Should You Scale in 2026? The Questions That Matter More Than Truck Counts

Every cycle creates the same temptation. Rates start to firm up. Capacity thins out. Enforcement tightens. Someone tells you, “Now’s the time to grow.” And for some carriers, that will be true. But for many others, scaling in 2026 without the right foundation will quietly turn a survivable business into a fragile one. The mistake isn’t wanting growth. The mistake is confusing opportunity with readiness. Before you add trucks, drivers, or overhead, there are a few hard questions that deserve honest ans ...