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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 truck, driver hours of service logs, and the word disaster
Newsby Deborah LockridgeFebruary 18, 2026

FMCSA Proposes Extending State Emergency Exemptions to 30 Days

After pushback from states and industry groups, FMCSA is proposing to reverse a 2023 rule change and lengthen the duration of state-issued emergency exemptions for disaster relief.

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HDT Top 20 Products Award Logo
Articlesby Deborah LockridgeFebruary 13, 2026

HDT Top 20 Products 2026: The New Tools, Technologies, and Ideas Shaping Trucking

From pricing intelligence and compliance tools to charging infrastructure, diagnostics, tires, and AI, HDT’s 2026 Top 20 Products recognize the new tools, technologies, and ideas heavy-duty trucking fleets are using to run their businesses.

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Geotab's Neil Cawse on stage during keynote at Geotab Connect 2026
Newsby Deborah LockridgeFebruary 12, 2026

Adapt or Die: Geotab’s Neil Cawse on AI’s Rapid Reinvention of Fleet Management

Artificial intelligence is evolving faster than fleets can keep up, and telematics must evolve with it, Cawse said during Geotab Connect. The future? A single AI coordinating every system — and leaders who know how to guide it.

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 Illustration showing a driver behind the wheel, DOT offices, and examples of problematic non domiciled CDL
Newsby Deborah LockridgeFebruary 12, 2026

FMCSA Locks in Non-Domiciled CDL Restrictions

After a legal pause last fall, FMCSA has finalized its rule limiting non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses. The agency says the change closes a safety gap, and its revised economic analysis suggests workforce effects will be more gradual than first thought.

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Illustration showing diesel exhaust fluid pump sign and EPA headquarters
Newsby Deborah LockridgeFebruary 3, 2026

EPA Wants to Know: Are DEF De-Rates Really Needed for Diesel Emissions Compliance?

The Environmental Protection Agency is asking diesel engine makers to provide information about diesel exhaust fluid system failures as it considers changes to emissions regulations.

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Newsby Deborah LockridgeJanuary 29, 2026

California: Clean Truck Check Rules Still in Force for Out-of-State Trucks, Despite EPA Disapproval

The Environmental Protection Agency said California can’t enforce its Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance Regulation, known as Clean Truck Check, on vehicles registered outside the state. But California said it will keep enforcing the rule.

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M&A illustration with Werner and FirstFleet logos
Newsby Deborah LockridgeJanuary 29, 2026

Werner Expands Dedicated Fleet Nearly 50% With FirstFleet Acquisition

The $283 million acquisition of FirstFleet makes Werner the fifth-largest dedicated carrier and pushes more than half of its revenue into contract freight.

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Trucking Trends series graphic
Articlesby Deborah LockridgeJanuary 29, 2026

AI is Reshaping Trucking in 2026, from the Back Office to the Shop

Trucking’s biggest technology shifts in 2026 have one thing in common: artificial intelligence.

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Series graphic for 2025-2026 trucking trends
Articlesby Deborah LockridgeJanuary 28, 2026

6 Regulatory Changes for Trucking to Watch in 2026

After a year of what safety and compliance expert Brandon Wiseman calls “regulatory turbulence,” what should trucking companies be keeping an eye on in 2026 when it comes to federal safety regulations?

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Column graphic illustration with Deborah Lockridge head shot and a small fleet truck in the background
Articlesby Deborah LockridgeJanuary 27, 2026

Why Small Trucking Fleets Are Still Standing [Commentary]

Why discipline, relationships, and focus have mattered more than size for smaller trucking fleets during the freight recession.

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