Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, June 25, 2026:
Rail company’s warehousing, transloading subsidiary expands CNG fleet
Patriot Rail Logistics subsidiary Hydra has added a new compressed natural gas (CNG) truck to its fleet to support cleaner, more efficient operations.
Through its partnership with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Hydra is expanding its CNG trucking fleet as part of a broader effort to lower emissions and support more sustainable freight movement, the company said.
"As we grow our transloading and warehousing business, Patriot Rail is committed to partnerships that innovate and transform the industry," said Brandy Christian, CEO of Patriot Rail. "We are grateful for the support from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District for this investment in a cleaner, greener fleet."
[Related: Why affordable, plentiful natural gas is the real heavy-duty winner]
In 2023, Hydra introduced its first CNG truck to replace an older diesel vehicle, bringing modern, lower-emission technology into active service. This latest addition marks the second CNG truck in Hydra's fleet.Patriot Rail Logistics/Hydra
The introduction of CNG has driven measurable performance gains, delivering higher productivity, reducing operating ratios, and generating fuel savings, the company added.
"We see this as a win," said Dave Chambers, President of Hydra. "Our growing CNG-powered fleet represents cleaner transportation, stronger supply-chain efficiency, and long-term partnership value."
The CNG truck is already operating on key lanes and supporting backhaul freight, improving asset utilization, and enabling more efficient load movement. Hydra's commitment to go green also aligns with Graphic Packaging's green initiative, which has created additional lanes to deliver their packaging materials in Hydra's facilities.
This investment is supported by an $80,000 grant from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's Truck Replacement Program, which has confirmed that the vehicle meets established clean-air and compliance standards.
Patriot Rail Logistics is a short line and regional rail service provider. Its Hydra arm provides integrated warehousing, transloading, and logistics services.
[Related: America’s renewable natural gas boom fueling the future]
Railroad groups get another short-term HOS waiver as FMCSA seeks more info
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced yet another provisional renewal of an exemption for railroad associations that allows employees of member railroads to drive beyond standard hours-of-service limits under certain conditions.
The agency issued a provisional renewal of the waiver in December, valid for six months, to he Association of American Railroads and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association and member railroads. It allowed employees of the associations’ member railroads, subject to the HOS rules, to respond to unplanned events that occur outside of, or extend beyond, an employee’s normal work hours.
Specifically, the waiver allows drivers to operate beyond their 14th hour on-duty, up to 17 hours, but drivers are not allowed to exceed 11 hours of driving time. It also allows drivers to extend the 60-hour/70-hour rule by no more than 6 hours. Drivers operating under the exemption are not allowed to travel more than 300 air miles from their normal work-reporting location or terminal.
On Wednesday, FMCSA issued another provisional renewal, this time effective for four months through Oct. 19, while requesting more information from the organizations. The agency is asking the groups to provide a complete list of USDOT numbers that will operate under the exemption, the frequency with which motor carriers have operated under the exemption, and the list of accidents involving any motor carriers operating under the exemption.
