Book Parking | List your Property | Contact Customer Care

New Survey!

Take this parking survey for a $25 promo code.

🚨Trucker “Caught With Pants Down” During Fatal Crash Sparks Unusual Legal Question

This is probably the of the strangest (and saddest) distracted driving cases I've ever come across. It recently made its way through the Texas courts, and while what happened is shocking, the legal question behind it is what’s actually pretty interesting.

The crash happened in June 2022 on Interstate 45 near Centerville, Texas.

According to investigators, 55 year old truck driver Thomas Roberts failed to slow down for an earlier accident that emergency crews were already working. Firefighters had instructed the two motorists involved in the original crash to remain inside their vehicles while first responders secured the scene.

Roberts never stopped, and his truck slammed into the back of one of the disabled vehicles, causing his truck to roll over and crush the car beneath it.

The crash killed 27 year old Jocelyn Ortega and seriously injured two volunteer firefighters who were working the scene.

A Case Unlike Any Other

Investigators later determined Roberts wasn't just looking at his phone. Court records say he was actively engaged in “phone or video sex” when the collision occurred. Reports state that when bystanders pulled him from the wreckage, his pants were down and they had to help cover him before emergency personnel arrived.

Roberts eventually pleaded guilty to one count of criminally negligent homicide and two counts of aggravated assault against a public servant.

He received:

• 2 years for the homicide charge.

• 50 years for each aggravated assault charge.

The assault sentences run concurrently, and a later appeal was unsuccessful.

Could the Person on the Other End of the Call Be Liable?

This part sounds like the work of an experienced billboard attorney. Instead of suing Roberts, Jocelyn Ortega's family filed a civil lawsuit against the woman who was allegedly participating in the call with him.

According to court filings, Inger Washington was Roberts' "lady friend" and was on the other end of the phone during the crash. She was also a commercial truck driver.

The family's attorneys argued that because Washington allegedly knew Roberts was driving a commercial vehicle, she shared responsibility for distracting him and should be held liable for the crash.

In other words:

Can someone be legally responsible for distracting a driver from hundreds of miles away?

Texas Court Says No

Both the trial court and the Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals rejected that argument.

The appeals court ruled that someone participating in a phone or video call does not owe a legal duty to the general public to control the actions of the person operating the vehicle.

While Roberts remains fully responsible for the crash, the court concluded that the caller cannot be held legally liable simply for participating in the conversation.

This ruling also raises an interesting legal question that is going come up again as tech continues to sink its teeth into trucking. If video calls, virtual reality, or AI companions become increasingly common, courts may eventually be asked to decide where remote participants' responsibility begins, or whether it ever does.

What do you think? For Driver Submissions, questions, and comments contact me at: [email protected] or Text me directly at 423-275-2444

🚚 Freight Market Watch

Freight Market Update — Week of June 23, 2026

All-in rates (linehaul + fuel surcharge) as of the DAT board, week of June 23:

• Dry Van: ~$2.74/mile ▲ up 1 cent week over week (linehaul)

• Reefer: ~$3.05/mile ▼ down slightly (linehaul held, FSC pulled lower)

• Flatbed: ~$3.31/mile ▲ up 1 cent (linehaul) — streak continues

Note: All-in rates moved modestly despite linehaul changes, because the national average diesel price eased roughly 15 cents per gallon, pulling fuel surcharges down 2 to 3 cents per mile. 64 cents for dry van, 69 cents for refrigerated, and 76 cents for flatbed.

At the Pump

Welcome relief. The EIA's most recent weekly reading put the national retail diesel average at $4.83/gallon for the week of June 22 — down roughly 23 cents from the $5.06 reported last week. That's a meaningful pullback in a short window, driven largely by crude softness. Gulf Coast remains your cheapest fill. California is still its own planet, north of $6.50. YCharts

🏛️ NJ Carrier Pleads Guilty in Mafia Money Laundering Scheme

When you hear trucking and mafia in the same sentence The Sopranos comes to mind. But this one is a real case that just resulted in multiple guilty pleas tied to one of New York's infamous crime families.

New Jersey prosecutors announced this week that a trucking company has pleaded guilty for its role in a large organized crime operation connected to the Lucchese crime family.

The case stems from a 2 year investigation into illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and money laundering that led to the indictment of 42 people back in April 2025.

Trucking Company Used to Hide Gambling Profits

Among the businesses caught up in the investigation was Frasso Trucking, a small carrier based in Cedar Grove, New Jersey.

According to the New Jersey Attorney General's Office, the company was used by Michael and Gerard Frasso to conceal proceeds from illegal gambling operations.

The company pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy involving anti money laundering profiteering and agreed to pay a $250,000 penalty.

As of June 23, FMCSA records still listed Frasso Trucking as an active motor carrier with four power units and three out of service violations.

Nearly $5 Million in Illegal Proceeds

Investigators say the criminal enterprise operated both traditional and online gambling businesses.

