logistics

A federal lawsuit is now underway challenging the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) new interim final rule that limits the issuance of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The lawsuit, filed on October 20, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the D.C. Circuit, argues that FMCSA’s decision to enforce the rule immediately—without going through […]

Trucking’s pain is spreading beyond freight rates and diesel prices — it’s now hitting the banks. In its third-quarter earnings release, Midland States Bancorp revealed that trucking industry woes triggered $5 million in equipment finance charge-offs for the quarter, prompting the Illinois-based lender to walk away from equipment financing altogether. That decision wasn’t made lightly. […]

GXO Logistics reported record third-quarter revenue and outlined a sharpened North America growth strategy.

Explore shipper sentiment and freight market trends in a soft October.

“The supply-demand balance may retrench in the coming months…”

You want your stuff unloaded? Pay somebody to do it. Small carriers should not have to worry about having to pay someone to unload at a receiver.

The U.S. Senate’s bipartisan vote to roll back President Donald Trump’s global tariffs underscores mounting resistance to his trade agenda.

AI is only as good as what you ask it to do.

Starting January 16, 2026, freight brokers will face stricter financial standards that could thin the herd—and for small carriers, that shift might finally level the playing field.

OTR Solutions, the leader in logistics-focused back-office technology and financial solutions, today announced the launch of Truly Instant Funding, the industry’s most advanced factoring solution, giving carriers access to much needed liquidity within minutes of invoice upload, 24/7/365, to any bank account. Built to give carriers true financial control, this innovation marks a defining moment […]

When adjusted for inflation, truck driver wages have grown 1.1% in 15 years.

Nuvocargo’s acquisition of Mentum is aimed at benefiting shippers and carriers in the North American trade corridor.

Small-parcel shipping has entered an era defined less by brand loyalty and more by cost transparency, resilience, and speed. Shippers are diversifying away from single-carrier dependency toward a portfolio that blends incumbents with credible alternative carriers. From SmartKargo’s vantage point (where airline networks, data, and unified “dock-to-door” orchestration meet) this shift is structural. And one […]

When you disrespect the skill it takes to drive a truck, you’re not just wrong — you’re dangerously uninformed.

There comes a time when legacy institutions must step aside — not out of disrespect, but because they’ve simply lost touch. And in the case of the American Trucking Associations (ATA), that time is now.

Let’s keep this simple: lumber and steel are two of the biggest drivers of flatbed freight in this country. If people are building houses, warehouses, retail centers, data centers, transmission lines, and factories, you’re hauling the stuff — framing lumber, coils, plate, beams, structural steel, rebar. When that demand is hot, you feel it right […]

When used the right way, AI can handle all of the processes that you wished you had, but you just couldn’t find the bandwidth to build them out.

The U.S. and China are poised to de-escalate their trade war through a new framework agreement, but the White House announced new tariffs on Canada.

The latest generation of steer tires, like the Firestone FS592, isn’t just rubber and tread—it’s engineered safety, longer life, and better ROI for small fleet owners who can’t afford guesswork.

If you’re an owner-operator or small fleet owner staring down the barrel of an engine problem, you already know the feeling—an uneasy mix of fear, frustration, and that sinking question in your gut:

What happens when brokers start choosing capacity not by safety, but by who’s $500 cheaper? Welcome to the underbelly of the non-domiciled CDL crisis.

It should’ve just been another Tuesday. But in the early hours on I-10 in California, three lives were lost — violently, unnecessarily — when a big rig, reportedly driven by an unauthorized immigrant under the influence, plowed into traffic. The impact was immediate. So was the outrage. This wasn’t just a crash. It was another […]

In today’s market, a check engine light can be more than an inconvenience — it can be a trap. Here’s why code clearing without real diagnosis is one of the most dangerous shortcuts a shop can take on your equipment.

When the Department of Transportation (DOT) finalized its rule on non-domiciled commercial drivers, it likely knew pushback was coming — but maybe not this quick. A coalition of immigrants and advocacy groups has now filed a formal legal challenge against FMCSA, arguing that the federal government’s move to deauthorize nearly 200,000 lawfully present drivers is […]

In a market defined by high fuel prices, flat freight rates, and relentless pressure, simply staying alive as a small carrier is a mark of discipline—not defeat.

