Freight Fright Friday: Highway Serial Killers

It's Friday the 13th, and Freightaholics Anonymous is officially in session! The freight rates are terrifying, the brokers are ghosting us, and the transportation industry has enough horror stories to keep us talking all weekend.On this November 13, 2026 episode of Do You Even Freight?!, Kevin, Shimmi, and John tackle three transportation industry headlines, a major supply chain debate, and a Hot Load that might leave you shaking your head.IN THIS EPISODE:$155,000 Cargo Theft Investigation Following a Freight Payment DisputeA Texas truck driver faces felony theft charges after allegedly refusing to return a shipping container carrying 43,000 pounds of fiber-optic cable following a canceled shipment and payment dispute.When does a disagreement over freight payment cross the line? We discuss cargo ownership, carrier responsibilities, broker accountability, and the legal risks of holding freight over unpaid transportation charges.Laredo Trucking Company Owner Indicted in Alleged Unauthorized Labor SchemeFederal prosecutors allege that a Texas trucking company owner used 57 Mexican B-1 visa holders to complete more than 1,000 unauthorized domestic freight trips, generating nearly $300,000 in alleged labor-cost savings.We examine domestic trucking regulations, cross-border transportation rules, driver authorization, and the competitive impact on carriers operating within federal requirements. The charges remain allegations.Texas Opens New Routes for Oversize and Overweight FreightThe Texas Department of Transportation launches a pilot program allowing qualifying permitted loads to travel portions of SH 130 and SH 45 Southeast, providing an alternative to Interstate 35 congestion around Austin.What could this mean for heavy-haul trucking, freight routing, transportation costs, and logistics planning?HOT TOPIC: THE 24/7 INDUSTRY THAT RUNS ON BUSINESS HOURSFreight never stops. So why does the business of moving it?Transportation and logistics operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Yet brokers, shippers, receivers, warehouses, financial departments, and support operations often follow traditional business hours.What happens when a shipment encounters problems at 2 a.m. and nobody answers?Should freight brokers and logistics providers offer 24/7 support? Are shippers and receivers creating unnecessary delays? Can smaller transportation businesses afford around-the-clock staffing? And has supply chain technology created expectations that human operations cannot meet?We're challenging the disconnect between a nonstop freight industry and the business infrastructure supporting it.PLUS:National trucking weather and freight corridor conditionsRegulatory updates affecting commercial transportationFreight DictionaryKevin's Hot Load: A semi-truck allegedly clocked at 105 mph while passing an Iowa state trooper, according to an unverified social media accountJohn's Red FlagABOUT DO YOU EVEN FREIGHT?!Do You Even Freight?! is a transportation and logistics talk show from Kiss This Media, delivering industry news, regulatory discussions, freight market insights, and unfiltered conversations about the issues shaping the supply chain.From trucking companies and freight brokers to shippers, warehouse operators, logistics professionals, and everyone keeping freight moving, we're bringing the entire transportation industry into the conversation.New episodes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.Presented by Kiss This Media.Road Dog Coffee is the official coffee of Kiss This Media.#DoYouEvenFreight #FreightaholicsAnonymous #TruckingNews #FreightIndustry #SupplyChain #Logistics #TransportationNews #FreightBrokers #TruckingIndustry #CargoTheft #FMCSA #HeavyHaul #KissThisMedia

Do You Even Freight? | Veterans Day Special — November 11, 2026On this Veterans Day edition of Do You Even Freight?, hosts John and Kevin welcome guest host Tracy Smith, a freight broker, filling in for Shimmi, for a conversation about military veterans, trucking industry support, and the transportation professionals who continue serving their communities.Today's episode recognizes the sacrifices of America's military veterans while examining how the trucking, freight, logistics, and transportation industries support those transitioning from military service into civilian careers.In This Episode:Truckers Final Mile — Bringing Drivers Home: A look at the nonprofit founded by veteran Robert Palm, which assists truck drivers and their families during emergencies, including helping bring deceased drivers home when tragedy strikes on the road.Wreaths Across America — The Honor Fleet: Professional truck drivers and motor carriers