Everybody wants somebody to blame.

Brokers.

ELDs.

Immigration.

Mega carriers.

The government.

The spot market.

But what if the problems facing trucking today go much deeper than social media talking points?

In this episode of The Long Haul Podcast, Adam sits down with Stephen Ruhe — third-generation trucking operator, Navy veteran, brokerage leader, and trucking history enthusiast — to break down how outdated regulations, industry evolution, and a lack of accountability continue shaping modern trucking today.

This conversation dives into:

Why modern trucking problems didn’t start in 1980
How old regulations still impact carriers today
Why social media oversimplifies complex industry issues
The relationship between brokers and carriers
Why relationships still matter more than technology
And why small carriers fail when they spend more time blaming than adapting

This episode isn’t about nostalgia.

It’s about understanding how we got here.

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