Issuu

AUGUST 2026

Trucking’s Voice In South Dakota Since 1935

2026 National Trucking Championships: South Dakota Highlights Page 20

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In this issue 2

SDTA NextGen 2026 Golf Cart Raffle

Message From the Chairman

Message From the SDTA Executive Committee

August 2026 Driver of the Month

Driver of the Month Nomination Form & Rules

Upcoming Events

On the cover

11 Congratulations to Our 2026 Scholarship Recipients! 13 91st Annual Convention Tentative Agenda 14 91st Annual Convention Sponsor Information

Pictured is the challenging skills course competitors navigated during the 2026 National Truck Driving Championships, held August 11–15 in Pittsburgh, PA.

15 91st Annual Convention Registration 17 91st Annual Convention Speakers 19 91st Annual Convention Sponsors 20 2026 National Trucking Championships: South Dakota Highlights 22 FMCSA Moves to Codify English Language Proficiency Process at Border Areas 24 ATA Announces Leadership Transition 25 Driver Pay Pressure Rises as Capacity Declines 27 Who’s in the Passenger Seat? CVSA Seeks New Rule to Combat Human Trafficking 27 2026 Legislative Receptions Save the Date 29 Clash Over Non-Domiciled CDL Rule Drives Toward Oral Arguments 31 Diesel Still Ripping Higher Than The Rest Of The Barrel; Here’s Why 35 Cargo Thefts Decline, But High-Value Loads Drive Bigger Losses

AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 1

SUPPORT THE NextGen

2 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

SDTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MESSAGE FROM THE

Chairman

Justin Anders Chairman Tom Murphy Vice Chairman Ryan Viessman Treasurer Jim Maciejewski Secretary Bob Willey Past Chairman Vacant ATA Vice President

SDTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeff Bennett Phillip Christian Nick Cleveringa Shanna Gray Pete Halverson Eric Hamiel Steve Hoffman Bailey Johnson Larry Klaahsen Tim Kotalik Justin Larson Matt Parker Jeff Peterson Dan Schipper Gene Williams

SDTA SERVICES BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The 91st Annual South Dakota Trucking Association Convention is a couple of weeks away, and there is still time to register if you haven’t done so already. There will be lots of good information to learn and vendors to support and visit. We will also have a great keynote speaker that you won’t want to miss, Chris Spear, the ATA President and CEO will help to close out the convention. I hope that many of you can come and support the SDTA. This is my final message, as Tom Murphy will be taking over as the incoming chairman at the convention. Tom will do a great job of leading the South Dakota Trucking Association and tackling the continuous challenges our industry faces. It was my pleasure to serve as the chairman over the last two years, and I plan to stay involved and engaged with the SDTA in the future. Farewell, everyone, and thank you. Safe travels,

Justin Anders Anders Trucking dispatch@anderstrucking.com

TRUCKING INTO THE FUTURE

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. NETWORKING. ADVOCACY.

Jim Maciejewski Chairman Brad Schipper Membership Retention Director Todd Johnson Public Relations Director Rick Underwood Membership Services Director Cindy Heiberger Group Insurance Director

OUR MISSION: Develop, Educate and Recruit Future Leaders of the Transportation Industry.

Join the SDTA NextGen Group Today! Learn from mentors, network with peers, and stay informed about important industry, legislative and regulatory challenges in the trucking industry. Whether you are new to the trucking industry, a legacy employee, or you have years of experience, everyone is welcome. Mixers are held quarterly. To get involved, contact us: 605.334.8871 or info@southdakotatrucking.com www.southdakotatrucking.com

AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 3

JUSTIN LARSON (605) 224-1611 PIERRE, SD

KURT SWANSON (605) 224-1611 PIERRE, SD

TACHA ARTZ

(605) 737-7865 RAPID CITY, SD

JORDAN GAU

NICK BACKLUND

(605) 996-4698 MITCHELL, SD

GREG BALDWIN (605) 336-2795 SIOUX FALLS, SD

RUSS STOUGH (605) 336-4444 SIOUX FALLS, SD

WE KNOW TRANSPORTATION Acrisure Truck Group consultants are experts in the coverage of all size trucks and farm equipment, so we know the risks and liabilities to make sure you are fully covered. We have four locations in South Dakota to serve you and your truck insurance needs—Pierre, Mitchell, Rapid City and Sioux Falls.

WWW.ACRISURE.COM/MIDWEST 4 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

MESSAGE FROM THE

Executive Committee To: All SDTA Regular Members From: SDTA Executive Committee

SDTA STAFF

Date: 7/16/2026

Michelle Wells Member Manager michelle@southdakotatrucking.com

Re: Board of Directors

Patty Hinz Office Manager/Graphic Designer patty@southdakotatrucking.com

We hope you are all enjoying a productive (and hopefully) profitable Summer, and having some time to enjoy life as well!

Scott Johnson Controller accounting@southdakotatrucking.com

CONTACT INFORMATION Address: 3801 S. Kiwanis Avenue Sioux Falls, SD 57105 Office: (605) 334-8871 Email: info@southdakotatrucking.com Website: southdakotatrucking.com

Good day to all of our members.

We’d like to connect with all of our members to discuss membership on our Board of Directors. We currently have several chairs available on the Board, and would like to add folks to those seats. While we do encourage in-person attendance, we do offer remote access to meetings as well. We have 4 board meetings spaced throughout the year, occurring in February, May, September (convention), and November. Board meetings are typically around a half day in duration. If you don’t have the interest yourself, perhaps there is someone in your organization that you could elevate to one of these positions. We admire and respect all facets of our industry, and look forward to your organization providing input and guidance to our full board, which translates to our membership base. Our mission is to strengthen and advance the state’s trucking industry through advocacy and education. Your involvement with our Board of Directors will help drive that mission forward. If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to join, please contact the SDTA office either by phone or email. Thank you very much and let’s keep on truckin’!

Justin Anders Chairman

Tom Murphy Vice Chairman

Ryan Viessman Treasurer

Jim Maciejewski Secretary

Bob Willey Past Chairman

AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 5

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6 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

AUGUST 2026 DRIVER OF THE MONTH

Don Bardsley Don Bardsley, K&J Trucking, Inc., Sioux Falls, SD, was selected as the August 2026 Driver of the Month by the South Dakota Safety Management Council. Don has been driving professionally for more than 26 years and has spent the past four years with K&J Trucking. During his career, he has logged an impressive 3,072,422 miles with no chargeable accidents, demonstrating his commitment to safety and professionalism behind the wheel. Don is always professional and dependable, consistently delivering loads on time and helping dispatch whenever he is asked or whenever there is a need. His willingness to step up and help wherever he can makes him a valuable member of the K&J Trucking team. Don was previously recognized as Driver of the Month in 2014. He has also competed in the South Dakota Truck Driving Championships five times, finishing in second place twice. Don lives in Sioux Falls, SD. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his niece, hunting, four-wheeling, and hiking in the Hills. He also enjoys helping out at the American Legion and giving back to his community. The South Dakota Trucking Association joins the Safety Management Council in congratulating Don Bardsley on being selected as the August 2026 Driver of the Month.

