VAU0 Blog

Stories from
the road and the code.

Real stories from building VAU0 — from running trucks in Ohio to building AI that negotiates with brokers at 2am. No fluff. No press releases. Just what actually happened.

Platform Update

We launched VAU0 in 2024. Here’s what 2026 looks like from the inside.

Two years ago we had trucks, experience, and a frustrated feeling that every software company was selling trucking solutions without having driven a mile of freight. Here’s what we built, what broke, what surprised us, and where we’re going.

January 15, 2026 · 12 min read · VAU0 Team

Read the full story →

VAU0 LLC · Founded 2024
Albuquerque, NM
Our own trucks on the road

Truck Driver Tax Deductions in 2026 — Everything You Can Write Off

Truck Driver Tax Deductions in 2026 — Everything You Can Write Off — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

May 8, 2026 · 5 min read

Trucking News: May 7, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: Trucking industry impacted by rise of diesel costs leading to higher price of goods - KVUE

May 7, 2026 · 4 min read

Best Trucking Apps in 2026 — What Drivers Actually Use

Best Trucking Apps in 2026 — What Drivers Actually Use — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

May 7, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

Cross-Border Freight with Mexico and Canada — What Changes in 2027

Industry outlook: Cross-Border Freight with Mexico and Canada — What Changes in 2027. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

May 6, 2026 · 4 min read

Speed Limiters on Trucks — The Debate and What to Expect

Safety guide: Speed Limiters on Trucks — The Debate and What to Expect. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

May 6, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: May 6, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: Tesla Semis are about to hit the road. That’s good news for California. - Canary Media

May 6, 2026 · 4 min read

How AI Is Changing Freight Dispatch in 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

How AI Is Changing Freight Dispatch in 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

May 6, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

The Rise of Micro-Carriers — How 1-5 Truck Fleets Are Winning

Industry outlook: The Rise of Micro-Carriers — How 1-5 Truck Fleets Are Winning. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

May 5, 2026 · 4 min read

Pre-Trip Inspection Failures — The Top 5 Items Drivers Miss

Safety guide: Pre-Trip Inspection Failures — The Top 5 Items Drivers Miss. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

May 5, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: May 5, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Celebrates One Year of Delivering for American Truckers - Department of Transportation (.gov)

May 5, 2026 · 4 min read

Freight Market Outlook for Carriers — What Q3 2026 Looks Like

Freight Market Outlook for Carriers — What Q3 2026 Looks Like — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

May 5, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

Platooning Technology — Is Truck Platooning Ready for 2027?

Industry outlook: Platooning Technology — Is Truck Platooning Ready for 2027?. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

May 4, 2026 · 4 min read

Hazmat Spill Response — What CDL Drivers Must Know

Safety guide: Hazmat Spill Response — What CDL Drivers Must Know. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

May 4, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: May 4, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: Out of control, unqualified illegal alien truckers endangering kids on US roads, insider warns: ‘Just madness’ - 930 WFMD Free Talk

May 4, 2026 · 4 min read

CSA Score Explained — How It Affects Your Carrier and What to Do About It

CSA Score Explained — How It Affects Your Carrier and What to Do About It — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

May 4, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

Freight Market Cycles — How to Prepare Your Carrier for the Next Downturn

Industry outlook: Freight Market Cycles — How to Prepare Your Carrier for the Next Downturn. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

May 3, 2026 · 4 min read

Lane Change Accidents Involving Trucks — Who Is Liable

Safety guide: Lane Change Accidents Involving Trucks — Who Is Liable. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

May 3, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: May 3, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Celebrates One Year of Delivering for American Truckers - Department of Transportation (.gov)

May 3, 2026 · 4 min read

How Much Does an ELD Cost in 2026? — Every Option Compared

How Much Does an ELD Cost in 2026? — Every Option Compared — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

May 3, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

The Future of Truck Stop Networks — What Drivers Can Expect

Industry outlook: The Future of Truck Stop Networks — What Drivers Can Expect. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

May 2, 2026 · 4 min read

Drug Testing Violations — What Happens and How to Avoid Clearinghouse Issues

Safety guide: Drug Testing Violations — What Happens and How to Avoid Clearinghouse Issues. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

