remember that this truck, the modern toyota hilux, is basically illegal to own in the US because your politicians hate you

remember that this truck, the modern toyota hilux, is basically illegal to own in the US because your politicians hate you pic.twitter.com/GzECpItqD6

— doomer (@uncledoomer) July 19, 2026

The modern Toyota Hilux.

AMERICAN TRUCKERS UNITED: A California-based motor carrier had one of its drivers — a man from Mexico — behind the wheel of a big rig while tweaked out on meth.

🚨ALARMING: Mexico truck driver operating a semi in the US while high on methamphetamine gets arrested

A California-based motor carrier had one of its drivers — a man from Mexico — behind the wheel of a big rig while tweaked out on meth. https://t.co/dGHY8LsbbV pic.twitter.com/DsiS9WjLed

— American Truckers United (@atutruckers) July 18, 2026

STEVE CORTES: Wow. Corrupt licenses to drive for foreigners — a huge issue, especially the “CDL mills” that hand out trucker licenses to totally unqualified and non-English speaking illegals.

Wow. Corrupt licenses to drive for foreigners — a huge issue, especially the “CDL mills” that hand out trucker licenses to totally unqualified and non-English speaking illegals.

I’m headed to Maine this week to film and I’ll investigate this very issue there! https://t.co/LTsHYdVuLj

— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) July 12, 2026

210 Freeway in Irwindale on Saturday morning, June 20, 2026

Sleep deprivation?  What is wrong with these drivers?   

Dash camera video shared exclusively with Eyewitness News shows the moments leading up to a crash involving a jackknifed semi-truck that left one woman dead and 32 other people injured on the 210 Freeway in Irwindale on Saturday morning.  https://t.co/EjkUipIZ72 pic.twitter.com/QeCJ4HhpJN

— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) June 21, 2026

A tragic multi-vehicle crash hit the 210 Freeway in Irwindale this weekend. A jackknifed semi crossed the divider, killing a 58-year-old woman and injuring 32 others, including children.

The driver has been identified as 21-year-old Jashanpreet Singh from Yuba City. He was… pic.twitter.com/LeZFBE2QxW

— SafetySwipe (@SafetyNotorious) June 21, 2026

200,000 CDL Illegal Alien Drivers on the Roads in the US?

This is insane

New 2026 House Oversight Committee hearing reveals a whistleblower inside USPS says there are so many drivers with non-domiciled CDLs, it isn’t feasible to stop the practice

Meaning there are so many illegal drivers the USPS does business with, it doesn’t make… pic.twitter.com/hZzlMatFTm

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) June 8, 2026

It took less than 24 hours for brokers to tighten the belt after the Supreme Court ruled that brokers could be held liable for carrier accidents WOW!

It took less than 24 hours for brokers to tighten the belt after the Supreme Court ruled that brokers could be held liable for carrier accidents WOW!

#Truckers #trucking #truckinglife @topfans pic.twitter.com/MEnvzcKkar

— GRANDPA’s FREE ADVICE (@GOP_is_Gutless) May 16, 2026

WALL ST. APES: These new autonomous trucks are by the company Fountainhead and use Ai, allowing 24/7 operations

American in Texas came across one of the new driverless trucks

They are already being used to transport huge loads, this truck has 3 trailers

These new autonomous trucks are by the company Fountainhead and use Ai, allowing 24/7 operations pic.twitter.com/cfGPOi0aNx

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) March 16, 2026

It does not seem like this is a nationwide trend. 

MIKE NETTER: The California Department of Motor Vehicles said Friday that the federal government is requiring them to cancel the commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) of thousands of immigrant truck drivers in the state.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles said Friday that the federal government is requiring them to cancel the commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) of thousands of immigrant truck drivers in the state. According to a release from the California DMV, approximately 13,000… pic.twitter.com/1SBJqsERQe

— Mike Netter (@nettermike) March 9, 2026

CRAIG FULLER: 5,000 Americans died in truck-related accidents last year. The scary part? In many cases, we don't even know who is behind the wheel.

5,000 Americans died in truck-related accidents last year. The scary part? In many cases, we don't even know who is behind the wheel.

See the latest episode of Brake Check, out now! pic.twitter.com/VzjrRZG2Ko

— FreightWaves (@FreightWaves) March 2, 2026

Brake Check. 

CRAIG FULLER, FOUNDER & CEO of FREIGHT WAVES: "If you cheat, you win". We have "schools" self-certifying drivers in 2 days for $500 when it should take 12 weeks of rigorous training. This isn't a shortage; it's a safety crisis.

