General News
House Transportation Panel Signals Optimism on Highway Bill
House Transportation Committee Chairman Sam Graves on Jan. 14 told colleagues he expects to schedule consideration of the bipartisan highway bill in a couple of months.
4 States Have Begun Charging Higher Diesel, Gas Taxes
The states of Michigan, New Jersey, Minnesota and Florida adopted fuel-tax increases for 2026, while just one state — Utah — reduced its motor fuel tax rates.
USA Truck Secures $50M Trailer Lease From TEN
Transportation Equipment Network closed a $50 million enterprise lease agreement with USA Truck, providing a long-term trailer fleet as the carrier moves forward under new ownership.
ATA Begins Surveying for 2026 Driver Compensation Study
The last ATA Driver Compensation Study found truckload drivers earned median annual pay of $76,420 in 2023, a 10% increase compared with the level reported in 2021’s study.
Whitmer Warns of Worsening Car Industry Under Trump Tariffs
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a speech at the Detroit Auto Show that the administration's tariff strategy has hurt American auto manufacturing and is benefiting Chinese competitors.
Robocar Startup Tensor May Seek New Funds Before US IPO
The San Jose, Calif.-based company could seek $300 million to $400 million, a source told Bloomberg. A listing in the U.S. could take place as soon as the end of this year or early 2027.
Maersk to Return to Red Sea as Stability Improves in Region
The voyage marks another step toward normalization of global supply lines, after Yemen-based Houthis in 2023 began attacking vessels, forcing shipowners to sail south of Africa.
Ford Stresses Importance of USMCA Trade Pact
“We built our entire vehicle business as an industry between Canada, Mexico and the U.S.,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said Jan. 15 in a Bloomberg TV interview. “We have to get this revised.”
Stellantis CEO Filosa Wants to Keep the Carmaker Intact
Antonio Filosa is overseeing a wide-ranging review of the automaker’s global operations in bid to stabilize the company after suffering dramatic market-share declines under Carlos Tavares.
Venezuela’s Dark Fleet of Oil Tankers Emerges
The supertanker Marbella, whose location was a mystery for more than a year, turned on its transponder this past weekend to reveal it was sitting off the coast of Venezuela.
PlusAI One Step Closer to Going Public
This is PlusAI’s second attempt to go public. The company announced plans to merge with Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. V in a 2021 deal that valued the company at $3.3 billion.
US Seizes Fourth Sanctioned Oil Tanker Tied to Venezuela
The Veronica is the fourth tanker seized since the U.S. ouster of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid almost two weeks ago.
Oil Tanker Rates Jump as US Push Into Venezuela Shifts Flows
The global oil industry is working through the consequences of Washington’s move. For shipowners, that means higher rates on some routes as current and future oil flows are redirected.
BNSF Warns Rail Megamerger Risks Higher Prices
Katie Farmer, BNSF’s CEO, said the industry should question whether it’s an “accurate premise” that Union Pacific’s proposed takeover of Norfolk Southern will lead eventually to growth in shipping volume.
Lawmakers Propose $2.5B Agency to Boost Rare Earths
The bill would favor a market-based approach by setting up the independent body charged with building a stockpile of critical minerals, stabilizing prices and encouraging production.
Transport M&A Slowed Against 2025 Headwinds
The transportation sector experienced a slowdown in merger and acquisition activity in 2025 amid ongoing headwinds and market uncertainty, according to a report by Tenney Group.
Southeastern Freight Lines Boosts Cross-Border Operations
Southeastern Freight Lines joined the ranks of less-than-truckload carriers beefing up their cross-border operations as the value of trade between the U.S. and Mexico increases.
Trump Backs Nvidia Deal With China, Adds Chip Tariff
Under an order Trump signed on Jan. 14, the government would collect the duty on the chips as they’re brought to the U.S. before final shipment to Chinese customers and other foreign markets.
Trump Establishes Process to Secure Key Mineral Supplies
President Trump has been under pressure to respond after China constrained access to rare earths crucial to advanced technologies during a trade spat last year.
Penske Logistics Advances Shipment Tracking Capabilities
Penske Logistics is set to introduce an artificial intelligence platform that will aid key supply chain segments in tracking shipments.