What changed on January 1, 2026 Trucking employers processing 2026 payroll should note several tax updates now in effect. The Social Security (OASDI) taxable wage base rose to $184,500 for 2026, with the OASDI rate unchanged at 6.2% for both employer and employee (12.4% combined). Medicare remains 1.45% each (no…
What the IRS just confirmed The IRS has confirmed that the one-time $1,776 “Warrior Dividend” paid to service members in December 2025 is not taxable and does not need to be reported on federal returns. The agency classified the payout as a supplemental Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), which falls…
ECHO GLOBAL LOGISTICS TO ACQUIRE ITS LOGISTICS, FORMING $5.4B COMBINED 3PL Echo signed a definitive agreement to buy ITS Logistics, creating a platform with about $5.4 billion in pro forma 2025 revenue and an expanded footprint that includes 4 million square feet of warehousing and drop-trailer capabilities; closing is expected…
What’s new for your 2026 return The IRS raised the standard mileage rate to 72.5¢ per business mile beginning January 1, 2026. If you want the option to use the standard mileage method in future years, you must choose it the first year a vehicle is placed in service; leased…
Introduction During the week of January 12–18, 2026, USDOT logged 3,894 new registrations across carriers, brokers, and other authorities. Based on the finalized weekly history in the dataset, carriers accounted for 3,605 registrations (92.6% of the total), brokers 108 (2.8%), and others 181 (4.6%). It was the second straight week…
Why a post for ShiftKey workers matters to truckers A viral Facebook post offering “tax guidance for ShiftKey workers” — and clearing up confusion about when the IRS will open tax season — is a timely reminder for anyone earning on a platform or as an independent contractor. Owner-operators and…
TENNESSEE BILL SEEKS TO IMPOSE STRICT PENALTIES FOR UNLAWFUL CMV OPERATION SB 1587 would add Class A misdemeanors, mandate ICE notification, and create strict, joint liability with minimum $1 million punitive damages for employers or officials tied to unlawfully present drivers operating CMVs in Tennessee. HWYHAUL UNVEILS AI AGENTS, AI…
Why NAICS 4842 matters right now Whether you’re pulling a lowboy, running reefers, or moving equipment, the NAICS code you pick shows up in government databases, loan applications, and bid portals—and it can affect your eligibility for small-business programs and how you’re seen in federal procurement. For carriers that don’t…
BORDERLANDS: VOLATILE TRADE, RISING CARRIER COSTS ARE RESHAPING RETAIL SHIPPING STRATEGIES Retailers are diversifying carriers and leaning on automation as tariffs and carrier costs pressure margins; Cainiao launches a U.S.–Mexico cross‑border service and Speedora debuts white‑glove final‑mile in Arizona. SPOT‑CONTRACT RATE GAP COLLAPSES TO NEAR FOUR‑YEAR LOW A holiday surge…
Why this switch is on drivers’ minds Conversations across driver forums show more contractors weighing a move to W‑2. In a Jan. 16 thread on TruckersReport, drivers discussed the practical fallout—especially taxes—when leaving a 1099 arrangement for a company-driver seat. One key takeaway from that discussion: if you owe back…
