General News
Commercial Ops Debut Coming Fast for VNL Autonomous Truck
The start of commercial operations for factory-built autonomous Class 8 tractors by Volvo Autonomous Solutions and Aurora Innovation is due in a matter of days.
New Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Regulations Take Effect
The DOT has new requirements for workplace drug and alcohol test procedures, plus another forcing states to check truck driver records in its Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse.
Buttigieg: Truck Parking Shortage Remains a Priority
With two months left in his Cabinet-level tenure, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg intends to press ahead with policies aimed at boosting freight and supply chain operations.
Deere Expected to Report Weakest Q4 Since 2020
Sales of agricultural tractors continued their decline in October, with U.S. sales falling about 14% from the previous year, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers said in a report.
Judge Warns of Pitfalls in American Tire’s Bankruptcy Plan
The current debtor-in-possession financing plan could risk a lawsuit down the road, Judge Craig T. Goldblatt told lenders at a Nov. 19 hearing in Delaware.
Port Traffic Surging as Companies Rush to Beat Tariffs
Imports at the Port of Los Angeles last month totaled 462,740 20-foot-equivalent units, or TEUs. The port also handled 122,716 export containers and 319,570 empty containers in October.
Jaguar Rebrand Promo Shows Logo, but Where’s the Car?
NEW YORK — A promotional video for a rebrand of British luxury car brand Jaguar is being criticized online for showing models in brightly colored outfits — and no car.
GM Opens Lab to Prevent Software Bugs in New Vehicles
WARREN, Mich. — General Motors Co. has developed a software-testing lab inside its Global Technical Center to prevent bugs from entering new vehicles and affecting customers.
October Medium-Duty Sales Increase 5.5% From 2023
Classes 4-7 total retail truck sales for the month increased 5.5% to 20,484 units from 19,419 a year ago. Sales also increased 11.8% sequentially from the 18,316 reported in September.
Europe, US Push for Oil Funding Curbs Deal to Outlast Trump
The EU, US and other countries are hammering out a plan to throttle tens of billions of dollars of financial support for foreign oil and gas projects before Donald Trump moves into the White House.
Ford to Cut 4,000 Jobs in Europe
FRANKFURT, Germany — Ford says it will reduce its workforce by 4,000 in Europe and the U.K. by the end of 2027, citing the economy and weak sales of electric cars.
Canada Shares US Concerns About Mexican Trade With China
TORONTO — Canada’s point person for U.S-Canada relations said she shares U.S. concerns about Mexico serving as a back door for China to import cheaper goods into the North American market.
TIA Chides FMCSA for Overlooking Freight Fraud in Proposal
The issue of freight fraud is one that incoming TIA CEO Chris Burroughs said is getting worse, and was among key TIA priorities he outlined during a call with media.
Exxon Signs Deal to Supply Lithium to Battery Maker LG Chem
Exxon has signed a preliminary agreement to provide battery metal lithium to an LG Chem plant in the U.S., strengthening the oil major’s role in the domestic critical minerals supply chain.
Stellantis Delays Electric Ram Truck Debuts to Early 2025
Stellantis NV will delay the arrival of its two electric pickup trucks to the first half of 2025 from the end of this year, CEO Carlos Tavares said Nov. 19.
EV Demand Could Drop 27% Without Tax Credit
Still, because EVs account for a small percentage of new car sales, removing the credit would have little impact on gasoline demand.
Nebraska Finishes U.S. 275 Section on Eastern Freight Route
The Nebraska Department of Transportation has been working to improve the U.S. 275 corridor in segments for many years. So far, about 70% has been completed, according to NDOT.
Trump Names Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary Nominee
Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration.
Kansas Hydrogen Hunt Seen Fueling New Energy Revolution
A new Gold Rush is taking shape on a quiet stretch of Kansas prairie. There, a clutch of startups backed by the likes of Bill Gates are searching below the surface for hydrogen.
Buttigieg Celebrates Infrastructure Law as ‘Big Deal’
President Joe Biden and Secretary Pete Buttigieg celebrated a round of grants for transportation projects to help mark the third anniversary of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.