As we look back at 2013, here's the third installment in our annual look at the top news stories of the year. Our list was compiled on the basis of popularity on our website, Truckinginfo.com, as well as our editors' opinions on which stories have the most impact on the trucking industry:
As we look back at 2013, here's the third installment in our annual look at the top news stories of the year. Our list was compiled on the basis of popularity on our website, Truckinginfo.com, as well as our editors' opinions on which stories have the most impact on the trucking industry:
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6. Mexican truck program closer to reality
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July 26 -- In July, a court upheld the Obama administration’s pilot program for long-distance trucking across the U.S.-Mexico border. Cross-border trucking was called for in the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994. The Supreme Court will decide January 10 whether or not to hear a petition from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association to overturn that ruling. Read more.
5. New transportation secretary named
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced in January he was steeping down as Secretary of Transportation. Over the summer, Anthony Foxx was chosen as his replacement, and is one of the youngest cabinet officers in history.
June 25 – In a speech calling for tougher emissions for coal-fired power plants, President Obama also laid out what he wants when it comes to emissions from heavy trucks. The EPA is expected to issue draft regulations sometime in 2014. Read more.
The American Transportation Research Institute will examine driver coaching, regulatory impacts — including the "Beyond Compliance" concept —and weather disruptions that shape trucking operations.
New requirements add firm deadlines and independent review steps, addressing long-standing complaints about inconsistent rulings and slow response times.
Heavy Duty Trucking's Top 20 Products awards recognize the best new products and technologies. Check out the award presentations at the 2026 Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting.
The Detroit® Gen 6 engine platform proves that real progress doesn’t require a complete redesign. Built on 20 years of trusted technology, these engines are designed for efficiency, stronger performance, and greater reliability than before. And they do it all while complying with 2027 EPA standards on every mile.
Aperia Technologies introduced a new automatic tire inflation system for steer axles and a partnership with Fontaine Fifth Wheel to integrate coupling status into its Halo Connect platform.
Fleetworthy and HAAS Alert expanded their partnership to deliver real-time digital alerts that warn motorists when commercial trucks are stopped roadside and notify truck drivers when approaching emergency responders.
More than 100,000 new trucking companies enter the industry each year, but regulators manage to audit only a fraction of them. That churn creates opportunities for inexperienced startups — and for “chameleon carriers” that shut down after safety violations and reappear under new identities. Read more from Deborah Lockridge in this commentary.
Mack Trucks has expanded its proprietary Mack Protect collision mitigation platform to the Mack MD Series, bringing heavy-duty safety technology to medium-duty trucks operating in urban and regional environments.
Two Canadian fleets earned the Grand Prize in the Truckload Carriers Association’s 2025 Fleet Safety Awards, recognizing the industry’s top safety performance based on accident frequency and safety programs.