Let’s say this upfront: if your dispatcher doesn’t have a one-page SOP taped to the wall, you’re already behind. I’ve walked into hundreds of dispatch offices—some as clean as a cockpit, others looking like a paperwork tornado touched down. But there’s one thing that separates a dispatcher who owns the day from one who reacts […]
If you’re the one still booking loads at midnight, chasing down PODs on your lunch break, and jumping under a truck on Saturday morning—this one’s for you. Every small fleet owner hits the same wall: you built the company, you know every lane, every customer, every truck. And now that it’s growing, you’re afraid to […]
As a carrier with enough units that you hire an internal dispatch team, understanding how to measure their performance is critical. If your dispatcher is only focused on picking loads and calling drivers, you’ve got a major blind spot in your operation. Because in today’s market, dispatch isn’t just about movement—it’s about measurement. And if […]
Everybody wants to scale. Get more trucks. Add more drivers. Land bigger contracts. But here’s the truth nobody wants to say out loud—if you can’t make one truck profitable on one lane for one year, you’ve got no business growing. Expansion doesn’t fix broken math. It magnifies it. It’s why so many small fleets go […]
Let’s get something straight—shippers don’t just buy capacity anymore. They buy consistency. They buy professionalism. And most of all, they buy risk reduction. You can have the cleanest trucks, the most reliable drivers, and the best on-time percentage in your market, but if you can’t sell your safety record in a way that builds confidence […]
The English Language Proficiency (ELP) rule, now in effect, could significantly reduce trucking capacity. For a decade, large truckload carriers have embraced regulations like the ELD mandate and Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to limit market capacity, but effects were typically short-lived. The ELP mandate, enforced by a DOT Executive Order, requires commercial drivers to demonstrate […]
If you’re still saying yes to every load just to “keep the wheels turning,” you’re not running a business—you’re gambling with your profit and praying it works out. The hustle mindset might have gotten you your first truck, but it won’t keep you in the game. The carriers who last know that saying no is […]
If you’re a small fleet owner wearing ten hats, let me hit you with something hard: just because you can do everything, doesn’t mean you should. That mentality will trap you in one truck. It’ll keep your business crawling when it should be scaling. And the longer you delay outsourcing the low-dollar, high-time tasks, the […]
Let’s get one thing straight up front—this isn’t about politics, and it’s not about opinion. This is about operational reality. The FMCSA’s renewed enforcement of English proficiency rules isn’t new, but it is hitting harder now, and if you’re not paying attention, it can cost you. Small fleets and owner-operators need to stop treating this […]
There’s a new threat moving faster than enforcement can keep up with—and it’s not just hitting the mega carriers. It’s hitting the small fleets. It’s hitting the owner-operators. And it’s hitting the guys who thought, “That would never happen to me.” Freight theft isn’t just a big city problem or a warehouse security issue anymore. […]
Let’s get one thing straight—branding is not a logo. It’s not your color scheme, it’s not your slogan, and it sure as hell isn’t your Instagram page with four truck selfies and a motivational quote. Branding is how the market remembers you when you’re not in the room. It’s what brokers, shippers, and even other […]
Everyone wants to scale. Until they do. That’s when the problems start. Invoices get missed. Drivers start calling dispatch for payroll issues. You’re chasing paperwork, and no one can find the load confirmation for that Tuesday drop in Birmingham. Adding trucks too fast without fixing your back office is like building a house on wet […]
Most carriers don’t realize how much empty miles are quietly killing their bottom line. You can have the best rates in the world, but if your truck runs 150 miles empty between loads, you’re bleeding profit—and most of the time, you don’t even notice it until it’s too late. Deadhead doesn’t show up on a […]
President Donald Trump on Monday signed an agreement lowering tariffs on some imports from the United Kingdom.
