FreightCasts

Join FreightWaves’ John Kingston for an exclusive fireside chat with David Owen, President of the National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC). In this engaging session, Owen pulls back the curtain on the state of the long-haul trucking industry, sharing exactly how the most resilient small carriers are surviving—and thriving—in a volatile economy. Keep up with Live FreightWaves Events...

In today's episode, we discuss the recent surge of financial closures hitting small carriers and brokers across the country. Listen in to learn why Illinois has become a major hotspot for these trucking liquidations, driven by tight margins and elevated operating costs. We also explore a concerning new cargo security threat that involves criminal networks infiltrating legitimate carriers rather th...

Ingrid Brown brings a unique perspective to the table as both a driver and an operations manager. She'll talk about what drivers actually need, what gets in their way, and how that firsthand experience leads to smarter decisions on the operations side. Keep up with Live FreightWaves Events Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this exclusive fireside chat, FreightWaves analyst Thomas Wasson sits down with OOIDA President Todd Spencer to confront the most pressing, and often controversial, legislative issues facing owner-operators today. Is the trucking industry truly suffering from a "driver shortage," or is the real crisis rooted in a broken training pipeline that prioritizes cheap labor over highway safety? Spencer...

Jason Schaftlein talks about how McLeod Express has built a reputation for reliability and driver loyalty. He'll share the leadership decisions, operational habits, and people-first mindset that separate thriving small carriers from those just getting by. Keep up with Live FreightWaves Events Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 movin...

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. Keep up with Live FreightWaves Events Other Frei...

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. Keep up with Live FreightWaves Events Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

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 ex...

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 Ac...

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 bi...

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,...

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 dif...

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...

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 tragi...

In this Monday edition of What the Truck, host Malcolm Harris explores the critical intersections of safety culture and technological innovation in the logistics industry. Opening the show, Mike Fackler from Travelers joins the conversation to mark Distracted Driving Awareness Month, reframing distracted driving not just as a driver error, but as a symptom of leadership and organizational culture....

Welcome back to #WithSONAR! In this episode, we’re walking through the new Monthly Market Update Dashboard—now available directly within SONAR. This brings the same trusted, customer-favorite report into an easily accessible dashboard. The Monthly Market Update covers everything from economic trends and macro conditions to truckload, intermodal, and maritime markets, giving you a complete view of...

We kick off this episode by looking at the air cargo sector, where ⁠National Airlines is preparing to launch its first Boeing 777-200 freighter⁠ into service this May. This new twin-engine aircraft offers a 112-ton payload and increased fuel efficiency for a market currently facing tightening widebody availability. Out on the water, experts warn that the ⁠Strait of Hormuz may remain restricted for...

Is the logistics industry being blinded by the “shiny object” of AI while foundational security and revenue strategies crumble? Today on WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, we’re peeling back the curtain on a $287,000 “VIN hack” that exposed a massive gap in trailer identity and asset security. The 60 Minutes Fallout: We dive deep into the Super Ego defense statement following the explosive “Chameleon Carrier” seg...

In this episode, we dive into the latest freight market shifts, starting with major shipper groups demanding transparency in the proposed mega-merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. We discuss why these organizations are petitioning the Surface Transportation Board to unseal critical documents to better understand the true impact on freight rail competition. Next, we explore the truckl...

Today on Brake Check, we’re ripping the cover off one of the most controversial topics in trucking—lease purchase programs. They promise: $10,000  in 6 weeks $2,000 take-home pay A brand-new truck The American Dream Is that $2K net actually guaranteed… or just a projection? Who really controls the truck and the insurance payout? Where does the maintenance and tire money go? What happens when the t...

In this special on-location episode of The Long Haul, host Adam Wingfield takes listeners directly onto the floor of the 54th Annual Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Kentucky. Recorded from within the exhibits and custom trailers that define the industry’s biggest event, this episode moves past the equipment to focus on the "human element" of trucking. Follow The Long Haul Podcast O...

In this episode, we kick things off by examining the recent strategic tie-up between capacity management platform Parade and the trucking fuel app Mudflap. This partnership embeds digital freight matching directly into an app drivers already use, allowing brokers to instantly push spot loads to a massive pool of independent owner-operators. Next, we shift over to the rails to discuss how the indus...

On this Wednesday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent dive into the high-stakes world of freight fraud, industry bankruptcies, and the evolving landscape of international trade. Industry Headlines • Market Contraction: Small trucking firms like Liberty Carriers Inc. and NAS Logistics have recently filed for bankruptcy as the industry struggles in a post-COVID down...

In today's episode, we discuss the harsh realities of the domestic surface market as a wave of bankruptcies among small and mid-sized carriers sweeps across the United States. Facing a prolonged freight recession, depressed spot rates, and high operating costs, vulnerable carriers are simply running out of financial runway and filing for Chapter 11. Next, we explore how logistics giant UPS is depl...