Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Oct. 27, 2025:
- After years of delays, Tesla has set another goal for mass production of its battery-electric Semi.
- Florida makes big cocaine bust.
- Medium-duty trucks recalled for transmission issue.
- Don't forget to carry chains in this Rocky Mountain state.
Tesla updates timeline for Semi production
The debut of Tesla's battery-electric Semi, which has been several delays in reaching full production, continues to be slated for next year, company executives said during Tesla's Q3 earnings call last week.
As reported by Overdrive sister publication CCJ’s Jason Cannon, the fully electric Tesla Semi Class 8 has been delayed at least four times and is six years overdue since it was announced in 2017. However, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Lars Moravy said all signs continue to point to a 2026 mass production launch.
"The factory is going on schedule,” he said. “We've completed the building and are installing the equipment now. We've got our fleet of validation trucks driving on the road. We'll have a larger build towards the end of this year and then our first online builds in the first part of next year, ramping into the Q2 timing with real volume coming in the back half of the year.”
ABF Freight is among the fleets piloting a Tesla Semi, having done so over a three-week period this summer across typical dispatch lanes, including over-the-road routes between service centers in Reno, Nevada and Sacramento, California. The pilot also included regional runs in the Bay Area and rail shuttle operations.
The electric Semi logged 4,494 miles, averaging 321 miles per day, with an overall energy efficiency of 1.55 kWh per mile. ABF's performance on a kilowatt hour (kWh) per mile basis is slightly below the 1.7 kWh per mile Pepsi confirmed as part of North American Council for Freight Efficiency's Run On Less program in 2023. It's also below the 1.72 kWh/mile posted by DHL during a two-week trial run last summer.
Read more from CCJ’s Cannon about Tesla officials’ stance on implementing autonomous technology on the Semi.
[Related: Tesla Semi silences the haters by moving a heavy load? Maybe, maybe not]
Truck drivers apprehended after $17M in cocaine found in Florida
A tractor-trailer was busted earlier this month in Florida with more than $17 million worth of cocaine on board, according to a press release from Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins.
On Oct. 5, a coordinated effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) led to the interception of approximately 173 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $17.3 million.
The DEA’s West Palm Beach office alerted FHP to intelligence regarding a semi-truck suspected of transporting narcotics from the Mexico-Texas border into South Florida. FHP’s Criminal Interdiction Unit (CIU) located the vehicle traveling southbound on the Florida Turnpike and conducted a lawful traffic stop for inspection.
During the inspection, troopers discovered a concealed trap door containing multiple duffle bags filled with cocaine. The individuals involved -- including one previously deported from the United States, Collins noted -- were apprehended and transferred to federal custody for further investigation and prosecution. The suspects in the bust were not identified.
Collins said that since 2019, the Florida Highway Patrol has recovered more than 14,000 kilograms of illegal narcotics, including 925 kilograms of cocaine, 23.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 14 kilograms of heroin, 9,600 kilograms of marijuana, and 19 kilograms of MDMA.
“Our message to drug traffickers is clear: do not bring your poison into our state," Collins said. "We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will always stand on the front lines to protect Floridians from those who threaten our safety and our future.”
Medium-duty Internationals recalled for transmission issue
International Motors is recalling approximately 97 model year 2026 International MV trucks for an issue that could prevent the trucks from shifting into reverse.
According to recall documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the transmission shift actuator may not have been calibrated properly, preventing the transmission from shifting into reverse.
Trucks affected by the recall are equipped with a transmission shifter stalk for Allison 1000 and 2000 transmissions built between June 30 and Sept. 18 of this year.
Dealers will replace the shift actuator input shaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Dec. 1. Owners can contact International customer service at 800-448-7825 with recall number 25519. NHTSA’s recall number is 25V-702.
Colorado DOT reminds truckers of requirement to carry chains
With winter weather already impacting some Colorado highways, the Colorado Department of Transportation reminded truck drivers of a relatively new law that requires commercial motor vehicle drivers to carry chains from Sept. 1 to May 31.
The law, signed by Gov. Jared Polis in 2024, applies to vehicles with a combined weight of more than 16,000 pounds. Failure to comply can result in fines of $500 for not carrying chains and up to $1,000 plus surcharge for blocking a roadway. Trucks must carry chains, regardless of weather, on the following highways:
- Interstate highway 70 (I-70) west of milepost 259 (Morrison)
- Colorado state highway 9 from milepost 63 to milepost 97 (Frisco to Fairplay)
- U.S. Route 40 west of milepost 256 (Empire)
- U.S. Route 50 west of milepost 225 (Salida)
- U.S. Route 160 west of milepost 304 (Walsenburg)
- U.S. Route 285 west of milepost 250 (Morrison)
- U.S. Route 550 from milepost 0 to 130
CDOT said more than 1,300 Must Carry Chain Law citations were issued by law enforcement during the 2024-2025 chain season.
There are 130 designated chain stations along Colorado’s roadway network with 22 being situated on I-70’s mountain corridor.
