Owner-operators

Uber Freight’s power-only expansion into Georgia gives owner-operators leg up

After several years of working for Old Dominion, veteran driver Christopher Knox decided it was time to venture out on his own. Knox used savings to buy a truck and started Knox Logistics, based in Riverdale, Georgia, in 2020.

He started going to load boards and digital freight marketplaces to find loads and quickly found a strong partnership with Uber Freight’s offerings, Knox said in an interview with FreightWaves.

“On load boards you have to book the load on the dashboard and usually have to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/uber-freights-power-only-expansion-into-georgia-gives-owner-operators-leg-up

Partisan PRO Act gets pushback

On July 22, the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing entitled, “The Right to Organize: Empowering American Workers in a 21st Century Economy.” This hearing centered around the PRO Act, the maligned federal legislation which would essentially eliminate the successful independent contractor model in the trucking industry. TCA and our industry partners have vocally opposed the PRO Act, and we have taken the time to carefully explain to members of Congress why...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/partisan-pro-act-gets-pushback

Small Fleet Summit: What to know before becoming an owner-operator

Experts chat about what they wish they had known before becoming owner-operators.

This fireside chat recap is from FreightWaves’ Small Fleet & Owner-Operator Summit.

FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: What I wish I knew before becoming an owner-operator

DETAILS: Entrepreneurship is a challenge in any industry, and creating your own trucking empire is not an easy task. Often it starts with that first truck. Former lease purchase owner-operator Wayne Cragg, who is on a bike ride for trucker health awareness, chats with Josue Ramos about the learning curve of becoming an owner-operator.

SPEAKER:

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/small-fleet-summit-what-to-know-before-becoming-an-owner-operator

Small Fleet Summit: Owner-operators get respect

Experts discuss how owner-operators and small fleets are getting the respect they deserve.

This fireside chat recap is from FreightWaves’ Small Fleet & Owner-Operator Summit.

FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: Why small fleets and owner-operators are finally getting respect

DETAILS: Prasad Gollapalli and Ben Schuchart discuss how much the economy relies on fleets of 20 trucks or fewer and independent owner-operators. They chat about how owner-operators’ persistence and response to the COVID-19 pandemic makes them worthy of respect. Keeping freight moving during a capacity crunch is no easy task.

SPEAK...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/small-fleet-summit-owner-operators-get-respect

Uber Freight launches Shipper Platform in Canada

Digital freight brokerage Uber Freight (NYSE:UBER) on Tuesday launched its self-service platform for shippers within Canada. The company began doing business in Canada in 2019 and has been manually facilitating domestic and cross-border shipments originating from Ontario and Quebec.

With the launch of Uber Freight’s Shipper Platform, Canadian shippers will be able to directly plug into the company’s marketplace for real-time pricing and available capacity.

In an interview with FreightWaves, Drew...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/uber-freight-launches-shipper-platform-in-canada

The perspective of a female owner-operator

Trucking has historically been and continues to be a male-dominated industry, but a significant number of women have found their niche in a “man’s world.”

Commercial trucking in the 21st century attracts drivers from all walks of life; wealth creation’s only criteria are hard work and persistence. Regardless of nationality, ethnicity or gender, opportunities abound for anyone aspiring to climb aboard a big rig.

However, as diverse as the trucking landscape is, the road to success may feel...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-perspective-of-a-female-owner-operator

GoFor, Aurora Aerial to pilot drone delivery test program

GoFor and Aurora Aerial to test drone delivery

GoFor Industries, already committing to helping its contractors deploy electric vehicles over the next few years, will now enter a pilot program with Aurora Aerial to test drone delivery in Canada before rolling it out to other markets, including those in the United States.

“Our new partnership with Aurora Aerial is the first step toward redefining the traditional logistics industry and aligns with our vision to revolutionize logistics by using innovative technologies to deliver the ultimate...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/gofor-aurora-aerial-to-pilot-drone-delivery-test-program

Union Square Ventures and RyderVentures back SmartHop’s $12M funding round

SmartHop receives funding from Ryder

What started as a way to help small truckers fill their trailers has grown into a full-fledged total dispatch solution for over-the-road owner-operators. SmartHop is now gaining plenty of support in its efforts to scale its business, including from heavy hitters such as RyderVentures.

SmartHop on Wednesday announced the close of a $12 million Series A funding round, led by Union Square Ventures and supported by RyderVentures, Equal Ventures and Greycroft. The new funding round brings SmartHop’s...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/union-square-ventures-and-ryderventures-back-smarthops-12m-funding-round

The Daily Dash: Celadon, one year later; COVID lawsuits pile up

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, FreightWaves writer Clarissa Hawes talks to former Celadon drivers one year after the company’s collapse. Plus, Estes has been hit with a COVID-related lawsuit and Covenant is bumping up driver pay.

One year later, it still hurts

It’s been one year since truckload carrier Celadon suddenly shut down, and former truck drivers remain bitter about the closure.

Clarissa Hawes talks to former Celadon...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-celadon-one-year-later-covid-lawsuits-pile-up

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