May 2, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: May 2, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Celebrates One Year of Delivering for American Truckers - Department of Transportation (.gov)

May 2, 2026 · 4 min read

Double Brokering Fraud in Trucking — How to Spot It and Protect Yourself

Double Brokering Fraud in Trucking — How to Spot It and Protect Yourself — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

May 2, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

How AI Will Change Carrier Insurance Pricing by 2028

Industry outlook: How AI Will Change Carrier Insurance Pricing by 2028. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

May 1, 2026 · 4 min read

Rear-End Crash Prevention — Following Distance for Trucks

Safety guide: Rear-End Crash Prevention — Following Distance for Trucks. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

May 1, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: May 1, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: Top 50 Trucking Companies: Strategy separates the leaders - Supply Chain Management Review

May 1, 2026 · 4 min read

Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist for CDL Drivers — What FMCSA Requires

Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist for CDL Drivers — What FMCSA Requires — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

May 1, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

Intermodal Freight Growth — Opportunities for Asset Carriers

Industry outlook: Intermodal Freight Growth — Opportunities for Asset Carriers. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

April 30, 2026 · 4 min read

Winter Driving Checklist for Commercial Trucks

Safety guide: Winter Driving Checklist for Commercial Trucks. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

April 30, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: April 30, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: Trucking rates rise amid restrictions on immigrant drivers - marketplace.org

April 30, 2026 · 4 min read

DAT Load Board Guide for Beginners — How to Find Your First Load

DAT Load Board Guide for Beginners — How to Find Your First Load — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

April 30, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

The Next Generation of ELD Technology — What Is Coming After 2026

Industry outlook: The Next Generation of ELD Technology — What Is Coming After 2026. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

April 29, 2026 · 4 min read

Road Rage Involving Trucks — How to Protect Yourself and Your CDL

Safety guide: Road Rage Involving Trucks — How to Protect Yourself and Your CDL. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

April 29, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: April 29, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: ATA Pushes Truck Parking Funding in Next Highway Bill - Transport Topics

April 29, 2026 · 4 min read

Most Profitable Trucking Lanes in 2026 — Where the Money Is

Most Profitable Trucking Lanes in 2026 — Where the Money Is — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

April 29, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

How Blockchain Is Being Used in Freight Documentation

Industry outlook: How Blockchain Is Being Used in Freight Documentation. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

April 28, 2026 · 4 min read

Cargo Securement Violations — Most Common Citations and How to Avoid Them

Safety guide: Cargo Securement Violations — Most Common Citations and How to Avoid Them. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

April 28, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: April 28, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: 12 trucking firms file Chapter 11 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy - thestreet.com

April 28, 2026 · 4 min read

How to Start a Trucking Company in 2026 — Complete Guide

How to Start a Trucking Company in 2026 — Complete Guide — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

April 28, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

Amazon Freight Carrier Program — Should Your Fleet Apply?

Industry outlook: Amazon Freight Carrier Program — Should Your Fleet Apply?. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

April 27, 2026 · 4 min read

Fatigue Detection Technology Coming to Trucking — What Carriers Need to Know

Safety guide: Fatigue Detection Technology Coming to Trucking — What Carriers Need to Know. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

April 27, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: April 27, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: Opinion | Truckers Kill More Than 5,000 People a Year. Regulators Are at Fault. - The New York Times

April 27, 2026 · 4 min read

CDL-A Requirements in 2026 — What You Need to Know Before Applying

CDL-A Requirements in 2026 — What You Need to Know Before Applying — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

April 27, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

Why Carrier Consolidation Is Accelerating — And How Small Carriers Survive

Industry outlook: Why Carrier Consolidation Is Accelerating — And How Small Carriers Survive. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

April 26, 2026 · 4 min read

CSA Violations That Cause Out-of-Service Orders Most Often

Safety guide: CSA Violations That Cause Out-of-Service Orders Most Often. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

April 26, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: April 26, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: 12 trucking firms file Chapter 11 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy - thestreet.com

