Trucking News Roundup: Mexico's Truckers Lift Blockades for Talks, Port Houston Imports Jump 16%, Werner Shows the Fuel-Surcharge Lag, Georgia Keeps Its Diesel Tax Off Through November, and a California Checkpoint Cites 57 Drivers (Oct 28, 2026)

Mexico's truckers lift blockades and move to four rounds of talks

FreightWaves and T21 (Oct 27, 2026): After two days of protests, CANACAR, HAMOTAC and FEMATRAC reached an agreement Tuesday with Mexico's Interior Ministry (Segob) to set up four high-level working sessions on highway security, infrastructure, tax incentives, regulation and labor issues. FEMATRAC's president said drivers had been told to leave the highways and head home, and the first session was set to start the same day. On Monday, Segob counted demonstrations at 38 locations in 19 states involving 691 vehicles; CANACAR said the movement reached all 32 states. The underlying complaints — cargo theft, violence against drivers, extortion, operating costs and a proposed 2027 tax change — are still unresolved, and one supply chain analyst quoted by FreightWaves noted this was the third major Mexican trucking protest in about a year.

What it means: What it means for shippers: Expect the Laredo gateway to work through Monday-Tuesday backlogs over the next few days, and keep a contingency plan, because the talks could break down. On the U.S. side, Maas hauls dry van and reefer full truckload between DFW and Laredo with our own trucks: https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/dallas-to-laredo · https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/melissa-to-laredo · Tuesday's coverage: https://maaslogistic.com/news/2026-10-27-mexico-strike-day-two-spot-rates-dip-diesel-motus-broker-rule-clp-exemption · quote: https://maaslogistic.com/quote.

• Source: FreightWaves — Mexico truckers reach deal for talks after strike disrupts 19 states
• Source: T21 — Transportistas levantan paro tras acordar cuatro mesas de trabajo con Gobernación

Port Houston container volumes jump 11% as imports surge

FreightWaves (Oct 27, 2026): Port Houston handled 376,419 TEUs in September, up 11% from 337,659 a year earlier, with loaded imports up 16% to 174,189 TEUs and loaded exports up 2% to 132,009. Year to date the port is at 3.35 million TEUs, up 2%. Port officials said Bayport and Barbours Cut growth was driven mostly by imports, exports picked up from late September into October, and a new container and refrigerated cargo service started in September with more services under negotiation.

What it means: What it means for shippers: More boxes landing in Houston heading into the holidays means more inland truckload demand on the Houston–DFW corridor, including reefer. Book dry van and reefer capacity early: https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/melissa-to-houston · https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/dallas-to-houston · https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-10-06-dallas-to-houston-ftl-carrier-shipper-guide · reefer: https://maaslogistic.com/services/refrigerated-trucking.

• Source: FreightWaves — Port Houston container volumes jump 11% as imports surge in September

Werner's quarter shows how diesel spikes outrun fuel surcharges

FreightWaves (Oct 27, 2026): Werner Enterprises reported third-quarter revenue of $951 million, up 23%, and adjusted earnings of 16 cents a share. Management said rising diesel, higher driver recruiting and onboarding costs, and a claims-reserve adjustment cut 18 cents a share versus the second quarter, with about a third of that tied to recruiting and sign-on bonuses. Truckload fuel surcharges run on a one-week lag, and retail diesel rose about 10% in August and another 15% in September, so recovery trailed the pump. CEO Derek Leathers said the company sped up driver hiring to meet rising demand "as industry capacity tightens."

What it means: What it means for owner-operators and drivers: When a big fleet says capacity is tightening and pays up to seat trucks, experienced CDL-A drivers have options. Owner-operators should watch the surcharge lag in their own numbers: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-10-24-owner-operator-cost-per-mile-texas-break-even. Maas 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.

• Source: FreightWaves — Werner Enterprises sees cost headwinds lingering into Q1

Georgia keeps its diesel tax off through Nov. 30

Office of Gov. Brian Kemp (Oct 24, 2026) and CBS Atlanta (Oct 26, 2026): Georgia extended the suspension of its state motor fuel excise tax — 37.3 cents a gallon on diesel and 33.3 cents on gasoline — through 11:59 p.m. Nov. 30, covering Thanksgiving travel. The suspension had been set to end Nov. 5. The governor's office put Georgia's average diesel price at about $5.72, roughly 61 cents below the national average; local sales taxes on fuel still apply. The order also continues the suspension of state weight limits on commercial vehicles and the waiver of state penalties for on-road use of dyed diesel.

What it means: What it means for drivers: If your route runs through Georgia this month, it is one of the cheaper places to fuel. Maas runs Texas–Georgia dry van and reefer freight: https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/texas-to-georgia · https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/melissa-to-atlanta.

• Source: Office of Gov. Brian Kemp — Gov. Kemp extends suspension of state gas tax
• Source: CBS Atlanta — Kemp extends Georgia's gas and diesel tax suspension through Thanksgiving

California checkpoint cites 57 drivers for English proficiency, logbooks and equipment

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Oct 20, 2026) and Transport Topics (Oct 26, 2026): During joint operations in August and September at the state Route 86 checkpoint near Indio, Border Patrol, ICE and U.S. DOT inspectors checked 196 commercial drivers, cited 57 for English-language proficiency, hours-of-service logbook and equipment violations, and placed 27 out of service. Two drivers on temporary visitor visas were found hauling freight in violation of cabotage rules.

What it means: What it means for drivers: Roadside enforcement of English proficiency and logbooks is real on western lanes. Keep your ELD records clean and your truck inspection-ready before running to California. Lane info: https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/texas-to-california.

• Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Indio Station joint operations strengthen commercial vehicle enforcement
• Source: Transport Topics — Cabotage and ELP enforcement in California

For shippers and drivers (Wednesday note)

Shippers: the border is reopening, Houston imports are climbing and big fleets say trucks are getting scarcer — line up dependable dry van and reefer capacity before peak season. Maas runs full truckload out of Melissa and DFW across 48 states with our own trucks, never re-brokered, and dispatch answers 24/7: https://maaslogistic.com/quote · https://maaslogistic.com/services/dry-van-trucking.

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.