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Rob Carpenter

@RobCarpenter • 7,659 subscribers

Fleet fixer. Fact finder. WHCA. Investigator. ExpertWitness. Writer covering trucking & White House policy/Transportation. Long form loyalist. Conservative.

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We had a driver this week in a litigation case lose their load because they didn't know straps werent the same WLL as graded chain. Not all drivers are created equal. A CDL is not a CDL is not a CDL. We’ve got plenty of dock-bumper drivers for basic freight. The real shortage is trained, mechanically inclined, mode-specific operators. Dry van is not open deck. Open deck is not tank. Tank is not hazmat. Hazmat is not heavy haul. When fleets add specialized modes and start sliding basic freight drivers into them without real training, securement knowledge, mechanical sense, or understanding of the exposure, that is where failure starts. The truck may look similar. The work is not.

We had a driver this week in a litigation case lose their load because they didn't know straps werent the same WLL as graded chain. Not all drivers are created equal. A CDL is not a CDL is not a CDL. We’ve got plenty of dock-bumper drivers for basic freight. The real shortage is trained, mechanically inclined, mode-specific operators. Dry van is not open deck. Open deck is not tank. Tank is not hazmat. Hazmat is not heavy haul. When fleets add specialized modes and start sliding basic freight drivers into them without real training, securement knowledge, mechanical sense, or understanding of the exposure, that is where failure starts. The truck may look similar. The work is not.

663,491 Aufrufe

That bridge you're on? It froze before the road did. Every year we gotta learn this again. If you're one of those people who needs to know why, the ground under a road retains heat. The bridge has cold air under it. Now you know. Stay at the house.

That bridge you're on? It froze before the road did. Every year we gotta learn this again. If you're one of those people who needs to know why, the ground under a road retains heat. The bridge has cold air under it. Now you know. Stay at the house.

1,702,451 Aufrufe

70% of todays truck drivers are not the truck drivers you envision after watching Over the Top or Smokey and the Bandit. The driver persona has changed a lot over the past 10, 20, 40 years from professionalism to skill to experience. This is who we're sharing the road with

70% of todays truck drivers are not the truck drivers you envision after watching Over the Top or Smokey and the Bandit. The driver persona has changed a lot over the past 10, 20, 40 years from professionalism to skill to experience. This is who we're sharing the road with

1,206,024 Aufrufe

A 1,400 lb hay bale sitting in the road ain't just hay. A car hits it at 70 mph? ➡️ 116,000 lbs of force This is what unsecured and overheight "farm loads" really do. Strap it and plan your trip Or don’t haul it.

A 1,400 lb hay bale sitting in the road ain't just hay. A car hits it at 70 mph? ➡️ 116,000 lbs of force This is what unsecured and overheight "farm loads" really do. Strap it and plan your trip Or don’t haul it.

276,170 Aufrufe

A truck from DOT 4316621 rolling down the road dumping fuel from the driver-side tank with what appears to be duct tape over a hole in the metal tank. The carrier’s numbers fit the picture: 66.7% vehicle OOS 47.1% driver OOS 46 violations 34 inspections. At some point the roadside condition tells you the culture.

A truck from DOT 4316621 rolling down the road dumping fuel from the driver-side tank with what appears to be duct tape over a hole in the metal tank. The carrier’s numbers fit the picture: 66.7% vehicle OOS 47.1% driver OOS 46 violations 34 inspections. At some point the roadside condition tells you the culture.

38,920 Aufrufe

This is actually where my yard was on yadkin Road in Chesapeake Virginia. I can't tell you how many of my drivers try to beat this friggin train drove me insane. About 6 vehicle-train crossing crashes happen every day in the US. FMCSA says a first railroad-highway grade crossing offense = at least 60 days disqualification, 120 days for a second, and 1 year for a third in 3 years. Hazmat cargo tanks and passenger buses are among the CMVs required to stop at certain crossings. You cannot beat a train. You usually cannot survive one. You can lose your CDL trying.

