‘HISTORIC’ WINTER STORM SLAMS CAROLINAS, TRIGGERS I-85 PILEUPS AND WIDESPREAD DISRUPTIONS
North Carolina saw its biggest snowfall in decades as a bomb cyclone pushed off the coast, snarling interstates, knocking out power and prompting officials to warn drivers to stay off icy roads.
BOMB CYCLONE FREEZES SOUTHEAST; FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS, ICED ROADS COMPOUND SUPPLY-CHAIN DELAYS
A powerful system brought extreme cold from the Gulf Coast to New England, with thousands of flights canceled and hazardous driving conditions likely to ripple through parcel, LTL and truckload networks today and into Monday.
A minor crash amid heavy snow cascaded into a major traffic emergency on I-85 in Cabarrus County, trapping dozens of tractor-trailers until the National Guard and responders cleared the scene late Saturday night.
NCDOT PLOWS WORK I-95 AS STATE URGES DRIVERS TO STAY OFF ROADS IN BITTER COLD
Convoys plowed and salted I‑95 near Fayetteville on Sunday as officials warned that plunging temperatures could quickly refreeze roads, extending delivery delays across key North-South freight corridors in the Carolinas.
TRAIN STRIKES SEMI STUCK ON SNOWY TRACKS NEAR CHARLOTTE; DRIVER ESCAPES UNHARMED
Amid whiteout conditions in Gastonia, a freight train collided with a tractor-trailer immobilized on a grade crossing; no injuries were reported, but nearby roads were closed for hours during the response and cleanup.
FMCSA’S REGIONAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION GRANTS HOS RELIEF THROUGH FEB. 6 FOR WINTER STORM RESPONSE
FMCSA’s multi‑state waiver temporarily relaxes property‑ and passenger‑carrying driving limits for carriers providing direct assistance in affected states, helping expedite movement of heating fuels, utilities equipment and emergency supplies.
UPS ISSUES SERVICE ALERT AS WINTER STORM DISRUPTS PICKUP, DELIVERY AND AIR NETWORK FLOWS
UPS warns of weather‑related delays across the Midwest, South and Northeast, including potential impacts at the Louisville Worldport air hub; contingency plans are in place but delays are possible despite local conditions at origin/destination.
FEDEX POSTS WEATHER SERVICE ALERTS; CUSTOMERS ADVISED TO EXPECT DELAYS IN AFFECTED AREAS
Seasonal winter systems are impacting FedEx pickups and deliveries, with the carrier urging shippers and recipients to monitor active alerts and tracking as operations are adjusted for safety during the storm and its aftermath.
USPS SAYS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER AND CLEANUP EFFORTS MAY DELAY MAIL AND PACKAGE OPERATIONS
The Postal Service cautions that snow and ice are affecting pickup, processing, transportation and delivery across multiple regions; customers are asked to clear access to mailboxes to help carriers resume service safely and quickly.
FUEL SUPPLIER PUTS MID-ATLANTIC/NORTHEAST ON ‘CODE RED’ AS SNOW AND WIND LIMIT CARRIER ACCESS
Mansfield Energy reports heavy demand, tight capacity and site inaccessibility across the storm‑hit corridor; deliveries may require 48–72 hours’ notice, and uncleared lots could see cancellations or added charges for rescheduling.
PENSKE TRUCK LEASING ADJUSTS HOURS, TEMPORARILY CLOSES MULTIPLE SOUTHEAST LOCATIONS AMID STORM
Penske listed closures and modified hours across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia for Jan. 31–Feb. 1, and directed customers to roadside assistance and digital tools for support during weather disruptions.
WINTER STORMS LIFT TENDER REJECTIONS AND SPOT RATES AS CAPACITY TIGHTENS TO CLOSE JANUARY
Industry data show national rejection rates jumping from 9.75% to 12.19% in the final week of January, a weather‑driven squeeze likely to extend transit times and pressure routing guides in early February.
Johnston County, N.C., which straddles I‑95, urged residents off the roads after first responders handled multiple wrecks; continued freezing temps could complicate north–south freight flows through the region on Monday morning.
GALE AND FREEZING SPRAY WARNINGS HIT CHESAPEAKE; HARBOR, FERRY AND DRAYAGE OPERATIONS FACE HAZARDS
Northwest winds with 40‑kt gusts and heavy freezing spray were forecast through Sunday night, posing risks to small craft and adding complications for port activity and last‑mile trucking around Mid‑Atlantic marine terminals.
VIDEO: I-95 PLOW CONVOYS UNDERSCORE SLOW, SAFETY-FIRST RECOVERY TIMELINE FOR REGIONAL FREIGHT
State crews prioritized interstates before a deep freeze set in, but officials cautioned that refreezing and secondary-road conditions would likely extend delivery windows and appointment times into early week across the Carolinas.
CHARLOTTE TIES 1980 FOR 4TH-HEAVIEST SINGLE-DAY SNOW—OPERATIONS STILL SLOWED AS SCHOOLS SHUT MONDAY
With 11 inches recorded Saturday, the city faces lingering road hazards and closures that will keep truck speeds low and appointment windows fluid as plowing and salting continue into Monday.
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