Nominate Them for Driver of the Month A nomination form & rules can be found online at www.southdakotatrucking.com under the Resources tab. For more information, please contact the SDTA office at 605-334-8871 or michelle@southdakotatrucking.com

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We offer high-quality, low-cost CDL training options in the South Dakota region that are available online from any device. Our curriculum is fully compliant with the current FMCSA ELDT Training standards, and we are a member in good standing of the Training Provider Registry as a Theory provider. To learn about our fully-online, FMCSA-compliant CDL Theory program and how you can join our trainee to employee pipeline, call the SDTA office at 605-334-8871 or go to www.southdakotatrucking.com

TO SIGN UP FOR CDL THEORY TRAINING VISIT:

www.southdakotacdl.com AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 7

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605-334-8871 8 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

Letterhead Envelopes Brochures Postcards Forms Notepads Carbonless Forms Labels Newsletters Banners

Notepads Thank You Cards Mirror Hang Tags Ad Plates License Plate Frames Thermal Kiss Decals Key Fobs Graphic Design And Much More...

SEPTEMBER 1-3, 2026 SDTA 91st Annual Convention Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel & Casino Deadwood, SD

FEBRUARY 1, 2027 SDADA/SDTA Joint Executive Committee Meeting Ramkota Hotel | Pierre, SD | 4 PM

SEPTEMBER 13-19, 2026 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

SDADA/SDTA Winter Reception

NOVEMBER 12, 2026 SDTA & SDADA Annual Pheasant Hunt 8:00 a.m. Meet at Hutch’s Cafe Presho, SD

FEBRUARY 2, 2027 SDTA Winter Executive Committee Meeting Ramkota Hotel | Pierre, SD |10 AM

NOVEMBER 13, 2026 SDTA Fall Executive Committee Meeting 8:00 a.m. AmericInn Fort Pierre, SD NOVEMBER 13, 2026 SDTA Fall Board of Directors Meeting 10:00 a.m. AmericInn Fort Pierre, SD NOVEMBER 17, 2026 West River Legislative Reception 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Hyatt Place Rapid City, SD NOVEMBER 19, 2026 East River Legislative Reception 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Minervas | Lower Level Sioux Falls, SD

FEBRUARY 1, 2027 with Legislators Ramkota Hotel | Pierre, SD | 6 PM

FEBRUARY 2, 2027 SDTA Winter Board of Directors Meeting Ramkota Hotel | Pierre, SD | 12:30 PM MARCH (TBD), 2027 Call On Washington Washington, DC MAY 6, 2027 SDTA Spring/Summer Executive Committee Meeting 10:00 a.m. AmericInn Chamberlain, SD

MAY 6, 2027 Social Hour, Dinner and Calcutta for the Annual Cliff Tjaden Fishing Event 6:00 p.m. AmericInn Chamberlain, SD MAY 7, 2027 Annual Cliff Tjaden Fishing Event 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Cedar Shore Marina Oacoma, SD MAY 15, 2027 SD Truck Driving Championships 7:00 a.m. Southeast Technical College Sioux Falls, SD JULY 8, 2027 SDTA Golf Event 9:00 a.m. Brandon Golf Course Brandon, SD AUGUST 11–14, 2027 National Truck Driving Championships Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, OH

MAY 6, 2027 SDTA Spring/Summer Board of Directors Meeting 1:00 p.m. AmericInn Chamberlain, SD

AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 9

OPEN Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm 24 HR - CALL SERVICE

10 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

OUR 2026 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS! Connor Bose

I’m Connor Bose and I’m from Luverne, Minnesota. My dad works for K&J Trucking as a dispatcher manager. I will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this fall to major in civil engineering.

Allison Estling

I am Allison Estling. I am from Dawson, MN. I live with my wiener dog, Oliver. I am in my final year of school at Minnesota West in Granite Falls, MN. I am going for nursing, specifically for my RN. I have been around the trucking industry my whole life. My great-grandfather was Cliff Viessman, the founder of Viessman Trucking. Growing up, I can remember visiting the offices in both Dawson, MN, and Gary, SD. My dad also trucks for Viessman’s and has been for nearly a decade. About five years ago, he began his career as an owner-operator, continuing to haul sugar and starch for the company.

Garrett Feldhaus

Garrett is the son of Jeromy and Maria Feldhaus, owners of Feldhaus Trucking in Howard, SD. He graduated from Howard High School in May 2026 after being active in football, basketball, baseball and golf during his years there. He has two older sisters, Katelyn and Rebecca and will be attending South Dakota State University this fall to pursue a major in Sports Management.

Nadalee Gerjets

My name is Nadalee Gerjets and I am a recent graduate of Brookings High School. My entire K-12 education was completed within the Brookings School District. I grew up on a small acreage south of Brookings where I raised animals including rabbits, chickens, dogs, and horses. This is where my love for small animals and livestock began. Throughout high school I have been involved in FFA, Student Council, 4-H, and shooting sports. My

post secondary education plan is to attend Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, SD majoring in Livestock Production and Management. While attending LATC, I plan to obtain my CDL license and use it to help my family's business, Perkins Storage and Transfer, where we use large trucks to move household goods anywhere in the country. After college I plan to work within the agricultural industry.

Madison Ingalls

Madison Ingalls is a 2026 graduate of Sioux Falls Jefferson High School and a dedicated student-athlete committed to excellence in both academics and service. A four-year honor roll student, four-year varsity soccer player, two-year captain, and All-Metro Conference First Team selection, she has consistently demonstrated leadership, discipline, andteamwork. She was actively involved in Best Buddies, Soccer Stars, and the National Honor Society, and volunteered at the Special Olympics golf tournament, The Banquet, and Feeding South Dakota. Her commitment to inclusion, service, and hard work has shaped her into a well-rounded, motivated young woman ready to make a meaningful impact in her community and future career. She will attend the University of Sioux Falls to play soccer while majoring in Nursing, a field that reflects her compassion and desire to help others.

Cason Kelling

My name is Cason Kelling, I grew up on a small acreage west of Tea. My love for agriculture and the outdoors stemmed from a young age. Whether it was fencing for sheep, building sheds, or catching snakes in the backyard I have always loved being outside. I went to school in Tea where I graduated from in the spring of 2026 with a Regents Scholar. While I was in school I

Continued on Page 12. AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 11

Congratulations to Our 2026 Scholarship Recipients continued from Page 11.

played soccer, golf, basketball, and track. This fall I am headed to Lake Area Tech in Watertown where I will be studying Ag Business and will be getting my CDL. I have a long list of hobbies but my favorite ones are hunting, fishing, skiing, and politics. I'd like to thank the South Dakota Trucking Association for helping to further my education.

