In this episode of Hauling Success, host Pamela Polyak sits down with leadership coach Brad Herda, founder of Vision Forward Business Solutions, to discuss the leadership challenges facing today's trucking companies, logistics businesses, and blue-collar organizations.   

Together, they explore practical strategies for improving communication, developing stronger dispatch teams, retaining quality drivers, and leading multiple generations in today's workforce.

What does the future of trucking really look like? In this episode of Hauling Success, host Pam Polyak sits down with logistics industry veteran (AND the strongest man in logistics!) Robert Bain to discuss how technology is transforming trucking, from ELDs and TMS platforms to artificial intelligence, autonomous trucks, fleet safety, and the challenges small carriers face in adopting new technology.

With more than 20 years of experience in logistics, operations, technology, and fleet management, Robert shares practical insights on what technologies actually help carriers, what mistakes to avoid, and why relationships still matter in an increasingly automated industry.

A single driver's decision nearly destroyed a 45-year trucking legacy. In this episode of Hauling Success, Pamela Polyak shares the true story of how, just days after taking ownership of her family's trucking company, an owner-operator caused a drunk driving accident that triggered months of battles with the FMCSA, insurance providers, state investigators, and a surprise DOT audit.

Learn how incorrect crash reporting, FMCSA records, DataQs, personal conveyance rules, and insurance renewal challenges almost put the company out of business—and the lessons every trucking company, carrier, fleet owner, and owner-operator should take away.

In this episode of Hauling Success, host Pamela Polyak breaks down everything trucking fleet owners need to know about DOT driver files, FMCSA compliance, and new driver hiring paperwork.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode. If you own a trucking company, manage a fleet, or are preparing to hire your first CDL driver, this episode gives you a practical, real-world checklist for building driver qualification files that pass DOT audits and insurance audits.

In this episode of Hauling Success, Pamela Polyak shares a candid story about a major business mistake she made while growing a trucking company and the lessons learned along the way. She breaks down why understanding your financials—like revenue, expenses, COGS, KPIs, and reporting from tools like QuickBooks and TMS platforms—is critical for running a profitable operation. 

The episode highlights common accounting mistakes in trucking and why relying only on software or outside help can lead to costly decisions, offering practical insights into tracking profitability and building a stronger transportation business.

Fuel prices are climbing again, and if you’re not calculating fuel surcharge correctly, you could be losing money on every load. In this episode of Hauling Success, Pamela Polyak breaks down how fuel surcharge works, how to calculate it, and how it ties into EIA diesel pricing, line haul rates, and overall profitability.

She also shares practical strategies carriers and brokers are using in 2026 to build fuel surcharge matrices, negotiate better rates, reduce fuel costs, and protect margins in a volatile trucking market.

Pamela Polyak breaks down her experience attending some of the biggest trucking industry conferences and transportation events of 2026, including Manifest Las Vegas, MATS Mid-America Trucking Show, Washington DC advocacy meetings, and the Broker Carrier Summit in Kansas City.

From networking opportunities and freight connections to trucking technology, transportation legislation, cargo theft, fraud prevention, and trucking advocacy, this episode covers the real value behind industry events and professional relationships in trucking.

In this episode Pam Polyak shares powerful trucking sales strategies for owner-operators, small carriers, and fleet owners who want to secure more direct freight, build customer relationships, and grow beyond relying on load boards.

Pam breaks down how trucking companies can use LinkedIn, email marketing, broker relationships, branding, CRM systems, driver professionalism, and networking to land better-paying freight and long-term customers.

From company driver to owner-operator, dispatcher, and back behind the wheel: Cedric Young has seen trucking from every angle. In this episode of Hauling Success, he joins Pamela Polyak to share the real pros, cons, and hard truths of each career path in logistics.

They discuss money, freedom, hidden costs, work-life balance, and why success in trucking is not always about moving “up.” Cedric’s journey proves the best career move is sometimes the one that brings peace, purpose, and long-term stability.

In this special episode of Hauling Success, Pam Polyak is joined by her father, trucking industry veteran Michael Polyak, for his first podcast appearance. Together, they break down the key differences between W2 drivers and 1099 owner-operators, including taxes, compliance, pay structures, and the pros and cons of each model.

Whether you’re a fleet owner, dispatcher, or owner-operator, this episode shares real-world advice to help you stay profitable, compliant, and make smarter business decisions.

What happens when a factoring company owner tells you not to rely on factoring?  

In this episode, Pam shares her unique perspective from inside the industry: why she started Royal Factoring in 2021 to support independent contractors chasing their own authority, and how it was always meant to be a stepping stone, not a long-term solution.  She gets real about the role factoring companies play in trucking and small business growth, the good, the bad, and the often-overlooked risks. From helping with immediate cash flow to becoming a potential crutch that’s hard to break away from, this conversation is all about understanding what’s best for your business long term. 

In this episode of Hauling Success, we’re diving into the conversation a lot of carriers avoid: What are your real numbers?  Because there are facts… and there are feelings. And feelings don’t pay insurance. 

They don’t pay for fuel. And they definitely don’t pay the truck note.  Revenue is vanity. Profit is reality.  

If you don’t know your cost per mile, break-even point, and true margins, you’re not running a business,  you’re gambling.  

In this episode, we break down: • Some numbers every carrier must track • Why “busy” doesn’t mean profitable • How to stop confusing cash flow with profit

If you care about increasing trucking profitability, staying compliant with FMCSA regulations, scaling your small fleet, building a long-term transportation business. You’re in the right place. 

For us, it’s about sharing the hard lessons so you don’t have to learn them the expensive way. It’s about helping good, honest carriers become smarter business owners. It’s about growing your operation the right way,  while staying compliant and profitable.