SMOKETREE INC

Michelin regional tire cuts rolling resistance 9%, targets 1M-mile casing

New tread compound and reinforced bead aim to survive high-torque starts and stop-and-go cycles in pickup-and-delivery work.

Sep 16, 2026

Compliance & FMCSA

Trucking Groups Push Excise Tax Repeal, Cargo Theft Bills Before Recess

Industry advocates are lobbying Congress to advance federal excise tax repeal and cargo theft oversight measures before lawmakers leave Washington.

LTL

LTL Tonnage Climbs in Q3 as Freight Market Recovery Continues

Weight per shipment keeps rising at LTL carriers through third quarter 2026, extending a freight rebound that started earlier this year.

DTNA Recalls 2,404 Cascadias and 49X Trucks for Wrong Modulator Valve

Dealers installed incorrect brake modulator valves during earlier recall repairs. Normal service braking still works, but ABS may fail if corrosion sets in.

Electric Vehicles

Calstart Rebrands as Catalyst Mobility, Merges with Forth

The California clean-transportation nonprofit absorbed Portland-based Forth and will open a Pacific Northwest regional office.

Mexican Heavy-Duty Truck Exports to U.S. Jump 117% in August

Freightliner and International drove the surge, shipping 13,950 Mexico-built Class 8 units north as USMCA review and tariff uncertainty loom over the integrated supply chain.

Sep 14, 2026

Carrier Business

Truck financing rates hit 12% as banks exit mid-size fleet market

Three-and-a-half-year freight recession shredded carrier credit profiles while lenders left the sector. Fleets of 50 to 200 units now face a capital squeeze.

Sep 14, 2026

Volvo completes rollout of unattended software updates across North America

Drivers can start updates during breaks and leave the truck while software installs, eliminating service-center visits for routine programming.

Electric Vehicles

ZF targets 2031 for USMCA-compliant AxTrax 2 e-axle production in U.S.

Supplier aims to localize electric-axle manufacturing and integrate brake-by-wire into the AxTrax 2 platform as part of North American expansion.

Driver Life on the Road

Truck stops add amenities drivers want, but parking still costs $12

Operators refresh facilities with driver input. Showers, food, and Wi-Fi improve. Parking remains scarce and paid.

General

AI route optimization cuts empty miles, not just fuel cost

Fleets using AI to match loads and optimize networks are eliminating deadhead runs before they happen, turning emissions reduction into a dispatch decision.