The Fleet Lead

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking, as of January 29: Werner acquired FirstFleet Gatik completed 60,000 autonomous medium-duty hauls Traton gave $25 million to PlusAI for autonomous truck development Diesel deleting no longer risks jail time FMCSA issued HOS exemptions to most states Eaton is spinning off its commercial vehicle business Diesel prices increased 9 cents

David Heller, Senior VP of Safety and Government Affairs at the Truckload Carriers Association, offers a regulatory outlook for 2026. He covers rapid executive-order-driven rulemaking, English proficiency and CDL enforcement impacts, non-domiciled CDL checks, potential litigation effects, and rules to watch like CSA changes and drug-testing guidance. Short, urgent, and policy-focused.

Here are the headlines this week in trucking, as on January 22: California started enforcing English language proficiency requirements United States Postal Service launched a bidding website for last-mile delivery A judge blocked New York’s truck tolling surcharge Spot rates decreased for dry van and refrigerated  Diesel prices jumped 7 cents

The first 2026 roundtable of the Fleet Lead podcast brings together editors from Fleet Owner and Bulk Transporter to analyze a commercial vehicle market currently transitioning from a stagnant 2025 toward a cautiously optimistic 2026. Despite continued carrier bankruptcies and consolidations, there are signs that the market might turn later this year. FMCSA's continued crackdown on driver qualifications could help bring upward pressure on rates. On the technology side, appetite for EVs is shrinking while autonomous and AI deployment marches on—and a brainwave scanner could be the next driver safety tech tool. Featuring Jason McDaniel from Bulk Transporter and Josh Fisher, Jade Brasher, and Jeremy Wolfe from FleetOwner. Timestamps:  1:30 – FMCSA's driver crackdowns 3:55 – Fleet bankruptcies 8:33 – How are carriers feeling about the market? 10:00 – General Motors's new headquarters 11:15 – GM strategy for EVs 20:36 – Survey: Fleets don't want EVs 27:08 – Autonomous truck expectations 29:42 – Brain monitoring devices for driver fatigue. 34:55 – Heil Trailer military contracts and expansion. 36:39 – Global mergers, acquisition deal trends.

Here are the headlines from this week in the U.S. trucking industry, as on January 15: Tennessee is asking CDL holders for proof of legal residence FMCSA targeted North Carolina’s non-domiciled CDLs STG Logistics filed for bankruptcy Mack Anthem began production

These are the major headlines in trucking, as of January 8: DOT cut more of California's funding USPS is trimming its use of non-domiciled CDLs Autonomous trucking announcements at the Consumer Electronics Show Truck orders reached a three-year high

Karin Haumann, the OEM Technical Manager for Shell Rotella and chair of the API New Category development team, dives into the future of heavy-duty engine oils. She discusses the upcoming PC-12 specification, designed to enhance engine reliability and performance while meeting stricter EPA emissions rules. Karin explains how the transition from older oil categories like CK-4 and FA-4 will improve thermal resistance and elongate oil change intervals by potentially 10–15,000 miles. She shares insights on industry collaboration and the critical importance of careful inventory planning during this rollout.

Lawsuit abuse is the second-highest concern among fleet executives in 2025, second only to the economy. When thermonuclear verdicts against carriers are stretching beyond $100 million, they may be getting out of hand. According to new research form the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), those lawsuits against carriers are hindering the U.S. economy. If states reduced commercial auto tort costs over 10 years, it could increase annual GDP by $52.3 billion and create 5.7 million additional jobs. John Hitch, editor-in-chief of Fleet Maintenance, shines a light on the study with help from Nick Lucas, executive director for research and data analytics at the ILR. Timestamps:  5:11 - Overview of the commercial auto tort cost study 7:00 - How litigation impacts everyday prices 18:45 - Reducing tort costs have economic benefits 24:00 - Third-party litigation funding and transparency 30:15 - The need for systemic safeguards

These are the major headlines in trucking, as of December 30: DOT targeting Colorado over non-domiciled CDLs Standard Forwarding Freight ceased operations Advocacy group sues California's CDL cancellation Spot rates up, fuel prices down Have a happy new year!

These are the major headlines in trucking, as of the holiday week of December 23: California paused its plans to reissue 17,000 CDLs Major rail merger wants to take market share from trucks Spot rates made big holiday gains