A Denver-papered, Chisinau-operated freight broker dispatched a truck owned by a carrier with 10 fatalities on its federal record, driven by a man with a temporary CDL. Seventeen people and their families paid for it in Beaumont, Texas.
Cargo theft persists even with all checks passed, revealing gaps in freight verification.
Nearly 88,000 trucking companies closed in 2023. Fraud losses topped $455 million in 2024. Carriers filing claims against $75,000 surety bonds are discovering that the pot’s already been split 50 ways. As the Supreme Court prepares to rule on whether brokers can be held liable for hiring bad carriers, it’s time to ask: who really bears the risk in freight, and is the system rigged against the people actually moving the loads?
A credit card and fifteen minutes can now put an unvetted operator behind the wheel of 80,000 pounds, with full legal authority to share the road with your family. The underwriting standards that once kept dangerous carriers off the highway have collapsed, and everyone from crash victims to taxpayers is footing the bill.
The freight industry moved $14 trillion in goods last year. It cannot function without trust, trust that the carrier picking up your load is who they claim to be, trust that the broker paying you will actually pay, and trust that the load you accepted exists. That trust has been systematically exploited for decades. At its root, every form of freight fraud, chameleon carriers, double brokering, cargo theft, identity spoofing, comes down to one question: Are you who you say you are?
Scaling a freight brokerage has never been an easy task, and current economic challenges have prompted many companies to take their focus away from growth and innovation. When margins are slim and freight is hard to come by, it’s natural for decision makers to be wary of making new investments. Loadsmart is doing it anyway. […]
Thanks to Ship OGRE’s proprietary technology, each expansion is seamless and effective due to the adaptability, flexibility and scalability of the solution.
The FMCSA is quietly revamping its National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB), aiming to transform it from a bureaucratic black hole into a real-time system for identifying unsafe carriers, shady brokers, coercive shippers and repeat fraud offenders.
AB5 has redrawn the line between independent contractor and employee in California, sending shockwaves through lease-on models and forcing many drivers to get their own authority, but what happens when those new authorities consider brokering freight? This breakdown simplifies what AB5 means for fleets, when broker bonds are required, and why double brokering, ghost MCs, and improper authority setups can cost more than just your load, they can cost your entire business.
Capacity management and transaction AI are two ways that Parade is helping brokers streamline carrier sales and daily operations.
Dhruv Gupta, CEO of Drumkit, discusses the advantages of AI automation and how streamlined workflows allow companies to boost sales and improve customer service.
After Uber recently announced bookings growth, the company has launched a broker offering that could help support future shipment growth and brokerage penetration.
From mainstay events like kick-off parties to more unique offerings like professional speed dating, the summit gives brokers and carriers numerous opportunities to seek each other out.
The Broker-Carrier Summit agenda is designed specifically to foster connections between brokers and carriers that extend beyond the conference.
Industry leaders are finally starting to feel better about the state of the market. That optimism could be a crucial part of actually arriving at a better future.
FreightTech hasn’t solved freight fraud, and regulators can’t figure out who is regulating it. Is there a solution?
The rapid introduction of new competitors and technology in freight is producing a rapid downward trend in brokerage gross margins. To remain competitive, cost visibility and controls are paramount.
The RFP process can be daunting, but these tips can help set you up for success.
A set of guidelines for the ethical freight broker.
Shippers ship. Carriers carry. Freight brokers are the experts connecting the two. A developed shipper-broker relationship is important in aiding the success of shippers, brokers and carriers.
The top 20% of freight brokers generate at least 80% of sales and gross margin for any third-party logistics provider (3PL) or freight brokerage.
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Rose Rocket’s order management platform integration with Geotab’s system gives trucking companies more tools to offer shippers, including track and trace and real-time ETA
Lead Economist, Anthony Smith takes the reigns on this macro edition of Freightonomics. He chats with a diverse panel of guests about ways to optimize performance across business areas in a sluggish freight economy. Listeners will learn how to navigate today while preparing for the future of freight. Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Watch the video
Freight visibility is no longer considered a premium benefit the best brokers offer their shippers. It is simply an expectation that most brokers struggle to meet.
The logistics industry has been bombarded with years of overdue technological advancement ever since the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate went into effect. Technological advancement in the space has only increased since that pivotal moment, and brokerages have not been exempt from the pressure to keep up.
Full digital automation of shipping processes may be on the way, but what are the intermediary steps leading us there?
Founded in 2015, Avenger Logistics is growing so fast that, according to their estimates, they’ll crack Inc. 5000’s 2019 top ten in their first year of eligibility.
High spot market trucking rates have caused more carriers to move to that market, but the majority of carriers in a new Transporeon Group survey have remained loyal to their shippers.
Opus9 launched its digital platform, automating every step of the truckload and LTL shipping process, Tuesday. The new platform is intended to “digitize an old industry and bring it forward,” according to Vice President of Product Management Jeff Hiller.
Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …When a customer refuses to pay their bill, or simply delays paying it, brokers and carriers alike can be stuck with a lack of cash on hand and few options.
A jury has awarded $15.57 million to Isaac Espinoza, who was struck by a tractor-trailer driven independent contractor Ricky Hatfield while assisting a friend on the side of I-81 north. The jury also held the broker who contracted with Hatfield partially responsible.
If it seems that freight brokerage – both digital and traditional services – are popping up on a daily basis, it could be because they are, or it at least it seems that way. Digital freight matchers (DFMs) include familiar names such as Convoy, CargoMatic, Haulfox and HaulHound. But what if you want to enter the space? Here are some tips on how to be successful as a DFM.
In a world which carriers want to be paid quickly for their services, brokers have long turned to factoring as an option. Technology, though, is changing the payments business, and that means quicker payments for carriers and more cash flow flexibility for brokers.
