The Fleet Lead

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of October 8
C.H. Robinson acquired RXO Freight for $5.8 billion
The White House's red diesel and tax referralls
Autonomous developers received a long-term waiver for their warning beacons
Waabi has its first operation with Volvo Autonomous Solutions
Kodiak launched a new autonomous freight operation in Texas
Spot market rates rose across the board
In fuel, the price of diesel fell by 18 cents

Jason McDaniel sits down with Spencer Tenney, President and CEO of the Tenney Group, to unpack the hidden dynamics shaping bulk transportation mergers and acquisitions.
Private equity firms are opening their playbooks to heavy assets. What does it really take to maximize fleet value? Succession planning is evolving beyond traditional family handoffs. Court rulings are turning safety records into major financial leverage. Plus, Tenney breaks down the role of AI in freight technology and shares why the next two years could trigger a major wave of transformational industry deals.
Timestamps:
4:30 – Trimac Transportation's acquisitions strategy
8:35 – Private equity in asset-heavy fleets & Regional Consolidation
14:00 – The new valuation of carrier safety
18:56 – Macro volatility, geopolitical factors
23:14 – Freight's tech evolution
25:37 – Market predictions heading Into 2027
29:40 – Advice for fleet owners

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of September 24:
Kodiak completed first autonomous truck hauls under California rules
Waabi put another autonomous route under its belt
California sped approval of aftermarket emissions parts
Fleets increased driver pay
Fuel haulers got an hours-of-service waiver
Spot rates were great for flatbed loads
Diesel rose 24 cents
 

Summer heat can expose cooling system problems that have been developing for months, including improper glycol concentration, contamination, coolant loss, and degraded coolant chemistry.
Fleet Maintenance Editor-in-Chief John Hitch talks with Max Cundiff, industrial sector manager at Chevron, about the role coolant testing and sampling can play in fleet maintenance and how fleets can use those results to identify potential problems before they lead to failures.

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking:
CVSA shared the results of its hazmat inspection blitz
J.B. Hunt is spending an extra $25 million on drivers
Texas is adding 175 parking spots on I-30
Dry van, refrigerated spot rates increased
Diesel prices continue rising

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of September 11:
ICE has a new tip line for CDL fraud
A bill in Congress promises to crack down on chameleon carriers
New research shows how fleets are using telematics
Spot market rates increased ahead of Labor Day
Diesel prices are rising quickly

One of the most persistent headaches facing commercial fleet executives? Driver retention and turnover. In this episode, editors from FleetOwner, Fleet Maintenance, and Bulk Transporter talk about the new premium on high-quality, fully compliant drivers.
From the rising financial toll of onboarding new hires to the debates surrounding the true nature of the "driver shortage," this roundtable unpacks what it really takes to build a stable, loyal workforce among fleets and shops.
Timestamps:
03:47 - Regulatory crackdowns, carrier vetting
05:30 - Fleet pay raises, private fleet comparisons
09:18 - Proven retention strategies
14:09 - In-cab technology
20:01 - Technician retention, shop floor upgrades
24:12 - ATA leadership changes

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of September 3:
FMCSA is removing another 270 driver training schools
PlusAI is going public … again!
FMCSA’s Hours-of-Service pilot is moving forward
Spot market rates are mixed
In fuel this week, diesel prices fell by 5 cents

Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of August 27:
Chris Spear suddenly left the American Trucking Associations
The trade war with Canada is bad news for freight demand
Missouri started a $33 million project for truck parking on I-70
Descartes acquired a broker TMS for $100 million
A new private equity operation is buying up carriers
CVSA released its International Roadcheck enforcement results
Kodiak and Aurora are authorized to test autonomous trucks in California
Autonomous truck company Gatik got $200 million in extra funding
Einride wants to buy 500 Tesla Semis
Spot market rates fell once again
Diesel shot up by 20 cents

What has kept the Chevrolet Express driving strong for nearly three decades? In this episode of The Fleet Lead, Jade Brasher and Jeremy Wolfe dive into a hands-on review of GM's iconic commercial van after an unexpected rental car test drive.
The van is certainly unique in the U.S., from its analog interior to its body-on-frame construction. Here's why this workhorse is still a top seller for commercial fleets—and what might be next for the platform in 2027.