Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, July 1, 2026:
C.H. Robinson dismissed from lawsuit over triple-fatal Florida turnpike crash
The plaintiffs in a lawsuit stemming from the August 2025 triple-fatal crash on the Florida turnpike involving non-domiciled CDL driver Harjinder Singh have dropped C.H. Robinson from the case after learning the brokerage did not actually broker the load being hauled at the time of the crash.
When C.H. Robinson was named in the lawsuit last month, the brokerage challenged the claim, denying that it brokered the load to the fleet involved -- White Hawk Carriers -- or even worked with the trucking company at all at the time of the crash. C.H. Robinson at the time said “White Hawk Carriers is not an approved carrier for C.H. Robinson nor been authorized in our system for years,” and added that the last load the carrier hauled for the brokerage was in January 2024.
In a court filing on June 26, Yaniel Cantelar, a representative of the estate of Fanolia Joseph, who was killed in the crash last summer, dropped C.H. Robinson from the case after learning the brokerage had, in fact, not brokered the load being hauled at the time of the crash.
C.H. Robinson in a statement Tuesday reiterated that the allegation that it had brokered the shipment was untrue. The brokerage’s full statement follows:
"The lawsuit in Cantelar v. White Hawk Carriers incorrectly alleged that C.H. Robinson brokered the shipment involved in the accident. That was false, which is why C.H. Robinson has been dismissed from the case.
C.H. Robinson did not broker or arrange the shipment, nor was it involved in the selection of the trucking company that moved the shipment. In fact, at the time of the accident, the trucking company in question was blocked in C.H. Robinson’s system from being booked on any load.
Once the plaintiff learned the truth, they voluntarily dismissed C.H. Robinson from the case on June 26, 2026.
C.H. Robinson should not have been named as a defendant in this case, and its dismissal reflects the underlying facts.
Any commentary suggesting that C.H. Robinson may have been involved through a ‘double brokerage’ arrangement or somehow booked the load outside of its mandatory, rigorous, and multi-layered carrier vetting process is false. This was not a C.H. Robinson load, and neither C.H. Robinson nor any C.H. Robinson employee had any role in brokering or arranging the transportation of this load with any carrier."
The lawsuit is still pending against White Hawk Carriers, its manager Harpreet Singh, and the driver, Harkinder Singh.
Oregon wildfire relief haulers’ HOS waiver extended
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended an emergency declaration that waives hours-of-service regulations for truck drivers and motor carriers responding to the threat of wildfires in Oregon.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared a state of emergency on June 15 due to the “imminent threat of wildfire,” prompting the Oregon Department of Transportation to waive hours-of-service regulations for certain motor carriers and truck drivers. That waiver was effective through 6 p.m. on July 1.
On June 25, due to “ongoing wildfire activity and continued drought,” Oregon requested that FMCSA extend the emergency relief. Because emergency conditions have not abated, the agency granted the extension through July 13.
Under terms of the relief, truck drivers and motor carriers providing direct assistance to the emergency in Oregon related to wildfire suppression, prevention, and mitigation are exempt from the maximum driving time regulations in 49 CFR 395.3.
The regulatory relief applies regardless of the origin of the trip, so long as the carrier or driver is providing direct assistance to the emergency in Oregon, FMCSA noted.
Fleet recognized by Port of Long Beach for ‘Green Truck Corridor’
The Port of Long Beach on June 25 recognized 220-truck Bali Express Services’ proactive efforts to establish a Green Truck Corridor between Long Beach and Mexico.
Standing in front of zero-emissions trucks are, from left, Long Beach Harbor Commissioner Sharon L. Weissman, Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Bali Express Services Company Director Juan Baez, Mexico’s Los Angeles Consul for Economic Affairs Jacobeth Hernández Mendoza and Harbor Commissioner Bonnie Lowenthal.Port of Long Beach
Hacegaba spoke about the significance of U.S.-Mexico trade, with two-way commerce reaching a record $872.83 billion annually. Nearly 90% of that trade occurs on land, most of it via truck, he added.
“This is why initiatives like these matter and are making a difference,” Hacegaba said.
Over the past year, Bali has moved cargo between the Port of Long Beach and Bali Express’ facility in San Diego County and across the Mexican border by using a combination of compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicle trucks. The company, which currently operates 32 CNG and six EV trucks, plans to secure an additional 20 CNGs and 20 EVs this year, including Tesla Semi trucks, Baez said.
Baez reinforced Bali Express’ commitment to green trucking by announcing the company’s investment in EV trucks. Baez said the company’s goal is to operate a fully zero-emissions fleet of more than 350 trucks by 2040.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized by the Port of Long Beach,” Baez said. “In the last 12 months alone, Bali’s green operations were equivalent to removing 1,930 vehicles from the road. We want to show the world that we can green our trucking operations and be a successful business.”
