TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2025.12.27 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending December 27, 2025, written by Vicki Simons.
I welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding Future, Language, Top 10, and Weather:
At this time of year, two types of articles are common:
- A recap of some of the most important or most newsworthy or most read articles of the year, sometimes done in a “Top 10” format with a countdown; and
- A number of forecasts or prognostications or predictions of the future regarding what the upcoming new year will hold, possibly synthesized from analysis of the current economy.
Those things having been stated, I will share a few posts from this website that may help you with year-end/year-start matters.
- Before Year End: What’s on Your Trucker To Do List?
- Survive New Years Eve and Beware of Drunk Driving as a Trucker
- Trucker Accessories We Recommend to Help You Save Money
- Trucker Goal Setting Instead of Making New Year’s Resolutions
- Your Personalized To Do List to Help You Reach Your Goals
Now for the articles…
Future
- Benesch panelists: Why 2026 could be a strong year for logistics M&A
- Market Uncertainty to Follow Trucking Into 2026
- Sliding into 2026: Light at the end of the freight recession tunnel may be too late for some
Language
- 87 ‘illegal alien’ CDL holders arrested in Calif. immigration ops
- Biden Admin Gave Work Permit to Indian Illegal Who Killed Three in Florida
- California arrests 49 ‘illegal aliens’ with commercial driver’s licenses
- California sued by Sikh Coalition over non-domiciled CDLs
- California tried to reinstate thousands of non-domiciled CDLs, but DOT stopped them
- DHS confirms that Washington state ignored ICE detainer for driver in fatal crash
- DHS: Nearly 150 Illegals Driving Trucks Arrested in Indiana in Second Major Operation
- DHS: Truck-driving Indian Illegal Alien Released at Border Kills Two in Oregon
- DOT: 17K Unlawful CDLs Revoked in California, State Could Lose $160M in Federal Funding
- DOT: NY Unlawfully Issuing CDLs; More Foreigners Cause Fatal Crashes
- Dozens of drivers arrested in CDL crackdown targeting California trucking companies
- Feds pause California’s plan to reissue 17,000 revoked CDLs held by immigrant drivers
- Florida Officials Gave Commercial Driver’s Licenses to Illegals; Arrests Made
- Hot topic: Issue of non-domiciled CDLs moves from the political arena to the courts
- ICE Arrests More Than 100 Illegal Alien Truck Drivers in California
- ICE Arrests Uzbek Illegal-alien Truck Driver Wanted for Terrorist Ties
- ICE: Illegal-alien Truck Driver Kills Three in California While Intoxicated
- Immigrant truckers file suit over California’s plans to revoke commercial driver’s licenses
- Indian Illegal Charged in Triple Vehicular Homicide in Fla.; Drunk-driving Illegal in Wis. Charged With Killing Couple
- Indian Illegal Involved in Triple Fatality Crash Had REAL ID CDL; Needed Interpreter in Hearing
- Lawsuit Targets California DMV Over Administrative Failures Affecting 20,000 CDL Drivers
- Newsom Spews Lies About Illegal-alien Truck Driver; Rubio Blocks Visas; Illegals Kill Two in Maine
- Number of California immigrant drivers arrested climbs to at least 87 as ICE continues “stepping in where his state failed”
- Oklahoma, ICE Nab 125 Illegal-alien Truck Drivers
- Petitions Seek Leniency for Illegal-alien Trucker Who Killed Three
- Report: Illegal-alien Truck Driver Who Killed Three Couldn’t Read English, yet Rec’d Two CDLs
- Sec. Duffy calls on CA, CO Governors to protect American citizens and stop “slow walking” non domicile CDL enforcement
- ‘Systemic breakdown’ of Colorado DMV non-domicile CDL issuance: FMCSA
- USDOT to expand English language proficiency crackdown from truck drivers to railroad crews
Top 10
Weather
- California drivers warned to reconsider Christmas travel plans ahead of storms
- Flash flooding in northern California leads to soaked roads, water rescues and one death
- Forecasters issue rare weather warning as strong gusts fuel wildfire threats in Colorado
- Fuel and storms trigger more emergency HOS waivers
- Rain-soaked California still at risk of floods and high surf
- Storms bearing down on waterlogged Southern California could cause more flooding and mudslides
- What’s an atmospheric river?
