Pay
Driver pay benchmarks 2026: what the wheel actually pays right now
Per-mile and hourly ranges across CDL OTR, regional, local, Amazon DSP, last-mile, and rideshare — with the deductions that decide what lands in the bank.
Insurance
Occupational accident vs workers' comp: what leased owner-operators actually carry
Most carriers offer an occ/acc policy as a payroll deduction. The coverage is real but the gaps are larger than the brochure suggests.
Tools
5 fuel cards owner-operators should compare in 2026
Per-gallon discount, network coverage, and credit terms vary widely. Here is what each major card actually delivers at the pump.
Markets
Fuel
Diesel cost per mile in 2026: the math owner-operators are running
U.S. retail diesel is averaging around $3.62 a gallon, but PADD region spreads of 60 cents or more are forcing route-by-route fuel math.
Gigs
Prop 22 and the rideshare pay floor: what the minimums actually deliver
California's 120 percent of minimum wage plus $0.30 per mile sounds straightforward. After unpaid time and vehicle costs, the floor sits well below the headline.
Regulation
ELD
ELD vendor shakeout: 67 devices revoked in 2025, more pending
FMCSA has removed dozens of ELDs from the registered list since January. If your provider gets revoked, you have 60 days to swap before drivers go out-of-service.
HOS
HOS in 2026: the rules, the flex you've got, and what FMCSA is still studying
The 14-hour clock and 11-hour drive limit are unchanged. The split-sleeper provision and the 30-minute break, however, are where most drivers still leave time on the table.
Financing
Buying your first truck or upgrading the rig?
Equipment loans, lease-to-own, and refinancing each have their place. Compare options from vetted partners and run the math for your route.
Featured this week Browse archive
Fuel
Diesel cost per mile in 2026: the math owner-operators are running
U.S. retail diesel is averaging around $3.62 a gallon, but PADD region spreads of 60 cents or more are forcing route-by-route fuel math.
ELD
ELD vendor shakeout: 67 devices revoked in 2025, more pending
FMCSA has removed dozens of ELDs from the registered list since January. If your provider gets revoked, you have 60 days to swap before drivers go out-of-service.
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