Two found guilty in cargo theft scheme
Two Indian nationals were found guilty by a jury last month of conspiring to steal cargo from warehouses across Southern California by buying or fraudulently using legitimate trucking companies to bid on authentic shipping contracts, picking up the loads, and never delivering them to their destinations.
Arshpreet Singh, 28, of Sacramento, and Vikramjeet Singh, 31, of Fontana, were found guilty of one count conspiracy to commit theft from interstate or foreign shipments. Arshpreet Singh also was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The Singhs were part of so-called “Singh Organization,” named by the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department when 12 members were charged last fall.
According to evidence presented at a seven-day trial, from March 2024 to June 2025, Arshpreet Singh and co-conspirators purchased or fraudulently used real trucking companies to bid on authentic shipping contracts. After winning the bids, the defendants and others took possession of the cargo and stole it, often high-value electronics such as televisions and laptops, appliances and other consumer goods.
Other items stolen during the conspiracy included vacuums, LED lights, shoes and tires, for an estimated total loss of at least $2 million.
The thefts occurred across Southern California, including in Fontana, Vernon, Santa Fe Springs, Perris, City of Industry, Long Beach, Compton, Commerce, Pico Rivera, Chino, and Moreno Valley, as well as in Grand Prairie, Texas.
The defendants purchased established trucking companies to further their scheme. For example, in March 2024, Arshpreet Singh met with the owner of a Texas-based carrier named Z&F Transportation LLC to purchase the company for approximately $22,000. Later that month, a co-conspirator, on behalf of Z&F Transportation LLC, picked up a load of televisions in Fontana, never delivered to its intended destination in Florida.
[Related: Cargo theft proliferation ups the ante on truckers’ prevention]
In May 2024, co-conspirators purchased a company named Skyways Trucking LLC and used it to steal laptops, televisions, solar panels and other items. Co-conspirators booked loads through brokers like Uber Freight, picked up loads, then did not deliver the loads to their intended destinations.
Vikramjeet Singh was acquitted of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
United States District Judge Anne Hwang, in the Central District of California, scheduled sentencing hearings for Jan. 20, 2027, at which time Arshpreet Singh will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, and Vikramjeet Singh will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
[Related: Southern California ‘Singh Organization’ cargo theft ring busted]
Alabama offering hurricane-relief haulers tax relief
With Hurricane Isaias bearing down on the Gulf Coast, the Alabama Department of Revenue is easing the tax burden for truck drivers providing disaster relief.
Alabama Commissioner of Revenue Mary Martin Mitchell issued an order Thursday, Oct. 8, temporarily suspending the requirements associated with the International Registration Plan (IRP) and International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) for any motor vehicle engaged in interstate disaster relief efforts that will be traveling through the state as part of the disaster relief.
The order still requires vehicles operating in the state to have valid registration and insurance from the base state. Vehicles must also operate within posted weight limits on bridges and like structures, the order added.
The order is effective for 30 days.
Pilot, Tesla open first Megacharger in Georgia
The Pilot travel center network and Tesla have opened their first Tesla Megacharger site at a Pilot travel center in Ellabell, Georgia, just outside Savannah.
The opening marks the launch of a new charging network at select Pilot locations designed to support heavy-duty electric trucks along major U.S. freight corridors.
“Pilot is proud to bring heavy-duty charging directly to key trucking routes and pair it with the services and amenities drivers rely on,” said Shannon Sturgil, senior vice president of alternative fuels at Pilot. “With these initial locations, we’re making fleet electrification a more accessible option for long-haul transportation and are excited to continue working with Tesla to move at the pace and preference of our customers.”
Twelve additional heavy-duty charging locations are actively under construction, with three near completion and expected to come online soon:
- Flying J #1071, 979 E. Paige Ave., Tulare, California (opened Oct. 9)
- Flying J #553, 2571 N Front St., Fort Stockton, Texas
- Pilot #341, 3812 E. Craig Road, North Las Vegas, Nevada
Each location will feature four to eight high-power charging stalls powered by Tesla’s V4 cabinet technology. According to Tesla, each stall can deliver up to 1.2 megawatts of power, allowing a Tesla Semi to recover 60% of charge in 30 minutes.
Pilot and Tesla announced their collaboration in January with plans to develop a network of Tesla Megachargers at select Pilot locations along I-5, I-10 and other major freight corridors across California, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada and Texas.
Eaton fast-charge infrastructure for heavy-duty trucking
Intelligent power management company Eaton is showcasing its combined Megawatt Charging System (MCS) charge box at The Battery Show next week, Oct. 12-15, in Detroit. The high-power charging solution is designed to help commercial vehicle manufacturers and fleets optimize charging performance, safety and vehicle utilization.
The charge box includes compatibility with both CCS and MCS standards.Eaton
Its flexible architecture enables commercial vehicle manufacturers to tailor charging configurations to specific vehicle platforms and operating needs.
“Charging isn’t just about peak power — it’s about how efficiently you deliver energy over time,” said Ben Karrer, director of power distribution and protection for Eaton’s Mobility segment. “The real value comes from balancing speed, cost and flexibility based on how the vehicle is used.”
As commercial fleets transition from diesel to battery-electric vehicles, charging speed is increasingly important. While faster charging reduces vehicle downtime and increases vehicle utilization, higher power levels present challenges involving battery performance, thermal management, electrical protection and system cost.
[Related: Hight Logistics: Among small fleets, ‘definitely one of the first’ proving out electric trucks in port drayage]
Battery temperature, capacity and chemistry can affect how quickly a vehicle can accept energy. Higher current also generates additional heat in connectors, cables and other electrical components. At megawatt power levels, charging systems must safely manage higher fault currents, making coordinated power distribution and protection critical to system design.
Eaton’s combined MCS charge box accommodates a range of commercial vehicle applications with modular architecture that can be configured with an integrated MCS port and up to two CCS ports, providing flexibility for both new vehicle platforms and retrofit applications.
Megawatt charging supports demanding commercial applications, particularly those with limited charging windows. However, not every fleet requires megawatt-level charging. Aligning charging capability with vehicle use helps customers balance charging performance with infrastructure and equipment costs.
“Faster charging creates flexibility, but it has to make economic sense,” Karrer said. “Our goal is to help customers find the right balance—delivering the performance they need without overbuilding or overspending.”
