This week, we’re covering why there’s more pressure on small fleets than ever
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NEWSLETTER BROUGHT TO YOU BY — AMAZON RELAY
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This holiday season, Relay expects more volume than ever for box trucks, dry vans, containers, and reefers. Get in now before peak season hits to access spot loads and roundtrip contracts, or bid on lanes with auctions. Get started.
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Less Freight, More Games — What Small Carriers Need to Watch
This week’s newsletter cuts through distractions and delivers what matters: fewer imports, fewer loads, and more pressure on small fleets to make every mile count. We’re looking at how tariffs are drying up demand, how the FMCSA’s ELP crackdowns are quietly reshaping the driver landscape, and why your onboarding and training game can’t afford to be average right now. From rate confirmations to fuel planning to freight theft, this one’s full of the kind of insight that protects your margin when the market isn’t playing fair.
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(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)
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If you’ve noticed fewer loads and shorter runs lately, it’s not your imagination — freight volumes are falling, and tariffs may be one of the biggest reasons. Importers are pulling back to avoid higher costs, especially on Chinese goods, which means fewer containers, fewer dray moves, and weaker demand for trucks. For small carriers, it’s another hit in a market already stretched thin.
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(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)
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The FMCSA’s English Language Proficiency enforcement isn’t just about safety — it’s about scrutiny. While the policy is being pitched as neutral, enforcement patterns suggest otherwise. Targeted audits, inconsistent applications, and an uptick in revoked CDLs have small carriers—especially immigrant-owned operations—feeling the pressure. This update breaks down what’s happening, why it matters, and how to protect your authority.
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(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)
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Clogged DPFs are draining profits and sidelining trucks — but most of it starts with how the truck is driven. This piece walks through simple changes like reducing idle time, using cruise control smarter, and watching regen cycles that could save you thousands in breakdowns.
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(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)
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They’re cheap, easy to rent, and hard to trace — and that’s exactly why criminals love box trucks. This article breaks down how they’re being used to steal high-value freight, how the scams are structured, and why small carriers need to start watching every step from tender to delivery.
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(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)
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If your drivers don’t understand what they’re signing, you’re setting yourself up for missed stops, chargebacks, and tension at delivery. This piece walks through the right way to coach drivers on rate cons.
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Your feedback helps FreightWaves understand the needs of the market. By analyzing fleet size data, we can see trends and adapt our offerings to provide better tools, resources, and support for all our readers, from owner-operators to large carriers.
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OWNER OPERATOR ESSENTIALS
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(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)
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Saying yes to heavy loads without factoring in the weight cost is a silent profit killer. This article shows how every extra 1,000 pounds increases fuel burn, wear and tear, and liability — and why you should be charging accordingly or walking away.
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In our Masterclass series, we talk a lot about retention starting on Day One — and this article proves why. That first month sets the tone for everything: safety, communication, and whether a driver stays or walks. If you’re scaling a fleet, this is the window you can’t afford to waste. Enroll today.
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ELP, non-domicile, and the prejudice hiding in plain sight
In this solo episode of The Long Haul, Adam tackles one of the freight industry’s most loaded topics — the crackdown on English Language Proficiency and the targeting of non-domicile CDL holders. What starts as a safety policy is revealing deeper issues around bias, access, and who gets to belong in trucking. If you’re ready for a raw, honest conversation about what’s really happening, this one’s a must-listen.
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Want more insights like this — built for small carriers, not spreadsheets?
The Playbook delivers boots-on-the-ground strategies, free tools, and no-fluff freight education every week. Join the community that’s helping small fleets run smarter, stay compliant, and win more freight in today’s market.
Join the Community!
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Know your number — before you take the load
If you don’t know your breakeven, you’re driving blind. The Playbook Profit Calculator helps you price smarter, plan your week, and protect your margin in seconds. Whether you’re running one truck or ten, this free tool takes the guesswork out of your bottom line.
Use the Profit Calculator
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