Dive Brief:
- Landstar announced it has purchased 2,000 dry van trailers equipped with key upgrades and a new design, according to a Sept. 10 press release.
- The new trailers have pulsating brake lights meant to make them more visible to other drivers, components designed to deter theft and flip-style hazmat placards.
- The Jacksonville, Florida-based company expects the units to be delivered throughout the remainder of 2026.
Dive Insight:
Landstar earmarked about $104 million to replace aging trailing equipment this year, according to its annual report filed in February.
Older trailers have been adding to the company’s expenses. Other operating costs rose $2.8 million in 2025 from the prior year, mainly because of higher trailer maintenance expenses, the report states. The pressure has continued in 2026: Landstar said other operating costs climbed $3.2 million in Q2 due to elevated trailer maintenance and rental expenses.
Newer equipment typically needs fewer repairs, which could ease those costs as older units leave the fleet.
The trailers serve Landstar’s network of independent contractors, known as business capacity owners, or BCOs. At the end of 2025, the company owned nearly 13,800 trailers that were available to those contractors and rented 600 more, while BCOs supplied about 3,000 of their own.
“The updated trailer design is a tangible sign of our commitment to safety, security, and service,” Frank Lonegro, Landstar president and CEO, said in the September release. “Everyone in the network, from agents to BCOs to employees, knows it’s all about doing the right thing. That means doing it safely, doing it securely, and showcasing our commitment to service on every load, every day.”
