Is the trucking industry fixing its problems… or just covering them up?

In this episode of Brake Check, we dig into the real issues shaping the future of trucking in 2026  and what they mean for drivers, carriers, and the entire supply chain.
Joining us today:

We break down three critical conversations happening right now across the industry:

CDL Reform & Driver Pipeline

Are we lowering the bar to move freight faster? Or building a stronger, safer next generation of drivers?

Compliance Pressure on Small Carriers

New regulations and enforcement are stacking up but are smaller fleets being pushed out while larger players adapt?

The Shift to Continuous Driver Monitoring

From MVR delays to hidden violations, we expose the visibility gaps that fleets can’t afford to ignore and how real-time data is changing risk management.

This is not surface-level trucking talk.

This is the reality behind the policies, the data, and the decisions shaping the road ahead.

If you’re a driver, fleet owner, recruiter, or industry leader ... this is a conversation you need to hear.

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FreightWaves & Brake Check

Drop your thoughts in the comments:

Are we improving safety… or just creating more risk?

#Trucking #CDL #Freight #Logistics #SupplyChain #OwnerOperator #FleetManagement #Transportation #BrakeCheck #FreightWaves

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Is the trucking industry being pushed to the brink?
On this episode of Brake Check, we dive straight into the issues drivers, carriers, and industry leaders are talking about but rarely hear addressed without filters.
First, Gord Magill joins the show to break down the degradation of trucking as we know it and what he exposes in his new book about how the industry has evolved ...and not always for the better. From regulatory shifts to structural changes in the business of freight, we examine whether the foundations of trucking are quietly eroding.
Then Shannon Everett of American Truckers United climbs into the cab to talk about something drivers across the country are watching closely: Delilah’s Law. We dig into what the legislation aims to accomplish, who is supporting it, who is opposing it, and what it could mean for the future of drivers in America. When policy, politics, and profit collide, who actually pays the price?
Finally, Paul Gibson joins the conversation to bring it back to the people behind the wheel. While analysts and economists debate the freight cycle, drivers are living the reality every day. We talk about how drivers are feeling right now, what they’re seeing in settlements, and where the industry may be failing the very people who keep freight moving.
This episode connects the dots between policy, freight economics, and the real-world impact on drivers and carriers. If you care about the future of trucking, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Guests in this episode Gord Magill – Author and trucking industry analyst
Shannon Everett – American Truckers United
Paul Gibson – Broker-Carrier Summit/ Host of the Freight Break
Topics Covered
• The changing structure of the trucking industry
• Delilah’s Law and trucking policy debates
• Freight market swings and driver sentiment
• The impact of politics and regulation on truckers
• What carriers and the industry may be missing
Subscribe for more conversations about trucking, freight markets, regulations, and the future of the industry.

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Today on Brake Check, we take a break from the headlines and dive into something just as important .... the culture of trucking.
Truck shows have long been the heartbeat of the industry. They’re where drivers bring pride in their rigs, companies reconnect with the people behind the wheel, and the trucking community comes together to celebrate the profession.
Joining the show today:
Toby Young — Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS)
 The largest trucking event in North America and the gathering place for the entire industry.
Tony Justice — Country music artist, trucker and founder of Large Cars & Guitars
 One of the fastest-growing truck shows in the country celebrating trucks, music and community.
Evan Steger — Bennett Family of Companies
 Leader behind the Stars, Stripes & White Lines truck show honoring drivers and trucking heritage.
We talk about:
• The history of American truck shows
 • Why trucking culture still matters
 • Why companies should support these events
 • How truck shows help preserve the pride of the profession
 • What the future of trucking culture looks like
Because trucking isn’t just freight and logistics.
It’s community.
 It’s pride.
 And it’s a culture worth protecting.

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The trucking industry is facing pressure from every direction .... the courtroom, the criminal underworld, and regulators.
In this episode we break down a major U.S. Supreme Court case that could redefine broker liability and determine whether freight brokers can be sued for negligent carrier selection after crashes.
If the Court expands liability, it could reshape how freight is matched, how carriers are vetted, and how insurance markets price risk across the industry.
We also dive deep into the growing crisis of freight fraud and cargo theft, speaking with investigative journalist Phillip Brink, the new head of Fraud Media & Education at FreightWaves and CEO of The Bannon Report. Brink exposes how organized crime rings are infiltrating the freight marketplace and how scammers are impersonating legitimate carriers to steal high-value loads.
Plus, Dale Prax of FreightValidate and Truckstop.com joins the show to discuss regulatory compliance issues including UCR enforcement, the implications of the Supreme Court case, and what carriers and brokers should be doing right now to protect themselves.
Topics include:
• The Supreme Court case that could change broker liability
• Negligent carrier selection and the future of freight brokerage
• How cargo theft rings are professionalizing their operations
• The rise of freight fraud and identity theft in trucking
• Compliance issues every carrier should understand
• What the industry must do to restore trust in the freight marketplace
Trucking is changing fast  and the consequences are reaching the highest court in the country.
This is Brake Check, the industry wake-up call.

