Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Sept. 18, 2026:
Gas, diesel haulers get 3 months of HOS relief
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration late Wednesday, Sept. 16, issued a waiver that allows more hours-of-service flexibility for motor carriers transporting gasoline and diesel fuel.
The waiver, effective immediately and valid through Dec. 16, exempts covered drivers from 49 CFR 395.3 (maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles). Under terms of the waiver:
- A driver cannot drive more than 16 hours in any 24-hour period.
- The driver must take a minimum of a 6 consecutive hour break in the sleeper berth in each 24-hour period. If there is no sleeper berth, the driver must take a minimum 8 consecutive hour off-duty break in each 24-hour period.
- Drivers must maintain a valid CDL for the transportation being conducted with all necessary endorsements and not be subject to an out-of-service order, disqualification, or loss of driving privileges
- Drivers must keep a physical or digital copy of the waiver in their possession when operating under it and present it to law enforcement upon request.
- Motor carriers with a conditional safety rating are not eligible for the relief granted by the waiver.
- At any time, if a driver informs their motor carrier that he or she needs immediate rest, the driver must be permitted immediately to find a suitable, safe resting location and allowed at least 10 consecutive hours off duty before resuming driving.
The waiver was granted in response “to global supply disruptions, anticipated increases in the demand for gasoline and diesel fuels in the late summer and fall, and to mitigate impacts on the costs and availability of fuel for transportation service providers, agricultural harvesting, and the traveling public as the demand increases,” FMCSA said in the waiver.
The agency added that it believes the “circumstances surrounding this waiver are unique and the waiver essential to facilitate timely and efficient fuel movement and support fuel availability during the last portion of the summer and most of the fall given acute fuel supply issues.”
As reported earlier this week, diesel prices hit a new record high during the week ending Sept. 14, surpassing $6 per gallon nationally. Additionally, U.S. diesel inventories are at record lows for this time of year.
[Related: Diesel surges past $6/gal. nationwide -- $8-$10 on the horizon?]
C.H. Robinson names 2026 Carriers of the Year
Mega-broker C.H. Robinson on Thursday announced the recipients of its 2026 Carrier of the Year Awards, recognizing 17 carriers across North America for exceptional performance, safety, and service.
Presented during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, the awards honor outstanding carriers ranging from single-truck owner-operators to large national fleets operating hundreds of trucks, and all branches of the industry, including heavy-haul, temperature-controlled freight, and cross-border service.
“These companies represent the best of our high-quality carrier network,” said Michael Castagnetto, President of North American Surface Transportation at C.H. Robinson. “They've earned the trust of both our customers and our teams through consistent performance, operational excellence and a commitment to doing the right thing. No matter the market conditions, they continue to adapt, deliver and help keep supply chains moving. We appreciate the opportunity to work alongside these carriers every day because they play a critical role in helping us create stronger supply chains and better outcomes for our customers.”
Award nominees were evaluated using a broad range of operational criteria, with safety and transparency serving as foundational requirements.
C.H. Robinson’s 2026 Carrier of the Year Award winners:
- Owner-Operator: Mack Transport, McAllen, Texas
- Small-1: AGF Transportation LLC, Ringwood, New Jersey
- Small-2: Light Express LLC, Massillon, Ohio
- Mid-Size-1: Sunrise Trucking Inc., French Camp, California
- Mid-Size-2: Nevoya, Perris, California
- Mid-Size-3: State Express, Lemont, Illinois
- Large-1: Halvor Lines, Inc., Superior, Wisconsin (CCJ Top 250, No. 125)
- Large-2: May Trucking Company, Salem, Oregon (No. 93)
- Temperature-Controlled: Walter P. Rawl & Sons, Inc., Pelion, South Carolina
- Specialized Heavy-Haul: Hicks Trucking Company, Litchfield, Minnesota
- Flatbed: KST Logistics, Inc., Manteca, California
- Cross Border: Multimodal Esquer, Inc., San Diego, California
- Mexico: Transportes Saldaña, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico
- Canada: C.H. Logistics, Brampton, Ontario
- Private Fleet: Tempur Sealy International, Lexington, Kentucky
- LTL-National: Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., Thomasville, North Carolina (No. 9)
- LTL-Regional: Dayton Freight Lines, Dayton, Ohio (No. 45)
Volvo receives recognition for electric truck range
Volvo accepted the award on September 14 at the International Truck of the Year ceremony during IAA Transportation in Hanover, Germany. Pictured from left are: Martin Lundstedt, CEO and president of Volvo Group; Roger Alm, executive vice president of Volvo Group and president of Volvo Trucks; and Jens Holtinger, chief technology officer of Volvo Group and executive vice president of Trucks Technology & Industrial Division.Volvo Trucks
Volvo Trucks' global heavy-duty electric range has been named International Truck of the Year 2027. It is the company's eighth win of the award and the second for the Volvo FH Electric. The award recognizes the same global electric truck program behind the Volvo VNR Electric trucks that fleets in the United States and Canada have been operating since 2020.
“The Volvo Trucks winning range represents a major evolution of their battery-electric heavy-duty offering,” said Florian Engel, chairman, International Truck of the Year. “With the new electric range, the company demonstrates how quickly battery-electric heavy-duty transport is moving from individual applications towards a comprehensive transport solution.”
The winning line-up includes the Volvo FH Electric with extended range and the next-generation Volvo FH, FM and FMX Electric, all models in Volvo Trucks' global range. The FH Aero Electric with extended range offers up to 700 kilometers (about 435 miles) on a charge, and the FH, FM, FMX Electric up to 470 kilometers (about 290 miles), with higher payload and shorter charging times, compared with the previous generation.
Roger Alm, president of Volvo Trucks, accepted the award on September 14 at the International Truck of the Year ceremony during IAA Transportation in Hanover, Germany.
"Volvo Trucks has seven years of electric truck experience across more than 50 countries, and that global scale works to our North American customers' advantage," said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America. "Fleets here have logged nearly 37 million zero-tailpipe emission miles, and we are continuing to develop both our electric offering and the support network behind it."
More than 750 Volvo VNR Electric trucks are in operation across the United States and Canada, where they have logged nearly 37 million zero-tailpipe emission miles. Those fleets are served by 84 Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealership locations in 33 states and four Canadian provinces.