The operation allegedly included:

• Live poker games hosted at social clubs.

• Illegal gambling machines.

• Offshore online sportsbooks serving U.S. customers.

• Shell companies and legitimate businesses used to disguise illegal proceeds.

Authorities identified approximately $4.79 million in suspected criminal proceeds during the investigation.

Prosecutors allege leaders of the New Jersey faction of the Lucchese crime family oversaw the gambling operation and received a share of the profits.

Three alleged members of the organization pleaded guilty to racketeering and are expected to receive 7 year prison sentences. Several other individuals and businesses also entered guilty pleas on charges ranging from promoting gambling to tax violations and conspiracy.

Seven defendants still have pending criminal charges.

Why It Matters

A trucking company has to work hard to build a reputation based on safety and professionalism. Cases like this are rare, but they’re a reminder that legitimate businesses can be used to conceal criminal activity beyond just hacked ELD’s and doubler brokering.

It's also worth noting that simply being an active motor carrier doesn't mean a company is operating above board financially. While FMCSA regulates safety and operating authority, criminal investigations involving fraud, money laundering, or organized crime often fall under state and federal law enforcement agencies. Which goes back to why brokers should have relationships with who they are working with!

📩 What are your thoughts?
Reply to this email or text (423) 275-2444 

🍽️ Recipe of the Week!

Red, White & Blue BBQ Chicken Plate
A 4th of July cookout on the road — air fryer BBQ chicken, microwave corn, and a quick coleslaw kit. Three steps, three ingredients, all-American.

INGREDIENTS
• 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 0.5 cups BBQ sauce (bottle, any brand)
• 4 microwavable corn on the cob pouches
• 1 bag coleslaw kit (pre-shredded with dressing packet)
• 4 butter pats (from any truck stop diner)

STEPS

1. Sauce the chicken: Coat 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs in 0.5 cups BBQ sauce (bottle, any brand) just pour some in a zip-lock bag, toss the chicken in, and shake. Or brush it on with a plastic fork. No measuring needed.

2. Air fry the chicken: Place chicken in the air fryer at 380°F for 20 minutes, flipping halfway. Brush on another layer of 0.5 cups BBQ sauce in the last 3 minutes for a sticky, caramelized finish.

3. Microwave the corn: Microwave 4 microwavable corn on the cob pouches according to package directions — usually 3–4 minutes. Top with some butter when it comes out.

4. Toss the slaw: Dump 1 bag coleslaw kit (pre-shredded with dressing packet) into a bowl and add the dressing packet. Toss and let it sit while the chicken finishes — it gets better the longer it sits.

5. Plate it up: Chicken, corn, and a scoop of slaw. That's a 4th of July plate right there — no grill, no backyard required.

   
   Trucker tips:

• Coleslaw kits (broccoli slaw, classic, or spicy) are in most Walmart and Pilot/Love's grab-and-go sections.

• When it comes to the BBQ Sauce, I would use Sweet Baby Ray’s NO SUGAR ADDED, which is very low in calorie versus other types loaded with added sugar

• Batch the chicken on home time and refrigerate up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer for 5 minutes to get the crust back.

• Macros (approx. per plate): 520 cal · 40g protein · 38g carbs · 14g fat

Partner Post of the Week

Check out one of our locations Tereasa parked at and was able to visit the zoo! If you need safe parking use the promo code tnb20 for $20 off your next booking

@truckin.with.tereasa

Using truck parking club has literally changed the game for us! The fact we get to be super close to all each city has to offer is what tr... See more

Long Time Trucker Writes Book on the State of American Trucking Industry

Is there a quiet war being waged against America’s truck drivers?

That’s the argument behind End of the Road: Inside the War on Truckers, a new book by longtime driver and writer Gord Magill. Magill claims the industry that once represented freedom and independence is being attacked on all fronts, from government regulations, in cab surveillance technology, corporate consolidation, and the push toward autonomous trucks.

God Magill has decades of experience including 4 seasons on ice roads in Canada, road trains in Australia, and over the road in the US. He argues that drivers today face tighter control, shrinking margins, and a future where human truckers may be pushed out altogether.

If you drive a truck, have driven, or have a family member who drives then this book is a must read.

You can order the book HERE and use the promo code 4TRUCKERS20 for a discount at checkout!

🎸 Little Texas Headlining Walcott Truckers Jamboree

Country band Little Texas will headline the 48th Annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree on July 10 at 7 PM at the Iowa 80 Truckstop — known as the World’s Largest Truckstop.

The three-day event (July 9–11) will feature live music, a Super Truck Beauty Contest, Antique Truck Display, Trucker Olympics, pork chop cookout, fireworks, and more.

Best part: Admission and parking are free. 🚛🇺🇸 

Truck Parking Club Partner Program

Do you create content for truckers, want to help solve the truck parking crisis, and an opportunity to give drivers FREE parking? Let’s work together! Click below to apply for Truck Parking Club’s Partner Program today!