Brake Check

FreightWaves, Charles Gracey

Join Charles Gracey as he tackles the biggest topics in trucking

  1. hace 4 días

    The Trucking Crackdown Is Here: Avoid These Mistakes Before It's Too Late

    The trucking crackdown is here. The question is...will your company survive it? FMCSA has rewritten the playbook. CSA has undergone its biggest overhaul in years. English proficiency enforcement is back in force. DataQs are more important than ever. And freight fraud has exploded into one of the biggest threats facing carriers today. One bad inspection. One stolen identity. One double-brokered load. One compliance mistake. That's all it takes to turn a profitable trucking company into tomorrow's cautionary tale. In this episode of Brake Check, Charles Gracey sits down with two industry experts who have worked both sides of enforcement. Rob Carpenter, VP of Compliance at TruckSafe, shares what carriers need to know about FMCSA audits, driver qualification files, freight fraud, identity theft, double brokering, compliance, and protecting your business before criminals or regulators...show up at your door. Then John Seidl, former Wisconsin State Motor Carrier Trooper and FMCSA Investigator, explains what inspectors are really looking for during roadside inspections, how the new CSA scoring system affects carriers, how English proficiency enforcement is playing out in the real world, and how DataQ challenges can remove violations that never should have been written in the first place. In this episode: The biggest FMCSA and CSA changes every carrier needs to know What inspectors are actually looking for roadside How to survive an FMCSA audit Driver qualification file mistakes that can cost you The freight fraud scams targeting carriers today Identity theft, double brokering, and fictitious pickups explained How to protect your authority and your business How DataQs really work and when you should fight a violation The inspection mistakes that destroy CSA scores Practical compliance strategies every fleet can use today Whether you're an owner-operator, small fleet, safety director, dispatcher, broker, or trucking executive, this episode delivers practical advice you can put to work immediately. If you're serious about protecting your business, lowering risk, and staying ahead of the next enforcement wave, this is one episode you can't afford to miss. Subscribe to FreightWaves for more trucking news, carrier insights, and industry-leading conversations. Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    The Trucking Crackdown Is Here: Avoid These Mistakes Before It's Too Late

  2. hace 6 días

    Is $6 Diesel Coming? What Every Trucking Company Needs to Know

    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 Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    Is $6 Diesel Coming? What Every Trucking Company Needs to Know

  3. 16 jul

    What's Really Happening Inside FMCSA

    What's really happening inside FMCSA? In this exclusive episode of Brake Check, FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs joins us for a candid conversation about the issues shaping trucking today. No press releases. No prepared statements. Just the questions America's truckers and carriers have been asking. We discuss MOTUS....why FMCSA believed the industry needed it, the challenges during rollout, what went wrong, what's been fixed, and where the platform is headed next. We also tackle freight fraud, identity verification, randomized MC numbers, enforcement, recent high-profile commercial vehicle crashes, and what FMCSA believes the industry must do to improve safety while protecting legitimate carriers. Inside this episode: Why FMCSA built MOTUS in the first place The real story behind the rollout What FMCSA learned from early issues What's been fixed—and what's still improving How MOTUS is changing freight fraud prevention Identity verification vs. authority verification Recent truck crashes and the future of safety enforcement What truckers and carriers should expect from FMCSA moving forward Whether you're an owner-operator, fleet owner, safety director, broker, or professional driver, this conversation offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from the person leading the agency responsible for commercial motor vehicle safety in America. If you want honest conversations with the people shaping the future of trucking, subscribe to FreightWaves and never miss an episode of Brake Check. Because understanding the rules is one thing... Understanding where they're headed is another. Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    What's Really Happening Inside FMCSA

  4. 14 jul

    The Next Freight War Won't Be Won With More Trucks

    Artificial intelligence isn't replacing truckers. It's giving smart carriers an advantage. In this episode of Brake Check, we separate real technology from industry hype and show how AI is helping carriers make better decisions, fight freight fraud, and run more profitable businesses. First, Dale Prax from Truckstop.com and FreightValidate pulls back the curtain on the latest freight fraud schemes, identity theft, fake MC numbers, and the tools carriers can use to protect themselves before a load ever moves. Then Jacky Zhao, Senior Director of Technology Innovation at Truckstop.com, introduces AVA—the freight industry's first voice-native AI carrier assistant. Learn how voice-powered AI can help owner-operators and fleets search freight, check rates, and stay productive without taking their eyes off the road. Inside this episode: How freight fraud is evolving in 2026 The biggest identity verification mistakes carriers make The newest scams targeting trucking companies How Truckstop is fighting fraud What AVA actually does—and why it's different from the AI hype How AI can help carriers work smarter without replacing drivers Where trucking technology is headed next The future belongs to carriers that adapt—not because AI is replacing truckers, but because technology is becoming a competitive advantage.If you're serious about protecting your business, staying ahead of fraud, and running a smarter operation, subscribe for more episodes of Brake Check on FreightWaves. Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    The Next Freight War Won't Be Won With More Trucks

