Dyed Diesel Penalty Relief, DataQs Reviews, and Truck Parking Investment

On October 13, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) issued an SR-37 construction notice covering a full closure between Mare Island and Sears Point, preceded by westbound overnight closures. The table below lists closure times in local California time.

Official detours involve SR-29, SR-12, and SR-121. The schedule may change because of weather. Dispatchers choosing routes must verify vehicle dimensions and weights against restrictions along the entire route and allow time for detours and congestion.

On October 14, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced penalty relief for dyed diesel. Federal excise tax penalties relating to sales of dyed diesel for highway use or its use on highways may be waived for October 1 through December 31, 2026. This implements the October 5 executive order on diesel tax relief.

The relief applies only to federal tax matters; state fuel taxes and related penalties are unaffected. The IRS said it expects to issue further guidance explaining how the relevant tax payments may be deferred and how Form 720 and other forms should be handled, while exploring ways to forgive the deferred taxes. This penalty relief does not mean that the taxes have been permanently waived or that filing is unnecessary.

On October 16, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories had implemented the updated DataQs data review requirements. States and territories receiving MCSAP funding must provide three stages—initial review, reconsideration, and final review—with processing deadlines of 21, 21, and 45 days, respectively.

At the initial stage, a decision denying a correction cannot be made solely by the officer who issued the original enforcement action. Reconsideration is handled by an independent professional who was not involved in the initial decision. Final review is conducted by a senior decision-maker or an independent panel. Decisions at each stage must explain their basis and the next steps.

The October 16 announcement confirms nationwide implementation. The official fact sheet specifies that the new process applies only to requests submitted on or after September 18, 2026, and is not retroactive. Drivers and fleets may request a review if they believe safety data are incomplete or inaccurate. Whether a correction is made still depends on the evidence and review decision.

On October 14, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced $200 million through the INFRA infrastructure grant program for 14 truck parking construction projects in 12 states. This includes $24.5 million to expand and improve commercial vehicle parking at six public rest areas along I-80 in Iowa. Approximately 275 commercial vehicle parking spaces are planned near Georgia’s Port of Savannah.

The announcement allocates construction funding and does not give a common opening date for all projects. Near-term dispatch plans should continue to use parking facilities that are already open.

Weekly data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that the average retail price of on-highway diesel, including taxes, was $6.179 per gallon nationwide and $8.091 in California on October 12. Compared with October 5, the national average declined while California’s rose slightly; the table below compares the figures.

These figures are for October 12 and are not the latest prices as of publication on October 20. Regional averages may differ from station prices and fleet contract prices.

On October 13, DAT released its September truckload market data. The average dry van spot rate paid by brokers to carriers rose to $3.01 per mile. After subtracting a fuel component estimated from average fuel surcharges, the linehaul rate was $2.17 per mile.

These statistics were released on October 13 and describe the September market. A higher total rate does not necessarily mean greater carrier profit. DAT’s fuel component is an estimate; fleets assessing profitability must also account for actual fuel consumption, empty miles, and other operating expenses.