- Winter storm prompts Tier 3 commercial vehicle travel restrictions in Pennsylvania
- Winter-related hours-of-service relief issued in three more states
2. Regarding Autonomous vehicles, Electric vehicles, Fuel, and Idling:
Autonomous vehicles
I most definitely oppose the operation of autonomous, driverless, or self-driving commercial motor vehicles on the same roads as the motoring public — but I share articles on this topic with our readers to help us stay current on the topic.
- FMCSA’s Triangle Study Is All About Driverless Trucks
- Kodiak AI selects Verizon Business Connectivity for driverless trucking solutions
- Kodiak, Verizon team on autonomous truck connectivity
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.
Fuel
- Benchmark diesel down yet again, five straight weeks of declines
- Diesel prices continue to fall
- Gas Prices Are Lower This Holiday Season
Idling
You may wish to review the 9-post series on idling on this site.
3. Regarding Alcohol, Crashes, Drugs, Fatalities, Fatigue, Fraud, Scam, and Theft:
Alcohol
Never ever consume alcohol — or use an alcohol-containing product (such as mouthwash) — before beginning to drive a commercial motor vehicle!
Crashes
Please look through these articles to see if there is anything you can learn to help you prevent being involved in a similar crash.
- B.C, Alberta, Ontario corridors show highest winter crash risk, Samsara study finds
- Big rig crash into bridge piling necessitates lane closure, detouring
- Colorado cops identify top 5 causes of winter crashes
- Pair of jack-knifed big rigs snarls New York traffic
- Police charge truck driver in Hwy. 401 hit-and-run that killed tow truck operator
Drugs
Never ever haul or take illegal drugs.
- CBP finds meith in ‘cereal ingredients’
- Police intercept $4-million drug haul
- US truck drivers will still be tested for marijuana use
- USDOT says it is still ‘unacceptable’ for truck drivers to use marijuana amid White House push for rescheduling
Fatalities
I express my deep sympathy — and offer my condolences — to the families of those whose loved ones died in these crashes.
Can you learn anything from the articles below that would help prevent being involved in a fatal large truck crash?
- Motorist dies after striking parked truck hauling oversized load, Kansas troopers seeking truck driver
- One dead after crash involving Oklahoma cop car
- One person is dead after running red light, crashing into 18-wheeler
- Two motorcycle drivers dead in crash with semi
Fatigue
One source says: “Drowsy driving and fatigued driving are essentially the same thing, often used interchangeably to describe operating a vehicle while impaired by sleepiness or exhaustion, which slows reaction time, impairs judgment, and reduces awareness, making it as dangerous as drunk driving.”
For your convenience, here’s a post on this site on this topic:
Drowsy Driving: Dangers, Statistics, and No Substitutes
- Fatigued driver hits 18-wheeler in Texas on Christmas morning
- Video shows elderly ‘fatigued’ motorist colliding with semi truck, Texas sheriff says
Fraud
Never attempt to deceive, misrepresent something, intentionally pervert the truth, or pretend to be someone else for the purpose of trying to get something valuable.
- 6 Indicted in Louisiana CDL Fraud Scheme
- Carrier Owner Says Cheap Labor, CDL Fraud Tilt Trucking’s Playing Field
Scam
Please be aware of and speak out against these and other types of scams that can impact truckers and trucking companies.
- Phishing Emails and Missing Trailers Are Part of the Same Fleet Security Problem
- Phishing Emails and Missing Trailers Are Part of the Same Fleet Security Problem
Theft
Never take something that doesn’t belong to you unless you have permission from the owner.
With as much surveillance equipment as is in place in the 21st century, it’s only a matter of time before the thieves are apprehended.
