Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Aug. 25, 2025:
J.B. Hunt driver earns Goodyear Highway Hero award
J.B. Hunt's Adam Medley was named the 41st Goodyear Highway Hero for his actions to help a person lying in the road get to safety.Goodyear
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has announced the winner of the 41st Goodyear Highway Hero Award: J.B. Hunt Transport (CCJ Top 250, No. 3) truck driver Adam Medley, of Omro, Wisconsin.
Medley, a J.B. Hunt driver since 2019, was driving on County Road A in Green Lake, Wisconsin, on July 28, 2024. Like many truck drivers in the area, he was accustomed to seeing road debris on the road. When he spotted something ahead, he instinctively began to steer around it. As he drew closer, he was surprised to see a person lying in the road.
Quickly pulling over to a safe spot, Medley hurried back to help the individual off the road and contacted the police, who soon arrived to assist.
"In a moment where every second counted, Adam put the safety and well-being of others first," said Nick Hobbs, chief operating officer at J.B. Hunt. "His actions exemplified integrity and selflessness, and we are excited that Goodyear has recognized him with this year's Highway Hero Award."
The Highway Hero program was established in 1983 to recognize commercial drivers who go above and beyond their regular duties and act courageously for the good of others on roadways across the U.S. and Canada. Each year, Goodyear conducts a nationwide call for entries, asking the trucking community to nominate a driver who demonstrated an extraordinary act of courage on the road. A panel of independent industry judges decides the winner.
"Adam's story continues to remind us that professional truck drivers are the unsung heroes of our roads," said Joe Burke, vice president, Goodyear North America Commercial. "His quick and professional response to this unexpected situation demonstrates the integrity, dedication and compassion that define what's the best of our industry."
Medley will be honored with a cash prize and an exclusive ride on the Goodyear blimp, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
Truck tonnage sees slight improvement but overall remains flat
Trucking activity in the United States increased slightly in July, but activity has been fairly flat since March, according to the American Trucking Associations.
Specifically, truck freight tonnage rose 0.6% after falling 0.7% in June, according to the ATA’s advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index.ATA
“July truck tonnage increased sequentially, but did not erase the 0.7% decline in June,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “Since March, truck tonnage has been in a tight range. The good news is truck freight volumes haven’t fallen much over that period, but we are not seeing many increases either. In July, there were mixed drivers of truck tonnage with housing starts and retail sales up, while manufacturing output was flat to down depending on the metric.”
In July, the ATA advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index equaled 113.7, up from 113.0 in June. The index, which is based on 2015 as 100, slipped 0.1% from the same month last year after falling 0.4% in June. Year-to-date, compared with the same period in 2024, tonnage was unchanged.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which calculates raw changes in tonnage hauled, equaled 116.8 in July, 1.9% above June’s reading of 114.6.
As truck tonnage dipped in June, so did overall market conditions for trucking companies during the month, according to FTR Transportation Intel. FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index fell to -1.83 in June after a strong 3.56 reading in May. The June index reading was the lowest to date in 2025, while the May reading was the strongest since October 2022.
The big drop in June was due primarily to freight rates and fuel prices. The expectation is for trucking conditions to be much closer to neutral during most of the second half of 2025.
“We still forecast a steadily but only modestly more favorable market for carriers next year,” said Avery Vise, FTR’s vice president of trucking. “However, swings in freight volume and fuel prices – and to a lesser extent, freight rates – continue to generate volatility in trucking conditions.”
Vise noted that capacity utilization has remained stable this year but has only been “marginally beneficial” for fleets. “So far, the economy is weathering tariffs and other stresses better than anticipated, and our latest freight outlook is not as weak as it was previously. At least in the near term, though, we still believe forecast risks are weighted more to the downside than the upside.”
Tanker group seeks extended waiver for pulsating brake lights
The National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) association is petitioning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for an extension of its exemption that allows motor carriers operating tank trailers to install a red or amber brake-activated pulsating lamps in the upper center or in an upper dual outboard position on the rear of the trailers.
NTTC currently holds a waiver that was granted Oct. 8, 2020, and expires Oct. 8 this year.
Federal regulations require that all exterior lamps (both required lamps and any additional lamps) to be steady-burning, except turn signal lamps, hazard warning signal lamps, and other lights specified in the regulation.
NTTC’s waiver allows the pulsating lamps in addition to the required steady-burning brake lamps required by the regulations.
In its renewal application, NTTC reiterated its position that the use of a red or amber brake-activated pulsating lamp, positioned in either the upper center or upper dual outboard rear positions on tank trailers, enhances rear visibility and contributes to overall safety by reducing the likelihood of rear-end collisions.
Since FMCSA granted the original exemption, NTTC and its member carriers have continued to implement the technology and track its impact. Notably, Groendyke (CCJ Top 250, No. 107) expanded installation of the pulsating brake lamps across its fleet from 38% in 2018 to 93% by 2023. During this time, Groendyke reported a significant reduction in rear-end accidents when vehicles were slowing or stopped – from 19 collisions in 2018 to just 4 in 2023 – representing a 79% decrease.
Similarly, Trimac (No. 62) in 2024 reported equipping 863 of its tankers with the pulsating lights and has experienced a 20% reduction in rear-end collisions, NTTC added.
FMCSA will accept public comments on NTTC’s request for 30 days beginning Monday, Aug. 25, at www.regulations.gov by searching Docket No. FMCSA-2019-0260.
Averitt Express places record-breaking truck order
The all-new Volvo VNL was engineered for optimal fuel efficiency, delivering up to a 10 percent improvement over the previous model through advanced aerodynamics and powertrain refinements.
Averitt Express has placed an order for 264 new Volvo VNL 860s – the largest single order for the new flagship sleeper model in North America to date.
The trucks will join Averitt’s fleet of more than 4,600 vehicles, over half of which are Volvo trucks. The investment reflects a growing trend among major carriers to accelerate fleet upgrades that improve fuel economy, lower operating costs, and provide premium driver amenities to attract and retain top talent.
“Our drivers are at the center of everything we do, and these new Volvo VNLs reflect that commitment,” said Mr. Barry Blakely, President and COO, Averitt Express. “The advanced safety features, the outstanding driver comfort and the fantastic fuel economy help us operate more efficiently and sustainable while giving drivers a more comfortable experience on the road.”
