Trucking news and briefs for Friday, June 19, 2026:
Saia recognizes workers for safety achievements
Saia Inc. (CCJ Top 250, No. 18) recently recognized nearly 8,500 dockworkers, mechanics, city drivers and line drivers for achieving major safety milestones. The company also recognized several employees who reached notable service accomplishments, including a remarkable group with over four decades of safe work.
“These achievements reflect the collective dedication of our employees, and I want to extend my congratulations to all recipients,” President and CEO Fritz Holzgrefe. “Each individual should take pride in their accomplishments. Saia’s reputation is built on the dedication to service and safety demonstrated by its employees.”
This year, more than 2,500 dockworkers and mechanics received a Safe Work Award, collectively contributing nearly 16,000 years of injury-free service. These awards recognize employees who consistently demonstrate operational excellence and prioritize safety protocols in every aspect of their work.
Saia honored employees across a range of service milestones, including three individuals who have achieved more than 40 years of safe work without a recordable incident:
- New Orleans, Louisiana, mechanic Darryl Gay
- Houma, Louisiana, lead dockworker Harold Castell, Jr.
- Lafayette, Louisiana, lead mechanic Lawrence Benoit
The fleet also honored nearly 6,000 city and line drivers with a Safe Drive Award, recognizing a remarkable total of 42,000 years of accident-free driving. Drivers were celebrated for reaching critical safety milestones ranging from one year to more than 40 years without a preventable accident.
This year, eight drivers were recognized for achieving more than 40 years of safe driving, an exceptional accomplishment within the transportation industry:
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, line driver Michael Shumake
- Dallas, Texas, line driver Jack Ikey
- Jacksonville, Florida, line driver Charles Layman
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi, line driver Frank Lee III
- New Orleans, Louisiana, city driver Joseph Dominguez, Jr.
- Las Vegas, Nevada, line driver Roy Coleman
- Omaha, Nebraska, city driver Michael Nore
- Fort Smith, Arkansas, line driver Jody Franks
C.H. Robinson launches new load board for more dedicated freight
C.H. Robinson has launched a new load board aimed at helping carriers access longer-term dedicated freight opportunities.
The company said its new BidBoardX platform was created in response to both carrier and shipper needs, with carriers looking for better access to “committed” freight, and shippers looking for more reliable coverage on critical lanes.
"C.H. Robinson works with carriers of all sizes that have different needs,” said Adam McDonough, Vice President for Capacity at C.H. Robinson. “Small carriers want consistent, predictable revenue opportunities, while mid- to large-size carriers want to optimize their networks. With BidBoardX, they get direct access to the opportunities that best fit their business needs, including local or short haul, dedicated freight, and our Drop Trailer Plus and 4PL programs. That’s how we connect unmet supply and demand and create significantly more value in the marketplace.”
Committed freight refers to planned, higher-volume shipments with defined timelines and expectations, such as a series of 400 loads between two cities, within a certain timeframe, on specific days of the week, CHR said.
The brokerage highlighted the challenges small carriers often face in finding more long-term and stable freight from shippers. “Through BidBoardX, available on C.H. Robinson’s digital platform, certified carriers in C.H. Robinson’s network can search for freight that previously wasn’t accessible to them, submit bids and track their activity -- all through one user-friendly online interface,” the company noted.
BidBoardX is available today. Carriers can sign up via the C.H. Robinson carrier platform.
Virginia requests waiver to allow CDL extensions during emergencies
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has petitioned federal regulators for a waiver that would allow the state to extend the validity of CDLs and commercial learner’s permits during state-declared emergencies.
Specifically, the Virginia DMV is requesting that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to allow it to extend the validity of CDLs and CLPs for up to 90 days when the Governor has:
- Declared a state of emergency; or
- Issued an executive order or directive expressly authorizing extensions of CDLs and CLPs
The requested exemption would not apply to non-domiciled CDLs or CLPs, the request notes. The exemption would apply only to individuals who were issued a CDL or CLP after previously presenting proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency.
According to the Virginia DMV, during declared states of emergency -- including severe weather events, natural disasters, and other statewide disruptions -- access to DMV facilities and services may be significantly limited due to temporary office closures, reduced staffing levels, system outages, travel restrictions, and other safety concerns affecting in-person services. This could prevent otherwise qualified commercial drivers from completing timely renewals through no fault of their own, the department added.
As a result, these drivers could lose driving privileges due to circumstances beyond their control, which may result in workforce shortages and disruptions to the transportation of essential goods and services, particularly during emergency response and recovery efforts, Virginia DMV said.
To ensure an equivalent level of safety as not having an exemption, the DMV said it will implement internal administrative controls to ensure appropriate use of the exemption, if granted, including system tracking of extended credentials, documentation of emergency declarations and executive directives, record retention, and audit capability. Additionally, all records would be made available to FMCSA upon request.
FMCSA is requesting public comment on the request, which can be filed here through July 17.