Drive Safety Forward JOIN THE SDTA SAFETY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

Carson Steffensen

I graduated from Canton High School in May and plan to attend Augustana University this fall. I plan to study finance in addition to playing golf at Augustana. My career goals are to become a commercial pilot. I currently hold a private pilot license and will continue my flight training while in college at Legacy Aviation in Tea. We are proud to support these students as they pursue their education and future careers. We wish each of you the very best in your studies and continued success as you work toward your goals!

Meetings held every third Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. Ramkota Hotel Restaurant 3200 W Maple Street | Sioux Falls Not in the Sioux Falls area? Join us virtually via Microsoo Teams!

Join today! Be part of a dedicated group of trucking professionals tackling safety issues in the industry.

Connect. Learn. Make Safety Your Business.

A.J. SWANSON

Arvid J. Swanson PC 27452 482nd Avenue Canton, South Dakota 57013 (605) 743-2070 www.ajswanson.com

54 YEARS of helping trucking companies grow

12 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

• Corporate Law • Business Formation • Real Estate Transactions • Agricultural Law • Sales & Use Tax Law • Estate Planning • Probate • Administrative Law • Zoning & Planning Law • Transportation Law (Motor Carrier Emphasis)

SDTA’s 91st Annual Convention September 1-3, 2026 Deadwood Mountain Grand: 1906 Deadwood Mountain Dr, Deadwood, SD 57732

Hotel Block Held through August 1, 2026 - Call (605) 559-0386

TENTATIVE AGENDA TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 12:00 PM

Vendor Setup Setup booth before 4 PM

4:00 PM

Registration Desk Opens Deadwood Mountain Grand

5:00 PM

Social & Visit Displays Deadwood Mountain Grand Heavy Hors d’ oeuvres

7:00 PM

Pub Crawl Starting at Saloon 10

11:00 - Noon

Business Session 3: Rotating Open Forum Sessions (30 minute sessions) 1. Colonial Life 2. Truckers Against Trafficking

Noon

Awards Luncheon Deadwood Mountain Grand • Fleet Safety Awards • SDHP Annual Safety Award

1:15 PM

Business Session 4: Ben Wilkens, Director of Cybersecurity, National Motor Freight Association Deadwood Mountain Grand

2:30

Driver of the Year Interviews Meet at SDTA Registration Desk

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 7:45 AM

8:00 - 8:45

Registration for ATV Ride Meet at Custer Peak Off-Road Rentals located at 21766 Custer Peak Road, Deadwood Ride starts at 8 Transportation is on own Registration for Golf Outing Check-in at Boulder Canyon Golf Club located at 12281 Stagecoach Trail, Sturgis, Shotgun start at 9 Transportation is on own

4:00 PM

Registration Desk Opens Deadwood Mountain Grand

5:00

NextGen Social & Visit Displays Deadwood Mountain Grand

6:00

Dinner Followed by the Annual Corn Hole Tournament Deadwood Mountain Grand

Each driver selected from September 2025 through August 2026 are invited to participate in a six minute interview with a panel of three judges. The driver scoring the most points in this interview will be named the Driver of the Year at the Chairman’s Banquet. 3:00

Discuss changes in the industry and how best to adapt to them. 5:00

Breakfast Deadwood Mountain Grand

We will be starting with the Formal Opening of the 91st Annual Convention. SDTA and SDTA Services Inc. Annual / Board meetings will kick off the morning. 8:30

Business Session 1: Update from SD Motor Vehicle Division, SD Highway Patrol and FMCSA Deadwood Mountain Grand

9:30

Business Session 2: The New Way of Fleet Insurance: Using Telematics, Compliance, & Driver Data to Reduce Risk Presented by Alliant Insurance Deadwood Mountain Grand

Capitol Club Reception - By Invitation Only Deadwood Mountain Grand

Every SDTA member who has contributed $200 or more to the SDTA Political Action Committee (PAC) is invited to the Capitol Club Reception. Legislators from all around SD are invited to attend. This is a great way to establish relationships with Legislators we may need to call on in the 2027 Legislative Session.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 8:00 AM

Heavy Duty Truck Dealer Meeting Deadwood Mountain Grand

5:30

Vendor Appreciation & Social Deadwood Mountain Grand

:00

Chairman’s Banquet Deadwood Mountain Grand

Keynote Speaker: Dan Horvath, COO, American Trucking Associations To close out the convention, we will be presenting the following awards: • Pride of the Show • Safety Director of the Year • Chairman’s Award • Passing of the Gavel • Driver of the Year Presentation AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 13

14 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

SDTA’s 91st Annual Convention September 1-3, 2026 Deadwood Mountain Grand: 1906 Deadwood Mountain Dr, Deadwood, SD 57732

Hotel Block Held through August 1, 2026 - Call (605) 559-0386 Company:_______________________________________________________ Email:___________________________________________ Address:___________________________________________________________________ Phone:________________________________

City/State/Zip:___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Print name(s) here as they will appear on name tag. Mark you attendees with an “x” if attending and leave blank if unable to attend. Food count is based off these numbers.

9/1

9/2

9/3

Opening Social

Golf or ATV Ride

Dinner

Breakfast

9/3

Awards Chairman’s Luncheon Banquet

NAME SPOUSE/GUEST NAME SPOUSE/GUEST NAME SPOUSE/GUEST

Please mark the appropriate box(s) below for your REGISTRATION fees:

r First Company Representative $425 r Spouse/Guest $400 r Non SDTA Member $725

TOTAL: $___________

Chairman’s Banquet Only Tickets Available at $75 each

We would like to SPONSOR at the following level:

r Diamond $5,000

r Platinum $2,500

r Gold $1,500

r Silver $1,000

r Bronze $750

TOTAL: $__________

For more information on sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities, please refer to the Sponsorship Opportunities Sheet. SPONSORSHIPS MUST BE RECEIVED BY AUGUST TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CONVENTION PROGRAM.

Total Registration Fees: $

Total Golf Hole Sponsor/Exhibitor Fees: $

Total Sponsorship Fees: $

Total ATV Ride Fees: $

Total Golf Registration Fees: $

Chairman’s Banquet Only Tickets $ TOTAL AMOUNT DUE: $

PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE 8/1/26 • NO REFUNDS AFTER 8/1/26

www.SouthDakotaTrucking.com AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 15

Company Name:__________________________________________________________________________________________________

ACTIVITY CHOICES FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2026

BOULDER CANYON GOLF CLUB 12281 Stagecoach Trail, Sturgis, SD 57785 1. GOLF REGISTRATION: Registration 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. Lunch will be provided. Participants will be split up unless specified. $125 per golfer ($200 if not registered for the convention). TRANSPORTATION IS ON YOUR OWN. 1. 3. 2. 4.

r I would like to sponsor ___ golf hole(s) at $200 per hole. r Golf Exhibitor: $280

NEW LOCATION!