This is actually where my yard was on yadkin Road in Chesapeake Virginia. I can't tell you how many of my drivers try to beat this friggin train drove me insane. About 6 vehicle-train crossing crashes happen every day in the US. FMCSA says a first railroad-highway grade crossing offense = at least 60 days disqualification, 120 days for a second, and 1 year for a third in 3 years. Hazmat cargo tanks and passenger buses are among the CMVs required to stop at certain crossings. You cannot beat a train. You usually cannot survive one. You can lose your CDL trying.

30,462 Aufrufe

Without dash cam, one of these trucks could have worn this wreck. White car creates the mess. Trucks try to survive it. Both end up in the median. FMCSA now allows CPDP review for any CMV crash where video shows the sequence of events, and a Not Preventable ruling keeps it out of Crash BASIC. That is why video is king.

Without dash cam, one of these trucks could have worn this wreck. White car creates the mess. Trucks try to survive it. Both end up in the median. FMCSA now allows CPDP review for any CMV crash where video shows the sequence of events, and a Not Preventable ruling keeps it out of Crash BASIC. That is why video is king.

18,434 Aufrufe

Who does this at an intersection of all places? Trying to save 20 seconds just cost this driver hours. Over 500 people die every year in passing crashes per nhtsagov. Most happen on rural two lane roads like this.

Who does this at an intersection of all places? Trying to save 20 seconds just cost this driver hours. Over 500 people die every year in passing crashes per nhtsagov. Most happen on rural two lane roads like this.

75,009 Aufrufe

Why broker liability became a consideration, and also why CVSA Roacheck chose load security as their second area of focus this week👉

Why broker liability became a consideration, and also why CVSA Roacheck chose load security as their second area of focus this week👉

13,936 Aufrufe

When two freightshakers meet in the wild... The trucking world 2026 in a nutshell. Not sure how long these two will debate on what to do next but looks like it's already been a minute.

When two freightshakers meet in the wild... The trucking world 2026 in a nutshell. Not sure how long these two will debate on what to do next but looks like it's already been a minute.

20,255 Aufrufe

What would you have done? Merge right and let it play out? Hold your ground? Exactly what a Preventable Crash Really Looks Like. You’re driving a semi. Three-lane highway. You're in the center lane. Left lane is ending. Right lane is completely empty. Convex mirror shows no one beside you on the right. Three cars are pacing you in the left lane… and they’re about to run out of road. So Why are you still in the center lane? You’re not boxed in. You’re not blind. And you’ve already seen the sign telling you the left lane ends. You could’ve merged right a half-mile ago and cruised on. Instead, you’re now stuck in the lane of most resistance. That car flying up on your left? It’s doing what 80% of cars do when the lane end, they punch it. They try to get ahead. Not smart. Not courteous. But absolutely predictable. And that’s the point. You’re the professional. They're not. You know how this goes. You should know exactly what to expect. Textbook behavior. So when that car forces a merge in front of your bumper with 20 feet left of asphalt, are they wrong? Yep. But when you don’t lift off the gas, don’t merge right, and don’t anticipate what’s clearly unfolding, that’s no longer just their problem. Now it’s yours. And it’s preventable. What happens next👇 ✅ You plow into the car. ✅ You get to sit roadside for 3 hours explaining it to law enforcement and doing paperwork. ✅ You spend another 3 months Data Q’ing it, defending it in court, or arguing it with claims adjusters. ✅ It’s on your CSA now. ✅ Your insurance premium goes up. ✅ The carrier eats the deductible. ✅ And you get labeled as someone who “could’ve avoided it but didn’t.” Being a truck driver isn’t just turning a wheel. It’s a chess match. It’s anticipating the next three moves. When you choose not to play defense, you’re the one who loses, even when you’re “not at fault.” Some stats to chew on👇 👉Lane change/merge crashes account for nearly 10% of all large truck crashes. 👉FMCSA's Large Truck Crash Causation Study consistently shows "decision error" and "recognition error" as top contributing factors in preventable crashes. 👉The average post-crash litigation process? 3–6 months minimum, and that’s before settlements, audits, or nuclear verdicts.

