What changed—and when The Internal Revenue Service clarified in formal guidance that certain common truck body types meet a “suitable for use” standard and therefore are excluded from the 12% federal retail excise tax (FET) under Internal Revenue Code §4051. The clarification, issued March 16, 2005 and effective for sales…
LAWMAKERS FLOAT FEDERAL GAS-TAX HOLIDAY AS FUEL SPIKE HITS TRUCKING With pump prices surging amid Middle East turmoil, members of Congress are pushing to suspend the federal gas tax. Carriers warn higher diesel costs will filter quickly into freight rates and consumer prices. MATS 2026 KICKS OFF FRIDAY WITH OPENING…
What “as easy as 1‑2‑3” means for the 2026 filing season The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) boiled down refund‑speed best practices to three steps published March 26, 2026: 1) verify every data point on your return, 2) e‑file instead of mailing paper, and 3) request your refund by direct deposit.…
FMCSA KICKS OFF MATS WITH MAJOR FREIGHT-FRAUD INVESTIGATIONS, NEW MOTUS DETAILS At a Mid-America Trucking Show panel, FMCSA officials said active probes target chameleon carriers, sham CDL schools and fraudulent ELDs, while highlighting its Motus registration system as a front‑door defense against identity abuse. SAIA NAMES AMERICOLD MARKETING LEADER LISA…
Fast, compliant 2290 e‑filing lands at the Kentucky Expo Center Owner-operators and fleet managers heading to the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky can find SimpleTruckTax on the show floor this week, March 26–28, 2026 (Booth 38707). According to the show directory, the San Rafael, California-based provider is spotlighting its…
FREIGHTOS WEEKLY UPDATE: ASIA–US CONTAINER RATES TICK HIGHER; FMC REJECTS FUEL SURCHARGE WAIVER Spot prices to the US rose 3–4% week over week as carriers eye Q3 bunker surcharges, while the Federal Maritime Commission denied a bid to bypass 30‑day fuel surcharge notices, citing insufficient cost data. EASTERN CMV SAFETY…
Why this matters in 2026 Backup withholding is a federal rule that requires payers to withhold a flat 24% of certain payments when a payee’s taxpayer information is missing or doesn’t match IRS records. For trucking companies and brokers paying independent contractors, that can mean an immediate 24% haircut on…
DIESEL PRICES SURGE PAST $5.38/GALLON NATIONWIDE, PILING PRESSURE ON CARRIERS Average U.S. on-highway diesel jumped to $5.375, with California above $6, as the Iran war squeezes oil supply—raising operating costs and fueling surcharges across modes. FEDEX TAPS ONERAIL FOR 2‑HOUR AND END‑OF‑DAY LOCAL DELIVERY New SameDay Local service connects shippers…
Introduction New USDOT registrations softened in the week of March 16–22, 2026, as a sharp spike in fuel prices raised operating-cost risk for prospective entrants. While underlying demand for trucking capacity remains uneven across modes, the near-term backdrop—dominated by a sudden surge in retail diesel above $5 per gallon and…
Why a New Zealand tax tweak matters to U.S. trucking New Zealand is finalizing how it applies the OECD’s “Pillar Two” 15% global minimum tax, including a recent move to adjust application dates for parts of the guidance package. Practically, New Zealand’s GloBE rules apply to fiscal years beginning on…