Robinson announces its ‘Agentic Supply Chain.’

You don’t wait until the house is on fire to learn how to use an extinguisher. The same goes for load claims. If you’re running a trucking business — whether it’s one truck or ten — load claims aren’t a matter of “if.” It’s a matter of “when.” When that day comes, your driver will […]

It’s one thing to debate rules in Washington — it’s another when 6,000 drivers are removed from the roads.. That’s what’s happening across the country as federal regulators begin enforcing a rule that’s been on the books for decades but rarely taken seriously — the requirement that every commercial driver operating an 80,000‑pound truck in […]

For many small carriers and owner-operators, factoring can feel like a lifeline. You deliver a load today, and instead of waiting 30 to 45 days to get paid, your factoring company cuts you a check within 24 hours. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? But what many don’t realize is that the contract you sign with […]

There was a time when folks laughed at the idea of ELDs becoming mandatory. A time when faxing rate cons felt like standard procedure. And when you could run a whole dispatch board with nothing but a yellow pad and a flip phone. That time ain’t now. We’re living in the age of automation. And […]

There’s a quiet, ugly truth behind many of the owner-operator breakdowns you see these days: DPF systems and emissions enforcement have bled carriers dry for years. The semiconductor chips, the sensors, the regeneration cycles—they’re not just technical burdens. They’re capital killers. Now, a new bill—the “Diesel Truck Liberation Act”—is pushing back against the EPA’s reach, […]

Recently, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced it would withhold approximately $40.7 million in federal grant funding from the state of California, citing that it failed to enforce the federal English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement for commercial drivers.  That move is deeper than headline politics. For the trucking industry — especially small carriers and […]

Over the past several years, the transportation industry has struggled to keep pace with soaring e-commerce demand. Against this backdrop, Amazon developed the Amazon Freight Partner program to create opportunities within its middle-mile logistics network for both leaders looking to start a transportation business and professional CDL-A drivers looking to expand their driving career.

When I first stepped into CDL school more than two decades ago, there was one thing that stuck with me—not just for the test, not just for the road exam—but something that still rides with me every single mile: the Smith System. They didn’t just teach it. They drilled it. Burned it into our brains […]

Contributed Content If you’ve ever thought about hauling FEMA loads, now’s the time to get your paperwork in order. FEMA’s Transportation Service Provider (TSP) program opens registration once a year — and if you miss it, you’ll be sitting on the sidelines when emergency freight starts moving. Getting approved isn’t complicated, but it does take […]

A white paper and webinar analyze the trucking market’s sudden shift.

Arkestro co-founder Edmund Zagorin advises companies to treat tariff disruptions as an opportunity to modernize procurement with AI.

For small fleets and owner-operators running on thin margins, idling is one of those hidden costs that can sneak up and eat thousands off your bottom line. But here’s the truth: not all idling is bad. Sometimes it protects your engine, your driver, and even your revenue. The key is knowing when idling makes sense […]

Robinson’s Asset Management System provides detailed, live data on trailers to brokers and their customers.

Mexico’s tariffs on Chinese goods and new customs requirements are forcing U.S. retailers to rethink fulfillment models.

Every time that check engine light comes on, you’re left guessing — but with one small device in your cab, you could skip the tow, avoid the shop, and handle regens on your own terms.

Rates are holding steady for now, fuel prices are climbing, and reefer carriers are still outperforming the rest — but without a real uptick in volumes or inbound freight, small carriers are walking a fine line between survival and pressure this October.

While headlines focus on arrests, the real story is playing out on the road. Drivers are quietly avoiding entire regions, brokers are scrambling to cover freight, and rates are climbing as fear starts rewriting the trucking map.

Walk into any diesel shop today and you’ll see it plain as day — bays full of trucks, fewer techs on the floor, and longer wait times that stretch into weeks instead of days. For a small carrier, that’s not just an inconvenience, that’s revenue bleeding out while your truck sits idle.

Amazon Relay has evolved significantly beyond its traditional power-only foundation, creating new opportunities for carriers with diverse equipment configurations. As Amazon’s consumer sales continue growing and the company expands support for third-party shippers, Relay recognizes the critical need to accommodate carriers operating various trailer types and specialized equipment. Breaking beyond power-only limitations When carriers think […]

National Tree Co. CEO warns that tariffs and inflation are adding millions in costs and could tighten supplies of artificial trees and holiday décor.

