Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025:
Cargo theft: January showed fewer incidents than prior months
Overhaul observed that 39% of thefts in January occurring between Monday and Tuesday, rather than the more typical end-of-week trend.Overhaul
Cargo theft in the United States during January showed a slowdown compared to the levels observed since the last quarter of 2024, according to security firm Overhaul. The company attributed the trend to reduced economic activity during the month, following the conclusion of two major holidays.
Overhaul observed that theft levels were mostly consistent through the month, but that the final week saw an uptick in theft activity.
“This rising trend is expected to continue into February, with a gradual increase in cargo theft incidents week over week,” the firm added.
[Related: High-value cargo theft: Truck robbed in broad daylight at Chicago rail crossing]
Overhaul said that contrary to trends from November and December, cargo theft was not concentrated in the latter days of the week but rather in the early days, with 39% of thefts occurring between Monday and Tuesday. Examining the timing of these events, 44% occurred overnight and 31% in the afternoon.
Where theft activity is occurring remained consistent in January, as Southern California remains the primary hotspot in the country, followed by Memphis, Chicago, and various locations in Texas and Pennsylvania.
The primary types of theft included full truckload thefts and pilferage while shipments were left unattended at warehouses, secure parking places, truck stops, and company yards. Additionally, a few incidents of last-mile courier theft and deceptive pickups were recorded during the month.
[Related: Owner-op jailed after unwitting participation in cargo theft: Cautionary tale]
Oklahoma Turnpike service plaza closing truck parking through early 2026
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority announced in a Facebook post Thursday that the westbound I-44/Turner Turnpike service plaza at Stroud will temporarily close its commercial truck parking as part of a project to modernize and reconstruct the service plaza.
Truck parking will be unavailable at the location beginning Thursday, Feb. 27, through early 2026, OTA noted.
The modernization project will feature a full reconstruction of the McDonald's and Love’s Travel Stop buildings.
Motorists still will be able to access fuel, restrooms and food at the existing Love's and McDonald's facilities during construction, but commercial trucks should locate alternative long-term parking locations.
An OTA spokesperson told Overdrive that during the construction, the service plaza will still be available for trucks to stop for fuel, restrooms and food services with limited space. Once complete, the service plaza will feature full truck stop services including showers and a tire center, plus additional truck parking.
Large fuel retailer launching new fleet card
Convenience store operator and fuel retailer EG America (EGA) has announced a new business fleet card in partnership with fuel payments platform AtoB.
The Alloy Fleet+ Card, tailored to support the needs of fleet customers, will provide discounts at EG America’s family of brands, best-in-class technology tools, fraud prevention tools and robust credit and credit-building options, the company said.
EG America is the operator of Certified Oil, Cumberland Farms, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Loaf N’ Jug, Minit Mart, Quik Stop, Sprint Food Stores, Tom Thumb, and Turkey Hill stores.
The card offers competitive fuel discounts at more than 1,400 EG America stores and provides purchase ability at more than 150,000 fueling locations. Alloy Fleet+ cardholders will receive a 20-cent-per-gallon discount for the first 90 days, with discounts up to eight cents-per-gallon afterward. Cardholders will also have access to exclusive non-fuel perks, Mastercard Easy Savings benefits, and 1% cash back on non-fuel expenses for those who qualify.
With the launch of the card, EG America seeks to incentivize continued fuel purchases while offering exclusive perks and deep value to a growing B2B customer base. The Alloy Fleet+ Card will launch in Q1 2025.
[Related: Weapons in the fuel arsenal: Owner-operator's price-discount success with a relative newcomer]
