Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025:
Aurora expands ‘driverless’ operations in Texas
Autonomous truck developer Aurora Innovation on Oct. 28 announced it has expanded its commercial operations by launching a second “driverless” route from Fort Worth to El Paso. Additionally, the company said it surpassed 100,000 Aurora Driver tech-piloted miles on public roads and is planning to deploy “hundreds of driverless trucks” with the hardware and software in 2026.
The launch of the 600-mile lane from Fort Worth to El Paso, just six months after the company’s inaugural Dallas to Houston route, marks the fastest scaling to a second market in the U.S. self-driving industry, Aurora said. While the company touts its operations as driverless, a human operator is still in the front seat.
“Six months out from launch, we’re achieving more industry-firsts, expanding quickly, and paving the way to deploy hundreds of trucks next year,” said Chris Urmson, co-founder and CEO at Aurora. “Expanding to El Paso, notching over 100,000 driverless miles, and integrating our new hardware with multiple truck platforms extends our strong lead.”
[Related: Aurora begins nighttime 'driverless' operations in Texas]
The route was chosen, Aurora noted, because “staffing challenges and the difficulty of completing the 10-hour haul in a single day make the route daunting for carriers.” Customers on the El Paso route include Hirschbach Motor Lines, an early adopter of the Aurora Driver, Russell Transport and others.
“As an early adopter, we embrace the opportunity to help define the future of freight technology,” said Richard Stocking, President & CEO of Hirschbach Motor Lines. “Integrating an additional fleet strengthens our driverless capacity -- a vital advancement in ensuring we meet customer demand and deliver operational excellence.”
[Related: Aurora begins driverless commercial operations in Texas]
Aurora also unveiled next-generation hardware, which is designed to reduce overall cost by half while boosting performance and durability. Features include:
- Expected life cycle more than a million miles
- New FirstLight Lidar updates detect objects 1,000 meters away -- twice the distance of the current generation
- Enhanced sensor cleaning will help the Aurora Driver in harsher weather conditions
The new hardware is manufactured by Fabrinet and precedes the highly-scalable hardware being jointly developed with AUMOVIO (formerly Continental), which is slated for production in 2027 and is expected to enable the deployment of tens of thousands of trucks.
The new hardware is being integrated with the Volvo VNL Autonomous, where lineside integration is taking place at Volvo’s New River Valley manufacturing facility, and a new fleet of International LT Series Class 8 vehicles at Aurora’s Pittsburgh hardware facilities. Paccar continues to test its autonomy-enabled truck platform at its facilities.
[Related: FMCSA grants warning-device waiver to autonomous trucking company]
Groendyke CEO elected as new ATA Chairman
Groendyke Transport (CCJ Top 250, No. 84) CEO Greg Hodgen has been elected to serve as the American Trucking Associations’ 81st Chairman. ATA’s Board of Directors elected Hodgen to the role on Oct. 28.
Greg HodgenATA
Hodgen succeeds Dennis Dellinger, president & CEO of Cargo Transporters (No. 167), as ATA Chairman.
“Over the past several decades, Greg has built a highly successful career at Groendyke and has been instrumental in growing the company into one of the nation’s largest tank-truck carriers,” said ATA President & CEO Chris Spear. “Along the way, he has lent his time, talent, and expertise to ATA, and our Federation is stronger because of his invaluable insights and inspiring leadership. ATA is fortunate to be able to add Greg to our distinguished list of accomplished chairmen, and I look forward to working with him on tackling a wide range of issues facing our industry, particularly the scourge of lawsuit abuse.”
ATA’s Board also elected Derek Leathers, chairman and CEO of Werner Enterprises (No. 14) in as first vice chair and Randy Clifford, chairman and CEO of Ventura Transfer Company as second vice chair. In addition, Gregg Troian, president of PGT Trucking (No. 72) was elected as vice chair. The Board re-elected John M. Smith, chairman of CRST International Holdings LLC, as secretary. Harold Sumerford Jr., CEO of J&M Tank Lines Inc., was elected as treasurer.
