Brake Check

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....

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...

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 Over...

Host Charles Gracey takes Brake Check on the road to Louisville for an exclusive look inside "Mercertown"—the sprawling, multi-block downtown headquarters of Mercer Transportation. In this episode, we explore the recipe for success that has sustained the company for nearly 50 years by focusing on the people behind the trucks. Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

ICE agents are now showing up in major U.S. airports… and it’s raising serious questions across the transportation industry as it should...could we be next. Reports confirm that ICE and federal agents have been deployed to multiple airports nationwide amid staffing shortages and growing security concerns. But this isn’t just about airports…It’s about what comes next, and could it work. On today’s...

This isn’t just another trucking story. This is what happens when a broken system finally meets real consequences. On this episode of Brake Check, we take a hard look at Dalilah’s Law — a piece of legislation born out of a devastating tragedy involving a non-domiciled CDL driver that forever changed a young girl’s life and a family’s future. This conversation goes beyond headlines. We’re joined by...

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: David Owen (NASTC) Kendra Cimmino (InformData) Christina Tattory (InformData) We break down three critical conversations happening right no...

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...

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...

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 carr...

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...

Brake Check LIVE in Nashville | Standing With Trucking’s Boldest VoicesBrake 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...

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 carr...

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 re...

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 stil...

Charles is on the floor for day 3 of Manifest. He talks to: - Fred Ligouri from Freightliner - Danielle Chaffin from Revenova - Whitney Cowell and Bobbie Kelley from Knight-Swift - Brian Lewis from Wabash - Richie Daigle from Tive - Krist Forrest from Genlogs - Jacob Brazier from Tel - Mason Cole from Slip robotics - Ben Marks from Optimal Dynamics

Host Charles Gracey takes the show on the road to Manifest in Las Vegas, the epicenter of logistics and supply chain innovation. In Part 1 of our “Live From Manifest” series, Charles hits the showroom floor to catch the pulse of the industry and sit down with the heavy hitters shaping the future of freight. In This Episode:Market Insights with Craig Fuller: The Founder and CEO of FreightWaves join...

In this episode of Brake Check, we’re getting into what’s really going on in freight right now — and yeah, things are finally getting interesting again. Charles Gracey sits down with JP Hampstead from FreightWaves to break down why the truckload market is suddenly way more volatile than what we’ve seen the past couple years. Winter storms, rising tender rejections, tightening capacity, spot rates...

This episode of Brake Check asks the question the trucking industry keeps dodging: Who actually benefits from the way this system is built, and who’s left paying the price? We kick things off with Tim Crawford, CEO of Tenstreet, breaking down the real people trends shaping trucking today. From hiring shifts and workforce pressures to what carriers and fleets need to be watching right now, Tim cuts...