are preparing to transport veterans' wreaths to cemeteries nationwide ahead of National Wreaths Across America Day on December 19, 2026.U.S. Army Partners with FedEx Dataworks: The Army is working with FedEx to modernize military logistics across 23 government-owned industrial facilities, incorporating predictive analytics, inventory management, and freight-routing technology to improve military supply chain operations.FMCSA Military CDL Programs: A look at the Military Skills Test Waiver and Even Exchange programs, which recognize qualifying military driving experience and help eligible veterans transition into civilian commercial trucking careers.HOT TOPIC: Thank You for Your Service — But Is Transportation Serving Our Veterans?Every Veterans Day, transportation companies publicly thank military veterans for their service. But are those same companies providing meaningful career opportunities, competitive compensation, training, advancement, and ongoing support?John, Kevin, and Tracy explore the difference between recruiting veterans and retaining them, recognizing military experience, supporting veterans' mental health, and holding employers accountable for their commitments beyond Veterans Day.The question: When the Veterans Day tributes end, is the transportation industry truly taking care of those who served?Plus, our regular DYEF segments: national transportation weather, Freight Dictionary, Kevin's Hot Load, and Red Flag.Do You Even Freight? is a transportation industry morning show from Kiss This Media, covering trucking news, freight markets, logistics, supply chain developments, transportation regulations, and the issues affecting the people who keep America moving.New episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.Follow Kiss This Media: @kissthismediaLearn more:Truckers Final Mile: https://www.truckersfinalmile.org/Wreaths Across America: https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/FMCSA Military Driver Programs: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/military-driversTopics: Veterans Day 2026, military veterans in trucking, veteran employment, freight brokers, trucking industry news, military logistics, FedEx Dataworks, Wreaths Across America, Truckers Final Mile, FMCSA, military CDL waiver, commercial driver training, freight transportation, supply chain news.#DoYouEvenFreight #KissThisMedia #VeteransDay #TruckingIndustry #TransportationNews #MilitaryVeterans #FreightBroker #Logistics #SupplyChain

The holiday freight rush is heating up, but are trucking companies and drivers actually benefiting?On this November 9 episode of Do You Even Freight?!, Kevin (Hot Load), John, and special guest co-host Amy Kirn, filling in for Shimmi, break down the latest trucking industry news, holiday freight market conditions, regulatory developments, and one of the industry's most persistent problems: truck driver detention.In this episode:Holiday Freight Market: Truckload capacity tightens ahead of Thanksgiving as regional demand, available equipment, and freight rates shift.Refrigerated Trucking: Seasonal produce and holiday food shipments increase pressure on reefer capacity, particularly in the Northeast.Rising Transportation Costs: Holiday shipping demand, fuel expenses, and freight pricing create new challenges for carriers and owner-operators.FMCSA Regulatory Update: Changes to the FMCSA Complaint Center expand reporting options for truck drivers and transportation professionals.Hot Topic — Driver Detention: Who should pay when drivers spend hours waiting at shipping and receiving facilities? Should detention compensation be automatic, and are carriers passing collected fees along to drivers?Plus, Freight Dictionary, Kevin's Hot Load, Red Flag, and trucking industry conversation from the people who know freight.Join the conversation: Have you experienced excessive detention during the holiday shipping season? Were you paid for your time?Do You Even Freight?! is a trucking and transportation industry morning show produced by Kiss This Media, covering freight market news, supply chain trends, FMCSA regulations, trucking safety, and the issues affecting professional drivers, owner-operators, and carriers.New episodes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.Official Coffee Partner: Road Dog Coffee Co.#TruckingIndustry #FreightMarket #TruckDriverDetention #FMCSA #SupplyChain #Logistics #OwnerOperators #DoYouEvenFreight #KissThisMedia