What would you have done? Merge right and let it play out? Hold your ground? Exactly what a Preventable Crash Really Looks Like. You’re driving a semi. Three-lane highway. You're in the center lane. Left lane is ending. Right lane is completely empty. Convex mirror shows no one beside you on the right. Three cars are pacing you in the left lane… and they’re about to run out of road. So Why are you still in the center lane? You’re not boxed in. You’re not blind. And you’ve already seen the sign telling you the left lane ends. You could’ve merged right a half-mile ago and cruised on. Instead, you’re now stuck in the lane of most resistance. That car flying up on your left? It’s doing what 80% of cars do when the lane end, they punch it. They try to get ahead. Not smart. Not courteous. But absolutely predictable. And that’s the point. You’re the professional. They're not. You know how this goes. You should know exactly what to expect. Textbook behavior. So when that car forces a merge in front of your bumper with 20 feet left of asphalt, are they wrong? Yep. But when you don’t lift off the gas, don’t merge right, and don’t anticipate what’s clearly unfolding, that’s no longer just their problem. Now it’s yours. And it’s preventable. What happens next👇 ✅ You plow into the car. ✅ You get to sit roadside for 3 hours explaining it to law enforcement and doing paperwork. ✅ You spend another 3 months Data Q’ing it, defending it in court, or arguing it with claims adjusters. ✅ It’s on your CSA now. ✅ Your insurance premium goes up. ✅ The carrier eats the deductible. ✅ And you get labeled as someone who “could’ve avoided it but didn’t.” Being a truck driver isn’t just turning a wheel. It’s a chess match. It’s anticipating the next three moves. When you choose not to play defense, you’re the one who loses, even when you’re “not at fault.” Some stats to chew on👇 👉Lane change/merge crashes account for nearly 10% of all large truck crashes. 👉FMCSA's Large Truck Crash Causation Study consistently shows "decision error" and "recognition error" as top contributing factors in preventable crashes. 👉The average post-crash litigation process? 3–6 months minimum, and that’s before settlements, audits, or nuclear verdicts.

16,777 Aufrufe

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2023 PA DOT study found that spilled cooking oil reduces pavement friction by over 50%, similar to black ice. Clean-up can cost $1000s. In one Minnesota case, it took three fire engines, two sand trucks, and a HAZMAT unit to clean up a single cooking oil spill.

2023 PA DOT study found that spilled cooking oil reduces pavement friction by over 50%, similar to black ice. Clean-up can cost $1000s. In one Minnesota case, it took three fire engines, two sand trucks, and a HAZMAT unit to clean up a single cooking oil spill.

4,358,440 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

ICYMI Dallas jury awards $44M to family of a man killed during a 2021 ice storm after a semi slammed into stopped traffic on I‑35. The company, Prime, found liable because driver was driving too fast for conditions and had not received winter weather driving training.

ICYMI Dallas jury awards $44M to family of a man killed during a 2021 ice storm after a semi slammed into stopped traffic on I‑35. The company, Prime, found liable because driver was driving too fast for conditions and had not received winter weather driving training.

2,735,921 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten

15k collisions involving tractors and farm vehicles a year. Reflective tape and maybe some lights would've been good.

15k collisions involving tractors and farm vehicles a year. Reflective tape and maybe some lights would've been good.

1,565,965 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten

Article dropping tomorrow on how The hotshot industry has a chameleon problem. We found “1-truck” operators tied to 1,000+ inspections across 400+ VINs. Some declare 1 truck for insurance, then lease on hundreds more. Some swap markings every day. Some run with no markings at all. Foreign hotshot chameleon clusters are our newest major exposure problem.

Article dropping tomorrow on how The hotshot industry has a chameleon problem. We found “1-truck” operators tied to 1,000+ inspections across 400+ VINs. Some declare 1 truck for insurance, then lease on hundreds more. Some swap markings every day. Some run with no markings at all. Foreign hotshot chameleon clusters are our newest major exposure problem.

92,217 Aufrufe • vor 12 Tagen

I know a guy....

