Friday Roundtable: ORCA Tap to Pay Begins on Monday
Sound Transit announced that ORCA’s Tap to Pay system will launch on February 23, 2026, allowing riders to tap a credit or debit card—or a mobile wallet such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay—directly at fare readers. The rollout covers most regional transit agencies, with the exception of services like the Seattle Monorail, Washington State Ferries, and several DART and shuttle routes. Open payments support Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express, and enable free transfers within a two‑hour window, though discounted fares still require a traditional ORCA card. The launch aligns with a broader digital‑fare modernization effort ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Friday Reads for 20 February
London Reconnections’ Friday Reads roundup highlights a mix of transport heritage, major infrastructure projects and sustainability initiatives. It spotlights LA’s $25 billion subway expansion aimed at easing freeway congestion, Boston’s pilot of green‑roofed bus shelters, and Toronto’s 30 km downtown pedestrian tunnel...
Non-Domiciled CDL Drivers, Advocates Call for States to Fight DOT
Non‑domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for thousands of immigrant truckers are slated to expire on March 6, prompting advocacy groups to urge California, Pennsylvania and other states to defy the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). DOT has warned that non‑compliance could...
Detroit Diesel Unveils Gen 6 Engines for 2027 Compliance
Detroit Diesel unveiled its sixth‑generation DD13, DD15 and DD16 engines, slated for release in early 2027, to satisfy the EPA’s 2027 heavy‑duty NOx rule that trims tailpipe NOx by more than 80 % and particulate matter by 50 %. The Gen 6 platform...
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...
FMCSA Shuts Down 500 'CDL Mills' After Wave of In-Person Audits
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the shutdown of 550 sham commercial driver’s license (CDL) training schools after a massive wave of in‑person audits. Over 1,400 investigations were carried out in December, contributing to a total of more...
Federation of Professional Truckers Explains ELD Exemption Push with FMCSA
The newly formed Federation of Professional Truckers (FOPT) has filed a petition with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requesting an exemption that would let its members and other carriers use traditional paper driver logs instead of electronic logging...
Movement on Earth
The article highlights massive human mobility events, noting 9.95 billion trips across China during the Lunar New Year and 650 million pilgrims converging on India’s 2025 Kumbh Mela. It describes how temporary megacities are erected for such gatherings and contrasts them with centuries‑old...
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...
AGX Freight Goes Bust, Stiffs Carriers, Starts New MC
AGX Freight abruptly shut down after a dispute with Huntington Bank, leaving an estimated hundreds to a thousand carrier partners unpaid. The broker pledged its receivables to the lender, effectively giving the bank first claim on any incoming payments. Within...
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...
'She's the Rock': Owner-Operator Patrick White Leans on Solid Partner in Tough Times
Top Notch Transport owner‑operator Patrick White was named Overdrive Radio’s Trucker of the Month, highlighting his perseverance after a broken leg and multiple accidents. White credits his wife, Ashlyn, for managing dispatch, paperwork, and compliance, effectively running the business while...
Real-World Fuel Savings Vs. Fuel Economy: What’s the Difference?
Fleet managers often receive aerodynamic device claims of 5 % fuel‑economy improvement, but those figures stem from controlled tests that may not reflect daily operations. Real‑world fuel savings emerge when test results are combined with a fleet’s specific speed, mileage, load,...
Shippers Wary of Rising Transportation Costs
The 2026 State of Transportation Report shows shippers overwhelmingly expect tariffs to lift transportation costs, with 97% flagging price pressure and nearly half foreseeing higher contract rates. Carriers are curbing capital spending, as 64% postponed equipment upgrades and 47% plan...
Key Trucking Acquired by Division of Estes Express Lines
Estes Logistics, a division of privately held freight giant Estes Express Lines, has acquired Washington‑based Key Trucking, adding the regional carrier’s 21 trucks and established Pacific Northwest network to its portfolio. The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, preserves...
Tampered ELDs the Focus of CVSA’s Annual Roadcheck
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) announced that false‑log violations stemming from electronic logging device (ELD) tampering will be classified as an out‑of‑service violation effective April 1. Its annual International Roadcheck, scheduled for May 12‑14, will place special emphasis on detecting ELD...
Egypt Prioritizes People-Centered Cities with National Active Mobility Strategy
The Egyptian government has unveiled the Egypt Active Mobility Strategy 2025‑2034, a national plan that puts walking and cycling at the core of urban transport planning. The framework targets chronic congestion, air‑pollution, and unsafe streets in Cairo, Alexandria and other...
Nominations Are Open for the 2027 Sustainable Transport Award
The Sustainable Transport Award (STA) has opened nominations for its 2027 cycle, inviting cities, regions, and transport agencies worldwide to showcase recent advances in mobility, street design, and policy. The award is administered by a committee of international experts who...
Is Your Fleet Ready to Grow? 5 Key Considerations for Carriers
Carriers eye fleet expansion when freight volume steadies, but adding trucks reshapes risk, costs, and operational complexity. Insurance premiums rise with each new vehicle, and driver retention becomes a critical factor as industry turnover climbs. Adequate cash flow and maintenance...