Here are the headlines from this week in trucking:

CVSA shared the results of its hazmat inspection blitz

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) held a surprise five-day hazardous materials inspection and enforcement initiative in early June. From June 8-12, inspectors carried out over 4,000 inspections in the U.S. and 900 in Canada.

About 14% of hazmat vehicles inspected were placed out of service during the initiative. The top violation categories were shipping papers, placards and labels, and cargo securement.

J.B. Hunt is spending an extra $25 million on drivers

J.B. Hunt Transport Services (No. 4 on the FleetOwner 500: For-Hire) told investors that it is spending $25 million more in driver-related initiatives this quarter. Last quarter, the carrier warned investors it needed to invest in drivers as the pool of available CDLs remains constrained.

Other public carriers that made similar calls last quarter were Schneider National and Werner Enterprises. Averitt Express also announced an increase in regional and less-than-truckload driver pay in July. 

Texas is adding 175 parking spots on I-30

A truck parking project in Texas is starting construction in October. The $10 million project will add 175 parking spots to a segment of Interstate 30 in Bowie County, about two hours east of Dallas.

A weigh station reconstruction project in Titus County, right next to Bowie County, will also add 50 additional truck parking spots.

Last week’s dry van and refrigerated spot rates increased

Average broker-posted spot rates decreased overall last week, according to analysis from FTR Transportation Intelligence, mainly due to a significant drop in flatbed rates. Dry van rates increased 5.5 cents to $2.77 per mile, refrigerated rates increased 2.7 cents to $3.63 per mile, and flatbed rates fell 5.7 cents to $3.26 per mile.

In fuel, diesel prices are still rising

To no one’s surprise, the average on-highway diesel price rose by 32 cents to $6.285 per gallon, according to weekly data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), or up to $6.40 according to the latest data from AAA. The Iran War continues.

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