To view this email as a web page, click here

Welcome to 2026!

Hello hello, everybody. Happy Friday, and welcome to the first What The Truck?!? newsletter of the year. We came out swinging in January, and the theme has been consistent across every show: what’s really happening in freight.

Since the 2Hott interview before Christmas, the show has focused on trucking as an opportunity and also a responsibility. That conversation wasn’t just about freight. It was about discipline, faith, and how this industry can still change lives when it’s done the right way. From there, we’ve dug into freight tech and trust. We talked AI, automation, and visibility tools, but always through a real world lens. Tech only works if it strengthens relationships and decision making. If it doesn’t, it’s just noise.

January also highlighted the realities of carrier first approaches. We heard directly from drivers, fleet operators, and brokerage leaders on what actually keeps freight moving when conditions aren’t ideal. We’ve spent a lot of time on market pressure and consolidation too. Carrier shutdowns, layoffs, and M&A activity aren’t random. They’re signals. The industry isn’t disappearing. It’s recalibrating, and only the disciplined will make it through.

Compliance and enforcement has been another big theme. Tighter CDL scrutiny, AI being used by DOT, and renewed enforcement efforts mean compliance isn’t optional anymore. It affects hiring, capacity, insurance, and ultimately your ability to run a business. Risk has gone beyond rates and fuel. Cargo theft, warehouse security gaps, staged accidents, and growing liability exposure are now front and center conversations. Ignoring risk in 2026 is expensive.

And knowing me, you know I love talking about the future. We’ve looked ahead while keeping one foot firmly in the present. Whether it’s wireless charging, electrification, autonomous tech, or cross border growth into Mexico, these have been real conversations about where freight is headed and where demand is growing. If January has proven anything, it’s this: freight in 2026 is about accountability. To drivers. To customers. To brokers. To the public. Margins are tighter, rules are clearer, and the room for mistakes is smaller. Every single day has to be earned.

That’s what What The Truck?!? is here for. Real conversations with people who live this every day, and something you can actually take with you. If you’ve been watching, listening, sharing clips, or just shooting me a note after an episode, I appreciate you more than you know.

We’ve got a lot coming in 2026, and January was just the opening tip.

Let’s go ball!

Malcolm

Here are this week’s eye-catching headlines

Tennessee Carrier Shutting Down, Laying Off 145 Workers

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Let’s bring it back home to here in the Volunteer state. Another Tennessee carrier is shutting its doors, laying off 145 workers, and unfortunately this one doesn’t feel surprising anymore. This isn’t about one bad quarter. It’s about sustained pressure in a market that’s forcing tough decisions. Carrier exits like this are signals, not anomalies. Tight margins, insurance costs, compliance pressure, and slower freight all stack up. For drivers, it’s a hard reminder that stability matters. For the industry, it shows that survival right now is less about growth and more about discipline, cash flow, and execution. Great writing from Noi Mahoney breaking this down for us.

DOT to Use AI to Go After Illegal Truckers

(Photo: John Gallagher/FreightWaves)

Isn’t it wild how technology is shifting the space as we literally are going through our days? The DOT is officially leaning into AI to crack down on illegal trucking operations, and this is a big shift. Enforcement is no longer just roadside inspections and audits. It’s data driven, automated, and persistent. Unprecedented times for our industry.

For compliant carriers, this could actually be a positive. Bad actors distort rates, undercut legitimate operators, and increase risk across the system. But for anyone cutting corners, the net is getting tighter and you might not be able to last much longer given how the game is changing. In 2026, compliance isn’t paperwork. It’s a competitive advantage or a liability.

Now on demand

Built to Last

Malcolm Harris takes a wide-angle look at the forces reshaping freight in 2026, from autonomous trucking and fleet safety to regulation, compliance, and ongoing market volatility.

The episode blends breaking industry headlines with two in-depth conversations that explore where trucking is headed and what fleets need to be thinking about right now.

The show kicks off with a global freight and logistics roundup, including federal compliance cost cuts for fuel haulers, Allegiant’s move into air cargo with Amazon freight, expanding CDL compliance crackdowns in Tennessee, and Louisiana’s growing staged truck accident investigation.

Malcolm also highlights Purdue University’s successful wireless charging test for a heavy-duty truck at highway speeds, Southeastern Freight Lines’ expansion into Mexico, and what these developments signal for capacity, safety, and future freight operations.

The Factor Fleet

Malcolm Harris breaks down the biggest headlines shaping the freight and supply chain world—and then sits down with three industry leaders to unpack what 2026 is already throwing at transportation professionals.

Andrew Wimer, VP of Strategic Operations at Descartes, kicks things off with a deep dive into freight tech, operational resilience, and why trust with carriers and drivers is more important than ever. He also shares how AI and automation are being used to fix visibility gaps without creating more friction on the road.

