The Veteran’s View: By Dennis Mitchell Has prosperity finally arrived in 2026? I’mfeelingallgoodvibes! This year we hope for new and better things, more freight, better rates and cheaper money. Whatwegetstillremainsto beseen. It’snowuptoustofindthose things, to fight for better rates, and to search out cheaper money (or at least to secure a line of manageable funding). The question is: where do we look? If you routinely follow this column you have seen my article called “Hidden in Plain Sight” about finding old trucks and drivers along the path or routes of ourdailytravels. Then,recognizing them not as junk or worn out relics, but asthestandardofourindustry. What happens when we become so wrapped up in the day to day struggles of making payments and satisfying time constraints we stop registering new opportunities. We only focus on the road ahead, never looking side to side, except to ward off dangers from unexpected mishaps. As a driver, I’m on constant alert fordeer,mooseandelk. Notbecause I’m sightseeing and want a photo, but because I don’t want to find one deeply embedded in my radiator or wrapped aroundmyfender. ThemainreasonI make mention of this example is because while we are holding a constant vigil for land-based dangers we often miss the potential for aerial assaults, like turkeys, birds of prey, or even rocks or concrete fallingfromanoverheadstructure. I’m not sure which I fear more – turkey under glass or venison on the grill – either way, it’s not a meal worth eating. A few months ago, I was inspired by a family of eagles nesting not far from myfrontdoor. Ispentmanymonths watching them grow and learn to fly. Now they are accomplished aviators traveling many miles from their home base. Partoftheirtrainingistosearch out new and available food sources (opportunities). Justlikeanynewborn, they start out with appropriate diets, consisting mostly of small rodents and fish then, with time, work up to larger game or road kills (company drivers vs. ownership). Findingfoodisaconstant task that requires vigilance for survival. Second to finding food, they need to have the skillset to strip and consume it (brokering, billing and collecting). We would not normally consider this to be a team sport, but while in the early stages of their training, the adult birds strip the meat and leave it for the eagletstoeat. Afterafewdays,theyoung birds learn quickly and strip the meat for themselves. Theadultbirdsthenstand guard and watch for predators (lenders, accountantsandbusinesspartners). This complete process runs like a well-oiled military machine – there are thinkers, doersandprotectors. Someoneonce said, “The military doesn’t run on bullets and bayonets, it runs on shoe leather and thehopeforabettertomorrow.” Iftoday is tomorrow’s yesterday, then there is no timetowaste. Thatdesireforabetter tomorrow is what drives us to seek solid opportunitytoday. Neverstopsearching or seeking out new opportunities! I read a quote this week that got me thinking. Itwaswrittenaboutthemedia, in general, and I found it to be amusing, given today’s impression of self-worth. “Self-importance has ruined more good journaliststhanharddrinkeverhas.” I couldn’t find a good way to incorporate it into the trucking industry without offending some of our readers, so I will leaveitasitis. Itdoes,however,remind me of a time when I was serving with the 1st Marine Division and we got a new 2nd lieutenant straight from college with a fresh commission. Officers aren’t enlisted, they are commissioned, and they start as 2nd lieutenantsorO-1s. Hewasundoubtedly one of the favored few who had lived a pampered lifestyle up to that point. While he had spent four years studying theory and execution, we (the enlisted troops) had spent those same years in wetbootsandjunglefatigues. Hemay have considered himself a visionary and hoped to change the way war was waged, but he lacked the expertise to findhislunch. Thereisaconsiderable difference between the advantage of high ground and the distinction of a visionary person. Learningtostudyyourfieldand the trends of your adversary can mean the difference between strong trends and real movement rather than projected or expected possibilities. Over 50 years ago, I graduated high school, shook hands with my father, 46 10-4 Magazine / January 2026 A NEW VANTAGE POINT
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