Freight Friday! 👋 We’re finishing the week with an update on DOT Secretary Sean Duffy’s new “pro-trucker” package, which includes $275 million for truck parking, a rollback of speed limiter rules, and a major push to tackle illegal brokering.

While details are still unfolding, a key focus is the revived FMCSA broker transparency rule, which would require brokers to share electronic records with carriers within 48 hours and shift transparency from a “right” to a regulatory obligation. More ahead 👇

💬 More In Freight:

⚫️ Trucking Company Owner Admits To 'Ghost Preparer' Scheme

⚫️ Not So Sweet Papaya Shipment: $23M Bust

⚫️ ArcBest's Tesla Semi In Real World Testing

⚫️ Walmart Leads All Retailers

Trucking Company Owner Admits To 'Ghost Preparer' Scheme 🥸

Dantavious Jackson, 39, owner of a Union City, Georgia-based trucking company, has pleaded guilty to mail fraud tied to a scheme to defraud the IRS of over $4.1 million in tax refunds.

Between June 2022 and August 2023, Jackson filed 35 fraudulent IRS Forms 941 for himself and two clients, falsely claiming employee retention credits (ERCs). The forms included fake employees and wages, leading the U.S. Treasury to issue $1.57 million in fraudulent refunds.

Jackson also operated as a “ghost preparer,” failing to register with the IRS or sign returns he prepared for others. He faces up to 20 years in prison, supervised release, and fines. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation.

Not So Sweet Papaya Shipment: $23M Bust 🚨

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Pharr International Bridge seized more than $23 million worth of methamphetamine hidden in a shipment of papayas.

On July 6, officers inspected a tractor-trailer entering from Mexico and discovered 384 packages of meth weighing over 2,570 pounds. The drugs were found using non-intrusive tech, a canine team, and a physical inspection.

“This massive seizure reflects the daily threats our officers face and the power of experience and technology,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez. CBP seized the truck and drugs. Homeland Security Investigations has launched a criminal probe.

What Else Is Moving 🚚

Broker Transparency & “Illegal Brokering” Crackdown 🥷

DOT Secretary Sean Duffy recently rolled out a “pro-trucker” package promising $275M in new truck parking, scrapping the speed limiter rule, revamping DataQs, and exploring more flexible sleeper berth rules.

But the most buzzworthy piece? A vow to crack down on illegal brokering. It’s a phrase thrown around often, especially as freight fraud and double brokering run rampant. Brokers are on edge, carrier vetting platforms are overloaded, and cargo theft is still rising.

So what does this crackdown actually look like?

DOT didn’t offer specifics on enforcement or penalties, but hinted heavily that the agency’s revived broker transparency rulemaking could play a key role.

According to a DOT spokesperson, FMCSA is reviewing its full regulatory agenda—including its late-2024 proposal to strengthen broker transparency regulations under 49 CFR 371.3.

The proposal would:

• Require brokers to store records electronically
• Clarify what records must be included
• Mandate that records be provided to carriers upon request—within 48 hours
• Make broker transparency a regulatory obligation, not just a waived contractual “right”

Attorneys from the Transportation Lawyers Association argued the transparency rule is essential for fraud detection and recovery in both civil and criminal cases. Others, like Dale Prax, framed it as brokers upholding fiduciary duties.

DOT’s push to link fraud enforcement with broker transparency is bold—and controversial. But under the Trump administration, FMCSA is calling freight fraud a “public safety crisis” and signaling that more oversight on brokers could be one way forward.

FREIGHT SNIPPETS ✂️

❌ Banning Foreign Motor Carriers | A small trucking group is urging federal regulators to revoke operating authority for foreign-based carriers, claiming it creates unfair competition. The Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC) argues that allowing non-North American carriers into the U.S. violates immigration law and hurts small American operators. However, FMCSA data shows the concern may be overblown—only three such authorities exist as of June 2025, and the yearly total hasn’t exceeded seven since 2016. Transportation consultant P. Sean Garney questioned the effort, saying, “I wonder about the scope of the problem.” The petition follows a broader Trump administration crackdown on CDL fraud, including a national audit of non-domiciled CDL holders. Read more.

