TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2025.10.11 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending October 11, 2025, written by Vicki Simons.
I welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding CDLs, language, and shutdown:
CDLs
I am glad that this situation regarding truckers who cannot read, write, or speak English is getting the attention it deserves.
Let’s hope that the action matches the attention!
- ATA calls on Congress to strengthen CDL standards
- Bill aims to address ‘broken’ CDL system
- Bill calls for end of CDL reciprocity with Mexico and Canada, along with tighter requirements for non-citizen truck drivers
- California, Oregon halt non-domiciled CDLs amid federal crack down
- Duffy’s halt of non-domiciled CDLs could wipe out illegal operators
- Insurance Companies Likely to Take Hard Stance on Non-Domiciled CDLs
- New Mexico pauses issuance of CDLs and CPLs to certain non-domiciled foreign applicants
- Ontario DriveTest examiners pressured to meet pass quotas; MTO issues denial
- Trucking advised to audit all drivers to limit CDL liability
Language
This piggybacks on the previous section.
- ICE Crackdowns May Quietly Be Reshaping The Freight Market
- Link between English-proficiency violations and unsafe carriers
- New study suggests ELP violations linked to unsafe trucking companies
- Non-Domiciled CDL Integrity Act introduced in House
- States’ Commercial Vehicle Dragnets Snag ELP, CDL Violations
- Study links ELP violations to unsafe motor carriers
- Trucking group urges Congress to require English test as part of CDL process
Shutdown
So, with the U.S. federal government at least partially shut down, what have been your observations as a trucker on the road?
Please share through the form below.
- Federal government shutdown grinds into a second week, but quiet talks emerging
- Republicans and Democrats at an impasse as government shutdown enters sixth day
2. Regarding border, business, employment, insurance, recalls, and technology:
Border
- Borderlands Mexico: LPA enters Mexican logistics market with Puebla deal
- Canada’s Carney Says US Auto Sector Needs USMCA to Compete
- Canada’s Carney Visits Trump Ahead of USMCA Review
- Carney Pitches Trump on Energy Alliance, Keystone XL Project
- Lawmaker pushes to end Mexico/Canada trucking reciprocity
- New bill targets foreign truck drivers lacking legal status
- NY trucking leaders seeking traffic flow plan for future Canadian border backups
- Upcoming USMCA Talks Could Boost Mexico’s Peso
Business
- How Roadrunner cut missed pickups to zero
- Logistics Leaders Urge Resilience as Costs Climb
- Morgan Stanley cuts TL, LTL earnings outlook
- Trucking Industry Update October 2025: Key Insights for Shippers
- U.S. Army orders 86 Mack Defense trucks
- Understanding the Power of TCO in Fleet Management
- Veho beefs up parcel sorting capacity for peak season, future growth
Employment
Is employment in the USA tied at least in part due to the tariffs?
- 1000 employees out of work as flatbed operator files for bankruptcy
- California carrier closes doors, terminates over 100 employees
- Company fired female concrete truck driver because the job wasn’t “women’s work”
- Uber Freight cuts jobs amid commercial reorganization
Insurance
Recalls
If your tractor or trailer is under a recall, please have the work attended to as soon as possible.
- Mack Trucks issues recall tied to seat belt defect
- Some 4,000 2026 Volvo VN trucks recalled for door latch problem
Technology
- $2.7M project brings AI inspection tech to key Arkansas freight corridors
- AI surge fuels logistics transformation as Coupa buys Scoutbee
- AI-driven fleet management: Velocitor acquires NextBillion.ai
- Dash cam shows BMW slam into side of tractor trailer in crash that didn’t injure anyone
- Exclusive: Mentium raises $3.2 million to bring modern technology to freight brokerages
- Make Safety a Priority with 24/7 Satellite Radio
- Public safety minister orders review into CBSA’s IT outage
- Roadrunner announces AI-powered P&D platform
- The future is here: AI enters the truck driver recruiting process
- The top 10 features SONAR shipped this year
- Truckstop.com, NMFTA partner to help fleets fight cybersecurity and freight fraud
- US Cold Storage’s AI leap: What it means for logistics
3. Regarding autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, and fuel:
Autonomous vehicles
I completely 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.
