DOT Inspections Explained: Levels, FMCSA Out-of-Service Criteria, and How to Pass

Oct 02, 2025 in Tips and Tricks

If you’re a truck driver or own a commercial trucking business, you’ve probably heard of DOT inspections. But what do they really involve? Who sets the rules? And how can you prepare so your truck — and your business — stays on the road?

This guide breaks down the DOT inspection checklist, explains the FMCSA Out-of-Service (OOS) Criteria, and walks you through the Level 1 inspection procedure step by step.

The State of Owner Operator Trucking a conversation

Sep 29, 2025 in Trucking Events

Owner operators in the trucking industry are facing an unprecedented convergence of challenges in 2025, with depressed freight rates that barely cover operating costs following the post-pandemic market correction, insurance premiums that have exploded by 30-50% due to "nuclear verdicts" in accident litigation, and an increasingly complex regulatory environment that includes ELD mandates, emissions standards, and potential changes to independent contractor classification rules. While capacity is leaving the market as small operators go out of business, creating a potential future rate rebound, many are questioning whether they can survive long enough to see that recovery or whether the barriers to re-entry will prove too high. The combination of economic pressure, technological disruption from digital freight platforms and looming automation, compliance costs, and fuel expenses has created what industry observers describe as a fundamentally different downturn—one that may accelerate the consolidation of trucking into larger corporate fleets and make the truly independent owner operator an increasingly rare figure in American commerce.

So You Want to Be Your Own Boss? The Real Deal on Becoming a Trucking Owner Operator

Sep 19, 2025 in Tips and Tricks

Let me tell you something – after watching dozens of drivers make the jump from company man to owner operator over the years, I've seen it all. The success stories, sure, but also the spectacular failures that'll make your wallet weep. If you're sitting in that company truck right now, dreaming about being your own boss, pump the brakes for a minute. We need to talk.

Why People Hate Semi-Trucks: Fear, Frustration, and the Truth Behind the Wheel

Sep 12, 2025 in Tips and Tricks

n the open highway, few sights are as common—or as polarizing—as the semi-truck. Towering over traffic, weighing up to 80,000 pounds, and stretching nearly 70 feet, these machines are both the lifeblood of the economy and the bane of many motorists.

Life on 18 Wheels: Can I live in my Semi-Truck as in a Modern Home

Sep 12, 2025 in

Across America’s highways, more and more truck drivers are transforming their sleeper cabs into something far beyond a place to rest. For some, the semi-truck has become a full-fledged home—compact, efficient, and surprisingly comfortable.

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n the open highway, few sights are as common—or as polarizing—as the semi-truck. Towering over traffic, weighing up to 80,000 pounds, and stretching nearly 70 feet, these machines are both the lifeblood of the economy and the bane of many motorists.

Across America’s highways, more and more truck drivers are transforming their sleeper cabs into something far beyond a place to rest. For some, the semi-truck has become a full-fledged home—compact, efficient, and surprisingly comfortable.