TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2025.10.04 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending October 4, 2025, written by Vicki Simons.
I welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding shutdown, tariffs, and trade:
Shutdown
On my personal Facebook profile, I asked the question:
“Who hurts the most when the federal government shuts down?”
There are so many unconstitutional agencies, bureaus, commissions, departments, etc., a lot of which are listed here:
A-Z index of U.S. government departments and agencies
Are you aware that nowhere in The Constitution of the United States is transportation ever listed?
Transportation is a state issue!
So, I wonder what would happen if we scaled down and eliminated these unconstitutional parts of the federal government:
- U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT);
- Federal Highway Administration (FHWA);
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA);
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); and
- National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Did I miss any?
Please comment below to share your thoughts. Thanks.
- DOT furlough in response to government shutdown will mostly affect FAA with FMCSA unaffected
- Federal Shutdown Plans Stop Short of Job Reductions
- FMCSA operations ‘continue as normal’ during shutdown
- Government shutdown begins as nation faces new period of uncertainty
- Government shutdown draws closer as congressional leaders head to the White House
- Government shutdown not affecting border trade flows yet
- Government Shutdown Threatens Key Economic Data
- Government shutdown to have little trucking impact | Wildfires, HOS relief
- Gov’t shuts down five trucking schools and thirteen trucking companies to improve safety on Canadian roads
- Hopes fade for quick end to shutdown as Trump readies layoffs and cuts
- In DOT Shutdown Plan, Air Traffic Controllers Work Unpaid
- Ports brace for government shutdown
- Trucking keeps moving even when the government stops
- Trucking oversight mostly unaffected despite U.S. government shutdown
- Trucking Rolls On as Shutdown Stalls Other DOT Sectors
- Trump to Keep Oil Permits Moving in Shutdown
- Trump to Keep Tariff Probes Running Through Shutdown
- Trump uses government shutdown to dole out firings and political punishment
- US government on brink of first shutdown in almost 7 years amid partisan standoff in Congress
- We have a government shutdown; how does it affect DOT?
- What DOT’s Shutdown Plan Means for Trucking
- What DOT’s Shutdown Plan Means for Trucking
- What’s government shutdown mean for truckers? Not much at all
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.
- Class 8 Truck Prices Set to Climb Again Under New Tariffs
- Denver companies indicted in $1 million tariff evasion scheme to sell U.S. government Chinese forklifts as American-made
- EU to Ramp Up Tariffs on Steel Imports, Mirroring US Duties
- GM, Ford Balk at Stellantis Request for Truck Tariff Waiver
- How Latest Trump Tariffs Could Affect Trucking
- Tariff whiplash: Cross-border truck freight gets a temporary jolt
- Trucking industry facing ‘horrible’ rates, tariffs, Werner CEO says
- Trump Announces 25% Tariff on Heavy-Duty Trucks
- Trump Sets 10% Lumber, Wood Tariffs in Bid to Lift US Industry
- Trump slaps tariffs on imported lumber, timber and furniture
- Why America’s Trade Partners Oppose Trump’s Truck Tariffs
Trade
2. Regarding ICE, language, legal, and politics:
ICE
“ICE” stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- ICE and the OK I-40 raid: Trump’s immigration crackdown sets sights on trucking
- ICE helped remove 130 truck drivers from the road as part of three-day enforcement at an Oklahoma Port of Entry, officials say
- ICE removes 130 truckers during enforcement at OK port of entry
- ICE working with state inspectors to target immigrant truck drivers
Language
I am so glad that these issues regarding professional truck drivers are coming to light:
- must be in the USA legally; and
- must be able to read, write, and speak English.
Now, the question: What percentage of truck crashes and fatalities will disappear once illegal aliens posing as truckers are removed from big trucks?
- Bill fights ‘foreign’ tag for US territory truckers
- DOT move against 194,000 non-domiciled drivers supported even by ATA, brokers
- DOT Tightens Rules for Noncitizen Truck Drivers
- DOT’s move against non-domiciled CDL holders and the ‘driver shortage’
- Driver Poll: Since late June 2025, have you been stopped and required to take an English proficiency test during a roadside inspection?
