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Deborah Lockridge

Editor and Associate Publisher

Since 1990, Deborah Lockridge has covered all aspects of the trucking industry for leading industry publications. She has been with Heavy Duty Trucking since 1998 and is currently the chief editor and associate publisher.

Lockridge has written about nearly every topic associated with the trucking industry, including maintenance stories ranging from lubes to technician training; hot issues such as counterfeit parts and the driver shortage; regulatory and legislative news; safety and compliance; and interviews with drivers, truck dealers, technicians, owner-operators and fleet executives. 

Her monthly editorial in HDT, addressing timely and often controversial issues affecting trucking, is widely read and garnered her a Jesse H. Neal award from the Software & Information Industry Association (formerly Connectiv), as well as being a finalist several times for the award.

Her numerous awards for writing in the trucking field include 30 Jesse H. Neal honors, as well as twice being part of a team winning the association’s prestigious Grand Neal award. She also has received honors for her trucking writing from the American Society of Business Publication Editors and the National Federation of Press Women, and was part of staff recognized for editorial excellence by Folio: magazine.

A graduate of the prestigious University of Missouri School of Journalism, she is a member of the American Trucking Associations' Technology & Maintenance Council and the American Society of Business Publication Editors. She can be reached at (205) 989-6467 or dlockridge@truckinginfo.com.

Illustration with oil wells, dollar bills, and a diesel fuel pump
Newsby Deborah LockridgeMarch 24, 2026

Why Diesel Is Climbing Fast—and What the Iran Conflict Has to Do With It

With global oil flows disrupted, U.S. diesel prices have topped $5 across every region, climbing sharply in the past few weeks.

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Graphic illustrating recruiting concept
Newsby Deborah LockridgeMarch 23, 2026

Why Higher Pay Isn’t Fixing the Heavy-Duty Technician Shortage

Hiring heavy-duty truck technicians has become a bidding war, but shops that focus on culture, training, and career paths are gaining an edge. That's the takeaway from a TMC panel discussion.

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Bar graph illustrating survey responses on current and future use of artificial intelligence in heavy duty repair shops
Newsby Deborah LockridgeMarch 19, 2026

Fullbay Report: Heavy-Duty Shop Revenue Up, Rates Rising, but Shops Still Short on Techs

Strong growth across the heavy-duty repair sector is being tempered by workforce shortages and an aging technician pipeline.

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Diagram of trailer tandem slider suspension
Newsby Deborah LockridgeMarch 19, 2026

SAF-Holland Redesigns Suspension Slider to Save Weight in On-Highway Trailers

SAF-Holland reengineered the UltraLite40 Slider for the ULX40 Mechanical Sliding Suspension and Axle System to reduce weight, improve durability, extend trailer life, and increase payload efficiency.

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Illustration of heavy duty trucks with digital overlay
Newsby Deborah LockridgeMarch 17, 2026

Clarios Expands Battery Monitoring Into Subscription Service with Battery Manager Pro

A new battery-monitoring-as-a-service program from Clarios Connected Services uses predictive analytics and automatic replacement to reduce downtime and smooth fleet maintenance costs.

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Illustration of author headshot with black-and-white old-fashioned rig in the background
Articlesby Deborah LockridgeMarch 17, 2026

New Entrants, Chameleon Carriers, and Safety: Is It Too Easy to Start a Trucking Company?

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.

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Back of truck cab showing air and electrical line connections
Newsby Deborah LockridgeMarch 16, 2026

SAF-Holland Introduces SmartSto System for Safer Tractor-Trailer Uncoupling

The system combines a fifth-wheel air release with stowage for air and electrical connections, helping prevent damage and reducing driver injury risk.

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Solar panels on top of a red Class 8 truck sleeper cab
Newsby Deborah LockridgeMarch 15, 2026

Vanair Introduces Solar, Battery Power Ecosystem for Class 8 Trucks

The company’s expanded EPEQ ecosystem includes flexible solar panels, lithium batteries, hydraulic power systems, and a portable fast charger for electric trucks.

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Technician at computer in maintenance shop with truck in background
Newsby Deborah LockridgeMarch 15, 2026

Mitchell 1 Targets Technician Search Challenges With New Fleet Feature

TruckSeries’ new Unit Number Search allows fleet technicians to access repair data using the identifier they know best — the truck’s unit number.

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Man standing at TMC podium
Newsby Deborah LockridgeMarch 15, 2026

Truck Maintenance Costs Ease Slightly, but Long-Term Trend Still Rising

Benchmark data from Decisiv and TMC shows repair expenses still climbing, but fleets are improving efficiency with digital tools.

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