Book Parking | List your Property | Contact Customer Care

New Survey!

Take this Survey for a $25 promo code. We’d love your feedback on DOT Blitz Week!

📈 Freight Market Showing Signs of Life?

I remember when Craig Fuller, the CEO of FreightWaves said Trucking was going into a recession back in Spring of 2022, and people called him a fool. From that point until now we have had years of brutal rates, shrinking capacity, and carrier/broker bankruptcies. Now the data is showing a shift

New federal employment data shows more than 4,000 trucking jobs were added in April, one of the biggest monthly increases since 2023. At the same time, spot market rates have been climbing steadily for nearly six months, fueling speculation that the long freight recession could finally be easing up.

For context, the industry has spent the last four years dealing with massive overcapacity and weak freight demand. Trucking employment peaked in October 2022 at nearly 1.59 million jobs before the market began correcting. Since then, tens of thousands of trucking positions have disappeared as carriers downsized or shut their doors entirely.

The collapse of Yellow Corporation alone wiped out roughly 55,000 jobs in 2023. Additional losses followed throughout 2024 and 2025 as smaller fleets struggled with low rates and rising operating costs.

Now, some analysts believe the pendulum is swinging back.

According to DAT Freight & Analytics, tightening capacity has helped push spot rates higher in recent months. Carriers are beginning to cautiously add trucks and drivers again in anticipation of a stronger second half of the year.

David Spencer of Arrive Logistics says carriers that position themselves now could benefit if rates continue climbing heading into peak season.

But not everyone is ready to call it a full recovery just yet.

Fuel prices remain a major concern, with diesel costs continuing to pressure margins across the industry. Analysts at FTR Transportation Intelligence noted that while rates are improving, much of the current momentum is being driven by tight capacity rather than a major surge in freight volumes.

Certain sectors appear stronger than others. Flatbed and open deck freight are benefiting from continued data center construction and gradual manufacturing improvements, while van freight demand remains less certain.

Outside trucking, the broader economy added roughly 115,000 jobs in April, while unemployment held steady at 4.3%.

So…is the freight market officially back?

Read more here

What do you think? For Driver Submissions, questions, and comments contact me at: [email protected] or Text me directly at 423-275-2444

Tale Lites Throwback

In Honor of Blitz Week, let’s just see who DOT is from this April 1967 Issue of Tale Lites

🤖 Driverless Truck Fleets Could Soon Expand Nationwide

Following up with last weeks autonomous news out of California, the push toward autonomous trucking continues to ramp up, and a new federal exemption request could open the door for thousands more driverless trucks on American highways over the next several years.

Aurora Innovation is asking the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for a five year exemption from current safety regulations that require truck drivers to place warning triangles around a disabled vehicle stopped on the shoulder.

Instead of human deployed triangles, Aurora wants permission to use cab mounted warning beacons on its Level 4 autonomous trucks, vehicles designed to operate without a driver behind the wheel.

If approved, the exemption wouldn’t just apply to Aurora. Other companies operating fully autonomous commercial trucks could potentially use the same system as driverless fleets continue expanding across the country.

And expansion is exactly what Aurora has planned.

The company says it wants to grow its autonomous fleet from 109 trucks to 200 by the end of 2026, with ambitions to scale to thousands of driverless trucks within the next five years. Aurora also recently announced a new 200-mile autonomous freight route between Dallas and Oklahoma City.

Drivers online don’t seem to agree with this and OOIDA has been actively encouraging truckers to oppose the exemption request, arguing that warning triangles provide critical advance notice to approaching traffic, something flashing beacons may not fully replace. I think this is something drivers agree with because four wheelers already have a hard enough time moving over for emergency vehicles.

Many drivers have already submitted comments to the FMCSA expressing concerns about highway safety, accountability in crashes, cargo security, and the broader future of human drivers in trucking.

One commenter noted that properly placed warning triangles can give motorists several extra seconds to react at highway speeds, potentially making the difference between avoiding a crash and causing a serious rear end collision.

Others questioned who would ultimately be responsible in an accident involving a driverless truck: the carrier, the manufacturer, or the software company.

The FMCSA is accepting public comments on the proposal through May 15.

Drivers and industry members who want to weigh in can submit comments through Regulations.gov using docket number FMCSA-2026-0958

📩 What are your thoughts?
Reply to this email or text (423) 275-2444 

🩺 Health Tip of the Week: Strength Training on the Road

I often talk about weight loss and weight management, but what are some ways we can built lean muscle on the road. Muscle is considered the fountain of youth in regards to aging, where the stronger you are is linked to having a longer life. Which is why outside of incorporating walking into your day to day life, you should aim to strength train at least 3x a week for an intentional 30 minutes. You can do this, first thing in the morning, while fueling, 10 hour breaks, 34 hour resets, or time sitting at dock doors. If you are scrolling, you can be lifting!

This can be broken up throughout the day, and targeting one muscle group at a time. You can do this with simple bodyweight movements, but also you can get an incredible set of resistance bands from getsemifit.com

Check out these truckers using the Semi Fit workout kit!

Partner Post of the Week

Be sure to follow and get some laughs from our Partner OffendDot! Use the promo code offenddot20 for $20 off your next booking!

Long Time Trucker Writes Book on the State of American Trucking Industry

Is there a quiet war being waged against America’s truck drivers?

That’s the argument behind End of the Road: Inside the War on Truckers, a new book by longtime driver and writer Gord Magill. Magill claims the industry that once represented freedom and independence is being attacked on all fronts, from government regulations, in cab surveillance technology, corporate consolidation, and the push toward autonomous trucks.

God Magill has decades of experience including 4 seasons on ice roads in Canada, road trains in Australia, and over the road in the US. He argues that drivers today face tighter control, shrinking margins, and a future where human truckers may be pushed out altogether.

If you drive a truck, have driven, or have a family member who drives then this book is a must read.

You can order the book HERE and use the promo code 4TRUCKERS20 for a discount at checkout!

🎸 Little Texas Headlining Walcott Truckers Jamboree

Country band Little Texas will headline the 48th Annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree on July 10 at 7 PM at the Iowa 80 Truckstop — known as the World’s Largest Truckstop.

The three-day event (July 9–11) will feature live music, a Super Truck Beauty Contest, Antique Truck Display, Trucker Olympics, pork chop cookout, fireworks, and more.

Best part: Admission and parking are free. 🚛🇺🇸 

Truck Parking Club Partner Program

Do you create content for truckers, want to help solve the truck parking crisis, and an opportunity to give drivers FREE parking? Let’s work together! Click below to apply for Truck Parking Club’s Partner Program today!