Lawmakers call for investigation into ‘CDL mills’, introduce bill to require English-only CDL tests
A pair of U.S. Congressmen are calling on Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to open an investigation into so-called “CDL mills.”
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Rep. Andy Barr (R-Kentucky) sent a letter Tuesday, Oct. 28, to Duffy urging the investigation. “CDL mills are substandard training programs that offer quick credentials and recent incidents and reports indicate these mills are prioritizing volume over proper safety and training requirements,” the letter states.
Cotton and Barr go on to say that these programs “have exploited loopholes in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations to churn out minimally trained drivers with little regard for real-world proficiency.”
Because these programs focus on passing CDL tests “with little to no hands-on experience,” Cotton and Barr said the result is new CDL holders “ill-equipped to handle the real-world demands of interstate trucking.”
The lawmakers called for the investigation to “rigorously assess whether CDL training programs are upholding ELDT standards, particularly with behind-the-wheel training, pre-trip inspections, and on-road proficiency.”
In addition to sending the letter to Duffy, Cotton and Barr were also among lawmakers to introduce on Oct. 16 the “Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act” in their respective chambers of Congress. The bill, if passed, would require all CDL testing to be conducted in English only and allow the Transportation Secretary to suspend or revoke a state’s authority to issue non-domiciled CDLs if they aren’t compliant with federal standards.
Specifically, the bill would:
- Require all testing related to the issuance or renewal of a CDL, including non-domiciled CDLs, to be conducted only in English. This would apply to any tests administered as part of the ELDT program, any knowledge tests part of the issuance or renewal of a CDL, and any tests administered by third-party training providers.
- Empower the Secretary of Transportation to suspend or revoke a state’s authority to issue non-domiciled CDLs if found non-compliant with federal standards.
- Require individuals to hold a standard driver’s license for one year before obtaining a CDL.
“As the sponsors of the Secure Commercial Driver Licensing Act, we have been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen our commercial licensing system,” Cotton and Barr said to conclude their letter to Duffy. “While Congress works to pass the legislation, we strongly encourage DOT to use its rulemaking authority to make further changes like mandatory training hours behind the wheel for CDLs.”
Boerman Moving & Storage acquires JL Moving
Boerman Moving & Storage, a fourth-generation, family-owned moving company based in suburban Chicago, this week announced its expansion into Wisconsin through the acquisition of JL Moving, LLC.
The new warehouse and office, located in Cudahy, Wisconsin, marks a step in Boerman’s continued growth and its mission to deliver reliable, family-driven service across the Midwest.
The Milwaukee area was a natural choice for expansion, the company said. As a thriving logistics hub with easy access to major interstates and proximity to both Chicago and key Wisconsin communities, it offers the ideal location for Boerman to strengthen its service network.
“Our family has always had strong Wisconsin ties,” said Mike Boerman of Boerman Moving & Storage. “Expanding to the Milwaukee area allows us to serve more customers efficiently while maintaining the personal service that’s been our hallmark since 1926.”
The expansion creates new opportunities for the Boerman team to collaborate, share resources, and provide faster, more flexible service across a broader territory. The new facility increases warehouse capacity, strengthens long-distance and corporate relocation operations, and supports the company’s growing national and international moving services as an agent for Bekins Van Lines.
For Illinois and Wisconsin clients alike, the expansion means greater scheduling flexibility, shorter response times, and increased storage availability.
Clients of JL Moving can expect a seamless transition. The company’s existing team and operations will remain in place, now supported by Boerman’s expanded resources, advanced equipment, and nearly 100 years of expertise. Customers will continue working with the same local crews they know and trust – just under a larger, family-backed umbrella.
“The JL team has earned tremendous trust in Milwaukee for their reliable, hardworking approach,” said Dan Boerman of Boerman Moving & Storage. “We’re excited to build on that reputation and deepen our commitment to the community.”
Boerman’s Wisconsin division will serve both residential and commercial clients throughout the greater Milwaukee region and beyond. The expansion strengthens existing relationships with major corporate relocation partners and large-scale clients in both markets, allowing Boerman to meet growing demand for high-quality moving, packing, and storage solutions across the Midwest.
