Trucking News Roundup: Feds Tap the Northeast Diesel Reserve, FMCSA Widens the Fuel-Hauler HOS Waiver, IRS Pauses Dyed-Diesel Penalties (Not the Tax), International Adds a San Antonio Shift (Oct 22, 2026)

DOE loans 315,000 barrels from the Northeast diesel reserve

Transport Topics/Bloomberg (Oct 21, 2026): The Energy Department will loan 315,000 barrels from the 1 million-barrel Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve, with deliveries scheduled to finish by Nov. 13. Energy Secretary Chris Wright called it a temporary fix for a temporary supply disruption. AAA puts the national diesel average at about $6.32 a gallon, near record highs during the Iran war. The reserve is sized to cover roughly 10 days of Northeast supply — about how long it takes ships to bring heating oil from the Gulf Coast to New York Harbor — and was last tapped after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. On the crude side, AP reported Brent slipped 0.4% to $108.31 a barrel on Oct. 21 after topping $111 that morning; it has swung between $97 and $112 this month.

What it means: A 315,000-barrel loan is aimed at the Northeast heating market, not the national diesel price, so do not plan freight around a quick drop at the pump. Shippers — keep the base rate and the fuel line separate when you compare quotes: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/how-freight-quotes-are-priced. Yesterday's EIA numbers are in our Oct 21 roundup: https://maaslogistic.com/news/2026-10-21-eia-diesel-6276-truck-tonnage-trailer-orders-311-cargo-theft/.

• Source: Transport Topics — DOE diesel reserve loan
• Source: Transport Topics — Oil prices and Hormuz risk

FMCSA adds ethanol and heating oil to the fuel-hauler HOS waiver

Transport Topics (Oct 21, 2026): FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs expanded the hours-of-service waiver that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy first announced Sept. 16 for gasoline and diesel haulers. It now also covers ethanol, denatured ethanol and heating oil (heating oil up to 75% of a compartmentalized tank load with the other covered fuels). The waiver runs through Dec. 16 and caps driving at 16 hours in any 24-hour period. Drivers must still get at least six consecutive hours in the sleeper berth (or eight off duty without a sleeper) every 24 hours, take 10 hours off when they ask for rest, and carry a copy of the waiver. It does not apply to drivers or carriers under an out-of-service order or to carriers with a conditional safety rating, and carriers must report a crash involving a waiver driver to FMCSA within two business days.

What it means: The waiver is only for fuel loads. If you run dry van or reefer freight, the normal hours-of-service rules still apply to you. Maas hauls dry van and reefer freight only — company drivers earn 50+ CPM dry van / 60+ CPM reefer, OTR 48 states: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/company-drivers.

• Source: Transport Topics — Heating oil fuel waiver

IRS pauses dyed-diesel penalties — the tax is still owed

Transport Topics (Oct 21, 2026): The IRS said on Oct. 14 that it will not impose penalties for highway use of dyed diesel from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 and is suspending its normal fuel-compliance inspections for the period. Tax professionals quoted by TT stress that the relief covers penalties only: the federal excise tax on dyed diesel used on the highway still applies, and only Congress can wipe out a tax set by statute. The NYU Tax Law Center warned operators to keep records of fuel they may owe tax on, the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association noted no forgiveness has been granted and interest was not addressed, and state rules — Illinois was one example — still apply.

What it means: A paused penalty is not a free tank. Talk to your tax professional before you treat dyed diesel as a way around high pump prices. Maas owner-operators keep 87–90% of gross with non-forced dispatch, so you can turn down loads that do not pencil out after fuel: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/owner-operators · https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-10-10-forced-dispatch-vs-non-forced-dispatch-owner-operators.

• Source: Transport Topics — Dyed-diesel penalties

International adds a second shift at its San Antonio truck plant

Transport Topics (Oct 21, 2026): International Motors CEO Mathias Carlbaum told TT at ATA's Management Conference & Exhibition that the San Antonio plant will build about 100 trucks a day in the fourth quarter and nearly double that once a second shift starts in early 2027; hiring for it is already under way. The 900,000-square-foot plant, open since 2022, builds Class 6–8 diesel and electric trucks. International's truck and bus sales rose 48% from a year earlier in the third quarter to 19,900 units, and Daimler Truck North America and Volvo Trucks North America have also added U.S. plant staff as freight demand recovers.

What it means: Truck makers are staffing up in Texas because fleets expect to buy again. More trucks need more qualified Class A drivers. How CPM pay works: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-10-08-cpm-pay-explained-cdl-a-drivers-dry-van-reefer · apply: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/company-drivers.

• Source: Transport Topics — San Antonio plant shift

Security note: $963,000 in trading cards taken from an unattended truck

Transport Topics/AP (Oct 21, 2026): Santa Ana, California, police are investigating the Oct. 13 theft of trading cards valued at $963,000 or more from a FedEx truck parked outside a card-grading company. Police said the driver had left the truck unattended; the lock was gone and two pallets were taken. Collectors say the real loss may be much higher. It follows this week's warning at ATA's convention that cargo theft is the "new normal."

What it means: High-value freight is safest with a known carrier and driver from pickup to delivery. Vet who hauls your load: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/carrier-vetting-checklist. Maas is asset-based and never re-brokers dry van and reefer freight: https://maaslogistic.com/services/dry-van-trucking · https://maaslogistic.com/services/refrigerated-trucking.

• Source: Transport Topics — Trading cards stolen from truck

For shippers and drivers (Thursday note)

Shippers: fuel relief is regional and temporary, and theft keeps targeting unattended freight — book with a carrier that runs its own trucks. Asset-based dry van and reefer FTL, OTR 48 states, out of Melissa / DFW, 24/7 dispatch: https://maaslogistic.com/quote.

Drivers: truck makers are hiring because fleets plan to buy. Company drivers: 50+ CPM dry van / 60+ CPM reefer — https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/company-drivers. Owner-operators: 87–90% of gross, non-forced dispatch — https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/owner-operators.

What it means: Need a truck: https://maaslogistic.com/quote. Hiring CDL-A company drivers: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/company-drivers. Owner-operators: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/owner-operators. Phone: (916) 770-7323 | Melissa, TX / DFW | USDOT 3179194 | MC 124881.