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New York DOT Deploys 215 Crews and 8,000 Tons of Asphalt to Fill 175,000 Potholes Across the State in April

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ALBANY, NEW YORK — Governor Kathy Hochul announced Sunday an unprecedented statewide push to repair winter road damage, deploying 215 NYSDOT crews throughout April to fill an anticipated 175,000 potholes using more than 8,000 tons of asphalt.

Hochul’s office attributed the damage to historic winter weather and a harsh freeze-thaw cycle that left state roadways with an unusually high number of potholes. The effort begins immediately, with priority areas identified across every region of the state for the first week of work.

“I know where each and every pothole is hiding on the state highway system, and I have bad news for these public nuisances: Your days are numbered,” Hochul said. “We’ve had an unforgiving winter this year in New York, and the frigid cold and heavy snowfall can take a toll on our roads. That’s why we are stepping up with an unprecedented state effort to repave hundreds of miles of roadway and fill hundreds of thousands of potholes in the next few weeks alone. Our outstanding DOT and Thruway crews will not rest until every pothole in this state has been repaired.”

Priority Areas for the First Week

Capital Region: Central Ave/State Route 5 in Albany and Schenectady Counties, “The Box” (787, 90, Northway, Route 7 area), and State Route 443/Delaware Avenue.

Central New York: State Route 298 in Lyncourt and Town of Salina, and US 11 in the Town of Cicero and Village of North Syracuse.

Finger Lakes: State Route 19 from NY 31 to NY 104 in the Town of Sweden and Village of Brockport, and State Route 18 from NY 237 to NY 259 in the Towns of Hamlin and Parma.

Southern Tier: I-86 in East Corning and I-390 in Kanona.

Western New York: State Route 990 and Millersport Road in the Town of Amherst, Walden Avenue in the Town of Lancaster, State Route 39 in the Town of Yorkshire, US 219 in the Town of Ellicottville, I-86 in the Towns of Sherman and North Harmony, I-86 in the Towns of Ellicott and Poland, US 20 in the Town of Westfield, and State Route 394 in the Village of Lakewood.

North Country: State Route 11 in the Village of Malone, State Route 11 from Gouverneur to the Jefferson County Line, and State Route 3 in the City of Watertown.

Hudson Valley: Sprain Brook Parkway at the I-287 Interchange in Westchester County and Saw Mill River Parkway at various locations in Westchester County.

Long Island: State Route 25 between State Route 347 and County Road 83 in Suffolk County.

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Judge Gives DMV Until October After Learning None of 13,000 Revoked California CDLs Have Been Reissued Despite Court Order – Drivers Wait Up to a Year With No Guarantee of Getting License Back

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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA — Thirteen thousand California truck drivers remain without commercial driver’s licenses despite a court order directing the state DMV to restore them. Caught between a state court ruling and federal enforcement, the DMV has not reissued a single license. Drivers may wait up to a year for an answer, with no guarantee of reinstatement.

How It Came to This

In September 2025, the Trump administration determined that the California DMV had issued commercial licenses with expiration dates that did not align with drivers’ work permit dates. The federal government ordered California to rescind thousands of trucking licenses for certain noncitizens and created a new policy barring such immigrant drivers from obtaining licenses going forward. The state ultimately complied. Roughly 13,000 drivers lost their licenses on March 6, 2026.

In February, an Alameda County Superior Court judge ordered the DMV to give affected drivers a chance to restore their licenses after the Asian Law Caucus, the Sikh Coalition, and a law firm sued on behalf of the truckers. “The court ruled that DMV must accept new applications and act on those applications within a ‘reasonable time frame,'” DMV spokesperson Jonathan Groveman told CalMatters. Despite that ruling, the DMV has not reissued a single license. It told affected drivers they may reapply, but that processing will take up to a year. Even then, the DMV told the court it may not be able to issue a decision on the licenses at all.

Why the DMV Isn’t Acting

The DMV faces competing pressure from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the state court. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy withheld approximately $160 million in federal highway funds from California over its previous handling of trucking licenses. He also threatened to revoke California’s authority to issue CDLs entirely if the state reissues licenses to the affected drivers.

A new federal rule that took effect March 16, 2026, bars almost all noncitizens from obtaining CDLs. The only exceptions are H-2A and H-2B seasonal workers and E-2 investor visa holders, all subject to strict vetting requirements.

