Will Cook | A Driver’s Perspective

__X__ SUNDAY SPECIAL REPORT “THE MATH AIN’T MATHING” Driverless trucks are being sold as an answer to a labor shortage—and as a way to handle routes drivers supposedly don’t want. Then I looked at Dallas–Houston. It’s roughly a 500-mile round trip. It can mean steady freight, a paycheck and getting home. IT IS SOMEBODY’S JOB. Now consider the numbers. Aurora says trucks serving certain customers are averaging an annualized rate above 225,000 miles per truck. Put just 50 driverless trucks at that utilization rate and you’re looking at 11.25 MILLION TRUCK-MILES A YEAR. That does NOT mean 50 trucks automatically equal 50 lost jobs. But it raises a question I believe drivers deserve an answer to: WHEN THE TRUCKS, MILES, LOADS AND REVENUE ARE BEING COUNTED—WHO IS COUNTING WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PEOPLE? I went back through five years of company statements, investor presentations, SEC filings and federal reports looking for the other side of the equation. THE MATH AIN’T MATHING. Read the full Sunday Special Report on Substack at A Driver’s Perspective: [ open.substack.com/pub/adrive… ] #AmericaWithoutDrivers #AutonomousTrucking #TruckDrivers #Trucking #ADriversPerspective

THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY IS CHANGING FASTER THAN MOST PEOPLE REALIZE — AND THE BIGGEST STORY IS WHAT COMES NEXT. A DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE — NEWS THAT MATTERS | November 4, 2026 UPS is eliminating positions, consolidating facilities, and expanding automation. FedEx has closed more than 260 stations while restructuring hundreds more. FedEx Freight reports declining shipment volumes, rising transportation costs, and reduced reliance on outside motor carriers. Meanwhile, autonomous trucking companies are expanding their operations, diesel prices continue pressuring transportation costs, and organized criminals are exploiting weaknesses in America’s freight-security systems. But our independent investigations are looking beyond the headlines. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE JOBS THAT NEVER GET CREATED? WHAT HAPPENS TO SMALL MANUFACTURERS WHEN AUTONOMOUS FREIGHT NETWORKS POTENTIALLY REDUCE THE BACKHAUL OPPORTUNITIES THEIR CARRIERS DEPEND ON? AND WHO ULTIMATELY BENEFITS FROM BILLIONS IN CORPORATE COST SAVINGS? These are questions that deserve answers supported by evidence, not industry talking points. The consequences could reach far beyond professional drivers, affecting independent carriers, freight brokers, manufacturers, small businesses, and consumers. THE FUTURE OF TRUCKING ISN’T JUST ABOUT WHO MOVES THE FREIGHT. IT’S ABOUT WHO CAN AFFORD TO COMPETE IN THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY THAT’S EMERGING. Follow A Driver’s Perspective for independent reporting, continuing investigations, and the news that matters to everyone connected to America’s supply chain. Will Cook — A Driver’s Perspective Real Driver. Logging Real Miles. #TruckingIndustry #AutonomousTrucking #SupplyChain #OwnerOperators #ADriversPerspective

WHO OPENED THE DOOR TO FOREIGN DRIVERS IN AMERICAN TRUCKING — AND WHAT HAPPENS IN 2027? FMCSA estimates that approximately 200,000 non-domiciled CDL holders were part of America’s commercial licensing system, while federal investigations uncovered serious failures in state licensing programs and commercial driver training. Now, with congressional leadership changing in January 2027, the questions are getting bigger. WHO ALLOWED THESE LICENSING FAILURES, WHO BENEFITED, AND WILL WASHINGTON CONTINUE ENFORCING THE NEW REQUIREMENTS? What role did immigration policies play in expanding the available workforce, and what has that meant for American truck drivers, freight rates, and independent owner-operators? A DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE TAKES A DEEPER LOOK AT THE FACTS, THE MONEY, THE POLITICS, AND WHAT EVERY DRIVER SHOULD BE WATCHING IN 2027. READ THE FULL SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORT 👉 open.substack.com/pub/adrive… #ADriversPerspective #TruckingIndustry #NonDomiciledCDL #FMCSA #OwnerOperators #HighwaySafety #TruckingNews