I know a guy....

1,437,113 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten

Truck burns in Pharr, TX and more than one person on scene didn’t even know what “911” was. Nobody could explain the emergency in English. They're discussing what 911 is in the video. In Texas, about 1 in 4 working-age adults speaks English less than “very well.” Immigrants are 23% of the TX workforce, and a big chunk of our drivers and yard workers are in that mix. This isn’t about accents or perfection. It’s about minimum language skills in a job where seconds and words literally decide whether someone lives or dies.

Truck burns in Pharr, TX and more than one person on scene didn’t even know what “911” was. Nobody could explain the emergency in English. They're discussing what 911 is in the video. In Texas, about 1 in 4 working-age adults speaks English less than “very well.” Immigrants are 23% of the TX workforce, and a big chunk of our drivers and yard workers are in that mix. This isn’t about accents or perfection. It’s about minimum language skills in a job where seconds and words literally decide whether someone lives or dies.

1,436,953 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

Just a solid PSA...if you're going to road rage, if they're driving a welding rig it's best you just move along unless you're prepared to go all the way 🙌

Just a solid PSA...if you're going to road rage, if they're driving a welding rig it's best you just move along unless you're prepared to go all the way 🙌

1,354,224 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

The guy makes a point but trucks do have curtains. "Driver truck stop etiquette for people that live in the "aquarium."

The guy makes a point but trucks do have curtains. "Driver truck stop etiquette for people that live in the "aquarium."

367,423 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

Is this the guy doing merging the right way, the wrong way, or the guy everybody hates?

Is this the guy doing merging the right way, the wrong way, or the guy everybody hates?

509,728 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten

Yesterday a tractor trailer in Ohio hit and Allen Myers truck in a construction zone. Here a Tow operator even has a cone out... drivers are still weaving in and out. Move over if you can. Slow down if you cannot used to just be a common sense courtesy thing. 71% of Americans were unaware of Move Over laws. AAA Foundation identified 123 roadside assistance providers struck and killed from 2015-2021. A tow operator is killed about every 6 days. This is not just about cops.

Yesterday a tractor trailer in Ohio hit and Allen Myers truck in a construction zone. Here a Tow operator even has a cone out... drivers are still weaving in and out. Move over if you can. Slow down if you cannot used to just be a common sense courtesy thing. 71% of Americans were unaware of Move Over laws. AAA Foundation identified 123 roadside assistance providers struck and killed from 2015-2021. A tow operator is killed about every 6 days. This is not just about cops.

69,654 Aufrufe • vor 24 Tagen

We had six fatal load securement expert witness litigation cases just in quarter one 2025. People will argue that we have the worst drivers on the road but then they'll argue that we shouldn't load securement endorsement or open deck endorsement. 100% why we need open deck endorsement right here. Cargo securement violations are consistently Top 10–Top 15 violations in roadside inspections. Companies give driver's keys and just tell them to go get it It's insane.

We had six fatal load securement expert witness litigation cases just in quarter one 2025. People will argue that we have the worst drivers on the road but then they'll argue that we shouldn't load securement endorsement or open deck endorsement. 100% why we need open deck endorsement right here. Cargo securement violations are consistently Top 10–Top 15 violations in roadside inspections. Companies give driver's keys and just tell them to go get it It's insane.

62,324 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

If an AV cannot 100% recognize and respect a school bus stop arm, then it does not belong operating freely in neighborhoods where children are loading and unloading. When it comes to kids crossing the street…“We’re still learning” isn’t an acceptable answer.

If an AV cannot 100% recognize and respect a school bus stop arm, then it does not belong operating freely in neighborhoods where children are loading and unloading. When it comes to kids crossing the street…“We’re still learning” isn’t an acceptable answer.