The California DMV filed suit against the U.S. Department of Transportation in February over the funding threats. Other lawsuits, including a pending case in Washington, D.C., could affect the policies, but none have restored licenses so far.

On April 2, the Alameda County judge held a follow-up hearing seeking an update on the DMV’s progress. The state said it is still working through its dispute with the federal government and awaiting related legal developments. The judge agreed to revisit the case in October 2026.

What This Means for the Industry

Industry experts say as many as 61,000 California truck drivers could lose their licenses in the coming years as a result of federal actions — representing between 5% and 10% of the state’s total CDL holders. Many affected drivers are asylum seekers or DACA recipients with legal authorization to live and work in the United States. Industry experts warn the loss of so many drivers could raise shipping costs across California.

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California Truck Driver With Approved Asylum Case Loses CDL Despite Legal Work Authorization — Faces $3,000 Monthly Truck Payments With No Income

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SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA — A Bay Area truck driver with two young children lost his commercial driver’s license on March 6, 2026, after the federal government ordered California to revoke thousands of non-domiciled CDLs. He has not worked since. His monthly truck loan payments continue. His bank denied his request for a deferment.

The driver, whose last name is Singh, has legal authorization to live and work in the United States. A judge approved his asylum case. He applied for a green card three years ago. It has not yet arrived. Had it arrived, he would be exempt from the federal enforcement actions that cost him his license.

Singh worked as an independent contractor, hauling freight across the country. He earned between $11,000 and $16,000 a month. Four years ago he bought his own truck for $160,000. He carries $3,000 in monthly loan payments and $1,500 a month in insurance. Since losing his CDL, he cannot drive the truck.

The California DMV issued him a temporary license to drive a car. Singh says many employers do not recognize it as valid ID because it is not a hard copy and has no photo.

In March, Singh called his bank to request a deferment on his truck loan payments while he waits for a decision on his license. The bank denied the request. It told him it had received a number of similar calls from other truck drivers that same week.

His wife has started working as a nanny while he searches for other employment. “What kind of job is going to pay off the rent and all these payments?” Singh said in a phone interview, while his two children — ages 4 and 8 — called for him in the background.

The California DMV told Singh and other affected drivers they may reapply for their licenses but that processing will take up to a year. Even then, the DMV has told a state court it may not be able to issue a decision on the licenses due to conflicting federal directives.

Interview courtesy of CalMatters. Driver’s first name withheld at his request due to concerns about immigration enforcement.

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Virginia Milk Truck Driver Dies After Tractor-Trailer Runs Off I-295, Hits Disabled Vehicle on Shoulder, Crashes Through Guardrail, and Hits Multiple Trees

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HENRICO COUNTY, VIRGINIA — A tractor-trailer driver hauling milk died Sunday morning after their truck ran off Interstate 295, struck a disabled vehicle on the shoulder, crashed through a guardrail, and hit multiple trees.

Virginia State Police responded at approximately 4:49 a.m. on April 5 to the crash on I-295 near the Pocahontas Parkway exit in Henrico County, near mile marker 27 just past La France Road. The northbound tractor-trailer ran off the right side of the road and struck an unoccupied disabled vehicle on the shoulder. The truck then continued forward, broke through the guardrail, and hit multiple trees.

Virginia State Police

Henrico Fire and Rescue crews pronounced the driver dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet released the driver’s name. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by Virginia State Police.

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Laredo CBP Finds 112 Pounds of Meth Worth $1 Million Concealed in Leather Bag Shipment in Tractor-Trailer — 64-Year-Old Mexican Driver Arrested

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meth found in leather bag shippment

LAREDO, TEXAS — A tractor-trailer carrying leather bags was flagged for secondary inspection at the World Trade Bridge on March 31, 2026, leading to the discovery of more than 112 pounds of methamphetamine worth over $1 million.

A CBP officer referred a 64-year-old Mexican citizen driving the tractor-trailer for secondary inspection. A canine unit and nonintrusive inspection technology examined the trailer and revealed 49 packages of alleged methamphetamine concealed within the load. The narcotics weighed 112.47 pounds with an estimated street value of $1,034,227.

CBP seized the narcotics, tractor, and trailer. Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested the driver and opened a criminal investigation. Authorities have not released the driver’s identity, custody status, or possible charges.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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New Mexico State Police Conduct Nearly 700 Commercial Vehicle Inspections in Clayton Area — 301 Citations, 59 Vehicles and 32 Drivers Out of Service in Six-Day Operation

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NMSP inspections

CLAYTON, NEW MEXICO — New Mexico State Police conducted a focused commercial vehicle enforcement operation in the Clayton area from March 29 through April 3, 2026, producing nearly 700 inspections and more than 300 citations over six days.