CUSTER PEAK OFF ROAD RENTALS 21766 Custer Peak Rd, Deadwood, SD 57732 2. ATV RIDE REGISTRATION: Be prepared to be at Custer Peak Off Road Rentals NO LATER THAN 7:45 a.m. Ride will start promptly at 8:00 a.m. Lunch will be provided. TRANSPORTATION IS ON YOUR OWN. Check rental equipment needed: - $375 r 2-Seater FILLED

- $499 r 4-Seater FILLED

r 6-Seater FILLED- $549

r Bringing Own Equipment - $50

1. 3. 2. 4. 5. 6.

LIMITED UNITS AVAILABLE — REGISTER EARLY TO SECURE YOUR SPOT.

16 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

SDTA’S 91ST CONVENTION GUEST SPEAKERS Join us for a great lineup of speakers who will share valuable insights on safety, risk management, technology, regulatory changes, cybersecurity, and other challenges facing today’s trucking industry. You’ll gain practical information and ideas you can take back to your operation and put to work. It’s a great opportunity to learn, stay informed, and connect with fellow members. We hope to see you at the convention!

Brian Buckner

Alliant Transportation Brian Buckner is Assistant Vice President at Alliant Transportation, where he helps trucking companies manage risk through tailored insurance solutions, technology, telematics, and data analytics. Previously with TrueNorth Companies, he developed insurance programs for transportation businesses facing evolving regulations and workforce challenges. Brian is licensed in Property & Casualty and Life & Health insurance.

Cindy Gerber FMCSA

Cindy Gerber began her career in transportation safety working as a driver licensing program assistant with the South Dakota Driver Licensing Program in 1991 and has been working in public service since that time. In 1997, she was promoted to Program Director and managed the SD Driver Licensing Program for 17 years. In 2014, Cindy began working for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in the SD Division as a Highway Safety Specialist and was promoted to Division Administrator in January of 2021. Cindy is passionate about preventing crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.

Dan Horvath

American Trucking Associations Dan Horvath is the Chief Operating Officer of the American Trucking Associations. In this role, Dan oversees ATA operations, including membership, events, marketing, industry affairs, and human resources, while remaining engaged in ATA’s day-to-day advocacy efforts.

A proud CDL holder, Dan has deep roots in the commercial motor vehicle industry. He began his career by working as a driver and in the operations and safety department at Mlaker Transportation Inc., a Pennsylvania-based motor coach and student transportation company. Subsequently, Dan gained invaluable, firsthand insights into the regulatory perspective by examining new commercial carriers as an auditor for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Following his time at FMCSA, Dan served as the Director of Compliance and Safety at TransForce Inc. for more than five years. In March 2018, Dan joined ATA and quickly rose through the ranks. He was hired for the position of Director of Safety Policy and, later that year, was promoted to Vice President of Safety Policy. In November 2023, he was promoted again to Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Safety Policy. In these roles, Dan represented ATA and its regulatory affairs agenda before Congress, federal and state government regulators, and various non-governmental organizations. Dan is a 2017 graduate of the LEAD ATA program and a long-time volunteer at the National Truck Driving Championships. He serves on multiple federal advisory committees, including FMCSA’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee.

Tono Lippy

Alliant Transportation Tono Lippy has more than 20 years of experience in the trucking industry, with a background in sales, operations, and leadership. Since becoming a transportation risk advisor in 2022, he has helped trucking companies improve safety and reduce risk by developing practical solutions tailored to their operations. His hands-on industry experience allows him to understand the real challenges fleets face and provide strategies that work in the real world.

Continued on Page 18. AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 17

SDTA’S 91ST CONVENTION GUEST SPEAKERS Mike Sorrell

Ben Wilkens

Mike Sorrell is Senior Vice President at FleetLytics, where he helps trucking companies improve safety and reduce risk through telematics and data-driven solutions. As a Class A CDL holder, he combines firsthand trucking experience with technology to help fleets improve operations and lower costs.

Ben Wilkens is the Director of Cybersecurity at the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). He works with industry partners to improve cybersecurity across the trucking industry. A former trucking and logistics leader, Ben combines real-world transportation experience with cybersecurity expertise. He holds several industry certifications and maintains an active Class A CDL.

FleetLytics

Known for his practical, people-first approach, Mike has built a reputation as a trusted advisor by helping fleets solve challenges and achieve long-term success.

NMFTA

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SOCIAL MEDIA! 18 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

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SDTA’S 91ST CONVENTION SPONSORS DIAMOND SPONSORS

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AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 19

2026 National Trucking Championships: South Dakota Highlights Michelle Wells | SDTA Member Manager A total of 427 professional drivers, all with the goal of becoming the 2026 National Truck Driving Champion, gathered last week in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to compete in the National Truck Driving Championships. Each competitor earned the right to compete at the national level by first winning their respective state championship. The first day of competition began with a contestant briefing, followed by reviews of the skills course, equipment and pre-trip inspection requirements. Each driver was given 10 minutes to walk the driving course and five minutes to familiarize themselves with the equipment they would be competing in. Drivers were then sequestered in the driver den, where they completed a 40-question written examination. Contestants had 60 minutes to complete the test before being released for the day. The 427 competitors were divided into two groups for the skills and pre-trip portions of the competition. On day two, Step Van, Straight Truck, 5-Axle, Twins and Sleeper contestants completed their skills course and pre-trip inspections, while the 3-Axle, 4-Axle, Tank and Flatbed contestants had a day off. On day three, the groups switched, with the 3-Axle, 4-Axle, Tank and Flatbed contestants competing while the remaining classes enjoyed a day off. Friday morning brought all 427 competitors together for the awards and recognition ceremony. Each driver was introduced on stage before the top five contestants in each class were announced. Those drivers were then taken aside to prepare for the runoff competition to determine the first-, second- and thirdplace finishers in each class. While South Dakota did not bring home any hardware this year, we couldn't be more proud of our nine South Dakota champions. These drivers represented our state and the trucking industry with professionalism, skill and dedication. Congratulations to all nine of our South Dakota champions on an outstanding showing at the 2026 National Truck Driving Championships! North American Inspectors Championships Update South Dakota is proud to recognize Trooper JT Paris for his outstanding performance representing our state at the 2026

Pictured L to R: Teri Spencer, K&J Trucking, Inc.; Terry Luthy, FedEx Freight, Inc.; Joel Gruis, FedEx Freight, Inc.; Jeremy Senger, FedEx Freight, Inc.; Jeff Eschen, K&J Trucking, Inc.; James Klimple, K&J Trucking, Inc.; Richard Holbrook, FedEx Express; and Josh Kelley, FedEx Freight, Inc.

Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) North American Inspectors Championship (NAIC) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this past week. This competition brings together forty-seven of the top commercial motor vehicle inspectors from across North America to test their knowledge, skills, and professionalism through a series of timed, scenario-based inspections. NAIC highlights the critical work inspectors perform every day to prevent crashes, save lives, and ensure the safe movement of people and goods across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Trooper Paris served as a key member of the Yellow Team, which earned the 2026 NAIC Team Award. His teamwork, professionalism, and expertise contributed to the Yellow Team achieving the highest combined score among all competing teams. The team included inspectors from Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, and South Dakota. This year’s accomplishment also continues an impressive tradition for the SDHP. It is the third consecutive year that the South Dakota has had a member on the winning team. Previous champions include Inspector Brian Stenbak (2024) and Trooper Trey Bedford (2025).

Pictured L to R: Lieutenant Matt Koll and Trooper James Paris.

20 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

Please join us in congratulating Trooper James Paris for his exemplary performance and for proudly representing South Dakota.

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AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 21 26-SD-Trucking-AD-3.5x5-BW.indd 1

2/5/26 12:06 PM

FMCSA Moves to Codify English Language Proficiency Process at Border Areas

A notice of proposed rulemaking would officially exempt U.S.-Mexico international border zone drivers from an out-of-service penalty when they are not operating beyond that area. David Taube | Senior Reporter | Trucking Dive

Dive Brief: • The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking to officially exempt out-of-service penalties regarding English language proficiency in U.S.-Mexico border commercial areas, based on a proposed rule. A proposal is slated for official publication on Monday. • The notice of proposed rulemaking codifies an April 2026 memo that clarified its English language proficiency enforcement. In the memo, the agency said the out-of-service penalty does not apply to drivers operating solely within defined border commercial zones, and it gave guidance on how to administer the policy. • “This exception would not apply when there is evidence that the driver intends to operate, or has been operating, a CMV in the United States outside the border commercial zones,” this FMCSA said in its proposed rulemaking.

Dive Insight: The agency’s April 2026 memo, along with its 2025 standards, state that “Federal inspectors” should not place drivers out of service if the driver remains in U.S.-Mexico border commercial zones. FMCSA’s April 2026 policy and proposed rule call for agency enforcement personnel conducting inspections within a U.S.-Mexico border commercial zone to “determine the scope of the driver’s current trip before determining whether to issue” an out-of-service order under an English language proficiency violation, the notice states. The April 2026 guidance “clarifies how the exception for drivers stopped in a border commercial zone should be applied, noting that drivers stopped in a U.S.-Mexico border commercial zone whose current trip would not involve transportation in the United States outside of the U.S.-Mexico border commercial zones should be cited, but not placed out of service,” Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Deputy Executive Director Adrienne Gildea said in an email to Trucking Dive. The guidance gives a few examples to clarify how the out-of-service criteria applies: • If a driver is operating solely within a commercial zone within the U.S.-Mexico border — such as moving a load from Laredo, Texas to Nuevo Laredo in Mexico — an ELP violation does not justify an out-of-service penalty. • However, if a driver is operating outside of such a zone — transporting cargo from Laredo, Texas to Detroit, Michigan; or from Nuevo Laredo in Mexico to San Antonio, Texas — a driver could be placed out-of-service for an ELP violation.

22 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

A port of entry at the U.S.-Mexico border. FMCSA policies that exempt commercial drivers from an out-of-service penalty regarding English language proficiency could be codified under a proposed rule. ianmcdonnell via Getty Images

The government’s standards further detail how bills of lading, dispatch records and other shipping documents can help inform those assessments. The existing English language proficiency regulation requires that commercial drivers “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries” and meet other objectives. Violations of the regulation can lead to out-of-service penalties, per 2025 FMCSA guidance directed by a White House executive order. In advocating for the proposed rule, the agency estimated that unnecessary downtime can cost a fleet as much as $800 per day. FMCSA projected that the measure could save commerce some $14 million per year based on an estimated 9,000 drivers no longer being placed out of service. Federal officials said in the notice that the proposed rule is simply codifying existing policy and also aligning with the CVSA’s North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria that was revised with “enforcement tolerances” in an April 19, 2026, revision. The FMCSA rule alignment is reflective of its own policy, even as it incorporates CVSA’s broader support. On April 19, 2026, CVSA’s board of directors voted to revise its OOS criteria by replacing a reference to the FMCSA’s May 2025 policy memo with a reference to “current FMCSA enforcement guidance,” the agency’s proposed rule said. “By turning this guideline into a codified rule, future administrations will not be able to weaken ELP requirements,” the Department of Transportation said in a news release. Reprinted from Trucking Dive.

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ATA Announces Leadership Transition Washington – American Trucking Associations Chairman Greg Hodgen issued the following statement today: “Chris Spear informed our Executive Committee today that he will be departing the American Trucking Associations, effective immediately. On behalf of ATA, I thank Chris for more than a decade of service to the association and our industry. During his tenure, ATA secured significant policy victories, strengthened its advocacy operation, and elevated trucking’s voice in Washington. “One of Chris’ most important accomplishments was assembling an exceptionally talented and experienced team to represent this industry. ATA has the advocacy horsepower to keep advancing our priorities without missing a beat. From our policy experts and technical professionals to our government affairs and communications teams, we have a world-class oper-

ation working together to deliver results for our members. That depth, expertise, and shared sense of purpose will continue to drive our association forward, regardless of who is at the wheel. “ATA’s Board will convene a search committee to identify the association’s next president and CEO. As that process moves forward, our members can have full confidence in ATA’s leadership team and staff. We have a clear mission, strong momentum, and the people in place to execute. Our work continues full speed ahead, and ATA will remain a strong, unified, and effective voice for America’s trucking industry.” American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight. Nothing Without Trucking. Reprinted from ATA.

