Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced this week that the first phase of the NCCDB modernization is now live, marking what the agency calls “an overdue tech upgrade” that could fundamentally change how safety violations, fraud, and service issues get reported and addressed in trucking. The modernized database represents a significant shift in how federal […]
Excerpt: The produce industry’s demographic shift toward Millennial consumers is creating new transportation opportunities for reefer carriers as the freight recession shows signs of improvement. With Millennials driving 68% of produce growth and demanding convenience-focused solutions, cold chain logistics faces challenges and opportunities in 2025.
Federal watchdogs are once again questioning whether we have one CDL standard or 50. With nearly 5,000 truck and bus fatalities last year and English proficiency enforcement under fire, the new OIG audit could reshape how states test, license, and oversee drivers nationwide.
From twin sticks to push-button drive, trucking’s gearshift evolution changed transmissions, it changed drivers, and it changed the industry. The old twin-stick rigs demanded patience, timing, and respect for the machine. They created a natural filter, separating those willing to master the craft from those who weren’t. Today, with 90% of new trucks equipped with automated manuals, anyone can simply drop it into drive and go. Easier? Absolutely. But in removing the barrier, the industry may have also lost a layer of mechanical awareness, attentiveness, and skill that once defined professional driving.
With the DOT floating new flexible Hours of Service (HOS) pilot programs, owner-operators could stand to earn more per mile — or lose ground fast if the changes don’t match their operations. Here’s what to look at.
The price used for most fuel surcharges rose one cent in a market that has featured stability for weeks Stability in the retail price of diesel remains the prevailing condition in the market, with the benchmark price used for most fuel surcharges moving a mere one cent this week. The Department of Energy/Energy Information Administration […]
The removal of ROBINHOOD ELD from FMCSA’s registered devices list underscores the importance of selecting reputable ELD vendors, as fleets now face a 60-day scramble to replace systems while managing driver frustration and operational disruption.
Two pilot programs will test flexible hours-of-service configurations as questions persist about ELD fraud, system vulnerabilities, and whether current regulations effectively reduce fatigue-related crashes despite improved compliance rates.
The Broken Broker–Carrier Dynamic Ask most small carriers what they think about brokers and you’ll get some version of the same response: “They’re just middlemen, taking their cut and squeezing us dry.” And to be fair, that feeling hasn’t come out of thin air. Too many brokerages treat carriers like interchangeable parts. They chase the […]
This article is contributed content. It does not reflect the views or opinions of FreightWaves or any of its subsidiaries. This article has been updated following commentary and feedback from Amazon. Fraud takes root and multiplies in a system that rewards speed and low cost above all else. Contract freight is built on predictability, and […]
When many drivers hear “local route,” they picture early starts, dinner at home, and steady pay. But when it comes to local food service trucking, that image misses a lot of what it really takes. This isn’t dry van drop-and-hook. This is backbreaking work, punishing schedules, constant hustle, and hours behind the wheel — all […]
You can’t avoid paying for fuel. But the truth is, many small carriers are bleeding thousands each month because they’re not controlling the two things they can control: Everything else—load rates, lane volatility, repair costs—is a roll of the dice in this market. Fuel? That’s your game to win or lose. So today we’re breaking […]
“What did the shipper pay on that load?” It’s a question that’s lingered in truck stop diners, dispatch offices, and group chats for years — and if you’ve ever booked a load through a freight broker, you’ve probably wondered the same thing. You get a rate confirmation. You move the load. You get paid. But […]
Let’s Be Honest… Most drivers aren’t taught how to negotiate. They’re handed a truck, told to book freight, and shoved out into a market where brokers are often trained—literally trained—to protect the margin. You? You’re just trying to get paid enough to run another week without dipping into your savings. But negotiation is a skill. […]
The Department of Transportation announced this week it wants to add fentanyl testing to its mandatory drug screening program for commercial drivers, marking the first major expansion of federal drug testing requirements since amphetamines were added in 2017.
You’re rolling through Arkansas, just crossed the state line, and boom—your check engine light hits, your coolant temp spikes, and the power falls out of the pedal. You limp it to the shoulder, hazard lights flashing. You’re not just down—you’re at the mercy of a roadside repair vendor you’ve never met, in a city you […]
Some trucks are just cursed. That’s just the fact. Used trucks are especially a dice roll. You know the one — every time it goes in for a PM, something new gets discovered. Transmission slipping. Electrical gremlins. DPF acting up. And as soon as you think you’re back on the road making money, bam—check engine […]
Scaling down doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re making a hard, strategic decision to live to fight another day — and more people need to hear that truth without shame. Whether you’ve got 3 trucks or 30, the moment you realize one (or more) of them is bleeding you dry, it’s time to stop […]
This Is One of the Hardest Decisions in the Business—And One of the Most Misunderstood If you’re sitting behind the wheel on your 10 hour break, weighing whether to keep running under your own MC or lease onto someone else’s authority, you’re not alone. 2025 has put a lot of pressure on small carriers and […]
If you’ve been sitting at a fuel island wondering when this market’s going to flip, you’re not alone. And you’re not crazy for thinking it still feels off—because it is. At a recent industry event, the annual FTR Transportation Intelligence Conference, two heavy-hitters in trucking leadership said what many folks in our Playbook community have […]