It’s one thing to want funding—it’s another to actually qualify for it. Plenty of carriers talk about adding trucks or expanding into new markets, but when it comes time to sit down with a lender, the story on paper doesn’t match the ambition. Lenders aren’t interested in how many loads you ran last week or […]
If you think you know where new trucking companies are planting roots, think again. Yes, Texas and California still lead the nation in raw numbers of new MCs granted. But something very different is happening when you zoom in. Quiet ZIP codes like 93722 (Fresno, CA) and 78045 (Laredo, TX) are quietly leading the nation […]
Everybody talks about scaling. More trucks, more drivers, more freight. But here’s the uncomfortable truth nobody wants to say out loud: Not every carrier is built to scale — and not every carrier should. Because growth isn’t always about adding trucks. Sometimes growth looks like refining your lanes, raising your rates, tightening your operations, and […]
Government freight isn’t the secret shortcut social media makes it out to be—but for small fleets that are tired of chasing the spot market and ready to build something more stable, it’s a lane worth learning. Over the past year, more owner-operators and small-carriers have started asking how to bid on government loads, especially as […]
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.
With over 12% of trucks sidelined during last year’s CVSA Brake Safety Week, the 2025 focus on rotors and brake drums puts heavy-duty and vocational trucks in the crosshairs. This guide breaks down what inspectors look for and how clean, well-maintained rigs are more likely to pass or avoid inspection altogether.
Retaliatory tariffs from trading partners, like China’s response to the retaliatory tariffs, could linger, complicating cross-border freight.
Freight fraud and cargo theft have reached crisis levels, but recent FMCSA identity verification measures are chipping away at fraudulent registrations. Proactive enforcement and innovative tech solutions are starting to protect our supply chains.
Every week, thousands of loads move across the country before a single rate hits the load board. That’s because most freight—especially high-volume freight—starts with a contract. Shippers send out tenders to their core carriers, usually the same ones every week. But when those carriers say no? That’s when things start to shift—and it’s also when […]
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a group of Russian hackers has gone into overdrive. As Western countries began ramping up military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, the GRU focused on the logistics and tech companies that support those flows.
The entire market shifts when carriers start saying “no” to contracted freight. Rising tender rejection rates signal tightening capacity and often precede spot rate hikes, while falling rates point to softening demand.
Small carriers should check out this SONAR data to learn what the market did this week.
What is detention pay and how do you know when its time to collect?
Key Performance Indicators are must-tracks for small carriers.
This article breaks down how to spot a fraudulent rate confirmation, how to verify a broker before you roll, and the systems every small fleet needs in place to avoid being scammed. The mentions of Landstar, CH Robinson, and other large brokerages in this article are solely for illustrative purposes. The rate confirmation shown below is an […]
Highway’s Michael Caney explores the importance of an identity layer in vetting practices, know-your-customer principles and technological solutions to verify carrier capabilities
From truck parking to preventative maintenance, many small fleets think big-fleet strategies don’t apply to them. Here’s what the big guys are doing, and how you can steal their playbook.
DAT is positioning itself not just as a load board, but as the freight industry’s central exchange through its acquisition of factoring and fintech provider Outgo.
Too many carriers treat the rate con like a formality, but buried in those few pages are the traps that can cost you detention pay, shift liability, or delay your check for weeks. In this guide, we walk through how to break down a rate confirmation like a fleet manager, flagging sneaky clauses, protecting your rights, and building a system to manage paperwork at scale. In trucking, reading the fine print is financial survival.
Deadhead miles don’t show up on rate confirmations, but they quietly bleed small carriers dry, fuel, time, equipment wear and revenue lost every mile you roll empty. This guide breaks down what deadhead really costs and offers five practical strategies, from triangle hauls to smarter rate negotiation, to cut it down, tighten your routing, and boost profit without needing a dedicated lane or a giant customer list.
Fraud Watch analyzes Overhaul’s 2025 Q1 Mexico cargo theft report
It takes work to land shippers as a small carrier, but a few small changes can mean the difference between winning and losing freight.
Commercial insurance rates have ballooned over the last few years. Small carriers can use some techniques to reduce their costs.
Despite tariffs and global political tension, direct-to-consumer brands and other e-commerce sales continue to drive cross-border trade. SmartKargo’s cross-border solution helps airlines and e-commerce companies ship with real-time visibility.
