Liberty’s Lane: By Liberty V Justice cut – the “invisible red tape” we wrap around ourselves. While the government is removing stickers from our bumpers, many of us are still being held back by silence and isolation. Cutting external regulations is only half the battle – the other half is fixing the internal communication breakdowns that are draining our bank accounts. Let’s talk about three simple but often hidden leaks in your budget: networking, contracts, and learning. 1. The “Thirsty Well” (Networking). You’ve heard the saying, “Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to dig a well.” In trucking, your well is your community. If the only time you talk to another driver is when you’re broken down on the shoulder, you aren’t part of a team, you’re just a stranger in a traffic jam. When you stay isolated, you pay the retail price for every mistake. Without a network, you miss out on tips about the best paying lanes and the honest shops. Isolation is an expense you can’t afford. 2. The “Fear Tax” (Contracts and Pay). Many drivers sign contracts they don’t fully understand because they’re afraid of losing the load or offending the boss. That fear is a tax on your income. When you don’t communicate clearly about payment details because you’re scared, you’ve already lost. In 2026, being too polite to ask for clarity is a financial suicide mission. You aren’t being difficult – you’re just being a smart business owner. I’ll be honest – I like big trucks and I cannot lie, but my respect for this industry goes deeper than the chrome. I live at a hotel in California that is literally boxed in by the lifeblood of America – two truck stops on either side and a third being built behind me. Every day I wake up to the sound of diesel engines and the sight of big rigs, planes, and trains. Most people just see a traffic jam, but I see a symphony of business. I didn’t just stumble into this world – I was drawn to it. I’m a documentary filmmaker and a business owner, but more importantly, I’m a survivor who moved here in 2017 with a dream and a name I paid $400 to make memorable: Liberty V Justice. My journey hasn’t been a smooth ride on flat land. After losing my grandma, I moved to Los Angeles. Later, I found myself sleeping on the very concrete that your tires roll over every day. I decided to step up, stop being silent, and start using my past challenges to help myself and others, because I’m worth it (and so are you)! I’ve lived in shelters and on the streets, fighting the same isolation and red tape that keeps so many people in this industry broke and unknown. I’ve learned the hard way that whether you’re sleeping in a truck or on a sidewalk, you are “homeless” if you’re disconnected. If you don’t communicate, you don’t exist. Today, I’m making money with my films and my mission is clear – I am here to facilitate an industry crossover. I want to unite the world of transportation with the world of business and film to help us all be more successful and find more gratitude. I’ve seen too many brilliant people fail because they were “takers” or were too afraid of being hurt to speak up. I’m here to be a leader for tomorrow’s trucker, and to help you gauge the true financial cost of staying silent. For over 30 years, Wayne Schooling used his column to help us cut the red tape. In his final piece before his death, he celebrated the DOT slashing 73,000 words of burdensome rules. Wayne knew that the less big government interfered with a trucker, the better. But, as we look toward the future, I believe there is a different kind of red tape we need to 10-4 Magazine / July 2026 65 3. The “Silent Ego” (Learning). The most expensive words in this industry are, “I already know that.” Not allowing someone to teach you is a withdrawal from your maintenance budget. A short conversation with a veteran driver can save you thousands of dollars with a blown engine. If your ego is too loud to let you listen, your bank account will be too quiet to keep you in business. The Bottom Line: watch the right gauges. Running a trucking business without active communication is like driving with a broken fuel gauge. You might be moving forward now, but you have no idea how close you are to running out of fuel. And by the time the engine sputters, it’s too late. We have to stop watching just the needles on our dashboard and start watching the “needle” of our relationships. I’m practicing what I preach. I’m moving out of the isolation gear and into the leadership gear because I want to see this industry cross over into a new era of prosperity. My mission is to ensure that truckers aren’t just surviving the storm Wayne talked about – they are thriving in it. We are building a community where communication takes center stage, and where we dig our well long before the drought hits. Don’t let the invisible red tape of silence keep you parked. Gauge your costs, trust your team, and keep your 18 wheels of communication turning. If you have experienced any of these hidden leaks in your budget or if you know about others, please educate me so I can make this column better. Sharing is caring! Feel free to reach out to me through my website, even if you just want to say, “What’s up, Liberty?” I want to connect with you, because you are worth it! You can also learn more about my documentary film “Wounded, But Worthy” on my website by visiting www.imworthitentertainment.com or by finding my channel on YouTube. n $ILENCE I$ EXPEN$IVE
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