🤝 Kellogg Acquired | Ferrero International has agreed to acquire WK Kellogg Co. for $3.1 billion, strengthening the Italian company’s foothold in the U.S. market. Ferrero will pay $23 per share in cash — a 31% premium over Kellogg’s July 9 closing price. The deal adds iconic cereal brands like Froot Loops and Frosted Flakes to Ferrero’s portfolio, which includes Nutella and Kinder, helping the company diversify beyond chocolate amid rising cocoa costs. Read more.

🚛 Copper Shipments Targeted | Thieves are increasingly targeting the trucking industry for copper theft as the metal’s value surges. Copper prices have jumped over 35% in the U.S. this year, reaching record highs after President Trump announced a 50% tariff on copper imports starting August 1. Thefts from trucks are rising even faster than the price itself. Loaded trailers are easy targets, and thieves are using more advanced tactics to locate and steal copper shipments. In 2024, rising copper thefts helped push overall U.S. and Canadian cargo theft incidents up 26% to 3,798. That trend is accelerating — copper thefts are up 61% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Read more.

🚔 Driver Arrested | A Texas trucker is in custody after allegedly firing shots at another vehicle on I-40 near Galloway, Arkansas, just after midnight on July 8. Police found four bullet holes in the victim’s trailer at a nearby Love’s. The suspect’s truck was later tracked to a Love’s in Malvern, where two people were detained and a .40 caliber pistol was recovered. Read more.

🚪 XPO Opens Largest Facility | XPO has opened its largest terminal by door count in Kernersville, NC, with 333 doors across 265,000 sq. ft. of space. Acquired from Yellow for over $32.5 million, the site will handle more than a billion pounds of freight annually. The new facility consolidates operations previously spread across multiple locations, improving efficiency and reducing freight handling. About 220 employees are based at the site, with room to grow. Read more.

🚨 U.S. Ports Appeal For Delay | U.S. port operators say proposed Trump administration tariffs of up to 100% on Chinese-made cranes could drive up costs by tens of millions. The fees would stack on top of existing 25% tariffs from the Biden era, affecting equipment already ordered before the new rules. With China’s ZPMC supplying 80% of U.S. port cranes, officials say there are few affordable alternatives. “We’re being told not to buy Chinese, but we need time to transition,” said Carl Bentzel of the National Association of Waterfront Employers. Read more.

Pallets of News 🚛

ArcBest's Tesla Semi In Real World Testing 📍

Tesla’s all-electric Class 8 Semi just posted its best real-world performance yet. In a three-week pilot by logistics company ArcBest, the truck logged 4,494 miles and averaged 1.55 kWh per mile—a notable improvement over previous results.

The test included a mix of regional and long-haul routes between Reno, Sacramento, and the Bay Area. ArcBest ran the Tesla Semi across standard lanes, simulating typical freight operations.

Tesla originally claimed the Semi would achieve 1.7 kWh/mile. That number improved to 1.6 kWh/mile in Tesla’s own internal tests. DHL and Saia had previously reported 1.72 and 1.73 kWh/mile, respectively.

ArcBest’s results mark the most efficient public performance yet.

Walmart Leads All Retailers 💸

Walmart once again topped the list of the top 100 retailers, with 2024 U.S. sales rising 7% to $568.7 billion, according to the National Retail Federation and Kantar.

Amazon held steady at No. 2 with $273.66 billion in sales, followed by Costco, Kroger, and The Home Depot rounding out the top five.

The rankings show stability among major players — the top 13 retailers remained largely unchanged. Target slipped to eighth place, while Walgreens Boots Alliance moved up to seventh.

MEME OF THE DAY 😂