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Driver Pay Pressure Rises as Capacity Declines Carriers reassess compensation as freight demand improves and the driver market tightens. Connor D. Wolf | Reporter | Transport Topics The trucking industry is facing increased pressure to reassess driver compensation despite lingering uncertainties and headwinds. The Q2 2026 Driver Recruiting & Retention Data Download Report found that competition for drivers has rebounded as freight market indicators improved, driving up hiring costs and prompting the return of sign-on bonuses. The Conversion Interactive Agency and People. Data. Analytics report also found that 26% of carriers have increased driver pay in 2026. “We are definitely going to see it continue to intensify,” said Priscilla Peters, Conversion’s vice president of marketing. “But I think the most compelling thing today, when you look at it, is that this competition is not driven really by demand.” The Department of Transportation accelerated a decline in capacity last year by tightening enforcement of non-domiciled commercial driver licenses and English-language proficiency standards. Trucking has been stuck in a prolonged downcycle in part because capacity added during the previous upcycle has outpaced freight demand. “The competition for drivers is just going to continue to intensify as the year goes on,” Peters said. “There’s still tight margins in trucking, and so, the balance of compensating drivers, and being able to offer a good compensation package, and still operate with a good [operating ratio], that’s a balance that carriers really have to look at.” Peters said a modest improvement in freight demand and longer-term factors such as an aging driver workforce are adding to the pressure. She also sees fleets taking a more targeted approach, emphasizing tenure, safety, fuel economy and other driver-specific incentives. Some fleets are even considering percentage-based pay tied to the freight being hauled. “The recent pay increases we’re seeing from large carriers appears to be less about an immediate industrywide driver shortage, and really more about positioning for the next phase of the freight cycle,” said Josh Lovan, industry business adviser at J.J. Keller. “The economy is often cyclical, especially in the transportation sector, and larger carriers are preparing.” That positioning already is showing up in pay packages. Crete Carrier announced increases ranging from 1 cent to 3 cents per mile for over-the-road, regional and dedicated drivers effective May 30. The increases also applied to Shaffer Trucking drivers, raising starting pay for new OTR drivers to between 64 cents and 69 cents per mile. Crete ranks No. 32 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers. “We have great customers with great freight, and our customers want us to do more,” Crete President Tim Aschoff said at

the time. “We want to say thank you to our drivers for the quality service they provide that makes this pay increase possible.” Other fleets have followed suit. TMC Transportation introduced three new driver pay initiatives June 29, including increased holiday and tarp pay and the return of the continuous run program. Melton Truck Lines increased mileage pay for company drivers by 5 cents to 8 cents per mile May 29, while Maverick Transportation announced pay increases for flatbed over-theroad and select dedicated drivers. “The current capacity crunch is a combination of completely normal dynamics and some wrinkles introduced mainly due to use of regulatory enforcement,” said Avery Vise, vice president of trucking for FTR Transportation Intelligence. “The drop in capacity is no surprise as it had been happening steadily for more than 2½ years.” Vise said driver payrolls typically begin rising within a few months of a clear market inflection and then accelerate as recruiting programs ramp up. He added that there still are signs of that trajectory in the truckload and less-than-truckload sectors, even though overall truck transportation payroll employment has been slow to grow this year. “Adding to this natural dynamic is the pressure on foreign drivers from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,” Vise said. “While we continue to investigate the enforcement impact, we currently think that two factors are more significant than the number of drivers directly removed by English language and non-domiciled CDL enforcement.” Vise pointed to what he called a “chilling effect” from that enforcement, with some immigrant drivers leaving the market out of fear. Another consequence, he said, could be drivers becoming unwilling to operate in certain lanes. “The big metrics to watch are just those freight levels and capacity,” Lovan said. “They’re just trying to make sure they’ve got the necessary equipment and drivers to handle the third and fourth quarter, and then see what happens with that momentum, how it swings into 2027.” Lovan cautioned that outside pressures continue to weigh on the industry. He pointed to geopolitical tensions such as the Iran war and their impact on fuel prices and inflation. The uncertainty is particularly challenging, he said, because there is no clear timeline for a resolution. “They see this war potentially winding down and better times ahead,” Lovan said. “The stock market’s been ready to just eat for a long time, but there’s just all that outside noise. I think people just really are forecasting that those issues are going to be resolved into 2027.” Reprinted from Transport Topics.

AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 25

26 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

WHO’S IN THE PASSENGER SEAT?

CVSA Seeks New Rule to Combat Human Trafficking

Mark Schremmer | Managing Editor | Land Line As part of an effort to stop human trafficking, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has petitioned for a federal rule requiring documentation for passengers in a commercial motor vehicle. Specifically, CVSA petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to amend Title 49 CFR 392.60 so that it would require written or electronic documentation of authorization for commercial motor vehicle passengers. CVSA originally announced in June that it had filed the petition. The petition was officially posted to the Regulations.gov website on Aug. 18, which could be a sign that FMCSA may soon publish it in the Federal Register and seek comments from the public. “According to the International Labour Organization, human trafficking enslaves more than 50 million people in both labor and sex trafficking,” CVSA Executive Director Collin B. Mooney wrote in the petition. “Traffickers are motivated by greed, exploiting the most vulnerable among us to the tune of $236 billion annually. This heinous crime is happening throughout North America and has been reported in every U.S. and Mexican state and in all Canadian provinces and territories.”

CVSA said that roadside inspectors are in a unique position to identify instances of human trafficking. However, CVSA said that inspectors are currently limited by the regulations.

“Currently, drivers are permitted to be accompanied by a non-driver passenger in the commercial motor vehicle, provided they have written authorization to do so by the motor carrier,” CVSA wrote. “The written authorization must state the name of the person to be transported, the points where the transportation is to begin and end, and the date upon which such authority expires. However, the DOT regulatory guidance associated with this requirement does not require that the written authorization be carried on board the CMV, rather noting that it should be maintained at the motor carrier’s place of business.” The regulation requires that a driver obtain explicit written authorization from the motor carrier to transport passengers, but drivers are not required to carry and produce the documentation. “As a result, inspectors can have difficulty verifying whether or not a passenger found in a property-carrying CMV is authorized to be there, and therefore whether they may be the victim of human trafficking,” CVSA wrote. CVSA said it wants to alter FMCSA’s guidance, saying that the authorization, in either hard copy or electronic format, must be maintained on board the CMV as well as at the carrier’s principal place of business. The petition for rulemaking is supported by Truckers Against Trafficking. LL Reprinted from Land Line.

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28 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

Clash Over Non-Domiciled CDL Rule Drives Toward Oral Arguments Mark Schremmer | Managing Editor | Land Line Petitioners who want to stop the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s final rule on non-domiciled CDLs contend that the agency’s safety rationale is flawed.

“Those arguments are meritless. With respect to the eligibility provision, the rule does not rest on an assessment that alien drivers are categorically less safe than other drivers, but instead on the uncontested premise that states have no means of accessing their foreign driving history.”

In its final brief filed on Aug. 5 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, petitioners representing truck driver Jorge Rivera Lujan called FMCSA’s final rule “arbitrary and capricious.”

The plaintiffs argue that the safety rationale does not apply to DACA recipients, who have resided in the U.S. since childhood.

