Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of July 16:

The Gordie Howe International Bridge may finally open this month

A new international crossing between the U.S. and Canada is scheduled to open on July 27. The Gordie Howe International Bridge runs over the Detroit River to connect Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario. The new bridge is just a few miles southwest of the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest U.S.-Canada crossing today.

Like most construction projects, completion of the bridge has been delayed several times. It was most recently going to open in June but was unexpectedly delayed by the Trump administration.

The bridge will connect to an interchange off Interstate 75. Large commercial vehicles will pay a standard toll of $12 to cross, or, with a dedicated tolling account called Breakaway, $9.60.

EPA appointed a new aftermarket emissions certificate authority

In another move to curb the influence of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized a new authority for certifying that aftermarket vehicle parts comply with emissions standards.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), an automotive specialty parts trade association, can now perform emissions testing. Previously, CARB had the only EPA-recognized certification process but for aftermarket vehicle parts. Now, SEMA’s Certified Emissions Program can help aftermarket parts manufacturers prove their compliance.

Spot market rates are dropping

The gravy train among for-hire rates is slowing down: The latest weekly spot market data from FTR Transportation Intelligence found that average broker-posted spot rates dropped 14 cents, the largest single-week drop since 2021. Refrigerated rates made the largest decline in FTR’s report. The weekly spot market data from DAT Freight & Analytics, meanwhile, was much less dramatic: DAT found that overage spot rates only fell a couple of cents.

In fuel this week, diesel increased 22 cents

The national average on-highway diesel price jumped up to $4.80 per gallon according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), or up to $5.01 according to the latest data from AAA. The Strait of Hormuz is still restricted, and the Iran War continues.

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