The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
August 28, 2025
Register Today
October 6-9, 2025
The 13th annual NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting will be held October 6-9, 2025, at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel in St. Louis, MO. The Fall Meeting will include Transportation Academy educational sessions led by dynamic and experienced government and industry leaders, complementing this year’s theme: “Powering Global Deployment & Distribution — Ready, United, Decisive!” Transportation Academy sessions receive outstanding survey results every year, and we expect the trend to continue in 2025! […READ MORE…]
PHILADELPHIA, PA – US Maritime Administration (MARAD) today celebrated the christening of the State of Maine, the third of five cutting-edge National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV), at Hanwha Philly Shipyard. Built for Maine Maritime Academy, the State of Maine will serve as a next generation training ship, supporting both the academic development of cadets and America’s humanitarian relief. […READ MORE…]
You’re Invited to a Virtual Expert Panel!
Navigating Government Lodging Solutions
Are you navigating the complexities of government lodging programs? Join us for an exclusive virtual panel featuring top industry experts who will demystify the landscape and provide actionable insights into Fedrooms, DOD Preferred, Long-Term Lodging, and more.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Time: 2 PM – 3:30 PM ET
Location: Virtual – Register Here
Featured Panelists
- Kirsten Abbott – DOD Preferred Lodging Program Manager, DTMO
- Amy Hill – Director of Fedrooms and DOD Preferred, Adtrav
- Jennifer Miller – Global Program Manager, GSA
- Treavor Edwards – LTL Program, GSA
- Jason Moore – CEO, Patriot Global Lodging & Chair, GSA Long-Term Lodging Committee
Topics of Discussion
- Fedrooms & DOD Preferred Programs
- Long-Term & Emergency Lodging Solutions
- Booking Strategies & Available Sources
- Compliance, Policy, and Buyer Challenges
- Technology Tools (DTS, etc.)
Whether you’re a travel manager, procurement officer, or industry partner, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to optimize your government lodging strategy!
Editor’s Picks
Testing and Operations of Autonomous Semi Trucks
(NextBigFuture) As of August 2025, no truck maker or startup has deployed autonomous platooning of semi-trucks where the following trucks operate without any human drivers at any location. Platooning will have no drivers in the trucks following a lead truck. Drivers in a convoy will share the driving of the lead truck. This can increase miles driven and provide half the benefit of fully automated trucks.
Army Producing Second Tranche of Short-Range Reconnaissance Drones
The Army has initiated production of the second tranche of its short-range reconnaissance unmanned aircraft systems, marking a significant step forward in modernizing battlefield capabilities. The Army selected two vendors to manufacture the SRR system, which will equip the Army’s Transformation in Contact units with advanced, networked communication systems designed to address emerging threats.
USAF Hopeful Second B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber Will Fly Before Year End
(twz.com) The US Air Force is hoping to see a second pre-production B-21 Raider stealth bomber take to the skies before the end of the year. The service also says it has conducted four more flight tests of the AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) cruise missile, which will be a key nuclear weapon for the B-21, so far this year.
Air National Guard Tests F-15 Fighter Against Helicopters
(MilitaryTimes) Two helicopters faced off against an F-15D Eagle fighter aircraft above water in an unprecedented combat defense test conducted by the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and US Navy. The test saw an HH-60W Jolly Green and an HH-60G Pave Hawk defend against attacks by an F-15D in a maritime setting.
(gCaptain.com) US polar icebreakers Healy and recently acquired Storis are currently operating to the north of the Aleutian Island chain in the American Arctic. This marks the first time since spring 2013 that the Coast Guard has deployed two icebreakers to the region at the same time. Based on AIS data the two vessels briefly met up around 100 nautical miles northeast of Unalaska.
Boeing MQ-25 Autonomous Refueling Aircraft to Begin US Navy Shipboard Integration in 2026
(Flightglobal.com) The first Boeing MQ-25 autonomous refuellng aircraft will begin integrating with a US Navy aircraft carrier in 2026. That will follow the expected first flight of the new uncrewed type later this year, according to the US Navy’s top aviation officer.
“MQ-25 will fly this year in 2025 and then do the integration on the carrier in 2026,” says Vice Admiral Daniel Cheever, commander of US naval air forces.
Trailer Bridge Making Strides in Military Logistics in Europe
(ajot.com) In June 2024, Florida-based Trailer Bridge, Inc., a full-service transportation provider, officially launched a subsidiary onto the European market, establishing its base in Frankfurt, Germany. Trailer Bridge Europe (TBE) has a portfolio of services spanning landside transportation and ocean shipping, warehousing, freight forwarding, air transport and contract-specific solutions for both commercial and government shippers.
UPS Preps Added Fee for US Imports Starting September
(SupplyChainDive) UPS will levy a $2.50 international processing fee for U.S.-bound packages across three services starting Sept. 8, according to the logistics giant’s website.
The per-shipment charge will apply to US imports through the following UPS Worldwide services: Express, Express Plus and Express NA1. The carrier also announced it will apply an entry preparation charge for low-cost Canada-to-US shipments under its UPS Standard service starting Aug. 29.
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