Trucking Industry News

A routine traffic violation on I-40 in Lonoke County quickly escalated into a massive drug bust after Arkansas State Police pulled over 37-year-old truck driver Tobias Xavier Taylor of Richmond, Virginia. Troopers initially stopped the rig near mile-marker 173 for an unspecified traffic infraction, but once they searched the trailer, everything changed. Inside were 960 pounds of marijuana, 1,000 pounds of THC products, 27 pounds of synthetic marijuana, and a firearm stashed i

For decades, earning a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) has symbolized working-class mobility, a way for everyday Americans to leap into middle-class earnings without a college degree. But with trucking now pulled into political debates, immigration policy fights, and economic uncertainty, many are asking whether that promise still holds. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is approximately $54,

Federal immigration agents have arrested 31-year-old Akhror Bozorov, an illegal immigrant from Uzbekistan who was wanted in his home country on terrorism-related charges, while he was driving an 18-wheeler in Kansas. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Bozorov unlawfully crossed the southern border in February 2023, was released into the U.S., and later received work authorization. By January 2024, he had obtained a Pennsylvania commercial driver’s license, allo

New federal enforcement efforts are tightening CDL requirements nationwide, with regulators increasing audits on non-domiciled drivers, cracking down on fraudulent testing, and removing hundreds of training providers from the FMCSA registry. Thousands of licenses have already been suspended or invalidated in states like California, and the courts are now weighing whether stricter rules for foreign-based CDL holders will become permanent. Supporters say the crackdown strengthe

Federal prosecutors say truck driver Syed Shah is headed for a mandatory ten-year prison sentence after attempting to haul nearly 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine across the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan. According to investigators, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers uncovered the massive stash, roughly 425 kilograms, during an inspection earlier this year. The drugs were hidden inside a commercial load, triggering an immediate federal investigation and le

Every winter, thousands of truck drivers find themselves pressured to keep moving through weather conditions they know are unsafe. Safety studies show that more than half of long-haul drivers report being urged to continue driving despite hazardous conditions, often because of strict delivery windows or fear of retaliation. Research from the trucking safety community also shows that drivers frequently keep going due to “deadlines, pickup times, and company expectations,” even

California is now at the center of a nationwide trucking controversy after an FMCSA audit revealed that the state improperly issued 17,000 non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses in violation of federal requirements. Following the audit, the U.S. Department of Transportation ordered California to begin canceling these licenses, giving affected drivers 60 days’ notice before their CDL privileges become invalid. Many of these licenses were tied to applicants whose immigratio

The fate of more than 200,000 non-domiciled commercial truck drivers remains uncertain after a federal court temporarily halted the FMCSA’s controversial new rule tightening CDL eligibility. The D.C. Circuit Court issued an administrative stay, pausing enforcement of the rule, which would restrict CDLs to U.S. citizens, green card holders, and a narrow set of visa categories. FMCSA justified the rule as a safety measure to improve license verification, but opponents argue it

The Volta Zero is making waves as a next-generation alternative to traditional diesel box trucks, but that innovation comes at a premium. While a new medium-duty box truck typically costs between $35,000 and $100,000, the Volta Zero’s base price lands closer to $250,000 to $270,000. The Swedish-built electric truck justifies its higher price with a purpose-built design emphasizing urban safety, zero emissions, and driver visibility, factors long overlooked in conventional mod

When owner-operators attempt to move oversize or over-height loads without proper escorts or state permits, the financial consequences can be severe. Across the U.S., fines for operating without the required escort or permit range from $500 to $10,000, depending on the state and circumstances. Drivers who skip escorts may also face added charges for police response, towing, and emergency assistance, and can be held liable for any resulting property damage or traffic disruptio

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. has temporarily blocked a new Department of Transportation rule that sought to tighten eligibility for immigrant truck drivers holding non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The rule, titled “Restoring Integrity to the Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses”, would have allowed only certain visa holders, such as H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 workers, to qualify, effectively sidelining thousands of drivers who are le

A devastating crash in Lancaster, CA early Thursday morning claimed the life of 39-year-old Destiny Anthony after her white Volkswagen Passat collided with a semi-truck at the intersection of Avenue G and 30th Street West. Witnesses told investigators the big rig pulled out in front of the westbound sedan moments before impact, leaving Anthony no time to react. The force of the collision crushed the front of her car and dragged it sideways along the roadway as sparks and debr

Federal regulation 49 CFR § 391.11(b)(2) requires commercial truck drivers to have sufficient English skills to communicate with the public, understand road signs, respond to officials, and complete required reports. The FMCSA and CVSA recently renewed focus on this rule, with the CVSA adding English proficiency to its Out-of-Service criteria, allowing inspectors to sideline drivers who do not meet the communication standard. Some shippers and receivers have begun reinforcing

In Bellmawr, New Jersey, a tense situation on a highway overpass took a remarkable turn when truckers and law enforcement worked together to prevent a potential tragedy. After a man was seen in distress and threatening to jump, police quickly shut down the highway below while several tractor-trailers maneuvered their rigs into position directly beneath the bridge. The goal was simple, to create a barrier that would lessen the impact if the man fell. The sight of massive rigs

Former President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Troy Lake, a 65-year-old diesel mechanic from Cheyenne, Wyoming, who was convicted for tampering with federal emissions systems. Lake, who owned Elite Diesel Service in Windsor, Colorado, pleaded guilty in 2024 to violating the Clean Air Act after performing “diesel deletes”, removing or disabling emissions controls on diesel engines. He was sentenced to one year and a day in federal prison and fined $52,500, serving

A dramatic crash occurred early Thursday, November 6, 2025, when a semi-truck went off the Waskatenau Bridge along Alberta Highway 831, roughly five kilometers south of town. Emergency crews were called to the scene after reports that a tanker unit had gone through the bridge barrier and landed partially submerged in the river below. Snowfall and icy road conditions were reported in the area at the time of the incident, making recovery efforts difficult and slowing traffic ac

A heated argument between two truck drivers over a parking space at a Wichita Love’s Travel Stop ended in tragedy when one man was fatally struck by a semi-truck. Police say 46-year-old Travis Briscoe of Jenks, Oklahoma, and 57-year-old Abdelmuttalib Mohammed of Georgia got into a verbal dispute moments before the incident. As Briscoe began backing his tractor-trailer into a parking stall, the vehicle struck Mohammed, pinning him underneath. Emergency crews pronounced Mohamme

A Georgia judge handed down a long prison sentence to tractor-trailer driver Nicholas DeWayne Burist following a deadly multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 in Camden County near the Florida-Georgia border on July 1, 2022. Prosecutors say Burist was driving under the influence of alcohol when he veered out of his lane, struck a vehicle and crossed into oncoming traffic, triggering a pile-up that claimed four lives, including two traveling with him and a 14-year-old girl, and

Federal and state authorities in Indiana have arrested 223 undocumented individuals, including 146 semi-truck drivers, as part of Operation Midway Blitz, a coordinated enforcement effort between the Department of Homeland Security, Indiana State Police, and ICE. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the operation targeted drivers who had obtained commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) from states such as California, Illinois, and New York, despite being ineligible under feder

Federal and state authorities, led by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Indiana State Police (ISP), announced that 223 individuals suspected of living in the U.S. without legal authorization were arrested during a highway-sweep operation in northwest Indiana, near the Illinois border.  Among those arrested were 146 drivers of commercial vehicles, including 46 semi-truck drivers and 82 drivers of box trucks, buses or other commercial vehicles.  More th