Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, July 30, 2026:
Family-owned Canadian fleet was first to carry freight across new border bridge
Onfreight Logistics' trucks crossed the new Gordie Howe International Bridge separately from each side when it opened Monday.Ontario Trucking Association
When the multi-billion-dollar Gordie Howe International Bridge officially opened to commercial traffic Monday, July 27, the first live commercial cargo to cross the border was carried by Onfreight Logistics, a family-owned company based in Tecumseh, Ontario.
The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) said the milestone marked the culmination of a 20-year vision championed by Onfreight President Steve Ondejko Sr., who has spent decades advocating for the bridge as critical infrastructure to strengthen supply chains, create jobs, and support economic growth on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.
Onfreight’s trucks crossed the bridge separately from each side when it opened Monday. The first exemplifies the fleet’s deep roots in Ontario and Canada while another represents its growing U.S. operations, OTA noted. Each business is led, respectively, by Ondejko’s son and his daughter, who recently became a U.S. citizen.
“We started this company decades ago around a plastic kitchen table, but the foundation was poured long before,” said Steve Ondejko Sr., President of Onfreight Logistics and former Chair of the Ontario Trucking Association. “Growing up as one of eight children on our family’s farm, working seven days a week, I learned that nothing grows without hard work, persistence and commitment. This bridge wasn’t built just for multinational corporations – it was built for family businesses that create local jobs, invest in their communities, and believe in the future of cross-border trade. To have our Canadian and American drivers cross together as the first commercial vehicles is an incredible honour and a dream more than 20 years in the making.”
Ondejko didn’t simply advocate for the bridge – he built his company’s future around it, OTA added. Years ago, Onfreight invested $10 million in a state-of-the-art, 11-acre cross-dock terminal in Florence, Kentucky, expanding its U.S. operations and creating new opportunities for cross-border employment. Ondejko is also an active member of trucking associations and chambers of commerce in both Ontario and Kentucky, reflecting his long-standing commitment to strengthening the transportation industry on both sides of the border.
“This bridge is about far more than moving freight more efficiently,” said Ondejko. “It’s about creating opportunities for working families, supporting drivers, growing businesses, and strengthening the economic partnership between Canada and the United States.”
Hyroad Energy brings hydrogen refueling station online in SoCal
Hyroad Energy announced Wednesday that a hydrogen refueling station is officially open in Santa Fe Springs, California, enabling fuel access for hydrogen trucking fleets across the region.
Hyroad has deployed a liquid hydrogen mobile refueling station from Taylor-Wharton, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Water America and provider of cryogenic and hydrogen fueling equipment, at Tom's Truck Center's Santa Fe Springs location.Hyroad Energy
The unit combines a 1,000-kilogram liquid hydrogen tank, pump, dispenser, controls, and safety systems in a single mobile package, giving Hyroad a fast and efficient way to bring new fueling capacity online while permanent stations are developed and constructed.
Since becoming operational, the station has ramped quickly, Hyroad said. In its first full week of service, it completed 45 fueling transactions with fueling times consistently under 25 minutes, comparable to a diesel fill-up.
"Today's announcement isn't just about keeping one fleet moving – it's a signal that hydrogen trucking infrastructure can be stood up fast, work reliably, and scale with demand," said Mike Archibald, Head of Hydrogen Infrastructure at Hyroad Energy. "Every station we bring online, mobile or permanent, is proof to the industry that the fueling side of this equation is solvable now. That's what unlocks confidence for fleets, OEMs, and partners to keep investing in hydrogen."
I-65 in Louisville partially reopens ahead of schedule as construction continues
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and state transportation officials on Tuesday announced that I-65 through downtown Louisville is reopening three days ahead of schedule today, Wednesday, July 29.
The reopening restores two travel lanes in each direction and is a major milestone in the I-65 Central Corridor Project. The reopening follows a planned two-month closure to allow crews to accelerate replacing three aging bridges. With travel lanes open, construction will continue as work progresses to complete the project.