THE QUESTION ISN’T WHETHER LARGE CORPORATIONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SUCCEED. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER SMALL BUSINESSES ARE STILL BEING GIVEN A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE. A July 2026 Congressional Research Service report explains that small trucking companies and independent drivers often rely on freight brokers because they lack their own sales departments. It also documents the continuing controversy surrounding broker compensation transparency. These are real structural issues affecting independent carriers. Read Article 👉 open.substack.com/pub/adrive… #TruckingIndustry #OwnerOperators #FreeEnterprise #IndependentTruckers #SupplyChain

WHEN DID SERVING THE AMERICAN TRUCK DRIVER BECOME SECONDARY TO SERVING YOURSELF? Today, I look across this industry, from the drivers themselves to social media influencers, trucking news outlets, trade associations, corporate boardrooms, and the halls of Congress, and I find myself asking that question. The trucking industry has plenty of people making a living OFF the American truck driver. But how many are actually working FOR the American truck driver? THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY’S MORAL COMPASS IS OFF. Read my full Special Commentary on Substack. open.substack.com/pub/adrive… #ADriversPerspective #AmericanTruckDriver #TruckingIndustry #OwnerOperators #TruckingNews

DRIVERS THEN VS. NOW — HOW MUCH HAS TRUCKING REALLY CHANGED? After 36 years behind the wheel and more than 4 million miles, I’ve witnessed firsthand how much the trucking industry has changed—and where it may be heading. I recently had the opportunity to join Ken Miller on The Haul of Fame Podcast to discuss the evolution of professional drivers, the importance of operational discipline, and the growing reality of autonomous trucking. We also talked about the difference between what the industry promotes and what drivers experience on the road every day. I appreciate Ken and his team for the invitation and the opportunity to bring A DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE into the conversation. If you’re involved in trucking, logistics, or transportation, I encourage you to watch the full discussion. WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE: youtu.be/cQNyH7LqBpg A DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE — REAL DRIVER. LOGGING REAL MILES. #ADriversPerspective #TruckingIndustry #AutonomousTrucking #HaulOfFame #Transportation

THE HEART OF A MAN AND THE HEART OF A WOMAN—DID GOD CREATE US TO THINK, FEEL, AND LOVE DIFFERENTLY? Are men really more logical while women are more emotional? Do men and women love differently because God designed their hearts that way? Or have we confused cultural expectations with biblical truth? In today’s Truth Within Reach — Putting It On The Bottom Shelf, we go beyond opinions and assumptions to examine what Scripture ACTUALLY teaches about the human heart, love, emotions, relationships, and God’s design for men and women. WHAT WE’VE BEEN TAUGHT AND WHAT GOD ACTUALLY SAID MAY NOT BE THE SAME THING. Read the full biblical study and decide for yourself what God’s Word reveals. 👉 open.substack.com/pub/adrive… #TruthWithinReach #BiblicalTruth #MenAndWomen #ChristianRelationships

WHEN UPS STRIKES— THE WHOLE INDUSTRY SHOULD SHOULD TAKE TIME OFF AT THE SAME TIME! Will.

SBTC ASKS COURT TO SPEED UP UCR CHALLENGE—CALLS ON OOIDA FOR SUPPORT A Driver’s Perspective — News Watch The Unified Carrier Registration program, better known as UCR, requires interstate motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies to register and pay an annual fee. The money primarily supports state commercial-vehicle safety programs and enforcement. FMCSA increased the 2027 fees by an average of approximately 20%. For the smallest carriers with zero to two trucks, the fee increases from $46 to $55. Fleets with more than 1,000 trucks will pay $54,165, up from $44,836. SBTC is challenging that rule in the D.C. Circuit and has asked the court to move the case faster. But its argument goes beyond whether a $9 increase is too much for a one-truck carrier. SBTC claims the UCR system was never legally established through the federal rulemaking process required by Congress. It is asking the court to set aside the fee rule, stop UCR collections and address alleged sharing of truckers’ personal information. These are SBTC’s allegations—the court has not ruled that the program is unlawful. WHY DOES THIS MATTER? Every interstate carrier is expected to follow the UCR rules and pay the required fee. If the government is collecting that money through a system that was not properly established, carriers deserve an answer. The immediate cost to a one-truck operation may be only $9 more. But across thousands of carriers and larger fleets, the increase involves millions of dollars. More importantly, a court ruling could affect how UCR fees are collected, how the program operates and how carrier information is handled. SBTC has also publicly asked OOIDA to file an amicus brief supporting the challenge. That would allow OOIDA to present additional owner-operator arguments, but NO OOIDA FILING HAS BEEN VERIFIED. For now, the facts are simple: SBTC has filed a challenge and asked the court to move faster. The court has not granted SBTC a victory, stopped collections or suspended the rule. THE 2027 UCR FEE INCREASE REMAINS IN EFFECT. Carriers should continue registering and paying on time while watching what the court—and OOIDA—actually do next. A Driver’s Perspective — News That Matters #UCRFees #OOIDA #OwnerOperators #TruckingNews #ADriversPerspective

