Hump Day News

🚛☕ Hump Day News — Powered by 3-Axle Coffee

We’re adding even more fuel to your week! TDP Trucking News now airs every Monday, bringing you a solid start to the week with the top stories shaping trucking. And now, we’re introducing Hump Day News — a midweek check-in to keep you sharp and moving forward.

  • Mondays with TDP Trucking News → the full, deep dive you depend on
  • Wednesdays with Hump Day News → quick, energetic updates to carry you through the rest of the week

We want to extend a big thanks to Tara Lampkins, our Podcast Producer, who will be reading TDP Trucking News for you every week.

So grab your 3-Axle Coffee, start your week with TDP Trucking News, and recharge midweek with Hump Day News — because the road never stops, and neither do we.

📰 Today’s Trucking Headlines (as of September 24, 2025)

Here’s what’s making waves in the trucking world right now:

  • Trucking industry in “extended correction” phase
    According to ACT Research, the U.S. trucking industry has moved past the sharp contraction of 2023 and is now in a longer, slower rebalance. Freight volumes remain soft, margins are squeezed by cost pressures and tariffs, and capacity is beginning to tighten — but unevenly.  
  • September brings tight capacity in dry van & reefer
    As the fall season ramps up, dry van and refrigerated trailer availability is tightening. Holiday freight, seasonal produce, and harvest patterns are putting extra strain on capacity — meaning carriers and shippers will face steeper competition in key lanes.  
  • Private fleets pushing harder, with fewer miles per truck
    Private fleets are paying higher wages and optimizing fleet usage. Yet, they’re running fewer miles per truck and keeping their equipment younger. It’s a signal: efficient operation is becoming more important than just pushing volume.  
  • Autonomous trucking continues making strides
    Aurora has launched driverless freight operations between Dallas and Houston with no human in the cab, marking a major milestone in autonomous trucking. 
    Aurora also plans to expand routes (e.g. into El Paso, Phoenix) and begin nighttime operations later in 2025.  
  • Legal battle over California emissions rules
    The U.S. Department of Justice has sued California’s Air Resources Board over state-level heavy-duty truck emissions standards, arguing they overstep federal authority and hurt interstate commerce. This is becoming a key regulatory flashpoint for the trucking industry.  
  • Truck driver shortage remains a critical pressure point
    The industry is contending with an estimated shortage of more than 80,000 drivers in 2025. This gap intensifies cost pressures, strains scheduling, and disrupts supply chains across the U.S.  
  • Proposed tax incentives for drivers could change the game
    A new bipartisan bill — the Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives Act — would offer refundable tax credits up to $10,000 for new trucking apprentices and significant credits for experienced drivers. It’s designed to help with driver retention and bring more people into the profession.  
  • Tariff tensions threaten trucking rebound
    Rising import tariffs and retaliatory duties are hurting trade flows, which in turn erodes demand in key freight sectors. Some analysts say these tariff pressures are undercutting what looked like a rebound in trucking early in 2025.  

 

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