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 […]
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 […]
One of the hardest moments in trucking ownership is realizing your truck is worth less than what you still owe on it. You bought that truck thinking it was an investment, a tool to build your business. But markets shift, equipment depreciates, and sometimes the note outruns the value. That’s when you’re upside down—owing $90,000 […]
Commercial truck leasing through companies like Penske or Ryder is built for business flexibility—but that flexibility comes at a price if you exit early. Whether you’re downsizing your fleet, facing a cash crunch, or pivoting your business model, turning in a leased tractor before the end of the agreement doesn’t mean you just hand over […]
A fatal crash in Florida involving a non–English-speaking CDL holder set off a political firestorm—and it didn’t take long for Washington to respond. With headlines stacking up and safety advocates calling for accountability, newly appointed Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy issued a hardline directive: states must begin strict enforcement of English proficiency rules for commercial […]
For years, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has pushed one of the most recycled headlines in transportation: “We’re facing a historic driver shortage.” If you follow industry media, you’ve seen it. If you’re an owner-operator or small carrier, you’ve probably posted a comment on X or Facebook in debate of someone who recycles this message. […]
Some small carriers treat the rate confirmation like just another attachment—something to forward and forget. But the smartest ones know better. They use it as a control point. Because the rate con doesn’t just say where a load goes—it outlines how your money moves. It’s the one document that touches your driver, your dispatch, your […]
No warning light. No catastrophic failure. Just a slow, consistent leak in your fuel economy and regen performance until you’re wondering where all your margin went. Let’s talk real. If you’re running a DPF-equipped truck, that 7th injector could be costing you 5–10% in fuel efficiency, accelerating ash buildup in your aftertreatment system, and setting […]
Some small fleet owners measure success by how many trucks they can add. One truck becomes three, three becomes five, and before long, the whole focus is on truck count. But here’s the truth the industry rarely talks about: trucks are not the business. They are tools. Adding more of them doesn’t automatically mean you’re […]
A lot of folks think “growth” just means more trucks, more loads, more lanes. But that’s not growth—that can mean chaos. Real, sustainable growth comes from clarity. And clarity only comes when you know your numbers inside and out. If you’re not tracking, reviewing, and executing off your data, you’re not scaling—you’re just guessing. And […]
Here’s the truth: fuel is your second-biggest cost right behind your truck payment or labor. Yet too many fleets treat it like an afterthought. If you’re not planning fuel alongside your routes, you’re not running in the most effective way—you’re running blind. And in this market, blind spots cost real money. The fleets that win […]
If you’re still booking loads of freight based on whatever’s paying the most today, you’re not really running a business—you’re rolling dice. A business that lives only on spot freight is built on sand. The minute the tide shifts—rates drop, brokers ghost, or slow season hits—your whole operation sinks. On the flip side, chasing the […]
Here’s the hard truth: you don’t control freight. You don’t control whether a shipper changes their plans last minute or if a broker backs out of a commitment. What you do control is how you respond. Too many small fleet owners treat freight cancellations like personal attacks. But this business isn’t personal—it’s just business. You […]
Capacity, volume, and spot rate data at the driver’s fingertips.
If you’ve been watching the freight headlines lately—or reading the comments on socials—they all seem to circle back to the same loaded question: Should drivers who can’t speak or read English be allowed behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound truck? It’s a fair question. But the deeper you dig, the more complicated the answer becomes. […]
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How Intentional Planning and a Lean Operation Can Beat Market Volatility There’s this belief floating around that 10 trucks is the magic number. That once you hit double digits, you’ve made it. That it somehow guarantees seven figures, financial freedom, or a smooth operation. But the truth is—and I say this as someone who’s coached […]
As your trucking business starts to scale beyond that first truck, this question shows up fast—should you stay running under your own authority, or lease onto someone else’s? It’s tempting to chase what looks easier. It’s tempting to let someone else handle the backend while you just drive or manage. But the truth is, how […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
It takes work to land shippers as a small carrier, but a few small changes can mean the difference between winning and losing freight.
The freight recession is dragging on and getting deeper as tariffs throw a wrench into any possible recovery. What does this mean for small carriers?
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.
It’s time to change the way small fleets and owner-operators think about business. I’m Adam Wingfield, and change is coming with The Playbook.
The pandemic hype about $4-per-mile truck rates lasting forever crashed to earth in the past year, leaving disillusioned small carriers looking to get out.
Current market conditions – combined with the climbing expenses of operating and maintaining a truck – have created a difficult situation for the small companies that keep America moving.
“TrueTMS carries a price point that is affordable for a one- to 20-truck operator to purchase,” says T3 Tech’s George Thellman.
While companies generally support the Securities and Exchange Commission’s goals of providing climate data to investors, they have apprehension about the burden the rules could place on small carriers.
As fuel prices rise, the ability of last-mile delivery firms to either absorb those costs or pass them along to customers could be key to their survival.
EKA Solutions’ TMS is gaining traction among small and midsize carriers and brokers with “high adoption rates.”
The American Trucking Associations said the industry moved 11.84 billion tons of freight in 2019, generating almost $792 billion in revenue.
Congress expected to approve package that could help avoid permanent shutdowns
Brought to you by EROAD… FMCSA says no transition period, but carriers are waiting until the last minute.
