Trucking

For the past year, there’s been a steady belief floating around the industry that once enough capacity leaves the market, rates will finally rise. It sounds reassuring. It sounds straightforward. But it’s also dangerously incomplete. Because the reality small carriers deal with every single day tells a different story: capacity exits are temporary, but demand […]

Lineage is pushing ahead with expansions in Texas, Indiana and Louisiana amid tariff-driven volatility in the market.

When you’re a one-truck owner-operator or a small 3–5 truck fleet, your morning rhythm is clockwork: coffee, pre-trip, open the load board, refresh, refresh again, stare at the rates, call brokers, negotiate, roll. But all it takes is one outage—DAT glitches, Truckstop freezes, the phone app crashes, or the entire system goes offline—and you’re stuck. […]

The moment Home Depot dropped its Q3-2025 earnings (along with updated guidance), it wasn’t just Wall Street that took notice. If you’re running a one-truck or five-truck fleet, you should’ve been watching too. Because what Home Depot does in its stores and warehouses eventually shows up on the load board, in your balance sheet, and […]

When the lights came up at FreightWaves’ F3: Future of Freight Festival this fall, few expected one of the most talked-about sessions to shift the conversation away from agentic AI and toward something a little more grounded: fuel routing.  That’s exactly what happened when MapUp took the stage with FirstFleet, Inc. to debut its new […]

From pharmaceutical products that must remain within a strict temperature range to high-value technology moving across borders, high-stakes freight demands a higher standard of care. Werner Premium Services represents the company’s go-to-market strategy for specialized freight that demands more than standard handling. This division builds on Werner’s core operation with advanced capabilities and added layers […]

Transflo has named Dwayne Primeau president of Assured Telematics Innovation by Transflo.

Freight moves fast, and even the most seasoned carriers and brokers can struggle to keep up. PCS Software wants to change that.

Trimble debuted a next-generation TMS, new AI agents and other tools at its tech conference on Monday

This week in Borderlands: Nearshoring spurs C.H. Robinson expansion in Texas; Safran invests $115M to expand aerospace operations in Querétaro; and $80M logistics campus takes shape in Tucson.

FreightWaves’ Craig Fuller and DAT’s Ken Adamo recently debated freight demand, CDL enforcement and whether automation will define the industry’s future.

Declining container volumes are aiding port and terminal operations, but trucking issues could impact the supply chain in 2026, a new report finds.

By the time December rolls around, trucking looks different. Freight slows down. Parking fills up earlier. Drivers feel the cold creeping into their bones. But there’s one thing winter does that no other season can: it slows the world down just enough for us to remember what matters. And that’s when the Escort to Arlington […]

In this episode of What the Truck?!?, host Malcolm Harris sits down with eTruux CEO Shan Ravin to break down how eTruux is bridging efficiency and trust between shippers and carriers with transparent pricing and integrated TMS + ELD systems.

In this episode of Loaded and Rolling, host Thomas Wasson sits down with Michael Precia to break down how fleets can manage rising operational costs by avoiding some of the worst costs with safety and compliance optimization.

The industry has a serious love/hate relationship between motor carriers and brokers.  That relationship can be even more volatile with dispatch services in between the brokers and the carriers.  The reality is that in today’s market, carriers are looking for every edge they can find to get the best rates possible to secure the future […]

The first real winter as an owner-operator feels a lot like your first year running your own business — the weather just exposes what you didn’t prepare for. Cold doesn’t care how motivated you are, how nice your truck is, or how solid your dispatcher sounds on the phone. When the temps fall below freezing, […]

Uber Freight enters the last mile delivery market through an investment in technology platform Better Trucks.

Transaction valued at $1.8 billion for Swedish autonomous and electric truck technology company

Milestone establishes new transparency, insurability, and operational accountability standards for driverless truck insurance

Manipulation of electronic logging devices is creating a two-tier trucking market — where some carriers follow hours-of-service rules and others bypass them to run nearly double the miles per week, experts said.

