Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025:
ATRI calls for operational costs data from carriers
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is calling on motor carriers to participate in its annual Operational Costs of Trucking report.
ATRI’s Operational Costs of Trucking is the industry’s leading public benchmarking tool, ATRI said. The organization collects data confidentially from for-hire motor carriers of all sectors, regions, and sizes – from one-truck owner-operators to 10,000+ truck fleets – to document changing cost patterns in truck operations and how fleets can leverage the cost data to achieve higher profitability and improved operational efficiencies.
Cost metrics requested by ATRI include driver pay, insurance premiums and equipment lease or purchase payments. Additional questions relate to key performance indicators such as non-revenue mileage, dwell time per stop, and miles between breakdowns.
Carriers can confidentially submit these data for the year 2024 on a per-mile or per-hour basis with an easy-to-use online data entry form or an emailed PDF form. A new, streamlined version of the form for owner-operators makes it easier than ever for one-truck companies to leverage the benefits of benchmarking.
All participating motor carriers receive a customized report that compares their fleet’s costs and operations to an anonymized peer group of the same sector and size, as well as an advance copy of the full report.
For-hire motor carriers are invited to submit operational cost data by Friday, April 25. ATRI’s data collection form is available online here, along with a sample customized report and support via Frequently Answered Questions. All confidential information is protected and published only in anonymized, aggregate form.
[Related: ATRI’s analysis on the operational costs of trucking in 2024]
A. Duie Pyle opens two new locations
A. Duie Pyle (CCJ Top 250, No. 59) announced Monday it has opened two new facilities in Virginia and North Carolina.
The opening of a new fleet maintenance facility in Richmond, Virginia, will enhance Pyle’s operational capacity and provide vital maintenance services to ensure the safety and reliability of its equipment on the road, the company said. A new warehouse and distribution center in Charlotte, North Carolina, strategically situated near I-85, marks Pyle’s first physical presence within the state.
The Richmond maintenance facility includes three drive-through work bays, one of which is equipped with a pit, and a fully automatic truck wash. The location will allow Pyle to proactively complete preventive maintenance and repair work, minimizing downtime and ensuring the continued safety and efficiency of its fleet. Notably, this is Pyle’s first fully air-conditioned fleet maintenance facility, which will become a standard feature in all Pyle facilities.
The Charlotte distribution center will offer a range of services, including warehousing, pick and pack, consolidation, deconsolidation, hazmat storage and bulk storage. The site also includes parking for up to 75 trailers. The facility opened at the request of a strategic customer and will enhance efficiency and address the customer's supply chain challenges by supporting their nearby manufacturing plant, Pyle noted.
By establishing an inventory hub within close proximity, Pyle can ensure that all necessary materials are readily available for the customer when needed, minimizing delays in both production and delivery. This will streamline the customer’s supply chain, ensuring timely and effective manufacturing processes, which will, in turn, support on-time delivery of orders to its clients.
Nikola recalling hydrogen-electric trucks
Earlier this month, just prior to zero-emission truck maker Nikola Corporation’s bankruptcy filing, the company informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of a recall of approximately 95 of its hydrogen-electric trucks.
The recall affects model year 2024-’25 Nikola Tre FCEV units in which the hydrogen tank mounting block bolts may be too long and can damage the tank. A damaged tank can leak fuel, which increases the risk of a fire, the recall says.
Nikola said it is not aware of any leaks, injuries or property damage associated with the issue.
Dealers will inspect and replace the bolts, and replace the hydrogen tank as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 15. Owners can contact Nikola customer service at 1-630-808-4531 with recall number 24VDC1101. NHTSA’s recall number is 25V-073.
Biz-info reporting requirement saga takes another turn
In the ongoing legal battle over the U.S. Treasury’s requirement for businesses to report beneficial ownership information (BOI), Congress is now stepping in to potentially help small businesses.
Under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), all existing LLCs and other small businesses required to register with their secretaries of state are required to report their BOI to the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), identifying owners and more.
Last week, an injunction blocking the requirement was lifted, and FinCEN issued a notice that it will require businesses to report their BOI by March 21.
A bill introduced in the U.S. House last month -- the Protect Small Businesses from Excessive Paperwork Act of 2025 -- would delay the reporting deadline to Jan. 1, 2026, for reporting companies formed before Jan. 1, 2024.
The bill unanimously passed the House with a vote of 408-0 on Feb. 10. It was then sent to the Senate, where it was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. It will need to pass out of committee then pass a full Senate vote before being sent to President Trump for his signature.
[Related: U.S. Treasury reinstates business-owner reporting requirement]
