Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, June 24, 2026:
- Navigate with cargo theft hotspots in mind with this new app feature.
- Railroad groups get more temporary HOS relief as feds request more info before full waiver.
- Truck driver lauded for helping stranded family of motorists.
Trucker Path adds cargo theft hotspot info to app
Providers of the Trucker Path mobile app have partnered with Verisk CargoNet to introduce cargo theft trend data into Trucker Path Navigation.
The aim of the partnership is to help truck drivers identify higher-risk areas, make more informed routing decisions, and better understand risk along their routes, the companies said.
The new navigation feature helps truckers ID high-risk cargo theft areas.Trucker Path
“Cargo security continues to be a growing concern for fleets and drivers,” said Chris Oliver, CMO at Trucker Path. “By incorporating a Verisk CargoNet theft cloud overlay in Trucker Path, drivers will instantly know when they’re in high theft areas. That level of heightened awareness will lead to proactive deterrence.”
The capability, now live in the Trucker Path app, provides:
- Theft Risk Rating per county (rated Low, Medium and High Risk)
- Total stolen vehicles count (updated monthly)
- Most stolen commodity categories (such as Household, Food & Beverage, Vehicle Accessories)
- Common theft subtypes (such as Cargo Only, Full Truck, Trailer)
- The ability to filter by risk severity (High, Medium, Low) to focus on and potentially avoid highest-risk segments
“Cargo theft insights can help transportation companies reduce exposure to theft and improve safety for drivers,” said Ryan Shepherd, general manager of Verisk CargoNet. “Theft risk is increasingly tied to specific locations and operational environments, particularly in high-density logistics regions and common stop points along freight routes. Integrating this data directly into navigation tools helps close a critical visibility gap for drivers and fleet operators.”
[Related: Trucking brotherhood ain't dead yet: Breakdown, $360K cargo theft brings out the best]
Railroad groups get another short-term HOS waiver as FMCSA seeks more info
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced yet another provisional renewal of an exemption for railroad associations that allows employees of member railroads to drive beyond standard hours-of-service limits under certain conditions.
The agency issued a provisional renewal of the waiver in December, valid for six months, to the Association of American Railroads, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, and member railroads. It allowed employees of the associations’ member railroads who are subject to the HOS rules to respond to unplanned events that occur outside of, or extend beyond, an employee’s normal work hours.
Specifically, the waiver allows drivers to operate beyond their 14th hour on-duty, up to 17 hours, but drivers are not allowed to exceed 11 hours of driving time. It also allows drivers to extend the 60-hour/70-hour rule by no more than 6 hours. Drivers operating under the exemption are not allowed to travel more than 300 air miles from their normal work-reporting location or terminal.
On Wednesday, FMCSA issued another provisional renewal, this time effective for four months through Oct. 19, while requesting more information from the organizations. The agency is asking the groups to provide a complete list of USDOT numbers that will operate under the exemption, the frequency with which motor carriers have operated under the exemption, and the list of accidents involving any motor carriers operating under the exemption.
[Related: HOS waived in Oregon | Florida breaks ground on new truck parking]
Trucker recognized for sharing food, water with stranded motorists
The Truckload Carriers Association has named Crawford Trucking driver Mike Nelson a Highway Angel for his kindness and assistance to stranded motorists in California.
Mike Nelson
Nelson initially stopped to see if he could help diagnose the problem. After returning to his truck, however, he found himself thinking about the stranded travelers.
“Afterwards, I went back to my truck and was starting to eat supper, and it was weighing real heavy on me,” Nelson recalled. “The Lord was speaking to me and told me to go back and check on them, see if they needed any food or water or anything.”
When he returned, Nelson learned the family had been waiting for a tow truck and had run out of food and water.
“So, I went back to my truck and got some snacks and some water,” he said. “They had called the tow truck, but it hadn’t come yet, and they were out of food and water. They didn’t have anything.”
Nelson shared his supplies and stayed with the family until help arrived.
“I just couldn’t feel right about not at least offering to share with them what I had,” he said.
His actions left a lasting impression on motorist Scott Morrison, who later submitted a nomination to TCA praising Nelson’s compassion.
“Thank you,” Morrison wrote. “I’m not sure if Mike works for you, but if he does, he was very kind to us when our car broke down in California. He made sure we had water and any other necessities while we waited for AAA. His kindness was very appreciated.”
Nelson, who has been driving professionally since the mid-1990s, was humbled by the recognition.
“I certainly wasn’t expecting it,” he said. “I was just thankful that, you know, you show a little kindness when somebody’s having some trouble.”