A Driver’s Perspective asks questions others often overlook. Today we’re asking: WHAT HAPPENS TO THE JOBS THAT NEVER GET CREATED? FedEx is closing hundreds of stations while combining networks and investing in automation. A layoff makes headlines. A position that never gets filled—or never exists—can disappear from the conversation entirely. What does that mean for drivers, dispatchers, contractors, and the people working between the shipper and the receiver? Read the full investigation on Substack: 👉 open.substack.com/pub/adrive… #FedEx #FutureOfWork #ADriversPerspective

AURORA DELAYS 200-TRUCK TARGET AND EXPANDS STOCK-SALE AUTHORIZATION TO $1 BILLION Wednesday, October 28, 2026 | Third-quarter shareholder letter and SEC filings Aurora disclosed two significant developments in documents released October 28 that go beyond its earlier earnings announcement. FIRST — THE DEPLOYMENT TIMELINE HAS SLIPPED. Aurora now expects to surpass 200 trucks by the end of February 2027, rather than its earlier year-end 2026 objective. The company attributes the approximately six-week production-ramp delay to component availability, quality issues and end-of-line testing. It now forecasts approximately $9 million in 2026 revenue and continues targeting more than 1,000 operating driverless trucks by the end of 2027.  SECOND — AURORA HAS EXPANDED ITS EQUITY-FINANCING CAPACITY. Its October 28 SEC prospectus authorizes up to $1 billion in future at-the-market stock sales, including approximately $754.2 million in newly added capacity. This is NOT $1 billion already raised. Aurora reported $3 million in third-quarter revenue, a $234 million quarterly net loss, and approximately $1.03 billion in cash and short-term investments.  The shareholder letter also reports a newly developed ability to navigate open weigh stations and available scale lanes autonomously, alongside plans for broader customer-site operations beginning in November. These capabilities warrant operational verification.  WHY PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS SHOULD PAY ATTENTION Aurora's expansion remains substantial, but PRODUCTION CAPACITY, TRUCKS BUILT AND TRUCKS ACTUALLY HAULING FREIGHT WITHOUT A DRIVER ARE THREE DIFFERENT MEASUREMENTS. The revised timeline shows that industrial-scale deployment is encountering manufacturing challenges. Meanwhile, Aurora is positioning itself to obtain additional capital to sustain expansion. A Driver’s Perspective- News Watch

OVER $100 MILLION IN HIGH-TECH FREIGHT STOLEN — WHO’S SECURING AMERICA’S FREIGHT? Criminals are compromising freight accounts, impersonating legitimate carriers, manipulating tracking information, and stealing shipments worth millions. And while the transportation industry continues moving toward automation, one question deserves serious attention. REMOVING THE DRIVER DOES NOT REMOVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SECURING THE FREIGHT. After 36 years behind the wheel, I believe this story goes far beyond cargo theft. It’s about accountability, technology, and the security of America’s supply chain. My latest A DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE investigative report examines what’s happening, where the vulnerabilities exist, and the questions the industry needs to answer. READ THE FULL INVESTIGATION ON SUBSTACK: open.substack.com/pub/adrive… #CargoTheft #SupplyChainSecurity #TruckingIndustry #ADriversPerspective

Great Read 👇 facebook.com/share/p/1CU1iqH… – at Riviera Beach, MD

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING! Oct 27, 2026 A Driver’s Perspective— News That Matters On October 26, Tenstreet announced CarrierProtect, a product designed to let brokers examine how carriers hire drivers, maintain qualification files, conduct training and respond to unsafe driving. It also creates dated records documenting the information considered when selecting a carrier. Tenstreet explicitly connects the launch to increased scrutiny following Montgomery. Read Full Report 👇 substack.com/@adriversperspe… #CarrierVetting #OwnerOperators #TruckingNews #ADriversPerspective