- ELP regulations tighten trucking capacity as Schneider and Werner weigh market outlook
- Emergency Rule Overhauls How States Issue Non-Domiciled CDLs
- Emergency Rule Overhauls How States Issue Non-Domiciled CDLs
- Florida bill requires arrest of undocumented drivers, fines owners
- FMCSA’s emergency rule restricting non-domiciled CDLs goes into effect today
- Indiana trooper cites dump truck driver for no CDL and English Language Proficiency violation
- Joint operation between Wyoming, Colorado leads to multiple arrests
- Oregon DMV stops issuing all non-domiciled CDLs until further notice
- States have failed’ on English proficiency, trucker tells Fox Noticias
- States respond to DOT rule on non-domiciled CDLs
- Texas stops issuing CDLs to certain non-citizens in compliance with FMCSA’s emergency rule
- Texas stops issuing CDLs to non-citizens to comply with feds
- U.S. tightens CDL regulations for non-citizens
Legal
- CHP reminds truckers that those ‘angry eyes’ LED windshield lights aren’t road legal
- EEOC sues Texas trucking company for firing older drivers
- Freight company owner facing more charges after weapons found in home
- Semi truck driver faces multiple charges for sideswiping parked Indiana trooper’s cruiser
- Texas trucking co. sued for firing older trucker and refusing to hire drivers over age 65
Politics
- Barrs confirmed as FMCSA administrator
- Crash-victims advocate calls for reforms in D.C.
- Derek Barrs Joins DOT as New FMCSA Administrator
- FMCSA gets first full-time administrator in 18 months
- Former Florida Highway Patrol Chief confirmed as new head of FMCSA
- House Bill Would Ban Predatory Lease-Purchase Programs in Trucking
- Left lane use on biggest freeways is topic of state bill
- New bill would help farmers with restricted CDLs
- Proposed bill seeks to ease some farm-related trucking regulations
- Senate confirms Derek Barrs as FMCSA chief
- Senate confirms Derek Barrs as full-time head of FMCSA
- Speed cameras focus of new Maryland laws in effect Oct. 1
- The Time is Now to Expand Longer Combination Vehicles [Opinion] – Guest Voices
- Ticket quotas outlawed in Midwestern state
- Transportation-funding plan approved at one statehouse
- Trump administration cuts nearly $8B in clean energy projects in states that backed Harris
- Warehouses and truck routes focus of California bill
- With Trucking Litigation Off the Rails, Will The FAIR Trucking Act Be Enough
- Wyoming trucking industry resents recent studying pinning them as #1 most dangerous state for truckers
3. Regarding alcohol, crashes, drugs, fatalities, fraud, road rage, theft, and wire:
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.
- Man found injured in a marsh after getting hit by semi truck while fleeing police
- Motorist in custody after running over truck driver at 73 mph while playing games on her phone
- Semi crashes into police unit in Texas
- Trucker trapped, uninjured in overturned rig carrying milk
Drugs
Never ever haul or take illegal drugs.
- CBP intercepts drug smuggling attempt in California
- CBP makes $2.8 million drug bust at World Trade Bridge
- Truck driver’s visa cancelled after officers find 185 pounds of cocaine hidden in metal beams of car hauler trailer
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?
- 3 members of ‘Growing up Putman’ killed when semi reportedly runs stop sign
- 3 members of reality show family die in MI crash with tractor-trailer
- 4 dead after flooding in Arizona, including in historic mining town
- Driver fatigue suspected causes in fiery Wyoming
- MSHP says inattentive semi driver causes multi-vehicle fatality in Missouri
- NTSB calls for more safety tech on trucks in fatal crash investigation
- Officials implore public to drive safely in wake of “clearly preventable” semi truck crash that killed 3 reality TV stars
- Tesla Cybertruck Doors Blamed in Fatal California Crash
- Truck driver charged in Michigan crash that killed 3 Putman family members
- Truck driver in fatal illegal u-turn pleaded not guilty without appearing in court
- Truck driver tells police, ‘I may have dozed off’, charged with 3 counts of manslaughter after Missouri fatality
- Trucker accused of killing 3 in Florida crash enters not guilty plea
- Trucker charged in crash that killed 3 members of ‘Growing up Putman’ family
- Two in car killed in crash after motorist failed to yield to semi truck, Utah DPS 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.
Road rage
Seek to avoid road rage incidents.
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.
- Five charged in scheme using commercial vehicles to steal millions in crude oil from New Mexico pipelines
- How Today’s Cybercriminals Con Their Way Into Trucking Operations
Wire
Yes, one person’s actions can harm others!
- ‘Straight out of a movie’ – Big rigs snagged by utility wire downed by dump truck on Texas I-30
- Wire snag causes ‘freak accident’ on Interstate 30 near Arkansas state line
4. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, emissions, fire, fuel, and oil:
Autonomous vehicles
I most vociferously oppose the operation of autonomous, self-driving, or driverless 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.