Lida Zurabashvili, Founder of Freight Freedom, joins the show to share her journey from truck driver to brokerage owner. She talks transparently about building a carrier-first brokerage, fighting fraud and scams in today’s market, and why long-term relationships—not quick wins—are the key to sustainable success.

Rounding out the episode in studio is Sebastian Waters, Director of Maintenance Services at PLM Fleet. With nearly two decades of experience, Sebastian delivers practical winter maintenance advice for fleets, covering everything from preventive maintenance and reefer reliability to diesel, batteries, and cold-weather readiness.

From market pressures and layoffs to freight tech, fleet operations, and broker-carrier trust, this episode is packed with real-world insight for anyone moving freight today.

The Broker Blueprint

Malcolm Harris breaks down the biggest stories shaping freight right now — from layoffs and carrier consolidation to aggressive DOT enforcement and tightening compliance standards — before diving into two powerhouse conversations that deliver a true blueprint for brokerage success.

First up: Malcolm is joined by Trent Tulloh, CEO & Founder of Forever Freight Broker, for a no-nonsense discussion on:

Why relationships (not AI) are the future of brokerage
How to build trust with carriers and shippers
Training brokers the right way
Why paying carriers fairly drives long-term growth
What new brokers are getting wrong — and how to fix it

Then Malcolm sits down in-studio with Seth Shaver, EVP of Sales at Steam Logistics, for a candid conversation on:

Grit, resilience, and longevity in freight sales
Building winning teams and culture in tough markets
Leadership lessons from scaling through multiple market cycles
What young brokers must understand to survive and thrive

Freight in Focus

Malcolm Harris kicks off 2026 with a deep, perspective-driven conversation on what’s really happening across the freight and logistics industry beyond the headlines.

The show opens with FreightWaves cross-border reporter Noi Mahoney breaking down major policy and trade developments, including tariff delays, shifting duties, and why U.S.–Mexico freight could emerge as one of the biggest stabilizers for trucking in 2026.

Noi shares insights on nearshoring, cross-border truckload demand, warehouse implications, Class 8 truck orders, and the risks that could disrupt current momentum.

Next, supply chain veteran Mike Eischer, CEO of One World Supply Chain Consulting, joins the show to unpack where inefficiencies hide inside organizations, how companies should think about disruption as the new norm, and where technology is actually making a real-world impact. Mike offers practical guidance on operational discipline, balancing efficiency with reliability, the limits of automation, and why people remain the most important part of any supply chain.

The episode wraps with Chase Osborne of First Star Logistics, who dives into the realities of agent recruiting, marketing, and trust in a tight freight market. Chase discusses what agents are really looking for in 2026, how compensation, culture, and back-office support factor into decision-making, and why transparency and infrastructure matter more than flashy commission offers.

Doctor’s Orders

Malcolm Harris kicks off the new year with an in-depth, no-nonsense conversation with Charles Gracey, often referred to as the “Dr. Phil of trucking,” to break down the biggest issues shaping the freight and trucking industry right now.

This episode covers major developments that will impact drivers, carriers, brokers, and industry leaders in 2026, including the federal appeals court ruling against Amazon and what joint-employer accountability could mean for last-mile delivery models.

Malcolm and Charles discuss whether this ruling signals a broader shift in labor law, risk allocation, and long-term sustainability for delivery service partners. They dive into why large carrier mergers and acquisitions largely stalled in 2025, exploring indecision, market uncertainty, valuations, and leadership hesitation, and what that means for consolidation in 2026.

The conversation also examines leverage in today’s freight market, capacity pressures, driver pay, and why the power balance still isn’t in drivers’ favor. Autonomous trucking takes center stage as California moves closer to allowing testing and deployment of heavy-duty driverless trucks.

The discussion addresses safety, cybersecurity, liability, regulatory gaps, and the often-ignored human cost of automation, including what happens to drivers if jobs are displaced.

2Hott 2 Handle

Malcolm Harris sits down with one of the most authentic voices in freight and hip-hop today Devin Tribble, better known as 2Hott. ‪@2hott4pres‬

From Mississippi highways to viral music moments, 2Hott shares his raw journey as a real-life truck driver turned independent rapper. This conversation dives deep into faith, failure, discipline, mental health, and how earning a CDL became an escape route, not just a job. 🚛

In this episode, we cover:

How trucking fuels 2Hott’s music and storytelling
The viral rise of “Trucker Anthem”
Faith, perseverance, and finding purpose on the road
Why consistency beats clout in both freight and hip-hop
Advice for young drivers, artists, and anyone trying to break out of tough circumstances

Thanks for reading, and feel free to forward this to a friend.

Subscribe to the newsletter

Subscribe to the show

Or simply look up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player. Or, if you have SiriusXM, tune in to the show Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 p.m. Eastern time on Road Dog Trucking Channel 146.

Don’t be a stranger. Be kind to one another and go win today!

Malcolm “Miggie” Harris