How Small Fleets Stay Profitable at $2/Mile Hauling Produce
Daushawn Falls, founder of Tenacity Express Freight Brokerage shares how carriers can become more profitable when getting loads.

Daushawn Falls, founder of Tenacity Express Freight Brokerage shares how carriers can become more profitable when getting loads.

Spot-market activity jumped this week or November 17th with load posts rising 9.1% and truck posts climbing 18.3%. That shift is creating tighter competition across dry van, reefer, and flatbed. Diesel prices have also moved again, now sitting at $3.868 nationally. Here’s what owner-operators and small carriers need to know heading into the back half of November.

Golden Key Express LLC has grown from 10 to 33 trucks by running a lean reefer operation, tracking every mile, and keeping drivers happy. Learn how Pargat Baidwan built a profitable fleet in 2025’s tough market.

In this episode of This Week in Trucking, owner-operator Jason reveals how he keeps his cost per mile under $1.70, survives volatile freight markets, and stays profitable through discipline, smart planning, and factoring, a must-read for small carriers and new authorities navigating 2025’s challenges.

California just lost $40 million in federal highway funds as the FMCSA ramps up its non-domiciled CDL crackdown. Learn how new English proficiency rules, stricter driver verification, and tighter inspections could reshape freight rates — and what small carriers can do right now to stay compliant and profitable.

Freight fraud and double brokering are costing small carriers thousands every month. In this episode, Pedro Peterson from Synergy Freight shares the real red flags to watch for, how to protect your business, and what every owner-operator needs to do to stay profitable in 2025.

Tax season hits owner-operators hard — but it doesn’t have to drain your profits. Learn which trucking expenses you can legally write off, how one driver lost every deduction after failing to keep records, and what you can do today to keep more of your money in 2025.

Two major policy changes are shaking up trucking: an FMCSA emergency CDL rule that could push 200,000 drivers out of the industry, and a 25% tariff on imported trucks that may add tens of thousands to equipment costs. Here’s what carriers need to know—and how to prepare.

Insurance costs are crushing small carriers, but they don’t have to. In this episode, insurance expert Matt Planeta shares insider strategies for lowering premiums, avoiding renewal surprises, and keeping your trucking business profitable in 2025.

New authorities face sky-high costs and limited freight options. In this episode, Tim shares how he’s running lean at $1.77 per mile, what it really costs to survive, and his advice for owner-operators starting out.

Corisa Carter of CM Transportation shares how she scaled to 43 owner-operators in intermodal trucking by focusing on transparency, cost per mile, and smart partnerships. Learn how small carriers can build profitable intermodal businesses in 2025.

Jamie Hagen, founder of HellBent Xpress, reveals how he scaled from one truck to eight during the freight boom and kept his business alive through the trucking crash. Learn what it really costs to run a fleet, the mistakes to avoid, and the survival strategies every small carrier needs in today’s market.