Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026:
- A New England state with “restrictive” weight limits for “superload” permitting is eyeing an increase.
- Another autonomous truck taking off in Texas -- this time for a brokerage.
- New fueling option along North Carolina’s I-40.
Massachusetts legislation would harmonize ‘superload’ permitting
In an effort to harmonize permitting for “superloads” in the Northeast, the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) is advocating in Massachusetts and elsewhere to improve the permitting process.
In Massachusetts in particular, SC&RA’s advocacy has helped lead to the introduction of legislation in both chambers of the state’s legislature that would increase the weight limit threshold for acquiring a superload permit to 199,000 pounds in gross vehicle weight from the current 130,000-pound limit -- “the most restrictive in the region,” the group noted.
In letters to both chambers of the Massachusetts legislature, SC&RA said the change “would directly align Massachusetts’ weight limit with the states of Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island. The other New England states have limits and flexibilities built into their systems that make moving from one state to another more seamless as well.”
The legislation also would require the Massachusetts DOT to create an application and fee schedule for expedited superload permits, which is also common in surrounding states.
Finally, the legislation would authorize MassDOT to set appropriate terms and conditions for superload permits, ensuring a balance between safety, efficiency, and economic productivity, the group said.
[Related: Harmony in states’ permitting parameters inches closer, as fines remain heavy-haul risk]
Joanna Jungels addresses attendees of the SC&RA Transportation Symposium in Birmingham, Alabama.Todd Dills
“We’re working with Kentucky on a new permit system” started in 2025, too, Jungels said, with lots of layers of difficulty in implementation. “Getting common routes denied is happening” in what’s a partially automated system like most in states who’ve moved to some measure of auto-issue permitting.
Jungels and the association hopes engagement from oversize/overweight haulers and state officials, with whom the association has long sought to be a bridge, will answer the key question of “how can we help [state officials] help us,” fundamentally, she said.
There are plenty bright spots in the notoriously variable permits system state-to-state, yet also among policymakers. Jungels noted SC&RA would be watching closely federal and state investigatory and regulatory efforts aimed at rooting out trucking’s “bad actors,” she said, some of whom have been seen even in the oversize/overweight world “cutting corners, ignoring best practices and risking the safety of the motoring public.”
[Related: High-dollar freight means high cost consideration: Heavy and oversize hauling risks, rewards]
She went on to caution state and federal officials against “overly broad” response, with unnecessary restrictions that could make maintaining “our standards as professional operators” so difficult “we run the risk of losing out.”
At once, she sees potential with the new Congressional Trucking Caucus and a Trump administration with stability, for now, at the helm of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Could the 30-minute rest break exemption for oversize/overweight haulers, which SC&RA has long been able to extend, now be made permanent? There’s a chance, she said. --Todd Dills contributed to this report
[Related: 'High, wide and ugly': The most specialized hauls of the year]
Bot Auto partners with brokerage for autonomous route
Autonomous truck provider Bot Auto has entered into a strategic partnership with brokerage Ryan Transportation to launch what the company calls “humanless, autonomous freight operations” between Houston and Dallas.
Ryan Transportation has emerged as a brokerage partner on Bot Auto's Houston-to-Dallas corridor, establishing autonomous trucking as a viable capacity option for traditional brokerage operations, Bot Auto said. Driverless runs are expected to begin this spring without an operator or observer in the cab, Bot Auto confirmed.
The deployment centers on an overnight lane connecting Houston to the southern Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, a roughly 200-mile corridor with a tight delivery window that has historically been difficult to service with human drivers, Bot Auto noted.Bot Auto
Overnight runs demand a driver who can depart on schedule, maintain consistent speed, and deliver within a narrow window every single night, Bot Auto said, adding that fatigue, hours-of-service limits, and driver availability make this a challenging lane to cover reliably with traditional capacity. Bot Auto's autonomous trucks face none of these constraints, the company added.
"This is an opportunity to provide a high level of service on a lane for a customer who demands essential attention to detail, and our autonomous technology does exactly that," said Robert Brown, VP of Business Development at Bot Auto. "The overnight run is a perfect use case; the robot doesn't get tired, doesn't need a reset, and delivers with the same precision every single time."
The partnership marks a significant milestone in the commercialization of autonomous trucking, Bot Auto added. Ryan Transportation is integrating Bot Auto's Transportation-as-a-Service (TaaS) model and driverless fleet into its logistics network, offering shippers a new layer of capacity.
"At Ryan Transportation, we're constantly evaluating new solutions that enhance service, safety and reliability for our shipper partners," said Jeff Henderson, Senior Vice President at Ryan Transportation. "Forming this partnership is a strategic decision based on Bot Auto's proven technology and the role autonomous trucking will play long-term in logistics. It will strengthen our ability to provide dependable, high-frequency capacity on time-sensitive freight while maintaining the operational standards our customers expect."
[Related: Aurora adds 1K-mile 'driverless' lane: Will solo HOS regs apply for the in-cab observer?]
New Sheetz opens with high-flow diesel pumps in N.C.
Mid-Atlantic convenience store chain Sheetz last week opened its newest location in Conover, North Carolina, off of I-40.
The location offers seven high-flow diesel lanes for truck drivers, along with 12 other fuel terminals for other drivers.
To celebrate the opening, Sheetz will present a $2,500 donation to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, a nonprofit that provides food assistance for 24 counties across the Carolinas. Sheetz also presented a $2,500 check to the Special Olympics of North Carolina at the grand opening event.
Sheetz operates 800+ store locations across Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland, with all locations open 24/7, 365 days a year.
