Road Scholar | Transport Blog's

Cargo theft has long been a concern for trucking companies, manufacturers, distributors and retailers.   But the threat is changing.   Criminals are increasingly using technology, deception and stolen transportation data to identify valuable shipments and manipulate the logistics process itself. A new 2026 Cargo Theft Report from SmartSense by Digi, based on a survey of 150 U.S. loss-prevention and organized-retail-crime professionals, highlights just how quickly the threat is evolving.   The findings suggest that cargo theft is no longer simply a matter of someone breaking into a parked trailer.   Instead, sophisticated criminal networks are targeting the entire supply chain—from shipment information and carrier identities to pickup appointments, routing and tracking systems.   For shippers, that means cargo security needs to begin before a truck ever arrives at the loading dock. Cargo Theft Is Becoming More Organized The SmartSense survey found that 81% ...

For chemical manufacturers, transportation has never been as simple as putting a shipment on a truck and sending it down the road. Chemical products can require specialized equipment, hazmat-trained drivers, strict documentation, temperature protection, security controls and carefully planned routes.   At the same time, manufacturers are dealing with increasingly complex supply chains, changing regulations, tighter delivery requirements and greater expectations for shipment visibility. That is prompting many chemical companies to reconsider how transportation is managed—and whether their current network of carriers, brokers and logistics providers is capable of handling the complexity. Recent activity in the chemical logistics sector illustrates the trend.   Chemical companies are increasingly looking toward strategic transportation partners that can coordinate multiple modes and provide greater visibility across their supply chains. One recent example is the movement to...

For years, selecting a trucking company was often treated as a procurement decision: find an available truck, confirm the rate, verify the carrier’s authority and insurance, and move the freight. That approach is becoming increasingly difficult to defend. A major 2026 U.S. Supreme Court decision has changed the legal landscape surrounding freight brokers and carrier selection.   In Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC , decided May 14, 2026, the Court unanimously held that state-law negligent-hiring claims against freight brokers are not automatically preempted by federal law when those claims involve the selection of a motor carrier.   The decision means broker selection practices can become part of litigation when questions arise about whether a carrier was appropriately selected. The timing is particularly significant because the trucking industry is also dealing with carrier identity fraud, double brokering, cargo theft, chameleon carriers and increasingly sophisti...

Diesel fuel is one of the largest operating expenses in trucking, so when prices surge, the impact reaches far beyond the fuel pump.   A sharp increase in diesel prices can affect everything from carrier operating costs and freight rates to capacity, routing decisions and the final price consumers pay for goods. With the U.S. average diesel price recently surpassing $6 per gallon, shippers and transportation providers are facing another challenging variable in an already complex freight environment. For companies moving full truckload, LTL, temperature-sensitive, hazmat or high-value freight, understanding how fuel prices influence transportation decisions is critical.   The lowest freight quote isn't necessarily the lowest-cost transportation solution when reliability, capacity, service and risk are factored into the equation. Why Diesel Prices Matter So Much to Trucking Unlike many industries, trucking cannot simply reduce fuel consumption when prices rise.   Tr...

September 11, 2001, changed the United States forever. Twenty-five years later, the events of that day remain deeply etched in the memories of those who witnessed them, those who lost loved ones, and the generations that have grown up hearing the stories of extraordinary courage and sacrifice. For Road Scholar Transport, remembering September 11 is more than an annual observance.   It is a commitment that continues mile after mile, year after year. Through our Flight 93 Tribute and Rolling Memorial awareness trucks, Road Scholar Transport carries the stories of those who were lost—and those who stepped forward to help—across highways throughout the country. These aren't simply trucks.   They are moving memorials designed to ensure that the names, stories and sacrifices connected to September 11 are never forgotten. Flight 93: Remembering 40 Heroes Among the most powerful tributes in Road Scholar's awareness fleet is our Flight 93 awareness truck. The trailer feat...