- Autonomous Trucks in Fleet Operations Today
- Driverless vehicle dodges ticket
- Einride Achieves World-First Autonomous Border Crossing
- Einride completes world’s first cabless autonomous border crossing
- Einride Valuation Tops $1B as Truck Startup Raises Funds
- Einride’s $100 million funding fuels autonomous trucking
- Gatik Inks Multi-Year Autonomous-Truck Deal With Loblaw in Canada
- Kodiak Robotics Announces IPO
- Outrider completes SOC 2 Type 2 audit for autonomous yard operations
- PlusAI Announces Autonomous Safety and Policy Council
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.
- EV Sales Surged 21% as Buyers Raced to Nab Tax Credit
- Ford CEO: EV Market Will Be ‘Way Smaller Than We Thought’
- GM, Ford, Hyundai Extend EV Discounts After Tax Credit Ends
- Nearly one-third of EV charging attempts fail, report finds
- Orange EV hits 10M hours of electric terminal tractor operation
- Real Talk on EV Drayage in California: Regs, TCO, Pain Points and the Tesla Semi [Listen] Pain Points
- Rivian Plans EV Door Redesign to Address Safety Concerns
- Uber Freight Launches EV Fleet Accelerator Program
Emissions
- California guts key Advanced Clean Fleet Rules; what’s next?
- California Proposal Could Reduce Truck Emissions Rules Uncertainty
- EPA proposal would limit California’s Clean Truck Check program
- Why Zero-Emission Trucks See Higher Tire Wear
Fire
- Chevron Refinery Fire Near Los Angeles Extinguished
- Massive fire erupts at Chevron refinery just outside of Los Angeles
Fuel
- Diesel price trends: stability continues in volatile market
- Diesel prices rise half as much as previous week
- Fall Brings Relief at the Pump for Gasoline, But Diesel Prices Continue to Climb for Trucking Fleets
- Pilot Offering B99 Biodiesel for Trucking Fleets to Reduce Carbon Emissions
Oil
- OPEC+ Nations Strive for Agreement on Size of Next Oil Hike
- OPEC+ to Discuss Fast-Tracking Return of Halted Production
5. Regarding border, brokers, business, cold, containers, history, and recalls:
Border
- Border backups continue due to CBSA systems outage: CTA
- Borderlands Mexico: Cargo theft surges in Q3 as criminals adopt new tactics
- CBSA system outage delaying trucks at Southern Ontario border crossings partially resolved
- NY-Canada border crossing had major delays; computer issues blamed
- Outage resolved but truck drivers face border delays amid backlogs, CBSA says
Brokers
- As SCOTUS takes up broker liability Monday, new cases arise
- Freight Fraud: The Spotlight Turns Towards Brokers
- How Small Fleets Can Compete Faced By Broker Consolidation And Uncertain Freight Market
- SCOTUS grants review on broker liability case; fate of 2nd unclear
Business
- Deadhead Decisions — When It’s Smarter to Run Empty Than Chase a Low-Paying Load
- FMCSA grants age-related exemption for custom harvester drivers
- Freight Seasons Explained — Planning Around Produce, Retail, and Construction Cycles
- How Small Carriers Can Break Out of the Load Board Cycle With Five Key Differentiator
- Manage Trucking Company Expenses
- The Hidden Cost of Running Cheap Freight — It’s More Than Just the Rate Per Mile
- Tips for Commercial Truck Trade-ins and Upgrades
- Trucking contracts held hostage by ongoing uncertainty
Cold
- $35 billion saved: The digital shift in pharma logistics
- EPA Proposal May Extend HFC Use in Cold Warehouses
Containers
- Asia-West Coast container rates plummet; demand seen waning through year-end
- Trade war? Savannah containers near record volume
History
- From OPEC to COVID: A History of Uncertainty in the Freight Market
- Generational Grit: Inside the legacy of American trucking’s power family
Recalls
If your tractor or trailer is under a recall, please have the work attended to as soon as possible.
6. Regarding bridges, congestion, inspections, and ports:
Bridges
Why is the construction of the replacement Francis Scott Key Bridge taking so long?
Congestion
The article in this section says:
CTDOT said in a press release that after reviewing and analyzing potential options and breakout projects, the CTDOT has determined that a Flex Lane concept, which uses the median shoulder as a temporary travel lane, will be the first project advancing to alleviate traffic and improve safety during peak travel times. Design is underway, with construction anticipated to start in 2028.