The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau, Criminal Enforcement Bureau K9 officers, Strike Team officers, and transportation inspectors worked together throughout the operation. Troopers ran saturation patrols and set up temporary inspection sites on rural state roads throughout the Clayton area.

NMSP inspections
New Mexico State Police

The operation produced the following results:

• 698 Total Commercial Vehicle Safety Inspections
• 59 Vehicles Placed Out of Service
• 32 Drivers Placed Out of Service
• 175 Cargo Checks
• 286 Moving Violation Citations
• 10 Equipment Violation Citations
• 301 Total CMV Citations
• 285 Transportation Enforcement Inspections
• 2 Overweight Violations
• 112 Portable Weights Conducted

“Everyone involved put in long days and countless hours to promote roadway safety and reduce commercial vehicle crashes impacting the flow of commerce in northeastern New Mexico,” NMSP said. The agency confirmed it will continue commercial vehicle enforcement operations throughout 2026.

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Trailing Vehicle Opens Fire on Montana Semi-Truck, Causing It to Erupt in Flames on Highway 191 — Driver and Occupants Flee Into Field, Suspect Caught

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FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA — A semi-truck driver and his occupants fled into a nearby field in the early morning hours of April 5 after a trailing vehicle opened fire on their truck on Highway 191 south of Eddies Corner, causing the semi to erupt in flames and burn to the ground.

The driver called 911 to report shots being fired from a vehicle behind him. While Fergus County Sheriff’s Office, Wheatland County Sheriff’s Office, and Judith Basin County Sheriff’s Office were en route, dispatch received updated reports that the semi was fully engulfed in flames and the occupants had run into a field for cover. Moore Fire and Hobson Fire were also dispatched to the scene. All occupants escaped safely. The truck was completely destroyed.

Shortly after arriving, deputies located a vehicle matching the description provided by the driver. Officers ordered the driver out at gunpoint. The suspect was detained without incident and taken into custody.

Investigators say there is no ongoing threat to the public. The investigation remains ongoing. Traffic on Highway 191 was reduced to one lane while crews cleared the scene.

“We want to thank everyone that responded, and a big shout out to Central Montana Dispatch for making sure everyone was updated during an event like this!” the Fergus County Sheriff’s Office said.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Port of Savannah Fraud: Logistics Employee Billed His Own Employer $821,899 for Fake Freight Jobs and Split the Money With a Trucking Owner — Both Now in Federal Prison

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SAVANNAH, GEORGIA — A logistics company employee and a trucking company owner received federal prison sentences on April 3, 2026, after running a three-year scheme that billed a national transportation company for freight jobs that never happened.

Philip Charles Smith, 41, of Richmond Hill, received 27 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Antonio J. Evans Sr., 41, of Sylvania, received 13 months followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood ordered both men to share equal responsibility for $821,899 in restitution. Both pleaded guilty to wire fraud. There is no parole in the federal system.

How the Scheme Worked

Smith worked for a national logistics and transportation company serving the Port of Savannah. One of his responsibilities was awarding contracts to third-party carriers to move freight from the port to other destinations. Evans owned a local trucking company that served as a licensed carrier for Smith’s employer.

From approximately July 2021 to August 2024, Smith used his employee access to create fake freight-hauling jobs and assigned them to Evans. The company paid Evans for work that never took place. Evans then kicked back a portion of the payments to Smith. The scheme ran for three years and cost the company $821,899.

What Officials Said

“Philip Smith betrayed the trust of his employer in order to funnel fake work to Antonio Evans so the two of them could line their pockets, and they’re now being held accountable for their dishonesty,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap.

“Schemes like this exploit positions of trust and undermine the integrity of critical supply chain operations supporting the Port of Savannah,” said Brad Snider, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Georgia’s Savannah office. “The FBI is committed to holding accountable those who use fraud and deception for personal gain.”

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner prosecuted it for the Southern District of Georgia.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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For the First Time, Nearly 300 Rikers Island Inmates to Receive CDL Training Before Release as NYC Expands Next Mile Program With $2.9 Million Investment

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NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Director Deanna Logan, and Department of Correction Commissioner Stanley Richards announced Monday the first-ever expansion of the city’s “Next Mile NYC” CDL training program to people currently in custody at Rikers Island.

