Here’s the hard truth: you don’t control freight. You don’t control whether a shipper changes their plans last minute or if a broker backs out of a commitment. What you do control is how you respond. Too many small fleet owners treat freight cancellations like personal attacks. But this business isn’t personal—it’s just business. You […]
That 1.7 Million Space “Shortage” Might Not Be Real According to Truck Parking Club’s August 2025 research report, the trucking industry has been looking at the parking problem all wrong. Here’s the traditional view: For years, that’s been the gospel. FMCSA, OOIDA, and even members of Congress have pushed funding and legislation to build more […]
“You Feel It Before You Read It” You don’t need a SONAR chart, Wall Street analyst, or FMCSA stat sheet to know that something’s been off. You feel it in your deadhead miles. You feel it when you sigh before grabbing another low paying load. You feel it in the way your truck payment hits […]
Most carriers hustle for good freight, good rates, and good relationships—but never stop to ask whether their brokers are holding up their end. It’s easy to assume that all brokers deserve your capacity. But the truth is, some brokers are hurting your margins more than they’re helping your business. And if you’re not tracking it, […]
Being an owner-operator is not just about grinding—it’s about evolving. It’s about pushing past the predictable stall-out that hits most carriers somewhere between survival and sustainability. That moment when you’re running thousands of miles, grossing big numbers, but seeing almost none of it stick. That’s the plateau. And in 2025, it’s more punishing than ever. […]
A commercial tractor-trailer’s illegal U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike last week killed three people in a minivan that collided with the trailer at highway speed, putting new focus on critical flaws in commercial driver licensing and training standards that have made America’s highways increasingly dangerous.
If you’ve been behind the wheel long enough, you’ve probably got your own DEF horror story. Maybe it was a sensor going out halfway up a mountain grade, forcing you into limp mode at 5 mph while traffic backed up behind you. Maybe it was a clogged DPF that threw you into a forced regen […]
(The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.) Exposing the Risks Hidden in Plain Sight At The Playbook, we believe the road to reform begins with transparency. That’s why, in partnership with The Freight Fraud Task Force, we’re launching a series […]
Corrugated boxes, linerboard, medium, coated boxboard—this is the packaging that everything else rides in. When mills run hotter, converters buy more rolls, warehouses stack more cartons, and the truck market usually follows. When mills cool down, that heat fades out on your trailer a few weeks later. Cardboard is the heartbeat of goods demand. The […]
New survey data from Truckstop.com and Bloomberg Intelligence shows small fleet operators and brokers maintaining cautious optimism about freight market recovery despite challenging first-half conditions. While only 16% of carriers reported revenue growth year-over-year, most expect conditions to improve or stabilize heading into the second half of 2025.
With Colorado requiring commercial vehicles to carry chains starting September 1 and other states following suit through October, truck drivers need to understand the complex web of chain laws, installation requirements, and hefty penalties that await the unprepared. From $880 fines in Oregon to $1,000+ penalties in Colorado for blocking highways, the stakes have never been higher.
The basis for most fuel surcharges is down 5.8 cts/g over the last three weeks.
If your entire week is shaped by whatever pops up on the load board that morning, you’re not running a plan—you’re reacting. That approach is what keeps carriers in the cycle of inconsistent weeks, poor reloads, and missed opportunities. The top-performing small fleets don’t operate like that. They plan based on zones, not just lanes. […]
In trucking, data is power. If you’re running loads without recording what they pay, what they cost you, and how they perform over time, you’re operating with a blindfold on. Brokers come to the table armed with historical lane data, fuel indexes, and national averages. If all you have is a rough memory of what […]
Growth doesn’t happen by accident—it happens by design. If you’re running a small trucking business, you already know what’s at stake. You can’t afford to waste time chasing goals you can’t define, or expanding before you’re ready. A growth map keeps you grounded. It breaks down your vision into quarterly targets, then weekly habits, so […]
Trucking isn’t just about keeping the wheels turning—it’s about keeping the business running. Fuel, insurance, repairs, tolls, deadhead miles, factoring costs, and even overlooked expenses like app subscriptions or parking all chip away at your bottom line. Most small fleet owners and owner-operators wear all the hats, so it’s easy to let the financial side […]
Let’s talk facts: Paperwork doesn’t make you money—but if you get it wrong, it will cost you money. A missing POD? Delayed payment. A lost rate con? No detention. Bad compliance files? Fines or shutdowns. And here’s the hard truth—most small fleets and owner-operators are bleeding cash because their documents are scattered across emails, glove […]
If your lanes fall apart every time the market shifts, you’re not building a business—you’re just surviving the week. The goal isn’t to chase rates. The goal is to create a network of freight that holds steady when everything else is in flux. This is how real businesses operate. No fluff. No hype. Just structure, […]
You don’t need ten apps, a TMS subscription, or another software pitch to get your trucking business in order. What you need is a single, well-built spreadsheet. One tool you control. One system that shows you where the money’s going, what’s working, and what’s not. This article gives small fleet owners a clear, tactical breakdown […]
Rate confirmations, PODs, and invoicing aren’t clerical work—they’re operational control points. When you mishandle one of these, the entire cash cycle stutters. You risk not only delayed payments but also strained broker relationships and gaps in load documentation that can affect future opportunities. Brokers are moving faster than ever in 2025. If they see you […]
