No studio. No script. No safe answers.

This episode of Brake Check wasn’t filmed in a quiet room...it went down LIVE at the Broker Carrier Summit in Kansas City… where brokers, carriers, regulators, and tech companies all showed up in the same place… and finally had to face each other.

And when that happens?

Things get REAL.

We’re talking:

The growing divide between brokers and carriers

What the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is actually doing (and not doing)

The truth about enforcement, training, and pay

Tech companies promising solutions… but are they fixing anything?

And the one thing this industry STILL refuses to admit

This isn’t a panel.

This isn’t PR.

This is what happens when the walls come down and the conversations get uncomfortable.

If you’ve ever wondered:

- Why trust is completely broken in trucking
- Why the same problems keep getting worse
- And what it actually looks like when the industry tries to fix itself…

This is the episode you don’t skip.

Welcome to Brake Check

Real trucking talk for real trucking people.

No fluff. No spin. Just the truth.

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We went LIVE from OOIDA headquarters in Grain Valley with Lewie Pugh for one of the realest trucking conversations you’ll hear all year.

How did OOIDA get started? Why are Hours of Service still broken? Have ELDs helped… or made things worse? Why are drivers still underpaid? And was the so-called “driver shortage” ever real… or was it used to flood the market and suppress wages?

This episode pulls no punches.

We break down:

The truth about HOS rules

Why ELD mandates still frustrate drivers

Driver pay vs industry profits

Training standards and CDL concerns

The “driver shortage” narrative

Why so many truckers feel the system is stacked against them

No fluff. No spin. Just real trucking talk from inside OOIDA HQ.
Subscribe for more hard-hitting freight news, trucking truth, and voices that matter.

#Trucking #OOIDA #ELD #HOS #DriverPay #CDL #Freight #Truckers #CharlesGracey #BrakeCheck

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Most small fleets and owner-operators won’t fail because they can’t drive… they’ll fail because they’re operating 2026 trucking with 2016 tools.

In this special Brake Check episode from the Freightwaves Small Fleet & Owner-Operator Summit 2026, we expose how smart carriers are fighting back with AI, better freight strategy, faster operations, and real-world survival tactics.

If your truck is moving but your money isn’t… this show is for you.

On Today’s Episode:

Truckstop.com breaks down their acquisition of Wize Load and what it means for carriers looking for smarter freight, better tools, and more opportunity.

Hey Bubba reveals how AI can help you:

Truckpedia explains why most trucking companies use AI like Google… while smart carriers use it to increase profit, efficiency, and speed.

International Towing & Recovery Museum joins us for a powerful conversation on preserving trucking history, honoring roadside heroes through the Wall of the Fallen, and supporting families through the Survivor Fund.

Plus: roadside safety, distracted drivers, Move Over law failures, and why too many industry professionals never make it home.

No fluff. No spin. No fake gurus.

Just real trucking talk for real trucking people.

Subscribe for more hard-hitting freight content, trucking news, and industry truth.

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#Trucking #OwnerOperator #SmallFleet #BrakeCheck #Freight #Logistics #TruckingNews #AI #Truckstop #Dispatch #CDL #BusinessGrowth

Today on Brake Check, we’re tackling one of the most talked-about and most misunderstood issues in trucking: Driver recruiting.

Some say it’s never been harder.

Others say the industry just hasn’t adapted.

But here’s the real question…

- Are we actually short on drivers…

-Or are we just failing to recruit and retain, the right way?

Because while companies scramble to hire, the headlines tell a different story

Incidents, accountability gaps, and a system that keeps pushing drivers out faster than it brings them in.

We break it all down with:

Inside this episode:

We also hit the headlines from a shocking bus incident to the growing questions around accountability in companies like C.H. Robinson and ask:
How do you recruit drivers into a system they don’t trust?

Then we close it out with a wild autonomous truck moment that proves one thing:

You can bring in all the tech you want…
but without drivers, and without fixing the foundation none of it works.

No fluff. No spin. Just real trucking talk.

Sound off in the comments:

Is this a driver shortage, good job shortage … or a recruiting failure?

#Trucking #DriverRecruiting #CDL #FreightWaves #BrakeCheck #Logistics #TruckDrivers #SupplyChain #DriverShortage #Recruiting

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Today on Brake Check, we’re ripping the cover off one of the most controversial topics in trucking—lease purchase programs.

They promise:

But drivers are asking a different question…

Why are so many walking away with nothing?

We put a major carrier in the hot seat and asked the questions nobody wants to answer:

We also bring in real industry data:

*** Plus mystery guest appearance for the hard stop question of the day ***

No fluff. No spin. Just the truth everyone needs before they sign on the dotted line.

If you’re thinking about lease purchase…
 watch this first.