- Cargo theft surge expected during winter holiday period
- Coal for Christmas: Cargo theft peaks during holiday season
- FBI, TIA Expand Information Sharing on Cargo Theft
- Holiday cargo theft sees sharp increase since 2020
- Year-end holiday period brings heightened cargo theft risk: CargoNet
4. Regarding Ban, Bridges, Business, Ports, and Roads:
Ban
Bridges
The second article in this section quotes the state’s turnpike authority Executive Direction, who addressed the “state’s size and weights permitting office to ensure that all travelers are safe on our roadways and that our infrastructure remains undamaged by these careless acts.”
For more reading:
Low Clearance Bridges and Overpasses: How to Watch for and Avoid
- ‘Naughty list’: Alberta government looks to protect bridges from big trucks
- One truck, SIX damaged bridges on Oklahoma Turnpike
Business
- Samsung Unit to Buy ZF’s Driver Assistance Arm for $1.8B
- Schneider Grows Dedicated Fleet to Near 8,600 Tractors
- Setting Business Goals for Your Trucking Company in 2026
- What an Expiring ACA Could Mean for Owner-Operators and Small Carriers
- Why Knowing Your Numbers Is a True Competitive Advantage in Trucking
Ports
- N.Y. Offers $300M in Port Improvements to Back Wind Projects
- Port Houston November volumes dip, but exports up 8% year to date
- Ports on Track for Record Year Despite Back-End Slowdown
- US weighs sanctions as Spanish port ban escalates
Roads
- Louisiana work crews to begin I-49 project in January
- Tennessee DOT pauses construction projects during holiday travel period
5. Regarding Canada, Colorado, and Congestion:
Canada
Colorado
- Colorado Faces $24M Federal Funding Cut Over CDL Response
- Colorado faces $24M federal funding cut over illegal commercial driver’s licenses
- Colorado threatened with loss of $24 million for ‘lack of urgency’ in revoking illegally-issued CDLs: USDOT
- DOT adds Colorado to CDL ‘naughty list’
Congestion
6. Regarding Economy, Employment, Loads, Pay, Rates, Retention, Tariffs, and UCR Fee:
Economy
- ACT: Class 8 orders down 48% y/y
- ACT: For-hire supply-demand balance increases in November
- ACT: Freight capacity pinched in cold winter’s start
- ACT: November used truck sale volume decreases
- ACT: U.S. trailers see higher cancelations in November
- Analyst expects more transportation deals in 2026
- Economy Expands at Surprisingly Strong 4.3% Annual Rate
- Global GDP projected to grow 2.8% in 2026
- Inventory management strategy shifts once again
- Resilient US consumers drive strongest economic expansion in 2 years
- Truck tonnage index shows small increase
- Truck Tonnage Nudges 0.2% Higher in November
- US Trailer Market Nears End of Subdued Year
Employment
- Hiring slows in Canada’s trucking industry in Q3
- US unemployment claims fall again last week, remain at historically healthy level
Loads
- DAT: Load posts topped 3M for the third straight week
- DAT: November truckload volumes fall to year’s lowest levels
Pay
- Fleet, trucker perspectives on pay, respect: What Drivers Want
- How Much Do Flatbed Owner Operators Really Make After Expenses? Flatbed Owner Operator Pay What You Really Keep
Rates
- Beyond the Spot Rate Spike: What Freight Capacity and 2026 Look Like for Trucking
- Beyond the Spot Rate Spike: What Freight Capacity and 2026 Look Like for Trucking
- Dry Van and Refrigerated Spot Rates Dip After Post-Holiday Surge, Flatbed Gains Continue
- ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Latest spot market rate data point to recovery while trailer orders remain weak
- REPOWR’s data shows it cost more in ’25 for a short-term dry van rental
- ‘Twas a spot rate surge in the week before Christmas
Retention
Tariffs
For a much better and more thorough explanation about the problems with Trump-issued tariffs, please search for the word “tariffs” in Peggy Hall’s Substack archive.
- 9 Drugmakers Reach Deals With Trump on Prices to Avoid Tariffs
- Gartner debuts 4PL Magic Quadrant as tariffs and disruption reshape logistics
- Tariffs, enforcement and cargo theft reshape U.S.–Mexico trade in 2025
- Trump launched global tariff wars in 2025. Here’s a recap of his trade actions this year
- US Holds Off on New Chinese Chip Tariffs Amid Trump-Xi Truce
UCR Fee
Quoting this article:
OOIDA members are again being hit with alarming emails and notices from third-party UCR vendors warning that their UCR fees are overdue. In many cases, the warnings are bogus, and the fees have already been paid.
