TDMST Weekly Round-Up 2026.01.03 is the trucking commentary on news affecting professional truck drivers for the week ending January 3, 2026, written by Vicki Simons.
I welcome your comments, thoughts and feedback on the items of your choice below.
1. Regarding Future, Top 10, Weather, and Year End:
Future
This section focuses on the outlook for the trucking industry in 2026.
- POLL: Owner-ops, what your biz outlook headed into 2026?
- Signs point upward for trucking, but freight rates remain stubbornly sluggish going into 2026
Top 10
This section focuses on recaps of the trucking industry (Top 10 lists) from 2025.
- Opinions? We’ve got some. Here are the Top 10 most-read blogs of 2025
- The 10 Playbook Stories That Defined Trucking in 2025 — And Why They All Point to the Same Truth
- The State of Transportation Systems: TMS Lessons from 2025 – Logistics Viewpoints
- The top 10 trucking stories of 2025 in Overdrive
- Trucking’s Top 10 Regulatory Headlines of 2025
Weather
Winter can be brutal, so please prepare in advance and never be overconfident regarding what you and/or your truck can do.
Pay attention to winter weather hazards (black ice, blizzards, extreme cold, freezing fog, etc.), road closures, commercial truck bans, and commercial trailer bans.
Not only does snow vary from place to place (wet snow vs. dry snow), but some areas of the USA are more prone to getting snow than others.
One snow depth map is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
- A winter storm threatens to bring blizzards and ice to parts of the U.S., hampering holiday travel
- Midwest hit with more extreme cold after winter storm
- Rain soaks Rose Parade in California and snow squalls hit Midwest and Northeast on first day of 2026
- Truck driver spent Christmas Eve stuck in a snowstorm after ignoring signs, following GPS, California troopers say
- Truckers east of I-35 advised to stay home
- Weather compels New York Authority to issue empty and tandem trailer ban
- Winter storm packing snow and strong winds to descend on Great Lakes and Northeast
- Winter storm snarls U.S. holiday travel across Northeast, Great Lakes
- Winter storm sweeps across US with snow, ice and severe weather
- Winter Storm to Descend on Great Lakes and Northeast
Year End
Although this trucking commentary is being written after the end of 2025, perhaps these articles will help for the end of 2026.
2. Regarding Language and Testing:
Language
- California delays canceling 17,000 non-domiciled CDLs for 60 days
- California delays revoking 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses until March after immigrants sue
- California Digs In On Non-Domiciled CDL Cancellations As Duffy Threatens $160M Funding Cut
- CBP Agents Enter Nation’s CDL Enforcement Efforts
- DOT ponies up $118M for CMV enforcement
- DOT threatens Colorado on non-domiciled CDLs; Sikh group sues California
- DOT, California locked in battle over 17,000 CDLs
- Duffy Announces $18M in Grants for CDL Safety
- Sikh Coalition sues California DMV over ‘unlawful’ CDL removals
- Will FMCSA’s Driver-Oriented Enforcement Initiatives Affect Capacity?
- Will FMCSA’s Driver-Oriented Enforcement Initiatives Affect Capacity?
Testing
Personally, I can’t see truckers who obtain their CDLs on Martha’s Vineyard actually staying there.
I humbly suggest that truckers who want more freedom to obtain their training and CDLs somewhere off the island.
3. Regarding Business, CARB, CLP, ELDs, HOS, IFTA, and Shut Down:
Business
CARB
CLP
In the article in this section, “CLP” stands for “Commercial Learner’s Permit.”
ELDs
How many times will the FMCSA reject the use of certain ELDs after they once previously required only self-certification of the products?
Others within the trucking industry were speaking out against the Electronic Logging Devices “mandate” long before December 4, 2017, but you may read my commentary on the mandate.
In TDMST Weekly Round-Up: 2017.12.09, I quoted Indiana’s Attorney General, Curtis Hill, regarding the self-certification provision regarding ELDs.
I also asked, “In what other industry besides trucking has the government ever mandated the purchase of a ‘self-certification’ product?”
So, I’m truly distressed for every trucker who invested in a “self-certified” ELD that used to be on the approved list, only to later have that certification revoked!
If you are such a trucker, I want to hear from you about how expensive this was for you.