"If you cheat, you win". We have "schools" self-certifying drivers in 2 days for $500 when it should take 12 weeks of rigorous training. This isn't a shortage; it's a safety crisis. pic.twitter.com/ryX8WUhfmd

— FreightWaves (@FreightWaves) March 2, 2026

CRAIG FULLER: Flatbed volumes are at all time highs, led by manufacturing and heavy industry, not housing

YoY truckload volumes, by mode:

Flatbed +61%
Reefer +17%
Van +3%

Flatbed volumes are at all time highs, led by manufacturing and heavy industry, not housing pic.twitter.com/qst2cb1rhu

— Craig Fuller 🛩🚛🚂⚓️ (@FreightAlley) March 2, 2026

BLAKEUS: when a driver is placed out of service for violating the elp (english language proficiency) it is TEMPORARY. Often times when an officer leaves, they resume driving. They do not lose their cdl or ability to operate. a tactic to keep the loads moving.

Please understand that when a driver is placed out of service for violating the elp (english language proficiency) it is TEMPORARY. Often times when an officer leaves, they resume driving. They do not lose their cdl or ability to operate. a tactic to keep the loads moving. THEY…

— 🚚Blake🇺🇸 (@Fosfamily) March 1, 2026

from Blake,

Please understand that when a driver is placed out of service for violating the elp (english language proficiency) it is TEMPORARY. Often times when an officer leaves, they resume driving. They do not lose their cdl or ability to operate. a tactic to keep the loads moving. THEY know if they have a NON English speaking driver to place a better speaking one with them. That way the truck keeps moving. This is why Connors Law, in conjunction with Dalilah Law is imperative.

CRAIG FULLER: I have zero doubt that we are seeing manufacturing starting to rip. Flatbed is naturally the first mode to signal it, as flatbeds haul heavy industrial raw materials.

I have zero doubt that we are seeing manufacturing starting to rip.

Flatbed is naturally the first mode to signal it, as flatbeds haul heavy industrial raw materials.

We talked about greenshoots a few weeks ago, and it was exciting, but still a bit iffy.

I don’t recall ever… pic.twitter.com/2R52KVeDvD

— Craig Fuller 🛩🚛🚂⚓️ (@FreightAlley) February 27, 2026

HUSTLEBITCH: 🚨 AUTO PARTS MANUFACTURERS COLLAPSE — FACTORIES SHUT DOWN AND PARTS ARE DRYING UP, “WE’RE IN DEEP TROUBLE”

🚨 AUTO PARTS MANUFACTURERS COLLAPSE — FACTORIES SHUT DOWN AND PARTS ARE DRYING UP, “WE’RE IN DEEP TROUBLE”

A repair shop owner says the industry is in “deep trouble.” And what he’s seeing is alarming:

• Major remanufacturers like Cardone and Trico filed Chapter 11
•… pic.twitter.com/foeG6eYUJN

— HustleBitch (@HustleBitch_) February 27, 2026

Cardone repair parts. 

JAMES E. THORNE: This sharp increase signals booming demand for industrial freight — steel, lumber, and machinery — as carriers reject contract loads for higher-paying spot shipments.

The US economy is gaining momentum.

Flatbed rejection rates have surged to 40%, surpassing records from 2021 at the height of COVID. This sharp increase signals booming demand for industrial freight — steel, lumber, and machinery — as carriers reject contract loads for… https://t.co/x6ybgWPaKo

— James E. Thorne (@DrJStrategy) February 25, 2026

CRAIG FULLER: There is a massive security and safety crisis tied to human trafficking that bring in new truck drivers and pay them wages far below minimum wage to drive American trucks.

This is happening.

There is a massive security and safety crisis tied to human trafficking that bring in new truck drivers and pay them wages far below minimum wage to drive American trucks. https://t.co/vG3JPSr8sS

— Craig Fuller 🛩🚛🚂⚓️ (@FreightAlley) February 25, 2026

Medical Delivery

CostCo

Home Depot, and free Trades Training.

LabCorp.

Quest Diagnostics.  Here is a list of Medical Courier jobs.  Just limit the search to your neighborhood.

Trump Admin Mandates English-Only Tests For Truckers Seeking Commercial Driver's Licenses

Trump Admin Mandates English-Only Tests For Truckers Seeking Commercial Driver's Licenses  https://t.co/R3zKUiYiss

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) February 22, 2026

Long Beach is the 2nd largest container port in America

700 companies are headquartered at one address in a small building in Los Angeles County, California

This was reported to California authorities and you guessed it, nothing was done

Money laundering

“Take a look at this quiet building in Signal Hill, California. Doesn't look… pic.twitter.com/LiJRwOKK4j

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) February 20, 2026

CRAIG FULLER: Trucking tied to midwest manufacturing is starting to really light up.

Interesting development happening in our two tender rejection indices:

OTRI is the legacy rejection index. It has a large retail and manufacturing. but lacked a ton of CPG.