What do you think about this?
Have you ever heard of a “flex lane” before?
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- CVSA Releases 2025 International Roadcheck Results – CVSA — Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
- Fleetworthy’s New Roadside Inspection Reporting Capabilities
- Multi-agency CMV inspection operation in California uncovers 79 violations
- New York cops take commercial vehicle hauling asphalt out-of-service after finding 17 violations
- Oklahoma DPS/ICE enforcement effort leads to 130 truck driver arrests
- Oklahoma law enforcement conducts immigration operation on Interstate 40
- Oklahoma vows to continue immigration crackdown that took 130 truck drivers off the road last week
- Oklahoma, ICE partner to arrest 130 truck drivers
- Saskatchewan hiring more weigh scale officers to boost highway safety
- Trailer Roof and Floor Inspections — How Small Leaks Turn Into Cargo Claims and Lost Shipper Trust
- Wyoming and Colorado joint operation results in truck driver arrests, 24 commercial vehicles out-of-service
- Wyoming deputies sworn in by ICE with a mission to send undocumented truck drivers ‘to jail’
Ports
- Busiest U.S. port plans new container terminal for biggest ships
- Houston gains as New Orleans, Corpus Christi slip in August
- Long Beach port chief Mario Cordero to retire
- Mario Cordero to Retire as Long Beach Port CEO at Year’s End
7. Regarding economy, employment, fines, inflation, pay, rates, recruitment, strike, surcharges, and tax deductions:
Economy
- ACT: August for-hire volumes challenged
- ACT: Preliminary Class 8 net trailer orders down in September
- ACT: Used truck sales increase for first time in five months
- ATBS: how a driver can make it in a tough trucking market
- Class 8 truck orders rise monthly but fall 41% YoY
- ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Class 8 orders stumble out of the gate as OEMs begin taking ’26 orders
- Finally! Trucking Conditions Showed Signs of Life in August
- Freight demand still weak
- Freight expected to roll on during shutdown
- FTR: Preliminary Class 8 Orders Down Again
- FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index improves in July, but remains negative
- Resiliency powers carriers through historic downturn
- Sales and orders for new trucks continue their decline in August
- Tesla’s Sales Decline Shows Signs of Slowing
- The Monthly Manufacturing Numbers Are In — What a 49.1 PMI Means for Small Carriers in the Months Ahead
- Used Truck Sales Increase for Third Straight Month in August
- Used-truck sales ‘better than expected’ in August
- Werner’s Leathers Sees Longer Freight Boom After OEM Cuts
- Why Derek Leathers Says Trucking’s Longest Downturn Could Spark a Lasting Upturn
Employment
- Auto Supplier ZF Slashes 7,600 Jobs in Cost-Cutting Push
- Exxon to Cut 2,000 Workers as Oil Sector Job Losses Mount
- Firms Shed 32,000 Jobs in September, ADP Reports
- Lack of Jobs Data Muddies View of Hiring, Economy
Fines
Inflation
As I mentioned on September 20,
A better gauge [of inflation], I think is the price of an ounce of silver, a precious metal that is one of two precious metals mentioned in Article I, Section 10, of The Constitution of the United States:
“No State shall… make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts.”
As of this writing, in the last 12 months, the price of silver has risen from under $29 per ounce to over $43 per ounce.
Well, the spot price of one ounce of silver closed on Friday, October 3, 2025 at $47.92!
That’s over an 11% increase in just 2 weeks! Yikes!
Pay
Rates
- FTR, Truckstop: Spot rates mixed with little change in the latest week
- SONAR Releases SONAR Quick Rates Chrome Extension
- The long, slow recovery of freight rates and volumes continues at glacial pace
Recruitment
Strike
Surcharges
The subtitle of this article is:
Raising fees when demand is tepid undermines customer trust, analysts say
Tax deductions
8. Regarding ELDs, load board, maintenance, and placards:
ELDs
The part of the article in this section regarding Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) says:
FMCSA will take a tougher approach on vetting ELD provider companies for adherence to standards/data manipulation capabilities.
It’s past time for this! ELDs were made mandatory in 2017 (link 1, link 2, link 3)!