AI in Trucking: Who Controls Freight? | CSX, Schneider & Port Strike ThreatDo You Even Freight?! | November 6, 2026 | Kiss This MediaArtificial intelligence is changing the trucking industry, freight transportation, and global supply chains. But as AI moves beyond shipment tracking into carrier selection, freight rate negotiations, routing, and procurement, a bigger question is emerging: Who is accountable when AI makes the wrong decision?On this episode of Do You Even Freight?!, hosts Shimmi, Kevin, and John examine the growing influence of AI in logistics and what automated freight decisions could mean for trucking companies, freight brokers, independent owner-operators, and the future of transportation.Also in today's trucking and transportation news:CSX Train vs. Semi-Truck: A CSX freight train collides with a commercial truck in Decatur, Georgia, raising questions about railroad crossing safety.Schneider Drops CSX: Schneider National announces a major intermodal partnership shift to Norfolk Southern, reshaping its eastern U.S. rail transportation network.West Coast Port Labor Dispute: Labor negotiations involving maritime security workers threaten potential disruptions at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.CVSA 2027 Enforcement Calendar: A look at upcoming commercial vehicle inspections, Brake Safety Week, International Roadcheck, and Operation Safe Driver Week.Today's Hot Topic: Is AI About to Become the Supply Chain's Decision-Maker?As autonomous AI systems gain influence over freight procurement, carrier assignments, transportation pricing, and supply chain operations, we're asking whether efficiency is coming at the expense of transparency, accountability, and opportunity for smaller carriers.If an algorithm determines which trucking company gets the load, what rate gets paid, and when freight moves, who takes responsibility when something goes wrong?Join Do You Even Freight?! for trucking industry news, freight market discussions, transportation regulations, and unfiltered commentary on the issues affecting professional drivers and the businesses that keep America moving.Do You Even Freight?! is a Kiss This Media production, delivering transportation industry news, real-world perspectives, and freight talk without the filter.Follow Kiss This Media: @kissthismediaKeywords: trucking industry news, AI in trucking, artificial intelligence in logistics, supply chain automation, freight rates, freight brokerage, Schneider National, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, intermodal freight, port labor dispute, CVSA 2027, commercial vehicle enforcement, owner-operators, transportation news.#DoYouEvenFreight #KissThisMedia #TruckingNews #FreightIndustry #SupplyChain #AIinLogistics

Tenstreet CarrierProtect, Chicago Freight Train Burglary & Southwest Flooding | Do You Even Freight?!A coordinated freight-train burglary in Chicago, devastating flooding disrupting highways across the Southwest, and a new carrier safety platform that could change how freight brokers evaluate trucking companies.On the November 4, 2026, episode of Do You Even Freight?!, Shimmi, Kevin, and John break down the latest trucking industry news, transportation disruptions, regulatory developments, and freight industry controversies.In this episode:🚂 Chicago Freight Train Burglary: Approximately 20 suspects were reportedly involved in burglarizing BNSF freight cars in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, disrupting freight operations and Metra commuter rail service.🌊 Arizona Flooding Emergency: Governor Katie Hobbs declared a statewide emergency following severe flooding and infrastructure damage, raising concerns about commercial trucking routes, highway closures, and freight delivery disruptions.🚧 Utah Highway Bridge Destruction: Floodwaters destroyed the Comb Wash Bridge on U.S. 163, forcing highway closures and creating significant challenges for commercial vehicles and rural transportation.🚨 FMCSA Regulatory Update: Metronet seeks a federal exemption to use pulsating amber brake warning lights on commercial vehicles in an effort to reduce rear-end collisions.🔥 HOT TOPIC — Tenstreet CarrierProtect: Tenstreet's new platform gives freight brokers additional insight into carrier safety, driver qualifications, training, and compliance. Is this a step toward greater transportation safety and transparency, or could it create another obstacle for small trucking companies and owner-operators?Plus, Red Flag, and more conversations from the transportation industry.Do You Even Freight?! is produced by Kiss This Media, a woman-owned transportation media platform covering trucking news, freight transportation, commercial drivers, motor carriers, logistics, regulations, and the issues affecting America's transportation industry.🎙️ New episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.Subscribe and follow Do You Even Freight?! on your favorite podcast platform.#DoYouEvenFreight #KissThisMedia #TruckingNews #Tenstreet #CarrierProtect #FMCSA #FreightIndustry #TransportationNews

