Trucking news and briefs for Friday, June 19, 2026:
- 900+ truck parking spaces coming to Florida over next couple of years.
- Emergency HOS relief out West.
- Do you have what it takes to bring home the title belt? Time running out to enter Overdrive's Small Fleet Championship for fleets of 3-30 trucks.
- Top military vet rookie trucker award deadline approaching.
Truck parking expansion projects under way in Florida
Ground broke Thursday, June 18, on five new truck parking expansion projects along I-4 in Florida.
Federal Highway Administrator (FHWA) Sean McMaster and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator (FMCSA) Derek Barrs were joined by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Jared W. Perdue to celebrate the launch of the projects.
For the new truck parking projects, the U.S. Department of Transportation delivered a $180 million INFRA grant for Florida to add 917 new spaces along the I-4 corridor, which carries 95% of the state's consumer goods.
“Truck drivers shouldn't have to choose between following the law and finding a safe place to park,” FMCSA’s Barrs said. “These new parking spaces will help drivers get the rest they need, reduce dangerous roadside parking, and make one of Florida's busiest freight corridors safer for everyone. This investment addresses one of the most persistent challenges facing truck drivers today while strengthening the safe and efficient movement of freight across Central Florida.”
[Related: Truckers still torn: Truck Parking Club's huge growth with pay-to-park]
Construction will begin this summer on the first three sites in Seminole and Volusia counties, expected to be completed in mid-2027. Two additional sites in Osceola and Orange counties begin construction in 2027.
The parking projects were first announced about a year ago as part of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s package of initiatives aimed at improving life on the road for truck drivers.
[Related: DOT set to eliminate speed limiter proposal, keep pre-2000 ELD exemption in place]
Oregon waives HOS for emergency relief due to wildfire threat
Due to an “imminent threat of wildfire” in Oregon, Gov. Tina Kotek on June 16 declared a state of emergency, prompting the Oregon Department of Transportation to waive hours-of-service regulations for certain motor carriers and truck drivers.
Lisa Sharpton, interim director of the Oregon DOT, issued a waiver that suspends the maximum driving time hours-of-service regs in 49 CFR 395.3 for carriers and drivers providing direct assistance to the emergency. The waiver is effective through 6 p.m. Pacific time on July 1.
The order joins others waivers that remain in effect in numerous states for fertilizer haulers as well as for relief haulers in Nebraska and elsewhere.
Sharpton noted that if stopped by law enforcement, drivers should “be sure to let enforcement personnel know that you are responding to an emergency. The vehicle may be allowed to proceed and obtain required permits and/or credentials as soon as possible afterwards.”
“Increasing heat, dry vegetation, and shifting winds continue to align and create dangerous conditions that demand immediate action,” Gov. Kotek said in declaring the emergency. “I am declaring a State of Emergency to ensure all available resources -- firefighting crews, aerial support, ground resources, and emergency personnel are prepared for deployments -- to protect people, property, and our natural landscapes.”
[Related: Fertilizer haulers across 35 states get HOS, ELD relief]
Time is ticking down to enter Overdrive's Small Fleet Championship, open to exceptional small fleets (3-30 trucks) at this link for a chance at bragging rights and recognition, a trip to Nashville for four finalists, and so much more.
Deadline nears for military vet trucker award
The nomination period for the award recognizing America’s top rookie military veteran truck driver is quickly approaching.
Kenworth, Fastport and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes initiative are once again hosting the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence award program. Under the program, Kenworth will provide the grand prize for the 11th consecutive year. This year’s award is a T680 equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and the Paccar Powertrain featuring the MX-13 engine, TX-12 automated transmission and DX-40 tandem rear axles.
[Related: Time ticking down to enter to compete Overdrive's Small Fleet Championship]
Carriers and CDL training schools have until June 30 to nominate up to five drivers for the award. The top driver will be determined by an expert panel of judges.
To qualify, drivers must meet eligibility requirements as specified in the official Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award rules, including:
- Be a legal resident of the continental United States and military veteran or current/former member of the National Guard or Reserves
- Graduated from a PTDI-certified, NAPFTDS or CVTA member driver training school, and carries a valid CDL
- Has been employed by any for-hire carrier or private fleet that has pledged to hire veterans and hired as a CDL driver after Jan. 1, 2025
The grand prize Kenworth T680 features a Diamond VIT interior in slate gray with madrona accents and includes the latest in driver amenities. Both the driver and passenger seats are GT703 leather seats that are fully heated and cooled. The 76-inch sleeper includes a factory-installed fridge, a rotating work table, and offers space for a microwave and TV.
The T680 also includes the latest in driver assistance systems, including Kenworth's Digital Mirrors, Bendix Fusion Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Stop and Auto Go, and Lane Keeping Assist with Torque Assisted Steering.
Award semi-finalists will be announced on Aug. 5. Finalists will be invited to Columbus, Ohio, to tour the National Veterans Memorial and Museum and attend a reception, followed by a tour of the Kenworth Chillicothe manufacturing plant, where the finalists will be announced.
Public voting on the finalists will occur from Nov. 1-11. The final award announcement will be made in mid-December, and the winner will drive home in the Kenworth T680.
