FreightCasts

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

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In this industry keynote, FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller sits down with the "OG" of trucking technology, Scott Moscrip, founder and CEO of Truckstop. Returning from retirement to lead the company he started over 30 years ago, Moscrip shares his unique perspective on the evolution of transportation technology and his mission to empower small carriers.

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Tyler Johnston shares how Mercer Transportation has grown and sustained one of the country's most driver-centric models. He'll cover how operational discipline, technology adoption, and a commitment to owner-operator success have shaped their approach to fleet management at scale.

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In this episode, we dive into the truckload sector where Knight-Swift is signaling a surprisingly bullish outlook on market fundamentals despite reporting a messy first quarter. We discuss how recent weather disruptions and fuel headwinds have exposed market tightness, leading the carrier to target high single to low double-digit rate increases during bid season.

Shifting gears to the rails, we examine CSX's stronger first-quarter earnings, which were driven by a combination of lower costs and higher shipment volumes. The railroad's quarterly operating income surged 20%, heavily supported by a 6% jump in intermodal freight as customers sought relief from rising trucking and fuel costs.

Finally, we explore the latest advancements in commercial fleet decarbonization by looking at the Shell Starship 3.0 natural gas truck. By utilizing a 15-liter natural gas engine, an aerodynamic carbon fiber cab, and off-the-shelf components, this vehicle achieved a massive two-and-a-half times improvement in freight efficiency.

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In this episode of What the Truck, host Malcolm Harris and Michael “The Dude” Vincent dive into the murky waters of the freight industry, from the rising tide of cargo theft and “chameleon” carriers to the impact of New York City’s congestion pricing. The duo also touches on a bizarre headline involving missing scientists and a daring $2 million Brink’s truck heist.
Key Highlights:
The Vanishing Act: The hosts open with a “wild” discussion about reports of ten scientists disappearing, including a researcher working on anti-gravity propulsion who vanished while hiking.
The Freight Fraud Debate: Malcolm and Michael address the “heat” from recent coverage of cargo theft numbers. They debate whether industry figures ($40B–$60B) are inflated by those who “foment fear” or if the evolution of “pay heists” and fraudulent VIN numbers is truly reaching a breaking point.
Diesel Benchmark Drop: A look at the largest slide in diesel prices since 2022, following a twelve-week streak of increases.
Maritime Focus: Discussion on the U.S. losing its maritime focus and the funding struggles of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) despite its role in national security
Featured Guests
Steve Vest | Owner & CEO, Nationwide Equipment Transportation Inc. Steve joins the show to discuss his 20+ year journey in freight and how a viral TikTok video catapulted his business during a market downturn.
Nate Veeh | AVP of Business Development, Altitude. Nate breaks down fresh data on New York City’s congestion pricing.

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In this episode of Fraud Watch, I sit down with Ryan Kiefer, Lead Specialty Investigator with the Special Investigations Group at Travelers. Ryan brings years of experience working cargo theft cases across the country and often steps in when a shipment has already gone missing and the situation has turned uncertain. This conversation takes a step back from any one specific case and looks at the bigger picture. We talk through how theft is evolving and why it is no longer just about physical access to freight. Many of today’s losses are happening inside normal operations before anyone realizes there is a problem. We also discuss why so many incidents go unreported, how that impacts the industry’s understanding of risk, and why awareness and communication are becoming just as important as technology.

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In this episode, we explore how CSX has curtailed operations at its major Chicago terminal to improve overall network efficiency and reduce transit times. We discuss the strategic shift of freight traffic to partner railways and the resulting union backlash surrounding the elimination of local yard jobs.

Next, we head north to examine a massive wave of logistics investments sweeping across Canada, highlighted by a targeted $1.6 billion acquisition by Nippon Express. The country is also seeing major infrastructure expansions from Toyota, accelerated electric fleet rollouts from Coca-Cola, and enhanced cross-border compliance services.

Finally, we break down how Triumph Financial posted a remarkably strong first quarter in its factoring division, successfully outperforming typical seasonal trends. We dive into the company's new core metrics focused on revenue growth and margins, as well as its successful integration of artificial intelligence to efficiently process millions of invoices.

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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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We kick off this episode in Washington, where Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Laura DiBella discusses how the agency's priorities have shifted to address a wave of transformational global crises. As detailed in our coverage of how the U.S. is adapting its maritime focus, geopolitical challenges recently led the regulatory body to reject emergency fuel surcharges from ocean carriers to ensure better financial accountability.

Next, we head north to examine the massive labor dispute that drove Canada Post to its largest recorded pre-tax loss in history. After strike activity caused a staggering 87% widening of its annual deficit, the government-owned operator is navigating a comprehensive turnaround strategy that includes phasing out residential delivery.

Finally, we unpack the intense public scrutiny surrounding one of the world's largest freight brokers after a national television broadcast questioned its safety practices. While the logistics industry awaits a landmark Supreme Court decision regarding legal responsibility for accidents, C.H. Robinson continues to defend its operations by emphasizing its strict reliance on federal regulatory data to vet trucking companies.

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In this episode of Freight Expectations, Matthew Leffler and Craig Fuller dive deep into the "Great Freight Awakening" currently sweeping across the United States. As major media outlets like 60 Minutes turn their spotlight on the industry, the public is finally beginning to see the cracks in the facade of modern supply chains—from the manipulation of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) to the tragic reality of 5,000 truck-related fatalities every year.

Craig and Matt explore the controversial but necessary conversation around American citizenship for trucking company owners, drawing parallels to the strict regulations found in the aviation and banking industries. They argue that without domestic accountability, bad actors—specifically foreign entities operating from overseas—can continue to defraud drivers and compromise highway safety with zero fear of criminal prosecution.

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