Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026:
FMCSA opens comment period for ATA’s request to for under-21 truckers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is now accepting comments on a request from the American Trucking Associations that would allow motor carriers that participated in the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP) program to continue onboarding under-21 truck drivers to haul interstate despite the expiration of the program.
ATA’s request, if granted, would allow motor carriers that previously participated in the FMCSA’s SDAP program, which ended on Nov. 7, 2025, to continue onboarding and training 18-20-year-old truck drivers.
In its request, ATA said the program’s quarterly reports “demonstrate positive safety outcomes, including millions of miles driven by program participants without reportable crashes.” The group added that it believes that continuing to allow carriers to onboard under-21 drivers for interstate operations would create minimal administrative burdens for FMCSA or participating motor carriers.
FMCSA will accept public comments on ATA’s request here through Feb. 27.
[Related: ATA petitions FMCSA for exemption to effectively extend under-21 pilot program]
FMC opens investigation into ocean carriers possibly violating chassis-choice regs
The Federal Maritime Commission announced Jan. 26 that it’s opening an investigation into potential non-compliance with the Shipping Act by ocean carriers who may be “unjustly and unreasonably restricting” trucking companies and shippers in their choice of chassis providers.
Through its investigation, FMC is looking “to determine whether ocean common carriers are using practices that directly or indirectly deprive truckers and shippers from negotiating and dealing with chassis providers.”
Any practices, including ocean common carrier rules, service contracts or other means, that restrict truckers from dealing with chassis providers may violate section 41102(c) of the Shipping Act, FMC noted. Rules and practices that restrict truckers and shippers to the ocean common carriers’ designated chassis provider have been found to be unreasonable under the regulation.
As part of its investigation, FMC is requesting information from motor carriers, shippers and other transportation service providers, as well as the public, in “identifying restrictions, practices, or tactics of any kind imposed by ocean common carriers on chassis provider selections or negotiations for chassis usage.“ FMC is asking for information about whether such practices and restrictions are currently occurring, how they are being implemented or imposed, and how they are affecting or restricting truckers’ or shippers’ ability to independently select, negotiate and deal with chassis providers.
Comments can be filed here through March 27.
The Commission is conducting this non-adjudicatory investigation pursuant to its oversight authority of ocean common carriers’ operations and dealings with shippers under service contracts. The Shipping Act prohibits ocean common carriers from refusing cargo space accommodations when available or resorting to “other unfair or unjustly discriminatory methods.”
Ruan names new VP of Safety
Ruan (CCJ Top 250, No. 30) has named Nathan Schmidt as the company’s new Vice President of Safety.
Nathan SchmidtIn this role, Schmidt will lead Ruan’s cross-functional Safety team and continue to advance the organization’s strong safety-focused culture across all areas of the business.
With 31 years of experience at Ruan and a total of 34 years within transportation and logistics industry, Schmidt started at Ruan in operations before spending 17 years in Human Resources. In 2017, he transitioned into the role of Director of Operations Support, where he played a key role in several major initiatives. His contributions include the successful implementation of the company’s Video Safety Program, managing two Electronic Logging Device transitions, and leading the launch and ongoing operations of the Extended Operations Center.
“Nathan’s broad experience across our organization and his empathetic, people-centered leadership style make him uniquely qualified to lead our safety efforts into the future,” said Paul Jensen, Chief Administrative Officer at Ruan. “His track record of delivering results while fostering strong team collaboration reflects the core values we uphold as a company.”
Volvo delivering 3 VNR Electrics to NYC food rescue organization
Volvo Trucks North America has announced that three zero-tailpipe-emission Volvo VNR Electric trucks will be delivered this year to City Harvest, New York City’s largest food rescue organization, as part of the “Bronx is Breathing” project.
Supported by a $10 million award from the New York Clean Transportation Prizes program, the initiative is designed to reduce noise and emissions for South Bronx neighborhoods bordering one of the nation’s busiest freight corridors.
“City Harvest rescues and delivers millions of pounds of food to New Yorkers every year. We are proud that these new electric trucks will support that crucial mission with cleaner, quieter operations,” said Keith Brandis, Head of Policy & Regulatory Affairs, North America, Volvo Group’s Trucks Technology & Industrial Division. “The Bronx is Breathing initiative shows how targeted infrastructure investment and community partnerships can accelerate the adoption of electric trucks in dense urban freight environments.”
Each truck will be equipped with battery-electric transport refrigeration units, enabling true zero-tailpipe emissions during food rescue and delivery operations across all five New York City boroughs, Volvo said.
City Harvest will initially charge the vehicles at a new charging installation being deployed at the Fulton Fish Market Cooperative in the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center in the Bronx. In the coming years, charging operations will shift to a freight-focused public charging hub being developed by MN8 Energy in the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center, which will feature 32 DC fast chargers, including stalls for heavy-duty Class 8 trucks, plus 10 Level-2 chargers, when it becomes operational in 2029.
[Related: NYC officials announce $405M Hunts Point redevelopment]