Drop your experience in the comments.......good or bad.

Let’s put real stories behind the numbers.

#truckingexposed #leasepurchase #hurricanexpress #brakecheck #freightwaves #ooida #fightingfortruckers

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Today’s Brake Check is pulling no punches.

After the 60 Minutes trucking exposé where SuperEgo got super busted, we’re digging deeper into what’s really happening behind the scenes and why so many drivers and carriers are getting crushed while still running hard.

This episode breaks down:

The schemes and bad actors hurting the entire industry

Why “doing it right” matters more than ever with the Bennett Family of Companies

The REAL cost of operating a truck in today’s market, fuel, maintenance, and profit margins

How smart operators stay afloat while others go broke

This isn’t fluff. This is the truth about trucking in 2026.

If you’re a driver, owner-operator, or fleet...this is one episode you can’t afford to miss.

Watch, share, and drop your thoughts in the comments....what’s REALLY breaking trucking right now?

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Most truckers don’t go broke because they can’t find freight…
they go broke because of one decision—and it can cost you $100,000 or more.
On this episode of Brake Check, we break down the $100K mistake truckers keep making—and how to beat it.
We kick things off with Purple Wave Auctions to talk about how smart operators are buying trucks the RIGHT way—without getting buried in payments or upside down before they even get rolling.
Then we bring in Super Trucker Justin Martin to expose the truth behind lease purchase programs—how they work, why so many drivers fall for them, and why they can leave you stuck, stressed, and starting over.
If you’re thinking about becoming an owner-operator… this is a MUST WATCH.

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Is trucking safety improving… or are we just being told it is?
In this episode of Brake Check, we bring two powerful perspectives together to break down what’s really happening in the industry right now.
First, we sit down with Anthony Triggs to talk about safety from the front lines....what’s working, what’s failing, and what drivers and carriers need to understand in today’s evolving landscape.
Then, we dive into the story behind Big Rig Nation with Patrick....covering the origin, the mission, the battle that shook things up, and the fallout that followed.
In this episode:

This isn’t surface-level conversation.
It’s real talk about safety, accountability, and the voices shaping this industry.
No fluff. No spin. Just the truth behind the wheel.

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What happens when policy meets pavement?
In this episode of Brake Check, we bring you both sides of one of the most controversial issues in trucking today.
First—Jorge, a truck driver and DACA recipient, shares his story as new CDL crackdowns threaten his livelihood, his future, and everything he’s built behind the wheel.
Then—we sit down with the CEO of GenLogs, a company using real-time data and intelligence tools to expose freight fraud, cargo theft, and ELD manipulation across the country.
Two perspectives. One industry.
We break down:

This isn’t about picking sides.
 It’s about understanding what’s really happening.
Because while some drivers are being pushed out…
Others are gaming the system.
And the question is—who’s actually being held accountable?

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In this high-energy episode of Brake Check Live on FreightWavesTV, host Charles Gracey takes listeners to the heart of the trucking industry: the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Kentucky. The episode captures the vibrant atmosphere of the event, where industry leaders, government officials, and drivers converge to discuss the future of American freight.
Key Highlights
• Federal Oversight and Safety Reform: Gracey sits down with U.S Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FMCSA Administrator Derek Bars to discuss a major “clean up” of the trucking industry. Secretary Duffy outlines a commitment to rooting out fraud, corruption, and “bad actors”.
• Policy and Enforcement: The administration representatives detail new initiatives including Operation Safe Drive, which focuses on aggressive enforcement of existing rules, English proficiency requirements for drivers, and cracking down on “chameleon carriers” and fraudulent CDL schools.
• The Rise of AI in Freight: Gabe from Hey Bubba discusses the shifting perception of Artificial Intelligence in trucking. He explains how AI is moving from a theoretical concept to a practical tool designed to automate mundane tasks, allowing drivers and carriers to focus on building deeper human relationships.
• Streamlining Recruitment and Operations: Lickin Street from Tenstreet explores the current “bullish” market sentiment and the importance of simplifying the driver application process through their “one-stop-shop” platform and Job Store.
• Technology and Feedback Loops: Todd from Truckstop.com highlights the value of “boots on the ground” feedback from drivers to refine products. He also teases upcoming AI integrations and features like Load Boost to help brokers and carriers connect more efficiently.
The Vision for the Future
The episode concludes with a passionate address from Secretary Duffy, who emphasizes that the current administration is moving at a “different pace” to prioritize safety and ensure that trucking remains a prestigious and viable way for Americans to support their families.
Whether discussing the “shoveling of microphones” on the trade show floor or the complexities of federal law, this episode provides a comprehensive look at an industry in the midst of a significant technological and regulatory transformation.

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