Blizzard pileup near Moorhead snarls I‑94; no life‑threatening injuries
Winter arrived hard on November 25, 2025, as whiteout bands and ice triggered a chain reaction crash involving “several semis” on westbound I‑94 just east of Moorhead, Minnesota (near milepost 7). Minnesota State Patrol diverted westbound traffic at Exit 15 (Downer) while responders untangled the scene. Despite the scale of the wreck—photos and trooper video show a long line of jackknifed tractors and tangled trailers—authorities reported no life‑threatening injuries. The westbound lanes reopened later that evening.
State climate and road reports highlight how quickly conditions deteriorated: rain flipped to heavy, wind‑whipped snow, creating an ice glaze under drifting powder. A dozen or more large trucks were involved in the Clay County pileup, and troopers responded to hundreds of crashes and spinouts statewide through the night. If you’re crossing the upper Midwest this week, treat early‑season storms like February blizzards—slow way down, increase spacing, and stage early if 511 shows corridors going red.
FedEx to close Coppell, Texas logistics operation—856 jobs affected
FedEx confirmed it will shutter a third‑party logistics operation at 840 W. Sandy Lake Rd. in Coppell, Texas, after a major customer shifted to a new 3PL. In a WARN notice filed November 21, 2025, the company said layoffs begin January 16, 2026, and continue in phases until the site ceases operations by April 29, 2026. FedEx says impacted employees will get placement assistance, and some may transfer within the network. For carriers running dedicated or drop‑and‑hook near DFW, expect tender rebalancing and lane changes as freight migrates to other facilities or providers.
Dashcam tanker tragedy underscores shoulder‑stopped hazards
A widely shared dashcam clip shows the seconds after a car slammed into a stopped tanker on I‑70 near Morrison, Colorado, igniting a fireball on May 16, 2024. One person in the striking car was killed; the tanker driver was hospitalized. Colorado State Patrol said the semi had overheated and pulled to the right shoulder before being rear‑ended. The video—harrowing for anyone who’s run that corridor—remains a cautionary case study in how fast a routine breakdown can turn catastrophic for motorists and drivers alike.
What owner‑operators and fleet managers can do now
- Winter readiness: Require pre‑trip winter kits (chains where legal, extra DEF, treated fuel, anti‑gel, shovel, traction aids) and reinforce low‑visibility protocols—CB call‑outs, four‑ways on approach to stopped traffic, and increased following distances. The Minnesota storm proved early‑season ice behaves like mid‑season black ice.
- Speed and spacing discipline: Audit telematics for harsh‑braking spikes during storms. Consider dynamic speed policies tied to DOT “no travel” advisories; staged shutdowns beat salvage tow bills and injury risk.
- Shoulder safety: If you must stop on the shoulder, deploy triangles fast, communicate position on CB and ELD messages, and request law enforcement assist when visibility is poor. The I‑70 tanker fire shows how secondary strikes develop in seconds when sightlines shrink.
- Network changes around DFW: With FedEx’s Coppell facility closing in phases through April 2026, work with shippers now on trailer pools, appointment windows, and substitute docks. Expect bid refreshes and temporary detention pinch points as freight redistributes around North Texas.
- Driver comms: Push real‑time weather/closure alerts to cab devices and require acknowledgment. Minnesota troopers reported hundreds of incidents in hours—timely pings can prevent your truck from being one more unit in a pileup.
Bottom line: The Moorhead pileup, the FedEx Coppell wind‑down, and the I‑70 tanker fatality are separate stories with one operational theme—anticipate the environment. In winter weather, risk climbs nonlinearly; in freight networks, capacity shifts cascade quickly; and on the shoulder, minutes matter. Tighten your winter playbook, re‑map DFW commitments, and keep drivers laser‑focused on space, speed, and visibility.
Sources Consulted: KVRR Local News; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Climate Journal; The Dallas Morning News; CBS Colorado; Fox News.
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