Over 8 out of 10 attendees walked into Amazon RelayCon 2025 looking to grow — not survive — and the event made one thing clear: for the right type of small carrier, Relay is a business model worth studying.

Every small carrier says they’re “reliable.” Every one says they’re “family-owned.” And all of them promise they “treat customers like partners.” Those slogans look good on a website, but the truth is they don’t move the needle when you’re one of nearly 580,000 active U.S. carriers — and more than 91% of them run 10 […]

PMI just posted a 49.1 — and while that might not mean much to most, for small carriers, it’s a crystal ball into freight demand, margin pressure, and the moves you need to make now to stay profitable.

Every small carrier has been there — staring at a weak load board, wondering if hauling a $1.35-a-mile load is better than running empty. On paper it looks like “something is better than nothing.” But the real cost of cheap freight goes far beyond the numbers you see in the rate confirmation.

Trucking isn’t a flat line — it’s a rollercoaster of peaks, valleys, and regional swings driven by what people eat, buy, and build. If you don’t plan for freight seasons, they’ll plan for you — and usually the result is a thin wallet.

Every owner-operator faces that moment of truth: take the cheap freight in front of you, or burn diesel running empty to the next market. The wrong choice can eat your margin. The right one can save your week. Here’s how to know the difference.

Many small fleets don’t think about their next driver until the seat is already empty. By then it’s too late — you’re scrambling, trucks are parked, and revenue is bleeding. Building bench strength isn’t a luxury, it’s survival.

Consistently heavy freight doesn’t just risk a DOT ticket — it slowly eats away at your truck’s suspension, brakes, and cooling system until potentially one day you’re sidelined with a repair bill.

Your trailer doesn’t have to blow a tire or drop a landing gear to ruin your week — sometimes it’s as simple as a drip from the roof or a weak wall panel that lets in water. Those small oversights are what turn profitable freight into expensive claims and can cost you the shipper’s trust for good.

FreightWaves’ Mary O’Connell speaks to Jesse Buckingham, founder of Vooma, about how AI workflow tools can take on many of the tedious tasks of daily operation.

FreightWaves’ Thomas Wasson speaks to Justin Brevik, senior manager of fleet maintenance and service at Love’s Travel Stops, about the impressive capabilities of Love’s Fleet V.I.E.W.

Interim final rule immediately limits eligibility following multiple fatal crashes in 2025 and scrutiny from the trucking community.

OTR Solutions, a full-service freight factoring and transportation technology company, has announced the launch of its new fuel credit offering, the OTR Fuel Card. This offer provides both new and established carriers with reliable access to credit backed by their factoring relationship, not their credit score. The factoring integration ensures carriers can fuel today and […]

Triumph is raising the stakes in freight tech with the launch of its integrated Pricing and Performance Intelligence solution, a platform that blends rate prediction, carrier scorecarding, and capacity sourcing into a single tool for brokers. Built on the combined data of Greenscreens.ai and Isometric Technologies (ISO), the new system is designed to help brokers […]

Excerpt: The produce industry’s demographic shift toward Millennial consumers is creating new transportation opportunities for reefer carriers as the freight recession shows signs of improvement. With Millennials driving 68% of produce growth and demanding convenience-focused solutions, cold chain logistics faces challenges and opportunities in 2025.

The transportation industry finds itself at a pivotal moment where generative artificial intelligence (AI) holds immense promise for operational transformation, yet many logistics companies remain uncertain about how to effectively harness these emerging technologies. Rather than viewing AI as a wholesale replacement for existing infrastructure, the most successful organizations are discovering its true value lies […]

With the DOT floating new flexible Hours of Service (HOS) pilot programs, owner-operators could stand to earn more per mile — or lose ground fast if the changes don’t match their operations. Here’s what to look at.

Echo Global Logistics opens an office in Monterrey to meet rising U.S.-Mexico trade demand.

This year’s F3: Future of Freight Festival will bring back rapid-fire demos, high-tech exhibits, engaging discussions with thought-provoking speakers, market insights, fun networking experiences, live music and more, but this time totally reimagined to fully immerse you in a festival atmosphere with more venues, experiences and Chattanooga vibes. Join the greatest minds in the industry Oct. 21-22, 2025, for the largest festival in freight.

