Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026:
Attorney sentenced for role in New Orleans staged-crash scheme
Danny Patrick Keating Jr., 57 of New Orleans, was sentenced on Oct. 15 for his role in a staged-accident scheme targeting tractor-trailers and their insurers around the New Orleans area.
Keating was sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud and will serve 32 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He is also required to pay $657,405.34 in restitution and pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Keating was indicted on Nov. 5, 2020, and charged with knowingly engaging in a vast conspiracy involving the intentional staging of motor vehicle collisions with tractor-trailers and commercial vehicles in the metropolitan New Orleans area. Thus far, 63 defendants have been charged in the federal probe into the staging of such collisions.
Keating was a personal injury attorney licensed to practice law in Louisiana. At the time of his plea on June 17, 2021, he admitted he knowingly paid Damian Labeaud for 31 illegally staged tractor-trailer accidents. Keating represented 77 plaintiffs involved in the 31 accidents staged by Labeaud.
He settled 17 of the 31 staged accidents. The indictment charged that Keating and his clients received a total of approximately $1.5 million in settlement monies resulting from his representation of these clients, and that Keating kept approximately $358,000 of that as his attorney’s fees.
Keating also admitted filing lawsuits in state and federal court in Louisiana, on behalf of his clients who were involved in the staged accidents. The lawsuits he filed on behalf of the 77 plaintiffs fraudulently misrepresented the identity of the driver of the vehicles, fraudulently misrepresented who was at fault in the staged accidents, and fraudulently claimed injuries.
Keating also used the U.S Postal Service to mail settlement demands on behalf of his clients from the Eastern District of Louisiana to various out-of-state locations. In many cases, Keating’s clients provided false testimony in depositions taken in conjunction with lawsuits filed by Keating.
Great Dane trailer recall requires fix before use
Great Dane Trailers is recalling certain model year 2027 Champion dry van trailers, advising owners not to use the trailers until the recall repairs are completed, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents.
The recall was issued because the upper coupler may have an incorrect bottom plate installed, which could cause the kingpin to protrude, preventing the trailer from coupling properly.
Affected trailers were manufactured beginning Sept. 1, 2026. The affected trailers are equipped with hot-dipped galvanized upper couplers where the bottom plate may have been 1/4 inch instead of 5/16 inch.
Great Dane will inspect and replace the upper coupler assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Dec. 4. Owners can contact Great Dane's customer service at 1-877- 369-3493. NHTSA’s recall number is 26V-656.
Georgia extends fuel tax holiday
With the Thanksgiving holiday travel period coming up in about a month, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has signed an extension for an executive order that waives the collection of motor fuel taxes in the state.
Georgia’s fuel tax was previously suspended from Sept. 29 through Nov. 5. Kemp’s new order extends that relief through Nov. 30.
Georgia’s tax on diesel fuel is 37.3 cents per gallon.
Under terms of the order, all IFTA-licensed carriers must still file IFTA returns during the period. Miles traveled during the tax holiday period should be reported in the Total Miles and Total Gallons fields, but excluded from Total Taxable Miles and Tax-Paid Gallons.
Goodyear’s newest Highway Hero pulled driver from burning vehicle
General Transport truck driver Joseph Stanekenas was named the 2026 Goodyear Highway Hero.Goodyear
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company on Oct. 21 announced the winner of the 42nd Goodyear Highway Hero Award — Joseph Stanekenas, a professional driver for General Transport.
Stanekenas was recognized for his courageous actions following a serious highway accident involving a tractor-trailer that had collided with another trailer and caught fire. Upon witnessing the crash, Stanekenas immediately parked his vehicle and rushed to assist the driver trapped inside the burning truck.
Assisted by fellow commercial driver Charles Johnson, Stanekenas led the rescue despite the dangerous conditions. Together, the two men were able to pull the driver from the vehicle and move him to safety.
Thanks to Stanekenas’ initial swift response and a joint willingness to put themselves at risk to help a stranger, the driver survived the incident.
The Goodyear Highway Hero Award was established in 1983 and recognizes professional truck drivers across the U.S. and Canada who demonstrate exceptional courage and selflessness while on the job.
“Joseph has been a driver for General Transport for four years and is always willing to go above and beyond in every aspect,” said Karly Becker, Director of Safety, General Transport. “It is a pleasure to have Joseph as part of our fleet, but our honor to nominate his heroic actions through Goodyear’s Highway Hero Award to save a stranger’s life.”
As the 42nd Highway Hero Award recipient, Stanekenas will receive a cash prize and a ride aboard the iconic Goodyear Blimp. In recognition of the teamwork and courage that made the rescue possible, Charles Johnson will also be invited to participate in the Blimp experience.
"Professional truck drivers keep goods and services moving across North America every day, but their impact often extends far beyond the freight they haul," said Joe Stuglis, Vice President, Commercial Sales North America, Goodyear. "Joseph and Charles demonstrated extraordinary courage and selflessness when they stopped to help a fellow driver in a life-threatening situation. Their actions made a difference, and we are proud to recognize their bravery."
Missouri ups speed limits on certain interstate stretches
The Missouri Department of Transportation announced this week the locations of upcoming increases to the speed limit of various interstate corridor segments.
The increases are the result of a new law permitting MoDOT to raise the maximum rural highway speed limit to 75 mph and follows a detailed review within the department of each eligible location.
“The department takes careful consideration of all the different factors that make up a roadway when setting speed limits, including how people use it,” said MoDOT Director Ed Hassinger. “This decision is not made lightly and comes after a detailed study into each of those factors to determine where we can move people and traffic efficiently at higher speeds without sacrificing safety.”
As a result, the department has identified the following interstate segments for an increase to the 75-mph speed limit:
- I-29: From Exit 56 in Andrew County to approximately 2.5 miles south of the Iowa border (64 miles)
- I-35: From the northern Cameron city limit to approximately 4 miles south of the Iowa border (55 miles)
- I-49: From the Arkansas border to Exit 24 (24 miles); and from Exit 56 to just south of Exit 101 in Nevada (45 miles)
- I-55: From the Arkansas border to mile marker 16.6 just south of the I-155 interchange (17 miles); from mile marker 19.8 just north of the MO 84 interchange to mile marker 64.9 at the Rte. AA bridge (45 miles); from mile marker 70.5 just north of the Rte. HH interchange to mile marker 86.6 just south of the Rte. PP interchange (16 miles); and from mile marker 106.4 just north of Exit 105 to mile marker 164.9 at the Jefferson County line (59 miles)
MoDOT crews will be working this fall to update the speed limits on these stretches of interstate, which entails updating the posted signs along the highways. Drivers should continue to abide by the posted speed limit along the highways.
