Labor
Small carriers lead on women driver levels within workforces, WIT Index finds
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) released the 2026-27 WIT Index on August 27, showing that the share of women in the trucking industry workforce has remained largely flat, with nearly one in ten holding professional driving roles. Small carriers have the highest proportion of female CDL holders (12.5%), while large companies (with over 5,000 employees) stand at only 7%. In leadership, women hold 31%, 37.5%, and 29% of C-suite executive, supervisor, and board seat positions, respectively.
FedEx Freight says executive terminated over code of conduct violation
A securities filing submitted by FedEx Freight on September 2 shows that the company has dismissed Executive Vice President and Chief Professional Services and Commercial Officer Michael Lyons after an internal investigation determined he violated the code of conduct. His responsibilities will be temporarily shared among other executives while the company seeks a successor.
Relief group aims to provide truckers more health, financial resources
The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund appointed Diane Hutsell as executive director on August 24. The organization has assisted nearly 4,200 drivers and their families since 2008, providing over $5.5 million in direct financial aid. Hutsell plans to expand fundraising to broaden health programs and drive the organization's next phase of growth.
Estes Express Lines Goal: Employee Bonus Payouts to Exceed Cargo Damage Claims
Estes Express Lines has cut cargo damage claims by nearly 80% from a decade ago by reforming its employee bonus program. In 2025, claims dropped to $14 million, and employee bonuses reached $11 million. Company President Webb Estes said this year's goal is to have bonus payouts exceed customer claims, reflecting the multiplier effect of damage-free shipping.
XPO names chief legal officer
XPO announced on August 10 the appointment of Jonas Svedlund as Chief Legal Officer, effective immediately. Svedlund previously served as Deputy General Counsel at Thermo Fisher Scientific and held executive roles at General Electric.
XPO Appoints Jonas Svedlund as New Chief Legal Officer
XPO has appointed Jonas Svedlund as Chief Legal Officer, effective immediately. Svedlund brings extensive legal experience, having worked at Thermo Fisher Scientific and General Electric. Former Chief Legal Officer Wendy Cassity resigned in June for personal reasons.
Averitt increases regional, LTL driver pay
On July 29, Averitt announced adjustments to regional and LTL driver pay, raising regional driver rates to 66 cents per mile with an average weekly salary of about $1,550, while eliminating the separate rate for drivers without hazardous materials endorsement and replacing it with a $25 surcharge per trip.
Daimler Truck restructuring leads to Portland plant closure
Daimler Truck North America has decided to close its Portland plant and three related facilities to optimize its production network, affecting 387 employees, with production shifting to the Carolinas. The company retains its headquarters and R&D departments, and the union has responded that it will negotiate.
Managers say they don’t feel ready to lead an AI-fluent workforce
According to the latest survey jointly released by recruitment platform Indeed and market research company YouGov, although employers generally expect managers to lead teams with AI expertise, 43% of managers say they are unprepared or even completely unprepared for this. The survey also found that employers' expectations for employees' use of AI far exceed employees' own comfort levels, with the gap reaching 2 to 3 times for advanced tasks. Additionally, 52% of surveyed employees said they had not received the AI training they needed, and 25% gave up on upskilling due to concerns about AI accuracy, ethics, and data privacy.
Trump administration fast-tracks CDL path for veterans
President Trump announced on Thursday the launch of the 'Freedom Transporter' program, offering a fast track for veterans to obtain commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). The program, initiated by the U.S. Department of Transportation along with the Department of Defense and the Department of Labor on July 24, allows eligible veterans to be exempt from knowledge tests and driving skills tests within 24 months after leaving service (longer than the original 12-month exemption period). Several trucking industry organizations have expressed support for this initiative.