When we introduced the STRI index, we added are more CPG and food (with far more reefer and regional… pic.twitter.com/wJFfhQTRQt

— Craig Fuller 🛩🚛🚂⚓️ (@FreightAlley) February 19, 2026

Interesting development happening in our two tender rejection indices: OTRI is the legacy rejection index. It has a large retail and manufacturing. but lacked a ton of CPG. When we introduced the STRI index, we added are more CPG and food (with far more reefer and regional freight) and combined it with the legacy OTRI data. STRI is a better indicator (2x as large dataset) and while the indexes follow closely, there are times when they reveal interesting things when they diverge. We are seeing a very small slow down in the reefer [i.e., refrigerator] market, largely due to a "cooling" of protect from freeze as warmer weather exist. This is showing up in the STRI index, which has had a small drop this week. Interestingly, the legacy OTRI index is showing the market is firming, rather that cooling. Analysis: trucking capacity that is focused on retail and manufacturing (non CPG) are starting to outpace the CPG-heavier STRI index.

Trucking tied to midwest manufacturing is starting to really light up. 

Tender rejections in freight (particularly in the trucking and truckload logistics industry) refer to situations where a carrier (like a trucking company) declines or refuses a load offer (called a "tender") from a shipper under a pre-existing contract.

This is an insane map of tender rejections by region.

We haven't seen a map like this since 2021.

Activity in auto, energy, and rust-belt equipment manufacturing is having a hell of a rebound in 2026.  pic.twitter.com/aPZZlov4fU

— Craig Fuller 🛩🚛🚂⚓️ (@FreightAlley) February 19, 2026

Tender rejections.  

SAMOSAUR: The amount of criminality, fraud, inexperience behind the wheel of a rig, safety standards which have all but been thrown out with ELDs, cargo theft, cartel trafficking and more is mind blowing.

I’ve interviewed three people in the last few months with decades of experience in the industry.

Two of them are truckers with 20+ and 30+ years of driving experience, and one of them was a CDL instructor for 20 years.

The danger our nation is in, and even you, a normal… https://t.co/JqZfJmycsa pic.twitter.com/aH2XJ3X5GZ

— Shoe (@samosaur) February 19, 2026

ELDs, Electronic Logging Devices. 

Feds expand non-domiciled CDL crackdown to Illinois. State risks losing $128M in highway funding over immigrant truckers

Well, this seems like a big enough concern to alter the states' policies.  

Feds expand non-domiciled CDL crackdown to Illinois

State risks losing $128M in highway funding over immigrant truckers

This would be the most impactful crackdown thus far to the capacity map https://t.co/njyVsIeT5I

— Craig Fuller 🛩🚛🚂⚓️ (@FreightAlley) February 18, 2026

FreightWaves.  

FREIGHT WAVES: Did you know 80% of safety professionals started behind the wheel? Trucking isn't just a job; it’s a career launchpad.

Did you know 80% of safety professionals started behind the wheel?

Trucking isn't just a job; it’s a career launchpad. pic.twitter.com/zc0XS1CFqz

— FreightWaves (@FreightWaves) February 17, 2026

FREIGHT WAVES. 

Meet Lindsey Trent, [LinkedIn] Co-Founder and President of the Next Generation in Trucking Association! With her extensive industry experience and passion for building a skilled, diverse workforce, Lindsey is dedicated to promoting trucking careers and connecting young people to training opportunities. Don’t miss her presentation, “How to Get Involved with Your Local Schools: It Is Easier Than You Think!” where she’ll share practical tips on engaging with schools to promote trucking careers. #TTW24 #NavigatingNewHorizons. Tank Truck. Next Gen.

CRAIG FULLER: ELP violation out of service is up to 95 per day. I believe this will continue to go up as law enforcement takes this issue seriously.

ELP violation out of service is up to 95 per day.

I believe this will continue to go up as law enforcement takes this issue do seriously. pic.twitter.com/R2ahbPHHNc

— Craig Fuller 🛩🚛🚂⚓️ (@FreightAlley) February 18, 2026

CRAIG FULLER: February the weakest month of the year.

Truckload rejections pop to 14.01%, near the highest levels they've been in years. It is notable that this is happening in Mid-February, normally one of the worst months for freight.

Shippers should prepare for significant rate increases this year and even if carriers… pic.twitter.com/HC0Fg63uBo

— Craig Fuller 🛩🚛🚂⚓️ (@FreightAlley) February 17, 2026

February the weakest month of the year.