“We know how important this corridor is to Louisville, and today we’re excited to reopen it ahead of schedule so families, visitors, businesses and more can get back to their regular commutes,” said Beshear. “Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to complete this project ahead of time and deliver safer roads and bridges for Kentucky families.”
The full five-mile corridor of I-65 between the Watterson Expressway (I-264) and downtown Louisville (Jefferson Street) reopened early Wednesday morning. A two-mile section of southbound I-65 between University Boulevard and the Watterson Expressway opened in late June.
While lanes have reopened, construction is still ongoing as the I-65 bridges over Kentucky Street/Brook Street, Hill Street/CSX Railroad/Burnett Avenue and Bradley Avenue are being replaced. Accelerated work during the closure has saved at least a year of additional restrictions and delays on I-65, officials noted.
So far, crews have set around 70 steel beams and more than 200 precast deck panels. Construction on the three bridges is expected to be complete in March 2027.
Drivers traveling through Louisville are still encouraged to use the signed detour in place (I-264) to avoid construction.
“It’s fantastic to know that I-65 will soon open to traffic,” said Matt Bullock, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 5 Chief District Engineer. “However, it’s important for drivers to note this remains a construction zone. Drivers not stopping in Louisville should still follow the signed detour while local drivers should keep using real-time mapping apps for the best route to use.”
States launch bridge height awareness campaign
A group of 19 state transportation agencies and Washington, D.C., led by The Eastern Transportation Coalition (TETC), are participating in a campaign this week aimed at helping drivers avoid striking low bridges with their vehicles or oversize loads.
The "Check Your Height, Know It's Right" campaign encourages drivers to ensure their vehicle or load is not too tall to safely fit under bridges that extend over state and local roadways. Bridge strikes not only damage vehicles and infrastructure, but also cause delays and put the traveling public and emergency responders at risk.
The "Check Your Height" campaign targets all classes of drivers operating commercial trucks, leased trucks (such as delivery and moving box-type trucks), recreational and construction vehicles.
According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, which is participating in the campaign, crash data shows that drivers may not always consider vehicle height and related restrictions during operation. For example, a typical 26-foot moving/delivery truck may have a height ranging from 11' to 13'6" or more.
The campaign also reminds drivers to lower truck beds and check the height of loads or equipment they're hauling.
"These types of incidents take away resources from other infrastructure projects, and many times require support from our emergency response partners," said INDOT Commissioner Lyndsay Quist. "Drivers must know the height of their vehicle or load and pay close attention to bridge clearance signage. They cannot rely only on navigation systems or apps."
SEKO Logistics expands U.S. footprint
SEKO Logistics is expanding its U.S. network with new and expanded facilities across the Midwest and Texas, bringing its total domestic footprint to 64 locations.
The expansion targets key logistics corridors to boost capacity for international freight forwarding, expedited ground transport, contract logistics, direct-to-consumer fulfillment, and customs brokerage.
"It's been a volatile stretch for logistics in the U.S., and it won't get simpler anytime soon," SEKO Chief Executive Gordon Branov said. "However, with disruption comes opportunity, which is why we're investing through it. Customers need capacity where their freight moves."
In the Midwest, the expansion includes three sites in Illinois – a 103,000-square-foot fulfillment hub in Elk Grove Village; an 83,000-square-foot fashion logistics hub in Elmhurst; and a 44,000-square-foot air cargo facility in Mount Prospect near Chicago O'Hare International Airport. In Ohio, the company operates a 350,000-square-foot distribution and multimodal station in Cincinnati.
In Texas, SEKO added a 35,000-square-foot facility near George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston to support international gateway trade, alongside a 24,000-square-foot hub in El Paso focusing on cross-border logistics along the U.S.-Mexico border and specialized defense sector freight.
Ian Oliver, president of North America operations, noted that reinforcing domestic hubs supports the company's broader international supply chain operations as regional shipping demand continues to grow.
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