Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, June 11, 2026:
Snap-on pays $100M for Diesel Laptops
Snap-on has acquired Diesel Laptops for approximately $100 million in cash, the company announced. The acquisition, completed June 8, expands Snap-on's reach into the commercial truck and off-highway vehicle markets.
Based in Irmo, South Carolina, Diesel Laptops specializes in diagnostics, repair information, and digital solutions for heavy-duty repair shops, fleets, and industries such as mining, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Snap-on said the acquisition will strengthen its proprietary data library and enhance its product offerings for complex vehicle diagnostics. Diesel Laptops will be integrated into Snap-on's Repair Systems & Information Group.
TIA pushes for federal truck safety rules following Supreme Court decision
Transportation Intermediaries Association is calling on the federal government to establish a uniform safety standard for picking trucking companies, warning that a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision has placed an "untenable" burden on freight brokers.
TIA formally filed a petition for rulemaking Tuesday with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration demanding a federal Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard and the public release of a High-Risk Motor Carrier List to flag unsafe trucking companies.
The push comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling that exposes freight brokers to personal injury suits if a carrier with whom they have contracted a load is involved in an accident. The association claims SCOTUS's unanimous decision created an expectation that brokers and shippers independently verify if a trucking company is safe to use, despite lacking reliable or complete data.
In many cases, a carrier’s safety issues are only brought to light after a catastrophic crash, the association said.
"In the interim, the industry and the shipping public need clarity, consistency, and certainty," said TIA President and CEO Chris Burroughs.
The group noted that more than 90% of authorized motor carriers currently operate without an FMCSA safety rating and argues this effectively forces private brokers and shippers to act as regulatory enforcement eyes for the government without clear rules or enough guidance.
While the TIA credited the current presidential administration for taking more steps to improve oversight than any recent predecessor, it noted those efforts will take time to yield results.
The proposed federal standard would outline specific, reasonable steps for selecting motor carriers to create a more predictable operating and legal environment.
Additionally, the TIA wants FMCSA to publish a list identifying high-risk carriers, including trucking companies that exceed federal intervention thresholds in three or more safety categories—or any carrier exceeding thresholds in critical areas like unsafe driving, crash indicators, hours-of-service compliance, and vehicle maintenance.
TCA outlines blueprint for FMCSA improvements
The Truckload Carriers Association is calling for major federal reforms to modernize the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, warning that a severe staffing shortage at the agency compromises highway safety.
In a newly released policy white paper, the association urged Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation to realign resources, modernize registration systems, and update how the government determines carriers' safety fitness.
TCA President Jim Mullen noted that while the agency’s responsibilities continue to grow, its resources remain stagnant.
"FMCSA is responsible for overseeing one of the largest and most diverse regulated populations in the federal government, yet it remains one of the smallest agencies within USDOT," Mullen said. "This imbalance compromises safety, weakens oversight, and leaves the motoring public at risk."
The report highlighted a stark regulatory gap: the agency employs just 1,118 workers to oversee nearly 8 million regulated entities. That represents a ratio of one employee per 7,155 entities. By contrast, the Federal Aviation Administration employs more than 45,000 personnel to oversee about 7,400 commercial aircraft operators.
The push for reform comes amid high stakes on the road. According to the white paper, large truck crashes killed 5,936 people and injured 160,000 across the United States in 2022.
The association's key recommendations include:
- Substantial increases in safety staffing and dedicated funding.
- A unified, secure registration system with pre-operational reviews.
- Strengthened oversight of commercial driver's license testing and training.
- Improved crash causation analysis.
Mullen urged lawmakers to act quickly, stating that a well-funded agency is essential for both public safety and the stability of the nation's supply chain.