Accur8 is transforming the logistics landscape with a comprehensive suite that goes beyond traditional TMS philosophy.

Check out the full list of winners.

Two pilot programs will test flexible hours-of-service configurations as questions persist about ELD fraud, system vulnerabilities, and whether current regulations effectively reduce fatigue-related crashes despite improved compliance rates.

Uber Freight’s Deliver 2025 conference mixed optimism about AI and autonomous logistics with warnings from economists over rising tariffs and inflation.

Lyric has secured a $43.5 million Series B round to fuel the growth of its AI-driven supply chain intelligence platform, a sign of both the company’s momentum and the broader shift in investor attention toward technology that can keep pace with increasingly complex global logistics. The round reflects the market’s appetite for tools that go […]

North Africa and the Middle East are in the middle of a cold chain explosion. The market is expected to reach $41.1 billion by the end of 2030 with a compound annual growth rate of 8.8%, according to BCC Research. DP World has unveiled plans for a state-of-the-art cold storage facility in Egypt, specifically, the […]

The freight industry has long struggled with a fundamental problem: messy, fragmented data. Manual check calls, siloed platforms, and limited visibility still define how billions of dollars’ worth of freight moves across the U.S. every year. Catena, a New York–based startup, believes it has found the solution, a neutral data infrastructure layer designed to connect, […]

The Broken Broker–Carrier Dynamic Ask most small carriers what they think about brokers and you’ll get some version of the same response: “They’re just middlemen, taking their cut and squeezing us dry.” And to be fair, that feeling hasn’t come out of thin air. Too many brokerages treat carriers like interchangeable parts. They chase the […]

This article is contributed content. It does not reflect the views or opinions of FreightWaves or any of its subsidiaries. This article has been updated following commentary and feedback from Amazon. Fraud takes root and multiplies in a system that rewards speed and low cost above all else. Contract freight is built on predictability, and […]

LunaPath launches an AI platform built to help freight brokers and 3PLs slash routine work and save on operational costs.

There’s no gut punch quite like the phone call that starts with: “Hey, I’ve been in an accident.” Whether it’s a minor fender bender or a major wreck, your role as a small fleet owner instantly shifts from dispatcher to damage control. And the first few hours after that call will determine how expensive, disruptive, […]

When many drivers hear “local route,” they picture early starts, dinner at home, and steady pay. But when it comes to local food service trucking, that image misses a lot of what it really takes. This isn’t dry van drop-and-hook. This is backbreaking work, punishing schedules, constant hustle, and hours behind the wheel — all […]

You can’t avoid paying for fuel. But the truth is, many small carriers are bleeding thousands each month because they’re not controlling the two things they can control: Everything else—load rates, lane volatility, repair costs—is a roll of the dice in this market. Fuel? That’s your game to win or lose. So today we’re breaking […]

“What did the shipper pay on that load?” It’s a question that’s lingered in truck stop diners, dispatch offices, and group chats for years — and if you’ve ever booked a load through a freight broker, you’ve probably wondered the same thing. You get a rate confirmation. You move the load. You get paid. But […]

Building Resilience and Innovation: California’s Pharmaceutical Renaissance California is quietly staging a pharmaceutical renaissance, not of arts or culture this time, but of science, supply chains, and life-changing therapies. As the backbone of biopharma innovation in the U.S., the Golden State is becoming a place of industry transformation, embodied most recently by investments from Amgen […]

Let’s Be Honest… Most drivers aren’t taught how to negotiate. They’re handed a truck, told to book freight, and shoved out into a market where brokers are often trained—literally trained—to protect the margin. You? You’re just trying to get paid enough to run another week without dipping into your savings. But negotiation is a skill. […]

You’re rolling through Arkansas, just crossed the state line, and boom—your check engine light hits, your coolant temp spikes, and the power falls out of the pedal. You limp it to the shoulder, hazard lights flashing. You’re not just down—you’re at the mercy of a roadside repair vendor you’ve never met, in a city you […]

