Road Scholar | Transport Blog's

A new bipartisan bill introduced in Congress could give federal regulators another tool to crack down on one of the trucking industry's most persistent problems: carriers that attempt to evade regulatory scrutiny by operating through inactive or otherwise questionable USDOT registrations. The Registration Enforcement for Vehicle Operations of Known Evaders Act, or REVOKE Act, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Dave Taylor of Ohio and Shomari Figures of Alabama.   The legislation would amend federal law to make an active USDOT number a requirement for certain commercial motor vehicle operations and strengthen the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's ability to inactivate registrations when carriers fail to meet federal requirements. The proposal comes at a time when carrier identity, fraud prevention and regulatory compliance have become increasingly important to shippers and transportation providers. For companies moving high-value, sens...

Beauty products may look small, lightweight and easy to transport.   From a logistics perspective, however, many cosmetics and personal-care shipments are exactly the kind of freight that criminals want to steal. High-value products, recognizable brands, strong resale demand and relatively easy movement through secondary markets can make cosmetics, fragrances, skincare products and other beauty merchandise attractive targets.    And cargo theft is becoming increasingly sophisticated.   The FBI warned the transportation and logistics industry in June 2026 that U.S. and Canadian cargo-theft losses reached nearly $725 million in 2025, up about 60% from 2024, while confirmed incidents increased 18%. For beauty manufacturers, distributors and retailers, protecting a shipment isn't simply about preventing a trailer from being stolen.   It is about protecting inventory, customer commitments, brand reputation and the integrity of the entire supply chain. Beauty Fr...

The federal government is taking a much harder look at how commercial drivers are trained, tested and placed behind the wheel—and the trucking industry is about to feel the effects. On August 31, 2026, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the emergency removal of more than 110 commercial driver training providers from the federal Training Provider Registry (TPR).   According to FMCSA, those schools were associated with more than 5,000 drivers who were subsequently cited for failing English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements. The action is part of a much broader federal effort to address what transportation officials describe as fraudulent CDL training and testing practices, inadequate driver preparation and drivers operating commercial vehicles without meeting federal qualification requirements. FMCSA also announced investigations involving hundreds of additional entry-level driver training providers, while federal agencies are conducting a c...

For years, hours-of-service regulations have been one of the most closely watched areas of trucking compliance.   The rules are designed to prevent driver fatigue, but they can also create challenges when traffic, weather, loading delays, detention, and unpredictable customer schedules interfere with a driver's planned day. Now, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is taking a closer look at whether drivers can be given more control over when they drive and when they rest—without compromising highway safety. The agency is advancing two pilot programs focused on alternative approaches to hours-of-service requirements.   The goal is not simply to loosen regulations.   Instead, FMCSA wants to collect real-world data to determine whether greater scheduling flexibility could improve driver working conditions and potentially reduce fatigue. For trucking companies, drivers and shippers, this could become an important development. Why Hours-of-Service F...

The cost of moving freight by truck is climbing again—and the latest data from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) shows why. According to ATRI’s 2026 Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking , the average cost of operating a truck reached $2.336 per mile in 2025, a 3.4% increase from the previous year and the highest per-mile cost recorded in ATRI’s history.   Even more telling, operating costs excluding fuel increased 4.2% to $1.854 per mile. The findings come at an important time for manufacturers, distributors and other freight shippers.   Transportation costs are not simply determined by the price of diesel.   Driver compensation, equipment, insurance, maintenance, tolls and other operating expenses all influence what it costs a carrier to put a truck on the road. For shippers, understanding these cost pressures is increasingly important when developing transportation budgets, negotiating freight rates and choosing a carrier. Trucking C...