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- Driverless Trucks Begin Operation in Texas, Transforming Freight Logistics
Driverless trucks are no longer a future concept—they’re now a reality in Texas. Aurora Innovation, a Pittsburgh-based autonomous vehicle company, has announced the commercial launch of its first fully driverless truck, operating along a 200-mile freight corridor between Dallas and Houston. This marks a major milestone in the evolution of the trucking industry, with the vehicle expected to begin running on Interstate 45 without a safety driver by the end of the month. Aurora’s gradual rollout will begin with a single autonomous truck before expanding to a larger fleet. This launch follows years of testing with safety drivers on board and positions Texas as a hub for autonomous vehicle development, thanks to its regulatory support, high freight volume, and favorable weather. The shift toward autonomous trucks is driven by the need to address mounting issues in the logistics sector. These include a nationwide truck driver shortage, high turnover… ...[TheTopNews] Read More.2 days ago - Truck Tonnage Dips 1.5% in March, Despite Positive Q1 Freight Trends
Truck freight tonnage in the United States dipped in March 2025 following a strong performance in February, yet overall first-quarter data suggests the freight market is beginning to stabilize. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) reported that its seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index fell by 1.5% in March to a reading of 113.4, down from 115.1 in February. Despite this month-over-month decline, the index still rose 0.2% year-over-year, marking the third consecutive annual gain — a feat not seen since late 2022. Bob Costello, ATA’s chief economist, attributed the March decline to typical freight volatility, but noted that strong manufacturing activity — particularly in auto production — provided some offset. “While March declined, solid manufacturing output likely helped truck freight tonnage not fall more after a very strong February,” Costello said in a statement released April 22. ATA’s not seasonally adjusted tonnage index, which reflects actual tonnage hauled… ...[TheTopNews] Read More.4 days ago - Trucking Industry Forecast for 2025: Navigating Recovery Amid Economic and Regulatory Uncertainty
As the U.S. trucking industry transitions out of the low point experienced in early 2023, the road to recovery in 2025 remains complex. According to recent analysis from ACT Research and other transportation data sources, the trucking sector is undergoing a gradual rebalancing influenced by macroeconomic pressures, regulatory uncertainty, and evolving freight market dynamics. Economic and Trade Pressures Reshape the Landscape The national economy has entered 2025 with weakened momentum. Consumer spending began the year modestly but is now slowing under the weight of ongoing inflation and high borrowing costs. The implementation of reciprocal tariffs in April has added new volatility, particularly in manufacturing, construction, and transportation sectors. Although some tariff pauses have been granted, key duties—especially on Chinese imports like auto parts, semiconductors, and metals—remain in place. With real GDP projections adjusted downward and potential recession looming, freight demand is seeing a corresponding slowdown. Rising inflation, stagnant… ...[TheTopNews] Read More.4 days ago - Wall Street And The Dollar Tumble As Investors Retreat Further From The United States
Wall Street weakened as investors worldwide get more skeptical about U.S. investments because of Trump’s trade war and his criticism of the Federal Reserve. ...[TheTopNews] Read More.5 days ago - Massachusetts, Maryland Pause Clean Truck Rule Enforcement Amid OEM Pushback
Two key Northeastern states — Maryland and Massachusetts — have temporarily paused enforcement of their California-modeled zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) rules for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, acknowledging manufacturer challenges and shifting political winds. While both states reaffirm their commitment to clean transportation goals, they are offering relief from strict emissions targets to allow for greater industry adaptation. In Maryland, Governor Wes Moore issued Executive Order No. 01.01.2025.10 on April 4, halting enforcement of specific provisions of the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) and Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations. These California-inspired policies would require automakers to gradually increase the sales of zero-emission vehicles, ultimately phasing out new diesel truck sales by 2036. The move follows growing concerns from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) about the feasibility of meeting sales mandates, particularly amid the Trump administration’s rollback of Biden-era electric vehicle funding and implementation delays in the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure… ...[TheTopNews] Read More.5 days ago - Truck Platoon in Operation on I-70
The trucking industry has taken a step toward next-generation automation with the launch of a truck platooning project operating along Interstate 70 between Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana. Ease Logistics, in partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation’s DriveOhio initiative and the Indiana Department of Transportation, has deployed a pair of automated trucks equipped with advanced platooning technology developed by Kratos Defense. This groundbreaking initiative aims to address the challenges of driver fatigue, freight inefficiencies, and supply chain vulnerabilities by leveraging automation to improve safety and streamline operations in the Midwest. Unlike previous trials often limited to warmer, more predictable climates, this project emphasizes performance in diverse weather conditions, which is critical to freight corridors in the region. The two-truck platoon uses a system where the lead vehicle’s driver controls both trucks. The second vehicle automatically follows the leader’s path with synchronized acceleration, steering, and braking. Using sensors… ...[TheTopNews] Read More.1 week ago
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