Brake Check

FreightWaves, Charles Gracey

Join Charles Gracey as he tackles the biggest topics in trucking

  1. Drivers Aren’t Leaving Trucking… They’re Leaving YOU

    HACE 1 DÍA

    Drivers Aren’t Leaving Trucking… They’re Leaving YOU

    The trucking industry keeps talking about a “driver shortage”… But what if the real problem is the industry itself? On this episode of Brake Check, Charles Gracey dives headfirst into the recruiting and retention crisis ripping through trucking right now — why drivers are leaving, why some fleets can’t keep seats filled, and why the companies winning in 2026 are doing things very differently than the rest of the industry. We also tackle the shifting legal and operational pressure hitting freight as carriers, brokers, and fleets try to survive one of the most volatile eras trucking has seen in years. Featuring: Tim Norlin from Roehl Transport David Lowry from Bennett Family of Companies The truth about the “driver shortage” Why trucking struggles to retain drivers The recruiting tactics fleets still get wrong Why lead-gen culture changed trucking Flatbed demand & the freight market outlook The growing pressure on brokers and carriers What fleets MUST do to survive the next phase of trucking Topics include: No fluff. No corporate spin. Just real trucking talk for real trucking people.If you’re a driver, carrier, broker, dispatcher, recruiter, or fleet owner… this is the conversation the industry needs right now. #Trucking #DriverShortage #TruckDrivers #Freight #OwnerOperator #CDL #BrakeCheck  #Recruiting #Retention

    52 min
  2. “See You In Court” — Brokers Are Panicking, MOTUS Is Live & Trucking Changed Overnight

    HACE 3 DÍAS

    “See You In Court” — Brokers Are Panicking, MOTUS Is Live & Trucking Changed Overnight

    The trucking industry just got hit from every direction. The Supreme Court dropped a broker liability ruling that has brokers, carriers, and insurance companies scrambling. MOTUS is officially live and already changing the compliance game. And while all of that unfolds, Washington is pushing a new Highway Bill that could reshape freight, enforcement, and trucking operations for years to come. In other words… the rules just changed. On this episode of Brake Check, Charles  sits down with Matthew Leffler along with Brandon Wiseman and Rob Carpenter from TruckSafe to break down: What the SCOTUS broker liability ruling REALLY means Why plaintiff attorneys are paying attention How MOTUS changes compliance overnight The mistakes fleets are already making What small carriers need to do NOW And whether trucking is heading toward accountability… or absolute legal chaos No fluff. No corporate spin. No “everything is fine” conference room nonsense. Just real trucking talk for real trucking people. If you’re a broker, carrier, fleet owner, dispatcher, safety director, or driver… this is the episode you cannot afford to miss. #Trucking #SCOTUS #BrokerLiability #MOTUS #FMCSA #Freight #OwnerOperator #TruckDrivers #BrakeCheck Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    45 min
  3. Fraud, Empty Bank Accounts & Broken Fleets: The Real State of Trucking in 2026

    14 MAY

    Fraud, Empty Bank Accounts & Broken Fleets: The Real State of Trucking in 2026

    The spreadsheets say one thing. The bank accounts say another. On Brake Check, we uncover what trucking companies really feel in 2026...fear, pressure, frustration… and in some cases, flat-out survival mode. With Jessica Dotson from Triumph, we dig into the real emotional state of freight. Then CloneOps.ai shows how voice AI may become the next big weapon against freight fraud. And if that’s not enough… Home delivery is broken Safety is slipping Competency is being questioned And somebody has to say it Welcome to Brake Check. Real trucking talk for real trucking people. Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    45 min
  4. The Trucking Industry Is Lying to Itself… So We Asked REAL Truckers

    12 MAY

    The Trucking Industry Is Lying to Itself… So We Asked REAL Truckers

    Today on Brake Check, live on  FreightWaves⁠, we traded spreadsheets, pie charts, and polished boardroom opinions for something a whole lot more real… The people who actually live this industry. We went LIVE from the legendary Bristol Motor Speedway at the Large Cars & Guitars Truck Show with one mission: Get a real pulse check on trucking in 2026. Because if you really want to know what’s happening in freight… You don’t ask analysts. You ask drivers. You ask owner-operators. You ask the men and women who actually keep America moving. Today’s guests: Max Lacher - Behind the scenes on todays top trucking topics, fuel, optimization and more from performance diesel inc Kim Hartgrave -  Real talk from behind the wheel with no corporate talking points Noah Volz from Truck Parking Club-  Parking, todays tone and more Mike Beatey- Owner-operator truth with zero filters From rates… To parking… To regulations… To what’s really broken—and what’s finally getting better… This isn’t a studio show. This is Brake Check. Live. Loud. Unfiltered. Drop your take in the comments: What’s the biggest thing broken in trucking right now? #Trucking #BrakeCheck #Freight #OwnerOperator #CDL #Bristol #TruckingNews #FreightWaves #LargeCarsAndGuitars Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    41 min
  5. Bots Won't Fix Trucking: Real AI Solutions vs. The Hype

