Small Fleet keynote: ‘Get scrappy with where you’re finding loads’

Trucker Tools CEO shares advice for owner-operators ‘in times like this’

Trucker Tools CEO Kary Jablonski shares advice for owner-operators during FreightWaves’ Small Fleet & Owner-Operator Summit.

This keynote recap is from FreightWaves’ Small Fleet & Owner-Operator Summit on Wednesday.

KEYNOTE TOPIC: Simple ways carriers can drive efficiencies in their operations. 

DETAILS: Trucker Tools has more than 250,000 carriers on its platform. It was designed specifically to help those carriers mitigate their biggest challenges. Trucker Tools’ Kary Jablonski explains those challenges to FreightWaves’ Grace Sharkey, as well as how her company can help.

SPEAKER: Jablonski is the CEO of Trucker Tools. 

BIO: Jablonski was promoted from COO to CEO in April. Prior to joining Trucker Tools in September 2021, Jablonski had advanced through operations, logistics and strategic planning roles with Uber in the U.S. and internationally. She also worked as a consultant with Deloitte.

KEY QUOTES FROM JABLONSKI:

“I think there’s three big issues that have bubbled up from our owner-operators and our small carriers, who make up the vast majority of our users on the Trucker Tools platform. One is around revenue growth — just where can you find loads and how do I continue to grow revenue?” 

“Two is just current and future pricing and rate transparency. You know, there’s always kind of inclinations about where the spot market is heading. SONAR does a phenomenal job of giving carriers insight into where the markets might be heading. But it’s tough to get your hands on that information sometimes, and that is another big concern of the small carriers and owner-ops. And then three is just running a more efficient and really tight fleet or business right now. … Where can you cut costs? Where can you operate a little bit more efficiently to squeeze through these tough times?” 

“Get scrappy with where you’re finding loads. … In times like this, it really behooves you to expand your resource pool and think about, where are the other places where I could be finding loads?”

“Taking advantage of technology that has emerged over the last couple of years … can really help at a time like this.”

Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Compliance

Brokerage Compliance Symposium

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Awards

F3 Awards Dinner

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Kim Link Wills

Senior Editor Kim Link-Wills has written about everything from agriculture as a reporter for Illinois Agri-News to zoology as editor of the Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine. Her work has garnered awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Magazine Association of the Southeast. Prior to serving as managing editor of American Shipper, Kim spent more than four years with XPO Logistics.