So, please be on your guard.
7. Regarding Border, Brokers, Exports, and Last Mile:
Border
- Borderlands Mexico: U.S.–Mexico trade stays dominant in September, tops $71B
- CBP San Diego Sector reports dramatic reduction in apprehensions
- CBP says Operation Highway Sentinel responsible for 49 illegal immigrant arrests
- FRA caps non-English rail crews at 10-mile border zone
Brokers
- 30 days to comply: FMCSA details truck broker trustee purge
- Bill seeks to hold freight brokers accountable for contracting with unsafe trucking companies
- Bill would fine brokers 10% of any load hauled by an ‘unsafe carrier’
- Bill would penalize brokers that hire ‘unsafe’ carriers
- New legislation could upend truck broker margins
Exports
Last Mile
8. Regarding APU, ATA, HOS, and Politics:
APU
ATA
- ATA Now Cheers the Cleanup of the CDL Mess It Helped Make
- ATA Truck Tonnage Index rises 0.2% in November
- ATA urges Congress for a cargo theft crackdown
- ATA’s National Safety, Security & HR Conference registration now open
HOS
Politics
- Defense Dept. spending law contains new trucking provisions
- Highway Bill Leads 2026 Congressional Agenda
- How new Defense spending bill helps truckers
- Key Louisiana tort reform changes affect trucking industry
- New York City bill that targeted Amazon won’t get taken up in 2025
- Sen. Fischer reintroduces bill for ag haulers
- Trump administration moves to overhaul how H-1B visas are granted, ending lottery system
9. Regarding Inspections, Operations, Parking, and Safety:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- Driver, truck, and trailer out-of-service after Tennessee trooper finds load securement violation, no CDL, more
- Idaho authorities stepping up commercial vehicle enforcement
- Idaho troopers step up enforcement of load securement and overweight commercial vehicles following citizen complaints
- Indiana State Police conducts DWI enforcment operation
- Rear end of beer-hauling semi truck collapses in crash with passenger vehicle
Operations
The first article in this section proves once again that truckers are not responsible for the actions of impatient four-wheelers.
The second article in this section described a strong drawback to driverless vehicles being operated when a power outage occurs!
- Dash cam shows karma coming for impatient pickup driver trying to pass a semi truck
- Waymos Blocked Traffic During San Francisco Power Outage
Parking
Safety
10. Regarding Supply Chain, Teamsters, and Truck Stops:
Supply Chain
- Supply Chain Strategies for an Uncertain Trade Environment
- Supply Chain Technology News of the Week – AI and Edge Systems Move from Insight to Action
Teamsters
- 17 years later, Teamsters locals will get pension payments
- Penske Leasing workers free themselves from Teamsters’ representation
Truck Stops
- Pilot opens two new locations, renovates nine travel centers
- Truck stop chain Love’s acquires three freight factoring companies
11. Regarding Technology, Testing, and Training:
Technology
- AI in Logistics: What Actually Worked in 2025 and What Will Scale in 2026
- Securing the Chain: Partnering for Security in an Interconnected World – Supply Chains are Ecosystems, not Islands.
Testing
Training
- Commentary: How the FMCSA should investigate truck driving schools
- Commentary: How the FMCSA Should Investigate Truck Driving Schools
- FMCSA’s ‘CDL mills’ problem and self-certification on the Training Provider Registry
12. Regarding Awards, Recognition, and Year End Blessing:
Awards
Congratulations to the finalists in this contest.
Recognition
Thank you to everyone who helped out their fellow human beings in a time of need, whether it was the trucker doing the helping or the trucker being helped.
Year End Blessing
As we end 2025 and enter 2026, may the Lord grant you wisdom, knowledge, understanding, wellness, purpose, abundance, discernment, and courage to do all that He has called you to do!
I wish you — and all professional truck drivers — safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road.
Return from TDMST Weekly Round-Up: 2025.12.27 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