Should E&O Insurance Be Mandatory for Freight Brokers and Dispatchers? | Do You Even Freight?! November 2, 2026Should Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance be mandatory for freight brokers and dispatchers? What would mandatory professional liability coverage mean for accountability, financial protection, and the cost of doing business in transportation?On this episode of Do You Even Freight?!, Shimmi and John are joined by special guest co-host Jessica Howington, insurance agent with UCI Insurance, filling in for Kevin.Today's Hot Topic examines whether requiring E&O insurance could help protect transportation businesses from costly professional mistakes, or whether another insurance mandate would create additional financial burdens for small brokers and independent dispatchers.The conversation explores the difference between freight broker bonds and E&O insurance, professional liability, coverage limitations, and the responsibilities of freight intermediaries.Also on today's episode:Autonomous Trucking: Venti Technologies plans to deploy more than 130 autonomous yard trucks at U.S. intermodal rail facilities, raising new questions about automation and transportation jobs.Industry News: Flooding concerns and their potential impact on commercial transportation and freight routes.FMCSA Regulatory Update: Problems surrounding the Motus registration system and the challenges facing transportation businesses.Red Flag: Arkansas Operation Highway Shield and the findings from a major commercial vehicle enforcement operation.From freight broker liability and dispatch services to autonomous trucking, transportation regulations, and highway safety, today's episode tackles issues affecting the people who keep America's freight moving.Do You Even Freight?! is a Kiss This Media production covering trucking industry news, freight transportation, logistics, regulations, driver issues, and the conversations shaping the future of transportation.Follow Kiss This Media and Do You Even Freight?! across social media and your favorite podcast platforms.#DoYouEvenFreight #KissThisMedia #TruckingIndustry #FreightBrokers #Dispatchers #ErrorsAndOmissionsInsurance #TransportationNews #Logistics #FMCSA #AutonomousTrucking

Freight Fright Friday: Haunted Highways, Serial Killers & Stranded Truck Drivers | Do You Even Freight?!It's Halloween on Do You Even Freight?!, and Freight Fright Friday is taking us down some of America's darkest highways.Join Shimmi, Kevin, and John for a special Halloween edition featuring creepy roadside legends, disturbing true crime, haunted highways, and a serious conversation about what happens when a trucking company fires a driver hundreds of miles from home.In today's episode:Authorities are searching for Jacob Allen Morley, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence who escaped from a Tennessee prison on October 25. Investigators say Morley stole a Ford F-350 truck that was later discovered abandoned in Marion, Illinois. The search has expanded across state lines, raising concerns about public safety as investigators work to determine his whereabouts.The Black Dog of the Highway: A chilling urban legend involving a mysterious black dog appearing along lonely roads. Is it folklore, a warning, or something drivers can't quite explain?Robert Ben Rhoades — The Truck Stop Killer: The terrifying true-crime story of a long-haul truck driver and convicted serial killer whose crimes exposed a darker side of America's highways.Clinton Road, New Jersey: One of America's most notorious allegedly haunted roads, known for ghost stories, unexplained encounters, and decades of local legends.HOT TOPIC — Can a Trucking Company Fire a Driver and Leave Them Stranded?What happens when a carrier terminates a truck driver while they're hundreds or even thousands of miles from home? Can the company legally leave them without transportation? We examine federal regulations, state laws, including Alaska's specific requirements, and the responsibilities trucking companies may face when terminating drivers away from home.It's a conversation about driver rights, carrier responsibilities, and the difference between what's legal and what's right.From haunted highways to real-world trucking nightmares, this Halloween episode combines transportation industry discussion, true crime, trucking culture, and the stories drivers share from life on the road.Do You Even Freight?! is a weekday transportation and trucking industry show from Kiss This Media, featuring industry news, freight and logistics discussions, regulatory issues, driver experiences, and unfiltered conversations about the people who keep America moving.#TruckingPodcast #DoYouEvenFreight #FreightFrightFriday #TruckingIndustry #TrueCrime #TruckDriverRights

