AAA: U.S. AVERAGE GAS $4.513; DIESEL $5.646 AS OF MAY 17 AAA’s daily dashboard shows the national average for regular at $4.513 and diesel at $5.646 on May 17, with prices up sharply versus a month ago as crude remains elevated. SEVERE WEATHER MONDAY: SPC FLAGS MODERATE RISK FOR KS/NE,…
Why LLC formation matters for truckers For new owner-operators, choosing the right business structure is more than a paperwork choice—it’s a risk decision. An LLC generally separates your personal assets from business liabilities under state law, and it gives you flexibility in how the business is taxed (default pass-through, with…
SUPREME COURT SAYS FREIGHT BROKERS CAN BE SUED FOR NEGLIGENT HIRING In Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, the Court affirmed that brokers may face state tort claims for negligent carrier selection. Expect tighter carrier vetting and potential insurance/risk management shifts across brokerage and small fleets. TORC, CCM AND PHILLIPS 66…
Why this matters for owner-operators and fleets After a wreck or cargo incident, settlement dollars can arrive fast—and tax bills can follow just as quickly. The IRS starts from a simple premise: all income is taxable unless an exclusion applies, but payments for personal physical injuries can be excluded. What…
SUPREME COURT ALLOWS NEGLIGENCE SUIT AGAINST FREIGHT BROKER, RAISING INDUSTRY LIABILITY RISK In a unanimous ruling, the Court said a plaintiff may pursue a state-law negligence claim against broker C.H. Robinson over a 2017 crash, a decision expected to spur more litigation and tighter carrier-vetting by brokers. ARCBEST SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE…
What happened — and why it matters for freight On Friday, May 15, 2026, Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping wrapped a closely watched summit in Beijing, with both sides claiming “progress” even as thorny differences remain. In remarks widely shared online, Xi said China’s “great rejuvenation” and “making America…
SUPREME COURT SAYS BROKERS CAN FACE NEGLIGENT-HIRING SUITS, CURBING F4A SHIELD In a unanimous ruling, justices held that federal preemption doesn’t bar state tort claims against freight brokers when safety is implicated, a major win for crash victims and a potential liability shift for brokerages including C.H. Robinson. AMAZON ROLLS…
What happened and why it matters On May 13, 2026, IRS‑authorized e‑file provider TaxZerone opened pre‑filing for Form 2290, launching an early window for owner‑operators, fleets, and tax pros to prepare Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) returns for the 2026–27 tax season. Pre‑filing lets carriers queue returns now so they…
What RIGLOG is and who it’s for RIGLOG: Trucking Expense Log is a new iPhone/iPad app built for independent owner-operators and CDL pros who want faster expense capture and better trip economics without a monthly subscription. The developer pitches three-tap expense entry across 15 IRS-aligned categories, camera-based receipt capture, an…
KENTUCKY FREEZES FUEL TAX; TRUCKING GROUPS OPPOSE FEDERAL FUEL TAX HOLIDAY Gov. Andy Beshear froze Kentucky’s fuel tax, effectively cutting diesel and gas taxes by 10 cents, while national trucking associations warned Congress against suspending the federal fuel tax. The state move took effect May 11 under an emergency declaration.…
