Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025:
September’s Truck Tonnage Index gave back August gains
Trucking activity in the United States decreased in September, pushing the level down to the lowest in three months, according to the American Trucking Associations.
ATA's Truck Tonnage Index dipped 0.9% in September after increasing 2% in July and August combined.ATA
Specifically, truck freight tonnage declined 0.9% after gaining 0.9% in August and 1.1% in July, according to the ATA’s advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index.
“Tonnage levels remain choppy, but they are up 2.1% since hitting a low in January,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “Compared to the high three years earlier, however, truck tonnage is still off by 3.9%. In fact, September’s tonnage level was essentially the same as in September 2023, underscoring the tough freight market over the last few years.”
In September, the ATA advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index equaled 114.2, down from 115.3 in August. The index, which is based on 2015 as 100, rose 0.8% from the same month last year after increasing 0.4% in August. Year-to-date, compared with the same period in 2024, tonnage was up 0.2%.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which calculates raw changes in tonnage hauled, equaled 114.7 in September, 2.6% below August’s reading of 117.7.
OOIDA calls on Congress to strengthen CDL training standards
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association on Oct. 20 sent a letter to leaders in Congress that urges stronger standards for driver training, licensing and qualifications.
“Simply put, far too many individuals are entering the trucking industry without the basic skills necessary to safely operate a commercial vehicle,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said in the letter. “Additionally, inconsistent and improper licensing processes among states has permitted hundreds of thousands of unqualified drivers to work on our nation’s roads, which has needlessly resulted in numerous fatal crashes.”
Among OOIDA’s requests to Congress was for lawmakers to pass Rep. David Rouzer’s (R-North Carolina) bill that would codify the DOT’s interim final rule related to non-domiciled CDL issuance.
As Congress begins work on the next Highway Bill Reauthorization with the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act expiring in September 2026, OOIDA offered the following recommendations for inclusion in the next highway bill:
- Bolster Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) standards -- OOIDA specifically called for the introduction of mandatory behind-the-wheel hours for new drivers. Current ELDT requirements do not set a required minimum for behind-the-wheel instruction hours and only require that instructors cover the topics included in the behind-the-wheel curriculum and that the trainee is proficient in that curriculum. OOIDA called for a minimum of 30 hours of behind-the-wheel training.
- FMCSA must better utilize the Training Provider Registry (TPR) to remove bad actors -- OOIDA called for the agency to “take decisive action to more quickly remove both non-compliant and inadequate training locations from the TPR.”
- Strengthen new-entrant audit requirements -- Congress can improve safety by requiring more stringent U.S. DOT oversight of new carrier applicants before granting authority.
- Eliminate unsafe CDL exemptions and waivers -- OOIDA voiced its opposition to exemptions and waivers from the requirement that commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders be accompanied by a CDL holder in the front seat while the CLP holder is operating the vehicle. “This regulation is designed to properly ensure that inexperienced drivers will have sufficient training, instruction, and oversight as they learn the job,” Spencer said in the letter.
- Establish more oversight and accountability for third-party CDL testing providers -- With states increasingly utilizing third-party knowledge examiners and skills testers, OOIDA said more oversight of third-party testers is needed “as we continue seeing instances of third-party examiner fraud and bribery.”
Truckstop.com launches dry van-only load board
Truckstop.com this week launched what it says is the trucking industry’s first dry van-only load board.
The new platform enables dry van owner-operators and small fleets to efficiently and affordably find high-quality, verified loads for their specific equipment type, the company said.
With unlimited searches starting at just $35 per month, carriers gain access to the same verified, high-quality freight they are accustomed to from the Truckstop.com load board, plus real-time market data to book loads smarter, faster, and negotiate with confidence to secure better rates.
“Small fleets and owner-operators are the backbone of the trucking industry,” said Scott Moscrip, CEO of Truckstop.com. “We know this freight recession has been especially tough, with van rates trailing other equipment types and offering some of the lowest pay per mile in the market. That’s why we created a dedicated Van Load Board at a lower price point -- to give van carriers quick, verified access to high-quality freight and real-time market data.”
The truckstop.com Load Board for Dry Vans offers unlimited load searches and truck postings exclusively for this equipment type, making it easier than ever to find and select the most profitable loads at the lowest cost, the company added. It’s available in two versions -- Basic and Pro -- both of which provide tools that help carriers make quick, accurate, and reliable freight-matching decisions.
The Basic version includes the following features:
- Private loads -- Directly access freight from approved brokers within a carrier’s network
- Load popularity and truck count by state -- Identify loads and lanes with less competition for better negotiating leverage
- Broker factorability data -- Identify which brokers and loads are eligible for factoring to get paid faster
- Routes map -- Visualize and plan efficient truck routes to minimize miles and ensure on-time deliveries
- Canadian loads -- Broaden load searches to include freight entering and leaving Canada.
The Pro version includes all the Basic features, plus same-day and forecast rate data from SONAR Insights to understand market shifts, compare lanes, and negotiate with confidence. In addition to SONAR Insights, the Pro version also includes advanced tools to maximize efficiency and profitability, including:
- Real-time live loads -- Access freight opportunities in the most active lanes
- Load comparison -- Evaluate multiple loads side by side to make faster, data-driven decisions
- Rate per mile (RPM) heat map -- Identify high-paying regions to optimize planning and profitability
- Multi-trip search -- Plan multiple hauls in one view for extended peace of mind and growth opportunities
- Load alert notifications -- Receive instant load matches directly to a mobile device
