Trucking News Roundup: Shipper Freight Costs Hit a Five-Year High, Spot Rates Slip as Diesel Climbs, a Driver Resets His ELD Hours by Phone in Front of FMCSA, Regulators Plan Training-Hour and ELD Rules, and Charger Eyes 500 Aurora Driverless Trucks (Oct 30, 2026)

Shipper freight costs hit a five-year high as volumes stay flat

Reuters (Oct 29, 2026): Shippers spent 32.1% more on freight in the third quarter than a year earlier, the most since 2021, according to the U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index. National shipment volumes rose only 0.5% over the same period. Spending was up in every region, with the Southwest leading at 51.6%. Reuters tied the jump to diesel above $6 a gallon and fewer available drivers after federal enforcement actions. "Outlays are rising much faster than freight volume," said American Trucking Associations chief economist Bob Costello, and U.S. Bank's Bobby Holland said tighter capacity and higher operating costs are pushing spending up even where volumes are flat or falling.

What it means: What it means for shippers: Budgets set last year are likely short. Lock in dependable capacity with a carrier that runs its own trucks before peak season — Maas is asset-based and never re-brokers: https://maaslogistic.com/quote · Texas freight: https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/freight-shipping-texas · DFW: https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/dallas-fort-worth-freight-shipping.

• Source: Reuters / U.S. News — U.S. shipper costs hit five-year high

Spot rates slip 2 cents as diesel climbs again

The Trucker, citing DAT Freight & Analytics (Oct 26, 2026): For the week of Oct. 17–23, DAT's national dry van linehaul spot rate averaged $2.24 a mile and reefer averaged $2.73, each down 2 cents, as load posts fell faster than truck posts. Linehaul rates are still about 33% above a year ago for van and 31% for reefer, and DAT's 35-day forecast has van holding near $2.24 through late November with reefer edging up to $2.78. Reefer load posts fell 5% on the week. Diesel at Pilot Flying J averaged $6.47 a gallon on Oct. 24, up 13 cents in a week, and DAT estimates fuel now runs about 92 cents a mile for a spot dry van carrier. Third-quarter IFTA fuel tax returns are due Monday, Nov. 2, because Oct. 31 falls on a Saturday. (These are national market averages, not Maas rates.)

What it means: What it means for owner-operators and shippers: The market is still well above last year, but fuel is eating a bigger share of every mile. Owner-operators should know their real cost per mile and file IFTA on time: 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. Shippers: https://maaslogistic.com/services/dry-van-trucking · https://maaslogistic.com/services/refrigerated-trucking.

• Source: The Trucker / DAT — Spot truckload rates dip as load posts cool

A driver resets his ELD hours by phone — in front of FMCSA and state police

Overdrive (Oct 28, 2026): At a meeting with Illinois State Police in DeKalb, Ill., Meiborg Inc. driver Francis Buchanan parked at the police station, called a federally registered ELD provider, gave his company and truck numbers, and asked for his hours to be reset. About 10 minutes later his logs showed a clean, compliant record and a fresh set of hours. Meiborg and FMCSA staff recorded it on video. In a statement afterward, FMCSA said it has revoked more than 95 noncompliant ELDs since January 2025, that tighter vetting has blocked 552 more applications, and that it will "hold violators fully accountable." Troopers on hand noted that a caught driver often only has to sit out 10 hours before driving again.

What it means: What it means for drivers: Running legal is getting a lot more attention from enforcement. Since April 1, 2026, inspectors have had a separate out-of-service code for ELD tampering, so keep your logs clean and expect roadside officers to pull your log data quickly. Safety at Maas: https://maaslogistic.com/company/safety · company driver jobs: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/company-drivers.

• Source: Overdrive — FMCSA will hold violators fully accountable for ELD fraud

FMCSA chief outlines training-hour and ELD rules, plus truck parking money

The Trucker (Oct 27, 2026): Speaking in Dallas at the Women In Trucking Accelerate! conference, FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs said the agency is working on a rule that would add minimum training hours to entry-level driver training while still requiring drivers to prove their skills. He also said a separate rulemaking would tighten oversight of ELD providers, possibly with third-party testing. He gave no proposed hour count and no dates for either rule. Barrs also pointed to about $200 million in DOT truck parking grants for 14 projects in 12 states, adding more than 2,400 parking spaces. Yesterday's roundup covered FMCSA dropping more than 10,000 training providers from its registry: https://maaslogistic.com/news/2026-10-29-chinese-trailer-tariffs-fmcsa-training-providers-small-carrier-bankruptcies-diesel.

What it means: What it means for drivers: If you are still in CDL school or just out, expect training standards to keep tightening. Make sure your school is on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry. CDL-A company drivers at Maas earn 50+ CPM dry van / 60+ CPM reefer: https://maaslogistic.com/drive-with-us/company-drivers.

• Source: The Trucker — Changes to driver training and ELD certification in the works

Charger Logistics signs a nonbinding deal for up to 500 Aurora driverless trucks

Aurora press release (Oct 26) and FreightWaves (Oct 28, 2026): Aurora Innovation signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding under which Charger Logistics intends to buy up to 500 trucks running the Aurora Driver, with deliveries over 2027 and 2028. Charger would own the trucks and pay Aurora for the driving. The deal builds on Charger's July contract for driverless runs between Dallas and Laredo. Aurora says it expects to pass 200 driverless trucks by the end of February and more than 1,000 by the end of 2027, but its own release warns the MOU may not turn into a final agreement or binding orders.

What it means: What it means for drivers and shippers: Texas is still the test bed for driverless freight, but this is a statement of intent, not an order, and today's freight still moves with professional drivers. Maas runs dry van and reefer full truckload with our own trucks and drivers.

• Source: Aurora — Charger Logistics and Aurora plan autonomous fleet scaling
• Source: FreightWaves — Aurora–Charger Logistics 500 driverless trucks MOU

For shippers and drivers (Friday note)

Shippers: costs are up while volumes are flat, so the carrier you pick matters more than ever. 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: https://maaslogistic.com/quote. If a load does arrive damaged, here is how to file a freight claim: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-10-28-how-to-file-a-freight-claim-shipper-guide.

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.