April 26, 2026 · 4 min read

IFTA Fuel Tax Explained for Owner-Operators — 2026 Guide

IFTA Fuel Tax Explained for Owner-Operators — 2026 Guide — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

April 26, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

The Real Truck Driver Shortage — Numbers, Causes, and What Carriers Can Do

Industry outlook: The Real Truck Driver Shortage — Numbers, Causes, and What Carriers Can Do. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

April 25, 2026 · 4 min read

Black Ice Protocol for Truck Drivers — Step by Step

Safety guide: Black Ice Protocol for Truck Drivers — Step by Step. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

April 25, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: April 25, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: Opinion | Why Trucking is So Deadly - The New York Times

April 25, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking Insurance Cost for New Authority Carriers — 2026 Rates

Trucking Insurance Cost for New Authority Carriers — 2026 Rates — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

April 25, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

How Freight Factoring Will Change When Banks Get Into Trucking

Industry outlook: How Freight Factoring Will Change When Banks Get Into Trucking. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

April 24, 2026 · 4 min read

Rollover Accidents — The Top Causes and How to Prevent Them

Safety guide: Rollover Accidents — The Top Causes and How to Prevent Them. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

April 24, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: April 24, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: Opinion | Why Trucking is So Deadly - The New York Times

April 24, 2026 · 4 min read

How to Get Your MC Number in 2026 — Step by Step

How to Get Your MC Number in 2026 — Step by Step — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

April 24, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

FMCSA Rule Changes Expected in 2026-2027 — What Carriers Should Know

Industry outlook: FMCSA Rule Changes Expected in 2026-2027 — What Carriers Should Know. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

April 23, 2026 · 4 min read

Distracted Driving in Commercial Vehicles — The Real Numbers

Safety guide: Distracted Driving in Commercial Vehicles — The Real Numbers. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

April 23, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: April 23, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: Diesel on downswing? | Ohio Turnpike targeting trucking companies for unpaid tolls - overdriveonline.com

April 23, 2026 · 4 min read

Dry Van vs Reefer vs Flatbed — Which Pays More in 2026?

Dry Van vs Reefer vs Flatbed — Which Pays More in 2026? — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

April 23, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

DAT vs Direct Shippers — How the Load Board Market Changes in 2027

Industry outlook: DAT vs Direct Shippers — How the Load Board Market Changes in 2027. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

April 22, 2026 · 4 min read

Tire Blowout Survival Guide for CDL Drivers

Safety guide: Tire Blowout Survival Guide for CDL Drivers. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

April 22, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: April 22, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: How dangerous trucking companies escape their past, change names and get back on the road. - CBS News

April 22, 2026 · 4 min read

DOT Roadside Inspection — What Inspectors Actually Check

DOT Roadside Inspection — What Inspectors Actually Check — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

April 22, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

Autonomous Trucking Timeline — What Actually Happens by 2030

Industry outlook: Autonomous Trucking Timeline — What Actually Happens by 2030. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

April 21, 2026 · 4 min read

Weather-Related Trucking Accidents — How to Stay Safe This Season

Safety guide: Weather-Related Trucking Accidents — How to Stay Safe This Season. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

April 21, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: April 21, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: Exclusive: Startup Humble debuts cabless autonomous truck targeting $900 billion U.S. freight industry - Fortune

April 21, 2026 · 4 min read

How to Negotiate Freight Rates with Brokers — Tips from Real Dispatchers

How to Negotiate Freight Rates with Brokers — Tips from Real Dispatchers — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

April 21, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

Electric Trucks Are Coming — What Small Carriers Need to Plan For

Industry outlook: Electric Trucks Are Coming — What Small Carriers Need to Plan For. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

April 20, 2026 · 4 min read

Cargo Theft is Up 30% — How Carriers Are Protecting Their Freight

Safety guide: Cargo Theft is Up 30% — How Carriers Are Protecting Their Freight. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

April 20, 2026 · 4 min read

Best ELD Device for Owner-Operators in 2026 — Honest Review

Best ELD Device for Owner-Operators in 2026 — Honest Review — Expert insights and practical advice for trucking professionals.

