New York Gov. Hochul Wednesday announced New York’s participation in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Even Exchange” program to provide opportunities for service members to put their military training to work as commercial drivers.
Under the program, qualified applicants who have been trained and educated to operate heavy equipment and machinery in the military will be able to use that experience to demonstrate the necessary knowledge to qualify for a commercial driver's license, bypassing the need for a DMV written permit test.
“Keeping our economy growing and moving means we need qualified people to move goods across New York and the country, and those who have served proudly in the military are uniquely suited to do that,” Hochul said. “This is not only a chance to give back to those who have protected us, but to also continue to make life affordable for New York families by ensuring we have the drivers necessary to give them more and better access to goods and services they use each day.”
This program will work in conjunction with the current Military Skills Test Waiver Program, which allows military personnel who are currently licensed or who have been employed operating the military equivalent of a commercial vehicle within the last two years to waive the road/skills test.
Nationwide, more than 40,000 people have taken advantage of this opportunity since the program’s inception, including more than 3,100 New Yorkers.
Saia named Tyson's top LTL carrier
Saia Inc. has been named Tyson’s LTL Carrier of the Year for the company’s fiscal year ending September 2026.
The annual award recognizes one carrier in the less-than-truckload (LTL) category and is based on feedback from approximately 200 Tyson team members representing functions across the organization, including operational service, invoicing, claims, and customer service.
“We’re honored to be recognized by Tyson as its ‘LTL Carrier of the Year,’” said Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Ray Ramu. “What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it reflects feedback from people across many different areas of Tyson’s business. It speaks to the commitment of our employees who work every day to provide reliable service and a positive experience for our customers.”
Saia’s recognition underscores the company’s continued focus on delivering consistent service and supporting customers throughout every stage of the shipping experience.
“Strong carrier partnerships are important to our business, and Saia has consistently shown its commitment to supporting our teams,” said Tyson Director of Transportation Todd Skidmore. “We’re proud to recognize Saia as our ‘LTL Carrier of the Year’ and appreciate the service and partnership they provide.”
Truck orders down. Trailer orders up
According to ACT Research’s latest North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK released in October, Class 8 preliminary orders in September totaled 18,700 units, down 9.5% year-over-year, as regulatory uncertainty and supply chain challenges continue to cloud fleet planning and equipment demand. Meanwhile, US trailer net orders surged more than 55% month-over-month, with orders up 40% year-to-date through August, signaling renewed momentum as 2027 orderboards open early.
“Fleets are eager to replace aging equipment and prepare for anticipated cost increases, but the ability to plan remains hampered by economic and regulatory uncertainty as well, at least into the medium-term, the evolving supply chain landscape,” said Ken Vieth, ACT’s President and Senior Analyst. “The recent decline in Class 8 orders in part reflects not only these headwinds, but materially higher backlogs now than at this time last year, and the impact of uncertainty around the final EPA’27 rule. Rather than a sudden drop in underlying demand, in the case of Class 8, fleets weigh their options in a shifting market.”
Vieth added, “In the trailer segment, strong order activity is encouraging, but the next test will be the industry’s ability to ramp production quickly into a rising demand environment. Many new suppliers, brought in to navigate around recent tariffs, remain untested at scale, and shortages of key materials like steel and aluminum are emerging. The challenge ahead will be matching production capacity with rising demand amid ongoing cost pressures.”
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