Top 3 Trucking News Today: Red Diesel Allowed on Highways, Diesel Falls to $6.199 and a RICO Suit Against Two Brokers (October 7, 2026)

Fuel is still the biggest cost story in trucking today. A new federal order changes which diesel can go in a highway tractor, the weekly price finally moved the right way, and a lawsuit aimed at two of the largest freight brokers is raising questions about how carriers get vetted.

1. Red-Dyed Diesel Is Allowed on Highways Through December 31

According to Land Line, an executive order that took effect October 5 temporarily lets trucks buy red-dyed diesel, normally reserved for off-road use, and burn it on public roads. The federal excise tax of 24.4 cents per gallon is deferred through the end of 2026 without penalties.

The catch is that the order does not touch state fuel taxes. Drivers still owe those through their IFTA returns, and Land Line reports that no state has issued a matching order so far. OOIDA President Todd Spencer described the measure as minimal relief for owner-operators.

Why it matters: The savings are real but limited, and the rules are easy to get wrong. Keep clean fuel records, report miles by state accurately on IFTA, and confirm with your tax professional and your fuel supplier how this applies to your operation before you change how you buy fuel.

2. Diesel Falls 18.3 Cents to $6.199 a Gallon

The EIA’s weekly update, released October 6, put the U.S. average on-highway diesel price at $6.199 per gallon as of October 5. That is 18.3 cents lower than the week before, and the second straight report in which prices have eased from their recent peak.

Even after the drop, diesel is still $2.488 above where it stood a year ago. Transport Topics also reported that Brent crude slipped on Tuesday as larger volumes moved through the Strait of Hormuz, which is the kind of supply news that can move pump prices in the weeks ahead.

Why it matters: A lower average helps cash flow, but it does not make most lanes profitable on its own. Re-check your cost per mile with today’s fuel price, and make sure fuel surcharges on your contracts actually follow the index rather than lagging behind it.

3. Six Carriers Bring a RICO Suit Against C.H. Robinson and TQL

FreightWaves reports that six trucking companies, including Stevens Trucking and Western Flyer Express, have sued C.H. Robinson and Total Quality Logistics in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas. The carriers allege the brokers moved freight through carriers that did not meet federal requirements, giving them a price advantage over compliant fleets, and they frame the claims under the federal racketeering law.

These are allegations, not findings. C.H. Robinson has called the claims false and says the carriers it works with are federally authorized and meet additional safety standards. FreightWaves also notes that earlier Supreme Court precedent may make it hard for competitors to win this kind of claim, so the court will decide how far the case goes.

Why it matters: Whatever the outcome, the case adds pressure on brokers to document how they vet carriers, and on carriers to keep authority, insurance and safety records clean. Compliant fleets that can prove it are likely to be the ones brokers keep booking.

The Bottom Line

Fuel relief is arriving in small pieces: a tax deferral that comes with state-tax strings attached and a weekly price drop that still leaves diesel far above last year. Meanwhile, the courts will weigh a case that goes to the heart of how freight is bought and who gets to haul it.

Neal’s Take

Looking at these three stories together, I see an industry where costs and compliance are both under a magnifying glass. The red-dyed diesel order and the lower weekly price are welcome, but I would treat them as a bit of breathing room rather than a change in the math, especially since state taxes still apply. For the lawsuit, I think everyone should wait for the court to sort out the facts, and in practice the best protection for carriers is simple: clean paperwork and clear records. In the coming weeks I would watch whether any states follow the federal order and whether diesel keeps easing.

— Neal Cvetkovski, Founder of LOAD TIDE. Personal opinion, not legal or financial advice.

Stay with LOAD TIDE for daily updates on the freight and trucking market.

Sources: Land Line, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Transport Topics, FreightWaves.