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE RETURN FREIGHT? A Driver’s Perspective | News That Matters Monday, October 26, 2026 A small manufacturer needs a truck to haul its product 600 miles to a customer. The carrier can offer a competitive rate partly because it expects to find another load for the trip back. Now imagine more of that return freight moving through autonomous networks operated by large carriers. The small manufacturer still needs its product delivered, but the truck serving it may have fewer opportunities to earn money on the way home. WHO PAYS FOR THOSE EMPTY MILES? That is a question I believe deserves more attention as autonomous trucking expands. On October 8, Kodiak AI and Charger USA announced they were hauling dry and refrigerated freight between Dallas and Laredo, Texas. Kodiak says it plans to begin long-haul operations without a driver in the cab by the end of 2026. That driverless launch is a plan, and the Dallas–Laredo announcement does not establish what is happening to other carriers’ return loads. But the direction is clear: companies are building networks around major freight corridors and working to keep their trucks productive. That means finding freight in both directions whenever possible. For an owner-operator or small carrier, a return load can make the difference between a profitable trip and a truck traveling hundreds of miles without revenue. If those loads become harder to find, the carrier may have to charge the outbound customer more, accept less profit, or stop serving that lane altogether. The effect could reach a small furniture maker, cabinet shop, or other manufacturer that depends on a human-operated truck to reach its customers. A higher transportation bill can squeeze margins, raise the delivered price of a product, and make it harder for that business to compete. That outcome is a POSSIBILITY, not something the available evidence proves is already happening. Freight rates move for many reasons, including fuel costs, demand, available trucks, and seasonal changes. Autonomous networks may also create new opportunities for drivers handling local pickups, deliveries, and freight outside their routes. Still, I believe we need to look beyond the price of one automated trip and examine the economics of the whole lane. If the most dependable return freight moves into larger networks, what happens to the businesses that rely on carriers outside those networks? The question for shippers, carriers, and policymakers is straightforward: AS AUTONOMOUS NETWORKS GROW, WHO GETS THE RETURN LOADS, AND WHO ABSORBS THE COST WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE? That is a question worth answering before we assume every gain in efficiency is shared across the industry. Will Cook A Driver’s Perspective #AutonomousTrucking #FreightEconomics #SmallBusiness #SupplyChain #OwnerOperators

UPS ANNOUNCES ANOTHER FUEL-SURCHARGE CHANGE AS SHIPPING COSTS REACH RECORD LEVELS UPS has published revised domestic ground and air fuel-surcharge schedules effective November 2, 2026. Under the new ground schedule, diesel priced between $6.25 and $6.34 per gallon triggers a 30% surcharge. The changes are announced but have not yet taken effect. FedEx’s newly effective October 26 ground surcharge is 29%, up from 28.75% the previous week. Its domestic express package surcharge also increased from 32% to 32.5%. These rates are confirmed in FedEx’s published schedule. THE BIGGER DEVELOPMENT IS HOW THESE COMPANIES ARE PRICING FUEL. Reuters reported October 26 that fourth-quarter ground parcel shipping prices are projected to increase 5.8% year over year, while express prices could increase 13.8%. Research from AFS Logistics found that approximately 72% of the increase in its measured parcel fuel-surcharge rate between early 2021 and September 2026 resulted from changes to carrier surcharge schedules rather than higher diesel prices alone. A DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE — WHY THIS MATTERS FedEx and UPS are restructuring their networks to improve efficiency and lower operating costs. At the same time, their pricing practices are allowing them to collect higher fuel surcharges from customers. The question worth investigating is whether those efficiencies translate into better compensation and working conditions for the professional drivers and contractors moving the freight—or primarily into improved corporate margins. Higher charges to shippers do not automatically mean higher payments to contractors. There is also a broader consequence for smaller businesses. Rising parcel transportation costs can place additional pressure on manufacturers and retailers that lack the shipping volume needed to negotiate substantial discounts. A Driver’s Perspective- News That Matters #UPS #FuelSurcharges #ShippingCosts #ADriversPerspective

A DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE | NEWSFLASH! TRUCK DRIVERS DIDN’T DESTROY THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY. For decades, professional drivers have done what they were hired to do: MOVE AMERICA’S FREIGHT. Meanwhile, corporate executives, business strategists, attorneys, and politicians have shaped the regulations, financial structures, and business practices that govern this industry. Yet somehow, when things go wrong, the finger keeps pointing back at the driver. TRUCK DRIVERS DIDN’T CREATE THIS MESS. BUT THEY’RE THE ONES BEING EXPECTED TO PAY FOR IT. Maybe it’s time we started holding the people making the decisions as accountable as the people behind the wheel. THAT’S A DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE. #ADriversPerspective #TruckingIndustry #OwnerOperators #TruckDrivers #TruckingAccountability

NEW ATTACK CLAIMS TARGET SAUDI OIL PIPELINE AS U.S. DIESEL PRICES CLIMB A DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE | DIESEL WATCH SIGNIFICANT MARKET ALERT Monday, October 26, 2026 A new development in the Middle East deserves attention from American truck drivers. Yemen’s Houthi forces announced Monday that they had attacked pumping stations along Saudi Arabia’s East-West crude oil pipeline. This pipeline has become especially important because it allows Saudi oil exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. IMPORTANT: SAUDI ARABIA HAS NOT CONFIRMED THAT THE PIPELINE WAS HIT OR THAT OIL FLOWS WERE INTERRUPTED. Nevertheless, the reported attacks represent a significant threat to an already vulnerable global petroleum supply system. AMERICAN DIESEL PRICES ARE MOVING HIGHER. AAA reports the national diesel average was $6.3172 on October 23, increased to $6.3474 on October 25, and reached $6.3492 on October 26. Diesel has increased approximately 3.2 cents per gallon since Friday. At 8 MPG, an owner-operator is now spending approximately 79.4 CENTS PER MILE ON DIESEL, equivalent to $7,937 over 10,000 miles before fuel discounts. The latest available EIA weekly average remains $6.276 per gallon, with the Midwest at $6.352, Gulf Coast at $5.903, West Coast at $7.394 and California at $8.242. CRUDE PRICES RETREAT DESPITE THE THREAT. There is an important distinction in today’s market. Brent crude declined approximately 1.8% to $114.57 per barrel Monday, while West Texas Intermediate fell to $100.96. Traders are weighing renewed diplomatic efforts involving Iran against continuing threats to Middle Eastern petroleum infrastructure. CRUDE PRICES ARE FALLING TODAY, EVEN AS GEOPOLITICAL SUPPLY RISKS REMAIN ELEVATED. WHAT THE SUPPLY NUMBERS TELL US. The latest EIA inventory report remains unchanged from our previous update. Distillate inventories increased 1.7 million barrels but remain approximately 9% below their five-year seasonal average. Refinery utilization stands at 93.4%. There is no newly confirmed nationwide refinery shutdown or diesel shortage. There is also no new evidence establishing that increased American diesel exports or unusually high refining margins caused today’s retail price increase. THE BOTTOM LINE. THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IS AN ESCALATING THREAT TO SAUDI ARABIA’S CRITICAL OIL EXPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT A CONFIRMED LOSS OF OIL PRODUCTION. For American truck drivers, the concern is whether attacks eventually interrupt crude exports, tighten global supplies, and produce another sustained increase in diesel prices. Today’s evidence points primarily toward GEOPOLITICAL SUPPLY RISK. It does not yet establish a new physical shortage. The next developments worth watching are confirmation of any Saudi pipeline damage, changes in crude shipments, and the next EIA diesel-price and inventory reports. A DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE — DIESEL WATCH Independent Reporting. News That Matters to American Truck Drivers.

GOOD MONDAY MORNING! A DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE | MONDAY MORNING UPDATE SAME SH*T — DIFFERENT DAY. Another Monday. Another week of high fuel, weak freight, automation headlines, regulations, and people telling drivers what the future of trucking is supposed to look like. Meanwhile, the professional driver still has to make the numbers work, keep the truck moving, stay safe, and somehow make a living in the middle of it all. We’ll keep watching what actually matters — freight, fuel, regulations, autonomous trucking, court decisions, and the changes happening behind the scenes. No hype. No corporate talking points. Just the facts, the details, and A DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE. Have a great Monday. #ADriversPerspective #TruckingNews #TruckDrivers #MondayMorning