Non-domiciled CDL holders are just a small sliver of a bigger issue with how CDLs are issued and regulated.
Fraudulent CDL holders, improper training programs and language barriers are only a scratch on the surface of the systemic problems with the way commercial vehicles are licensed in the U.S.
Small carriers pay attention: the dip in rates is consequential for you.
The jump from leased-on driver to running under your own authority feels easy when you’re frustrated with your current situation. You start thinking, “Man, if I’m doing all the work, why am I giving up 20%, 30%, even 40% of the money?” And you’re not wrong to feel that way. But emotion doesn’t pay for […]
Penske, US Xpress, UPS, and more are in already planning workforce reductions.
If Part 1 of this series was about the mindset shift—getting off the hamster wheel of the spot market—then Part 2 is all about the muscle: the actual steps to build, pitch, and maintain shipper relationships that bring consistency to your business. This is where the rubber meets the road. In the Playbook Masterclass, we […]
The company’s autonomous freight service, operating without a human driver onboard, is now making regular deliveries between Dallas and Houston.
Here’s a sector-by-sector breakdown of how major players are reacting to the mounting pressure of tariffs and retaliatory trade measures.
The Trump administration eases tariffs on auto industry metals, offering relief to U.S. automakers and suppliers through exemptions and reimbursement incentives.
Key strategies for combating fraud involve certificates of insurance for supply chain partners.
Container traffic at the busiest U.S. import gateway is expected to drop by 10% in the second half of the year.
Supply chain visibility topped a relevancy survey of logistics providers by shipping giant Maersk, while AI brought up the bottom of the list.
FreightWaves sat down with Ventagium’s founder, Arturo Torres Arpi, to explore barriers preventing companies from embracing data-driven strategies and solutions that can drive operational excellence.
While businesses continue to play a role in setting trends, consumers are now the driving force behind product demand.
Weekly U.S. rail carloads surged to the strongest year-on-year improvement in nearly three months.
Railroads in January saw their share of North American transborder trade slip as trucks posted double-digit gains.
Now on demand Dooner and Reed Loustalot are coming to you live from the Mid-America Trucking Show
Regulators in China will review the sale of port operations linked to the Panama Canal to a consortium led by a U.S. investor.
Federal transportation officials at the Mid-America Trucking Show discussed a deregulatory approach that aligns with the Trump administration’s policy of eliminating 10 regulations for every new one introduced.
Union Pacific is partnering with Jaguar Transport Holdings to establish a new shortline railroad in Kansas City, Missouri’s West Bottoms industrial district.
BNSF Railway said customers invested $4.2 billion in industrial projects on its network in 2024.
From automating back-office tasks to enhancing driver communication with voice AI, this discussion breaks down practical, cost-effective ways AI can improve efficiency, reduce workload and drive profitability.
Fight China’s shipping practices and revive U.S. shipbuilding, commenters tell the U.S. trade representative, but don’t punish domestic industry in the global market.
The National Transportation Safety Board said proper risk assessment by the state of Maryland could have averted the collapse of Baltimore’s Key Bridge that killed six road workers in 2024.
Red Sea diversions hit liner operator Hapag-Lloyd’s profits despite higher revenues in 2024.
Equity Transportation’s reported closure underscores the reality that in today’s freight market, even long-established carriers are not immune to the economic downturn.
A performance analysis by Orderful of different equipment types highlights strengths and challenges across the market.
Kent Richard, interim bridge director of the City of Laredo, sat down with FreightWaves’ Timothy Dooner to discuss the 25th anniversary of the World Trade Bridge and the future of trade through Laredo.
This week: Shoppers share safety concerns, and we examine theft on the railroads
Sebastian Baquero’s career in the trucking industry started with importing and selling tires at just 21 years old. Through years of working with fleets, he gained firsthand insight into one of the industry’s most overlooked cost centers.
With the integration of SONAR’s market intelligence into project44’s Freight Procurement Analytics, shippers can access data that enables more informed and agile procurement decisions.
With scams becoming more sophisticated and brokers facing increased legal risks, this exclusive gathering will provide crucial insights, expert discussions and high-level networking opportunities.
