General News
Mack Begins Serial Anthem Tractor Production
Mack Trucks began serial production of the Anthem regional-haul tractor Jan. 13, the Volvo Group division said. Anthems are built at the Lehigh Valley Operations plant in Macungie, Pa.
US Budget Deficit Shrinks to $1.67 Trillion in 2025
December's deficit was $145 billion, per Treasury Department data. For the first three months of the 2026 fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, the shortfall came in at $602 billion.
Trump Says USMCA Offers No Advantage to US
USMCA was one of Trump’s signature achievements during his first term, replacing the 1992 North American Free Trade Agreement. The deal is subject to a mandatory review this year.
Class 8 Orders Soar More Than 100% Sequentially in December
Class 8 truck orders soared sequentially in December, a shift that experts attributed more to buyer trepidation over new emissions technologies than enthusiasm with business conditions.
FMCSA Chief Touts Technology’s Role in Improving Road Safety
The Department of Transportation’s research portfolio is helping to guide a wide-ranging safety platform, FMCSA chief Derek Barrs said at TRB’s annual meeting.
TotalEnergies CEO Echoes Exxon’s Caution on Venezuela Oil
TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne said it would take years to increase Venezuela’s oil output to above 3 million barrels a day from less than 1 million currently.
Caterpillar Crosses $300 Billion in Market Value on AI Rally
Because of its business selling power-generation equipment, Caterpillar has been a runaway winner in a market where investors are hungry for secondary AI plays.
Detroit Auto Show Opens as Industry Pares Splashy Debuts
While the Detroit Auto Show has scaled back dramatically from its heyday, it still drew 275,000 attendees a year ago. And it is leaning into interactivity.
Trump Pressures Canada to End Boycott of US Liquor
Several Canadian provinces, including Ontario and Quebec, pulled U.S. wine and spirits from stores after President Donald Trump started a trade war last year.
Maersk Makes Another Voyage Through Red Sea in Safety Test
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.
Port of Long Beach Handled Record Amount of Cargo in 2025
Under the leadership of a new chief executive, Noel Hacegaba, the second-busiest port in the U.S. plans to invest to be ready to double the cargo it processes by 2050.
Inflation Was Mostly Unchanged in December
Consumer prices rose 0.3% in December from the prior month, the Labor Department said Jan. 13, the same as in November. Excluding food and energy, core prices rose 0.2%.
Trump to Visit Ford Factory in Detroit to Push Manufacturing
President Donald Trump will try to counter fears about a weakening job market and worries that still-rising prices are taking a toll on Americans' pocketbooks.
Trump Announces 25% Tariff on Countries Trading With Iran
President Trump posted on social media that the new duty would be “effective immediately,” without providing further detail. The administration has yet to outline the scope.
STG Logistics Files for Bankruptcy, Continues Operations
STG and 64 affiliates filed for court protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. The company expects to exit court protection in around five months’ time.
Used Truck Sales End Five-Month Run of Year-Over-Year Gains
Used Class 8 truck sales ended a run of five months of year-over-year gains in November. ACT Research reported volume slipped 1.5% to 20,400 units from 20,700 in the 2024 period.
Hertz Loses Supreme Court Bid Over Bankruptcy Payments
The company posted better-than-expected results in its most recent quarter, swinging to an adjusted profit of 12 cents a share from a 68-cent loss a year earlier.
Trump Administration Nears Tariff Deal With Taiwan
A signed deal would bring to an end talks between President Donald Trump’s team and the Taiwanese government that have dragged on for months. Much remains uncertain about the benefits.
Tennessee Tells 8,000 CDL Holders to Verify Status
Tennessee is asking 8,000 commercial driver license holders to provide proof of citizenship after an audit by the state’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
Canadian Trips to US Fall 28% in 2025
Canadian residents made 22.9 million visits to the U.S. by car or plane in 2025, compared with 31.9 million the previous year, according to preliminary Statistics Canada data.