A U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld the Surface Transportation Board's 15-month moratorium on the filing of major railroad merger proposals.
Imposed on March 17, the moratorium is intended to give the Board time to complete a comprehensive re-examination and revision of its rail merger policies and procedures before it considers any further proposals.
One effect of the moratorium has been to postpone the anticipated filing of a merger application by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Canadian National railway systems. Those companies, among others, argued that the Board doesn't have the authority to impose such a moratorium. But the Appeals Court for the D.C. Circuit cited a number of cases where it was found that government agencies have the inherent authority to defer actions mandatead by law when it is necessary to realize broader statutory goals. Considering the concerns regarding service and competition if new mergers were to move forward, the court said that forcing the board to consider new applications "would defeat altogether the purpose of the agency's review."
Court Upholds STB's Moratorium on Rail Mergers
A U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld the Surface Transportation Board's 15-month moratorium on the filing of major railroad merger proposals
More Fleet Management
Cargo Theft Incidents Fall in Q1, but Organized Crime and Impersonation Drive New Risks
CargoNet reports fewer supply chain crime events to start 2026. But losses hold steady as organized crime shifts tactics toward impersonation schemes and high-value goods.
Read More →
Nominations Open for HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026
Heavy Duty Trucking is searching for forward-looking leaders at trucking fleets as nominations for HDT’s Truck Fleet Innovators 2026. Deadline is May 15.
Read More →
New Trojan Driver Cargo Theft Scam Bypasses Carrier Vetting Systems
Cargo theft rings plant operatives as drivers inside legitimate, fully vetted carriers, then execute coordinated thefts that look like a traditional straight theft from the outside.
Read More →
March Truck Tonnage Posts Strongest Annual Gain Since 2022
A modest sequential increase capped the strongest quarterly performance in years, signaling continued freight momentum in early 2026.
Read More →
Ohio Turnpike Targets $5.2 Million in Unpaid Tolls from Trucking Firms
More than 300 carriers across 26 states have been sent to collections as the Ohio Turnpike cracks down on toll evasion and delinquent payments.
Read More →
'Beyond Compliance,' Regulations, Driver Coaching on ATRI’s 2026 Research List
The American Transportation Research Institute will examine driver coaching, regulatory impacts — including the "Beyond Compliance" concept —and weather disruptions that shape trucking operations.
Read More →
Fleet Advantage's Brian Antonellis on the Growing Need to Replace Old Trucks
Fleet Advantage's Brian Antonellis says it's time for fleets to get back to the fundamentals of good maintenance practices. And that includes replacing older, inefficient equipment.
Read More →
Truckstop.com Adding to Open Deck, Heavy Haul Offerings
Load matching for flatbed, lowbed, oversize and overweight loads can't be automated like basic van freight, but Truckstop.com is adding more high-tech tools to help.
Read More →
Trucker Path, Truckstop.com Expand Load Access Partnership
An expanded Trucker Path and Truckstop.com integration brings more freight opportunities into the TruckLoads app while emphasizing security and network quality.
Read More →
Truckload Rates Hit Two-Year Highs as Diesel Costs Surge, DAT Says
Strong March freight demand combined with a spike in fuel costs pushed both spot and contract truckload rates to their highest levels in more than two years.
Read More →