FreightWaves

FRISCO, Texas — Small carriers and brokers waiting for Washington to ease up on trucking enforcement should not expect relief from the next administration, FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller said Nov. 2, because the industry’s largest fleets now want the crackdown. Fuller gave the industry keynote at Optym’s Convergence 2026 conference.

A legitimate trucking company can have established operating authority, verified credentials and years of transportation history. But those records cannot guarantee that the person requesting freight actually controls the business. Criminals exploit trusted carrier identities to obtain shipments without immediately raising suspicion. Highway’s latest fraud findings document how compromised communications and ownership changes create opportunities for cargo theft.

The Surface Transportation Board is signaling that state and local restrictions on rail customers’ facilities may face greater scrutiny under federal law, issuing a sweeping policy statement that questions aspects of earlier agency decisions involving privately owned terminals and other rail-served projects. The statement, which becomes final Nov.

Self-flying planes are closer than most aviation and freight pros think. Reliable Robotics CEO Robert Rose breaks down why small aircraft still operate with outdated systems, what true aviation automation requires, and where autonomous cargo aircraft fit in the supply chain. Rose shares how his time at SpaceX shaped his approach to safety, software and certification — and why he believes aviation has no excuse to stay this primitive.

PS Logistics announced it has acquired peer Roane Transportation Services and its affiliates, adding 189 power units to its flatbed network. PS Logistics subsidiary, Loudon County Trucking, was the buyer in the transaction. The deal also included Roane’s logistics and leasing operations. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

A tractor-trailer hauling leeks concealed more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine as it approached the Texas border. Federal officers discovered 909 packages of suspected narcotics during an Oct. 30 inspection of a commercial truck entering South Texas. The drugs carried an estimated street value of $984,063. U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the seizure Nov. 2 as part of Operation Southern Surge.

Fleetworthy is adding AI-powered capabilities to its fleet management platform, giving customers new tools to monitor toll activity, identify spending trends and receive recommendations without manually reviewing reports. The new technology, called RADAR (Real-time AI, Decisioning and Automated Resolution), is embedded directly into the company’s existing software rather than offered as a standalone chatbot or analytics product.

REGENT is building electric seagliders that merge the best of boats and planes, operating on a cushion of air over the water known as ground effect. CEO Billy Thalheimer explains how this innovative technology allows for super-efficient, silent travel at speeds up to 180 MPH, overcoming traditional limitations of electric aviation. Discover how seagliders are poised to transform regional travel, coastal logistics, and even military missions with $5 billion in orders already secured.

Joby Aviation’s Chief Policy Officer, Greg Bowles, discusses the exciting future of eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft). Learn how these ‘flying cars’ are set to transform urban air mobility, logistics, and daily commuting. From overcoming regulatory hurdles with the FAA to strategic partnerships and manufacturing scale, Joby is leading the charge in a new era of aviation.

Florida is rapidly becoming the epicenter of the new space race, with groundbreaking public-private partnerships driving down costs and opening new frontiers. Rep. Mike Haridopolos explains how the private sector has dramatically reduced the cost of putting a pound into space by 95%, fueling job growth and innovation. Discover why the Sunshine State is set to lead America to the moon and beyond, fostering a new ‘Silicon Valley’ for aerospace.