Media Watch: 2026-10-13

What trade and general media outlets are reporting. These are leads, not FreightFiles stories: stories are written only from government and court documents. Where such a document should exist, the desk searched for it; entries marked promoted became stories.

Enforcement

• Report: Indiana State Police Aided Federal Crackdown on Immigrant Truckers — Louisville Public Media reports that records show Indiana State Police have played a role in supporting a federal crackdown targeting immigrant truck drivers. (Louisville Public Media 2026-10-13) Government source sought: Indiana State Police records or agreements with federal immigration authorities (e.g., ICE/CBP) on commercial driver enforcement; not yet found.
• Multi-Agency Safety Blitz in Williston, N.D. Puts 122 Trucks Out of Service — Overdrive reports FMCSA, the North Dakota Highway Patrol, PHMSA, ICE and local police conducted a joint commercial vehicle safety operation in Williston, N.D., resulting in 109 inspections, 494 violations and 122 out-of-service orders. (Overdrive 2026-10-13) Government source sought: FMCSA/North Dakota Highway Patrol joint enforcement operation announcement or CVSA results release; not yet found.
• Cargo Theft Losses More Than Double Ahead of Holiday Shipping Season — A syndicated wire report, carried by multiple outlets, says cargo theft losses have more than doubled compared with last year as the holiday shipping season approaches. (KNSI 2026-10-13; Caledonian Record 2026-10-13; The Daily Progress 2026-10-13; Journal Gazette & Times-Courier 2026-10-13; The Franklin News Post 2026-10-13; Martinsville Bulletin 2026-10-13)
• Florida AG Announces 20 Arrests in Drug Ring That Used Unwitting Trucking Companies — CDLLife reports Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced more than 20 arrests on racketeering and drug-trafficking charges in a scheme that moved cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine using over-the-road trucking companies without their knowledge. (CDLLife 2026-10-13; CDL Life 2026-10-13) Government source sought: Florida Attorney General press release and charging documents (Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Broward Counties); not yet found.

Industry

• Cargo Theft Losses More Than Double Ahead of Holiday Shipping Season — A widely syndicated wire story reports that cargo theft losses have more than doubled year over year as carriers head into the peak holiday shipping period, citing industry security data. (KMVU FOX 26 Medford 2026-10-13; The North Platte Telegraph 2026-10-13; Lynchburg News and Advance 2026-10-13; Lake Geneva News 2026-10-13; Opelika-Auburn News 2026-10-13; TPI Media Group 2026-10-13; Statesville Record 2026-10-13; Wahoo Newspaper 2026-10-13)
• Einride's Driverless, Cabless Electric Trucks Begin Hauling Freight on Ohio Roads — Charged EVs reports Einride is operating fully driverless, cabless electric trucks moving freight on public roads in Ohio, a notable milestone for autonomous trucking deployment. (Charged EVs 2026-10-13) Government source sought: Ohio Department of Public Safety/ODOT autonomous commercial vehicle operating permit or exemption; not yet found.

Litigation

• Lawsuit Over Paccar Fuel Injector Failures Clears Court Hurdle — Land Line reports a lawsuit alleging costly Paccar engine fuel-injector failures sidelined trucks and hurt owner-operators' businesses, and that the suit has survived a motion to dismiss or similar challenge. (Land Line (OOIDA) 2026-10-13) Government source sought: Court order in Paccar fuel injector class-action lawsuit; not yet found.

Other

• Sheriff Warns of Fuel-Card Skimmers, Razor Blades at Denver-Area Pumps — The Adams County Sheriff's Office warned fleet and diesel fuel card holders that card-skimming devices and razor blades were found on fuel pumps across the Denver metro area. (CDL Life 2026-10-13) Government source sought: Adams County Sheriff's Office public alert/press release; not yet found.

State Watch

• NYC Offers $5 Million to Shift Truck Deliveries to Off-Peak Hours — CDLLife reports NYC DOT will distribute $5 million in incentives to businesses that move commercial deliveries to overnight, off-peak hours under its Off-Hour Delivery program. (CDLLife 2026-10-13) Government source sought: NYC Department of Transportation Off-Hour Delivery program announcement; not yet found.
• Pennsylvania Lawmakers Weigh Electronic Learner's Permits, Work-Zone Safety Testing for Truckers — Land Line reports Pennsylvania legislation would let truckers use electronic learner's permits instead of paper copies, with a separate measure adding work-zone safety questions to the driver's test. (Land Line (OOIDA) 2026-10-13) Government source sought: Pennsylvania General Assembly bill text; not yet found.

Washington Watch

• $12.6 Million Federal Grant Announced for I-57 Truck Parking Improvements — Rep. Mike Bost's office announced a $12.6 million federal grant to fund truck parking improvements along Interstate 57 in Illinois, aimed at easing a chronic parking shortage for commercial drivers. (WFIW 2026-10-13) Government source sought: FHWA grant award or congressional press release on I-57 truck parking funding; not yet found.
• FMCSA's Motus Carrier Registration System Still Plagued by Problems, Overdrive Reports — Overdrive reports continuing glitches in FMCSA's Motus registration rollout, tying failures to staff cuts in the agency's registration and technology offices, and is soliciting reader feedback. (Overdrive Magazine 2026-10-13)
• FMCSA Seeks Emergency OMB Approval to Tighten Rules on 'Chameleon' CDL Schools — Overdrive reports FMCSA submitted an emergency Information Collection Request to the White House in September seeking to tighten Training Provider Registry rules to keep shuttered 'sham' CDL schools from re-entering under new names. (Overdrive 2026-10-13) Government source sought: OMB/OIRA emergency Information Collection Request from FMCSA on the Training Provider Registry (reginfo.gov); not yet found.
• EPA Proposes Reallocating Biofuel Compliance Costs to Refiners — Transport Topics reports EPA proposed a rule to reallocate 100% of small-refinery biofuel exemption breaks onto other refiners, aiming to restore biofuel demand after recent exemptions—a move that could affect diesel and biodiesel blending costs for carriers. (Transport Topics 2026-10-13) Government source sought: EPA proposed rule on Renewable Fuel Standard small-refinery exemption reallocation; not yet found.
• Report: US Revokes Visas for 25,000 Mexican Truck Drivers, Squeezing Cross-Border Capacity — FreightWaves reports U.S. authorities have revoked visas for roughly 25,000 Mexican truck drivers, sharply cutting the pool of qualified cross-border operators and driving up tender rejections and spot rates at border crossings like El Paso, a trend expected to persist into 2027. (FreightWaves 2026-10-13) Government source sought: State Department/DHS policy on visa revocations for Mexican commercial drivers; not yet found.