Working together with major truck makers and industry suppliers, self-driving truck companies are preparing factories for mass production of driverless trucks.

While operating in a soft freight market that has been squeezing margins, carriers of all sizes have been relying on fuel cards for savings at the pump and tighter control over fuel spending.

Commercial truck parking challenges persist, but government leaders are increasingly paying attention, from the halls of Congress to statehouses and regional planning commissions.

Truck parking "is a nightmare after 4 or 5 p.m.,” professional truck ­driver Charles Rudd said. But private-sector parking models are emerging to fill the gaps left by public parking.

Fleets are increasingly utilizing wellness programs and technology to prioritize their drivers' health and wellness, in efforts to improve driver morale, performance and retention.