The freight market leaves clues everywhere. A slowdown in imports shows up in trucking demand. Spot rates start moving before many economic reports catch up. Tender volumes rise or fall long before most people realize something has changed. That's one reason freight data has become so valuable not just for carriers, brokers, and shippers, but for policymakers as well. This week, FreightWaves announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has…
If you've filled up a gas tank lately, you probably didn't need anyone to tell you fuel prices are still a problem. For families, it's another expense that keeps creeping higher. For trucking companies, owner-operators, delivery services, and businesses that depend on transportation, rising fuel bills can quickly turn into thousands of dollars in additional operating costs. That's one reason fuel taxes have become a major topic in state legislatures…
Commercial driver license applicants in Texas are facing an important change this summer. As of June 1, 2026, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) now requires all Commercial Driver License (CDL) and Commercial Learner Permit (CLP) knowledge exams to be administered exclusively in English. Previously, applicants could take the written knowledge tests in either English or Spanish. Under the new policy, Spanish-language versions are no longer available, and interpreters…
One of the biggest pieces of FMCSA news affecting agricultural transportation this summer arrived on May 26, when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued an emergency waiver aimed at helping move fertilizer products across large portions of the country. The temporary relief comes as federal officials continue responding to fertilizer supply challenges affecting commercial farming and ranching operations in 35 states. Under the waiver, eligible drivers transporting fertilizer products…
The trucking industry is once again at the center of a national conversation about safety, driver qualifications, and accountability after recent comments from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. During remarks that quickly gained attention across the industry, Duffy emphasized that only the most qualified drivers should hold Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs).
Every year, there’s a short window in trucking where things just feel different on the road. Trucks slow down a bit, drivers are more alert, and inspections suddenly feel a lot more “present” than usual. That’s International Roadcheck.
The commercial trucking industry is once again adjusting to a major compliance update from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The agency has officially extended the temporary allowance for paper Medical Examiner’s Certificates (MECs), giving drivers and carriers additional time during the ongoing shift to a fully electronic medical certification system. This exemption is effective from April 11 through October 11, 2026, and continues to allow CDL holders, CLP…
A major update in the new trucking laws 2026 is putting pressure on one of the most essential sectors of the U.S. economy. A new federal rule could affect as many as 200,000 immigrant truckers, raising concerns across the transportation and logistics industry. According to recent CDL news and broader driver’s license news, the U.S. is tightening how commercial driver’s licenses are issued and renewed, especially for non-domiciled drivers. While…
When Self-Driving Cars Hit a Roadblock… Literally If you’ve been keeping up with the news out of California, you’ve probably seen something that’s hard to ignore: people putting traffic cones on Waymo’s self-driving cars to disable them during the Waymo protests in California. Others are forming human chains across intersections, protesting what they see as tech companies using public streets as their testing labs. While these protests are mostly targeting…
The world of trucking in the U.S. has recently gone down a new regulatory road. On May 12, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) revoked eight electronic logging devices (ELDs) from its approved list of ELD providers. This new decision has the power to affect thousands of motor carriers in operation nationwide. To avoid potential penalties, all motor carriers operating in the U.S. using these devices are now required…