The biggest global shift is the cancellation of the de minimis rule, which previously offered a duty-free pass for low-value parcels but now adds huge friction by requiring formal customs entries. In response to this turbulence, companies like DHL are pouring millions into compliance, hiring over 880 new customs experts and investing heavily in AI and digital platforms to manage the rising complexity.

The U.S. trucking market faces a capacity crisis marked by systemic overcapacity—a 54% surge in for-hire carriers since 2018 compared to only a 1.2% rise in freight volume. This environment has enabled dangerous "chameleon carriers" linked to hundreds of deaths, prompting the FMCSA to issue an emergency rule severely restricting non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs).

Carriers must prepare for major cost inflation starting October 2025, when the U.S. is set to slap a new 25% import tariff on heavy-duty trucks, hitting an equipment market already reeling from low orders. Adding to regulatory uncertainty, the Department of Justice is seeking to dismiss California's lawsuit over Congress overturning key EPA waivers, even as Automated Manual Transmissions (AMTs) make driving easier but eliminate the traditional mechanical knowledge defining professional skill.

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