Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, April 22, 2026:
Truck tonnage inched up in March
ATA
Trucking activity in the United States rose 0.3% in March after surging 2.9% in February, according to the American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index.
While March’s increase over February wasn’t particularly notable, “it was the largest year-over-year increase since October 2022,” noted ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “The first quarter of 2026 was also the best performance since the third quarter of 2017 when considering both sequential and year-over-year results.”
In March, the ATA advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index equaled 117.0, up from 116.6 in February. The index, which is based on 2015 as 100, increased 3% from the same month in 2025, the largest year-over-year gain since October 2022.
During the first three months of the year, tonnage was up 2.1% from the same period last year. In 2025, the tonnage index was flat compared to the 2024 average.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which calculates raw changes in tonnage hauled, equaled 120.1 in March, 12% above February’s reading of 107.3.
Penske VP named 2026 Distinguished Woman in Logistics
The Women in Trucking Association (WIT), Truck Parking Club and Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) announced April 20 that Aurélie Doucette, vice president of dedicated contract carriage operations at Penske Logistics (CCJ Top 250, No. 13), has been named the 2026 Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award (DWLA) recipient.
Doucette was selected for her contributions to operational excellence and her commitment to mentoring and advancing women in the industry, WIT said.Women in Trucking
Finalists for the award included Eileen Dabrowski, founder and CEO of Apex Tide Consulting, and Erin Mitchell, chief operating officer at YMX Logistics.
“With more than two decades of experience, Aurélie exemplifies the leadership and dedication this award was created to recognize,” said Jennifer Hedrick, president and CEO of WIT. “Her commitment to developing people, improving operations and advancing opportunities for women makes her an outstanding ambassador for the industry.”
Doucette began her career with Transfreight and continued her leadership growth following its acquisition by Penske Logistics. In her current role, she works closely with her team to accelerate supply chain performance for customers spanning several industry verticals. She places great value on the mentorship she provides and the customer relationships she nurtures in this role.
In addition to her operational leadership, Doucette serves as executive champion of Penske Logistics’ Women’s Business Resource Group, where she supports mentorship, professional development and inclusion initiatives. She is also a two-time recipient of the company’s President’s Award.
The award was presented during the TIA Capital Ideas Conference and Exhibition. The award highlights the growing influence of women in transportation and logistics and recognizes leaders whose impact extends across their organizations and the broader supply chain.
Tennessee to test truck parking info systems at I-40 rest area
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is implementing Truck Parking Availability System (TPAS) pilot technologies at its I-40 Welcome Center in Smith County, east of Nashville.
The pilot project, funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s SMART Grants Program, is intended to help truck drivers find safe, reliable parking when moving essential freight across the Southeast, TDOT said.
Beginning April 22, crews will begin installing pilot technologies at the welcome center, which has both eastbound and westbound access points at mile marker 267. Construction will result in intermittent closures of truck and passenger vehicle parking spaces, as well as daily shoulder closures in both directions.
Following construction completion and full system integration into TDOT’s SmartWay system, estimated for June, truckers will be encouraged to submit feedback on the technologies to help TDOT determine the most reliable occupancy detection technology and overall systems standards.
Four different methods of monitoring technology will be deployed:
- Magnetometers to detect the number of trucks entering and exiting the Welcome Center’s eastbound lot
- Radar-Camera Fusion Sensor to detect the number of trucks entering and exiting the Welcome Center’s eastbound lot
- Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to detect the number of available parking spaces in the Welcome Center’s westbound lot
- Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to detect the number of available parking spaces in the Welcome Center’s westbound lot
The technologies will provide real-time availability information to commercial truck drivers through roadside signage and in-cab alerts via ELDs, TDOT said. Similar to TDOT SmartWay cameras, any camera deployed at the I-40 Welcome Center to monitor parking will not be recorded or used for enforcement purposes, the agency added.
“By giving drivers early, reliable information through these innovative solutions, we help them make smarter decisions,” said TDOT Commissioner Will Reid. “Our goal is simple: to support the men and women who keep our freight moving, while protecting everyone who uses Tennessee roadways.”
Truck driver faces drug charges after 400 pounds of suspected cocaine found in trailer
Inside the rear of the trailer, several duffle bags and cardboard boxes were found, containing approximately 392 pounds of suspected cocaine.Indiana State Police
Police in Indiana seized nearly 400 pounds of suspected cocaine during a traffic stop on a commercial motor vehicle.
The stop occurred in Putnam County along I-70 near Cloverdale when an Indiana State Police Criminal Interdiction Trooper stopped a truck for speeding.
During the interaction with the driver, 27-year-old Harmandeep Singh of Bakersfield, California, the trooper observed multiple criminal indicators suggesting the driver was operating below industry standards.
Consent to search the tractor and trailer was requested and granted. Inside the rear of the trailer, several duffle bags and cardboard boxes were found which contained approximately 392 pounds (178 kilograms) of suspected cocaine. The estimated street value of the seized narcotics is approximately $9 million.
Singh was taken into custody and transported to the Putnam County Jail, where he is being held on a $30,000 cash bond. He has been preliminarily charged with:
- Dealing Narcotic Drug, Level 2 Felony
- Possession of Narcotic Drug, Level 3 Felony
Final charges will be determined by the Putnam County Prosecutor.
