Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026:
- Big change for Eaton's transmission business.
- Tesla Semi chargers coming to major truck stop chain.
- Truckers’ charity receives $100K donation to help drivers out of work due to injury, illness.
- “He was just laying in the middle of the road ... Sometimes you have to actively be the change you want to see in the world.”
--Highway Angel recipient Christopher Bishop on actions that helped save an injured motorcyclist
Eaton transmissions, clutches to be under new Mobility Group business
Eaton on Monday announced a spin-off of its Vehicle and eMobility segments -- combined as Eaton’s Mobility Group -- into an independent, publicly-traded company.
Eaton’s Mobility Group is the Eaton truckers probably know best as the provider of transmissions and clutches for the U.S. heavy-duty and commercial vehicle market, along with high-voltage electric vehicle fuses and valve actuation technologies around the world.
“The separation of Mobility advances Eaton’s bold new 2030 growth strategy to lead, invest, and execute for growth,” said Eaton CEO Paulo Ruiz. “Our team will have a sharpened focus on our core Electrical and Aerospace businesses, which are driven by powerful megatrends including in electrification, digitalization and AI, reindustrialization, infrastructure spending and growth in the aerospace aftermarket and defense demand.”
[Related: Will Caterpillar ever return to production of new highway engines?]
Ruiz added that, “as an independent company, Mobility will be able to build on its strong foundation as a leading supplier across the globe and have the strategic focus and agility to allocate capital and resources to best serve its customers, pursue independent growth opportunities, and drive innovation.”
A separation will allow Eaton Mobility more flexibility to pursue near- and long-term growth opportunities, the company said, including in markets where it's well positioned with leading technologies serving heavy-, medium- and light-duty trucks, passenger vehicles and off-highway vehicles.
Eaton expects to complete the anticipated spin-off by the end of the first quarter of 2027, subject to the satisfaction of customary legal and regulatory requirements and approvals, including final approval of the Company’s Board of Directors and effectiveness of a Form 10 registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The planned separation is expected to be completed in a manner that is tax-free to Eaton shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
[Related: Eaton now offering Endurant aftermarket automated-manual transmission parts]
Pilot partners with Tesla to install truck chargers along key routes
Construction of Tesla Semi chargers will begin in the first half of 2026 at select Pilot travel centers planned across California, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas.Pilot
Pilot Travel Centers this week announced it will install Tesla Semi chargers at select Pilot locations thanks to a new partnership with Tesla aimed at facilitating heavy-duty electric truck charging.
The Tesla charging stations will be built at Pilot locations along I-5, I-10 and several other corridors where the need for electric truck charging is highest, the company said. The first sites are expected to open this summer.
Pilot travel centers equipped with Tesla Semi Chargers will host four to eight charging stalls and will leverage Tesla’s V4 cabinet charging technology, delivering up to 1.2 megawatts of power at each stall.
The network will initially focus on providing charging infrastructure for Tesla’s Semi trucks. In the future, Pilot said the network may be expanded to be compatible with heavy-duty electric vehicles from other manufacturers.
“Helping to shape the future of energy is a strategic pillar in meeting the needs of our guests and the North American transportation industry,” said Shannon Sturgil, senior vice president for alternative fuels at Pilot. “Heavy-duty charging is yet another extension of our exploration into alternative fuel offerings, and we’re happy to partner with a leader in the space that provides turnkey solutions and deploys them quickly.”
Tesla said last fall that its Semi is on track for mass production this year. The company has claimed that the Semi will boast a 500-mile range, much of which can be recovered in a 30-minute charge session.
[Related: Tesla's updated Semi design breaks cover before 2026 production start]
St. Christopher receives record donation from TA
TravelCenters of America has raised more than $100,000 for the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) through its most recent annual charity golf tournament, the charity announced Wednesday.
SCF said the donation marks the largest single-year contribution generated by the event since the partnership began in 2017.
The record-breaking total reflects TA’s long-standing commitment to supporting professional drivers and their families during times of illness or injury, SCF noted. Proceeds from the tournament directly benefit SCF’s mission to provide financial assistance to drivers facing hardship.
“TravelCenters of America has been an incredible partner to the St. Christopher Fund for nearly a decade,” said Courtney Niemann, Executive Director of SCF. “This milestone contribution demonstrates the power of sustained corporate support and the meaningful impact it can have on drivers and their families when they need it most.”
Since 2017, TA has contributed annually to SCF through its charity golf tournament, with contributions steadily increasing over time.
“Professional drivers keep this country moving, and supporting their well-being is a responsibility we take seriously,” said Jason Nordin, CEO, TravelCenters of America. “Our annual golf tournament is one way we can rally our vendor partners, our team members, and our industry around the drivers who need us most. We’re proud to stand with the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund and to help strengthen the safety net for the men and women who spend their lives on the road.”
As SCF looks ahead to the year ahead, contributions like this one help ensure the organization can continue expanding reach of its assistance programs to meet ongoing needs across the trucking community. SCF as a nonprofit organization provides short-term relief to Class A OTR drivers suffering from an illness or injury that took them out of work within the last 365 days. The SCF also provides several free health and wellness programs for OTR drivers to help keep them on the road, including nicotine cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and vaccine vouchers.
[Related: Reinforcing the value of an old friend: The St. Christopher 'Truckers' fund]
Trucker honored after helping motorcyclist injured in hit-and-run
Christopher Bishop, a truck driver for Hi Pro Inc., received the Highway Angel award from the Truckload Carriers Association for his quick thinking and decisive actions that helped save the life of an injured motorcyclist in Wichita, Kansas.
Christopher Bishop
While traveling through the city, Bishop later came upon a troubling scene -- a motorbike in a ditch and its rider lying injured in the middle of the roadway.
“He was just laying in the middle of the road,” Bishop said. “I stopped, and the first thing that ran through my mind was that he was dead.”
Based on camera footage and the scene itself, it appeared the motorcyclist had been struck by a sedan that fled without stopping. Without hesitation, Bishop activated his truck’s flashers and positioned the rig to block traffic, protecting the injured rider from oncoming vehicles. He immediately assessed the situation, discovering that the hit-and-run victim was still alive.
Bishop called 911 and remained with the man, keeping him conscious and breathing, until emergency responders arrived just seven minutes later.
“I kept him talking as much as I could,” Bishop said. “Not long after that an ambulance and police showed up.”
Bishop’s actions were especially critical given the cold December temperatures and the dangerous roadway conditions, TCA noted. His intervention likely prevented the rider from suffering further injuries, being struck by additional vehicles, or succumbing to exposure.
“Sometimes you have to actively be the change you want to see in the world,” he said.
Bishop was dumbfounded that the driver who hit the man on his bike didn’t stop at the scene of the accident.
“They didn’t stop; I couldn’t imagine doing that to someone and not stopping to check on him -- that’s crazy,” he said.