- FMCSA knocks four ELDs off list of approved devices, truck drivers to ‘revert to paper logs’
- FMCSA revokes four more ELDs
- Four ELDs dropped from FMCSA registered device list
HOS
What’s the point of having an Hours of Service (HOS) regulation if exemptions can be made for this, that, or the other?
- FMCSA considers Hours-of-Service exemption for commercial vehicle drivers responding to railroad emergencies
- FMCSA extends widespread HOS waivers
- Hours of service weather-related FMCSA waivers now cover 20 states
- Rhode Island HOS waiver with heating fuel emergency
- Running on empty? HOS relief for fuel haulers extended
- Senator wants more HOS relief for ag haulers
- Should FMCSA renew HOS exemption for railroad groups?
IFTA
IFTA stands for “International Fuel Tax Association.”
Shut Down
It is sad whenever a trucking company shuts down. 🙁
- Laredo Trucking Company Files for Chapter 11
- Midwest LTL carrier shutting down after 91 years
- Queen Transportation shuts down over Christmas holiday, leaving workers jobless
- Standard Forwarding Freight suspends operations
4. Regarding Autonomous Vehicles, Electric Vehicles, and Fuel:
Autonomous vehicles
I totally oppose the operation of self-driving, autonomous, 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.
- ATA, safety groups slam driverless truck warning system
- California’s long wait for autonomous trucks may soon end
- Aurora to help haul frac sand ‘around the clock’ using autonomous trucks on public roads in Permian Basin
- Beyond the highway: Waabi’s bet on door-to-door autonomy
Electric vehicles
Before you buy an all-electric Commercial Motor Vehicle, please do your due diligence by asking some questions and getting answers.
Fuel
- Diesel prices fall for sixth straight week, reefer rates on holiday tear
- Diesel’s downward trend continues
- Global 2025 LNG Exports Had Biggest Jump in Three Years
- Holiday Fuel Relief Brings Diesel and Gas Prices Down Across the U.S. for Fleets
- Latest decline in benchmark diesel leads to a mostly flat end-year price
5. Regarding California, New York, Politics, and Towing:
California
New York
- New York boasts significant infrastructure improvements
- NYC congestion pricing lives on, court pushes decision into 2026
- NYC Proposes 14 Miles of New Truck Routes for Staten Island
Politics
- Congress, stop hee-hawing around on trucking legislation
- How Trump Overturned Decades of US Trade Policy in 2025
- Legislative outlook: 2026 will be a year of action for the freight industry
- USDOT announces $118 million in funding to strengthen CDL standards, enhance enforcement, aid veterans in trucking
- When it comes to safety, FMCSA’s self-certification programs don’t make the grade
- Year Ahead Will Test DOT Power to Withhold State Funds
Towing
Predatory towing is a violation of the commandment to “love your neighbor” as you love yourself.
6. Regarding Crashes, Death, Drugs, Fatalities, Fire, Road Rage, and Theft:
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.
- Arkansas police looking for big rig involved in hit-and-run crash
- Close call: Big rig nearly hits Maryland apartment complex
- Michigan truck crash underscores dangers of winter storms snarling roadways
- Ohio troopers share video of bobtail truck and pickup careening off I-71 bridge
Death
I express my deep sympathy — and offer my condolences — to the families of those whose loved ones died as reported in these articles.
- Georgia DPS reports 15 dead on Georgia roads during Christmas holiday period
- Idaho police say woman died from injuries in crash with big rig
- Pedestrian grazed by bobtail semi; then hit, killed by 2nd vehicle on I-65 in Indiana
- Tennessee sees significant drop in driver deaths
Drugs
This is the largest number of “drugs in trucking” articles I’ve seen within one week in quite some time.
Never ever haul or take illegal drugs.
- Assisting trucker leads to weed arrest in Indiana
- CBP catches half dozen shipments of ketamine
- CBP finds 935 pounds of cocaine in cargo trailer
- Commercial truck’s trip through weigh station turns up 680 pounds of illegal marijuana, Arkansas troopers say
- Cross-border drug smugglers exploit trucking routes, ports
- Indiana trooper assisting with disabled semi truck on I-70 discovers nearly 10 pounds of pot
- Marijuana charges against Indiana trucker modified
- Over $3 million in illegal marijuana seized during two ‘routine’ CMV inspections on I-40, Arkansas troopers say
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?
