After an extended break, Haulin’ Assets is back.
In this episode, I explain where we’ve been, why the podcast went quiet longer than expected, and what’s changing as we relaunch. Quarter four was busy, the market shifted quickly, and between operational changes and a major accident, it was time to pause, reassess, and reset.
This episode will feel familiar, but it also marks a more focused direction going forward.
Q4 snowballed faster than expected.
Why I needed to step awayHow the break stretched longer than plannedWhat we’ve been rebuilding behind the scenesThe goal wasn’t just to restart the show, but to make sure it continues to deliver real value.
Financials: The Real Numbers
Here’s how the business performed late last year:
September: $23,428 profit | $2.16 per mileOctober: –$6,143.88 | $2.26 per mileNovember: $12,877 profit | $2.18 per mileDecember: $27,818 profit | $2.16 per mileAll P&L documents are available in the show notes.
Changes in How We Operate
In October, I took a hard look at our lanes, shippers, and loops.
The takeaway was clear: some lanes we ran regularly were significantly less profitable. As a result:
We avoid underperforming lanes whenever possibleWe largely stay out of the SoutheastWhen we do go there, we head straight back west instead of drifting northeastThat approach saves roughly 2.5 days of transit time, and with a truck costing about $400 per day to sit, those decisions add up quickly. This analysis is now a monthly process.
Market Shifts and a Major Loss
We also saw one of our strongest Q4 pushes in several years, along with new freight contracts coming online.
At the same time, we experienced a major accident that resulted in the loss of a truck and trailer—an event that had real operational impact and contributed to the reset.
Going forward, Haulin’ Assets is refocusing on the owner-operator.
More business-focused topicsMore attention to both the owner and driver sideMore discussion of the owner-operator lifestyle