🎣 The Sleeping Driver

FreightCaviar Weekly Recap. From dealing with foreign brokers to import drops and record carrier exits - here are this week’s most talked-about freight stories.

TOP LANE MOVERS BY TRIUMPH

Reddit Post of the Week

A discussion on r/FreightBrokers, is stirring debate after one user claimed that most brokers they now encounter are based overseas, particularly in India, often using American-sounding names, like Stephen. The poster said these brokers consistently offer the lowest rates and seem embedded across multiple U.S. firms, raising questions about authenticity and market pressure on domestic operators.

In a separate but related thread, another user took things further, wanting to "destroy" foreign dispatchers (via bots or non-stop calls/texts).

A reply from an outsourced Indian broker himself provided extra context, sharing what his life looks like on the other side of those calls. Working nights from 5:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. for around $200 a month, he described relentless cold-calling quotas, verbal abuse from prospects, and strict profit caps that make advancement nearly impossible. “I hate my job,” he wrote, “but it’s my bread and butter.” His message ended with a quiet apology — “from all Indian brokers out there.”

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X Post of the Week

A post from American Truckers, is gaining traction after describing an incident in Clarksville, Arkansas, where a truck driver from Mexico was allegedly found asleep on the roadside in violation of hours-of-service rules.

The driver reportedly lacked a work visa (driver was in the U.S. on a tourist visa) and was hauling a domestic load. The post also criticized Arkansas Highway Police for not escalating the case to ICE and accused state officials of opposing legislation that would have banned tourist visa holders from operating trucks.

However, one commenter pointed out that under existing U.S.–Mexico trade agreements, Mexican drivers can legally deliver into the U.S., and sleeping in a truck isn’t itself a crime. They noted that these drivers often operate American-made trucks that meet U.S. safety standards and may not require immigrant visas for cross-border transport.

FreightCaviar Story of the Week

FreightCaviar’s feature this week highlights a freight market at an inflection point. U.S. container imports fell 8.4% year-over-year in September, the sharpest drop of 2025, with imports from China plunging amid tariff tensions and a fading truce set to expire in November.

At the same time, FMCSA data shows more carriers exiting than entering the market, signaling a slow bleed among smaller fleets. With port volumes down and capacity thinning, the setup for Q4 looks increasingly fragile. The market isn’t collapsing, but the balance is shifting, and even a modest rebound in demand could tighten conditions fast. Read the full story here.

👉 Read the full feature to take a deeper look into the numbers.

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Meme of the Week

🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER

• FreightCaviar Podcast: We're talking with FleetWorks CEO Paul Singer, fresh off a $17M raise and the launch of their always-on-dispatcher for carriers. Hear how he's building the "super reps" of freight's tomorrow. The episode is on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
• Freight Gong Friday. Tomorrow (Oct. 17) at 8AM CST, we’re hosting the Ultimate Freight Meme Competition, powered by Epay Manager. Eight contestants, three judges, one winner — all bracket style. Each matchup gets a random meme template and just 60 seconds to create a freight meme before the judges decide who advances. Click here to RSVP
• Shipper CRM: A FreightCaviar product built for brokers to find, track, and win shipper freight. Click here to learn more.
• FreightCaviar Forum: We launched a forum for brokers, carriers, and freight tech pros to connect, share insights, and trade industry intel.
• Manifest 2026: We're proud to be an Official Partner of Manifest: The Future of Supply Chain & Logistics conference, the premier event shaping what's next in freight and logistics. Save $200 on the current price with our link.