Trump Floats Temporary Gas Tax Suspension as Prices Soar
President Donald Trump said he supports suspending the federal gas tax to help offset rising fuel prices that have been driven up by the Iran war and the near shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, where a significant share of global oil normally moves.
The federal tax is $00.18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and $00.24.4 cents for diesel, and can only be lifted with congressional approval. Gas prices have climbed to $4.52 per gallon nationwide. Many lawmakers remain divided on whether the suspension would provide meaningful relief.
For more information, read more here.
How FreightCenter Can Help During Rising Fuel Costs
As diesel prices climb near record highs and supply uncertainty looms, managing your freight costs efficiently has never been more critical.
FreightCenter’s Credit Account is designed to help businesses navigate these challenging conditions while protecting your bottom line.
Save Money When It Matters Most
With a FreightCenter Credit Account, you can:
- Eliminate Credit Card Fees – Stop paying per-shipment card fees that quietly drain your budget. Our credit account gives you approved payment terms so you can ship now and pay later, keeping more cash on hand.
- Get Net 30 Payment Terms – Flexible terms that match your cash flow. Pay when it works for you, not when the invoice arrives.
- Zero Cancellation Fees – Plans change. We get it. Cancel shipments without penalty, eliminating another unnecessary cost.
Ready to start saving? Apply for a Credit Account or call our experts at (800) 716-7608 ext: 1822 to learn more about how a FreightCenter Credit Account can help your business weather rising fuel costs and supply chain uncertainty.
28,000 CDLs Revoked Under Crackdown
States have revoked 28,000 illegally issued non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses following federal audits, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announcing nearly 194,000 foreign drivers could ultimately lose CDLs under stricter regulations. FMCSA’s February 2026 final rule, effective March 16, found that over 30 states issued tens of thousands of non-compliant licenses beyond visa expiration dates or to ineligible drivers.
New regulations restrict non-domiciled CDLs to H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 visa holders, reducing the eligible pool to approximately 6,000 drivers nationally. California and New York face potential certification loss after receiving final noncompliance notices, while Oregon and Nevada have permanently ceased issuing non-domiciled licenses.
For more information on CDL changed, read more here.
Fully Driverless Commercial Hauls In Texas
Aurora Innovation and McLane Company launched fully driverless commercial hauls in Texas after a three-year pilot, logging 280,000 autonomous miles with 1,400 loads and 100% on-time performance.
The Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary now operates driverless routes between Dallas and Houston, with Sun Belt expansion planned by the end of 2026. Aurora’s system handles long-haul “middle mile” freight while human drivers manage last-mile customer deliveries. Separately, Aurora and Volvo Autonomous Solutions launched a 200-mile Dallas-to-Oklahoma City route, running five days weekly in supervised autonomy mode. The rapid route mapping demonstrates Aurora’s ability to scale quickly into new markets.
For more information on Driverless Commercial Hauls, read more here.
Smart Tire Technology Gaining Traction
Continental Tire’s smart tire technology is gaining traction as fleets seek fuel efficiency amid rising costs. The ContiConnect platform uses embedded sensors to monitor real-time tire pressure and temperature, with tests showing proper inflation (94 PSI to 110 PSI) can improve fuel economy by 1.3 MPG.
Despite proven benefits, adoption remains low across North America. Canada leads in per-fleet adoption, followed by the U.S., with Mexico lagging due to tighter margins. Continental executive Renato Sarzano emphasizes that improper tire pressure is “the very basic mistake” costing fleets money, as rising oil prices affect both diesel and tire costs.
For more smart tire tech, read more here.
The DOT Awards $774 Million For Port Infrastructure Grants
The DOT awarded $774 million in port infrastructure grants across 37 projects at coastal, Great Lakes, and inland river ports. Alaska, Texas, and Florida received the largest shares at $115.4M, $97.7M, and $55.4M, respectively. Key projects include Port MacKenzie’s multimodal expansion in Alaska, a new container yard at Port Houston, and a Hyundai Steel-linked mega dock in Louisiana.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the investments support American jobs, economic growth, and national security. Grants are administered through the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program.
Request to block non-domiciled CDL rule denied; case heads to court
A federal judge denied a request to temporarily block the Biden administration’s new rule tightening requirements for non‑domiciled CDL holders, meaning the policy will take effect while the lawsuit proceeds.
This rule will require foreign commercial drivers to maintain a valid immigration status throughout their licensing period. Industry groups suing the FMCSA argue the rule will create major supply‑chain disruptions and unlawfully restrict the driver pool. The court said the plaintiffs failed to show immediate, irreparable harm. As the case now moves forward for full judicial review, the story will evolve.
See more CDL updates, read more here.
