This legislation could target your empty driver seats

Plus: Do you ever have 'trucklings?' | Spot rates rise over holiday

Happy New Year! As we get back into the swing of things, we're sharing a few stories from fleet owners on how they're running their businesses and setting standards for the year ahead.

Plus, a bill gaining traction in Congress could help ease the industry's labor issues.

But first, check out this mesmerizing video of a moving trailer floor.

⬇️ $3.477

AVG. COST OF DIESEL PER GALLON IN U.S. AS OF 01/06, DOWN -0.023¢

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

ROADSIDE READS

Sister act. Read the story of two sisters who took over their father's trucking business and are aiming to make it the best and safest fleet in Texas.

First-hand perspective. This article shares a story and Q&A with a truck driver and his thoughts on the job.

Becoming a "truckling." A thread on how semi-trucks offer a guiding light, sometimes literally, to other drivers on the road.

Wish list. What's one big thing you'd change about the trucking industry? A driver shares his answer in this short video.

INDUSTRY VOICES

A bill to solve trucking's labor woes?

A bipartisan bill called The Dignity Act of 2025 is gaining traction. The legislation would change how work visas are allocated, making it easier and faster for employers to legally hire foreign labor through the existing EB-3 visa program. The program mandates background checks, employment verification and full immigration vetting.

As John E. Dorer, CEO of eb3.work, writes, "This is not about politics; it is about practicality," adding that the legislation could offer a "turning point" for trucking companies struggling to fill seats and hire talent.

Why this matters: It's no secret that the truck driver population is aging, and young workers are not as attracted to the field. While there's work to be done on that front, the Dignity Act offers another solution to a problem that many fleet executives face: hiring and retaining enough workers to keep the wheels turning. (CCJ Digital)

FAST LANE

ON HOLD: Calif. delays 17K CDL revocations following lawsuit

GRANT MONEY: Dept. of Transportation offers $118M in grants

BORDER ACTION: Border patrol agents remove truckers without legal residency

SHUT DOWN: N.C. trucking firm closes due to rising costs, 100 without work

CARGO THEFT: $400K of lobster going to Costco stolen in double brokerage scheme

PULLED OVER: $7M of cocaine discovered during truck inspection

SEEN & HEARD

"The standard you set right now in the cold, in the grind, in the new year, in the hard days—that's the standard that carries the year ahead."

- Tyler Kivi, Kivi Bros Trucking

As the year begins, trucking fleets face some of their toughest months with winter storms, poor weather conditions, increased wear and tear and the need for more proactive maintenance. On his podcast, Kivi discusses the importance of starting the year right and setting a safety standard to carry through 2026 and beyond. (Keep Trucking Personal)

ROAD REPORT

Holiday season saw climbing spot rates

Data from FreightWaves reveals some welcome news from the most recent peak season. Tender rejections (which measure the percentage of loads that carriers rejected) and spot rates reached highs not seen in years. For example, from mid-November to late December, spot rates climbed nearly 19%.

Why this matters: The market tightness and rising rates were beneficial to small fleets that primarily operate in the spot market. The question is whether this was a seasonal blip or a sign of a more favorable trucking market to come. (FreightWaves)

CONNECTED FLEET

Kodiak, Verizon team up for driverless trucks

Autonomous trucking company Kodiak AI is partnering with Verizon to support its driverless trucking operations. Kodiak AI will use Verizon's connectivity for telematics, remote monitoring and data transfer over long distances.

Why this matters: Kodiak AI sees the partnership as another step forward in scaling commercial autonomous trucking operations. Driverless technology is advancing quickly—it's a matter of regulations and public acceptance keeping up or deciding to put the brakes on AVs' proliferation. (Fleet Equipment Magazine)