TA Laurel #0261

Eagle Pass Summit Flags Driver Shortage, Nearshoring Strain on Border Fleets

Cross-border carriers report capacity crunch as Mexico trade volume climbs faster than driver supply at Texas ports.

May 11, 2026

Equipment & OEM

Kodiak and Roehl Transport Launch Autonomous Freight Route in Texas

Wisconsin-based carrier partners with autonomous-truck developer for Dallas–Houston lane as Kodiak targets driverless operations by year-end.

May 11, 2026

Cargo Theft Falls 5% in Q1 2026, But Tactics Shift to Digital Fraud

Supply chain crime dropped to 767 incidents in Q1, down 12% from Q4 2025, as organized groups move from physical hijacking to email compromise and double-brokering schemes.

Universal Logistics Intermodal Loss Hits $13.1M as Load Volumes Drop 23%

Warren, Michigan-based logistics provider swings to Q1 net loss of $3.5 million as intermodal segment revenue falls 32%, with both volume and per-load pricing down double digits.

Equipment & OEM

Volvo D13 Hits 20:1 Compression, 35,000-PSI Rail for 2027 NOx Rule

New 14-wave piston and compacted graphite iron block deliver EPA 2027 compliance without power or fuel-economy loss, Volvo says.

Equipment & OEM

Autonomous Truck Displays Hit Record Count at ACT Expo 2026

Las Vegas show floor featured more self-driving Class 8 units on display than any prior event, signaling hardware maturity and OEM confidence in commercial deployment.

Electric Vehicles

Tesla Targets 'Many Thousands' of Semi Deliveries in 2026

Automaker pushes low-cost charging infrastructure to carriers as production ramps at Nevada plant.

Markets & Rates

Hormuz Shut Since May 5 — No Tankers Through, Diesel Still Climbing

Iran halted all transits through the Strait of Hormuz three days ago and imposed new shipowner reporting rules. Crude and diesel prices remain elevated despite Tuesday's brief dip.

Markets & Rates

Diesel Hit Record Seasonal Levels Mid-April as War Costs Squeeze Margins

Box manufacturers struggle to pass transportation cost spikes downstream — a signal that freight buyers are pushing back on fuel surcharges even as diesel climbs.

Job Market Holds Steady Despite Oil Supply Shock — No Fleet Hiring Freeze Yet

Employers added 115,000 jobs in April as Iran conflict disrupts global oil but leaves US labor demand intact. What that means for driver availability and shop staffing.

Amplify Cell Technologies Mississippi Plant Delayed Again

Joint venture shareholder confirms battery cell production facility timeline slips further — latest setback for domestic EV truck supply chain.

Markets & Rates

Brent Crude Back Over $100 as Hormuz Closure Drags Into Second Week

Brent rose 1.8% to $101.80/bbl May 8 after a volatile morning — diesel costs remain elevated as the strait stays shut.