Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025:
Bot Auto completes first ‘humanless’ autonomous truck validation run
Autonomous truck tech developer Bot Auto on Tuesday announced the successful completion of its first “humanless” hub-to-hub validation run in Houston, Texas.
The truck operated seamlessly within its defined operational domain with no one in the cab or remote assistance, navigating real-world traffic conditions. The run was executed at sunset, successfully navigating day and night operations. Video of the run can be viewed here.
Differing from a commercial launch, this milestone serves as a validation benchmark, the company said, demonstrating the maturity and safety of Bot Auto’s autonomy stack and test protocols. Achieved within two years of the company’s founding, the milestone underscores Bot Auto’s unique approach: combining next-generation AI technologies with laser-focused execution.
Prior to the run, Bot Auto completed end-to-end safety verification and validation for the defined Operational Design Domain (ODD), including rigorous closed-course autonomy testing.
To further safeguard operations, the truck was equipped with multiple layers of protection, including diversified redundancy, continuous health monitoring, and verified minimum-risk fallback – designed to maintain intended performance under normal conditions and to respond safely to unexpected events.
“This validation run is a meaningful step, but it’s a waypoint, not the destination,” said Dr. Xiaodi Hou, founder and CEO of Bot Auto. “Success is simple: autonomy must beat human cost-per-mile, consistently and safely. And at Bot Auto, humanless means no human – not in the driver’s seat, not in the back seat, and not behind a remote joystick.”
For several months, Bot Auto has been operating fully autonomous commercial operations between Houston and San Antonio with safety drivers onboard. In the coming months, the company’s continuous validation will include its first humanless commercial cargo run between its Houston and San Antonio hubs.
[Related: Autonomous tech firm planning driverless truck deployment this year]
Wheaton | Bekins CEO retiring at end of 2025
Mark Kirschner, long-time Chief Executive Officer of Wheaton World Wide Moving | Bekins Van Lines (CCJ Top 250, No. 93), recently announced his retirement, effective Dec. 31, at the van line’s monthly Employee Ownership Meeting at the corporate office. Company president Jim Gaw was named as his successor.
Kirschner has worked in the household goods moving and storage industry for more than four decades. Starting in 1982 at the company that was then known as Wheaton Van Lines (now Wheaton | Bekins), Kirschner began working as a staff accountant soon after graduating from Indiana University Bloomington with his Bachelor of Science degree.
Five years later, in 1987, the company began doing business as Wheaton World Wide Moving. That same year, Stephen F. Burns, who had been the company’s longtime legal counsel, assumed the top leadership role at the company. Kirschner worked closely with Burns for many years, including providing data and counsel during the industry’s deregulation, until 2008, when Burns became the company’s Chairman of the Board, moving Kirschner into the CEO position.
Over his decades in leadership at the Indianapolis-based van line, Kirschner has been a key figure in acquiring multiple competitors, including Bekins Van Lines, Clark & Reid, Stevens Worldwide Van Lines and Arpin Van Lines. He has also been an advocate for the household goods industry, leading the financials for the transition from the American Moving & Storage Association to the American Trucking Associations Moving & Storage Conference and participating in the group’s Call on Washington each year.
“Mark’s career is a testament to unwavering dedication, exemplary leadership, and substantial contributions to our field,” Gaw said.
In naming Gaw as the new CEO of the company, starting Jan. 1, 2026, Kirschner praised his diverse experience in transportation and logistics and his progress in the past 15 months with the van line. Coming to Wheaton | Bekins from his position of COO at APS Logistics, Inc., Gaw is a 12-year veteran of Atlas World Group International, where he served as President and COO. Prior to working at Atlas, Gaw worked at Bekins Van Lines as Vice President of International.
“Jim Gaw’s proven track record of driving growth lends itself to a positive outlook for the van line,” Kirschner said. “I know I’m leaving the team in capable hands.”
PFG, US Foods exploring potential merger
Performance Food Group (PFG) and US Foods announced Tuesday that the two companies have entered into a "clean team agreement” that enables the companies to share information to evaluate regulatory considerations and the synergies related to a potential business combination.
Any tie-up of the two companies on the transportation side would create a massive private fleet. US Foods operates about 6,000 tractors and PFG roughly 8,000. Their combined trailer count exceeds 15,000.
PFG said members of the PFG Board and management team engaged with several of PFG’s large stockholders to hear their perspectives in recent weeks and will continue that dialogue. It also "engaged with US Foods on how the two companies could most effectively explore a potential business combination while safeguarding confidential information,” the company said via statement. "Following these conversations, the PFG Board, along with its independent financial and legal advisors, concluded that there was sufficient basis to begin information sharing."
The companies are therefore initiating a clean team process consisting of a group of independent lawyers, economists and consultants who will perform analysis using more detailed confidential information.
Florida fleet owner arrested for alleged role in commercial vehicle theft operation
Leonel Diaz Pairol, 54, the owner of Hialeah, Florida-based EZH Transport Inc., has been arrested and charged for his alleged role in a criminal enterprise involving stolen commercial vehicles, fraudulent vehicle identification numbers and falsified title documentation spanning several counties in south Florida.
Leonel Diaz PairolFlorida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
“The theft of commercial trucks and trailers is not a victimless crime -- it drives up the cost of goods and services for every Floridian,” Simpson said. “Thanks to the diligent work of our Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, a major player in a sophisticated vehicle theft and fraud operation has been taken off the streets. We will continue to aggressively investigate and disrupt criminal enterprises that target Florida’s businesses, consumers, and supply chains.”
In 2023, OALE received a referral regarding a criminal enterprise involved in the trafficking of stolen property, fraudulent VINs, and falsified title documentation across south Florida.
Over the course of the investigation, OALE Special Agents identified a semi-trailer bearing a counterfeit VIN and fraudulent paperwork. The trailer was intercepted in Immokalee, Florida, during a traffic stop and was linked to EZH Transport, owned by Diaz Pairol. Further review revealed that OALE had previously seized three VIN-swapped semi-tractors from Diaz Pairol and EZH Transport. Title histories confirmed that falsified documents and fraudulent rebuild inspection records were submitted in connection with these vehicles.
Further inquiries revealed that Diaz Pairol was associated with multiple fraudulent semi-truck rebuilds, including a Freightliner tractor valued at approximately $140,000 that had been reported stolen from Miami-Dade County. Fraudulent title applications, falsified repair records, and VIN alterations were systematically used to conceal stolen vehicles, Simpson said in a press release.
On Sept. 8, OALE Special Agents arrested Diaz Pairol in connection with this enterprise. He was transported to the Miami-Dade Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center pending judicial proceedings.
He was charged with the following felony offenses:
- Three counts Title Fraud/False Statements, 3rd-degree felony
- Three counts Possession of Altered VIN, 3rd-degree felony
- Three counts Obtaining Title with Fraudulent Documents, 3rd-degree felony
- One count Dealing in Stolen Property, 2nd-degree felony
