Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, June 10, 2025:
122 drivers ticketed for weigh station evasion: Oregon DOT
The Oregon Department of Transportation’s Commerce and Compliance Division, along with the Oregon State Police, ticketed 122 truck drivers who illegally bypassed an open weigh station in late April and early May.
“We take weigh station bypass very seriously and are taking enforcement action against it,” said ODOT Commerce and Compliance Interim Division Administrator Carla Phelps. “The goal of this operation was to remove fatigued and unqualified drivers from Oregon roads to prevent fatal commercial truck collisions with the traveling public.”
Two commercial vehicle safety and enforcement events took place along I-84 at Cascade Locks, Umatilla, and Farewell Bend Ports of Entry, and the La Grande and Emigrant Hill Weigh Stations.
During those enforcement efforts, more than 490 truck drivers who bypassed an open weigh station were stopped and escorted back by Oregon State Police, then inspected for compliance with licensing and hours-of-service regulations.
Of those drivers stopped, 25% were placed out-of-service due to a violation of safety or regulatory rules. Their trucks were also inspected for violations of state and federal regulations, and the drivers were required to correct any violations before proceeding. Inspectors discovered false log violations and multiple electronic logging devices that had been tampered with and were producing fictional logs, ODOT said.
[Related: Connecticut inspectors talk HOS, ELP enforcement at Roadcheck]
Interstate Health expands network in Tennessee
Interstate Health announced Monday that it has acquired a new urgent care and family medicine practice in Tennessee to add to its growing network of on-highway healthcare clinics.
Interstate Health and Satellite Med signed an agreement for Interstate Health to acquire the Cookeville-based urgent care and family medicine practice, effective June 9. The addition of Satellite Med, located off exit 287 on I-40, expands Interstate Health’s growing presence in Tennessee, which includes Occupational Health Center in Cookeville and Interstate Health Knoxville.
The acquisition was partially funded by a grant awarded to Occupational Health Center -- Interstate Health by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) and will enable the clinic to expand services, including by accepting Medicare, Medicaid and many commercial insurance plans, the company said.
“The Cookeville community and I-40 corridor are hubs for commercial drivers and dynamic places for businesses and families to call home,” said Interstate Health Chief Executive Officer Jeff Seraphine. “The opportunity to grow our network with a practice like Satellite Med that has been serving patients for 20 years unlocks the potential to create more access to quality care for Tennesseans in Cookeville and beyond.”
[Related: New trucker-focused urgent care, telehealth service launching]
Satellite Med was founded in 2006 by James Cates, M.D., and his wife, Connie Cates, and is a fully-licensed medical clinic that provides non-urgent and semi-urgent care on a walk-in basis or by appointment. As part of Interstate Health, Dr. Cates and the entire Satellite Med provider and staff team will continue the clinic’s commitment to great service, convenience, quality and affordability.
In addition to accepting Medicare/Medicaid and commercial insurance as of June 9, Interstate Health will expand service offerings at the clinic:
- Welcoming a new provider, Chris Archer, ANP-C, who is an experienced provider of primary care, urgent care, and orthopedic services in the Cookeville community
- Creating truck-accessible parking for the many commercial drivers who live and drive through Cookeville daily
- Adding orthopedic services and expanding primary care and occupational health capabilities
- Purchasing new equipment that will expand service capabilities
Interstate Health’s mission is to ensure access to quality healthcare for people who live near and frequent America’s highways. Along with Satellite Med, the company partners with Occupational Health Center -- Interstate Health in Cookeville, Tennessee, and has clinic locations in Knoxville, Tennessee; Port Wentworth, Georgia; and Racine, Wisconsin.
[Related: Interstate Health opens new Tennessee location]
Two new Love’s add 140 truck parking spaces to network
Love’s Travel Stops recently opened new locations in Wilmington, Illinois, and Carlin, Nevada, which together add 140 truck parking spaces to Love’s network.
The locations are equipped with a Love’s Fresh Kitchen concept with fresh food items such as salads, sandwiches and fresh fruit prepared daily. Each location also features a quick service restaurant.
As a new Love’s, each store has space for EV chargers allocated to be able to quickly partner with local utility companies and install EV charging stations should there be customer demand.
The new Illinois store, located off of Illinois Highway 53, offers 68 truck parking spaces, a Hardee’s restaurant, eight diesel bays, five showers and more.
In Carlin, Nevada, the new Love’s at Exit 280 off I-80 boasts 72 truck parking spaces, a Carl’s Jr. restaurant, seven diesel bays, six showers and more.