93,906 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

Hit-and-Run Driver Arrested 10/29 Milwaukee. Reefer merges into tanker. Tanker driver brakes, gets pushed, loses control, rolls. Glass resin spills across the interstate. The reefer driver? Just keeps going. Doesn't stop. Doesn't check on the guy he just rolled. Milwaukee County Sheriff finds him at a gas station an hour later. Arrested for hit-and-run. ANYTIME THEY DON'T RELEASE THE NAME MAKES YOUR QUESTION WHY THEY DON'T RELEASE THE NAME. He is a 35-year-old male driver, that's all we get. Hit-and-run = CDL disqualification under 383.51 - 1st offense: Minimum 1 year - 2nd offense: Lifetime ban With cameras everywhere, you WILL get caught. The bigger issue? The driver who caused this didn't even stop to check if the other guy was okay. That tells you everything about how the culture and driver persona has changed. Old school drivers had an unwritten code, If someone needs help, you stop. Doesn't matter whose fault it is. Doesn't matter if you're late. You make sure your brother is okay. That's gone now. High turnover, lack of mentorship, unskilled, imported labor, drivers treating this like any other job instead of a profession with standards and honor. 22% of drivers leave the profession annually Your CDL is your livelihood. Don't throw it away being dumb. Maybe, just maybe, remember there's another human being in that truck you just rolled.

Hit-and-Run Driver Arrested 10/29 Milwaukee. Reefer merges into tanker. Tanker driver brakes, gets pushed, loses control, rolls. Glass resin spills across the interstate. The reefer driver? Just keeps going. Doesn't stop. Doesn't check on the guy he just rolled. Milwaukee County Sheriff finds him at a gas station an hour later. Arrested for hit-and-run. ANYTIME THEY DON'T RELEASE THE NAME MAKES YOUR QUESTION WHY THEY DON'T RELEASE THE NAME. He is a 35-year-old male driver, that's all we get. Hit-and-run = CDL disqualification under 383.51 - 1st offense: Minimum 1 year - 2nd offense: Lifetime ban With cameras everywhere, you WILL get caught. The bigger issue? The driver who caused this didn't even stop to check if the other guy was okay. That tells you everything about how the culture and driver persona has changed. Old school drivers had an unwritten code, If someone needs help, you stop. Doesn't matter whose fault it is. Doesn't matter if you're late. You make sure your brother is okay. That's gone now. High turnover, lack of mentorship, unskilled, imported labor, drivers treating this like any other job instead of a profession with standards and honor. 22% of drivers leave the profession annually Your CDL is your livelihood. Don't throw it away being dumb. Maybe, just maybe, remember there's another human being in that truck you just rolled.

125,337 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

If you missed the CBS News segment on brokers today you can find it here I'm sharing the whole thing because you need to hear the whole thing. While I consulted on and did the undercover interview a lot goes into these and Michael Kaplan did an awesome job, GenLogs again played a huge role. At the end of the day we have dangerous highways because we have non existent or very limited barriers to entry. At the end of the day there are consequences of this that we must focus on like Delilah Coleman and her family. Marcus also did great in this segment. This is what we're fighting for. Highway accident mitigation through appropriate barriers to entry, and licensing standards among so many other things. Brokers are a part but they're not the only part.

If you missed the CBS News segment on brokers today you can find it here I'm sharing the whole thing because you need to hear the whole thing. While I consulted on and did the undercover interview a lot goes into these and Michael Kaplan did an awesome job, GenLogs again played a huge role. At the end of the day we have dangerous highways because we have non existent or very limited barriers to entry. At the end of the day there are consequences of this that we must focus on like Delilah Coleman and her family. Marcus also did great in this segment. This is what we're fighting for. Highway accident mitigation through appropriate barriers to entry, and licensing standards among so many other things. Brokers are a part but they're not the only part.

36,579 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat

Maybe it's the redneck 1980 born trucker in me but I would've bought it.

Maybe it's the redneck 1980 born trucker in me but I would've bought it.

64,188 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

Chameleon carriers arent just a paperwork problem. I did the 60 Minutes piece because theyre a public highway exposure problem. This is an Xtreme truck, one of the Super Ego linked entities. At 3 Super Ego entities rank in the top 10 for drug and alcohol BASIC violations by frequency. In the 12 months we tracked Daniel Sanchez with GenLogs, the truck stayed the same. Same VINs. Same plates. Same ELD. The door markings changed 6 times across 6 entities. FMCSA’s Clearinghouse had 328,431 drivers with at least one violation and 202,345 still in prohibited status as of Jan. 2, 2026. That is the issue. That is who you and your family and your children and your parents are sharing the road with.