Who is responsible when improperly secured freight causes a crash—the truck driver, shipper, or motor carrier? On this episode of Do You Even Freight?!, hosts Shimmi, Kevin, and John tackle one of trucking's most complicated safety and liability questions: cargo securement responsibilities under federal regulations, shipping contracts, and civil liability laws.We're breaking down the latest trucking industry news, FMCSA regulatory developments, commercial vehicle enforcement operations, and transportation safety issues affecting CDL drivers, owner-operators, freight carriers, and logistics professionals.TRUCKING INDUSTRY NEWSPAM Transport has requested a five-year FMCSA exemption that would allow certain commercial learner's permit holders who have passed their CDL skills tests to operate without a supervising CDL holder seated beside them. What could this mean for CDL training and driver qualification requirements?Arkansas Highway Police launched a multiday commercial vehicle enforcement operation involving state and federal authorities, targeting trucking compliance and potential criminal activity.A truck driver has pleaded guilty in connection with a fatal construction-zone crash that killed two people. The case involves allegations of watching Netflix while operating a commercial truck, raising serious concerns about distracted driving and highway safety.FMCSA REGULATORY UPDATEFMCSA is considering an exemption request from R.B. Stewart Petroleum Products involving pulsing rear brake lights on commercial trucks. The proposed system would flash certain rear lights before returning to steady illumination, potentially introducing another approach to commercial vehicle collision prevention.HOT TOPIC: LOAD SECUREMENT — WHO IS LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE?When a shipper loads a trailer and the driver transports it, who carries responsibility if the freight shifts, falls, or causes an accident?We examine the differences between federal cargo securement regulations, contractual loading obligations, and civil liability.The conversation covers 49 CFR 392.9, federal cargo inspection requirements, FMCSA cargo securement standards, shipper-loaded freight, bills of lading, and the Savage Rule.From sealed trailers to improperly loaded freight, the responsibilities of truck drivers, motor carriers, and shippers aren't always as straightforward as they appear.HOT LOAD: FATAL TEXAS OVERSIZE LOAD ACCIDENTTwo people were killed when a massive 175-ton oversize load fell from a commercial trailer onto a passenger vehicle near Temple, Texas, in April 2024. We revisit the tragedy as part of our conversation about heavy-haul transportation, cargo securement, and highway safety.RED FLAG: 1,307 COMMERCIAL VEHICLE VIOLATIONSMassachusetts State Police reported 1,307 commercial vehicle violations during Operation Wicked Safe, a multistate enforcement initiative conducted in October 2026.The operation uncovered violations involving commercial driver's licenses, falsified logbooks, brake systems, and other trucking safety requirements.ABOUT DO YOU EVEN FREIGHT?!Do You Even Freight?! delivers trucking news, transportation industry updates, freight market conversations, FMCSA regulations, driver safety coverage, and unfiltered discussions about the issues affecting America's trucking and logistics industry.Hosted by Shimmi, Kevin, and John and produced by Kiss This Media, the show brings industry headlines and real-world transportation conversations together.#DoYouEvenFreight #TruckingNews #LoadSecurement #FMCSA #TruckDriver #TransportationNews #CDL #TruckingIndustry #Freight #KissThisMedia

An Arizona car-hauler rollover, 170 beer bottles found in a truck cab, a $4 billion automotive manufacturing announcement and an unsettling auto transport mystery—Monday’s Do You Even Freight? brings together trucking news, safety questions and a debate over federal freight fraud regulations.Shimmi, Kevin and John open with an Arizona commercial driver arrested for DUI following an Interstate 40 rollover east of Flagstaff. Authorities reported a breath alcohol reading of 0.168, damage to all nine vehicles being transported and estimated losses of approximately $500,000 affecting 12 victims. Troopers also said the driver acknowledged a previous commercial vehicle crash while intoxicated.The story raises questions about driver screening, employer accountability, the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and the Substance Abuse Professional—or SAP—return-to-duty process. What information