Here are the headlines from this week in trucking as of October 15.

DOT awarded $200 million for truck parking

The Department of Transportation’s Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) program awarded $200 million to expand truck parking.

Here are a few of the major awards:

• $24.5 million in Iowa for rest stops along I-80
• $15 million in Wisconsin for two safety rest areas along a rural area of I-41
• $14 million in Texas, which includes $5 million at a Pilot Travel Center along I-35 and $9 million near the Los Indios Port of Entry
• $11.95 million in Georgia for a parking area near State Route 21
• $6 million in North Carolina at the Port of Wilmington

Volvo unveiled its new design for the VNX

The off-highway Volvo VNX heavy-duty trucks have a new and improved design. Volvo Trucks North America's (VTNA's) VNX is built for demanding off-road duty cycles such as construction, logging, and agricultural work. Volvo will announce the sales dates for the new VNX later this year.

Pilot opened its first Tesla Megacharger site

Pilot and Tesla opened their first Tesla Megachargers for the Tesla Semi in Ellabell, Georgia, near Savannah. The site includes six heavy-duty charging stalls. Pilot is working on 12 more charging sites across the U.S. that are at various stages of construction.

Spot market rates held steady

Overall average spot market rates were basically unchanged last week at $3.27 per mile, according to FTR Transportation Intelligence. Dry van rates ticked up four-tenths of a cent to $2.86 per mile, refrigerated rates increased 1.2 cents to $3.56 per mile, and flatbed rates declined seven-tenths of a cent to $3.34 per mile.

In the fuel market, diesel prices fell again, now down 2 cents

The national average on-highway diesel price dropped 2 cents to $6.18 per gallon, according to weekly data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), or rose to $6.31 per gallon, according to the latest data from AAA. North Carolina recently suspended its fuel tax, and Michigan temporarily allowed red diesel on public roads. The Iran War continues.

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