Trucking
OOIDA’s Lewie Pugh discusses a new bipartisan surface transportation bill, industry efforts to address regulatory concerns, investments in truck parking and freight infrastructure, and the outlook for transportation policy.
Trucking industry expert Lewie Pugh joins us to discuss rising diesel costs, challenges facing independent truckers, and the broader impact on agriculture and rural transportation.
Higher freight rates and potential service disruptions are key concerns for agriculture, which relies heavily on rail to move commodities.
Rail rulings, export terminal access, and equipment rules are becoming bigger factors in grain shipping costs and reliability.
Transporting pollinator colonies—primarily honey bee hives—is a major logistical operation in U.S. agriculture. Costs can vary widely depending on distance, fuel prices, labor, and timing.
Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, discusses EPA DEF system changes and what they mean for the supply chain and fuel costs.
Reduced driver supply may increase freight costs this season.
Fewer DEF-related shutdowns could mean more uptime during planting and harvest seasons.
Lower shipping costs alone will not restore export competitiveness.
Lower costs improve competitiveness, but demand remains uncertain.