Trucking News Roundup: New Truckload Contracts Land About 13% Higher, Truck Makers Ready EPA 2027 Engines as Volvo Rations Order Slots, Missouri Raises Rural Interstate Speeds to 75 mph, and a Lawyer Goes to Prison in the Staged-Crash Scheme (Oct 25, 2026)

New truckload contracts are landing about 13% higher

FreightWaves Chart of the Week (Oct 24, 2026): SONAR's new Contract Rate Change Direction index, which tracks how much a new contract base rate differs from the one it replaced between the same shipper and carrier, read 13.11% on Oct. 22, up from 3.53% a year earlier. It only counts a change when the old rate had held for more than 90 days, so it reflects real bid-cycle repricing rather than short-term spot moves. FreightWaves noted that contract increases tend to follow tender rejections with a lag: rejections have averaged close to 13% over the past few months, and the contract rate index suggests the increases are sticking. FMCSA and tender data show capacity has not grown much over the past year despite higher rates, so FreightWaves expects it may take time for increases to level off.

What it means: What it means for shippers: Bid season is here and rates are resetting into the double digits. Compare offers line by line — base rate and fuel shown separately — and check who actually hauls the load: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/how-freight-quotes-are-priced · https://maaslogistic.com/blog/carrier-vetting-checklist. Maas Logistics is asset-based and never re-brokers; we haul dry van and reefer full truckload out of Melissa / DFW: https://maaslogistic.com/quote.

• Source: FreightWaves — Truckload contract rate increases riding steady above 10%

EPA 2027 engines are ready — and an aging fleet means a replacement cycle

CCJ (Oct 24, 2026): Volvo Trucks North America, Mack and International say they have engines ready to meet the EPA's 2027 limit of 0.035 grams of NOx per horsepower-hour, pending certification once the final rule is published (expected by year's end). Volvo and Mack will sell those engines alongside current-standard engines, and Mack President Jonathan Randall said early 2027 orders are leaning toward the current engines while fleets try the new ones. International's 2027 S13 is due on vehicles in May. Randall said fleet age is about as old as it has been in a long while and called 2027 "a replacement cycle market," and International CEO Mathias Carlbaum said he expects 2027 output to beat 2026. Transport Topics (Oct 23, 2026) reported that Volvo Group is limiting 2027 order slots in North America while the EPA rule is unsettled; VTNA's Q3 truck sales rose 58% to 6,948, VTNA is hiring up to 500 more workers at its Virginia plant, and VTNA's president said the average fleet tractor is now 6.5 to 6.7 years old, versus a historical 5 to 6.5.

What it means: What it means for owner-operators: If you are pricing a truck for next year, order slots and engine choices are tighter than usual — run your numbers before you buy. Our cost-per-mile guide walks through truck payment and fuel per mile: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-10-24-owner-operator-cost-per-mile-texas-break-even. Owner-operators at Maas keep 87–90% of gross with non-forced dispatch: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/owner-operators · Dallas-area owner-operators: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/owner-operator-jobs-dallas.

• Source: CCJ — Truck makers prep 0.035-gram NOx engines for 2027 EPA standards
• Source: Transport Topics — Volvo Group Q3 earnings

Missouri raises speed limits to 75 mph on parts of I-29, I-35, I-49 and I-55

Land Line (Oct 23, 2026): The Missouri Department of Transportation announced on Oct. 21 that eight rural stretches of four interstates will go to a 75 mph maximum, under SB1408, signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe in July. The segments include I-29 from Exit 56 in Andrew County to about 2.5 miles south of the Iowa line, I-35 from Cameron's northern city limit to about 4 miles south of Iowa, two stretches of I-49 (Arkansas line to Exit 24, and Exit 56 to just south of Exit 101 in Nevada), and four stretches of I-55 between the Arkansas line and the Jefferson County line. MoDOT said it reviewed traffic and truck volumes, crash history, terrain and neighboring states' limits, and may move segments back to 70 mph if crash data calls for it. Crews will change signs this fall — until then, the posted limits still apply.

What it means: What it means for drivers: OTR drivers running I-49 and I-55 through Missouri should watch for new signs this fall, and keep to the posted limit — truck speed limiters and company policy still come first. Thinking about OTR vs regional work out of Dallas? https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-10-12-regional-vs-otr-cdl-a-jobs-dallas-dfw · Maas company drivers run OTR 48 states, 50+ CPM dry van / 60+ CPM reefer: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/company-drivers.

• Source: Land Line — Missouri DOT announces speed limit changes along rural interstates

Staged-crash scheme: New Orleans attorney sentenced to 32 months

Land Line (Oct 23, 2026): A New Orleans personal-injury attorney, Danny Patrick Keating Jr., 57, was sentenced on Oct. 15 to 32 months in prison plus three years of supervised release and ordered to pay more than $657,000 in restitution, for his role in "Operation Sideswipe" — 31 crashes intentionally staged with tractor-trailers in Louisiana. Federal prosecutors said he represented 77 plaintiffs in those crashes and filed lawsuits that misstated who was driving, who was at fault and the injuries claimed; 17 cases settled for about $1.5 million. So far 63 people have been charged in the federal probe. A Senate bill introduced in July, S5058, would make staging a crash with a commercial motor vehicle a federal crime, and OOIDA supports it.

What it means: What it means for drivers: Staged crashes target trucks. Keep your following distance, report any suspicious lane change or sudden stop right away, and call your dispatcher after any incident. Maas runs 24/7 dispatch: (916) 770-7323.

• Source: Land Line — Attorney gets jail time for role in staged-crash scam targeting trucks

For drivers and shippers (Sunday note)

Drivers: truck makers are hiring and carriers are paying for qualified capacity. Before Monday, line up your next seat: company drivers earn 50+ CPM dry van / 60+ CPM reefer — https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/company-drivers. Owner-operators keep 87–90% of gross with non-forced dispatch, so you can turn down loads that don't pay — https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-10-10-forced-dispatch-vs-non-forced-dispatch-owner-operators.

Shippers: contracts are resetting higher and fuel is still elevated (see yesterday's roundup: https://maaslogistic.com/news/2026-10-24-brent-116-fort-worth-carrier-plant-marten-q3-truck-plant-hiring-pmi). Book an asset-based carrier that runs its own trucks — dry van https://maaslogistic.com/services/dry-van-trucking and reefer https://maaslogistic.com/services/refrigerated-trucking full truckload, OTR 48 states, 24/7 dispatch.

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. Maas Logistics LLC | 1817 Miller Rd #5, Melissa, TX 75454 | dispatch@maaslogistic.com. The Logistics Partner that Delivers.