Partnership expansion includes 100 redundant steering units, integrating innovations like ReAX for fail-safe operations.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has officially put the brakes on the FMCSA’s interim final rule governing non-domiciled CDLs, issuing an administrative stay on November 10, 2025. The decision, filed under Case No. 25-1215 (Jorge Rivera Lujan et al. v. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), temporarily halts enforcement of […]

At this year’s F3: Future of Freight Festival, Sope Creek Capital Founder Kevin Nolan sat down with FreightWaves’ Founder Craig Fuller to talk about the kinds of startups that succeed in the current logistics landscape.

FreightWaves sat down with Danielle Villegas of PCS Software to talk about how the freight industry will have to reorganize to make the best use of AI in logistics.

When Trucker’s Paradise opened its doors in late 2024, the company’s promise was bold enough to turn heads across the industry. The Gainesville, Texas-based travel center billed itself as “America’s biggest truck stop,” a sprawling complex built to redefine what life on the road could look like for professional drivers. The concept was ambitious: convert […]

The political shorthand you see on social platforms—maybe misleading if you don’t take the time to sit-down and unpack it. What this bill really does is change how non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) are issued in the U.S. It’s not about nationality; it’s about eligibility, record-keeping and compliance. Whether you’re an owner-operator running your own […]

Major impacts to travel are happening across the midwest as an early season storm brings snow and ice to the regions.

This week in Borderlands Mexico: Tariffs forcing nearshoring, regional sourcing, experts say; Kuehne+Nagel boosts cross-border capacity in El Paso; and Motherson invests $50M in Mexico plant to supply Audi. 

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 […]

The heavy hitters in trucking just finished their Q3 calls, and what they’re saying is loud enough for small carriers to hear: things are messy, but there’s a glimmer of opportunity if you play tight. From the Covenant Logistics team seeing “all‑time high” contract bids, to Old Dominion Freight Line eyeballing shrinking tonnage, the message […]

You’ve seen thousands of them by now. The broker emails the rate confirmation, you glance at the pay, the pickup, the drop — maybe the weight if you’re paying attention — and then hit “Sign.” But that one-page piece of paper you treat like a formality? It’s the contract. Not a suggestion. Not a handshake. […]

Texas employers across manufacturing, food distribution, recycling and transportation recently announced lay offs of more than 920 workers.

When you’re staring at that lease-on contract, it’s easy to get tunnel vision. You see the logo, the promise of steady freight, maybe a fuel card or a shiny dispatch app — and you start thinking this might finally be the break you need. But that signature can change everything. Whether you lease your truck […]

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. […]

Most small trucking company owner wants to save on fuel — but some don’t actually know how. They’ll pull into the first truck stop they see, top off the tank, and gripe about diesel prices on the CB. But here’s the truth that separates profitable operators from the ones barely scraping by: your fuel cost […]

Most owner-operators know how to figure out what it costs to run their truck — that’s your breakeven point. But there’s another number that rarely gets enough attention in this industry. It’s the one that lenders care about, the one that successful fleets track religiously, and the one that separates guesswork from control: Your Operating […]

U.S. Bank report shows shippers paid more to move less amid tariffs and economic slowdown, with regional divides deepening.

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

Uber Freight revenue remained flat in the third-quarter as the company’s mobility and delivery units powered profits and growth.

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

This week in Borderlands Mexico: Averitt expands San Antonio terminal to meet nearshoring demand; Blockades paralyze access to Mexico’s Port of Manzanillo; and Woojer taps Texas Logistic & Fulfillment for distribution operations.

As someone who’s spent decades immersed in the freight and logistics industry, I’ve learned that freight data often tells the story of the broader economy long before traditional indicators catch up. Right now, that data is painting a stark picture: The U.S. economy is entrenched in a goods recession. While consumer spending on services might […]

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.

With the integration milestone complete, both companies are now looking toward the next steps—broader commercial deployment in the near future.