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.
- EV Realty raises $75M, breaks ground on San Bernardino charging hub
- Ford Delays Lithium Supply Deal Amid EV Struggle
- German Carmakers Receive EV Tax Boost Before Summit With Merz
- Target picks Frontdoor Collective to test electric vehicle delivery
- WattEV Announces EV Truck Energy Consumption Record
Fuel
- Diesel benchmark falls as talk of oil glut emerges again
- Diesel prices plunge after weeks of increase
- Fuel Costs Up, Rates Inching, and Reefers Still Showing Promise — What to Watch This Week
4. Regarding crashes, drugs, fatalities, theft, and violence:
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.
- Crash at popular landmark near Laramie leads to citations, towed big rig
- Crash caused by ‘following too closely’ leaves trailer lodged in semi truck’s windshield, Arizona troopers say
- Crash with big rig in New York leads to DWI charge
- Military vehicle hits semi truck while changing lanes, sparking 8 vehicle chain reaction crash
- Missouri Interstate 44 impacted by fiery big rig crash, causing fuel spill
- NHTSA Opens Tesla Probe After Crashes Involving FSD
- Semi crashes into barrier on Oklahoma highway
- Semi overturns, spills 46,000 pounds of applesauce in Illinois
- Semi truck crashes into parked train in Nebraska
- Smoke from burning field causes chain reaction crash in Arkansas involving big rig
- Speed deemed factor in dump bed semi truck crash off SR 49
- Tractor-trailer slams into firetruck injuring two firefighters
- Train crashes with semi stuck on tracks in Georgia
- US opens Tesla probe after more crashes involving its so-called full self-driving technology
- VIDEO: Motorist smashed into truck stopped at intersection but driver never knew what hit him
Drugs
Never ever haul or take illegal drugs.
- CBP finds cocaine inside shipping container in Puerto Rico
- CBP intercepts big rig cocaine shipment worth more than $4.4 million
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?
- On-duty police officer killed after striking rear of semi truck’s trailer, CHP says
- Trucker killed in train crash
- Driver dead in rollover crash in New York
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 Costs Trucking, Logistics Firms $18M Daily
- Fear of high premiums keeps cargo theft underreported
- From Tequila to Electronics, Cargo Thieves Are Exploiting Weak Links in the Supply Chain
- Guy Fieri’s Tequila Stolen in Double Brokering Scheme
- Sneaker reseller’s arrest highlights surge in US cargo thefts
- The fight against cargo theft: New ATRI research confirms dangers to industry
Violence
It is never right to perpetrate violence upon someone in an unprovoked manner.
All perpetrators of violence must be dealt with in a just legal manner.
- 2 children dead, 2 others in critical condition after shooting at Texas truck stop
- US Postal Service mail carrier shot by Amazon driver
5. Regarding DOT medical card, legal, mail, staged, and towing:
DOT medical card
So, that technology wasn’t as ready as they thought it was, was it?
Legal
- Broker liability dispute finally lands before the Supreme Court
- Civil Settlement Reached with Moving Company and Owner
- Convoy leaders Lich, Barber receive conditional sentences in Ottawa courtroom
- Court rules that Texas county must return $41K seized from trucker as civil forfeiture action
- Demurrage dilemma: court overturns FMC’s trucking rule
- ‘Diesel Brothers’ star arrested for failure to pay $851K in fines for removing emissions control devices
- Female defendant wore fake beard as part of CDL cheating scheme that led to seven indicted, New York DA says
- Man sentenced for conspiring to obtain more than 1,000 New York and Massachusetts driver’s licenses for ineligible applicants
- Motorist charged with street racing after getting ‘pancaked between a CMV and a hard place’ in Arizona
- NTSB Pushes for Driver Monitoring and Collision Avoidance Tech After Fatal Ohio Crash
- Ohio troopers share video from semi truck pursuit that ended with driver dragged out of cab at fuel pumps
- Trucker facing numerous charges after New York crash
- Truckers back on the hook for demurrage and detention charges
- Trucking company fined $50,000 for illegal dumping of construction, demolition waste
- Venture Global Suffers Defeat in BP’s LNG Arbitration
Staged
So much for a speedy trial!
