CCJ (Commercial Carrier Journal)

Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Oct. 9, 2026: NASTC presses Congress for diesel export pause In a letter to U.S. House of Representatives leaders, the National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC) shared its concerns and the concerns of a NASTC member over real potential for a crisis with a shortage of diesel fuel. NASTC and its member urged consideration of an export ban for diesel/distillate fuels, also recommended by some state governors in recent weeks.

Pilot and Tesla have opened a pioneering 1.2-megawatt heavy-duty charging station in Georgia, spearheading an ambitious rollout of Tesla Megachargers at travel centers nationwide. Pilot and Tesla have launched their first heavy-duty electric vehicle charging site at a Pilot travel center just outside of Savannah, Georgia, marking the debut of a nationwide network designed to power semi-trucks along major U.S. freight corridors.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on Thursday granted a one-year provisional exemption that allows commercial drivers in Alaska to continue use of paper medical examiner's certificates. The exemption keeps paper records viable solely for Alaska because it is now the only state that's yet to implement the agency's Medical Examiner's Certification Integration (NRII) final rule.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is moving forward with an ongoing exemption that allows autonomous trucking companies to use cab-mounted warning beacons in lieu of traditional warning devices. FMCSA announced in a Federal Register notice publishing Friday, Oct. 9, that it is granting a five-year exemption to Aurora Operations and other autonomous truck operators who simply opt in to the exemption.

Cummins is warning fleets and truckers to adhere to engine fuel specifications following a temporary Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emergency waiver in Texas, cautioning that using incorrect fuel will void engine warranties and likely cause damage. The EPA issued the temporary fuel waiver Oct. 5 in response to a request from Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

The distinct red coloring of dyed diesel fuel is a tracking tool for law enforcement and tax inspectors. Even microscopic traces in a fuel tank can be detected during roadside inspections. While a temporary federal order now permits semi-trucks to run on cheaper red-dyed diesel without voiding warranties or facing federal penalties, truckers must still watch out for varying state-level tax rules.

Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026: TA Services acquires Carmen Pacheco Transportation, Interload Forwarding TA Services, the non-asset flagship division of PS Logistics (CCJ Top 250, No. 21), has acquired the assets and operations of Carmen Pacheco Transportation, LLC (CPT) and Interload Forwarding, LLC (ILF). CPT and ILF are family-owned transportation and logistics businesses serving customers across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday finalized a rule removing a long-standing regulatory hurdle that stalled oral fluid drug testing for truck drivers and other safety-sensitive industries.

President Trump signed an executive order allowing truck drivers to use red-dyed diesel on highways through the end of the year, deferring federal excise tax payments to reduce fuel costs for truckers, farmers, and workers. The executive order defers federal excise tax payments on red-dyed diesel for on-highway use through December 31 without interest or penalties.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is moving forward with two previously-announced pilot programs to test increased flexibility for truck drivers’ hours-of-service regulations.