Trucking News Roundup: Mexican Carriers Start a National Stoppage, Avocado Imports Put $641.5M Into U.S. Trucking and Warehousing, a Court Challenge Hits 2027 UCR Fees, and I-40 Reopens After New Mexico Flooding (Oct 26, 2026)

Mexican carriers start a national stoppage today

Infobae (Oct 26, 2026) and Expansión (Oct 23, 2026): Mexican trucking organizations including CANACAR, FEMATRAC, HAMOTAC and INDECO called a national stoppage starting between 6 and 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, over highway security (cargo theft and assaults), unregulated tow and impound fees, and changes in Mexico's 2027 revenue law. Organizers described it as partial and open-ended: trucks parked on shoulders and lateral lanes and slow-moving caravans rather than full road closures. ANTAC pulled out after talks, and Mexico's Interior Ministry (Segob) said most groups agreed to keep negotiating, but CANACAR's leadership kept the call. Early-morning reports listed trucks staged on the lateral lanes at the Nuevo Laredo access without blocking traffic, slow traffic with one lane open between Reynosa and Río Bravo in Tamaulipas, and a staging point at km 14 of the Monterrey–Laredo highway in Nuevo León; the port of Manzanillo was reported operating normally.

What it means: What it means for shippers: If you have freight crossing at Laredo or Pharr this week, expect slower moves on the Mexican side and ask your broker or customs partner for daily updates. On the U.S. side, Maas hauls dry van and reefer full truckload between DFW and the Laredo gateway with our own trucks: https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/dallas-to-laredo · https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/melissa-to-laredo · quote: https://maaslogistic.com/quote.

• Source: Infobae — Bloqueos de transportistas hoy, lunes 26 de octubre
• Source: Expansión — Transportistas anuncian paro nacional el 26 de octubre
• Source: La Jornada — Nuevo Laredo se suma al paro nacional del transporte de carga

Avocado imports generate $641.5 million for U.S. trucking and warehousing

FreightWaves (Oct 25, 2026): A Texas A&M University report by emeritus professor Gary W. Williams and extension program specialist Dan Hanselka, released Wednesday by the Avocado Institute of Mexico, estimates that Mexican avocado imports generated $641.5 million in U.S. transportation and warehousing output and supported more than 4,150 jobs in those sectors in the 2025-26 marketing year. Across the whole U.S. economy, the study puts the total at $7.1 billion in output and 37,163 jobs. Nearly 98% of Mexican avocados entering the U.S. in 2024 moved by truck through Texas land ports — about 58.2% through Pharr and 39.4% through Laredo — and Texas alone saw $428.9 million in output and 2,402 jobs.

What it means: What it means for drivers and shippers: Produce from Mexico keeps South Texas reefer freight moving year-round, which is why the border lanes matter for reefer drivers out of DFW. Seasonal produce patterns: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/texas-produce-season-shipping-calendar · reefer full truckload: https://maaslogistic.com/services/refrigerated-trucking · reefer company drivers earn 60+ CPM: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/reefer-cdl-driver-jobs-texas.

• Source: FreightWaves — Avocado imports generate $641M for US trucking, warehousing

Small-business group asks court to throw out 2027 UCR fees

Federal Register (Sept 1, 2026) and SBTC (Oct 2026): FMCSA's final rule for 2027 Unified Carrier Registration fees, effective Oct. 1, raises fees by an average of about 20% over the 2025 and 2026 levels, with increases ranging from $9 to $9,329 per carrier depending on fleet-size bracket; FMCSA noted the new fees are still below the 2019–2022 levels. On Oct. 20, the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC) filed a petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (No. 26-1297) asking the court to set the rule aside and stop collections. SBTC argues the UCR Plan was never lawfully set up under federal law and also raises Privacy Act claims. The court has not acted, so the 2027 fees remain in effect.

What it means: What it means for owner-operators: If you run under your own authority, budget for the higher 2027 UCR fee — a court challenge does not pause it. If you are leased on to a carrier, ask how registration costs are handled before you sign. Lease-on basics: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-09-26-owner-operator-lease-on-melissa-dfw-texas · cost per mile: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-10-24-owner-operator-cost-per-mile-texas-break-even · Maas owner-operators keep 87–90% of gross with non-forced dispatch: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/owner-operators · Dallas-area: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/owner-operator-jobs-dallas.

• Source: Federal Register — Fees for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement
• Source: PRWeb — SBTC challenges USDOT's 2027 UCR fee rule in Court of Appeals

I-40 reopens near Cubero, N.M., but the flood warning runs through Monday

KOB 4 (Oct 24, 2026) and CDLWire (Oct 25, 2026): Flooding from the Rio San Jose closed I-40 in both directions near Cubero, between Grants and Albuquerque, on Saturday evening — mile markers 102 to 108 near Exit 104 — with no detour, and viewers sent images of semis stuck in water above the wheels. The old Route 66 alignment was closed too. The interstate has since reopened in both directions, but the National Weather Service extended the Rio San Jose flood warning until 3:30 p.m. MDT Monday, and several local roads remained closed.

What it means: What it means for drivers: If you are running I-40 west of Albuquerque today, check New Mexico road conditions before you roll and don't drive into water. Maas company drivers run OTR across 48 states, 50+ CPM dry van / 60+ CPM reefer: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/company-drivers · westbound lane example: https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/melissa-to-phoenix.

• Source: KOB 4 — Traffic jammed along I-40 near Cubero due to flooding
• Source: CDLWire — I-40 at Cubero reopens; flood warning through Monday

For drivers and shippers (Monday note)

Drivers: new week, good time to look at your next seat. Company drivers at Maas earn 50+ CPM dry van / 60+ CPM reefer, OTR 48 states — https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/company-drivers. Owner-operators keep 87–90% of gross with non-forced dispatch — https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/owner-operators.

Shippers: border slowdowns and contract resets (see yesterday's roundup: https://maaslogistic.com/news/2026-10-25-contract-rates-up-13-percent-epa-2027-engines-missouri-75-mph-staged-crash-sentence) make a reliable asset-based carrier worth having. Maas runs its own trucks, never re-brokers, dry van and reefer full truckload with 24/7 dispatch: https://maaslogistic.com/quote.

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.