Amazon reported third-quarter earnings of $180.2 billion in revenue, up 13% year over year.

A wave of job cuts spanning logistics providers, packaging plants and manufacturers is impacting the supply chain entering 2026.

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.

Transportation Secretary said on Thursday that 7,248 truck drivers have been placed out of service for failing English proficiency tests.

Aurora’s Q3 review highlights over 100,000 driverless miles on Texas roads, a new El Paso freight lane and Phoenix expansion plans for 2026.

Jay Tomasello has been appointed chief technology officer at Transflo, where he will lead AI and innovation strategies.

A heavy-duty truck hauling rocks collided with an Amtrak passenger train carrying 129 people near San Antonio on Tuesday.

The ‘driver shortage’ myth might finally die.

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 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.

Inspectors pulled 2,296 commercial vehicles off the road during the 2025 Brake Safety Week, a 15.1% out-of-service rate virtually identical to 2024’s 15% failure rate. With next year’s enforcement already scheduled for Aug. 23-29, 2026, the question isn’t whether we’ll see similar results

This week in Borderlands Mexico: New customs regulation could slow cross-border trade; Daye opens $300M manufacturing plant in Nuevo León; and US eases truck tariff burden for Mexico under new trade structure.

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal’s customized $180,000 Range Rover was stolen while enroute to Louisiana.

President Donald Trump halted trade talks with Canada after Ontario aired an ad featuring Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.

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 […]

The American trucking industry is facing unprecedented challenges, marked by a deepening economic crisis and deteriorating highway safety standards. While supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to the transportation sector, the narrative surrounding these issues has been largely mischaracterized, particularly regarding the nature and extent of the purported truck driver shortage in […]

The trucking industry is is seeing tightening capacity and regulatory crackdowns that will likely to set the stage for a market recovery in 2026, Covenant CEO David Parker says.

Covenant Logistics Group reported a 30% drop in third-quarter profit amid higher operating costs and weaker truckload utilization.

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.

Experts say AI and social-media markets are transforming how thieves target freight.

A Texas trucking CEO said English language enforcement varies from state-to-state, confusing drivers and exposing flaws in how the law is applied.

Truckstop.com has launched the freight industry’s first load board exclusively for dry vans, aiming to provide an affordable edge for owner-operators and small fleets.

The dual pressure of shrinking margins and escalating fraud has prompted brokers to take a hard look at their day-to-day workflows. There are unfortunately plenty of weak points that could be costing many brokers money and exposing them to risk. One area that often flies under the radar: the inbox.

Robinson announces its ‘Agentic Supply Chain.’

Auto Hauler Exchange was recently removed from the Central Dispatch platform.

Travis Rhyan, the founder of 10-4, an early pioneer in the freight visibility space has now set out to create an AI-powered platform for small truckers. I had the chance to interview Travis about his journey and plans for Carrier1. Here is the interview: Craig Fuller: Welcome, Travis. Thank you for taking the time to […]

This week in Borderlands Mexico: Foreign trade zones gain traction as importers seek tariff relief; Exports drive Mexico’s surprise growth, but USMCA uncertainty clouds outlook; and Port of Victoria partners with Blue Energy on $1B nuclear power project.

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 […]

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has removed five electronic logging devices from its approved list as the agency steps up compliance oversight.

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 […]

The Trump administration’s pause on work visas for foreign truck drivers — combined with tighter ICE enforcement — is creating upheaval in the cross-border freight market.

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.

Trucking’s path to sustainability isn’t straightforward, but artificial intelligence is bridging the gap between aspiration and action. In a recent episode of Loaded and Rolling, host Thomas Wasson welcomed EROAD Chief Data Science Officer Dean Marris and Chief Sustainability Officer Craig Marris to explore the “messy middle” between sustainability and artificial intelligence in the trucking […]

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 […]

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a waiver on October 9, 2025, extending the deadline for full implementation of the National Registry II electronic medical certification system to January 10, 2026.

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