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Rates are finally climbing... so why are trucking companies still struggling to make money?

ATRI just revealed the highest operating cost in trucking history: $2.336 per mile. Diesel is pushing $5 a gallon AND SOME ARE WORRIED MAY HIT $6. Insurance keeps climbing. Maintenance isn't getting cheaper. So where is the money actually going?

In this episode of Brake Check, we expose the hidden costs draining carrier profits and separate the technology that's delivering real ROI from the expensive hype that's emptying wallets.

First, FreightWaves Enterprise Trucking Analyst Thomas Wasson joins us fresh off the Supply Chain AI Symposium to break down the freight market, exploding operating costs, AI, and the tools that can actually make carriers more profitable.

Then, FOX Business contributor and energy expert Phil Flynn explains what's really driving diesel prices, whether another fuel spike is coming, and how smart fleets can stay ahead instead of getting blindsided at the pump.

If you own trucks, manage a fleet, dispatch freight, or simply want to know where the trucking economy is headed next...This is the episode you can't afford to miss.

Topics covered:

Why trucking costs hit a record $2.336 per mile

Where carrier profits are really disappearing

AI that saves money—and AI that's just hype

Freight rates vs. operating costs

Diesel price forecasts and fuel strategy

What small fleets need to survive the rest of 2026

Brake Check. No fluff. Just the truth that moves trucking

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Bryan Tyson has spent the last 18 years building brokerage operations, mentoring thousands of freight brokers, and leading teams responsible for tens of thousands of shipments. In this episode of FreightWaves Fraud Watch, we discuss how freight fraud has evolved, why technology alone isn't enough to stop it, and the mindset that separates transportation professionals who consistently protect freight from those who become victims. Bryan shares lessons from nearly two decades in the industry, explains why "trust but verify" has become essential, and offers practical insights for brokers, carriers, and shippers navigating today's rapidly changing fraud landscape. If you move freight, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.
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In this episode, we kick things off by examining a massive escalation in the U.S.-Canada trade fight as President Trump announced sweeping fifty percent tariffs on roughly twenty billion dollars worth of Canadian imports scheduled to take effect in thirty days. Using an obscure authority from the Tariff Act of 1930, the new duties will apply even to goods that qualify under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, prompting Ontario's premier to demand reciprocal measures if the tariffs take effect.

Next, we explore a high-stakes legal battle heading for oral arguments this fall as federal agencies prepare to defend the FMCSA's controversial restrictions on non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses in the D.C. Court of Appeals on September 15. Petitioners argue the February rule will render ineligible ninety-seven percent of noncitizens who currently hold a CDL, broadly prohibiting asylum seekers, refugees, and DACA recipients from obtaining licenses even though they are legally authorized to work in the United States.

Finally, we cover a new threat to a critical shipping corridor as Houthi rebels in Yemen declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia at the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. This escalation comes just as major container carriers had recently announced a return of scheduled services to the key route connecting Asia with Europe and North America, raising the risk of wider disruption in a region that is strategically vital for global energy exports and maritime traffic.

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In this action-packed episode of FreightWaves Today, hosts Julie Van de Kamp and Malcolm Harris break down the biggest stories impacting global supply chains, cross-border commerce, and freight fraud.From escalating military conflict in the Strait of Hormuz to billion-dollar federal fraud busts and deep dives into freight market economic trends, we've got you covered!

The Strait of Hormuz & Legal Liability

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner (Founder & President, Shurat HaDin / Israeli Law Center) joins the show for a discussion on Iranian missile strikes on oil tankers, legal recourse for shipowners, international sanctions, and military blockades.

Verified: $1B Cargo Theft Ring & CDL Fraud Crackdown

Philip Brink (Head of Fraud, Media, and Education at FreightWaves) unpacks the FBI’s $1B international cargo theft network, the DHS/DOT crackdown on 75 fraudulent CDL training schools, and Indiana State Police interdictions.

Freight Economy Data & AI Infrastructure Bubble?

Dr. Jason Miller (Supply Chain Professor, Michigan State University) on why AI data center buildouts are driving electrical/steel freight, whether an AI CapEx bubble is forming, and capacity forecasts through 2027.

Digital Broker Liability & Carrier Vetting in Court

Cassandra Gaines (Founder & CEO, Carrier Assurer) breaks down how broker technology and unmanaged data can be used in court, mitigating nuclear lawsuits, double-brokering traps, and shipper liability at the guard shack.

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