Road Scholar | Transport Blog's

For many shippers, detention time has long been viewed as a carrier issue—an operational inconvenience handled through accessorial charges or contract language.   But that perception is quickly becoming outdated. In 2025 and moving into 2026, what was once viewed as a scheduling inefficiency is now intersecting with safety, liability, and regulatory scrutiny. Detention Time Is No Longer Operationally Isolated Detention time occurs when a driver waits beyond agreed free time to be loaded or unloaded.   While common, excessive detention creates cascading impacts that extend well beyond the dock. Prolonged wait times can lead to: compressed hours-of-service availability increased driver fatigue and stress rushed driving behaviors to meet delivery windows missed appointments and downstream delays These impacts are now being examined through a legal and safety lens, not just an efficiency one. Why Regulators Are Paying Attention Federal regulator...

In an industry grounded in trust, documentation, and verification, carrier identity fraud has quietly become one of the most dangerous and fastest-growing threats in trucking today.   As freight volumes adjust and competition tightens in 2025–2026, fraudsters have shifted their tactics—from cargo theft at the dock to impersonating carriers themselves . This isn’t a hypothetical risk.   It’s happening now, affecting shippers, brokers, carriers, and drivers.   The result?   Lost freight, stolen data, compromised credentials, and significant financial and reputational damage. Fortunately, legitimate, experienced carriers like Road Scholar Transport are doubling down on verification, compliance, and transparency to protect shippers—and the industry at large. What Is Carrier Identity Fraud? Carrier identity fraud occurs when a fraudster impersonates a legitimate carrier or creates a fake carrier profile to: obtain freight under false pretenses divert ...

Hazardous materials transportation has always been one of the most heavily regulated segments of the trucking industry.   But as freight markets fluctuate and cost pressures intensify, a concerning trend is emerging in 2025 and heading into 2026: the compliance gap between high-performing hazmat carriers and the rest of the market is widening—and regulators are paying close attention. While some fleets continue to invest in training, equipment, and safety systems, others are cutting corners to survive.   That divide is creating heightened risk on U.S. highways—and triggering increased scrutiny from federal and state agencies. What is the Hazmat Compliance Gap? The hazmat compliance gap refers to the growing disparity between carriers that strictly adhere to hazardous materials regulations and those that struggle—or fail—to meet them consistently. High-compliance hazmat carriers typically maintain: DOT-compliant equipment and proper placarding current Hazmat...

In today’s high-pressure freight environment, shippers can no longer afford to choose carriers based on price and availability alone.   Compliance rules are tightening, cargo theft is rising, insurance markets are shifting, and the cost of a service failure is higher than ever.   Vetting a carrier thoroughly in 2025 isn’t just good practice—it’s risk management. Yet even experienced transportation teams often overlook warning signs that later turn into claims, regulatory issues, or damaged customer relationships.   Here are the top red flags and the smarter vetting practices every shipper should apply this year. 1. A “Clean” Safety Score That’s Too Good to Be True A great SMS record is ideal—but perfect scores with no inspections or activity can be a problem.   Carriers with extremely low inspection counts may be: Running under the radar Leasing on fly-by-night drivers Operating equipment that hasn’t been inspected Trying to mask prior sa...

The transportation landscape has shifted dramatically over the past two years, and one trend is becoming unmistakable: shippers in 2026 are increasingly willing to pay higher rates for high-compliance, safety-focused carriers.   What was once viewed as a “nice to have” has now become a critical supply chain necessity. Between tightening regulations, rising cargo theft, technology-driven visibility expectations, and record insurance claims, shippers have learned that cut-rate freight often costs more in the end. Here’s why premium, compliance-driven carriers are in such high demand—and why shippers are choosing quality over price in 2026. 1. Cargo Theft and Fraud Risks Have Exploded Cargo theft in the U.S. rose sharply during 2024 and 2025, with trends continuing upward into 2026. Organized theft rings have become more sophisticated, using fake pickups, cyber infiltration, and identity spoofing to target freight. Low-compliance carriers—those lacking safety controls, verif...

As we head into 2026, the trucking industry appears set for a period of cautious stabilization — not explosive growth, but a structural recalibration. 1 What’s Driving the Outlook • Capacity Correction & Fleet Renewal Production of Class 8 heavy trucks remains subdued.   OEMs (truck manufacturers) have signaled reduced daily builds and fewer new orders going into 2026. 2 Rather than expanding, many carriers plan to maintain their existing fleets — focusing on replacing older trucks to preserve reliability rather than aggressively growing capacity. 3 As excess capacity shrinks and weaker carriers exit the market, this may gradually rebalance supply and demand — setting the stage for a leaner, more efficient industry. 4 • Cost Inflation and Rate Pressure Operational costs continue to squeeze carriers.   According to a recent survey, non-fuel operating costs rose nearly 4% year-over-year in 2024 (on top of severa...

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced a new wave of recalls affecting more than 18,000 trucks across three major manufacturers—International, Mack, and Volvo.   While recalls are not uncommon in the trucking industry, the scope of these latest issues reinforces a much bigger message: fleet safety and proactive maintenance are non-negotiable. For shippers, brokers, and supply chain partners, these recalls serve as an important reminder to evaluate who is handling your freight—and how seriously they take safety and compliance. Below is a breakdown of the latest manufacturer recalls and what they signify for the industry. International Recalls Over 11,000 LT and RH Trucks International is recalling 11,418 trucks from model years 2023–2026.   The issue centers around the auto-neutral function failing to detect when the parking brake is set.   If the transmission doesn’t shift into neutral as intended, the risk of unintended vehicle m...