In this edition: The FMCSA’s proposed broker transparency rule gets an extra comment period, and The Playbook arrives at FreightWaves.
FreightWaves and Innovative Logistics Group have teamed up to create The Playbook, a one-stop shop of resources for the small carrier and owner-operator who want to level up their business.
In North Carolina, old railcars are getting new life as temporary road bridges after damage wrought by Hurricane Helene.
“I have never seen a role like a cradle-to-grave broker in any other industry,” said FreightHero’s founder and CEO.
FreightTech could contribute to a digital transformation in vehicle logistics, and Detroit-based Auto Hauler Exchange and its investors are betting on it.
Stock markets around the world saw sharp declines in response to President Trump’s imposition of tariffs and retaliatory actions by Canada and Mexico.
“We’re partnering with over three times the number of freight forwarders that we [anticipated] by this time,” said Bryan Lacaillade, co-founder and CEO of Freightmate Ai.
ALAN has been quietly mobilizing supply chain and logistics expertise to support communities in the wake of catastrophic events for the past 20 years, most recently in Los Angeles.
A California trucking company, which provided earthwork, excavation, and demolition services, along with its affiliated company, recently filed for bankruptcy protection, citing cashflow issues after defaulting on its factoring agreement.
This week Descartes shares the work it’s doing to combat location spoofing.
A publicly traded coffee wholesaler has filed a lawsuit against a Texas-based logistics company nearly a year after a load of coffee, valued at almost $84,500, went missing.
From optimizing electric vehicle fleets to mitigating fraud and automating nonrevenue tasks, automation is positioned to address some of the industry’s most pressing challenges.
This week we explore how retailers are balancing security measures with customer experience.
“In mature markets like the U.S., data accuracy and completeness are critical to building trust and delivering value,” said Shippeo co-founder Lucien Besse.
As the first president of Armada Sunset Holdings, Chris O’Brien sees strong potential for technologies such as AI and machine learning to drive innovation in supply chain management.
A St. Louis trucking company and its equipment leasing affiliate recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing the “challenges of the freight market” as one of the main reasons they are seeking to reorganize.
In 2024, retailers dealt with a costly challenge: U.S. consumers returning $685 billion worth of merchandise — 13.21% of total retail sales, according to Appriss Retail’s latest report. Alarmingly, 15.14% of these returns were fraudulent, costing retailers a staggering $103 billion. The report, created with Deloitte, highlights the most common fraud schemes. Wardrobing, in which […]
This legal battle began in May 2020 when Omnitracs accused Platform Science of stealing its intellectual property.
In this edition: Predictions for 2025, and import fees rise for Asia in Mexico.
Chicago’s impact on freight transportation is a story of innovation, entrepreneurship, and risk-taking that spans decades.
CloneOps.ai has received funding from industry investors including Sope Creek’s Kevin Nolan, who sees a positive future for augmenting human talent in brokerage.
This week: Double brokers grab $1M in toys and porch pirates have a dance off
A family-owned Missouri trucking company with 265 trucks and 255 drivers recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
DAT Freight & Analytics spoke with FreightWaves about DAT’s acquisition of Trucker Tools and how it plans to address connectivity issues, fraud and customer needs in the new year.
Telematics is leading the way in efforts to gain control over trucking insurance premiums.
A West Virginia-based trucking company, which hauls coal, logs and wood chips, recently filed for bankruptcy.
The manager of a New York-based freight forwarding company is facing criminal charges alleging she violated federal export controls by illegally shipping oil and gas products to Russia.
Logistics firm Freight Essentials filed a federal lawsuit against WWEX Group and its affiliates, alleging that the company is engaging in fraudulent business practices with hidden fees.
Sankalp Arora, co-founder and CEO of Gather AI, and FreightWaves’ Grace Sharkey discussed during FreightWaves’ Domestic Supply Chain Summit the use of AI technology and drones to automate inventory monitoring and asset tracking in warehousing to improve efficiency and reduce human error.
Steve Blough, a co-founder of MercuryGate International Inc., speaks about how companies can use AI to strengthen decision making.