should follow a driver, and what safeguards should apply before someone returns to safety-sensitive work? The reporting does not establish this driver’s Clearinghouse or SAP history.Also in industry news: a separate truck driver arrest after police reported finding 170 beer bottles in the cab, adding another troubling example to the conversation about impaired driving and commercial vehicle safety.Then, Audi announces plans for its first U.S. manufacturing facility at the Middle Georgia Megasite in Peach County. The proposed investment totals approximately $4 billion, with 4,500 projected jobs and annual production capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles. We discuss what the announcement could mean for automotive logistics, supplier networks, inbound parts shipments and finished-vehicle transportation, along with Georgia’s rail and port connections.Our October mystery series continues with the disappearance and death of auto transport driver Alejandro Jacomino Gonzalez. After picking up vehicles at Georgia’s Port of Brunswick for delivery to Miami, Gonzalez stopped at a Florida rest area. His truck later reversed direction and was recovered back in Georgia with several vehicles missing. The FBI subsequently confirmed that a body found in coastal Georgia was Gonzalez. We revisit the reported timeline and the unanswered questions surrounding his final trip.For our hot topic, we ask: Are federal regulations keeping up with modern freight fraud?Carrier identity theft, broker impersonation and the misuse of legitimate operating credentials raise questions about how transportation businesses are registered, verified and monitored. The hosts discuss whether federal requirements adequately establish who owns and controls a carrier or brokerage—and what should happen when credible evidence of fraud emerges.The conversation covers:• Identity verification for operating authority applicants.• Additional checks when ownership or contact information changes.• Broker bond requirements and protection against carrier losses.• FMCSA’s regulatory role and the separate role of criminal enforcement.• Suspending fraudulent operations while protecting legitimate businesses from wrongful action.• Whether stronger regulations or faster enforcement would make the greater difference.• How to protect small carriers without adding unreasonable compliance costs.What one federal requirement would you change to better protect legitimate freight businesses?Plus, Word of the Day, Hot Load and Red Flag.Do You Even Freight? is a Kiss This Media morning show hosted by Shimmi, Kevin and John, covering trucking news, freight transportation, logistics, commercial vehicle safety, transportation policy and the issues shaping the industry.Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, watch on YouTube and follow @kissthismedia.Episode: October 26, 2026

Freight Fright Friday: Highway Serial Killers, $12M Cargo Theft & Freight Industry News | DYEFIt's Freight Fright Friday on Do You Even Freight?, and we're exploring the darker side of America's highways.Shimmi, Kevin, and John dive into the FBI's Highway Serial Killings Initiative, an investigation launched in 2004 to identify connections between murders along major U.S. highways. How many victims have been identified? What makes interstate transportation corridors difficult to investigate? And could modern trucking technology help law enforcement track down serial killers?In transportation industry news, federal prosecutors uncover an alleged $12 million cargo theft operation involving hijacked trucking company identities, Carrier Global announces a $600 million manufacturing investment in Fort Worth, Texas, and Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern report higher freight volumes as trucking market conditions tighten.Plus, a special announcement! Kiss This Media officially welcomes Road Dog Coffee as its Official Coffee Partner, introducing Hot Load Dark Roast, a special coffee developed in partnership with Road Dog Coffee and inspired by the personalities and culture of the transportation industry. Check it out at www.roaddogcoffee.com.From true crime and highway safety to cargo theft, freight fraud, manufacturing, and the trucking economy, this Halloween edition brings a different kind of freight fright.Do You Even Freight? is a transportation and logistics podcast from Kiss This Media, featuring industry news, freight market insights, trucking discussions, and unfiltered conversations with Shimmi, Kevin, and John.#DoYouEvenFreight #FreightFrightFriday #TruckingPodcast #TrueCrime #HighwaySerialKillers #CargoTheft #RoadDogCoffee #HotLoadCoffee #FreightIndustry #Logistics #KissThisMedia