Trucking News

Briefly: Expect delays on I-95 for work on two Baltimore area bridges

May 14, 2026 3 min read

If your trucking takes you on Intertsate 95 near Baltimore, be prepared for some delays the rest of the month.

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration is beginning work to repair bridge deck joints in each direction of I-95 bridges over the Patapsco River at the Baltimore / Howard County line. Work on the bridges, located between I-195 (Metropolitan Boulevard) and the I-95/I-895 split, will begin as soon as Sunday night, May 17.

Work is expected to be completed by the end of May, weather permitting.

Crews will begin by repairing bridge deck joints where needed on the southbound I-95 bridge, followed by repairs on the northbound I-95 bridge. Crews will work overnights, 9 p.m.-5 a.m. Sundays–Thursdays, with single-lane closures starting at 9 p.m. and double-lane closures at 10 p.m. Crews will use temporary traffic signs and cones to control traffic through the work zone.

The State Highway Administration is Serious About Safety. Motorists are urged to remain alert and avoid distractions when traveling through the work zone. Motorists should obey all posted speed limits. Motorists can dial #77 on their mobile devices for roadside assistance. 

Rates and regs drive Class 8 orders

While improved spot and contract rates have been the primary drivers of higher Class 8 orders, regulatory burdens, associated with higher equipment costs in 2027, have helped spur greater order activity, as published in the latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK.

“The improvement in tractor order activity starting in December 2025 boils down to improved spot and contract rates and regulatory clarity,” according to Ken Vieth, ACT’s President and Senior Analyst. “Despite fuel headwinds, with WTI oil largely trading at or above $90 a barrel since the beginning of the war, spot rate gains have remained sticky. In our view, a rapidly tightening driver supply that accelerated in January has helped shield spot rates from rising costs, with aggregate spot rates rising 25% y/y at the end of April.

“ACT’s truckload fleet survey of ~40 mid- to large-sized fleets indicated the ability to find drivers in March became the hardest it had been since 2021, impacted by state actions, such as California revoking ~17k nondomicile CDLs and Indiana revoking 1.8k last month. Regulatory burdens associated with higher equipment costs in 2027 have also helped spur greater order activity. The higher cost estimates would certainly add greater incentive to dealers and large fleets to find the budget for equipment now rather than later.”

Regarding the HD vocational market, Vieth said, “With the four biggest technology companies in the US set to deploy $650 billion in capital toward data centers and associated AI buildout needs in 2026, the vocational market appears poised to continue benefitting from strong secular tailwinds that show little sign of slowing in the short term. Additionally, after pulling back on expected prebuying in 2025 due to regulatory and trade uncertainty, vocational orders, like tractor, are benefitting from EPA’27 clarity.”