Welcome back to Fleet Brief: Fast Updates for the Road, your monthly rundown of safety insights, compliance updates, and industry trends for Bridgeway drivers. Fleet Brief is brought to you by Cyclone Services, Bridgeway, and ATI Trucking. I’m Samantha, and for February, our focus is simple but critical: preparation. As we move out of winter conditions, enforcement activity, freight movement, and roadside inspections all begin to increase at the same time. What you prepare for now can be the difference between a smooth run and an unexpected stop.

Enforcement Activity Is Picking Up

As winter weather eases, enforcement activity is ramping back up across the country. States are increasing roadside inspections along major freight corridors, and routine inspections are becoming more common, even when there’s no obvious issue with the truck. One important date to keep on your radar is International Roadcheck, scheduled for May 12th through May 14th. Even though it’s still a few months away, preparation needs to start now. Waiting until the last minute increases the risk of missed issues and rushed repairs. Inspectors continue to focus heavily on what they can see immediately during a stop. Lighting issues, tire condition, load securement, placards, and paperwork remain under constant scrutiny, and even small problems can quickly turn into citations or out-of-service orders. As inspection volume increases, drivers should expect longer stops and more detailed reviews. The best way to stay ahead is making sure your truck and documents are inspection-ready every single day.

Top Violations Showing Up Right Now

When enforcement pressure increases, certain patterns start to show up quickly. Right now, the most common violations being cited are missing placards and missing or incorrect identification and paperwork. These are some of the easiest issues to prevent, yet they continue to cause costly delays. Inspectors are issuing high-dollar citations for improper or missing HazMat placards, incomplete shipping papers, and permit issues that should have been resolved before departure. Many of these violations result in out-of-service orders that disrupt schedules and reduce earning time. While winter typically brings lighter inspection activity, that slowdown is ending. As temperatures rise, enforcement becomes more consistent and less forgiving, and issues that may have gone unnoticed earlier in the season are now being flagged. Consistent preparation is the key to avoiding these problems. Confirm that all permits are with you before you roll, make sure placards match the load every time, and keep paperwork organized and easy to access.

A Real-World Reminder from the Road

Many violations are discovered after an incident or close call. A recent example highlighted by Commercial Carrier Journal involved a semi-truck that was clipped by a pickup after the pickup merged too early and failed to fully clear the trailer. The pickup driver was cited for an unsafe lane change. However, the truck driver was later informed by his safety director that the accident was considered preventable. The reasoning was that the driver should have been watching the pickup’s behavior more closely and should have been prepared to immediately slow down and yield the right of way. Even when another driver causes the initial unsafe move, commercial drivers are often held to a higher standard. Anticipating unsafe actions, maintaining space, and being ready to react defensively can make the difference between a close call and a preventable accident on your record.

Industry Snapshot: What Drivers Are Seeing

Fuel prices continue to trend upward. January 2026 prices are up 4.5 percent compared to December 2025 and slightly higher than this time last year. Spot market activity remains active. Load posts increased 5 percent from December and are up more than 27 percent year over year, while truck posts dipped slightly month over month and are down nearly 5 percent compared to last year. This creates more competition for capacity on certain lanes. Flatbed load-to-truck ratios are particularly strong, rising nearly 50 percent from December and more than 70 percent year over year. U.S. import activity shows mixed movement, with Seattle and Tacoma volumes softer than last year, while East Coast volumes remain relatively steady. Drivers may notice more last-minute load offers, selective rate strength, and increased urgency between pickups. Clear communication and flexibility will help navigate these shifts.

Company Update: CSA Score Awareness

ATI Trucking is currently operating with a high CSA score, which has resulted in drivers being pulled over more frequently, even when there are no obvious issues. Because of this added attention, it’s critical to double-check equipment condition and paperwork before every trip. Lights, tires, placards, permits, and documents all need to be in order, as even small issues can lead to citations that further impact the score. If you notice a problem on another ATI truck, speak up. One citation affects more than one driver, and helping catch issues before enforcement does protects the entire fleet.

Driver of the Month: Thomas Walter

Despite increased scrutiny and industry pressure, some drivers consistently set the standard for professionalism and reliability. This month, one driver truly stood out. Driver of the Month for February is Thomas Walter. Thomas stepped in when it mattered most. After another driver dropped a load the same day as pickup due to a rate issue, Thomas immediately got on the road and ensured the delivery timeline was met. Angela, one of our dispatchers at Cyclone, says Thomas is the kind of driver everyone hopes for. He’s professional, genuinely kind, and always ready to step in and help when the team needs it most. Thomas also maintains a safety score of 92 on Motive and has driven nearly 7,000 miles in the past four weeks. His consistency and professionalism make him well deserving of this recognition.

Final Takeaway

As we close out February, preparation is the key takeaway. As enforcement increases and freight activity continues to shift, staying ahead of inspections and paperwork will make a real difference in how smoothly your runs go. Until next time, stay safe, stay focused, and keep those wheels turning.