Road conditions continue to be tight.  Container rejections are at 14.01%.  This is a sign that capacity is not loosening up despite the fact that weather is well behind us, in fact, last week was one of the best weeks of weather that we've had in some time and yet container rejections stayed extremely high compared to where they'd been in many years.  What I think is really interesting is that we are starting to see that as conditions tighten up we are hearing that shippers are finding it harder and harder to rely upon their carriers to take freight at the existing rates.  We're also finding that brokers are talking a lot about the fact that they're having to pay out significantly for spot market capacity.  If conditions hold, if we see strong container rejections continue for the next couple of weeks, it's a very clear sign that this market is not going to suddenly flip into the kinds of conditions that we've known the last couple of years.  This market is completely different.  The fact that this is happening mid-February should be noted by everybody that's in freight.  This is very atypical. February is arguably one of the weakest months of the year.  January you end up with a lot of returns that drive a lot of the market, gift card season that drives a lot of the market.  February doesn't really have a ton of things that are real catalysts and we don't see catalysts in Freight until March where you start seeing the spring shipping season, things like gardening, Construction, produce.  Those all start in March and beverages heat up as we get into the later portions of the spring as the weather gets hotter.  Things like beer and water bottles and sodas and all that stuff does peak as we head into the summer.  And so the fact that this is happening in February is the strongest sign that the great Freight recession is clearly over with and I think it's something that shippers should take note.  It's going to be harder and harder to rely upon your motor carriers to honor those existing rates.  If you've done an RFP this season [Request for Proposal], you should expect that the carriers that did these RFPs are probably going to expect some kinds of rate concessions as you head into the year because they probably had an orientation of thinking that Freight would be softer than it has turned out to be.  Therefore, prepare to ensure that you have some backups built into your routing guides . . . 

CMV, Commercial Motor Vehicle.

CLP, Commercial Learner's Permit.  Must hold your permit for 14 before you're eligible for a SKILLS TEST.  So I need a CLP.  How do I get that?  Good for 180 days.  Can renew it w/o retaking test.

P, Passenger.  Prohibited from operating CMV, Commercial Motor Vehicle.  Must complete a skills test.

S, School Bus. Prohibited from operating CMV, Commercial Motor Vehicle.  Must have a P and S endorsement.

T, Tank.  Prohibited from operating a tank vehicle unless the tank is empty.  T endorsement required to drive 2 & 3 trailers.

X, Hazardous Waste.  CVC ss353 and 15278.

GCWR, Gross Combination Weight Rating.  You need a CDL to operate a single vehicle with 26,001 lbs.

CVC, California Vehicle Code.

CFR, Code of Federal Regulation. 

A completed commercial driver's license application (DL 44C/eDL 44C) form. 

A Certificate of Driving Skills, (DL 170 ETP).  

Application Fee for CDL is good for 12 months.

STUDY TIP.  Study tip: Read the relevant sections (especially Sections 1–3 for general knowledge + air brakes/combination if needed), then highlight key rules, numbers, and definitions.

PRACTICE TESTS.

2 TESTS:  

Commercial Learner's Permit, CLP.  Complete this first.  Hold for 14 days before applying for General Knowledge Test.

1.  Skills Test includes vehicle inspection, basic control skills, and road test.  

2.  Knowledge test(s) (e.g., general knowledge, endorsements) @ the DMV. No waiting period for retaking knowledge tests, but skills test retakes may involve scheduling and fees.  Knowledge tests can be retaken multiple times (e.g., unlimited overall, though some sources note practical limits like fees after initial attempts or daily restrictions in certain formats).  The application fee for a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) in California, which includes the knowledge test, is $41. If you need to retake the knowledge test, additional fees may apply for each attempt. Then, $100. CDL Knowledge Practice Test. Find a few more.

StartCDL.

Roehl Practice Tests.

Crist CDL Practice Tests.

National Training, Inc.

CR England used to offer free training.  Checkout the descriptions of each for a preview.

Swift.

Knight-Swift out of Phoenix.

J. B. Hunt out of Arkansas.  Apply to JB Hunt.

XPOLogistics out of Greenwich, Connecticut.

Old Dominion Freight Lines out of North Carolina.

LTL, Less Than Truckload.  from Climb,

The Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) model accommodates shipments typically ranging from one to six pallets. These shipments are too large for standard parcel service but too small to justify a Full Truckload (FTL) carrier. This system allows several shippers to share the space and cost of a single trailer, maximizing equipment utilization. LTL carriers primarily rely on a hub-and-spoke distribution model to manage this consolidated freight.

this might be relevant,

Last-mile delivery costs account for 53% of shipping expenses, making network optimization crucial for businesses to maintain profitability while meeting customer demands for faster delivery. 

FIND TRUCKING JOBS.  All Truck Jobs.  And Smart-Trucking.

VIDEOS ON CDL PRE-INSPECTION TRIP.  Here.

CDL GENERAL KNOWLEDGE, 2026.  Here.