Plus: autonomous trucking just raised $113M, California is fighting to keep 20,000 drivers, Arrive's 2026 truckload freight forecast, and more.
Two bills just dropped in the Senate that could reshape trucking faster than anything since deregulation. Plus: Russian hackers targeted your load board, flatbed rejection rates just hit 40%, and a robot is taking the Houston-Dallas overnight run.
This week: The Dalilah Law, a trucking bankruptcy that wiped out thousands overnight, a FreightGuard civil war on Reddit, and the payroll data that's predicting Q4 capacity.
Plus: C.H. Robinson defends federal broker shield, Trump issues tariff warnings to 14 nations, FMCSA grants emergency relief for Texas flood response, and more.
Happy Hump Day. In today’s feature, we break down Secretary Duffy’s freight playbook, from speed-limiters to truck parking to cracking down on sketchy double brokers.
Plus,
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🍳 WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN FREIGHT
⚖ C.H. Robinson Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Broker Liability Shield Under Federal Law. C.H. Robinson is calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve a long-standing legal split over broker liability, filing a response in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II LLC that argues state negligence claims are preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 (F4A). The case involves a 2017 crash in Illinois and raises the question of whether brokers can be held liable when a contracted carrier is involved in an accident. Robinson contends that allowing such claims threatens interstate commerce and contradicts federal law. A decision by the Court could create uniformity across jurisdictions and significantly impact broker risk exposure.
⏲ Trump Announces New Tariffs on 14 Nations, Sends Letters. The Trump administration has issued formal warning letters to 14 countries, stating that tariffs ranging from 25% to 40% will take effect August 1 unless new trade agreements are reached. The move follows the expiration of a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs announced in April and targets nations including Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. Some rates were revised from earlier proposals; Cambodia’s lowered to 36%, while Japan’s increased to 25%. Few agreements have been finalized, with only the U.K., Vietnam, and parts of China exempted so far. Importers face rising costs as legal challenges continue, with court hearings set for July 31.
🌄 FMCSA Issues Emergency Relief for Carriers Responding to Texas Flood Disaster. The FMCSA has issued a temporary suspension of federal trucking regulations through August 4 for carriers delivering emergency aid to Central Texas, where catastrophic floods have killed over 100 and caused up to $22 billion in damages. The waiver applies to drivers hauling essential goods and personnel directly involved in relief efforts, exempting them from hours-of-service rules and other key requirements under Parts 390–399. However, CDL standards, hazmat rules, and weight limits remain in force. The declaration extends nationwide, supporting expedited freight movements critical to FEMA and state agencies as recovery operations continue across the flood-hit region.
When searching for a brokerage partner for your Freight Agency, taking the time to make sure that the broker can support you and your personal business needs is a crucial part of the process. Not all Agent programs are the same, just as not all Agencies are the same. Ask questions. Look at their websites and social media pages, as well as those of their team members, to see what the overall presence of the brokerage is like. Look for things like:
When you are ready to talk with a leader in the Freight Agency space, reach out to Trinity Logistics to see how Trinity can support your Agency now and help propel your business into the future.
Two weeks ago, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed a bold new agenda to "put American truckers first."
Now in an Op-Ed for Breitbart, Duffy doubles down, outlining the full scope of his "Pro-Trucker Package" that promises to scrap speed limiters, audit non-citizen CDL holders, crack down on double-brokering, and build hundreds of new truck parking spaces.
Duffy's package cites a 2019 FHWA survey that found 98% of drivers struggle to find safe parking, costing 12% of annual pay.
The package funnels $275 M into grants and fast-tracks permitting so states like Florida can pour concrete sooner.
According to a January 2024 post by the Florida Trucking Association, the aforementioned 917 parking spaces were originally funded under a Biden-era DOT grant for $180 M. Whether permit paperwork brought delays or it's a rebrand, the project is highlighted again in this new Trump-era package.
David Taube
DOT will scrap the national speed-limiter proposed rule, arguing mismatched speeds create more crash risk than they solve.
Plus, an “1800-word cut” to FMCSA regs promises quicker driver onboarding and fewer hoops for small fleets.
These include removing outdated or redundant rules like. That means:
"It’s not hard to see how foreign drivers can undermine American truckers by offering to carry the same load for less pay." – Secretary Sean Duffy
Duffy ordered a nationwide audit of state-issued CDLs for non-citizens, saying, “Biden's border policies flooded the country with more than 10 million illegal aliens."
Duffy also vowed to “hunt bad brokers” abusing double-brokering loopholes, an issue we've covered extensively here on FreightCaviar.
Adriana Pulley
Many across Freight X welcomed the announcements, citing that these issues, like double brokering, have long plagued the industry.
ATA and OOIDA cheered the parking cash and speed-limiter rollback, but brokers worry the fraud crackdown could spawn new paperwork snarls.
“These steps not only improve the daily lives of truckers across America, but also enhance safety for everyone on the road.” — Todd Spencer, President/CEO, OOIDA
No formal comments have been made by TIA yet, but they are likely to zero in on fraud/audit language once they've had the chance to review.
Expect comment periods on the reg deletions by late August, with grant awards announced this fall.
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🌎 AROUND THE FREIGHT WEB
🚨 Mexico Cargo Theft Surges. Truck hijackings in Mexico jumped nearly 60% YoY, with cartels often violently targeting freight corridors. President Claudia Sheinbaum faces pressure as logistics firms demand federal protection.
📦 Atlanta’s Unexpected Performance. The Atlanta freight market showed unexpected strength during the July 4th holiday, outperforming national trends as regional demand and tight capacity drove higher load volumes.
🤔 Overusing ‘Freight Fraud’? Danielle Chaffin warns that labeling every operational issue as “freight fraud” risks diluting the term’s meaning, making it harder to identify and address real criminal activity in logistics.
🔥 Tanker Fire. A tanker truck caught fire at a crude oil facility near Kurten, Texas, prompting an emergency evacuation for residents with a half mile of the fire. Officials contained the blaze, and no injuries were reported.
🎉 Trucker Wins $50K. A truck driver in South Carolina won $50,000 from a scratch-off ticket and said he has “no need to play anymore,” calling it a one-time stroke of luck.
💵 Gates Backs Trucking Tech. Bill Gates is investing $373 million in FedEx and Paccar. Despite the ongoing challenges in the trucking industry, he views the move as an opportunity to support companies aligned with his advocacy for going green and global sustainability.
🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER
FREIGHT HUMOR
Plus: autonomous trucking just raised $113M, California is fighting to keep 20,000 drivers, Arrive's 2026 truckload freight forecast, and more.
Two bills just dropped in the Senate that could reshape trucking faster than anything since deregulation. Plus: Russian hackers targeted your load board, flatbed rejection rates just hit 40%, and a robot is taking the Houston-Dallas overnight run.
This week: The Dalilah Law, a trucking bankruptcy that wiped out thousands overnight, a FreightGuard civil war on Reddit, and the payroll data that's predicting Q4 capacity.
Indiana pulled the trigger on carriers employing illegal CDL holders. Plus: tariff ruling could flood LA with imports, DC finally moves on double brokers, spot rates are outrunning contract, and more.
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