Newsletter Archive

ELDs slowing dispatch?

Plus: Trucking industry leaders to Congress: Change is needed

Pexels/Tom Fisk

Last week, top trucking leaders took their case to Capitol Hill, pushing for laws that better support drivers and fleets. With new truck parking projects underway, they say now’s the time to drive more change.

Meanwhile, back in the cab, ELDs are still choking dispatch with complexity fleets can’t afford. Find out what can be done.

More good news: the USDOT just dropped a proposed speed-limiter rule, a clear win for drivers.

Let's get rolling.

INDUSTRY VOICES

Trucking leaders to Congress: Change is needed

American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear and other national trucking stakeholders testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee about issues that concern the industry. He, and others, left nothing in their metaphorical briefcases. From road safety to parking spaces, automation and federal regulations to rising cargo theft, subcommittee members received an earful.

Spear specifically asked that Congress pass the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) as a major first step in tackling the issue of increasing cargo theft. One data point is that one in three containers of dry milk powder is now broken into. Other food containers are also targets of theft.

Why this matters: Trucking industry leaders sense that they must capitalize on President Trump’s disdain for overregulation and push through beneficial legislation while he’s in office. They’re working fast on a long agenda of improvements. (ATA)

FAST LANE

More self-drivers: Company to grow fleet beyond 100 self-driving trucks

Confirmation time: Congress’s vote to confirm Derek Barrs set for Wednesday, July 30.

Truck litigation update: Nashville attorney Matthew Wright is the new chair of the American Association for Justice’s Trucking Litigation Group.

Watch and admire: Vintage 66-year-old truck still getting it done

SEEN & HEARD

“It’s never equal supply and demand in trucking. It’s either too many loads or too many trucks. It’s always catching that storm.”

—Jared Flinn, founder and owner of BulkLoads.com

We like it when successful trucking leaders give back to the industry. And that’s right where we put Jared Flinn after listening to a recent episode of the Truck N’ Hustle podcast.

Flinn, founder and owner of BulkLoads.com in Springfield, Mo., delivered several ideas on how smaller owner-operators can find more clients and how they can provide better and more consistent service to their clients. He also discussed navigating factoring companies (and his dislike of them).

Flinn talked about his five favorite trucking niches for consistent revenues (especially agriculture), how to land the highest-paying loads, and a variety of other smart ideas for small- and medium-sized owner-operators.

Hear Flinn’s playbook for smarter hauls

ROAD REPORT

USDOT withdraws speed limit mandate

In a decision that makes drivers, owner-operators and pro-trucking associations happy—and surprised almost no one—the U.S. Department of Transportation withdrew a proposed speed limit mandate for heavy trucks. The sweeping plan to decrease interstate speed limits on trucks weighing more than 26,000 pounds had been under discussion and review since 2016.

Why this matters: Regulators under former President Barack Obama had argued that capping trucks and buses at 65 mph would save between 63 and 214 lives a year and save drivers upward of $800 million a year in fuel and emission costs. “Because drivers get paid by the mile, the more miles you can put in, well, the incentive is to not slow down,” independent owner-operator Henry Albert said. (USA Today)

60% of drivers are optimistic about technology

Improved fraud prevention, smarter route optimization apps and increased familiarity with AI tools are fueling driver optimism about the future of trucking tech, according to a national Truckstop.com survey of more than 500 carriers. The survey, which comes as the group celebrates its 30th birthday, finds that 60% of drivers are increasingly comfortable with trucking tech.

Why this matters: Any time you get widespread adoption of changes from the most important stakeholders, that’s a win for all. “What we found is that carriers are adopting technology faster than ever, and they’re seeing the results,” says Todd Waldron, Truckstop.com's vice president of carrier experience. (TheTrucker.com)

Don’t let ELDs drain your dispatch

For small fleets, ELDs often feel more like a time sink than a time-saver. Between dense logs, endless alerts, and drivers logging wrong, staying FMCSA-compliant can steal hours you don’t have. But it doesn’t have to. With the right tools, training, and automation, fleet owners can spend less time decoding reports and more time moving freight. This guide breaks down practical steps, from choosing the right ELD to building smarter logging routines, that help one-to-five-truck operations stay legal and profitable.

Why this matters: Compliance shouldn’t come at the cost of your bottom line. Every hour spent wrangling logs is time lost on loads, rates and relationships. Smarter systems mean fewer fines, better freight choices and more time doing what matters—hauling. (Yahoo Finance)

CONNECTED FLEET

Driving simulators gaining more traction

More and more realistic driving simulators are training would-be drivers in real-world situations with much less risk. They’re giving trainees higher levels of confidence and “decision-making skills under pressure.” That’s the assessment from Tech.co’s 2025 Logistics Report.

Why this matters: Forty-five percent of responding logistics businesses say they’re still dealing with a lack of qualified driver applicants, and 65% say their ability to recruit and retain drivers has “either stagnated or worsened” over the past 12 months. Simulators “provide a safe environment for drivers to learn in difficult scenarios without the risk of real-world consequences,” says Tyler Holzer, Acron Aviation vice president and general manager, whose company has designed and built driving simulators for 34 years.

See what's shaping driver training.