    8 MAY

    Bots Won't Fix Trucking: Real AI Solutions vs. The Hype

    In this episode of Brake Check, we're coming to you LIVE from day two of the Tenstreet User Conference, and we're tackling the massive elephant in the room: AI. Everybody is talking about it, but what does practical AI actually mean for the industry? Charles Gracey hits the showroom floor to cut through the buzzwords and sit down with the heavy hitters shaping the future of freight and driver recruiting. First up, Charles is joined by Steve Brown, CRO of Tenstreet, to break down the highly-anticipated "Tenstreet Assistant." We're not talking about replacing the human element—we're talking about removing the mindless data entry and spreadsheet tracking so recruiters can get back to what matters: building real relationships with drivers. Then, Linnette Torres, Director of Compliance and Recruiting at CPC Logistics, drops in to give us a boots-on-the-ground look at the private fleet sector. Linnette shares CPC's impressive driver benefits, the gritty reality of recruiting in today's unpredictable market, and what it's really like to beta-test these new AI tools. Finally, Charles catches up with Kevin Hall, CEO of CDLLife. They dig into how data intelligence is mapping out the actual driver journey, the critical difference between passive and active job seekers, and why carrier recruiting budgets are finally starting to open back up as the market shifts. No fluff. No spin. Just real conversations about: What "real AI" actually looks like for carriers in 2026 Why the human touch will never be replaced in trucking Surviving the unpredictability of today's driver market No pie charts; No PowerPoints; No sanitized narratives. This is real trucking talk with real trucking people... calling out broken systems, asking uncomfortable questions, and demanding accountability where it's long overdue. If you care about the future of trucking, this is a conversation you can't afford to miss. Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    36 min
  6. Pay Transparency BACKFIRES & The Freight Recession Ends | LIVE from Tenstreet

    6 MAY

    Pay Transparency BACKFIRES & The Freight Recession Ends | LIVE from Tenstreet

    No studio. No script. No safe answers. This episode of Brake Check went down LIVE at the Tenstreet User Conference in Las Vegas. Executives from all over freight came together to look at the latest industry trends and what is happening out on the road. The freight recession might finally be over. But as rates climb and the market shifts to benefit carriers and drivers, the real challenges are just getting started. From drivers getting pushed into unregulated markets to well-intentioned laws making job hunting harder, we talk to the people building the tech and pulling the strings. We break it all down with: • Kevin Nadeau & Tom Resz (Tenstreet)The shifting market, the Job Store, and driver retention. • Scott Fierman (HireRight)The DAC employment history file and building a better partnership with drivers. • Meghan Gleason (TruckersReport.com) Job board traffic, the Hammer app, and finding the right fit. • Carlo Solórzano (Driver IQ) – The Don't Get Played podcast and AI streamlining the industry. This is what happens when you get everyone in the same room to talk about what's actually working—and what's broken. Welcome to Brake Check. Real trucking talk for real trucking people. No fluff. No spin. Just the truth. Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    43 min
  7. We Put Brokers, Carriers & The FMCSA In The Same Room… Here’s What Happened

    30 ABR

    We Put Brokers, Carriers & The FMCSA In The Same Room… Here’s What Happened

    No studio. No script. No safe answers. This episode of Brake Check wasn’t filmed in a quiet room...it went down LIVE at the Broker Carrier Summit in Kansas City… where brokers, carriers, regulators, and tech companies all showed up in the same place… and finally had to face each other. And when that happens? Things get REAL. We’re talking: The growing divide between brokers and carriers What the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is actually doing (and not doing) The truth about enforcement, training, and pay Tech companies promising solutions… but are they fixing anything? And the one thing this industry STILL refuses to admit This isn’t a panel. This isn’t PR. This is what happens when the walls come down and the conversations get uncomfortable. If you’ve ever wondered: - Why trust is completely broken in trucking- Why the same problems keep getting worse- And what it actually looks like when the industry tries to fix itself… This is the episode you don’t skip. Welcome to Brake Check Real trucking talk for real trucking people. No fluff. No spin. Just the truth. Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    48 min
  8. OOIDA EXPOSES Trucking’s Biggest Lies | HOS, ELDs, Driver Pay & The Fake Driver Shortage

    28 ABR

    OOIDA EXPOSES Trucking’s Biggest Lies | HOS, ELDs, Driver Pay & The Fake Driver Shortage

    We went LIVE from OOIDA headquarters in Grain Valley with Lewie Pugh for one of the realest trucking conversations you’ll hear all year. How did OOIDA get started? Why are Hours of Service still broken? Have ELDs helped… or made things worse? Why are drivers still underpaid? And was the so-called “driver shortage” ever real… or was it used to flood the market and suppress wages? This episode pulls no punches. We break down: The truth about HOS rules Why ELD mandates still frustrate drivers Driver pay vs industry profits Training standards and CDL concerns The “driver shortage” narrative Why so many truckers feel the system is stacked against them No fluff. No spin. Just real trucking talk from inside OOIDA HQ.Subscribe for more hard-hitting freight news, trucking truth, and voices that matter. #Trucking #OOIDA #ELD #HOS #DriverPay #CDL #Freight #Truckers #CharlesGracey #BrakeCheck Follow the Brake Check Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows

    49 min
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Join Charles Gracey as he tackles the biggest topics in trucking

Información

  • Creador
    FreightWaves, Charles Gracey
  • Años de actividad
    2 k
  • Episodios
    32
  • Copyright
    © Firecrown Media Group 2026
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Brake Check

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