Plus, a cabless autonomous truck just raised $24M, non-domiciled CDLs rules need clarifying, CSX posts a 26% profit jump while watching the UP-NS merger closely, and more in today's newsletter.
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Here is another round-up of the most engaging and talked-about freight content from around the web and from us.
FreightCaviar Weekly Recap. FMCSA nominee Barr makes his first appearance and fraud takes center stage in this week’s most talked-about freight stories.
On r/FreightBrokers, Matt Fleming analyzed over 19 million DOT inspection records from January 2021 to July 2025, offering insights into safety trends by fleet size, geography, vehicle age, and timing. The data covered nearly 894,000 unique DOT numbers across all U.S. states and territories.
Smaller operations tend to have higher violation rates:
Inspection outcomes vary significantly by state:
Older equipment correlates with more violations and out-of-service rates:
Inspections peak midweek and decline toward the weekend:
There is much more to this story and if you love to read more on the data that was uncovered, you can read the full report here.
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American Truckers recently highlighted Wyoming’s new law, which went into effect July 1, which invalidates driver’s licenses issued to undocumented immigrants, even if legally obtained in another state.
Under HB 116, Wyoming law enforcement can now treat undocumented driving as a misdemeanor. Officers are permitted to ask immigration-related questions, although guidance on enforcement procedures is still pending from the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
Critics, including the Wyoming Immigrant Advocacy Project and ACLU, warn of possible racial profiling and legal challenges tied to enforcement discretion. Concerns are especially high for drivers from states like Washington, where license documents may not indicate immigration status.
Jenna McMurtry
American Trucker's post adds that some CDLs may have been issued for terms longer than the holder’s visa, calling for greater scrutiny of non-citizen drivers. However, the law does not currently focus specifically on commercial drivers or CDL validity.
During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Derek Barrs, President Trump’s nominee to lead FMCSA, made his first appearance before lawmakers. The session focused on highway safety, freight fraud, and regulatory enforcement.
Senator Ted Cruz opened his remarks by pointing out Barrs’ deep background in commercial vehicle safety and quickly raised concerns about foreign commercial drivers. Cruz also questioned Barrs on freight fraud and cargo theft, noting he's drafting legislation to enhance FMCSA’s enforcement authority.
Barrs agreed the issue is “concerning” and committed to working with Cruz if confirmed, stating:
“Ensuring that drivers are qualified and safe has got to be the utmost importance of what we are doing.”
Cruz warned about “fraudulently-issued Mexican CDLs” being used by drivers entering the U.S., stating:
“They may not actually have the experience to drive safely on the roads and could potentially be violating U.S. cabotage laws.”
John Gallagher
American Truckers reacted strongly to the exchange, posting:
“WE CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE BAN OF FOREIGN CDLS”
“WE CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE BAN OF NON-DOMICILE CDLS”
While Cruz did not call for an outright ban, the hearing signaled growing Congressional scrutiny of international licensing practices and FMCSA oversight. So one can see that change is coming.
Our feature of the week is about an independent freight watchdogs that has turned their attention to Sean Mabe, the owner of P & P Transport LLC and J&M Global Logistics, accusing him of operating a fraudulent carrier network.
“You shut my DOT down? Cool. I got three more lined up.” — Sean Mabe
No criminal charges have been filed, but complaints continue to surface.
👉 Read the full story
On LinkedIn, Adam Wingfield spotlighted a troubling example of how some carriers and ELD providers may be undermining Hours of Service regulations. Wingfield shared a case where a solo driver was assigned a team load, and the ELD provider, Unique ELD, allegedly created a false second driver profile (a "ghost driver") to conceal violations. The provider also reportedly gave the driver scripted guidance in case of a roadside inspection. Wingfield linked this issue to a recent fatal crash in Texas involving Hope Trans LLC, where the driver was similarly dispatched on a team load without a co-driver. He framed the issue as a "safety risk" and rightfully so.
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🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER
ICYMI: FreightCaviar is travelling across the U.S. Here's what the first three weeks have looked like: Sponsor meetups, subscriber photo shoots, premieres, truck stops, Elk Grove to Phoenix, and more. FOMO starts now.
Plus, the offshore dispatchers your safety score can't catch, why Hormuz stays closed even after the war ends, what Triumph Financial's invoice volumes say about where freight is headed, and more.
"I think some TMS's are failing because they don’t understand what brokers do every day."
Plus, USPS gives non-domiciled CDL carriers an 11-day deadline, the spot-to-contract spread starts squeezing 3PLs, Knight-Swift trims its Q1 guide but stays bullish, and more.
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