Haulin Assets

In this episode, we talk about motor carrier safety and why it affects almost every part of running a trucking business. Safety is not just about avoiding violations. It impacts insurance, CSA scores, audits, customer relationships, driver retention, and profitability. We start by talking about what safety really means. It includes equipment, driver behavior, maintenance, fatigue, compliance, and...

There are very few things in trucking that can end a career overnight, but a drug and alcohol violation can absolutely do it. The scary part is that many drivers who get in trouble are not trying to break the rules. They are confused, misinformed, or were never properly taught how the system works. In this episode, we break down what drivers and owner-operators need to know about drug and alcohol...

The first 90 days as an owner-operator can make or break your business. While many drivers focus on the freedom and earning potential of truck ownership, the reality is that success comes from learning how to operate a profitable business, not just drive a truck. In this episode, Chris and Craig discuss the biggest misconceptions new owner-operators have, the critical lessons learned during the fi...

Episode 196 dives into some of the biggest myths, overrated trends, and hard truths in trucking. Chris and Craig break down the difference between gross revenue and actual profit, why cash flow matters more than flashy numbers, and how social media often creates unrealistic expectations about life as an owner-operator. The conversation covers emotional truck purchases, chrome and accessory culture...

Burnout in trucking isn’t just about being tired. It’s the mental overload that builds from constant pressure, uncertainty, isolation, and nonstop responsibility. In this episode, Chris and Craig dive into the real psychology behind trucking burnout, why so many drivers silently struggle with it, and how the industry’s “just tough it out” mentality often makes things worse. They break down the uni...

Freight rates and fuel prices are two of the biggest forces in trucking—and they’re more connected than most drivers realize. In this episode, we break down what actually drives both, how they move together (but at different speeds), and why failing to understand that relationship can crush your margins. We dig into the fundamentals behind freight rates, including supply and demand, market cycles,...

Too many owner-operators focus on loads, trucks, and revenue—but overlook the foundation that determines how much they actually keep. In this episode, we break down the legal structures, tax strategies, and partnership decisions that can either cost you thousands or help you build a profitable, protected business. Why most owner-operators focus on revenue instead of structure How your setup protec...

Starting a trucking company sounds simple—until you hit the paperwork. DOT numbers, MC authority, IFTA, IRP… it’s where a lot of new carriers get stuck, overpay, or make costly mistakes before they ever haul a load. In this episode, we break down exactly what you need, what you don’t, and how to set your authority up the right way from the start. Want a deeper dive? Check out Episode 3 for a more...

Running a trucking business is already hard. What makes it even harder is when your own systems are working against you. In this episode, we break down the concept of “friction” in your business—those small inefficiencies that slow things down, frustrate customers, and quietly cost you money. From communication gaps to messy invoicing, we cover where friction shows up and how to eliminate it so yo...

Buying a truck is exciting. Signing the wrong financing deal? Not so much. In this episode, Chris and Craig break down how to finance a truck and trailer the right way, so your equipment works for you instead of trapping you in bad payments and cash-flow stress. What We Cover We kick things off with January 2026 performance numbers, then dive into the financial realities every owner-operator shoul...

In this episode of Haulin Assets 2.0, we look back at the rapid growth from 1 truck to 12 in just 2.5 years—right before the freight market flipped. What seemed like momentum quickly turned into hard lessons. This episode breaks down the three biggest assumptions that didn’t hold up and how they reshaped the way the business runs today.  Top 3 Things I Got Wrong 1. Direct shipper relationships wou...

After seven years and one of the toughest freight markets anyone can remember, Haulin Assets is back — refocused and ready for the next chapter. In this relaunch episode, we look at why the podcast started, what it was meant to solve, and what’s changing as we move into Haulin Assets 2.0. Why Haulin Assets Exists Haulin Assets has always been about owner-operators. An owner-operator isn’t just a d...

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 directi...

It's Truck Driver Appreciation Week and before we get into the August 2025 Financials, Craig and I talk a little bit about what that means. I personally want to thank you all for being such a driving force in the economy of this great country. Without you we would not be able to live such blessed lives. I try to make sure my kids understand how important the trucking industry is, especially its dr...

The last couple of weeks have actually been kind of slow, when it comes to the craziness of trucking so I don't have any really dramatic stories from the road. However, now that Break Safety Week has come and gone I do talk about how it affected our fleet. Leave a comment and let me know what your experience was like. What to Expect in Episode 185 It’s a pretty normal reaction to be scared of the...

The financial challenges continue in July, but before we get into that I tell Craig about two stories from the road. One of them involves smelly onions. The other is about some spilt milk — buttermilk, to be exact. What To Expect From Episode 184 June was a pretty rough month and July was even worse. The summer months are always hard to get through. I still think the market is in the very early st...

In this episode of Haulin Assets, we’re giving a freight market update—and while the beginning might sound a little doom-and-gloom, don’t worry. There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and we share why things are finally starting to turn around. We walk through the current market forces, how we got here, and why I believe the 4th quarter of 2025 could be the best we’ve seen in quite a while. You c...

June had some short-term challenges, but also some indicators that the future might be a little brighter. Before we dive into the numbers, I share an experience one of our drivers had that caused an unloading delay. It was a new one that had never happened to us before. We also talk a little about the challenges we faced over the 4th of July weekend. It was a pretty tough weekend. What To Expect F...

The most common question I get is, "When is a good time to start a trucking company". In this Episode Craig and I are going to answer that question and the answer might not be what you think.  But..... before we get into that, I tell a story about a stressful situation one of our drivers experienced that has a happy ending and gives you faith in humanity. What to Expect in Episode 181 Starting you...

Before we dive into the nuts and bolts of May 2025, Craig and I talk about the crazy weekend we just had. Literally every truck had some kind of significant issue over the weekend. Everything from problems cause by getting loaded more than 24 hours late to breakdowns and blown tires. It is crazy how you can go from one weekend that is quiet with almost no activity to one like last weekend where al...

What are the odds that two clutches go out within 24 hours of each other? Can't be high, but we had it happen. Does that mean I should take a trip to Vegas and start placing bets? Our experience with two different shops was night and day. One of them had our truck in and out quickly, the other one was ridiculous. Check out the episode to hear all the fun details.  What to Expect in Episode 179 In...

Check out  MotorcarrierHQ.com  Find our courses at  haulinassetsacademy.com See the profit and loss statement at haulinassetsllc.com Before Craig and I dive into the April 2025 financials, we talk about a fun little adventure I had. It had been a while, but I finally got to jump back into a truck for the first time in several months. This adventure included a Mother's Day departure, several Uber r...

March 2025 was a good financial month, but before we get into that, Craig and I talk about one of our trailers being rejected. It was because of some minor damage that had happened a while ago and hadn't been an issue, so why the rejection all of the sudden? Who knows. I'm also back in the dispatching saddle again. It has been while since I have done that job full time and let's just say, I'm a li...

Trucking Insurance is tricky! It is also typically in the top 5 expenses for a trucking company. For Haulin Assets it is the 4th biggest expense. There are a lot of factors that go into getting the best policy and the best pricing. In this episode we go over what you need to know as an Owner Operator or a Fleet Owner to make sure you are keeping that insurance expense as low as possible.  What to...

February 2025 was a pretty eventful and interesting month. We had a truck get in a little skirmish with a BMW. No one was hurt and the vehicles weren't too bad off either, but it was one of those incidents that really make you scratch your head. We'll share some video on social media, I'd love to hear your opinions. I'll just ask the questions, when merging onto the freeway, how many vehicles can...