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Today on Brake Check Live (3/3/26), we tackle two forces reshaping trucking from the inside out: artificial intelligence and driver recruiting.
First up, Tapan joins us to introduce Hey Bubba, the AI-powered dispatcher aiming to fix what’s broken in traditional dispatch operations. Is AI about to replace human dispatchers? Or is it the efficiency tool carriers didn’t know they needed? We dig into what’s failing in dispatch today, what Hey Bubba is designed to solve, and what comes next.
Then we shift gears with Tommy Valenzuela, Transport Topics Recruiting Professional of the Year from Hansen & Adkins. From life behind the wheel to leading recruiting efforts at a high level, Tommy shares his path, what this award truly means, and — more importantly — what’s actually working (and not working) in today’s driver recruiting environment.
Dispatch.
 Recruiting.
 Technology.
 Accountability.
 The future of trucking talent.
This isn’t theory.
 This is the operational reality carriers are living every day.
Brake Check is the industry wake-up call and its here in a hard stop style today.

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Brake Check LIVE in Nashville | Standing With Trucking’s Boldest Voices
Brake Check went live in Nashville at Recruit & Retain by Conversion Interactive, standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the boldest and brightest leaders shaping the future of trucking.
This wasn’t about buzzwords.
It wasn’t about recycled conference talking points. It was about real conversations with the people building smarter recruiting systems, stronger retention strategies, and sustainable safety cultures inside today’s fleets.
Together, we tackled the questions that matter:
Is trucking truly getting safer?
How do we recruit without creating churn?
What does meaningful retention actually look like in today’s freight cycle?
How do technology, training, and leadership align to build long-term strength?
This live episode brought carrier leaders, recruiting experts, and industry operators into one direct, forward-focused conversation about raising standards, improving outcomes, and protecting the people who keep freight moving.
Brake Check is built to elevate the discussion — not tear it down. It’s a hard stop when needed, and a platform for progress when it counts.
If you are a carrier, recruiter, executive, or decision-maker serious about improving the industry, this episode delivers insight worth your time.
This is Brake Check.
Carrier-focused. Driver-aware. Industry-forward.
Subscribe for direct conversations with the leaders moving trucking ahead.

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Brake Check Live, we break down three developments every carrier should be watching closely.

FMCSA has issued mandatory directives surrounding non-domiciled CDLs ... a move designed to restore licensing integrity, but one that could reshape compliance exposure overnight.

At the same time, the insurance market continues to reveal cracks in what was once considered trucking’s last failsafe. Are carriers being judged by performance ... or by association?
And finally, federal authorities have launched a multi-state sting targeting sham CDL training operations. If training has been scaled without accountability, what does that mean for sustainable safety?
Joining the panel:
 Rob Carpenter
 Brandon Wiseman
 Truck Safe Consulting
This is not a recap of headlines.
 This is a drivers lived experience, carrier-focused breakdown of risk, liability, and operational consequences.
Brake Check is the industry wake-up call.

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Chameleon carriers.
Shut down one DOT number.
Open another.
Same trucks. Same players. New identity.
In this episode of Brake Check, we expose how some carriers are exploiting loopholes to dodge accountability  and how that behavior impacts insurance rates, broker trust, and the reputation of every honest operator on the road.
We break down:
• What a “chameleon carrier” really is
• How DOT number resets happen
• The safety and insurance consequences
• Why compliant small carriers pay the price
• What enforcement agencies are doing about it
• How brokers and technology platforms are fighting back
Featuring conversations with:
• Lewie Pugh, EVP of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
• Dan Lindsey from the Broker Carrier Summit
This isn’t about attacking small carriers.
It’s about protecting honest ones.
Because a new DOT number should not be a reset button.
If you run clean, this conversation matters to you.

#Trucking #FreightNews #DOT #CarrierCompliance #BrokerCarrier #SupplyChain #BrakeCheck

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Is trucking entering a new era?

In this episode of Brake Check on FreightWaves, we examine two forces shaping the future of freight workforce development and legal accountability.

First, Lindsey Trent of the Next Generation in Trucking Association joins us to discuss the mission of the next generation in trucking. Are we finally fixing the pipeline? What are we getting right  and where are we still missing the mark?

Then we turn to the Supreme Court ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC with Shannon Everett of American Truckers United.

We break down:
• What the ruling actually means
 • Whether broker immunity is narrowing
 • Insurance and liability ripple effects
 • The impact on small carriers
 • Non-domiciled CDL concerns
 • Whether this strengthens accountability  or destabilizes freight

This episode connects the next generation entering trucking with the legal framework they’re stepping into.

Because when liability shifts, capital shifts.

When capital shifts, freight shifts.

Welcome to Brake Check.

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Charles is on the floor for day 3 of Manifest. He talks to: