LOVE’S TO ADD 1,500 TRUCK PARKING SPACES, 20 NEW LOCATIONS IN 2026
Love’s outlined a $700 million “Road Ahead Plan” to open 20 new stores, remodel 35 and expand truck care and wash services, pushing total truck parking to 52,000 by year-end 2026; the first 2026 location opened in Alamosa, Colorado, and the chain is adding Whataburger while growing financial services via recent factoring acquisitions.
NEW TRUCKING GROUP PETITIONS FMCSA FOR ELD EXEMPTION
The Federation of Professional Truckers asked FMCSA to allow compliant drivers to operate on paper logs instead of mandated ELDs, with the request posted via the Federal Register; FMCSA also seeks input on continuing paper medical cards until a new electronic system is fully live.
CRUZ PUSHES FEDERAL AV FRAMEWORK IN UPCOMING HIGHWAY BILL
Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz urged inclusion of a national autonomous vehicle policy in the next highway bill, citing safety and competitiveness; the bipartisan SELF DRIVE Act has House co-sponsors and industry backing to help accelerate AV deployment, including freight applications.
CUMMINS EYES STRONGER EPA 2027 PRE-BUY AS ORDERS IMPROVE
Cummins executives said they now expect a more robust late‑2026 heavy‑duty pre‑buy ahead of 2027 emissions rules, noting improving order trends; power systems and distribution helped offset weaker truck demand in the latest quarter.
RXO POSTS Q4 LOSS AS TL CAPACITY TIGHTENS, LINES UP NEW LENDING FACILITY
RXO reported a Q4 net loss of $46 million as brokerage revenue fell 13.7% year over year, but highlighted a stronger late‑stage sales pipeline, $200 million of new managed transportation awards and a new $450 million lending facility to bolster flexibility.
WERNER REFOCUSES ON SPECIALIZED, DEDICATED FREIGHT AFTER TOUGH Q4
Werner is shifting away from one‑way operations to prioritize higher‑margin specialized and dedicated freight as it works through Q4 headwinds; leaders expect utilization and earnings to improve beginning in Q2 2026 as network changes take hold.
WALMART TO INVEST $330M IN LOUISIANA DC MODERNIZATION WITH ROBOTICS
Walmart will modernize its Opelousas distribution center with automation and robotics to roughly double throughput, a move state officials say will strengthen a key Gulf South logistics hub and support jobs as part of the retailer’s national DC upgrade initiative.
STELLANTIS TAKES $26B CHARGE, PULLS BACK ON EVS AND EXITS LG ENERGY JV
Stellantis booked more than €22 billion in writedowns tied to canceling EV programs and supplier compensation and said it will leave a Canadian battery JV with LG Energy Solution, sending shares tumbling as the automaker recalibrates around slower EV demand.
WAYMO TAPS DEEPMIND’S GENIE 3 TO SPEED AV TRAINING AND ROLLOUT
Waymo unveiled a new “Waymo World Model” that uses Genie 3’s AI‑generated virtual environments to simulate edge cases, aiming to accelerate autonomous operations across more markets — a step with long‑term implications for self‑driving freight tech, too.
TOYOTA NAMES KENTA KON CEO IN SURPRISE LEADERSHIP SHIFT
Toyota appointed CFO Kenta Kon to succeed Koji Sato as CEO in April, positioning a close Akio Toyoda ally to steer the automaker through governance battles and evolving supply‑chain strategies that affect global parts and transport flows.
BYD’S $60B MARKET WIPEOUT HIGHLIGHTS DEEPER CHINA EV TURMOIL
A sharp selloff tied to weak January sales and rising input costs rippled across China EV peers, underscoring uncertainties that could affect U.S. inbound parts flows and pricing in global auto supply chains.
EXXON, CHEVRON PURSUE DEALS AS U.S. POLICY RECASTS GLOBAL OIL MARKET
Backed by shifting U.S. foreign policy, Exxon and Chevron are negotiating projects in OPEC‑linked nations including Venezuela and Iraq — developments that could influence North American fuel supply and diesel price trajectories for fleets.
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