Load board
Maintenance
- Fleetio and Motive Announce Fleet Maintenance and Optimization Platform
- Fleetio expands Maintenance Shop Network to Canada
- The Real Maintenance Cost of Running Heavy — How Overloading Beats Up Your Suspension, Brakes, and Cooling System
Placards
Regulations
9. Regarding health, operations, parking, routing, and safety:
Health
Operations
- CHP busts definitely ‘NOT legal or safe!’ metal pole truck tow
- Driver inattention blamed for chain reaction crash
- ODOT reminds four wheelers to quit stopping in the middle of the highway
- Truck driver ticketed for towing another big rig with ‘nothing more than a metal pipe,’ CHP says
- Trucker claims bossman chewed him out for passing the scale at 102 mph
Parking
- Briefly: Idaho works with feds to address truck parking needs
- I-70 Vail Pass Rest Area in Colorado reopens with expanded truck parking
- New truck parking tool in Idaho
Routing
In case you thought it was “no big deal” if you wandered off an approved truck route, see this:
Driver fined over $2000 after getting stuck on Smugglers Notch
Yes, that’s expensive and it is so easily prevented:
- Truckers Atlas: Compare Cost Savings of Trucker Maps
- On GPS for Truckers: When GPS Routing Leads to Truck Accidents
- CMV GPS Low Clearance Report Form; Low Clearance Awareness Day
Please never, ever ignore signs or follow a GPS unit made for a car!
- Detroit to implement truck traffic restrictions
- Detroit to prohibit truck traffic on several key corridors with targeted police enforcement
- Thunder Bay, Ont., enforces new truck route Oct. 1
Safety
10. Regarding statistics, technology, testing, and training:
Statistics
Technology
- 4 Ways to Manage Telematics Data and Reduce Fleet Liability
- 90% Fewer Calls: the C3 Hive Impact on Trucking Yards
- Amazon to Resume Drone Deliveries Near Phoenix After Crashes
- Caterpillar Emerges as Unlikely AI Winner on Turbine Demand
- Cybersecurity Training for Owner-Operators & Small Fleets
- Drivewyze Safety+ alerts drivers and fleets to potential safety hazards
- Fatigue Science makes platform available to trucking companies
- Federal complaint database gets long-overdue tech upgrade
- Hertz Begins Online Car Sales in Competition With Carvana
- How Oway uses AI to fill empty trucks and cut shipping costs
- Intel Reaffirms Ohio Chip Plant Despite Long Delay
- ITF Group’s new platform tackles logistics fragmentation
- Keller Trucking creates a customizable yard management system for customers
- Link Logistics highlights customer-focused sustainability advancements through energy management and infrastructure
- Netradyne Driver•i D-810 Allows 360-Degree AI Visibility Without Relying On Cloud
- New Risk Management and ROI Reporting Systems from Fleetworthy
- NTSB Recommends Driver Monitoring, Collision Avoidance Tech
- Oway Uses AI to Help Carriers Fill Empty Trailer Space
- Panama Canal Offers Shippers More Flexible Booking System
- Phillips Connect Announces TechAssist Trailer Installation and Maintenance System
- Protect Your Fleet’s Data: 9 Articles for Cybersecurity Month
- Rose Rocket adds email-reading tech through acquisition
- Rose Rocket launches AI-native email assistant TED
- Rose Rocket makes AI acquisition to automate emails
- The Journey to the Touchless Load
- Transforming EDI Pain into Supply Chain Growth
- UVeye expands AI vehicle inspections to heavy-duty fleets
- WEX OTR Summit unveils digital fueling tools and AI-driven vision
- Wex Teams With Trucker Path to Provide Navigation Tool
Testing
Training
- Alberta shuts down five unsafe truck driver training schools, 13 carriers
- PTTAC schools join fight against driver misclassification
- Teamsters launches truck driver training school in Chilliwack, B.C.
11. Regarding truck stops, trucks, weather, and white papers:
Truck stops
Trucks
- Side Curtain Airbags Now Standard in New Volvo Trucks
- The Critical Connection: Fifth Wheel Safety for Fleet Reliability
Weather
White papers
- White Paper: AI for Fleets: Faster Loads, Fewer Headaches
- White Paper: How efficient is your city’s freight network?
- White Paper: State of the Industry — October 2025
12. Regarding awards:
Awards
Congratulations to every professional truck driver who qualifies to be in a truck driving championship — and to those who win a prize!
Thanks to others who have recognized and/or rewarded professional truck drivers for their hard work and achievements!
- 2025 Driving for Excellence Award Finalists Named
- Four trucking companies advance to Small Fleet Champ final round
- SeaPort Manatee honors professional drivers
- Trucking-biz success is realized dream for Trucker of the Month
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: 2025.10.04 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