The program previously served participants in the community. For the first time, eligible inmates will begin a 40-hour online training while still behind bars and complete hands-on instruction and testing after release. The Rikers expansion launched in February 2026 at the Rose M. Singer Center Enhanced Supervised Housing Annex, with additional sites planned at the Eric M. Taylor Center and the Rose M. Singer Center. Three participants who began training while in custody have already received conditional job offers.

The expansion includes a $2.9 million investment in Fiscal Year 2026 and will serve up to 290 additional participants.

How the Broader Program Has Performed

Since launching in 2025, the overall Next Mile NYC program — which served community participants and a 20-person pilot — has delivered strong results. Among all participants to date: 266 earned Commercial Learner’s Permits, 99 obtained full CDLs, 93 received job offers, and 64 secured full-time employment with an average salary of $90,200. No participants have reported being rearrested. Every participant who completed driving training obtained a CDL and received a job offer within six months.

What Officials Are Saying

“Expanding Next Mile NYC to Rikers Island will create real pathways from incarceration to stable, well-paying jobs,” Mamdani said. “This effort reflects our administration’s belief that public safety comes from opportunity and investment in people — not just incarceration — while restoring dignity through meaningful work and building a safer, more just city.”

MOCJ Director Deanna Logan said the data backs up the approach. “Stable employment is one of the strongest predictors of success upon returning to community. By equipping participants with in-demand skills and connecting them directly to employers, individuals are exiting cycles of incarceration and returning to neighborhoods with a stronger workforce foundation that results in safer communities across New York City.”

DOC Commissioner Stanley Richards added: “Returning home after time away can be challenging, but when individuals have a plan, a clear pathway, and most importantly hope for a better future, they are empowered not just to move forward, but to truly flourish.”

Zo Orchingwa, co-founder and co-CEO of Emerge Career, said the program goes beyond credentials. “This isn’t a checkbox initiative or training that leads nowhere. Next Mile NYC is a real jobs and reentry program, built to change lives and change outcomes.”

Why Trucking

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, formerly incarcerated people face unemployment rates more than 13 times the national average. At the same time, the trucking industry faces major worker shortages. Next Mile NYC aims to connect those two realities. The program builds on a broader set of education and workforce programs already running on Rikers Island, including high school equivalency courses, college-level courses, horticulture, barbering, barista training, cosmetology, culinary arts, food handling, and OSHA certification.

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Truck Driver Jumps to Safety Seconds Before Tanker Carrying 8,000 Gallons of Gasoline Explodes in Massive Fireball on US-131 in Grand Rapids

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GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — A semi-tanker truck carrying 8,000 gallons of gasoline crashed, overturned, and exploded in a massive fireball on southbound US-131 just south of the I-196 overpass in downtown Grand Rapids Saturday morning, closing the highway in both directions for approximately 12 hours.

Courtesy: Robert S.

The crash occurred at approximately 8:05 a.m. on April 4. Two semi-trucks were involved. The tanker driver managed to jump from the vehicle and run to safety before it exploded. Both drivers were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The explosion created a large fireball visible across the area. The 8,000 gallons of gasoline burning against the highway wall kept crews busy for a significant amount of time. Grand Rapids Fire Department Deputy Chief of Operations Jack Johnson described the scene. “There were 8,000 gallons of gasoline in the tanker that crashed up against the wall. It was on fire for quite a bit of time before we were able to get it under control utilizing our fluorine-free foam,” Johnson said.

Courtesy: Randy Spontack

Multi-Agency Response

Grand Rapids Fire Department called in additional resources to fight the fire, including foam trucks from Allendale and Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s crash fire rescue units. “It’s not normal that we have to call in for outside help, but it’s nice to know that we have those resources available to us when we can,” Johnson said.

Matt Witkos

MDOT closed both directions of US-131 to combat the fire. Southbound US-131 closed at Leonard Street. Northbound US-131 closed at Pearl Street. Both eastbound and westbound I-196 to southbound US-131 also closed. Drivers spent roughly 12 hours using alternate routes around downtown Grand Rapids. Bridge inspectors and engineers arrived on scene Saturday afternoon to assess potential structural damage. Northbound lanes reopened at 8 p.m. Southbound lanes followed approximately 24 minutes later. Both directions fully reopened by 8:30 p.m. It was not immediately clear whether any portion of the freeway will require repairs after the fire.

No evacuations were ordered. No injuries were reported among the public.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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