Carriers are paying up for diesel and drivers, shipper spending on freight is at a five-year high, and companies may be overinvesting in AI. We dig into all the $$$ numbers.

And coming up Thursday, our expert Q&A takes a close look at family-owned trucking businesses—what they should retain through generations, and what should change.

Before we get going, this short video of truck drivers doing their best truck sound impressions will have you chuckling. Which one is your favorite?

AVG. COST OF DIESEL PER GALLON IN U.S. AS OF 11/02, DOWN 0.060

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

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Trucking is “like treading water." Staying afloat in the industry is proving impossible for hundreds of carriers filing for bankruptcy. This article looks at the squeeze from all sides—diesel, insurance, interest rates, cash flow and more.

From Washington to highways. It’s Election Day. Here’s what the midterm results could mean for the trucking industry.

Spending on tech. Is the supply chain overinvesting in AI? A professor and consultant shares his thoughts on a podcast. Big takeaway: companies are spending too much on AI and not enough on foundational work.

CDL declines. This report zooms in on Wisconsin, where the number of CDL holders has dropped 9% in 15 years, and 25% of truck drivers are over 60.

Meet the winners. The Next Generation in Trucking Association named this year’s grand champions. The award recognizes trucking’s rising stars under age 30.

Driverless trucks, or driver + truck?

Autonomous trucking companies like Aurora and Kodiak have made their driverless truck ambitions well known. While AVs promise benefits like reducing crashes, saving fuel and running nearly 24/7, here are still many challenges to overcome, says Shannon Roberts, an associate professor of industrial engineering at UMass Amherst.

“The best technology will support a symbiosis between human and machine, where the person and the truck each do what they do best,” Roberts writes.

Why this matters: The fears of autonomous trucking eradicating human jobs may be overblown. Roberts envisions more realistic scenarios where humans handle the complex first and last miles, and automation takes over during long hauls. If anything, advancements in truck automation could ease drivers’ jobs to reduce their physical and mental stress. (The Conversation)

SHIPPING SPEND: Freight costs for shippers reach five-year high

DIESEL EXPENSE: Fuel costs > driver pay as biggest expense for some fleets

HIGH TECH: New Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks get touchscreen controls, Apple CarPlay

NEW CHAIR: Werner CEO Derek Leathers becomes next chairman of American Trucking Associations

AV SIGNAL: NHTSA proposes blue lights to mark autonomous vehicles

CARGO THEFT: Truck driver held six fraudulent CDLs, stole $12M in cargo

After the Supreme Court’s ruling, brokers and shippers are becoming more selective about the carriers they hire. While that could mean some shippers pick large, well-known trucking firms, plenty of opportunities remain for small carriers. Volkwyn’s advice: “Do not compete only on being available. Compete on being verifiable, reliable and easy to be deployed.” (CCJ Digital)

PS: Want to make sure your fleet is at the top of the list when brokers and shippers need freight hauled? We recently chatted in-depth with Volkwyn for his tips. Check them out here.

The costs to hire drivers rises double digits this year

Seemingly everything in trucking is getting more expensive. And add another item to that list: the cost of hiring truck drivers.

A report from the Conversion Interactive Agency found that driver cost per hire rose 41% year over year and 29% from January through September. Regulations and market factors have tightened the pool of available drivers. Plus, many experienced drivers are happy to stay where they are, keeping familiar routes, schedules and working relationships.

Why this matters: As fleet owners prep their 2027 budgets, they may need to work higher driver hiring costs into their spending plans. One way to keep hiring costs down is to focus on the retention and satisfaction of current truckers, making sure quality drivers stay for the long haul. (Heavy Duty Trucking)

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The Inside Lane is curated and written by Shefali Kapadia, and edited by Bianca Prieto.