About HaulBrief
An independent reference for owner-operators and small fleets, written by someone with nothing to sell you.
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Why the site exists
Search for almost any practical question about running a truck and the answers belong to companies with a commercial interest in the answer. Lease-purchase is explained by lease-purchase companies. Factoring is explained by factors. Registration is explained by services that charge to do the filing. Insurance requirements are explained by insurance agencies.
That does not make any of them liars. It does mean the framing is theirs, and that inconvenient facts tend to appear late in the article or not at all. HaulBrief exists to publish the version with no product attached: what the rule says, what the number is, where it came from, and when it was last checked.
Who writes it
HaulBrief is written and maintained by Eros Pardal. I am not a truck driver, I have never held a CDL, and I do not work in the industry. That is worth saying plainly, because plenty of sites in this space imply an experience they do not have.
What I do is narrower, and I think still useful. I read the primary sources — FMCSA rulemakings, Federal Register notices, the eCFR, IRS guidance, ATRI annual cost research — and I organise what they say into pages that answer the question you actually asked, with the source linked so you can check me. Where a question needs operational experience I do not have, I say so instead of guessing.
That work needs no credential. It needs time, care, and a willingness to write "this depends on your state" rather than invent an average.
I have no commercial relationship with any carrier, insurer, factor, broker, lender or filing service, and nothing on this site is written in exchange for payment.
How the site is funded
HaulBrief carries display advertising. It runs no affiliate links, takes no sponsored posts, and accepts no payment for coverage or placement. Advertisers have no input into what is published.
That choice costs money — affiliate commissions in this industry are substantial — and it is deliberate. The moment a page earns a commission on the advice it gives, the advice is worth less to you.
Our standards
- Primary sources. Fees come from the Federal Register and FMCSA. Cost benchmarks come from ATRI. Tax rules come from the IRS. Regulations come from the eCFR. Every page links to the originals.
- Visible dates. Every page carries the date it was last reviewed. Regulatory content is re-checked on a quarterly cycle.
- No invented numbers. Where a figure genuinely depends on your circumstances, we say so instead of publishing a made-up average. Where we derive a figure from published data, we show the derivation.
- Corrections are public. If we get something wrong, we fix it and say what changed.
The full version is in our editorial policy.
What this site is not
It is not legal, tax, financial or insurance advice, and it is not a substitute for a conversation with a professional who knows your situation. Regulations change and vary by state and by operation. Always confirm current requirements with the relevant agency before you act.
Get in touch
Corrections, questions and suggestions are welcome — especially corrections. Contact us here.