Robinson announced a free discount fuel card program and waived cash‑advance fees for its carrier network, targeting the 60% of carriers that are owner‑operators. The cards provide discounted fuel and allow drivers to receive up to 60% of their...
BeyondTrucks Deploys AI Agents to Customize Freight Rates
BeyondTrucks unveiled RateAgents, a suite of AI‑driven agents that let carriers set freight rates using plain‑language commands, beginning with a fuel‑surcharge specialist. The technology converts natural language into executable code, sidestepping cumbersome rate tables and costly, inflexible transportation‑management systems. Carriers...
The Power of Predictability: Scale Demands Consistency, Not Speed
PrePass unveiled its Mile Marker 2026 Impact Index, a national benchmark that quantifies how weigh‑station bypass improves fleet efficiency. The study, based on 1.6 billion bypass events, shows an average 7‑minute time saving, half‑gallon fuel reduction and $10.65 operational cost cut...
IMC Logistics Names Rodrigues Next Chief Financial Officer
IMC Logistics announced that David Rodrigues has been appointed chief financial officer, succeeding retiring executive Ted Showalter after a 12‑year tenure. Rodrigues joins from Quick Group, where he served as vice president of finance since 2021, bringing extensive financial leadership...
Volvo Sets July Start for Monterrey Heavy-Duty Truck Plant
Volvo Group will launch production at its new 1.7‑million‑square‑foot Monterrey heavy‑duty truck plant in July 2026, a $700 million investment aimed at expanding North American capacity. Initial volumes will be modest because U.S. and Canadian demand remains soft, but the facility...
US Oil Tops $100 as War With Iran Escalates
U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled at $102.88 per barrel on March 30, the first time it crossed the $100 mark since the U.S. and Israel launched a war against Iran. The surge follows President Donald Trump’s threats to target Iranian...
Attacks on Mideast Aluminum Plants Threaten Supply Crisis
Iranian drones and missiles struck the Emirates Global Aluminium plant in Abu Dhabi and Aluminium Bahrain, causing significant damage to two of the Middle East’s largest aluminum smelters. The attacks sent LME aluminum futures up 6% to $3,401 per ton...
First Brands to Sell 12 Brands Including Autolite for $25M
Bankrupt auto parts maker First Brands Group has agreed to sell 12 of its most recognizable brands, including Autolite, Fram and Trico, to PGI Northstar for $25 million. The transaction also transfers certain liabilities tied to the brands and must be...
Hormuz Ship Traffic Stays Frozen Despite Move to Start Fees
Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains virtually halted four weeks into the Iran‑Israel conflict, with only six vessels recorded on March 26 versus the pre‑war average of nearly 60 daily transits in 2025. Iran announced a toll system demanding...
US Insurance Program to Support Hormuz Shipping to Begin Soon
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the U.S. insurance and naval‑escort program for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz will launch imminently, aiming to revive oil and gas flows that account for roughly one‑fifth of global supply. The initiative, run...
Shutdown Chaos at Airports Sends Hertz, Avis Shares Higher
A partial U.S. government shutdown has triggered lengthy airport security lines, prompting investors to bet on increased ground travel. Hertz Global Holdings shares jumped 8.6% and its website traffic rose 15% as travelers seek alternatives, while Avis Budget Group surged...
Trailer Orders Slow as Fleets Shift Priorities
U.S. trailer orders fell sharply in February, down 26% year‑over‑year to about 13,200 units and 43% from January, as manufacturers work down peak‑season backlogs. ACT Research and FTR both reported similar declines, with FTR noting a 31% YoY drop to...
Oil Prices Rise as Wall Street Swings to Doubt on Iran Talks
Oil prices jumped on March 26 as Brent crude rose 4.8% to $101.94 a barrel, driven by renewed doubts over the Iran‑U.S. cease‑fire talks and heightened tension in the Strait of Hormuz. The rally pushed the S&P 500 down 1.2%, the Dow...
Windrose’s First US Deliveries Due in May Through Xos
Windrose Technology will begin U.S. deliveries of its fully assembled R700 Class 8 battery‑electric trucks in May, with Xos acting as importer, dealer and aftermarket provider. The R700 is offered in a short‑range 436 kWh version (200‑250 mi) priced around $270,000 and a...
Rep. Rouzer Touts Stronger CDL Rules With Dalilah's Law
Rep. David Rouzer is steering Dalilah’s Law, a bill tightening English‑language proficiency rules for commercial driver’s licenses, toward an April House vote. The legislation, highlighted in President Trump’s State of the Union, seeks to standardize state verification of CDL eligibility...
Medium-Duty Truck Demand Falls Again in February
U.S. medium‑duty truck sales slipped 14.1% in February, falling to 13,591 units and marking the 13th consecutive month of year‑over‑year declines. The drop follows a 15.2% sequential decline from January and reflects soft demand across classes 4‑7. Ford remained the...
Honda, Sony Drop Afeela EV Project, Reassess Partnership
Honda Motor Co. and Sony Group have scrapped their joint Afeela electric‑vehicle project, ending development of the first‑ and second‑generation models. The decision comes as Honda faces $15.7 billion in EV‑related charges and a broader EV overhaul, while Sony Honda Mobility...
Nebraska Seeks Truckers to Haul Hay After Massive Wildfire
Nebraska’s Cottonwood Fire has scorched more than 800,000 acres, displacing roughly 35,000 cattle and destroying grazing land. The state, together with the Nebraska Trucking Association and the Department of Agriculture, is recruiting truckers to haul hay, feed and fencing, offering...
Analysts Doubt Canada Can Meet IEA Oil Target
Canada pledged to add roughly 130,000 barrels per day to meet the IEA’s 400‑million‑barrel oil‑supply initiative, but seasonal maintenance, limited pipeline space and wildfire risk threaten that goal. Upstream firms have already scheduled over 300,000 bpd of spring turnarounds and...
Oil Tanker Market’s Key Rate Thrown Into Chaos
The Baltic Exchange’s TD3 tanker rate, which benchmarks Middle‑East‑to‑China freight, was forced to continue referencing Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura port despite the Strait of Hormuz being effectively closed. With almost no actual voyages, shipbrokers were left to price a hypothetical risk,...
TMC Welcomes Mark Kennedy as Its 67th General Chairman
The American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) introduced Mark Kennedy, corporate vice‑president of equipment at Knight‑Swift Transportation, as its 67th general chairman and treasurer. Kennedy, a TMC member since 2015 and former vice‑chairman, highlighted the council’s role in...
FedEx Lifts Profit Outlook as Network Plan Gains Traction
FedEx raised its full‑year adjusted earnings outlook to $19.30‑$20.10 per share, up from a $19 ceiling, after reporting stronger‑than‑expected third‑quarter results. The upgrade reflects progress on its network integration plan that merges express air‑freight with ground delivery to boost efficiency....
