Trucking news and briefs for Monday, April 14, 2025:
Preliminary report from NTSB offers timeline of fatal I-35 pileup
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary report on a March 13 fatal crash involving a tractor-trailer pulling an Amazon drayage container.
According to NTSB’s timeline of the crash, a 2016 Volvo VNL and 2022 CIMC intermodal container chassis operated by ZBN Transport, and driven by Solomun Weldekeal Araya, was traveling Southbound along I-35 near milemarker 254.4 in Austin, Texas.
The truck was traveling in a long-term work zone and encountered a traffic queue that had formed because of lane closures that were about 0.4 miles south within the work zone.
“The driver of the combination vehicle did not stop as he approached the slowing traffic ahead and collided with the rear of a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta passenger car and a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck at the end of the queue,” NTSB said.
[Related: Driver arrested after I-35 pileup in Austin, Texas, kills 5]
Following the initial collision, the tractor-trailer continued into the backup for about a tenth of a mile, causing 13 other vehicles in the queue to be involved in the crash.
A 2.2-mile short-term work zone was established within the long-term work zone for an overnight pavement resurfacing project, which began at 9 p.m. on March 13 and was scheduled to end at 3:30 a.m. on March 14. The speed limit along this section of I-35 was originally 70 mph, but the work zone speed limit was lowered to 60 mph.
As a result of the crash, all four occupants in the passenger car and one passenger in the pickup truck were fatally injured. The other two occupants of the pickup truck and the other occupants in the crash-involved vehicles reported various injuries ranging from minor to serious. The driver of the tractor-trailer was uninjured.
​All aspects of the crash remain under investigation while the NTSB determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar events. Investigating the crash with NTSB are the ​Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Texas Department of Transportation and Austin Police Department.
[Related: DOT investigating truck driver who caused I-35 pileup]
SBA calls for small-biz input on DOT’s call for regulatory review
The Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy will host a virtual roundtable to discuss the Department of Transportation’s Request for Information (RFI) on regulatory review and reform and is inviting small businesses to participate.
The Small Business Transportation Sector Roundtable will be held Wednesday, April 16, from 1-3 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. To RSVP for the roundtable, send an email to Bruce Lundegren at [email protected] to receive a Teams calendar invitation.
Per DOT’s Federal Register notice, the department seeks comments on existing regulations, guidance, paperwork requirements, and other regulatory obligations that can be modified or repealed, consistent with law. DOT seeks to ensure that its administrative actions do not undermine the national interest and achieve meaningful burden reduction while continuing to meet statutory obligations and ensure the safety of the U.S. transportation system.
[Related: What truckers want DOGE to tackle]
SBA’s Office of Advocacy takes its direction from small business and hosts roundtables to receive input on what issues are of greatest importance.
Transportation attorney Hank Seaton feels the SBA roundtable could easily represent truckers' "best chance to table our need for reform with respect to safety, fraud prevention," and other issues like the administration's posture toward independent contractors. That's particularly so given the advocacy office's own posture, taking its direction directly from small businesses. As representatives of small business, small trucking companies' input is needed to identify regulatory reform candidates in transportation, SBA said.
[Related: DOT calls for input on regulations to remove, modify]
Love’s opens 25th Missouri location
Love’s Travel Stops has opened its 25th location in the state of Missouri with a new store now open in Charleston, Missouri, along I-57.
Located at U.S. 62, Exit 12, the new stop adds 76 truck parking spaces to the company’s network.
It also features a Love’s Fresh Kitchen, Arby’s, seven diesel bays, four showers and more.
