Trucking
Rail rulings, export terminal access, and equipment rules are becoming bigger factors in grain shipping costs and reliability.
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.
New CDL Rule Limits Eligibility for Certain Immigrant Truckers, Potentially Driving Up Freight Costs
The Trump Administration’s new rule limiting CDL renewals for immigrant truckers is seeing mixed reactions in agriculture. While some support the change, it is raising concerns about higher freight costs and impacts on U.S. grain export competitiveness.
Strong exports and production support ongoing corn demand.
Surging energy markets are quickly becoming a cost story for U.S. agriculture as crude oil climbs on supply fears tied to the Middle East conflict.
OOIDA’s Lewie Pugh discusses the EPA’s new Right to Repair guidance and other regulatory developments impacting the trucking and agriculture industries.
Transportation access, legal disputes, and fertilizer freight costs will directly influence input pricing and grain movement in 2026.