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Big trucking carriers, analysts and banks are all pointing to similar figures: freight rates are going up. Is the trend trickling to small carriers, too?
And we share an article that can help you decide if having an insurance agent would help your business.
First, though, here’s a cute video of a very good boy lending a helping hand paw to a trucker.
⬇️ $4.578
AVG. COST OF DIESEL PER GALLON IN U.S. AS OF 07/07, DOWN -0.090¢
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ROADSIDE READS
Celebrating truckers. CDLLife and Circle K are teaming up this month to give away $250 gift cards every day to the trucking community. “While the country celebrates its 250th birthday, we think it’s the perfect time to celebrate the people behind the wheel.”
Decked out. Also feeling the patriotism this month is Mack Trucks, which wrapped a truck in an America 250 theme. See the photos here.
Meet the owner-op. This article tells the story of owner-operator Ruben Dotto, from buying his first power unit to growing his business, and the successes and failures along the way.
Highest honor. The American Trucking Historical Society has inducted another three trucking leaders into the American Trucking and Industry Leader Hall of Fame.
Image courtesy Mack Trucks
INDUSTRY VOICES
Is having an insurance agent worth your while?
“The biggest mistake people make is shopping insurance instead of shopping for the right insurance agent,” says Jessica Howington of United Commercial Insurance. Why? Because trucking companies often start to think about insurance after there’s a bill or a crash, instead of as a proactive risk investment.
That way of thinking can be costly. In fact, insurance costs at the 10 largest trucking companies rose more than five times faster than revenue between 2021 and 2025.
On the flip side, Howington notes, an insurance agent gets to know your specific company—what you haul, your routes and regions, your fleet size—and can use their expertise to find the best coverage specific to you.
Why this matters: Howington, of course, is coming at this from the perspective of an insurance agent, but her points make sense. Insurance is expensive and complicated. Having an agent could remove that hassle from your busy day and free you up to focus on running the trucking business. (FreightWaves)
YOUR TAKE
Have your rates gone up so far this quarter?
FAST LANE
JOB REPORT: Truck transportation jobs fall 1,300 in June
DIESEL DOWN?: Oil dips below pre-war prices
MAKE A DEAL: FedEx Supply Chain sold to ocean container line CMA CGM for $1.4B
UPWARD TREND: Trucking rates steadily up through April, May
C-SUITE SHUFFLE: Schneider switches up executive leadership
NO GO: Florida Gov. vetoes bill to extend CDL training to nonviolent inmates
SEEN & HEARD
“You pick up the phone for one thing, you end up spending five minutes on another thing, and drivers just cannot have that luxury in the cab. We do not want them doing that because it correlates so highly with risk.”
Does this sound way too familiar? (I’ve done it at least three times already today…) The stakes are very different when you’re at a desk versus when you’re operating a Class 8 truck. In this podcast, Podduturi describes advancements in voice technology and telematics and how that’s helping drivers more effectively communicate with their dispatchers without taking their eyes off the road. (The Fleet Lead)
ROAD REPORT
MARKET
Analysts, carriers see encouraging signs for trucking market
For a change, the sentiment around trucking is not completely doom and gloom. Jason Seidl, managing director at TD Cowen, says, “We see little reason for momentum to slow and are encouraged by the ongoing pricing recovery.”
His remarks come as big carriers like J.B. Hunt are reporting double-digit revenue growth. Some of the factors at play: retailers replenishing inventory, industrial activity improving and trucking capacity finally correcting. But analysts warned, don’t expect a big surge in economic activity.
Why this matters: The stars are aligning for trucking to start growing the top line once again. Supply is shrinking in a market correction, and demand in some areas is slowly ticking up. This is the time to enhance existing shipper relationships and forge new ones—so as the freight picks up, it comes to you. (Logistics Management)
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The Inside Lane is curated and written by Shefali Kapadia and edited by Bianca Prieto.
