Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, May 12, 2026:
- Trucking associations don’t want fuel tax relief as another state lowers diesel tax.
- Mexican national in U.S. illegally accused of recruiting truckers as drug mules.
- Kansas police don’t mess around with truck thieves.
- Nation’s top state for truck parking gets more.
Kentucky takes a dime from fuel tax as trucking groups caution against halting federal tax
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is taking steps to ease pain at the pump for truck drivers and motorists by freezing the state’s fuel tax, activating price gouging laws, and declaring a state of emergency to reduce the state’s taxes on diesel and gasoline by 10 cents.
The freeze on the gas tax was made ahead of an expected increase set to take effect July 1. The reduction in the state’s taxes took effect on May 11, according to the Kentucky Department of Revenue. For diesel, the 10-cent reduction brings the state’s tax to 12 cents per gallon.
Beshear also sent letters to Congress calling for the suspension of the federal gas tax through the end of 2026. As reported Monday in Overdrive, President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress hope to suspend the federal fuel tax.
Following Trump’s statement, a coalition of trucking groups -- the American Trucking Associations, Truckload Carriers Association, and National Tank Truck Carriers -- released a statement in opposition to the move to suspend the federal gas tax.
“We understand and appreciate the desire to provide relief to Americans facing higher fuel costs,” the groups said. “However, history shows that gas tax holidays deliver negligible benefit to consumers. Because the tax is collected at the wholesale level and not at the retail pump, most savings never reach the consumer. While the average motorist pays about $1.63 per week in federal fuel taxes, a suspension would translate into only about 30 cents in weekly savings.”
The associations also highlighted the impact a suspension of the tax could have on highway investments from the Highway Trust Fund.
“Without replacement funds, fuel tax revenues supporting critical investments in highway safety and infrastructure projects would evaporate, hindering the safe and efficient movement of people and goods across the country,” they said. “America’s highways are truckers’ shop floor. While trucks are only four percent of vehicles on the road, the trucking industry covers nearly half of all Highway Trust Fund revenue. We look forward to working with members of Congress on solutions that deliver meaningful relief to consumers while preserving the long-term integrity of our transportation system.”
[Related: Trump wants to drop the federal fuel tax. How could it impact trucking?]
‘Illegal alien’ recruited truck drivers to distribute cocaine: U.S. Attorney
A 52-year-old “illegal alien” from Mexico living in Laredo, Texas, has been sentenced for his role in using tractor-trailers in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than $1 million in cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Luis Manuel Castillo Garcia pleaded guilty Nov. 3, 2025, to conspiring with others to organize and transport cocaine from Laredo to other locations across the U.S. and to illegally reentering the United States following his removal.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana ordered Garcia to serve 11 years and three months in federal prison for the cocaine charges and 10 years for illegally reentering the country after removal. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected again to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding Garcia’s criminal history, including prior convictions for drug possession and illegal reentry following removal. The court also heard evidence Garcia coordinated cocaine shipments from Mexico and participated in transporting large quantities of cocaine over an extended period.
In March 2025, Garcia recruited tractor-trailer drivers, including Luis Alonzo Pena Jr., to haul several loads of cocaine stored at a local yard.
Garcia arranged for two trailers containing hidden compartments of cocaine to be transported from Laredo. He paid $9,000 per trailer. Authorities seized the vehicles March 4 and 5, 2025, and discovered a total of 50 kilograms of cocaine.
Approximately two months later, law enforcement observed Garcia meeting Pena at a location in Laredo. Pena arrived in a red Chevrolet Silverado and accepted a duffle bag of cocaine for transport. A subsequent traffic stop led to the discovery of the bag, which contained 15 bundles of cocaine weighing approximately 18.5 kilograms.
The more than 65 kilograms of cocaine had an estimated street value of over $1 million.
Pena, 31, was previously sentenced to more than 4.5 years in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
Both men will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Truck thief shot by police during chase
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred last week in Bourbon County involving deputies from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and an alleged truck thief.
The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance at approximately 11:40 p.m. Thursday, May 7. KBI agents responded to the scene.
Late Thursday evening, May 7, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stolen semi-truck traveling northbound from Pittsburg, Kansas. The vehicle was reported to be driving into oncoming traffic and fleeing from local law enforcement.
Crawford County deputies pursued the truck after the driver refused an attempted traffic stop. During the pursuit, the suspect continued to drive the wrong way in the southbound lanes. Deputies attempted to disable the vehicle but were unsuccessful.
As the pursuit continued into Bourbon County, two Crawford County deputies discharged their firearms, striking the suspect and vehicle. The suspect lost control of the truck near Highway 69 and Indian Road and was taken into custody.
The suspect was treated at a local hospital before being transferred to a regional medical center and is now in stable condition. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing, and KBI noted that information provided is preliminary, based on evidence collected and early statements of people involved, witnesses, medical personnel and others.
TA expands Texas footprint
TravelCenters of America on May 8 announced the opening of two new locations -- a TA in Vernon, Texas, and a TA Express in Belton, Texas.
The Vernon location, at 2817 U.S. Highway 287 West, features 76 truck parking spaces, Vernon BBQ and Popeyes restaurants, Starbucks, seven diesel lanes, a Cat Scale, truck service and more.
The TA Express in Belton, Texas, is located at exit 289A off of I-35 and offers 55 truck parking spaces; Pizza Hut Express, Champs Chicken and Ranch Eats restaurants; six diesel lanes; a Cat Scale, and other amenities.
Texas is already considered by truckers as the best state in the nation when it comes to truck parking, according to Overdrive readers surveyed for the 2025 Truckers’ Highway Report Card.
[Related: Truckers still torn: Truck Parking Club's huge growth with pay-to-park]
