Trucking news, written for the driver's seat

Most trucking news is written for fleet executives and investors. Freight 48 starts from the other end of the truck: what a rule change, a state licensing decision or a swing in freight rates means for the person who has to run the load, pass the inspection and get paid at the end of the week.

We keep stories short. Each one says what happened, who decided it, which drivers it touches and what to do next, and each one links to the order, notice or data release behind it so you can read the original yourself. When a number is uncertain or sources disagree, we say so instead of picking the louder figure.

Our beats are licensing (CDL issuance, downgrades, testing), roadside enforcement (inspections, out-of-service orders, English-proficiency checks), hours of service and waivers, and pay. On pay we also look at how carriers present their offers — for example, a flatbed carrier that spells out its pay and home time on one page — because drivers compare jobs on exactly those details.

Start with this week's lead stories: Ohio's halt on non-domiciled CDLs and the joint checkpoint operation on California's Highway 86. Everything else is in the news section.

Have a tip, a correction or a document we should read? The tips page explains how to reach the desk.