New federal rules small carriers can't afford to miss

A flurry of trucking-related activity is happening in Washington, from FMCSA's new system and ELD revocations to legislation funding truck parking. We break it all down. 

And a trucking exec reveals one possible tradeoff of adding safety tech to its trucks—but why the adoption was still worth it in the end. 

Plus, a tribute to man's best friend and a trucker's best road companion. 

Need to know. What does the Supreme Court broker ruling mean for small trucking companies and owner-ops? This article breaks it down. 

MOTUS is live. The FMCSA's new registration system became active last week. This page has resources and FAQs about the system. 

Meet the fleet. From a single truck to $1M in revenue, read the story of LC Transport Services. 

Get ready for traffic. With the World Cup coming up, Geotab put together a dashboard of which cities might have the worst congestion and bottlenecks for trucking companies.

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Oil and inflation could dent consumer spending, trucking demand

"We’re going to have to really keep an eye and see if the consumer can continue to keep buying."

That was the message from FTR Chairman Eric Starks, speaking on a recent webinar. Oil prices and inflation are weighing heavily on consumers' wallets. 

Why this matters: If consumer spending softens, freight volume follows. That's a double squeeze for small carriers right now: you're already absorbing elevated fuel costs, and the load board could get thinner at the same time. Watch your rate negotiations and keep a closer eye on cash reserves over the next two quarters.(CCJ Digital)

ZERO TOLERANCE: DOT says truckers can't excuse positive drug test with state-issued medical marijuana

LOGGING DEVICE: FMCSA removes 12 ELDs from approved list

SPIKING COSTS: Trucking insurance premiums up almost 38% in a decade

DWELL TIME: Truck dwell at San Pedro ports under 3 days for 15th month

TRUCK ACTIVITY: Tonnage holds steady at highest levels since 2022

DRIVER ARREST: Trucker arrested in Calif. for immigration violations

In this short podcast, Evans shares how his company adopted safety technology and apps to reduce distracted driving. There was some pushback from drivers, and a few even left K&B because of the new tech. But in the end, was it worth it? (HDT Talks Trucking)

REGULATION
Build America bill gets thumbs-up from trucking
Trucking groups, including OOIDA, ATA and the Truckload Carriers Association, are applauding the $580 billion BUILD America 250 Act. The bill includes $750M for truck parking, $110B for bridges and highways, protections against predatory lease-purchase agreements and mandated trucker restroom access, among other provisions. The legislation passed a House committee last week and now faces debate in the full House.

Why this matters: If passed, the bill would reauthorize surface transportation spending, which is set to expire at the end of September. In its current form, the legislation promises funds for many of trucking's long-standing issues. (Truckers News)

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The Inside Lane is curated and written by Shefali Kapadia and edited by Bianca Prieto.