Newsletter Archive

Dispatchers as freight brokers?

Plus: Rail is challenging trucking | Small trucking biz likely to adopt AI

A bid to classify dispatchers as brokers could change how fleets guard their contact information, potentially cutting down on unwanted calls and emails from unsolicited dispatch services.

Plus, Union Pacific’s new SoCal-to-Chicago rail service is taking aim at freight lanes with faster transit times. And with drivers prioritizing career growth and work-life balance, fleets are rethinking how to retain top talent in a competitive labor market.

Did you see this? Driver narrowly avoids a backhoe flipping toward his truck after it struck a low bridge.

⬇️ $3.118

AVG. COST OF DIESEL PER GALLON IN U.S. AS OF 8/11, DOWN 0.022¢

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

INDUSTRY VOICES

Safety: a cross-team effort, not a standalone department

Having a safety department or team at a fleet is important, but one group isn't enough to truly bring a culture of safety to the entire company.

Gary Falldin of telematics provider Platform Science advocates for a team effort, where operations teams and office staff are just as involved in improving safety performance as the safety team. For example, while staff may not know how to drive a truck, they should still know the safe following distance.

The result of this approach, he writes: "When safety and operations teams use the same phrases, drivers hear one message."

Why this matters: It's hard to overstate the importance of safety at trucking companies. When each and every department feels safety is their priority and imperative (not just something the safety team handles), it can create a true safety culture throughout the organization.

Get more details at Fleet Owner.

FAST LANE

COST BREAKDOWN: What it costs to start, operate a trucking business

TECH SAVVY: Small business owners rapidly adopt AI

THE NOMINEES ARE ... Nominations open for 2025 Influential Woman in Trucking Award

POWER OF PINE-SOL: $400,000 of cleaning product stolen from truck

FASTER RAIL: Union Pacific debuts three-day SoCal-to-Chicago service undercutting trucking

RETAIN DRIVERS: Truckers in 2025 want career growth and work‑life balance.

SEEN & HEARD

"For me, [an] autonomous transport solution becomes a necessity. It's absolutely a must in order to keep our economy alive and kicking."- Nils Jaeger, president of Volvo Autonomous Solutions

When it comes to autonomous trucks and their effects on the driver workforce, the question isn't humans or machines, according to Jaeger. Instead, he sees the economy, population and e-commerce growing to the point that AVs will be essential to keep up with freight demand.

Listen to more of these thoughts on the "Roadsigns" podcast here.

ROAD REPORT

Should dispatchers be classified as freight brokers?
A small trucking company has petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to alter its definition of "broker." The change it's seeking: to also include dispatching services under the term. Then, dispatchers would have to meet the requirements of being a broker, and trucking company contact information would remain private.

Why this matters: The fleet behind the petition notes that trucking companies are often bombarded by phone calls, emails and all kinds of communication from dispatchers who are looking to circumvent the broker requirements. The combination of a new broker definition, alongside private contact info, could offer small trucking owners some relief. (Overdrive)

CONNECTED FLEET

Daimler Truck bets on digital twins for vehicle manufacturing

Lutz Beck, CIO for Daimler Truck North America, sees digital twins as a "prerequisite." The reason? Vehicles are increasingly defined by their software capabilities in addition to hardware. Digital twins create virtual copies of trucks or components, so OEMs can simulate design and production. Plus, the twins help with over-the-air software updates to leased or purchased trucks.

Why this matters: Trucks are no longer about just their components, but all of the safety features, camera tech and telematics data embedded into the vehicles. OEMs clearly see technology as key to truck design, and that fleet executives can expect to see tech-centric trucks now and in the future. (Technology Magazine)