Trucking

November’s TVI dry van freight reading—at 197—fell 18% compared to October, while falling 12% annually. The November refrigerated (reefer) TVI—at 172—was down 11% sequentially and off 6.0% annually. And the flatbed TVI—at 243—was down 22% sequentially and posted a 3% annual gain.   

For October, the most recent month for which data is available, the SCI reading rose to 0.3, after September’s -0.5.

Top trucking industry executives are hoping 2026 will—finally—be the year when pent-up demand translates into higher freight rates and a return to profitability in both the truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) sectors.

For October, the most recent month for which data is available, the TCI reading came in at 0.89, marking a slight improvement over September’s 0.42 reading.

The United States Department of Transportation is revoking 17,000 Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders in California in what has become a political football between the Trump administration and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

FTR reported that preliminary October Class 8 truck net orders, at 24,300 units, saw an 18% gain, from September to October, while falling 22% annually. ACT reported that preliminary November Class 8 net orders, at 19,700 units, fell 4.7% annually

DOT Secretary Sean Duffy said that almost 3,000 CDL training facilities have been removed from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Training Provider Registry (TPR), saying those CDL facilities failed to equip trainees with the White House’s “standards of readiness,” with 4,500 other CDL training facilities placed on notice because of potential noncompliance.

Total loadings, at 4,757,324, increased 2.8% annually, hitting its highest level since the second quarter 2021.

In a wide-ranging presentation at the RailTrends conference in New York last week, Adriene Bailey, partner and head of the North American Rail Team at Oliver Wyman, offered up detailed insight and analysis on various topics impacting the North American freight railroad market.

ATA reported that its October advanced Seasonally Adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index, came in at 111.9 (2015=100), following September’s 114.3 reading and was down 1.8% annually and is flat year-to-date through October. This followed respective 1.1% and 0.9% gains in July and August.

In this podcast, LM Group News Editor Jeff Berman interviews Kevin Huntsman, President, Mastio & Company.

A D.C. Court of Appeals court has paused non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Its effect on issuance and renewals is unclear, however. Although CDL issuances are likely to resume until that appellate court makes final decision, the timing is unclear.

FTR reported that preliminary October Class 8 truck net orders, at 24,300 units, saw an 18% gain, from September to October, while falling 22% annually. ACT reported that Preliminary Class 8 orders came in at 24,500 units in October, for a 21% annual decline,

Industry consultant says these tariffs will create winners and losers in today’s trucking industry.

The first year of deregulation under the Trump administration is reshaping the trucking industry, as federal agencies roll back emissions rules, language requirements, and speed limiter mandates. While supporters hail the moves as “pro-trucker,” critics warn that looser oversight could slow the industry’s shift toward cleaner, safer, and more autonomous operations.