There’s a quiet storm brewing: the escalating collapse of Class A CDL driver retention and recruitment. And in an inflationary 2026 economy? This might be the single biggest constraint on freight flow as we head further into 2026. The Numbers: - 80,000+ driver shortfall today, projected to hit 160,000 by 2030 (ATA) - 90%+ turnover at large truckload carriers (some long-haul fleets: 100-300%) - Average driver age: 47, with massive retirements looming while 18-35s avoid trucking - ~$12,799 cost per lost driver (before equipment recovery and late fees + ~G&A) - Wages declining: 2024 saw only 2.5% pay increase vs. higher inflation. Average weekly pay dropped 7.4% Q1-Q2 2024 ($1,730 → $1,602) Why This Matters Now: Since April 2025, inflation re-accelerated (core CPI 3.8%, diesel up 12% YoY). But here's what makes this critical: We're entering a tight capacity regime. Market structure indicators show that capacity availability is falling below critical thresholds. The kind of inflection point that precedes contract rate increases by months. This creates a collision of forces: - Capacity tightens just as the driver crisis intensifies - Wage pressure intensifies as drivers demand cost-of-living increases - Freight rates remain volatile, making mile-based pay even more unpredictable - Consumer demand rebounds, but carriers lack human capital to capture it - Small carriers close (depleted PPP/ERC funds), reducing industry capacity One BIG Problem: Process & Structure Failure: 1. Retention Crisis - 81.9% of job-seeking drivers prioritize predictable pay - 60% cite "lack of miles" as their compensation issue - Mile-based pay creates financial insecurity no bonus can fix 2. Process Inefficiencies - Job postings surged 63.5% in 2024 alone (Apr-Dec), signaling intensifying competition among carriers - Companies lose drivers between the application and onboarding - The company that responds first "wins" when drivers apply to multiple jobs simultaneously

Hey LGR squad. I have a dedicated lane I am looking to put some owner ops on. 2-3 times a week round trip from Michigan to Alabama 1,580 miles (all loaded) and it requires a team. This is a little out of my usual lanes. Does anything pricing and % pay to an owner op and his team driver for something like this?

Fuel is one of the biggest expenses for trucking fleets. For years, carriers only had two options to reduce costs: Add fuel stop planning to dispatchers’ workload or Hire/outsource a dedicated fuel team Both come with tradeoffs in cost, time, and complexity. Now there’s a third option: Plio AI. Plio acts like a dedicated fuel team powered by AI, analyzing routes, ETAs, HOS, IFTA, traffic, in-network fuel prices, and even driver preferences. Instead of drivers fueling wherever they want, Plio autonomously recommends the optimal stops and communicates directly with drivers. Example:A 100-truck fleet running 290,000 miles per week at 7 mpg can save ~$8,000 per week by following Plio’s fueling recommendations. That’s 20¢ per gallon in savings, without adding a single dispatcher or new hire. Plio continuously learns from driver compliance, feedback, and fuel results, turning arbitrary fueling into a data-driven advantage. Ready to start? Fleets can be piloting optimal fueling in just 2 weeks. getplio.com #Trucking #FuelSavings #AI #FleetManagement #Logistics

The U.S. trucking industry has endured a surge of bankruptcies and business closures through 2024 and into 2025. A prolonged freight recession, characterized by "excess capacity" and falling freight rates, forced thousands of carriers to shut down or seek bankruptcy protection. 2024: Massive Carrier Exodus 2024 followed 2023’s bloodbath, with tens of thousands of motor carriers exiting the market. For context: - In 2023, 88,000+ trucking authorities and over 8,000 brokers were revoked. - In just the first half of 2024, there was a net loss of ~10,000 carriers, according to FMCSA data (via TruckInfo). - FreightWaves called it “another brutal year” as thousands of carriers either closed shop or filed Chapter 11. Even larger, decades-old carriers weren’t immune. 2025 YTD: The Pain Continues The closure trend hasn’t slowed; in fact, it’s intensified: - As of early 2025, 1,500+ trucking companies are shutting down every week, an 8% increase YoY - In April 2025 alone, 7,474 trucking businesses exited the market, a 26% spike from March. - That’s the highest monthly closure total in over a year. The collapse is ongoing, and the capacity purge is still in full swing. What This Means for You 👇 If you're a broker, carrier, or shipper, this data is a signal: - Capacity is shrinking. - Rates may rebound. - Relationships matter more than ever. ❗We’re watching the freight market reset in real time. Stay sharp, stay informed, and keep playing long-term. Drop your thoughts below: Are you seeing this impact in your lanes? What’s your take on when the tide will turn? 👇

I’ve got a carrier actively looking for a web-based TMS solution. If anyone in the War Room has suggestions or firsthand experience with platforms they’d recommend (or avoid), drop them below. Your insight would be a huge help. Let’s help them make a smart move.