FRED SALTSMAN TRUCKING

Volvo's 2027 D13 engine cuts NOx, adds engine brake power

New electrical architecture and aftertreatment design hit EPA27 NOx targets while maintaining fuel economy and boosting retarder performance.

Jun 11, 2026

Brent Crude Climbs to $92.43 as Hormuz Doubts Keep Pressure On

International benchmark gains 1.1% on June 10. U.S. crude inches up 0.1% to $88.31. Strait reopening timeline still unclear.

General

Inflation hits 4.2% in May as energy costs squeeze shop budgets

Real hourly earnings fell 0.7% in the biggest single-month drop in three years. What the May CPI spike means for parts, labor, and truck operating costs.

Carrier Business

Schneider Opens Wallet for Acquisitions After 18-Month Pause

Green Bay truckload carrier last bought Cowan Systems for $390 million in November 2024. Executives now say they're hunting again.

Volvo Targets 300 Autonomous Trucks on U.S. Roads by End of 2027

Swedish OEM projects $3 billion autonomous-truck revenue within five years as first commercial deployments begin in coming months.

Diesel Drops 14¢ to $5.21, Third Straight Week Down

National diesel fell to $5.21/gal June 8, down 14 cents. Still $2/gal higher than last year, but the first sustained retreat since the Iran war spiked fuel in March.

Retread Shops Consolidate as Import Tires and Labor Costs Squeeze Margins

U.S. retreaders face rising operating costs and sustained pricing pressure from low-cost imported new tires. Fleets still buying retreads, but shops are merging facilities to st…

Diesel at $6 Makes Idling a $15,000-a-Year Problem for Long-Haul Fleets

With summer diesel hitting $6/gallon in many markets, excess idling now costs a single long-haul truck up to $15,000 annually in fuel alone, plus accelerated DPF wear and 15 met…

Stellantis doubles Mopar staff, cuts warranty backlog 17% with Pro One

New uptime command center monitors connected vans and pickups in real time, schedules service before breakdowns. Unified ordering platform cuts upfit lead time 48%.

Truck Tire Prices Set to Jump as Rubber, Oil, Energy Costs Spike

Natural rubber nearing a 10-year high, crude oil doubled since December, and LNG export capacity down 17% in Qatar. Fleets face a three-front pricing squeeze.

Electric Vehicles

Tesla Semi Costs $146,000 Less Than Volvo VNR EV After Incentives

Long Beach drayage operator running 26 EVs says Tesla Semi at $290,000 undercuts Volvo VNR by half before rebates, charges in 30 minutes, delivers 500-mile range.

General

What the 1897 Semi-Truck Invention Means for Today's Fleet Specs

FleetOwner podcast traces 250 years of American freight infrastructure, from colonial trade routes to alternative powertrains and the Right to Repair fight.