Economic trends

Biden blames major jobs report miss on COVID as trucking pulls ahead

Though trucking emerged with positive growth, the overall jobs report for August shows a roughly 68% plunge from analysts' forecast which President Joe Biden blamed on the COVID resurgence.

September 3, 2021

Business

Owner-operator income saw strong 2020 gains

The average net income in 2020 for leased and independent operators combined jumped to $67,742 in 2020, thanks to pandemic-related changes.

March 16, 2021

Business

Peering through the fog of 2021 spot freight and rates

We asked forecasters at DAT Solutions to peer through the fog and try to make sense of what lies ahead for freight demand and rates in 2021. The underlying forces in the spot market appear to point to a coming slowdown, though wildcards remain.

March 10, 2021

With the spot market jarred, we asked analysts and forecasters at DAT Solutions to peer through the fog and try to make sense of what lies ahead for freight demand and rates in 2021. The underlying forces appear to point to a coming spot freight slowdown, though wildcards remain.

Business

Expect pandemic-boosted retail freight to stay strong, analyst says

Businesses that have benefited from the pandemic will likely stay strong even as services compete for consumers' discretionary spending.

February 26, 2021

Will Amazon and other businesses that have enjoyed a pandemic boost see it fade much as the economy reopens?

Regulations

FMCSA's clearinghouse has sidelined more than 50,000 drivers

Most of the 52,000 drivers who lost their jobs in 2020 due to drug and alcohol violations have not completed their return-to-work procedure. Many are expected to find work outside of trucking.

February 10, 2021

Gloved hand about to dip a test strip into a urine sample

Business

Analysts optimistic on trucking after chaotic year

2020’s strong second half and prospects for continued high freight demand bode well into 2022, FTR says. However, several factors will affect the timing and intensity of further recovery.

January 18, 2021

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Driver couple walking back to the truck after meal purchase in truck stop

Per diem tax breaks just got a lot simpler -- and more valuable -- for owner-operators

New IRS guidance notes there will be no need for owner-operators to determine any percentage of meal purchases from a restaurant to reap savings with 100% deductible per diem through all of 2021 and 2022. Savings could top $1,000 annually.

Jade Transport's 2021 Peterbilt 389 Pride & Class

Throwback 359-style design on Jade Transport’s 2021 389 Pride & Class

U.S. Tax Return for an S Corporation Form 1120-S with an image of a vehicle carrier and semi-truck

How to save taxes, gain biz-management dividends with an S Corp structure

Small fleet roundtable: 'Co-opetition' code, balancing personal/business pursuits, more

BlueParrott Convertible Wireless Headset

Small fleet roundtable: 'Co-opetition' code, balancing personal/business pursuits, more

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The Business Manual for Owner-Operators

Overdrive editors and ATBS present the industry’s best manual for prospective and committed owner-operators. You’ll find exceptional depth on many issues in the 2021 edition of Partners in Business.

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