Trucking News Roundup: Arkansas Truck Blitz Puts 393 Drivers and Trucks Out of Service, Covenant CEO Expects Double-Digit Contract Rate Hikes in 2027, Walmart Files for a $400 Million Distribution Center Near San Antonio, Schneider Moves Eastern Intermodal to Norfolk Southern, and FMCSA Wants Driver Comments on HOS Pilots by Dec. 7 (Nov 1, 2026)

Arkansas "Operation Highway Shield" sidelines 393 drivers and trucks in 48 hours

Arkansas Department of Transportation and FreightWaves (Oct 29–30, 2026): Arkansas Highway Police ran Operation Highway Shield from 6 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, to 6 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, working with FMCSA, the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations and ICE at weigh stations and along interstate and highway corridors. Officers did 1,724 inspections and put 393 drivers and trucks out of service. They identified more than 330 unqualified or unauthorized drivers, made 183 English-language proficiency disqualifications, found more than 1,000 motor carrier safety violations, issued 369 citations or warnings, referred 74 immigration violations to federal enforcement, made 44 criminal arrests and recovered one stolen trailer. FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs said the operation sends a message that anyone who puts safety at risk will be held accountable. The state did not break down what was behind the arrests or the out-of-service orders.

What it means: What it means for drivers and carriers: Arkansas sits on I-30, a main route east out of DFW, and on I-40, so loads headed that way should expect busy scales and full inspections. Have your CDL, medical card, registration and logs in order, and do a real pre-trip. Shippers: more enforcement means fewer unqualified trucks on the road, so book carriers whose drivers and paperwork hold up. Safety at Maas: https://maaslogistic.com/company/safety.

• Source: Arkansas Department of Transportation — Operation Highway Shield results
• Source: FreightWaves — Arkansas truck blitz nets 183 English violations, 44 arrests in 48 hours

Covenant CEO expects double-digit contract rate hikes again in 2027

FreightWaves and Covenant Logistics' third-quarter release (Oct 30, 2026): On Covenant's earnings call Friday, CEO David Parker said carriers have to keep raising rates because of what they pay for drivers, trucks, trailers and insurance. Asked whether 2027 would bring another year of double-digit contract increases, he answered, "That's my expectations." FreightWaves reported that, as of Thursday, shippers who recently reset truckload contracts are paying about 12.8% more than the rates they replaced, based on SONAR's Contract Rate Change Direction index, up from 4.1% a year earlier. Covenant said its truckload revenue per total mile rose about 19.7% from a year earlier while its truckload operating expenses rose about 20.8%, both on an adjusted basis, so higher rates have mostly been eaten by higher costs. About 80% of its fleet assets were under long-term contracts at the end of the quarter.

What it means: What it means for shippers: If you are setting 2027 freight budgets now, plan for higher contract rates and lock in capacity early with carriers that run their own trucks. Maas runs asset-based dry van and reefer full truckload and never re-brokers a load. Request a quote: https://maaslogistic.com/quote · https://maaslogistic.com/services/dry-van-trucking · https://maaslogistic.com/services/refrigerated-trucking.

• Source: FreightWaves — Covenant Logistics CEO expects double-digit truckload rate hikes in 2027
• Source: Covenant Logistics — Third-quarter 2026 financial and operating results

Walmart files for a $400 million distribution center in Cibolo, Texas

Supply Chain Dive and Texas Public Radio (Oct 28–30, 2026): Walmart plans a 744,433-square-foot distribution center, office space included, in Cibolo, northeast of San Antonio in Guadalupe County, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing dated Oct. 28. The project, code-named Project Theo, carries an estimated $400 million price tag. The filing shows construction starting in February and completion on Aug. 1, 2029. The site sits just off I-10, and Cibolo is also close to I-35, which is why distribution and manufacturing companies keep moving there. The filing does not say whether the building will be automated, and Walmart did not comment to Supply Chain Dive.

What it means: What it means for shippers and drivers: Big retail distribution keeps coming to the I-35 and I-10 corridors, and that means more outbound truckload freight in Central Texas over the next few years. Texas freight: https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/freight-shipping-texas · DFW to San Antonio: https://maaslogistic.com/lanes/melissa-to-san-antonio.

• Source: Supply Chain Dive — Walmart plans $400M Texas distribution center
• Source: Texas Public Radio — Walmart plans $400 million distribution center in Cibolo

Schneider moves its eastern intermodal network to Norfolk Southern

Schneider and Norfolk Southern joint release (Oct 29, 2026): Schneider announced that Norfolk Southern will become the primary rail provider for its intermodal network in the eastern U.S. The two companies say the deal is meant to give shippers a larger alternative to over-the-road freight and to move more truckload shipments onto rail. Schneider brings about 23,900 chassis, 26,800 containers, more than 60 intermodal rail hubs across North America, and company dray drivers who handle more than 90% of its domestic dray moves. Norfolk Southern said its intermodal volumes rose 3% in the third quarter, and it is investing in terminals across its 22-state network, including a new Cincinnati–Atlanta service.

What it means: What it means for shippers: Rail is pushing harder for long-haul freight in the East, but most Texas freight, short-notice loads and temperature-controlled loads still move by truck. When you need a truck, Maas runs dry van and reefer full truckload across 48 states with our own equipment: https://maaslogistic.com/quote.

• Source: Schneider — Schneider and Norfolk Southern partner to expand domestic intermodal capacity
• Source: Norfolk Southern — Norfolk Southern and Schneider partner to expand domestic intermodal capacity

Drivers have until Dec. 7 to comment on two hours-of-service pilots

Federal Register (FMCSA notices published Oct 6 and Oct 7, 2026): FMCSA is taking comments through Dec. 7 on the data it plans to collect for two hours-of-service pilot programs. The Split Duty Period pilot (docket FMCSA-2026-2081) would let participating drivers pause their 14-hour driving window once for between 30 minutes and 3 hours. The Flexible Sleeper Berth pilot (docket FMCSA-2026-2080) would cut the longer sleeper period from 7 hours to as little as 5, so drivers could use a 5/5 or 6/4 split instead of today's 7/3 or 8/2. Each study plans to use about 256 drivers, who would take part for 16 weeks, and eligibility depends on carrier and driver safety records. These are information-collection notices, not rule changes. Land Line reports most truckers commenting so far support the pilots, while OOIDA has warned that shippers, receivers or carriers could pressure drivers to use a pause to sit through loading delays.

What it means: What it means for drivers: Nothing changes on your log today; the current 11-hour, 14-hour and sleeper berth rules still apply. If you want a say, file a comment at regulations.gov under either docket number before Dec. 7. Our plain-English guide to the current rules: https://maaslogistic.com/blog/2026-10-30-hours-of-service-rules-for-truck-drivers-guide. Yesterday's roundup covered FMCSA's wider push on HOS flexibility and the Motus suspensions: https://maaslogistic.com/news/2026-10-31-motus-insurance-suspensions-hos-flexibility-great-dane-recall-kodiak-dtl.

• Source: Federal Register via GovInfo — FMCSA information collection notice (Oct 6, 2026)
• Source: Federal Register — Hours of service information collection notice (Oct 7, 2026)

For shippers and drivers (Sunday note)

Shippers: contract rates are resetting higher and big new Texas distribution centers are on the way, so line up dependable capacity before 2027 bids. 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.

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.