Some trucks are just cursed. That’s just the fact. Used trucks are especially a dice roll.  You know the one — every time it goes in for a PM, something new gets discovered. Transmission slipping. Electrical gremlins. DPF acting up. And as soon as you think you’re back on the road making money, bam—check engine […]

Scaling down doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re making a hard, strategic decision to live to fight another day — and more people need to hear that truth without shame. Whether you’ve got 3 trucks or 30, the moment you realize one (or more) of them is bleeding you dry, it’s time to stop […]

This Is One of the Hardest Decisions in the Business—And One of the Most Misunderstood If you’re sitting behind the wheel on your 10 hour break,  weighing whether to keep running under your own MC or lease onto someone else’s authority, you’re not alone. 2025 has put a lot of pressure on small carriers and […]

If you’ve been sitting at a fuel island wondering when this market’s going to flip, you’re not alone. And you’re not crazy for thinking it still feels off—because it is. At a recent industry event, the annual FTR Transportation Intelligence Conference, two heavy-hitters in trucking leadership said what many folks in our Playbook community have […]

The Lesson Most Carriers Learn Too Late When most fleet owners think about maintenance, they think repairs. They think of downtime, tow bills, and chasing mechanics. But if you’re planning to grow—and not just survive—the only way to keep your trucks moving is to build a proactive maintenance program, not a reactive one. In this […]

Impersonation fraud is not slowing down; it is getting smarter. Scammers hack emails, forge documents, and pose as carriers, brokers, or even shippers to steal freight and money. Small fleets and new brokers are prime targets. Protect yourself by locking down email, owning your domain, and vetting every deal before you move.

If you’re sitting at a fuel island weighing whether to keep running under your own MC or lease onto someone else’s authority, you’re not alone. 2025 has put a lot of pressure on small carriers and owner-operators to reevaluate everything. Margins are tighter. Brokers are pickier. Insurance rates are through the roof. And let’s not […]

E-commerce retailers using programs like Amazon FBA or Walmart Fulfillment Services face mounting logistics challenges that can make or break their success. From rigid delivery windows to seasonal inventory fluctuations, these sellers must navigate a complex shipping environment while maintaining tight margins. In this high-stakes arena, innovative freight solutions like Shared Truckload (STL) are emerging […]

Wirebee automates 40-90% of a broker’s inbound calls.

Flatbedding ain’t just freight without walls. It’s a completely different beast, and if you’ve never pulled open deck before, you need to check your assumptions at the door. There’s more money in it sometimes, sure—but there’s also more responsibility, more exposure, and more prep. And if your truck isn’t already set up for it? You’re […]

They say you can’t cut some  corners in trucking, but a lot of folks sure try when it comes to tires. Wide base singles—better known as super singles—promise lighter weight, better fuel economy, and a smoother ride. But are they worth it? Or are you trading redundancy for risk just to shave a few hundred […]

If you run refrigerated freight, you already know reefer maintenance isn’t optional—it’s mission-critical. But there’s one number that quietly determines the health, resale value, and future liability of your trailer more than any other: reefer hours. So many carriers only look at year, brand, or cosmetic condition when buying or selling a reefer trailer. But […]

Trucking is a business that’ll take everything you’ve got—and then ask for more. It’s not just the freight market that beats you down. It’s the long nights, the payroll stress, the truck that breaks down two days after you paid to fix it, the fuel card hitting its limit, and the broker that ghosts you […]

There are usually two stories behind a truck abandonment. One is the tale of a fed-up driver — pushed too far by poor planning, bad equipment, or broken promises. The other is the shady operator, the one who never intended to finish the job right and saw your truck as a temporary paycheck. Either way, […]

Explore how the OmniPoint fulfillment platform by OneRail boosts visibility and execution in logistics.

Improved auditing reduced write-offs to below 1%.

If you’re still behind the wheel every day, running your own loads, answering broker calls between stops, juggling dispatch while doing your pre-trip — it’s time for a gut check. Because there’s a fine line between hustle and hustle blindness. This article isn’t about telling you to park your truck tomorrow. It’s about knowing when […]

You’d think the market was rebounding, but all signs show we’re still in a fragile place. Rates aren’t climbing. Volumes are spotty. And OTRI (tender rejections) is stuck in the single digits, which usually means brokers are in full control of the market. So why are so many used trucks being bought right now? Let’s […]