Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026:
Zipp Express and Flanagan-White merge in regional deal
Flanagan-White Delivery/Flanagan-White Express has merged with Zipp Express, uniting decades of regional transportation experience under a shared corporate umbrella.
The strategic partnership merges Flanagan-White's nearly 50-year legacy in Missouri, Illinois, and national freight markets with Zipp Express' modern infrastructure, which includes an expanded fleet of more than 30 vehicles and a multi-door, 50,000-square-foot warehouse facility in Earth City, Missouri.
Founded in 1978, Flanagan-White built a strong reputation for 24/7/365 expedited delivery, two-hour local rush deliveries, hazardous materials transport, and specialized freight capabilities across the lower 48 states.
"When I began planning my retirement, my main concern was ensuring my customers and team would be in the absolute best hands," said Matt Carswell, president of Flanagan-White. Carswell reached out directly to Beth Sprenger, president of Zipp Express and the pair quickly established a rapport centered on driver retention, modern logistics technology, and personalized customer service.
"From my very first meeting with Beth and Zipp's Director of Operations, Jeremy Land, it was clear that Zipp Express shares our core values," Carswell added.
"Flanagan-White has a storied history in St. Louis transportation, built on nearly five decades of unwavering reliability, driver dedication, and exceptional customer service," Sprenger said. "We are deeply honored that Matt chose Zipp Express to carry on that legacy."
Under the merger agreement, Flanagan-White's clients gain immediate access to Zipp's expanded fleet, ranging from cargo vans and box trucks to heavy-duty tractor-trailers, along with integrated warehousing and inventory operations based out of the Earth City facility.
Carswell has joined the Zipp team on an interim basis to aid in the transition.
Creviston Trucking closing, auctioning assets
After more than 75 years in the trucking and transportation industry, Creviston Trucking out of Hammond, Indiana, is retiring and closing its operations.
The company's fleet, shop equipment, and related business assets will be offered to the public through an online retirement liquidation auction conducted by Orbitbid.com. The online auction will conclude Tuesday, Oct. 6, with the assets located at Creviston Trucking's facility at 6001 Kennedy Avenue in Hammond, Indiana.
Creviston Trucking has deep roots in the Northwest Indiana transportation industry. The company has transported U.S. Mail under contract with the United States Postal Service since 1948, moving mail between postal processing centers and smaller post offices throughout Northwest Indiana and Northeast Illinois.
During its years of operation, the company developed a significant regional delivery network, at one time completing more than 5,000 scheduled stops each week. Creviston also received the United States Postal Service's Eagle Spirit Award for Excellence.
The retirement auction represents an opportunity for owner-operators, fleets and other businesses to purchase equipment from a long-established fleet.
The auction includes:
- 20 semi-trucks
- 21 straight and box trucks
- 20 semi-trailers
- Support vehicles
- New Holland skid steer
- Truck and trailer parts
- Tires and wheels
- Shop tools and maintenance equipment
- Material handling and service equipment
- Fleet maintenance supplies
- Office furniture and equipment
- Additional trucking and business assets
The semi-truck lineup includes Volvo, International and Mack tractors spanning multiple model years, including several late-model units.
Featured trucks include a 2024 International LT625 day cab, 2023 International LT625 day cab, 2021 Volvo VNL760 sleeper tractors, multiple 2020 Volvo VNL day cabs, a 2020 International LT625, and additional Volvo and Mack tractors.
The straight-truck fleet includes International, Hino and Freightliner trucks, many equipped with 24-foot cargo bodies and liftgates.
The trailer offering includes 45- and 53-foot dry vans from Stoughton, Wabash, Great Dane, Utility and Trailmobile.
Beyond the trucks and trailers, the auction provides a look inside the infrastructure required to maintain a commercial transportation fleet.
Creviston maintained its own terminal and repair operation, and the liquidation includes a substantial selection of truck parts, maintenance equipment and shop assets accumulated through the company's operations.
Items include truck and trailer components, Volvo and International parts, Hino parts, filters, batteries, brake components, liftgate parts, shop presses, welding equipment, jacks, jack stands, tire-service equipment, parts organizers, hand and power tools, maintenance fluids and additional shop supplies.
The auction also includes fleet technology and business equipment, including Samsung tablets previously used with electronic logging and fleet systems, office equipment, storage cabinets and additional support assets. The assets can be inspected at the company’s facility at 6001 Kennedy Ave. in Hammond, Indiana.
Public inspection is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 5-6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time each day.
Bidding is open to the public here. Prospective bidders can review pictures, descriptions and available specifications for individual assets online before bidding.
California guv moves to lower diesel, gas prices
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is taking steps to try to rein in the state’s nation-leading gasoline and diesel prices.
In an attempt to control prices, Newsom directed the California Energy Commission (CEC), in consultation with the California Air Resources Board and the Division of Petroleum Market Oversight (DPMO), to publish a regular public spot-market report for gasoline and diesel.
Because a small number of spot-market trades can influence the price of far more gasoline and diesel sold across the state, a public spot market report would bring additional transparency into whether quoted prices reflect broad trading activity or only a handful of transactions, a press release from Newsom’s office said.
The letter also directs CEC to collect information on renewable diesel and consider reporting renewable diesel prices separately from petroleum diesel prices, to ensure that California consumers see the benefit of renewable diesel, which he noted does not come from crude oil, now making up a large share of California’s diesel market.
Specifically for gasoline, Newsom also suspended California’s seasonal summer-blend gasoline requirement for the remainder of the season and directed state agencies to take steps to allow winter-blend gasoline to be manufactured, imported, distributed, and sold in California immediately.
Wreaths Across America needs more carriers for 2026 hauls
National nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) has officially kicked off the 2026 wreath season.
This year, the event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 19. As the program continues to grow, with more than 6,000 participating locations and 730 lanes available nationwide this year, there are plenty of opportunities available to match carriers’ needs.
As of Sept. 30, there are still about 20 lanes available, taking wreaths from Columbia, Maine, to points around the country, including Kansas, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Illinois, West Virginia, South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, New York, Colorado and Maryland.
“The WAA Honor Fleet is made up of carriers and trucking professionals who go the extra mile to serve those who served us. By hauling sponsored wreaths, drivers honor veterans laid to rest, and ensure the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach reaches every community,” said Courtney George, WAA Director of Trucking and Industry Relations. “Joining the Honor Fleet means making a meaningful and lasting impact in the lives of veterans and their families.”
Drivers and transportation companies interested in making a difference in their community by joining the Honor Fleet can explore available lanes here. Additionally, interested parties can contact the WAA Transportation Team at [email protected] to start the conversation.
