CCJ (Commercial Carrier Journal)

The Supreme Court in May ruled that federal law does not shield freight brokers from state-level personal injury lawsuits. Just two months later, that ruling was hammered home by a Texas jury and a $604 million judgment against logistics giant C.H. Robinson, motor carrier Lupus Superior, and a truck driver following a 2021 multi-vehicle crash that killed three people and injured two others.

Chris Spear has stepped down as president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, the agency announced Friday, ending more than a decade of leadership at the nation’s largest trucking trade organization. ATA Chairman Greg Hodgen, who is also CEO of Groendyke Transport, announced the departure, which is effective immediately, noting that Spear had informed the association’s executive committee of his decision.

A federal judge on Thursday afternoon granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) that blocks the Department of Transportation from obtaining more than 17 million CDL holder records while a case calling for a preliminary injunction blocking the request altogether is considered. The case pits 21 states and D.C. against the U.S. DOT and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

To strengthen its Southeast supply chain operations, RoadOne IntermodaLogistics acquired Higgins Transport Service, complementing its growing warehousing network near the Port of Charleston. RoadOne IntermodaLogistics (CCJ Top 250, No. 68) has acquired Higgins Transport Service, a Charleston, South Carolina-based intermodal freight and port drayage provider.Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Orrin Asmus is a 94-year-old trucker out of Iowa who is seeking the Guinness World Records title of oldest truck / lorry / heavy goods vehicle driver (male). Orrin Asmus doesn’t use a routing software, doesn’t even own a computer, and he only carries a basic cellphone — no bells and whistles. “I never have had a GPS. That's what they make roadmaps for — to show you how to get there. The cellphones are great because you call a customer up and say, ‘I'm in your town. How do I get to you?’” Asmus said.

Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Aug. 21, 2026: PE firm launches transportation business Private equity firm M&T Capital Partners has launched RTB Holdings, which will serve as the parent umbrella company for its growing multimodal transportation and logistics platform. The platform is anchored by Alabama Motor Express, a Dothan-based truckload carrier and brokerage operating more than 500 tractors and 2,000 trailers.

Fleet managers already know that keeping trucks moving is more difficult than it looks on paper. Operating costs per mile have hit record highs over time. The American Trucking Associations projects a driver shortage of 60,000 to 80,000 positions, with turnover at large carriers still averaging about 94% in long-term operations. More than 69% of fleets report trucks older than their normal replacement cycle.

Transcript With rising equipment and maintenance costs, many fleets are holding onto their trucks longer than usual—but is it actually saving money? In this episode of 10-44, we sit down with Tommy Slaymaker, Director of Fleet Services at The Pete Store, to break down the real lifecycle costs of aging semi trucks, when to hit the trade-in sweet spot, and essential maintenance practices to prevent costly roadside downtime.

The U.S. Department of Transportation this week laid out its argument in federal court against states that requested a temporary restraining order blocking the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from immediately obtaining some 17 million driver records. The records are housed in the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) database.

Surging prices for lubricants like greases and engine oils have stressed maintenance budgets this year, and that will likely be an ongoing concern through the second half of 2026, according to producer price data. Fleets queried by CCJ this week said engine oil prices have jumped on the shop-floor level between 8% and just more than 10% this year.