Trucking news and briefs for Monday, June 8, 2026:
A. Duie Pyle awards scholarship funds
Supply chain solutions provider A. Duie Pyle (CCJ Top 250, No. 56) has announced that the Eleanor and James Latta Jr. Scholarship Fund will award $198,500 to 43 students this year.
The scholarship program, now in its 13th year, provides financial assistance to the children and stepchildren of eligible company employees who are pursuing higher education or trade school.
Former Pyle President Steve O’Kane and his wife, Cheryl, established the fund in 2013 alongside the Chester County Community Foundation. It honors the second generation of family ownership at the 102-year-old company.
"This scholarship honors their legacy while giving back to the families who have helped make Pyle what it is today," said Peter Latta, chairman and CEO of A. Duie Pyle. "Supporting their children’s educational goals is one meaningful way we can continue investing in our shared future."
Since awarding its first three scholarships totaling $15,000 in 2014, the program has distributed more than $836,000. Recipients are chosen by an independent committee based on academic achievement and community involvement.
Among the 2026 recipients are Jalissa Rayo, daughter of Carteret, New Jersey, dockworker Holman Rayo Valle, and Skyler Tavarez, child of East Brunswick, New Jersey, yard jockey Edwin Tavarez.
"Your support truly means a lot," Rayo said.
Tavarez added that the scholarship recognizes the "time and determination" put into their academic journey and community work.
HHG mover finds travel expenses influencing moving habits of couples
Rising travel expenses have become a primary catalyst for long-distance couples deciding to move in together, according to new research released by Mayflower (No. 27) and conducted by Talker Research.
Dubbed the "Long-Distance Tipping Point," the study reveals that nearly three in four (74%) long-distance couples say the financial burden of staying apart directly influenced their decision to cohabitate. On average, these couples spend a combined $6,888 on travel over the course of their relationship, enduring an average gap of 3.4 months between visits.
The financial strain is accelerating timelines. The data shows that 56% of long-distance couples plan to move in together within the next year, compared to just 41% of couples who already live nearby. These relocations are also logistically complex, featuring an average moving distance of 835 miles, with 35% of couples traveling over 1,000 miles to reunite. Additionally, 51% are moving into an entirely new home together to establish a shared beginning.
"Long-distance couples are deciding sooner, with more financial weight behind the decision, and with higher expectations of the partners helping them do it," said Eily Cummings, Vice President of Communications at Mayflower.
Because combining two separate households over long distances is highly complex, an increased share of long-distance couples (22%) plan to hire a full-service moving company. The logistical shift comes at a high emotional cost; the study notes that 32% of Americans have experienced a "moving mental breakdown" in the past, a figure that jumps to 39% for Gen Z. Despite the stress, optimism remains high, with 85% of respondents expressing excitement about their upcoming move.
TEN names former Amazon Freight exec COO
Transportation Equipment Network (TEN) has named former Amazon executive Ari Silkey as its new chief operating officer, the company announced.
Silkey joins the North American trailer leasing leader following a decade at Amazon, where he served as general manager of Amazon Freight. During his tenure, he was instrumental in building the e-commerce giant's North American surface transportation network and developing the Amazon Relay application.
In his new role, Silkey will oversee operations for TEN’s fleet of more than 80,000 trailers across 45 locations in the U.S. and Canada. His primary focus will include modernizing fleet management through artificial intelligence and technology integration.
"Ari has built and scaled transportation operations at a level that very few people in this industry have," said Hooman Yazhari, CEO of TEN. Yazhari noted that Silkey’s background as a large-scale shipper provides a unique perspective on customer needs.
The appointment comes during a period of rapid expansion for TEN, which has recently added new service lines and secured several major enterprise deals. Silkey, a former Business Journal "40 Under 40" recipient, previously served on the Minnesota Governor’s Advisory Council on Connected and Automated Vehicles.
"TEN has all of the pieces to have a massive impact for customers in this industry," Silkey said. "I’m ready to move us to that next stage."