“FMCSA has offered no evidence showing that the people excluded by the rule operate commercial motor vehicles less safely than other drivers,” the petitioners wrote. “In fact, FMCSA disclaims the availability of data that would enable comparison of the safety outcomes of now-ineligible CDL drivers to that of other drivers, including the largest category of drivers: those with (domiciled) standard CDLs.” FMCSA’s non-domiciled CDL rule, which took effect on March 16, aimed to take about 200,000 CDL holders off the road. Under the rule, an Employment Authorization Document is no longer enough to obtain a non-domiciled CDL. Additionally, asylum seekers, asylees, refugees and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients are ineligible.

“Similarly, petitioners’ focus on DACA recipients largely ignores FMCSA’s explanation that their ineligibility for non-domiciled CDLs stems not from a claim about the accessibility of their driving history, but instead because DACA recipients lack the documentation FMCSA has determined should be required to demonstrate eligibility for a non-domiciled CDL.” Florida, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia all filed an amicus brief in support of FMCSA’s non-domiciled CDL rule. Oral arguments are set for Sept. 15. LL Reprinted from Land Line.

As part of FMCSA’s summary of the rule, the agency identified 17 fatal crashes in 2025 that were “caused by actions of non-domiciled CDL holders whose fitness could not be ensured and thus would be ineligible under this new rule.” FMCSA said that those crashes resulted in 30 fatalities and numerous severe injuries.

However, the petitioners criticize FMCSA’s decision to focus on such a small sampling of crashes. FMCSA previously reported in its 2022 statistics that 6,050 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes. “FMCSA identified 17 crashes in 2025 that involved drivers with a ‘substantial likelihood’ of falling into the now-excluded categories,” the petitioners wrote. “To compile this list, FMCSA admits, it set out to identify only crashes involving drivers with non-domiciled CDLs.” Attorneys for FMCSA argue that the rule is less about the 17 specific crashes and more about the inability to make sure that non-domiciled CDL holders are properly trained and vetted. When a U.S. driver applies for a CDL, their driving history is reviewed.

The agency contends that this is often not possible for applicants from other countries. “In large part, petitioners’ arguments that the agency acted arbitrarily misstate the reason the agency acted or confuse one provision’s rationale for the other’s,” FMCSA’s attorneys wrote. AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 29

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Diesel Still Ripping Higher Than The Rest Of The Barrel; Here’s Why A barrel of diesel measured by one yardstick is now about twice the cost of a barrel of crude. John Kingston | Freight Waves On February 27, the last day before military action began between Iran on one side and the U.S. and Israel on the other, the price of international crude benchmark Brent settled at $72.48/ barrel on the CME commodity exchange. On the same day, ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) settled at $2.596/gallon. On Wednesday, Brent settled at $91.62/b. ULSD settled at $4.4523/g. The math: since the start of the war, Brent is up 26.4%. ULSD is up 71.5%. (Thursday’s settlement was $4.4803/g.) On CME, the contract for RBOB, an intermediate product that serves as a proxy for gasoline, had risen 56.5% since the Iran war began. It’s a lot more than Brent, but less than diesel. But it’s that yawning gap between crude and diesel that is bringing broad attention to the price of the fuel, driven in part by fleets frustrated to hear reports of crude rising slowly or even falling while their own fuel costs most definitely are not. Diesel is even taking the spotlight from gasoline, which as a product consumed by far more people than diesel generally draws the most attention from the media, politicians and general consumers.

The crack spread is the measure of taking a barrel of crude and turning it into products. There are multiple ways it can be calculated. But a simple way to emphasize the diesel strength is to take the second month price of ULSD on CME and compare it to the first month Brent price, since the latter can be refined into the former. On February 27, the final day of trading before the Iran war started, the spread was about $36.55/b. On the first two days of this week, it crossed $90/b for the first time since the war began, and likely for the first time in history. Crude settled at $91/b that day, driving home what Currie said in his CNBC interview: crude is about half the value of ULSD. (The spread fell slightly below that $90 mark Wednesday.) The end result at the pump is that average U.S. retail diesel prices, as measured daily by the AAA, were at $5.5477/g Thursday, within 15 cents of the post-war high of $5.5689/g set April 9 and up more than 25 cts/g since August 10, when the latest run of higher retail prices began.

The shift to the world focusing on diesel prices was encapsulated in the title of a recent article on Axios: “Diesel desperation is mounting.” There has been no stronger consistent voice on the rising diesel market and what it means for the broader energy picture than Jeffrey Currie, former head of commodities at Goldman Sachs and now involved in several different businesses. He’s done numerous television interviews, including one this week on CNBC where he noted the disconnect between crude and product prices as being historic. “Nobody consumes crude oil but refineries,” he said. “To everybody else on the planet Earth, what matters are the product prices.” Historically, Currie said, the spread between product prices and crude prices was “relatively stable.” But on a day when Brent was trading at about $87/b, Currie noted that diesel in European trading was about $170/b. “Crude is nearly half the price of the products,” Currie said. “So those relationships, those econometric models, everybody that’s been making that assumption that the spread between oil and products is a relatively stable constant relationship have missed out.”

A Gigantic Gap Beyond the percentage increase, there are other ways of measuring the current disconnect.

The question then is why since the Iran war began has diesel reacted to the whole range of bullish market factors more than crude and more than gasoline. The list is a long one. Cutbacks in Russia: With so much focus on the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz, the impact on diesel from Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s refining infrastructure–which is heavily engineered to produce a strong diesel yield–had initially not received significant attention. But that has changed. The International Energy Agency, in its monthly report for July, detailed some of the impact from the drone attacks. As that report came out a month ago, the situation has only gotten worse from the perspective of the diesel market.

Continued on Page 32. AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 31

Diesel Still Ripping Higher Than The Rest Of The Barrel; Here’s Why continued from Page 31.

“Trade data show that exports have nearly halved in recent weeks, following the intensification of attacks by Ukrainian forces on Russian refineries,” the IEA said. In July, the IEA estimated Russian refining runs were down 1.6 million b/d year-on-year because of the attacks. “In conjunction with the attack on Russian storage sites and infrastructure, this loss of product output has reportedly caused widespread domestic fuel shortages and led to a temporary ban on diesel exports,” the IEA said. More recently, energy consulting and information firm RBN Energy estimated that crude runs in Russia had dropped from more than 5 million b/d last year to around 3.8 million b/d in July, which it said was a 25-year low. How U.S. refiners are reacting: U.S. refiners are rushing to take advantage of the spread. The refinery utilization rate published weekly by the Energy Information Administration hasn’t been below 90% since the end of April and has been consistently above 95% since the first week of June. The latest weekly report has the utilization rate at 97.2%. “They’re always going to respond to market signals, and with strong diesel cracks, they’re going to produce the maximum,” John Auers, managing director-refined fuels at Novi Labs, said in an interview with FreightWaves.