April 20, 2026 · 5 min read

Industry Outlook

The Future of AI Dispatch — What Carriers Can Expect by 2027

Industry outlook: The Future of AI Dispatch — What Carriers Can Expect by 2027. What carriers and owner-operators should know and plan for.

April 19, 2026 · 4 min read

Brake Failure Prevention — What Every Driver Should Check

Safety guide: Brake Failure Prevention — What Every Driver Should Check. Practical advice for CDL drivers and carrier owners.

April 19, 2026 · 4 min read

Trucking News: April 19, 2026 — What Carriers Need to Know

Daily trucking industry briefing: How dangerous trucking companies escape their past, change names and get back on the road. - CBS News

April 19, 2026 · 4 min read

FMCSA New Entrant Safety Audit — What to Expect and How to Pass

Got your first FMCSA audit notice? Exactly what auditors check, which documents you need, common failure points, and how to prepare in 30 days or less.

April 21, 2026 · 13 min read

CDL Driver Pay Rates in 2026 — What You Should Actually Be Making

Company driver, owner-operator, local, OTR — real CDL driver pay rates in 2026. What good compensation looks like and red flags to watch for.

April 20, 2026 · 9 min read

How to Find Loads Without Paying for DAT Every Month

DAT costs $50-150/month. Here’s how experienced owner-operators build direct broker relationships and keep trucks loaded without the subscription fees.

April 19, 2026 · 8 min read

Owner-Operator Profit Calculator 2026 — What You Actually Take Home

Fuel, insurance, maintenance, dispatcher fees — the complete 2026 cost-per-mile breakdown that YouTube coaches don’t show you. Real numbers, real math.

April 17, 2026 · 10 min read

FMCSA ELD Mandate Explained — 2026 Edition

Who needs an ELD, what exemptions exist, what makes an ELD FMCSA-registered, and what happens at a roadside inspection. Complete guide updated for 2026.

April 14, 2026 · 12 min read

AscendTMS vs VAU0 — What Each Actually Gives You Free

AscendTMS is the most popular free TMS. VAU0 is newer with more features and no user limits. We built VAU0 so we’re biased — but we’ll try to be fair.

April 11, 2026 · 10 min read

How to Stop Paying 10% Dispatcher Fees

The average owner-operator pays $18,000-$45,000 per year in dispatcher fees. Here’s what AI dispatch actually does and whether it makes sense for your operation.

April 8, 2026 · 9 min read

Free TMS for Small Carriers in 2026 — What’s Actually Free

AscendTMS is free for 2 users. VAU0 is free for your entire fleet through December 2026. Honest comparison of every free TMS option for small carriers.

April 5, 2026 · 11 min read

Why we built VAU0 instead of buying another TMS

Every major TMS on the market costs $200-500 per truck per month. We tested all of them. None of them solved our actual problems. So we built our own.

January 28, 2026 · 8 min read

Our first AI broker call. It did not go perfectly.

The first time Aida called a broker, she quoted a rate with three decimal places, paused for 4 seconds, and said “let me check on that” seventeen times. Here’s how we fixed it.

February 10, 2026 · 6 min read

HOS Regulations 2026: What changed and what didn’t

Hours of Service rules confuse even experienced drivers. We break down the current rules, the exceptions that actually matter, and how ERETH ELD handles it automatically.

February 22, 2026 · 10 min read

How Rate Con AI works — and when it gets it wrong

Our AI parses broker rate confirmation PDFs with 95%+ accuracy. The other 5% is fascinating. Here’s what breaks it and how we’re fixing it.

March 5, 2026 · 7 min read

Running your own authority in 2026 — the honest cost breakdown

Every coach on YouTube says you can clear $15,000 a month running your own authority. Here’s what they don’t tell you about the expenses that eat that number.

March 18, 2026 · 9 min read

VAU0 Portal April 2026 — what we shipped this month

Rate Con AI improvements, carrier vetting beta, dashboard performance fix, and the story behind why we rebuilt the carrier dashboard from scratch.

April 1, 2026 · 5 min read

Stay Updated

New articles every week.

Compliance guides, platform updates, and honest stories from running a trucking company and building software at the same time.

Get notified → office@vau0.com