🚚 Top Line: This Week’s Quick Haul
Autonomous Trucks Making Moves
PlusAI completed driver-out testing.
Aurora Innovation launched nighttime autonomous routes and opened a new terminal.
The AMERICA DRIVES Act has been introduced in the U.S. House to create a national framework for autonomous commercial vehicles.🎥 Watch PlusAI’s driver-out validation test
📰 EPA Rolls Back California EV Mandates
The trucking industry is facing new uncertainty after the EPA's recent repeal of California's vehicle emissions waivers. On June 12, President Donald Trump signed congressional resolutions that effectively ended California's Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) program and its zero-emission truck mandate. These mandates, which had been adopted by 12 states and the District of Columbia, would have required all new passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs sold in California to be zero-emission vehicles after 2035.
The repeal follows a vote by the House of Representatives on April 30, 2025, to rescind the EPA's approval of California's zero-emission truck mandate. House Republicans argued that these rules would increase vehicle costs and strain supply chains. The U.S. Senate followed suit with a vote on May 22, 2025, sending the resolutions to the President for his signature. The American Trucking Associations and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association were among the groups that praised the move.
This regulatory reversal creates uncertainty for manufacturers who have been investing in electric vehicle (EV) production to meet these regulations. While the repeal may slow the adoption of EVs, it is not expected to stop the transition entirely. However, a slower rollout could mean more cumulative emissions and a heavier impact on public health. The rollback also jeopardizes the "Clean Truck Partnership" agreement that California had with truck and engine manufacturers. These manufacturers, including Daimler Truck North America, are now stating that the partnership is no longer viable.
The economic impact of the repeal is also a point of contention. The EPA's own analysis found that the previous policies promoting EV adoption would have brought down the future cost of gasoline, and that repealing these measures would lead to higher gasoline prices. Despite the rollback, a letter was sent to truck manufacturers warning that walking away from the Clean Truck Partnership will hurt the trucking industry and that the move "attacks thousands of businesses which have adopted over 52,000 electric trucks deployed across the U.S.".
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warns lease-purchase programs can trap drivers in debt
Employer-controlled debt — tied directly to your job.
Opaque terms — unclear costs and conditions.
No negotiation — contracts are “take it or leave it.”
Misrepresentation — overstated truck value and earning potential.
Financial fallout — lower earnings, damaged credit, more debt.
High-cost exit — can’t leave the job without a huge payoff.📄Read the the Full presentation
UPS Extends Buyout Deadline
Voluntary buyout for van drivers extended after missing job-cut targets.
Offer: $1,800 per year of service (min. $10K).
Teamsters oppose it, calling it a “devious severance plan.”
CEO says there’s “a lot of interest,” but no numbers released.
🌤️ On the Radar — Industry Snapshot (Aug. 4, 2025)
Diesel Avg.: $3.80/gal — down 0.5¢ from last week, up 4.5¢ YoY.
Weather: Heat wave for most of U.S. through fall. Tropical storm risk for TX/OK in early & late August.
Freight Index: Spot rates (reefer, dry van, flatbed) within 2–3% of last August. Spot/contract gap narrowing.
Load-to-Truck: Dry van up 2.6% MoM, down 45.2% YoY. Reefer ratio jumps to 11.95 (tightening capacity).
🧠 Brake Check — Opinion of the Week
CBSA Seizes 197 kg of Cocaine at Blue Water Bridge
July 23: Canadian border officers found 7 bags of cocaine (197 kg, $24.6M street value) in a trailer arriving from the U.S.
Driver Onkar Kalsi, 29, arrested and charged with importation and possession for trafficking.
Between Jan 1–July 10, CBSA seized 1,164 kg of U.S.-origin cocaine and 514 kg from other countries.
Why It MattersIf the drugs were in the trailer — and you picked up a sealed load — you’d have no idea what’s really inside beyond what’s listed on the BOL. This could happen to any driver, even during a U.S. roadside stop.The fallout? Legal bills, lost income, repossessions — all while you’re in jail trying to prove you didn’t know.