The Playbook

Since June 25, more than 1,500 truck drivers have been put out of service for failing English-language proficiency tests during roadside inspections. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says the vast majority worked for U.S.-based carriers. Some see this as a long-overdue safety measure. Others see it as a political stunt aimed at a […]

Let’s get one thing straight. The fastest way to stay broke in this industry is to chase every load that pops up on the board. Small carriers aren’t failing because of lack of hustle. They’re failing because they’re running without direction. When you try to haul everything for everybody, you lose your edge—and your profits. […]

Let’s cut through the noise. Daily log audits aren’t just about keeping the DOT off your back. They’re a goldmine for small fleets and owner-operators who want to run leaner, smarter, and more profitably. Most carriers treat logs like a chore—something to scribble down, file away, and pray nobody checks. That’s a mistake. Done right, […]

If you’re running a trucking business, especially as a small fleet owner or solo carrier, you need to understand this clearly: the fastest way to trigger a compliance audit from the FMCSA is to have incomplete or improperly maintained driver qualification files. It doesn’t matter if your trucks are running on time or if your […]

Brazilian entrepreneur Ricardo Faria’s $1.1 billion acquisition of Hillandale Farms continues a troubling pattern of foreign control over critical US food infrastructure. The deal puts one of America’s most transportation-intensive agricultural operations, complete with a 250-trailer fleet serving markets from Maine to the Carolinas, under foreign ownership. Unlike previous high-profile foreign food acquisitions, this major deal has received minimal mainstream attention despite significant implications for supply chains and the 11.27 billion tons of freight moved annually by US trucks.

The benchmark diesel price used for most fuel surcharges posted its second consecutive small decline.

The trucking industry’s decade-long push for hair follicle drug testing is reaching a critical inflection point as the Trump administration prepares to address guidelines that have been delayed repeatedly since 2015. Major carriers say hair testing catches 10 times more drug users than urine screens, but face fierce opposition from minority groups and independent truckers who claim the methods are discriminatory.

Motive Technologies closed a $150 million funding round led by Kleiner Perkins this week, positioning the AI-powered platform for aggressive expansion beyond its dashcam origins. What started as fleet management in 2015 has evolved into an integrated operations platform spanning driver safety, fuel cards, workforce management, and fraud detection, serving nearly 100,000 customers with AI capabilities that achieve up to 80% collision reductions.

Let’s be clear—manual dispatch boards, whiteboards in the shop, and scribbled notes on the back of receipts don’t cut it anymore. Not if you’re serious about running a field-based operation that’s efficient, accountable, and scalable. Whether you’re managing roadside service trucks, mobile technicians, or heavy equipment repairs, the right field service management (FSM) software will […]

Let’s set the record straight—bookkeeping is not some behind-the-scenes admin task you push off until tax season. In trucking, your books are your compass. Without clean, organized, and trucking-specific financials, you’re not just driving blind—you’re making decisions that could sink your business. I’ve seen too many good carriers fall apart not because of bad freight, […]

When revenue stalls, most small carriers think: “I need another truck.” That logic is broken. Adding trucks before dialing in your business model just multiplies your problems—fuel, repairs, insurance, compliance, and payroll. A small operation with 1 to 3 trucks should be profitable before it ever considers scaling up. Let’s make this clear: if you’re […]

Let’s clear this up: your back office isn’t an office. It’s the system you build to make decisions, protect your money, and stay on the road legally. It doesn’t need to be big—but it does need to be tight. The three main roles of your back office are: If your current setup involves a legal […]

When you’re out running loads in the dead of night, your dash cam doesn’t get to sleep. It’s still working. Still recording. Still protecting your business. And if you’re relying on a camera that can’t see clearly after sunset, you’ve got a weak link in your operation. Accidents don’t check the clock. Most incidents—whether it’s […]

Diesel has raced ahead of crude in recent months, and the causes don’t appear to be short term.

Introduction: The Gearshift That Sparked a Divide There’s an unspoken line drawn in the dirt at every truck stop in America: those who drive automatics, and those who swear by a stick. It sounds like a preference—but it runs deeper. One side sees convenience, consistency, and progress. The other sees lost skill, lazy entry, and […]

You started as an owner-operator, grinding out miles, chasing loads, and wearing every hat—dispatcher, accountant, mechanic. Now you’re running a small fleet, maybe two to five trucks, and the hustle that got you here is starting to choke you. The phone’s ringing off the hook, paperwork’s piling up, and you’re still doing it all yourself. […]

Running a small fleet means you’re stretched thin—dispatching loads, chasing payments, and keeping trucks rolling. Then ELD reports hit you like a brick wall, piling on data you barely have time to read, let alone understand. Hours of service rules aren’t optional, but you don’t need to drown in reports to stay compliant. If you’re […]

Some small carriers chase new freight like it’s a numbers game. They blast emails, cold call every logistics contact they can find on LinkedIn, and undercut rates just to get a shot at the next load. It’s a hustle. And while it might land you a load here and there, it doesn’t build staying power. […]

You don’t need more meetings. You need better habits. Many carriers hear the word “safety review” and immediately think of three-hour meetings, binders collecting dust, and a compliance officer nobody wants to talk to. That kind of thinking is exactly why safety becomes a scramble—something you deal with after a violation, not before it. But […]

Many carriers look at detention as a nuisance. Time sucks. A fight for pennies after hours of wasted time. And on the surface, they’re not wrong—detention is frustrating. But if you know how to track it, document it, and use it in negotiations, detention becomes more than a delay. It becomes leverage. This isn’t about […]