Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026:
- Prison time, fines for six cargo thieves.
- Maine inspection blitz sidelines dozens.
- Truck parking improvements coming to this major corridor.
Multi-state cargo theft conspiracy yields prison time, fines for six
Six individuals involved in a multi-year cargo theft enterprise were recently sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana announced the sentences for the six, who were found to have conspired to steal tractor-trailers containing commercially available, high-end electronics and other items -- they later resold the items at a discount for profit. Those sentenced and their sentences and charges:
[Related: Prime time for cargo theft: $18M vanishing every single day]
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the co-conspirators traveled from Florida and Kentucky to distribution facilities used by national companies such as Meta, Microsoft, and L Brands located in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. The group surveilled the facilities and followed tractor-trailers as they departed. When a driver stopped to rest, refuel, or park, the conspirators stole the entire tractor-trailer.
In many instances, the group abandoned the stolen tractor and reattached the trailer to a different rig. To evade law enforcement, they painted over logos and identifying numbers and used different license plates on the stolen trailers.
The group then transported stolen cargo to Miami, Florida, where it was sold to buyers, including co-defendant Richard Alameda, for a fraction of its retail value. The group carried out at least 14 separate cargo thefts, resulting in the theft of:
- More than $2 million in Oculus virtual reality headsets from a Meta facility
- $940,000 in Microsoft products
- $1 million in Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret merchandise
- $669,000 in Harmon-JBL audio products
- $180,000 in Logitech products
- $480,000 worth of Bose audio speakers, among other stolen items
“These thefts had real consequences for consumers and businesses, increasing costs and disrupting the flow of goods across the country,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “What this group attempted was a sweeping attack on the backbone of U.S. commerce, but it was ultimately dismantled through the unified work of federal, state, and local law enforcement."
The case "makes it clear that anyone who threatens the nation’s supply chain will be tracked down and held accountable,” Wheeler added.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation got assistance in the investigation from state and local agencies, including the Kentucky State Police, Indiana State Police, and the Florida Highway Patrol.
[Related: Cargo theft proliferation ups the ante on truckers' prevention]
Maine troopers put 80 trucks OOS in three-day blitz
Maine State Police touted efforts in putting 80 trucks out-of-service during a recent three-day safety initiative, the national Operation Safe DRIVE (Distracted Reckless Impaired Visibility Enforcement) hosted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
The three-day enforcement effort resulted in 390 trucks being inspected with 80 trucks being put out-of-service for imminent safety risks to the public. During the event, FMCSA personnel worked side by side with MSP’s Troop K members inspecting trucks and interacting with drivers to promote safe operations with commercial vehicles.
Throughout the initiative, MSP said it used “smart roadside technologies” to screen large volumes of trucks so that troopers and inspectors could focus on the vehicles with defects and violations. Those technologies included tire anomaly sensors, thermal imaging for brakes, and license plate readers for company credentials and safety scores.
What MSP called the "most dangerous truck inspected" was initially flagged by the tire anomaly sensors, troopers said. MSP conducted an inspection on this particular truck and found 37 violations, including bald tires and missing brakes.
[Related: Toughest 10 states for brake violations]
Missouri planning I-70 truck parking improvements
The Missouri DOT plans to expand and modernize truck parking facilities along I-70 while improving the safety of facilities for users.MoDOT
The Missouri Department of Transportation will conduct two public informational meetings next week as part of its “Improve I-70 Program” aimed at truck parking along the corridor, which in some ways is already getting high marks for availability of parking facilities.
In Overdrive's late 2025 Highway Report Card survey of truckers' opinions on which states have the best and worst highways and truck parking across the country, readers ranked the Show Me State as the No. 5 overall state for best truck parking. The Joplin and Kansas City metros both received positive feedback for truck parking.
MoDOT will host meetings on Jan. 27 in Concordia and Jan. 28 in Wright City to highlight the needs for improved truck parking along the I-70 corridor and potential sites for these improvements, as well as highlight the procurement schedule and process, the agency said. Nearby residents, businesses, travelers, and the trucking industry are invited to attend to learn about and provide comments regarding the planned improvements. No formal presentation will be made. The meetings will be held:
- Tuesday, Jan. 27, from 4-6 p.m. in the gymnasium of the Concordia Community Center located at 802 S. Gordon St., Concordia, MO 64020
- Wednesday, Jan. 28, from 4-6 p.m. in the cafeteria of Wright City Middle School located at 100 Bell Rd., Wright City, MO 63390
The public can attend the meetings any time between 4 and 6 p.m. The information will be the same at each meeting location. Engineers from the Missouri Department of Transportation will be present to answer questions. The information presented at the meetings will also be available on the project webpage soon.
MoDOT's Improve I-70 Program includes approximately $29 million in INFRA Grant funds to expand the availability of truck parking along the I-70 corridor. During peak hours, all of I-70’s public truck parking areas are over capacity and 75% of truck stops are over capacity, MoDOT said.
Providing safe off-highway parking reduces the cost of shoulder and guardrail repairs on interstate ramps caused by trucks parking on ramp shoulders and increases safety for all travelers on the road. The project could include improvements to existing truck parking and rest areas in Odessa, Concordia, Boonville, Mineola, and Wright City.
Download Overdrive's full Highway Report Card report below:
