The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is taking a major step toward modernization with the rollout of its new MOTUS (Modernized Oversight & Tracking Unified System) platform. For small trucking companies, this isn’t just another system update—it represents a shift in how compliance, safety data,...
The unintended consequences of automated carrier vetting.Imagine doing everything right for years, only to be rejected by a broker in a second by a rule you cannot see.Welcome to automated carrier vetting!Modern carrier vetting systems emerged for a reason. Fraud has grown faster and more...
February 13, 2026 The Honorable Lee ZeldinAdministratorEnvironmental Protection Agency1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.Washington, D.C. 20004 Dear Administrator Zeldin: On behalf of the 14,000 member companies of the National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC), thank you very much for acting boldly and prudently in recent actions that will have...
Below is part 2 of an article that was featured in last quarter’s newsletter from David Owen’s desk concerning the shortsighted nature of many rules, regulations, and laws that come out of Washington. If you recall, the letter was directed at the cost to small...
Starting a trucking company is an exciting step — but for many, it’s also a short-lived one. Industry data shows that 85–90% of new trucking companies fail within their first 2–3 years. The reasons vary, but most come down to the same core challenges:Cash flow...
An Overdrive report published in early October detailed commentary and statistics from the Truck Safety Coalition about a report the TSC calls “The Deadliest Truck Crash States.”The report concludes that the “deadliest dozen” states for fatal truck-involved crashes in 2023 (per 100,000 population) are 12 states where, but for three...
Dear Member:In a podcast conversation with Kevin Rutherford recently, we discussed the pros and cons of communication through emails, blogs, and texts versus real conversation in person or via the telephone. In business today I feel there are many misinterpretations and misunderstandings directly resulting from...
Court Blocks FMCSA Rule Targeting Non-Domiciled CDL DriversLast week, a federal court blocked the FMCSA’s new rule that aimed to phase out non-domiciled CDL holders — many of whom operate with unverifiable drivingrecords. The rule was designed to improve safety and accountability across the industry.NASTC...
I’m the last person in the world to have any credibility in an argument about uber-technological advances, unbelievable artificial intelligent capabilities, cloning, robotics, or getting to Mars. I’m the last person in the world to not have a cell phone. I own the majority interest...
A recent headline in Overdrive caught my attention:“Carrier lease-purchase programs ‘meaningful’ for at least half of lessee operators”In reading the article and the related comments from drivers about both good and bad outcomes from lease-purchase agreements, I decided to comment on this issue and FMCSA’s...
