Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, May 26, 2026:
- Road work planned along major interstate
- “I just did what I hope anyone else would do in that situation.”
-- Owner-operator and Highway Angel Lamar Buckwalter on his quick response to a truck crash - Expanded funding for truck driver training possible with expanded Pell Grants.
- More truck parking in New Mexico, Indiana.
I-84 road work under way in Oregon
Truckers traveling along I-84 in Oregon may experience delays as construction crews work on parts of the interstate in the coming days and weeks.
The Oregon Department of Transportation announced that work began on the Tower Road bridge over I-84 at Exit 159 today, May 26. The northbound closure on Tower Road is planned for May 26-June 2, and the southbound closure will follow June 3-10.
Only the Tower Road bridge will close during these times. All ramps at Exit 159 and Tower Road south of the eastbound off‑ramp will remain open. Travelers should watch for advance warning signs and follow posted detours.
After the two weeks of closures, a full closure of the Tower Road bridge is planned from June 11 through July 9. The Love's Travel Stop will remain accessible for EB and WB I-84 travelers using the detour.
Through July, crews will complete paving, striping and sign installation. Expect occasional nighttime ramp and Tower Road overpass lane closures.
Travelers should follow the signed detour route to reach Tower Road and Love's during closures.
For EB travelers, Tower Road south of I-84 and the Love's will remain accessible from Exit 159.
To reach Tower Road and Love’s headed WB, take Exit 151/Marty Myers Road and continue east on I-84 and take Exit 159/Tower Road. To return to WB I-84 from Tower Road and Love’s, take Exit 159 EB to Exit 165/Port of Morrow, and use the WB I-84 on-ramp.
A separate I-84 project will begin on I-84 WB east of Pendleton. Drivers should expect daytime lane and shoulder closures as crews begin installing light poles on existing foundations along the highway.
This project includes two locations:
- Cabbage Hill: I-84 WB, approximately one mile west of Exit 224 for Poverty Flat Road/Emigrant Hill Road.
- Ladd Canyon: I-84 in both directions, between Exit 270 for Ladd Creek Road and Exit 273 for Frontage Road.
The project is expected to be completed in August.
Cabbage Hill and Ladd Canyon are major mountain passes in eastern Oregon where winter weather and poor visibility can make driving dangerous, especially at night, ODOT said.
Earlier work prepared the area for roadway lighting by installing underground infrastructure, but funding was not available at the time to complete the project. This project will finish that work by installing the lights. Better visibility will help drivers navigate the passes more safely and support emergency responders when crashes happen.
Owner-operator’s quick response to hazmat tanker rollover recognized
Buckwalter Trucking owner-operator Lamar Buckwalter is a Highway Angel. That's according to the Truckload Carriers Association, who honored Buckwalter for his heroic actions and quick response following a hazardous rollover crash in Colorado.
Lamar Buckwalter
“I’ve always believed that God puts us in the right places at the right times. Tonight He proved this once again,” said Buckwalter. “All I could hear was the driver screaming, ‘Get me out of here, I’m hauling hazmat!’”
Recognizing the urgency and danger of the situation, Buckwalter safely brought his truck to a stop and ran to assist. Upon reaching the overturned tanker, he made contact with the driver, who initially indicated he was not pinned but unable to escape. Moments later, the driver became unresponsive.
Acting quickly, Buckwalter broke through the windshield and, despite exposure to debris and engine fluids, successfully pulled the driver from the wreckage.
Shortly after being removed, the driver regained consciousness. Concerned about the hazardous materials onboard, both men moved away from the vehicle to a safer distance. Another passerby stopped and contacted emergency services.
Buckwalter remained with the injured driver, who had sustained bruising and head injuries, providing reassurance and support until first responders arrived. He later accompanied the driver in the ambulance so he could contact his employer and family, and then provided a statement to law enforcement.
“The officer told me he was very impressed with how quickly everything happened,” said Buckwalter. “I just did what I hope anyone else would do in that situation.”
[Related: Trucker's quick action helps injured deputy after crash]
Education Department finalizes Pell Grant expansion for shorter workforce programs
The U.S. Department of Education last week published a final rule to implement the Workforce Pell Grant program, which would expand Pell Grant eligibility to certain shorter-term programs.
Beginning on July 1, students will be able to receive Pell Grants for enrollment in high-quality, short-term educational programs that prepare them for high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand jobs. This new program will help more Americans rapidly enter the workforce with little-to-no student debt while simultaneously strengthening the nation’s talent pipeline.
Currently, Pell Grants can only be applied to programs with a duration of 15 or more weeks and are inaccessible to students in shorter-term, high-quality job training programs.
Workforce Pell bridges the gap between education and employment by allowing Pell Grants to be used for workforce training programs that prepare individuals for immediate employment in as little as 8 weeks. In addition, Workforce Pell requires colleges to limit their tuition and fees based on the earnings of program graduates, ensuring that programs continue to demonstrate value over time.
State governors, in consultation with state workforce boards, will identify high-demand industries and career fields in order to determine which workforce programs are eligible to receive Workforce Pell Grant funds. Eligible programs will then be required to meet certain time and length requirements, completion percentages, and employment metrics, and prove they deliver a real return on investment for students as shown by data.
CDL programs could be included in those eligible programs if trucking is identified by a state’s governor as a high-demand industry.
“The Trump Administration’s postsecondary education agenda is straightforward: we should shift away from high-cost, low-value programs to low-cost, high-value programs,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Americans should not have to spend years in college and take on debt they may never be able to repay before entering the workforce. Under President Trump's leadership, American students will soon be able to graduate with little to no debt and be well-prepared to start earning in one of today’s in-demand jobs in weeks, not years."
[Related: Pell Grant expansion could cover CDL training]
Love’s expands in New Mexico; reopens Indiana, Texas locations
Love’s Travel Stops is expanding its footprint in New Mexico, with the opening of a new travel stop in Truth or Consequences, located at 224 Dr. Hubble Road (I-25, Exit 79).
The new travel stop has 63 truck parking spaces and provides free parking for Love’s customers. So far in 2026, Love’s has added 870 truck parking spaces across the country, the company said.
Located between existing travel stops in Las Cruces and Albuquerque, the new location in Truth or Consequences provides a much-needed stop for professional drivers and motorists navigating I-25 in New Mexico, the company said. The new location includes plenty of snack, drink and food options, including Love’s fresh food items prepared on-site daily, and an Arby’s restaurant.
Love’s also recently celebrated the grand reopenings of its travel stops in Marion, Indiana, and Encinal, Texas, under its Road Ahead Plan. Updates to the Marion location include 74 new truck parking spaces, for a new total of 221 parking spaces; a remodeled sales floor, restrooms, and showers; and an overall updated look and feel.
Truckers’ opinions on truck parking availability are mixed, based on survey responses last year for Overdrive’s 2025 Truckers’ Highway Report Card. Truckers ranked Indiana as both a best and worst state for truck parking, receiving 3% of votes for each response.
The Encinal, Texas, location received updates including a remodeled sales floor, restrooms and showers. The location's Subway was also remodeled.
So far in 2026, Love’s has completed updates to 16 locations and opened nine new stores.
[Related: Truckers' 2025 Highway Report Card: Worst roads, states, parking]
