Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, July 8, 2026:
Mack announces over-the-air update improvements
Mack Trucks on Tuesday announced a new “Lock & Leave” enhancement to Mack Over-the-Air (OTA) that allows remote software updates to complete while the truck is unattended after the driver parks, locks the truck and walks away.
The new capability helps customers keep trucks current with the latest software while maximizing uptime and minimizing interruptions to daily operations, Mack said.
The move follows a similar update from Mack’s sister company Volvo Trucks last month.
As trucks become increasingly software-defined, updates play a critical role in delivering new features, improving performance and reliability, and supporting recalls and service campaigns, Mack added, noting that Lock & Leave allows many of those updates to happen during normal downtime without requiring the driver to remain with the vehicle.
Once a driver initiates an eligible software update through Driver Display Activation, they simply exit the truck, lock it and leave. The truck stays powered on only long enough to finish installing the update, then shuts itself down.
When the driver returns, the truck is updated and ready for work. The same is true in the shop, where a technician can start updates on one truck after another without going back to each one.
The enhancement is expected to become available this fall, following final validation. It will roll out first on Mack’s newest models -- the Mack Pioneer, Mack Anthem, Mack Granite and Mack Keystone.
“Mack customers measure success by how much time their trucks spend on the road,” said Jonathan Randall, president, Mack Trucks North America. “Lock & Leave removes another barrier to remote software updates. Drivers can start the update, finish their day, and let the truck take care of the rest.”
Interstate closures planned in Oregon this weekend
The Oregon Department of Transportation is planning two major overnight interstate closures in the Portland area this weekend.
Northbound I-205 will be closed overnight on Friday, July 10, at the Abernethy Bridge, and both directions of I-5 will be closed overnight on Saturday, July 11, through the Rose Quarter.
Only one interstate will be closed each night -- the closures will not overlap. Expect delays, allow extra travel time, and follow signed detours, ODOT said.
The Northbound I-205 closure will begin at 11 p.m. Pacific time Friday and will allow for concrete pouring on the Abernethy Bridge, which crosses the Willamette River between Oregon City and West Linn.
The on-ramp from OR 43 to northbound I-205 also will be closed. Southbound I-205 will remain open.
Northbound traffic will bypass I-205 in this section by using detours on I-5 and I-84. Local traffic can use the Arch Bridge to cross the river.
The full I-5 closure through the Rose Quarter will begin at 10 p.m. Saturday to allow crews to install a new overhead sign structure near the Oregon Convention Center. The closure could last up to 14 hours, ending by noon Sunday. I-5 SB will be closed beginning at Exit 302B to I-405 (Fremont Bridge). I-5 northbound will be closed beginning at Exit 300 to I-84.
The ramp to I-84 eastbound from I-5 northbound will stay open, as will the ramp from Broadway to I-5 northbound. All lanes of I-5 northbound will be open beyond this point.
Drivers on I-84 westbound will be directed to I-5 southbound. All southbound lanes of I-5 will remain open beyond that point.
Separately, ODOT also announced that the southbound I-5 Exit 248 off-ramp to Delaney Road SE will be closed from 6 a.m. Sunday, July 12, through 6 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, for work on a separate I-5 project.
Southeastern Freight facility celebrates 50 years
Southeastern Freight Lines (CCJ Top 250, No. 29) is celebrating 50 years of service at its Albany, Georgia, service center.
Located at 1115 Centennial Avenue, the service center opened for business on July 5, 1976, with 20 dock doors and 18 associates. The facility has seen steady growth since its establishment, now boasting 44 dock doors and 37 associates.
“Celebrating 50 years of service is an incredible milestone that reflects the unwavering commitment of our great associates to meeting customers’ needs each day,” said Craig Parrish, service center manager. “By embracing Southeastern’s company culture, the Albany service center has built strong, lasting relationships with the customers and partners who have supported our growth in the community for decades. It has been an honor to serve our customers, and we look forward to continuing that service in the years ahead.”
To celebrate the milestone, SEFL is recognizing 15 long-time associates at the terminal for their decades of service:
- 41 years of service: Inbound dock supervisor Mark Horne
- 37 years of service: Pickup and delivery driver Alan Attell and diesel mechanic Mark Lasseter
- 33 years of service: P&D Driver Kevin Kinney, customer service Administrators Lori Carter and Beverly Spires, and linehaul driver Danny Daniel
- 32 years of service: Linehaul driver Lester Chafin
- 31 years of service: Linehaul driver Robin White and P&D driver Jesse Sheppard
- 30 years of service: P&D drivers Timmy Leeson and Dan Miller and linehaul driver Bruce Miller
- 26 years of service: Linehaul driver Paul Malone
- 25 years of service: Linehaul driver Tom Brown
The Albany service center was the ninth opened by Southeastern Freight Lines since its founding in 1950. The company now operates 89 service centers spanning 13 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern merger moving along
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern on Tuesday submitted the first round of additional information required for their proposed merger, using the regulatory filing to accuse rival railroads of actively trying to stall the historic deal.
The submission to the Surface Transportation Board addresses the future of several jointly owned terminal networks, including the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis. The merging companies reiterated they will not control these independent operations after combining and offered options up to full divestiture to satisfy regulatory concerns.
In the filing, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern alleged that opposing Class I railroads—specifically BNSF, CSX and Canadian National—are using the St. Louis association as a "pawn" to block the merger. According to the document, representatives from those rival lines boycotted a special board meeting called to discuss reducing Union Pacific’s ownership stake in the association.
The two companies claim their end-to-end transcontinental network will create a single-line service capable of shifting significant freight from highways to tracks, saving shippers an estimated $3.5 billion annually.
The federal board accepted the initial merger application on May 28. The remaining regulatory responses are due by July 27, as both railroads target a mid-2027 completion date.
