NEW ENGLISH-PROFICIENCY ENFORCEMENT SIDELINES ABOUT 6,000 TRUCKERS SINCE JUNE
A Washington Post analysis finds thousands of CDL holders were pulled off the road for failing newly enforced roadside English tests, raising discrimination and capacity concerns as states face threats of lost federal funds for lax enforcement.
DOT WITHHOLDS $40.6M IN SAFETY FUNDS FROM CALIFORNIA OVER ENGLISH-LANGUAGE RULE
FMCSA began withholding more than $40 million in MCSAP grants from California effective Oct. 15, saying the state failed to enforce English language proficiency standards for commercial drivers; California disputes the claim and says it already complies.
STATES MOVE TO COMPLY AFTER DOT ORDERS HALT ON NON-DOMICILED CDLS
Six states flagged by DOT for licensing irregularities—California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Washington—have paused issuing certain non-domiciled CDLs and are auditing processes to meet new federal standards, Transport Topics reports.
NEWSOM VETOES BILL LIMITING AIR-POLLUTION RULES AT LA/LB PORTS
California’s governor rejected legislation that would have curbed the South Coast AQMD’s authority over port emissions, preserving regulators’ tools while talks continue on a cooperative plan with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
J.B. HUNT SHARES SURGE AFTER Q3 BEAT AS INTERMODAL MARGINS IMPROVE
The carrier topped earnings and revenue expectations on cost controls and stronger intermodal profitability, sending the stock sharply higher despite a sluggish freight market backdrop, according to Barron’s coverage of the Oct. 16 reaction.
J.B. HUNT’S Q3 EPS TOPS STREET; TRUCKLOAD VOLUMES UP, FINAL MILE DOWN
Zacks/Nasdaq recap shows EPS at $1.76 on $3.05B revenue, with truckload loads +14% but Final Mile operating income -42% on softer demand and higher insurance costs; intermodal remained the profit engine.
DAT: SPOT RATES TICKED HIGHER EVEN AS SEPTEMBER VOLUMES DIPPED
DAT reports van and reefer TVIs fell month over month while flatbed rose slightly, but spot pricing inched up as capacity shifts and imbalances—rather than demand—applied upward pressure heading into peak season.
FREIGHTWAVES: HOUSTON IMPORTS LIFT TRUCKLOAD VOLUMES; NORTHWEST REEFER DEMAND RISES
Market Watch for Oct. 17 highlights an 8% weekend jump in Houston outbound tenders tied to early-October import strength, with tightening in Northwest refrigerated lanes also noted by SONAR data.
ATA MCE 2025 PREVIEW: POLICY, TECH AND WORKFORCE IN FOCUS FOR SAN DIEGO GATHERING
Transport Topics previews ATA’s Oct. 25–28 Management Conference & Exhibition, where carriers will tackle safety, efficiency and labor topics amid a changing regulatory and market environment.
WASHINGTON SHUTDOWN IMPASSE LOOMS OVER TRANSPORT POLICY, FUNDING TIMELINES
Transport Topics notes Capitol Hill’s stalemate keeps parts of the federal government in partial shutdown as transportation panels eye multiyear highway measures—adding uncertainty for freight stakeholders.
‘ABOVE THE FOLD’ HIGHLIGHTS: FOURKITES AI SCHEDULING PILOT, CEVA ADOPTS MANHATTAN WMS/OMS
Talking Logistics’ Oct. 17 roundup flags tech-driven logistics moves, including a FourKites “digital worker” pilot for appointment scheduling and CEVA’s phased rollout of Manhattan’s cloud-native WMS/OMS across global sites.
EIA WEEKLY: U.S. DIESEL PRICE EASES TO $3.665/GAL FOR WEEK OF OCT. 13; NEXT UPDATE OCT. 15
On-highway diesel averaged $3.665 nationally in the latest release; carriers are watching regional spreads and the mid-October update as peak shipping ramps up and fuel surcharges adjust.
FEDEX POSTS WEEKLY U.S. FUEL SURCHARGES FOR OCT. 13–19; LTL AT 32.9%, GROUND 20.25%
FedEx updated its surcharge tables for Ground/Home Delivery, Express and Freight based on the latest diesel and jet fuel benchmarks, signaling incremental adjustments carriers and shippers must factor into pricing.
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