The trucking industry keeps talking about a “driver shortage”…

But what if the real problem is the industry itself?

On this episode of Brake Check, Charles Gracey dives headfirst into the recruiting and retention crisis ripping through trucking right now — why drivers are leaving, why some fleets can’t keep seats filled, and why the companies winning in 2026 are doing things very differently than the rest of the industry.

We also tackle the shifting legal and operational pressure hitting freight as carriers, brokers, and fleets try to survive one of the most volatile eras trucking has seen in years.

Featuring:

Tim Norlin from ⁠Roehl Transport⁠
David Lowry from ⁠Bennett Family of Companies⁠

The truth about the “driver shortage”
Why trucking struggles to retain drivers
The recruiting tactics fleets still get wrong
Why lead-gen culture changed trucking
Flatbed demand & the freight market outlook
The growing pressure on brokers and carriers
What fleets MUST do to survive the next phase of trucking

Topics include:

No fluff.

No corporate spin.

Just real trucking talk for real trucking people.If you’re a driver, carrier, broker, dispatcher, recruiter, or fleet owner… this is the conversation the industry needs right now.

#Trucking #DriverShortage #TruckDrivers #Freight #OwnerOperator #CDL #BrakeCheck #Recruiting #Retention

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