The Department of Transportation has eyes on the nation’s highways, placing unsafe drivers out of service and rolling out a new strategy for safer roads.

Plus, one-time bonuses might not be enough to keep your drivers from jumping ship.

And stay tuned for our expert Q&A Thursday. An attorney representing truck drivers shares how you can avoid costly legal problems with drivers and leased owner-ops.

But first, do you think you could pull off this parking job?

AVG. COST OF DIESEL PER GALLON IN U.S. AS OF 08/10, DOWN -0.091¢

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

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Results are in. The Department of Transportation shared the results of its “Operation Highway Shield” from late July. More than 50 immigrants detained, over 750 drivers put out of service. Here's Sean Duffy's recap.

The lonely road. It’s not uncommon to see truck drivers talk hands-free on long phone calls while driving. While some fear the risks of distracted driving, the truckers say it helps them focus and reduces loneliness.

Dashcams. This guide dives deep into AI-powered dashcams: their benefits, key features and what to consider if you're thinking about this technology. (sponsored)

Meet Lucy, a custom-built Peterbilt 589 truck with everything from a digital dash to smart wheel controls. Take a (virtual) tour with this video.

For a laugh. Would you let this truck merge?

‘Too small to be hacked’ is a dangerous mindset

It's a common trap that small trucking companies fall into: they assume a cyber criminal won't bother hacking an operation with just a few trucks.

Ben Wilkens, director of cybersecurity at the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, says that's backwards thinking. Even if a bad actor isn't targeting a small fleet specifically, the company could be part of a widespread attack that looks for any unpatched systems or vulnerabilities.

"They're simply knocking on every door they can, waiting to find one that's been left unlocked,” Wilkens writes.

Why this matters: There’s no such thing as too small when it comes to cybersecurity. In fact, security might be even more critical for small fleets, which often lack the response teams or backup systems that large trucking firms have. A few small steps, like requiring multi-factor authentication and training your team to recognize a phishing scam, can go a long way to protecting your entire business. (The Trucker)

A one-off bonus doesn’t hold its weight against consistently higher wages, employee benefits, strong workplace culture and fundamentally treating people right. Gracey talks about the value (or lack thereof) of signing bonuses and ways to actually address driver churn. (Behind the Freight)

PAYOUT: Hundreds of truckers to split over $2M after misclassification suit settled

PORT TRUCKING: Capacity in drayage markets tightens with imports, intermodal up

TEAMSTERS V. CALIF: Teamsters union sues California over autonomous truck plans

TRUCK PLANT: Daimler to build largest truck manufacturing facility in U.S.

HUNTING SEASON: TFI CEO says he’s “on the hunt” for acquisition targets

THREE’S COMPANY: Toyota joins Daimler, Volvo JV focused on hydrogen fuel cell development

Spending on freight is up almost 30%

Shippers are shelling out more and more dollars to move their cargo. In Q2, they spent 6.4% more on freight transportation compared to Q1, and 28% more than last year’s Q2, according to U.S. Bank. That’s even as the number of shipments was slightly down.

Why this matters: If this trend continues, trucking carriers’ top lines should keep growing. The question is, what happens to the bottom line? Is it growing in lockstep, or are higher expenses offsetting any gains? (Supply & Demand Chain Executive)

U.S. government rolls out a roadway safety strategy

The DOT has announced out a new roadway safety strategy, with a goal to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. The strategy will look at road design, bottlenecks and "cracking down on dangerous truck drivers."

Why this matters: The new plan is a little light on details for now of how exactly it will create safer roads. But making roads a safer place is a mission pretty much everyone can get behind. (DOT)

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