In the latest IEA report, the agency said global refinery inputs were about 5 million b/d less than a year earlier at 80.9 million b/d. Global oil demand is more than 100 million b/d, but not all of that is refined products; for example, production and consumption of natural gas liquids production like propane are in that 100 million number. But while some supply comes out of refineries, there are other sources. Still, a loss of 5 million b/d of refinery operations is significant. Middle East refineries hit: Auers said there were “three or four” refineries in the Middle East that have been damaged by Iranian attacks, cutting refining capacity from that region. A 380,000 b/d refinery in Bahrain was hit early in the war, and Auers said it is “completely out.” He also pointed out an uncertainty: what has been the war’s impact on Iranian refining capacity? That is difficult to know. Crude quality: Middle East and Russian crudes, both which have seen supplies impacted by their respective military conflicts, are heavier and tend to produce more diesel than, for example, a crude produced out of West Africa or from the Permian Basin in the U.S. Tight inventories: The latest weekly report from the EIA shows total U.S. non-jet distillate inventories–which includes such things as heating oil but is generally a little less than 90% diesel– are well below normal levels for this time of year.

Wall Street has rewarded the independent refiners with a surge in their stock prices as a result of the market. For example, Valero (NYSE: VLO) hit yet another 52-week high Thursday at $352.33. A year ago, it was less than $138. Auers said refineries have planned investments into making more diesel long-term, in part because of softer gasoline demand created by the adoption of electric vehicles, slowing in the U.S. but continuing strong in other parts of the world. But those will take time to come to fruition. “New refineries globally are generally more diesel or distillate oriented,” he said. There have been expressions of concern that running refineries that hard for that long is setting some up some plants for a major breakdown. The U.S. industry even in good times tends to run more than 90% at this time of year, but not this hard and for this long. But there are fewer refineries: The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported earlier this year that the U.S. last year lost about 250,000 b/d of refining capacity. Two significant refineries closed in 2025, one in Houston and one in California. But given that the oil market is global, a shutdown anywhere in the world can kick back into the U.S. market, whether it is permanent or because of the impact from the war.

32 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

Currie, in an interview on X with Mario Nawfal, said divergence in inventories is a key reason for the blowout in crack spreads. Products markets are dealing with what Currie called “rotating bottlenecks around the world right now.” But crude markets have been bearishly impacted by releases from strategic stockpiles, like the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). There are no strategic inventories for products. The releases from reserves like the SPR has given the market a “reprieve” that also was boosted by the surge in crude supply that came out of the Gulf when the ceasefire first went into effect in early April. Products had no such injection of supply, Currie said, “and it’s just a matter of time before we end up with the shortages starting to move from products into crude oil, and there’s no indication this thing is ending anytime in the very near future.” Reprinted from Freight Waves.

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34 Trucking News | AUGUST 2026

Cargo Thefts Decline, But High-Value Loads Drive Bigger Losses Verisk CargoNet says fewer reported incidents did not translate into lower supply chain risk Connor D. Wolf | Staff Reporter A decline in cargo theft activity in the second quarter was offset by increased targeting of high-value loads, according to a recent report. Verisk CargoNet found in its second-quarter report that supply chain thefts declined 26% from the prior year to 677 reported incidents across the U.S. and Canada. This was also down 14% from the first three months of 2026. However, estimated losses spiked 125% to $304.6 million from the $135.7 million reported last year, largely due to several multimillion-dollar loads. “Lower incident volume should not be mistaken for lower risk,” said Keith Lewis, vice president of operations for Verisk CargoNet. “The groups driving the largest losses are not necessarily trying to steal more freight; they are trying to identify the right shipment.” The report highlighted metals and technology as major contributors to this rise. That includes organized groups continuing to target enterprise-grade computer and networking equipment, components and cryptocurrency mining hardware. “It’s kind of following the trend we were expecting,” said Ryan Kiefer, director with the special investigations group at Travelers. “The industry is seeing a slight reduction in overall reported incidents, but we are seeing more targeting of higher-value loads.”

Entire Systems at Risk Kiefer noted the thefts are orchestrated with increasingly sophisticated methods. He recalled how criminals used to focus on purchasing motor carrier numbers issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Now, entire systems are being comprised. “The bad guys are sending carrier packets to freight brokers with potential malware attached,” Kiefer said. “Freight broker opens it up, thinks they’re processing a W-9 packet, and now the bad guys have access to their system. Now they can look inside that freight broker system and pinpointedly target the loads they’re looking for.” The Overhaul Q2 2026 Cargo Theft Report found similar results, with incidents declining 5% from the prior year to 605 recorded incidents in the U.S., which also marked a 5% increase from Q1 2026. “What we’re seeing is that avoiding being the low-hanging fruit is no longer enough,” said Danny Ramon, director of intelligence and response at Overhaul. “We’ve got folks now who are targeting some very specific merchandise.”

Thieves Eye Electronics The Overhaul report also found that the average value per load is increasing, largely due to more expensive electronics, such as data center equipment that is being used for artificial intelligence calculations at an industrial scale. Ramon noted that the higher value of this equipment makes it desirable for criminals. He has also seen indications of the perpetrators being instructed on how to commit the theft. “We’re seeing evidence … where it’s pretty obvious that the folks who are performing these thefts are being briefed and trained some way but don’t have a lot of field experience,” Ramon said. “They’ll have very specific knowledge about certain procedures that may be in place on high-security loads.”

Targeted Technology Thefts Verisk CargoNet also noted that the average value among thefts reached $564,009 and that enterprise-level technology shipments frequently move through the supply chain as conventional dry freight despite often being worth several million dollars. “That’s a spiked number,” said Scott Cornell, chairman of the Transported Asset Protection Association. “That’s really not going to be your average cargo theft. That number is spiked by these targeted technology thefts that we’ve seen.” Cornell added that the average value of cargo has gone up generally because of factors including inflation and the cost of manufacturing. He views the more targeted approach as being the bigger influence behind that higher number, noting that thieves are particularly adept at pivoting to pursue the cargo that has the best return on investment. Cornell said massive, sophisticated international crime rings “have created their own global economy around this. They’re taking orders, they have clients.”

Federal Crackdown in Effect While numerous factors influence cargo theft trends, tougher enforcement of non-domiciled CDL requirements and English-language proficiency rules may have reduced opportunities for organized theft rings to infiltrate the trucking industry. “For better or for worse, I think many of them are not driving anymore, and I think that reduced some of the numbers of the easier redirects for drivers who aren’t necessarily aware of who they’re driving for or what they’re doing,” Kiefer said. “I think the fewer drivers remaining are a little bit more conscious and aware because they don’t want to lose customers or loads.” Reprinted from Transport Topics.

AUGUST 2026 | Trucking News 35

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