Towing
- Connecticut allows more fees in nonconsensual tow disputes
- This Device in Your Cab May Save You From a Tow
6. Regarding CTA and TCA:
CTA
CTA here means: Canadian Trucking Alliance.
- CTA launches Stop Illegal Trucking campaign
- CTA ramps up campaign against trucking industry “lawlessness”
TCA
TCA here means: Truckload Carriers Association.
- Raising the safety bar: TCA Fleet Safety Awards applications now open
- TCA opens applications for 2026 Fleet Safety Awards
- TCA’s Bridging Border Barriers: Learn the latest on cargo and equipment theft
7. Regarding inspections, lockers, maintenance, move over, operations, and platooning:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- Cops issue citations after finding commercial vehicle operating with ‘only 6 of its 20 tires’ on trailer
- CVSA releases 2026 commercial vehicle inspection blitz schedule
- CVSA’s 2025 International Roadcheck Puts Fleets Under the Microscope
- Massive enforcement blitz in Milton, Ont., puts 161 trucks OOS
- More than 300 commercial vehicles inspected during three-day operation in Kansas
- More than 500 trucks inspected and 31% placed out-of-service during two day blitz in Ontario
- Nearly 90% compliance rate on first day of I-70 chain law inspections, says CSP
- Roadcheck results: 94% of drivers had no OOS violations
- Safety blitz leads to trucker arrests, including one ELP violation
- Troopers from six states to partner for high-visibility traffic blitz this weekend
- Truckers received 13,490 out-of-service orders during three day Roadcheck inspection campaign
Lockers
Maintenance
There are articles that I could put in this section regarding the situation with mechanics and technicians.
- TMC Rewind: Corrosion Threats and Coolant System Dangers
- Topeka Service Area home to newest Love’s Truck Care
- Truck Maintenance Logs For Winter Prep
Move over
The importance of “moving over” when someone is on a shoulder is shown in this quote:
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 3,500 people were killed in crashes nationwide while standing outside of disabled vehicles over a recent 10-year period.
Operations
At least it wasn’t a “hit and run”!
Since this happened on the shoulder, was this the correct action to take or not?
Was it reasonable for the trucker to take 8 minutes to back up that far?
What are your thoughts?
Platooning
I oppose commercial motor vehicle platooning on the same roads as the motoring public for safety reasons.
8. Regarding economy, fees, rates, tariffs, and tax credit:
Economy
- As freight demand remains weak, U.S. fleets prep for higher truck prices
- Bridgestone CEO Expects Slowdown in Second Half of 2025
- Car Shipper Hoegh Drops on Weaker Trade and Port Fee Warning
- Class 8 Truck Orders Slide 44% as Tariffs Strain
- DTNA Third-Quarter Sales Slump 39% to 30,225 Trucks, Buses
- FTR presentation brings clarity, not optimism, to current trucking conditions
- Stellantis Shipments Jump 13% on Rise in North America
- Transportation capacity grew faster than pricing again in September
- U.S. imports seen well below average for rest of 2025
- US Chicken Prices Fall 18% From Summer Peak
- Used Truck Sales Rise for Third Straight Month in August
Fees
I think these fees go hand-in-glove with the tariffs.
- China Hits US Ships With Retaliatory Port Fees
- China hits US ships with retaliatory port fees before trade talks
- China retaliates with new fees on U.S. shipping
- Ocean Shippers Find Work-Arounds to Avoid New US Port Fees
- Some China-Bound Ships Carrying Oil Canceled on Port Fees
- Surprise move by China carriers ahead of U.S. port fees
- Trump Predicts China Will Resume Buying US Soybeans
Rates
- FTR, Truckstop: Spot rates rise for all equipment types
- Spot rates inch higher as load posts on DAT One continue to build
- Surprising surge: Trucking spot market rates climb overnight
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.
