Regulation
California lawmakers passed SB 1213 last month, requiring original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) receiving state incentives to provide the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) when selling zero-emission and near-zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in California. The bill has been sent to Governor Newsom for signing.
Yellow Corp. liquidation trustee Daniel Golden announced on August 28 that multiple union pension funds have again reached a settlement regarding Yellow Corp. pensions, totaling nearly $526 million, pending bankruptcy court approval. Previously in April, the bankruptcy judge had rejected a related settlement proposal for not conforming to established legal methods. The new agreement involves pension funds in New York, Western Pennsylvania, and others, and is supported by parties including MFN Partners, aiming to avoid years of litigation.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Monday that it is launching a nationwide operation with federal and state agencies to combat fraud in the trucking industry. The operation includes seeking the emergency closure of 110 commercial driver's license schools and conducting nationwide audits of third-party CDL skills testing providers and state oversight. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice will also participate, with the DOJ establishing a joint task force. Trucking industry groups have expressed support for the effort.
Following the breakdown of US-Canada trade talks, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on $27.6 billion worth of US imports, with the list explicitly including aluminum, steel, pulp and paper. The move is expected to impact the highly integrated North American packaging supply chain, with companies and industry associations in fiber, metal and glass segments already voicing their positions.
The Oregon Department of Transportation stated in a press release on August 19 that the automated oversize cargo permitting and route planning system (ORION), launched in 2025, saved approximately $940,000 in its first year of operation. The system replaced the previous manual review process that relied on paper maps, processing applications instantly and recommending the safest and fastest routes. Although some complex loads or routes still require manual review, the process has been largely automated, notifying road management departments via email for review. This initiative is the result of Oregon's modernization of its oversize permit system following the 2013 Washington state bridge collapse, and it also fills a long-standing gap in the state's automation efforts.
On August 13, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia announced that a federal grand jury has indicted Diane Marie Poe, 62, on 54 counts related to a tax fraud scheme targeting at least 26 clients, most of whom were independent truck drivers. Poe operated the accounting and tax preparation firm Genuine Financial Solutions and is accused of collecting service fees without fulfilling filing obligations and withholding payroll and trust taxes owed to the IRS. The list of involved companies has been released, and the FBI and IRS urge affected victims to contact the Atlanta office.
Canada confirmed retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on US goods, effective Sept. 8, mirroring US Section 338 and 232 levies. The initial list covered steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, electronics, seafood, and pulp and paper, but seafood and fish were removed on Wednesday. A $7.5 billion support package for affected businesses was also announced.
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, a case involving the scope of freight brokers' liability in carrier selection. The ruling could clarify the applicability of federal preemption, affecting freight brokers, carriers, and the supply chain nationwide. Industry warns that if the plaintiff prevails, it could marginalize small carriers, raise costs, and trigger legislative ripple effects.
US-Canada trade negotiations broke down at the last minute, and Trump's previously announced 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports have taken effect. Canadian Prime Minister Carney announced the suspension of negotiations and plans to implement reciprocal retaliatory tariffs starting September 8.
Chris Spear, president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations (ATA), officially stepped down on Friday (August 7), with the organization not citing a specific reason. The board will form a selection committee to find a successor, but no timeline has been announced.