Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Feb. 14, 2025:
FMCSA reopens comment period for brokered freight transparency proposal
Owner-operators and truck drivers who did not take the opportunity to file a comment on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s brokered freight transparency rulemaking proposal during the initial 60-day comment period are getting another chance.
The agency announced in a Federal Register notice published Tuesday, Feb. 18, that it is granting a request from the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC) to reopen the comment period 30 days. The initial comment period was open from Nov. 20 through Jan. 21.
SBTC’s request for an extension of the comment period was filed Jan. 19 and asked for a 14- to 30-day extension, citing the level of public interest in the topic of broker transparency. FMCSA noted that other potential commenters to the notice of proposed rulemaking could benefit from an extension, as well.
The comment period opened back up when the notice was published in the Federal Register. FMCSA noted that it will also consider all comments received between the comment period close date of Jan. 21 and the reopening of the comment period. As of the close of the first comment period, the docket received 4,841 comments. Comments can now be filed here through March 20.
As reported, FMCSA’s proposal would:
- Require brokers to keep records in an electronic format
- Revise the required contents of brokers’ records
- Require brokers to provide records upon request
- Require that records be provided within 48 hours of request
Eight in 10 Overdrive readers, surveyed after the FMCSA's rulemaking proposal was announced, felt impacts could be a net positive for freight rates if the proposal were implemented.
[Related: How trucking groups responded to FMCSA’s broker transparency proposal]
Regional emergency declaration extended for 15 states
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Friday announced the extension of an emergency declaration issued last month in response to severe winter storms and high fuel demand.
The declaration was first issued on Jan. 10 for the entire Lower 48 and Washington, D.C., waiving maximum driving time hours-of-service regulations for motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts transporting heating fuel, including propane, natural gas, and heating oil.
That waiver was extended and modified on Jan. 27 to include 39 states and to add the transportation of gasoline and diesel fuel to the list of commodities covered by the waiver. That extension was set to expire Feb. 15.
On Friday, Feb. 14, FMCSA issued another extension, noting that in the days prior, it received requests to issue an additional two-week extension of the declaration for states where severe weather, low temperatures and high demand continue to substantially impact delivery of essential heating fuels, gasoline and diesel fuels.
The agency granted the requests, extending the waiver through Feb. 28, or until the end of the emergency, whichever is sooner.
The waiver now applies to motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts transporting heating fuel, including propane, natural gas, and heating oil, and gasoline and diesel fuel into 15 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.
[Related: Truck driver charged 'careless' after flipping DOT snowplow in North Dakota]
Wabash acquires AI cargo security firm
Wabash announced last week it has acquired TrailerHawk.ai, a provider of advanced cargo security and smart access management technologies.
The move strengthens Wabash’s Trailers-as-a-Service (TaaS) offering, empowering logistics providers to achieve greater freight security, visibility and operational efficiency, the company said.
TaaS enables logistics providers to grow revenue streams through a nationwide, flexible trailer subscription including on-demand trailer pools, national maintenance support and actionable data insights powered by the Wabash Marketplace platform.
“By integrating TrailerHawk.ai’s technology into our TaaS program, we’re offering logistics providers a unique advantage – superior cargo security, real-time visibility and data-driven insights that help protect assets and streamline operations,” said Mike Pettit, chief growth officer at Wabash. “This acquisition underscores our commitment to delivering customer-focused solutions that address today’s most pressing logistics challenges.”
TrailerHawk.ai’s tools address the increasing demand for secure, transparent and efficient freight movement.
The acquisition reinforces Wabash’s commitment to merging physical and digital technologies, creating connected ecosystems that drive efficiency and reliability across the supply chain, Wabash said. The integration of TrailerHawk.ai accelerates Wabash’s ability to reshape how freight moves across North America.
