Newsletter Archive

One crash could put you out of business

Plus: DOT cuts 50+ rules | Freight demand remains shaky

Here's a scary reality: Small fleets could be just one crash away from going out of business. We caught up with a transportation consultant for tips on how to ensure safety doesn't get caught up in the shuffle.

Meanwhile, tariff mayhem continues, the Dept. of Transportation is on a regulation rollback spree and some lawmakers want to take English proficiency requirements to the next level.

Plus, if you're sending out surveys to drivers and telling them the door's always open, it might be time for a new approach.

SPOTLIGHT

Making safety a core value of your fleet

Safety and compliance are both important, but they're not necessarily the same. Focusing on only one can lead fleets to fall behind the curve.

We spoke to Steve Keppler of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting about major safety and upcoming compliance concerns that small fleets should be aware of, and how they can maintain a safety culture at the center of their business models. -Shefali Kapadia

What do you see as the biggest safety concerns currently in the trucking industry?

The capabilities of drivers and safety department and operations personnel vary widely and so do the safety cultures of motor carriers. As a highly regulated industry, many motor carriers focus primarily on compliance, failing to appreciate the differences between safety and compliance. This often leads to a focus on lagging rather than leading indicators. This has been complicated by the advent of onboard safety technologies, back office and other electronic platform solutions and data, whereby motor carriers are inundated with information to absorb, understand and monitor both for compliance and safety.

The 4-wheelers on our roadways are driving more aggressively and distracted, our roadways are becoming more congested, and we are experiencing more extreme weather events. Truck parking availability is also a significant problem.

All these factors and variables impact on a motor carrier’s ability to improve their safety posture, and if they don’t have a good approach to properly and effectively resource, prepare and train their people on how to manage all of these issues, as well as taking action when necessary, safety is an uphill battle.

How should fleet execs prepare for upcoming changes to English proficiency enforcement?

Carriers should be reviewing their driver onboarding and qualification requirements and, if need be, provide training and assessments, particularly as it relates to common industry terminology and U.S. road signs. When drivers are put OOS, motor carriers should make every attempt to ascertain from the roadside inspector why the driver was put OOS so they can know what needs to be done to cure the OOS condition so the driver can drive again.

What's your No. 1 piece of advice to small business trucking owners to maintain and improve safe operations in their fleets?

Smaller fleets can often be resource-challenged when it comes to managing compliance and safety. Their staff often wear multiple hats. As a result, sometimes safety can get lost in the shuffle between everything else going on to keep the business running. Small fleets need to remember that they are potentially one crash away from going out of business. Therefore, safety needs to be a core value for everyone in the company and having a proper safety culture will help to minimize the chances of this happening.

INDUSTRY VOICES

Agentic AI could power up trucking

"Agentic AI has the power to autonomously manage many aspects of fleet operations in real time." - Brian Antonellis of Fleet Advantage

Sound incredible, or scary?

While generative AI can create dashboards, quickly summarize data or act as a chatbot, agentic AI can be even more powerful for fleets, Antonellis says. For example, in truck maintenance, agentic AI could automatically order parts and schedule a service.

Why this matters: AI has moved beyond being a buzzword in logistics and trucking, but less than 20% of companies are using agentic AI, per Antonellis. If fleet executives can ensure high-quality data that feeds into AI agents for certain tasks, they may gain a competitive edge and free up time for more strategic work.

Get more details at Fleet Owner.

FAST LANE

IN HOUSE: XPO insources more linehaul miles to cut costs

HIT THE BRAKES: CVSA Brake Safety Week to target drums, rotors

POWER UP: Kenworth makes certain powertrains available to more models

TIPPED TRUCK: Trailer roof sheared off as truck neared tunnel

SEEN & HEARD

"Being an [independent contractor] puts the individual in the
driver's seat, both literally and figuratively."-Nathan Mehrens, ATA

Mehrens testified on Capitol Hill in defense of independent contractors in the trucking industry. He said contractors express that they like having freedom to run their business and select their routes, but they've faced regulatory whiplash from rules like AB5 or the PRO Act, making it difficult to plan their businesses. The bottom line: Your career, your choice. Watch his speech here.

ROAD REPORT

Trump tariffs remain, at least for now

A federal appeals court said the Trump administration's tariffs can continue. That struck down a ruling from the U.S. Court of International Trade, which said the tariffs were illegal and went beyond the scope of the president's power under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act. Plus, a second federal court blocked Trump's authority to unilaterally impose tariffs, although that ruling is on pause for two weeks while the government appeals.

Why this matters: Keeping up with the tennis match of tariff policy feels like a tall order. The back-and-forth continues to breed uncertainty for businesses, making them hesitant to undertake large purchasing decisions. And that could have negative repercussions for trucking fleets hoping for more freight to haul. (NPR)

DOT's regulatory slash sparks safety concerns in industry

The Department of Transportation wants to do away with more than 50 regulations that affect the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, among other agencies. But some trucking advocates aren't so sure. Trucking leaders pointed out potential problems with changes related to paper manuals, roadside inspection forms and rear impact guards on trailers.

Why this matters: The industry often pushes for regulatory rollbacks, noting that fewer rules would help the trucking industry's operations. But when safety concerns are in the mix, it's a different story. There's a fine line between streamlining regulations and removing rules that protect drivers and fleets. (FreightWaves)

Truck driver feedback requires more than open-door policy

The ways in which fleet managers solicit driver feedback may need a makeover. Telling drivers that the metaphorical door is open and they can always talk to leadership is "a very passive approach," according to Mark Murrell, president of CarriersEdge. And too many surveys can create fatigue.

Why this matters: Murrell recommends a more personalized approach, like town-hall meetings or phone calls, to make drivers feel involved and appreciated. Above all, though, leaders need to actually act on driver feedback and show that they are responding to any concerns truckers may have. Without that, feedback can feel pointless and like it's falling on deaf ears. (Heavy Duty Trucking)

AGENDA

Lawmakers push for tougher enforcement on drivers' English

A new bill wants to make English proficiency requirements even stricter. If passed, it would revoke CDLs from drivers who don't meet language proficiency requirements.

Why this matters: English requirements for drivers have quickly escalated, from being a rule on the books but not really enforced, to becoming an out-of-service criterion. If the bill passes, it could impact CDLs. Either way, fleet executives will need to ensure their drivers are prepared in case they're given the two-step test laid out by the FMCSA for English proficiency. (Cowboy State Daily)