Every freight AI vendor quotes an automation rate. Almost none publish what's behind it. Here's the methodology question brokerages should be asking and what Chain's 3M-load dataset reveals.
A FreightCaviar follower spent weeks quick-paying carriers on a steel project before learning the shipper was fake, the carriers were in on it, and not a single load was ever real. Plus: Congress takes aim at chameleon carriers, diesel keeps falling, and more.
“When I say you’re going to require high levels of authenticity and authentication at the point of entry... that is no longer going to be enough to prevent access. You’re going to need multiple points that all need to match in order to unlock access- that’s where we’re going."
Here is another round-up of the most engaging and talked-about freight content from around the web and from us.
FreightCaviar Weekly Recap. From DOT upping the ante on companies not following regulations, to the numbers behind CDL crackdowns - here are this week’s most talked-about freight stories.
đź’µ Who Should Pay the Detention?
A heated discussion on r/FreightBrokers this week centered on who should cover detention, layover, and TONU — brokers or shippers. The original poster argued that brokers, not carriers, are responsible for paying these charges upfront, calling out what they see as a new generation of “lazy” brokers unwilling to stand up to customers or negotiate fair rates.
Reactions were split. One commenter reminded readers to “read your contract with the broker” before complaining, while another countered that “some brokers just aren’t good at their job...the market weeds them out.”
Accountability is the name of the game on this topic. Carriers feel brokers hide behind “the market” to justify poor pay and pass responsibility to shippers, while brokers argue they’re squeezed by unrealistic expectations and undercutting peers.
Whose side are you on?
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🙅‍♂️ No More Non-Domiciled Driver
A USPS whistleblower posted on X that the company is allegedly using undocumented drivers to haul U.S. mail, adding new fuel to an already growing debate over non-domiciled CDLs and enforcement gaps in freight.
The issue mirrors industry scrutiny, including reports on state-level CDL crackdowns and the FMCSA’s English proficiency enforcement wave, both aimed at tightening oversight of foreign and unlicensed operators.
Jerome Washington
While USPS has yet to address these allegations, it is clear the battle to secure the roadways and to remove unqualified drivers continue.
đźš” FreightCaviar Story of the Week: DOT's Driver Crackdown
Our feature this week spotlights the DOT’s widening crackdown on unqualified and unlawfully licensed truck drivers, a move now extending beyond carriers to shippers and brokers.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the purge of over 240 CDL training schools, part of a larger effort to dismantle so-called “CDL mills” issuing fraudulent credentials. Federal audits are targeting states, employers, and supply chain partners tied to illegal or unsafe licensing practices.
With more than 2,600 schools under review and millions in federal funding at stake, the message is clear: compliance isn’t optional!
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👮‍♂️ The Purge
In what some are calling “The Great Capacity Purge,” Paul Howarth highlighted growing concern across the industry on LinkedIn. Operation Midway Blitz in Indiana, which led to 46 driver arrests, coincides with FMCSA data showing that more than 7,200 drivers have been placed out of service this year for failing English proficiency standards. The agency has also shut down 244 CDL schools, with thousands more under review, while new verification rules could disqualify up to 200,000 non-domiciled drivers in the coming years.
But not everyone agrees the impact will be that severe. Michigan State’s Jason Miller pushed back on this notion, calling projections of a 600,000-driver purge “unrealistic,” pointing to BLS and Census data showing that kind of contraction would be nearly 2.5 times worse than the 2008 recession. Miller argues that talk of a mass wipeout echoes the same “capacity cliff” fears seen before the 2017 ELD mandate, fears that never materialized.
Still, as FreightWaves’ Craig Fuller warned, “The Great Capacity Purge is coming. Capacity will dry up and stay tight for a while.” Whether it’s a true collapse or a recalibration, all signs point to a tighter, more scrutinized market ahead.
Meme of the Week
🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER
A FreightCaviar follower spent weeks quick-paying carriers on a steel project before learning the shipper was fake, the carriers were in on it, and not a single load was ever real. Plus: Congress takes aim at chameleon carriers, diesel keeps falling, and more.
“When I say you’re going to require high levels of authenticity and authentication at the point of entry... that is no longer going to be enough to prevent access. You’re going to need multiple points that all need to match in order to unlock access- that’s where we’re going."
FMCSA launched a new carrier registry three weeks ago to stop freight fraud — zero new carriers have been registered since. Plus: PepsiCo is running 41 driverless trucks, peak season and a shrinking driver pool, cameras know where your carriers have been, and more.
The freight boom arrived. For some carriers, it arrived too late. We explain why in today's feature. Plus: real gouda fellas, satisfactory doesn't mean safe, LTL is waking up, and more.
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