- 3PL Customers Confident About Adapting to Tariffs
- Brazil Posts Export Growth, Resisting Hit From US Tariffs
- Lawsuit seeks to stop Trump’s $100,000 fee for H-1B visas
- Logistics Executives Hunt Tariff, Capacity Clarity
- Mexico’s tariff on Chinese imports rattles cross-border e-commerce
- Monthly Imports Expected to Drop as Tariffs Continue to Rise
- Report details how shippers, 3PLs are navigating tariff uncertainty
- Tariff Revenue Hits $195 Billion for Fiscal 2025, CBO Says
- Tariff turbulence deepens uncertainty across US supply chains
- Tariff, freight costs weigh on holiday décor imports, tree maker says
- Tariffs cause some China imports to crash 44% in September
- Trump Announces 25% Tariff on Medium-Duty and Heavy-Duty Trucks
- Trump Delays US Tariffs on Heavy-Truck Imports to Nov. 1
- Trump issues 25% tariff on heavy trucks
- Trump says truck tariffs begin Nov. 1, hosts Carney to talk trade
- Trump Says US, Canada Can ‘Get There’ on Tariff Deal
- Trump Suggests ‘Massive Increase’ on China Tariffs
- Trump to impose 25% tariff on trucks starting Nov. 1
- Unpredictable Tariff Rules Rattle Supply Chain, Experts Say
- WTO: Full Drag of Trump Tariffs to Hit Trade Growth in 2026
Tax credit
9. Regarding parking, securement, and training:
Parking
- I-70’s Vail Pass Rest Area in Colorado reopens with more truck parking
- Love’s opens Colorado truck stop with 88 truck parking spots
- Pennsylvania announces statewide truck parking expansion
- Pennsylvania to add 1,200 truck parking spaces by end of 2026
- Pennsylvania to Add 1,202 Truck Parking Spaces
- Truck Parking Options Expand in Pennsylvania
- Trucker thanks cop for helping him find overnight parking when he was running out of hours
- Two designated truck parking locations open this week as PennDOT sets off on quest to add 1,200 truck parking spots by 2026
Securement
There are many things for which truckers are responsible when preparing to drive a commercial motor vehicle, load securement being one of them.
This article describes the legal fallout from one trucker who didn’t secure his load correctly:
Driver and trucking company charged for violations after steel coil slams into truck cab, cops say.
Another load securement problem…
Training
- Five truck driver training schools, 13 trucking companies shut down
- Strategies to Make Driver Training Stick Beyond Traditional Classroom Presentations
10. Regarding exemption, politics, and supply chain:
Exemption
Politics
- ATA Presses Congress on Safety, Efficiency Priorities
- Barrs confirmed as FMCSA administrator
- Barrs confirmed to lead FMCSA; trucking organizations approve
- Barrs moves closer to top post at FMCSA
- California nears new rules on red-light, speed cameras
- California Proposal Could Reduce Truck Emissions Rules Uncertainty
- DOE Ends $7.5 Billion in Grants for Biden-Approved Projects
- DOT Funding for Rural Air Service Could Lapse Oct. 12
- Employee truck drivers focus of new California law
- Four new USDOT officials confirmed by senate
- House Bill Moves to Let Younger Truckers Cross State Lines
- How federal and state rules impact trucking efficiency
- MPs launch probe of trucking sector, Bloc calls out labor standards
- Senate Confirms Derek Barrs to Lead FMCSA
- Transportation-funding package approved at Michigan Legislature
- Trucking Groups Applaud Confirmation of Derek Barrs as FMCSA Administrator
- U.S. Senate confirms Barrs as FMCSA administrator
Supply chain
11. Regarding roads and weather:
Roads
- Portion of I-10 WB through Houston will be reduced to two lanes until mid-2026
- SC gubernatorial candidate says state is leaning too heavily on drivers to foot the tax bills
Weather
- High tides raise flood risk in Carolinas as tropical storms churn in Atlantic and Pacific
- La Nina is back, but it’s weak and may be brief. Will it still amp up the Atlantic hurricane season?
12. Regarding recognition:
Recognition
I recognize those who help their fellow human beings in a time of need, whether they are truckers who help others, or others who help truckers.
Thanks!
- First responders rescue driver in 5-vehicle crash on I-20 involving 3 big rigs
- Trucker named TCA Highway Angel for helping injured crash victim
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: 2025.10.11 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.