Commerce Express Weekly Road Map:
February 25th, 2025
Keeping you informed on the latest news/insights in our industry.
NYC Congestion Toll Program Faces a Blow
Last Wednesday, the Department of Transportation revoked approval for the NYC congestion tolling program, following orders from the Department of Transportation Secretary. The DOT Secretary says the tolling program is ineligible for a couple reasons: drivers had no toll-free, alternative route; and the program seemed to determine rates on revenue targets rather than congestion reduction, FleetOwner reports.
As the tolling program battles this new federal order in court, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Governor of New York say the tolling program will remain in effect.
A refresher: The toll program – which went into effect January 5th, 2025 – targets all vehicles entering New York City’s central business district in Manhattan. Congestion pricing has sparked significant debate. The initiative aims to reduce heavy traffic, improve air quality, and provide additional funding for enhancing the city’s public transportation system. While it has gained backing from several stakeholders, it faces strong opposition from others, including trucking companies.
Relevant content: Freight Costs Could Increase in NYC as Toll Program Eyes Rollout.
Commerce Blog
In the modern day, all marketplaces are vulnerable to this phenomenon, including the trucking industry. Since the days when the first fleets of commercial trucks hit the roads, cargo theft has afflicted stakeholders: carriers; brokers; shippers; and government agencies.
However, gone are the days of crowbars and broken padlocks. The advent of more technologically advanced, and subsequently dependent, supply chains has led to an evolution in the execution of cargo theft. Today, instances of it are smarter, faster, more cunning, more deceiving, and more prevalent than any other period in trucking’s history.
Cargo theft: As cargo thefts continue to be on the rise, Overhaul (a company specializing in supply chain risk management) predicts the national cargo theft rates will rise by 22% this year. Freight hubs and large U.S. cities continue to show higher frequencies of cargo theft. Stay informed and continue to talk with your provider on ways to mitigate risk on your cargo.
Tariffs: Tariff talks continue as the tariffs on Mexico and Canada will move forward on March 4th, President Trump said during a February 24th news conference at the White House and reported on by Freightwaves. This comes after the President paused implementation for a month while Mexico and Canada addressed border security.
This is a fluid situation and things can change. We will continue to stay up to date on this and provide new updates when applicable. If you have any questions/concerns, please contact us.
Diesel update: The average price of diesel slightly increased 0.2 cents a gallon. Putting the average price of diesel at $3.697 – per the U.S. EIA.
Cross-Border Trade: For the second straight year, Mexico is the U.S. top trading partner, with a total of $840 billion, per U.S. Census Bureau data. Not far behind was Canada at $761 billion in 2024.
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