  5. 9 jul

    The FMCSA Already Knows Which Carriers Will Fail

    Before a truck gets shut down... Before the lawsuit... Before the six-figure insurance renewal... Before the FMCSA audit... The warning signs are almost always there. The problem? Most carriers don't see them until it's too late. On this episode of Brake Check, we tackle one of the biggest questions in trucking today: Why do 93% of carriers fail an FMCSA audit with at least one violation—and what are the safest fleets doing differently? Joining us are two experts who see trucking safety from completely different angles. Ann Wasson, Founder of Wasson Consulting Group and Certified Director of Safety, breaks down what FMCSA auditors are really looking for, the HOS and ELD mistakes carriers make every day, the compliance failures that fuel nuclear verdicts, and how to prepare before regulators ever come knocking. Then Sam Watts, Director of Safety & Loss Control at Ten Four Truck Insurance and founder of Wattsmen Diesel House, explains why safety isn't just about avoiding violations—it's about lowering insurance costs, building a culture drivers actually believe in, coaching instead of punishing, and why too many fleets mistake paperwork for protection. Inside this episode: Why only 7% of carriers pass an FMCSA audit clean The biggest compliance mistakes hiding in plain sight What FMCSA's data is already saying about your fleet HOS & ELD mistakes that trigger enforcement The truth about safety culture vs. compliance theater What insurance companies really look for before writing coverage Why some fleets keep paying higher premiums—and don't realize they're causing it Coaching drivers instead of chasing violations The maintenance shortcuts that become expensive roadside inspections How to protect your business before an audit, crash, or lawsuit forces you to Whether you run one truck or one thousand, this episode could save you from your next audit, your next claim, or your next insurance renewal. Subscribe for more FreightCasts, trucking news, and real talk from the front lines of the trucking industry. Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    The FMCSA Already Knows Which Carriers Will Fail

  6. 7 jul

    Your Trucking Company Is One Click Away From Disaster (Here's How to Stop It)

    Every trucking company is buying more technology. The question is...is it actually making your business stronger or creating new ways to lose money? In this episode of Brake Check, we tackle the two biggest technology battles every carrier faces today: Hiring qualified drivers before the competition gets them. Protecting your business from freight fraud, cyberattacks, and costly IT failures. Steve Brown from Tenstreet breaks down how AI, automation, and smarter recruiting are changing driver hiring—and where technology still needs a human touch. Then Jake Persofsky, Founder of Insperia, explains why so many carriers are one cyberattack, ransomware event, or freight fraud scheme away from operational disaster and what you can do today to protect your business. Inside this episode: The fastest way to reduce time-to-hire Where carriers lose the best drivers AI recruiting: what's real and what's hype The biggest freight fraud threats in 2026 Cybersecurity mistakes almost every fleet makes The technology every trucking company should invest in before the market turns How to modernize your operation without breaking what already works Whether you run one truck or one thousand, this conversation could save your company thousands of dollars and maybe your next load. If you believe trucking deserves real conversations instead of sales pitches, subscribe, leave a comment, and share this episode with another carrier. Brake Check. Real trucking. Real operators. Zero fluff. Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    Your Trucking Company Is One Click Away From Disaster (Here's How to Stop It)

  7. 2 jul

    The Carriers Quietly Taking Your Freight

    Some carriers are surviving 2026. Others are quietly disappearing. The difference isn't luck. It isn't fleet size. And it isn't who has the newest trucks It's who has better information. On this episode of Brake Check, we pull back the curtain on what the data is really saying about today's freight market—and the hidden operational mistakes quietly costing carriers money every single day. Joining us: Sean Dehan – VP of Corporate Strategy & Development at Truckstop, breaks down what Truckstop's data is revealing about freight demand, rates, fraud, heavy haul, and the market trends every carrier should be watching. Robert Bain – Director of Partnerships & Senior Consultant at GLCS, exposes the hidden technology gaps, broken processes, cybersecurity risks, and operational blind spots that keep carriers from reaching their full potential. We cover: Where the freight market is really headed The biggest mistakes carriers make with load boards Freight fraud red flags every carrier needs to know Hidden profit leaks inside trucking companies Cybersecurity threats hitting carriers today Why some fleets grow while others quietly fail The operational changes that separate surviving from thriving If you're an owner-operator, fleet owner, dispatcher, operations manager, or anyone serious about building a stronger trucking business, this is an episode you don't want to miss. Which challenge is costing carriers the most right now—freight, fraud, technology, or operations? Drop your answer in the comments. Like, subscribe, and share with another carrier who needs to hear this. #Trucking #OwnerOperator #Freight #Logistics #Truckstop #FreightMarket #LoadBoards #SmallBusiness #SupplyChain #BrakeCheck Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    The Carriers Quietly Taking Your Freight

  8. 30 jun

    We Asked America's Truckers What's Really Happening... They Didn't Hold Back

    There are plenty of people telling you what trucking looks like from a boardroom. We decided to ask the people actually living it. Live from Shell Rotella SuperRigs at Bristol Motor Speedway, Brake Check handed the microphone to America's truck drivers for an unfiltered reality check on freight, regulations, pay, parking, respect, technology, and where this industry is really headed. No talking points. No corporate spin. No pie charts. Just honest conversations with the men and women keeping America moving. Joining Charles are trucking voices with decades of experience: Kenny Ziglar Daniel & Phyllis Snow ("The Goose") Mike Lombard Together, they tackle the biggest issues facing trucking today while hearing directly from drivers walking the show grounds. If you want to know what trucking really looks like in 2026, don't ask an analyst. Ask a trucker. Topics include: The real freight market Driver pay & respect Regulations & government oversight Parking & infrastructure Technology & a dancing cyber truck Recruiting & retention The future of trucking Live reactions from drivers across America If you believe trucking deserves a voice that comes from the road...not the boardroom. Like, subscribe, hit the notification bell, and join the conversation. Because the people doing the job deserve to be heard. #ShellRotella #superrigs #shellsuperrigs #truckshow #Bristolmotorspeedway #Bristol #truckerstellall Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    We Asked America's Truckers What's Really Happening... They Didn't Hold Back
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Join Charles Gracey as he tackles the biggest topics in trucking

Información

  • Creador
    FreightWaves, Charles Gracey
  • Años de actividad
    2026
  • Episodios
    48
  • Copyright
    © Firecrown Media Group 2026
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Brake Check

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