Trucking News Roundup: Mexico's Trucker Strike Rolls Into Day Two, Spot Rates Dip While Diesel Climbs to $6.47, FMCSA Says a Broker Transparency Rule Is Coming, and PAM Asks to Change the CLP Front-Seat Rule (Oct 27, 2026)

Mexico's trucker strike rolls into a second day

FreightWaves (Oct 26, 2026), NotiGAPE and Vox Populi (Oct 26, 2026), TV Azteca and Cadena Política (Oct 27, 2026): The indefinite national strike led by CANACAR, with FEMATRAC, HAMOTAC and INDECO, began Monday morning over cargo theft, assaults on drivers, extortion, tow and impound costs, bad roads and a proposed 2027 fiscal change that would cut a tax credit on toll expenses. Reports counted protests in at least 19 Mexican states on Monday. In Nuevo Laredo, across from Laredo, Texas, the local CANACAR delegate said carriers were holding hundreds of trucks in yards and on the shoulders of the Carretera Nacional in a "brazos caídos" (arms-down) protest that lets traffic move, while a Tamaulipas state official said protesters at one point held three of four lanes, leaving one lane for passenger cars; Reynosa traffic was reported flowing. CANACAR did not join the Interior Ministry's talks with other groups, the strike has no end date, and no official list of Tuesday blockades had been published as of this morning.

What it means: What it means for shippers: If your freight crosses at Laredo, plan for slower moves on the Mexican side until there is a deal, and get daily status from your customs broker. 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 · Monday's background: https://maaslogistic.com/news/2026-10-26-mexico-trucker-stoppage-avocado-freight-ucr-fee-challenge-i-40-flooding · quote: https://maaslogistic.com/quote.

• Source: FreightWaves — Mexican truckers launch national strike over highway security, rising costs
• Source: NotiGAPE — Exigen seguridad y fin a los abusos en carreteras
• Source: Vox Populi — Paro de transportistas bloquea tres carriles en Nuevo Laredo
• Source: TV Azteca — Paro nacional: bloqueos este martes 27 de octubre
• Source: Cadena Política — Paro nacional de transportistas 27 de octubre

Spot rates dip a few cents while diesel climbs to $6.47

The Trucker / DAT (Oct 26, 2026): For the week of Oct. 17–23, DAT One load posts fell 2% to 2.58 million while equipment posts rose 1%. The national average broker-to-carrier spot van rate slipped 2 cents to $3.07 a mile and reefer fell 3 cents to $3.63, with nearly all of the drop in the linehaul portion. Reefer load posts fell 5% after a 12% jump the week before, but DAT analyst Dean Croke noted that truck posts are still 20% to 26% below a year ago, keeping van linehaul 33% and reefer linehaul 31% above last year. Diesel at Pilot Flying J averaged $6.47 a gallon on Oct. 24, up 13 cents in a week, and the EIA's weekly national average rose to $6.276 for the week of Oct. 19 — its first increase in four weeks. Third-quarter IFTA returns are due Monday, Nov. 2.

What it means: What it means for shippers: A two-cent dip on the spot board is not a soft market — trucks are still scarce and fuel is still rising. If you have steady dry van or reefer freight out of DFW, a direct relationship with an asset-based carrier is worth more than chasing a few cents on the spot board. Dry van: https://maaslogistic.com/services/dry-van-trucking · reefer: https://maaslogistic.com/services/refrigerated-trucking · DFW freight: https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/dallas-fort-worth-freight-shipping · how to get a full truckload quote: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-09-30-dfw-shipper-full-truckload-quote-guide. Owner-operators watching fuel: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-10-24-owner-operator-cost-per-mile-texas-break-even.

• Source: The Trucker — DAT: Spot truckload rates dip 2 to 3 cents a mile as load posts cool

FMCSA: broker transparency rule is coming, Motus fix still has no date

FreightWaves (Oct 26, 2026): Speaking Monday at FreightWaves' Broker Compliance Symposium in Chattanooga, FMCSA Deputy Administrator Jesse Elison again gave no firm date for stabilizing the agency's new Motus registration system, saying the fix is "weeks and not months" away and admitting it is still blocking more legitimate companies than the bad actors it was meant to stop. He said the industry will "hear a lot more" from FMCSA on actions like the broker transparency rule, which will set what brokers must disclose to shippers and carriers, and named tougher new-entrant rules — possibly including a proficiency exam for new carriers — as a priority.

What it means: What it means for shippers: Until the broker rule lands, the simplest way to know who is actually hauling your load is to tender directly to the carrier. Maas is asset-based and never re-brokers — your freight rides on our trucks with our drivers: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-10-14-asset-based-carrier-vs-freight-broker-dfw-shippers · https://maaslogistic.com/quote.

• Source: FreightWaves — FMCSA's Elison addresses Motus again, still no date on full repair

PAM Transport asks FMCSA to change the CLP front-seat rule

Federal Register (Oct 27, 2026): FMCSA published PAM Transport's application for an exemption (Docket FMCSA-2026-3466) from the rule that a commercial learner's permit holder must have a CDL holder in the front seat while driving. The request would cover only CLP holders who have already passed the CDL skills test but have not yet received their CDL credential; the CDL holder would stay in the truck but not necessarily in the passenger seat. FMCSA has not decided, and public comments are due by Nov. 27, 2026.

What it means: What it means for drivers: If you are a new CDL-A driver waiting on your credential, this is one to watch — and anyone can comment on the docket at regulations.gov. Experienced CDL-A drivers looking for an OTR seat: Maas company drivers earn 50+ CPM dry van / 60+ CPM reefer across 48 states: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/company-drivers.

• Source: Federal Register — Commercial Driver's License: PAM Transport, Inc.; Application for Exemption

For shippers and drivers (Tuesday note)

Shippers: border delays, a still-tight truck count and $6-plus diesel all point the same way — line up dependable capacity before you need it. Maas runs dry van and reefer full truckload out of Melissa and DFW across 48 states with our own trucks, never re-brokered, and dispatch answers 24/7. Get a quote: https://maaslogistic.com/quote.

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