The carrier's market truckers have been waiting for

Plus: FMCSA's new Motus system | CDL school crackdowns explained

Diesel costs are still weighing heavily on trucking companies, but some in the industry are witnessing tighter capacity—to the point where they have more business than they can take on. Is a carrier's market finally on the horizon?

Plus, everything you need to know about "Motus," the FMCSA's new system.

And this video of a tractor-trailer backing into a dock will have you on the edge of your seat.

⬆️$5.640

AVG. COST OF DIESEL PER GALLON IN U.S. AS OF 05/04, UP 0.289¢

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

ROADSIDE READS

Motus is coming. The FMCSA will roll out a new registration system this quarter. This article breaks down what you need to know about it.

What happens in Vegas 🎲 Act Expo is taking place this week in Sin City. Follow along on the LinkedIn page or with the #ACTExpo hashtag for the latest happenings.

Who’s at fault? One driver’s brakes seized, another fell asleep at the wheel. The industry is weighing in on who should be held accountable.

Price at the pump. The diesel struggles are far from over. One trucking CEO appeared on Fox Business to share how diesel is impacting his company. Here's the interview.

INDUSTRY VOICES

Trucking owners report significant capacity tightening

Some trucking owners are feeling capacity get tighter and tighter. Gabe Stephens, vice president of C.C. Jones Trucking, operates a fleet of 35 reefers. He and his peers in trucking are all experiencing a situation where load demand exceeds available supply.

"They’ve got more freight than they can stand,” he said.

Why this matters: There's a clear divide in the trucking industry—those who have more business than they can manage, and those struggling under the weight of a prolonged freight recession and high diesel prices, on the verge of calling it quits. If the trend that Stephens is seeing holds, we might be entering a carrier's market, giving trucking the upper hand in shipper negotiations. (Arkansas Business)

FAST LANE

RATE RISE: ACT Research claims driver shortage pushing up rates

HIGHLIGHT REEL: DOT touts one year of actions to make trucking safer for American truckers

CALL TO ACTION: Trucking groups push DOJ to fight cargo theft

OPEN ROAD: Calif. adopts regulations for driverless trucks on public roads

TRAFFIC JAM: Customs adjusts timings at Texas border crossing to ease congestion

PORT PROJECTS: DOT earmarks $774M for port infrastructure improvements

SEEN & HEARD

"If I put $180 in here to try to fill it up...it's just only getting to a half tank now." —Charlie Brooks, driver for Fullback Trucking

Six months ago, $180 would have filled the tank for Brooks. Now, it only fills about half. Brooks is one of several people in the trucking industry in Michigan feeling the squeeze. Like most of the country, the Midwest has been seeing diesel prices above $5 for at least six weeks. (WXYZ)

ICYMI, read part 1 and part 2 of our three-part series on diesel prices. Look for the final part in your inbox on Thursday.

ROAD REPORT

Texas attorney general investigates trucking schools
Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general, has launched an investigation into multiple trucking schools in the state. The schools are accused of violating English proficiency rules and certifying drivers who aren't qualified.

Why this matters: The federal government has been cracking down on CDL schools, and now some states are doing the same. If the Texas AG probe finds violations, it could shrink the available pool of truck drivers—but would it make roads safer? (CCJ)