- One dead in Indiana crash on Interstate 80
- One dead in multi-vehicle crash involving semi truck
- Pedestrian killed by semi truck attempting to cross Oregon interstate
- Teen dead after Arkansas crash involving car, motorcycle, and commercial motor vehicle
Fire
What caused the axle to glow red?
Could this have been prevented with a good pre-trip inspection?
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.
- High-value heist brings attention to cargo theft crisis
- Illinois sheriff follows stolen cargo trailer’s GPS tracker to warehouse stuffed with over $2 million in stolen goods
- Man faces charges for North Carolina bank robbery, semi truck shootout, feds say
- Multiple people charged for interstate transportation of stolen cooking oil to be converted to biodiesel
- New bill limits truck driver liability for stolen freight
- ‘Theft Ring’ Nets $400,000 Worth of Live Lobsters
- $400K lobster heist a ‘black eye’ for broker?
- ‘Strategic’ cargo theft emerges from the shadows
7. Regarding Economy, Employment, and Rates:
Economy
- ECONOMIC TRUCKING TRENDS: Working through Christmas netted truckers a nice increase on the spot market
- Worst November since Great Recession: Class 8 truck sales, orders continue decline
Employment
Rates
8. Regarding Tariffs, Taxes, and Tolls:
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.
- A Look at the Experts Who Race to Decode Trump’s Tariffs
- Is your fleet future-proof? Tariff uncertainty gives carriers reason to pause fleet replacement cycle
- Trump delays increased tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for a year
Taxes
Tolls
9. Regarding Truckers and Veterans:
Truckers
- Bryce’s 50-year career built on strong work ethic
- Taking time for self-care presents unique challenges for truck drivers
Veterans
- NFI: Commitment to veterans support is year-long with special culmination at Christmas
- Vets-tribute 1998 FLD’s story of sacrifice, achievement, hope
10. Regarding Inspections, Legal, Roads, and Safety:
Inspections
If you keep yourself and your rig in perpetual readiness for an inspection, you’ll never be caught off-guard.
- 85 citations issued during multi-agency commercial vehicle enforcement operation in California
- Are truck drivers subject to inspection while parked at a rest stop?
- Commercial vehicle inspection operation at Texas Motor Speedway yields 147 warnings
- Commercial Vehicle Inspections and Your Rights as a Driver
- Commercial vehicle with several serious equipment violations rolls through Iowa scale house
- Company cited for tire violations after commercial vehicle crashes into ditch, Wisconsin troopers say
- Maine CMV troopers turn the tables by targeting passenger car violations near semi trucks during blitzes
- Maine targets passenger vehicle violations to improve commercial vehicle safety
- New York State Police hand out more than 660 tickets during 10-day enforcement operation
- Out-of-service order issued after dual set of semi trailer wheels detached on Ontario highway
- Over 1,000 citations issued and 170 vehicles seized during New York State Thruway Authority enforcement operations
- Wyoming law enforcement to step up traffic patrols for NYE
Legal
- Illinois BIPA lawsuit over driver-facing cameras ends in settlement
- Missouri police chase bobtail rig
- Suspended driver charged with stealing truck, ramming police cruiser during attempted arrest
- VK Group pushed into receivership after court rejects CCAA stay
Roads
Safety
11. Regarding Supply Chain and Technology:
Supply Chain
- DHL Supply Chain Eyes Fleet of Tesla Semis
- How Portcast turns supply chain visibility into actionable intelligence
Technology
- Missouri troopers share dash cam video from ‘wild’ Christmas Day semi truck pursuit
- Securing the Chain: The Executive Roadmap to Cyber Resilience – Logistics Viewpoints
- Survey: Carriers prioritize AI tools that improve real-time efficiency
12. Regarding Awards:
Awards
Congratulations to all professional truck drivers who have been nominated for — or received the designation of — “Driver of the Month”, “Driver of the Year”, or something similar.
- Meet Ralph Garcia, December FIT Driver of the Month: This trucker is a four-time national powerlifting champion
- TCA Driver of the Year: Cheema’s Scott Lindsey shares both his knowledge and his success with peers
- 2025 Trucker of the Year finalists: Three independents push business forward
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: 2026.01.03 to our TDMST Weekly Round-Up Trucking Commentary or our Truck Drivers Money Saving Tips home page.
