Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, July 31, 2025:
450-truck Carroll Fulmer shutting down
Weighed down by lawsuits and a lingering soft freight environment, Groveland, Fla.-based trucking company Carroll Fulmer Logistics (CCJ Top 250, No. 185) is closing its doors. News of the closure was first reported by The Clermont Sun.
Philip Fulmer, one of the company’s partners, told the newspaper that sustaining the 450-truck, 71-year-old multi-generational family business had been tough since the COVID pandemic and, bundled with a slew of “bogus” personal injury lawsuits, trucking post-COVID was more than he could take.
“There are many attorneys who make it seem easy to sue a trucking company,” Fulmer told the newspaper. “Many of these lawsuits are bogus, meaning that no injury actually occurred, but we still have to fight them and that takes a lot of money. These payments cause people to lose jobs and businesses to close and insurance rates to increase for everyone. We can’t carry on. It’s tiring and it’s draining fighting all the time. Sadly, we’ve had enough. I know I can’t deal with this anymore.”
Trucking applauds FMCSA boss nominee’s advancement out of committee
Derek Barrs, the Trump administration’s nominee to lead the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, is now just one step away from being confirmed to the post.
On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved Barrs’ nomination by a 15-13 vote. Barrs will now face a full Senate vote to be officially confirmed as administrator of the FMCSA.
Barrs is a former law enforcement officer who retired in 2020 as chief of the Florida Highway Patrol. He was an active member of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and served as chair of CVSA’s Enforcement and Industry Modernization Committee. He has also served on the American Trucking Associations’ Law Enforcement Advisory Board.
During a confirmation hearing earlier this month with the Senate committee, he touted his record of working with industry and government to advance highway safety during his law enforcement career.
Trucking groups have voices support for Barrs’ nomination, with the American Trucking Associations highlighting his qualifications for the post and encouraging a quick confirmation by the full Senate.
“Derek has the qualifications and expertise that will make him exceptionally well prepared to take on this challenge, and under his leadership, the trucking industry is confident that FMCSA will make significant progress towards achieving our shared priorities of improving highway safety and efficiently delivering the nation’s freight,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “We urge the Senate to confirm him to this position at the earliest possible opportunity.”
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association also encouraged “a swift confirmation by the full Senate.”
“We look forward to working with him to advance the priorities of small business truckers across America, including fighting freight fraud, rolling back unnecessary regulations, and closing regulatory loopholes to ensure the safest truck drivers remain in the industry,” said OOIDA President Todd Spencer.
[Related: FMCSA Administrator nominee Derek Barrs makes first Congressional appearance]
Ohio governor announces plan to address state’s truck parking shortage
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Pamela Boratyn this week announced details of a new plan to address the shortage of safe, accessible commercial-truck parking in Ohio by adding at least 1,400 new truck parking spaces across the state.
Following an extensive review of ODOT property, Ohio has identified 33 sites in 19 counties where long-term truck parking lots will be created or expanded, more than doubling current truck parking capacity at ODOT-maintained sites.
“As Ohio’s economy continues to grow, so do the number of trucks traveling on Ohio's network of interstates and state routes,” said Gov. DeWine. “By expanding safe, accessible places for drivers to rest, we’re supporting the people who keep our economy moving and making it safer for everyone on our roads.”
The 33 new truck parking areas will be located in Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Auglaize, Belmont, Clermont, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Henry, Lake, Mahoning, Medina, Ross, Summit, Warren, and Wyandot counties. Once complete, the American Transportation Research Institute projects that Ohio will lead the nation in the total number of long-term truck parking spaces available on state-owned property. The specific areas for new truck parking can be seen here.
“Ohio's new truck parking plan is a major step forward in improving safety for truck drivers and everyone on the road,” said ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn. “These projects will make our state a national leader in total truck parking capacity -- setting the standard for safety and service.”
Ohio's commercial-truck parking plan is funded with $150 million from the current transportation budget, which was passed by the Ohio General Assembly and signed by Gov. DeWine earlier this year. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with all work expected to be complete by the end of 2027. Each site will include lighting and restroom facilities to support driver safety and comfort.
In total, there are currently around 14,200 truck parking spaces available statewide, the Governor’s office said, with most located at privately owned truck stops or businesses.