Chameleon carriers arent just a paperwork problem. I did the 60 Minutes piece because theyre a public highway exposure problem. This is an Xtreme truck, one of the Super Ego linked entities. At 3 Super Ego entities rank in the top 10 for drug and alcohol BASIC violations by frequency. In the 12 months we tracked Daniel Sanchez with GenLogs, the truck stayed the same. Same VINs. Same plates. Same ELD. The door markings changed 6 times across 6 entities. FMCSA’s Clearinghouse had 328,431 drivers with at least one violation and 202,345 still in prohibited status as of Jan. 2, 2026. That is the issue. That is who you and your family and your children and your parents are sharing the road with.

30,020 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat

We made trucking easier to enter. I am not convinced we made it better. Change my mind. Manuals used to keep some unskilled labor out. Now about 80% of new Class 8 trucks are AMTs. Meanwhile, fatal crashes involving large trucks and buses went from 3,656 in 2014 to 5,476 in 2022. Not proof. But not nothing either.

We made trucking easier to enter. I am not convinced we made it better. Change my mind. Manuals used to keep some unskilled labor out. Now about 80% of new Class 8 trucks are AMTs. Meanwhile, fatal crashes involving large trucks and buses went from 3,656 in 2014 to 5,476 in 2022. Not proof. But not nothing either.

22,028 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat

Make Commercial Trucks Manual Again. The harder a truck is to operate, the harder it is to fake being a truck driver. Newest theft is the Red Bull truck stolen in FL. Last month it was a tanker of bleach in LA. Eight months ago it was another tanker in LA. In one generation, we took Class 8 trucks from two sticks, to one stick, to “push D and go.” Years ago, a truck driver had to actually understand the truck. RPMs. Torque. Grades. Clutch control. Downshifting. Engine braking. Momentum. Transmission speed. Engine speed. What the truck was telling you through the seat, the pedals, and the shifter. Now the truck shifts itself. The computer does the thinking. The driver pool got bigger because the mechanical barrier got smaller. There is a difference between a driver who can operate the machine and a driver who can only aim it. Manuals were and to this day remain the biggest anti-theft device for commercial trucks.

Make Commercial Trucks Manual Again. The harder a truck is to operate, the harder it is to fake being a truck driver. Newest theft is the Red Bull truck stolen in FL. Last month it was a tanker of bleach in LA. Eight months ago it was another tanker in LA. In one generation, we took Class 8 trucks from two sticks, to one stick, to “push D and go.” Years ago, a truck driver had to actually understand the truck. RPMs. Torque. Grades. Clutch control. Downshifting. Engine braking. Momentum. Transmission speed. Engine speed. What the truck was telling you through the seat, the pedals, and the shifter. Now the truck shifts itself. The computer does the thinking. The driver pool got bigger because the mechanical barrier got smaller. There is a difference between a driver who can operate the machine and a driver who can only aim it. Manuals were and to this day remain the biggest anti-theft device for commercial trucks.

11,886 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat

Bridge freezes before the roadway...who knew?!

Bridge freezes before the roadway...who knew?!

24,222 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten

Another “how did a truck end up there?” moment. AZ. DG truck stuck on Apache Trail. 2-day closure. 30% of truck fails from following a GPS. This keeps happening because we keep hiring untrained unqualified unskilled drivers and letting GPS replace experience and not planning trips. There's way more to truck driving than turning the wheel.

Another “how did a truck end up there?” moment. AZ. DG truck stuck on Apache Trail. 2-day closure. 30% of truck fails from following a GPS. This keeps happening because we keep hiring untrained unqualified unskilled drivers and letting GPS replace experience and not planning trips. There's way more to truck driving than turning the wheel.

17,883 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

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