WRENCH HEADS

DHS funding lapse stalls freight policy — no equipment impact yet

Congressional leaders working to resolve Department of Homeland Security appropriations gap while stakeholders push policy priorities. No immediate effect on truck equipment reg…

PCE Inflation Hits 3.5% — Highest in Three Years on Fuel Spike

March year-over-year inflation jumped to 3.5 percent as diesel and gasoline prices climbed, tightening margins for owner-operators and small fleets already running on thin settl…

Used Truck Sales Up 10% in March — Still Miss Seasonal Forecast

ACT Research reports 24,900 units sold, a year-over-year gain but below the seasonal norm for spring buying.

Bot Auto Completes First Driverless Commercial Haul in Texas

Autonomous truck technology firm runs longhaul freight shipment with no human in cab or remote operator — first fully autonomous commercial run on U.S. highways.

California Opens Heavy-Duty Autonomous Truck Permits Under New Rule

State adopts updated framework for self-driving commercial vehicles, clearing regulatory path for Class 8 AV testing and deployment on public roads.

TT Podcasts: RoadSigns — No Fleet Equipment or Maintenance Impact

Transport Topics podcast episode on logistics companies does not cover truck specs, recalls, or shop-floor hardware.

XPO Q1 LTL Tonnage and Yield Climb — What the Fleet Numbers Show

XPO's LTL unit posted a 5% revenue gain in Q1 on slight tonnage growth and 4% yield increase ex-fuel. The carrier beat consensus on EPS and revenue as it added share at above-ma…

Oil Slides to $108.51 but Diesel Still Pinches Small Fleets

Brent crude fell $1.93 overnight — a drop that barely registers against fuel costs running 40% above pre-pandemic norms.

Bot Auto Completes First Driverless Commercial Truckload in U.S.

Houston-to-Dallas overnight run marks first fully autonomous commercial freight haul without safety driver, remote operator, or in-cab observer.

Spot Rates Hit $2.66 Flatbed, $2.35 Reefer — 12-Year High

Flatbed climbs for the 17th straight week while dry van and reefer hold steady, all three equipment types running 23–37% above year-ago levels.

CDL holders face new medical-card MVR tracking and English test rules

FMCSA enforcement shifts require fleets to pull MVRs twice per medical cycle, test all drivers for English proficiency, and audit training-school decertification lists — or risk…

Driver Life on the Road

When Wind Pushes Your Trailer, Park It — Winter Driving Advice

Minnesota troopers and veteran drivers say the moment your trailer gets shoved by wind or your gut says conditions are sketchy, you're already past the safe threshold.