Trucking news and briefs for Monday, May 4, 2026:
- Large fleet plans autonomous operations expansion.
- Oregon improves carrier-facing website for permitting and other transactions.
- Love’s continues expansion.
Hirschbach aims to add 500 autonomous trucks to fleet
Hirschbach Motor Lines is expanding its partnership with autonomous truck developer Aurora Innovation, which includes a plan for the fleet to own 500 Aurora Driver-equipped trucks.
The plan is reflected in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining a path to scale with the final commercial terms and timing to be set in binding agreements expected to close later this year.
The final deal will allow Hirschbach “to aggressively scale its national network with 500 million driverless miles, while establishing a multi-year revenue stream for Aurora valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars,” Aurora said. Hirschbach has been an early adopter of Aurora’s autonomous technology.
The Aurora Driver-equipped units Hirschbach hopes "will provide consistent 24/7 service to our customers, making it an important growth lever for our business,” said Richard Stocking, CEO of Hirschbach Motor Lines.
He went on to deem the investment more than a business decision. “It’s a quality-of-life investment for our people," he said. "The Aurora Driver will handle the lengthier, less desirable routes, providing our drivers with greater flexibility. It’s a win-win.”
[Aurora: Aurora adds 1K-mile 'driverless' lane: Will solo HOS regs apply for the in-cab observer?]
Under terms of the non-binding MOU, Hirschbach will purchase 500 Aurora Driver-equipped trucks with delivery beginning in 2027. The carrier will subscribe to Aurora’s Driver-as-a-Service (DaaS) model.
The 500 trucks will be deployed across Aurora’s network with a focus on high-volume routes between customer facilities in the Sun Belt and beyond. Aurora recently transitioned to driverless deliveries to Laredo, Texas, to support one of Hirschbach’s key customers.
Hirschbach is also a key customer on Aurora’s 1,000-mile route between Fort Worth and Phoenix, a link for the carrier’s coast-to-coast business. To date, the Aurora Driver has driven more than 800,000 miles while delivering over 2,000 loads for Hirschbach, Aurora said.
Hirschbach’s expansion strategy envisions a hybrid network where autonomous trucks handle long-haul routes, allowing traditional drivers to focus on shorter hauls that get them home daily. The carrier’s drivers, the companies said, were instrumental in evaluating performance of the Aurora Driver prior to launch of limited operations on Aurora’s inaugural Dallas-to-Houston route, the companies noted.
[Related: Driverless-truck tech: Owner-ops worry over cyberattacks, crashes, competition]
Oregon DOT updates carrier-facing site for taxes, plate renewals, permits
The Oregon Department of Transportation’s Commerce and Compliance Division has launched an updated version of Oregon Trucking Online, its secure platform for individual motor carriers and companies to pay taxes, renew plates and get permits.
The redesign offers a new look, feel and improved user experience for the division’s 45,000-plus active accounts, ODOT said. Changes include:
- An easier-to-navigate site
- A responsive layout in which elements look the same on a desktop computer and smartphone
- Better readability with high-contrast colors and a clear reading order to make content easier to read
- Improved translation with more accurate browser-based translation tools
The updated site has been in the works since April 2024. It mirrors CCD’s external website so customers can smoothly transition between the two and find what they need, ODOT added. The project team gave the sites common architecture, making it easier to update and maintain while reducing calls to analysts for assistance.
“We’ve also made a step-by-step comprehensive user manual covering all transactions available on the site,” said Project Manager Gian Olsen. “Our hope is that by making self-service and learning more approachable, those who are unfamiliar will learn how easy and secure the new site is to use and become online customers.”
[Related: Overdimensional permitting: Will there ever be a truly national system?]
New Love’s brings more parking to I-90 in Ohio
Love’s Travel Stops announced May 1 the continued expansion of its network with the opening of a new travel stop in Delta, Ohio, at exit 39 off of I-90.
“This location in Fulton County serves as a critical stop for travelers and professional drivers navigating the Ohio Turnpike, strengthening Love’s network in a high-traffic Midwest corridor,” the company said in a press release.
The new location has 108 truck parking spaces and provides free parking for customers, helping address the national parking shortage while improving route continuity for drivers. So far in 2026, Love’s has added 642 truck parking spaces across the country.
The parking expansion in Ohio adds capacity in a state considered by many owner-operators as one of the best across the U.S. when it comes to addressing the parking shortage. The state ranked No. 2 overall among Overdrive readers for best truck parking in the 2025 Truckers’ Highway Report Card.
In addition to parking, the Love's location offers Godfather’s Pizza and Subway restaurants, seven diesel pumps, four showers, laundry facilities, a Cat Scale, among other amenities.
Love’s also recently celebrated the grand reopening of its travel stop in Aurora, Nebraska. The location was updated under Love’s Road Ahead Plan for revamped restrooms, laundry and showers; a new coffee and drink bar area; the addition of Love’s fresh food items; and an overall updated look and feel. So far in 2026, Love’s has completed updates to 13 locations and opened seven new locations.
[Related: Truck parking replacing old coops]
