It was a wild year, with markets so bad at one point that truckers were protesting in Washington against “rapacious brokers” and freight rates at the end of the year that can only be described as eye-popping.
So what did that mean for what drivers earned? Todd Amen is the president of ATBS, a financial advisory firm that works mostly with owner-operators. He joins host John Kingston on the Drilling Deep podcast to talk about the numbers he’s been seeing in driver tax returns.

Kingston will also talk about a hot subject among drivers on social media: Is Joe Biden responsible for the increase in the price of diesel? His answers may make some people unhappy and some others surprised.
More articles by John Kingston
Drilling Deep: Canada’s very gentle launch of its ELD mandate
Drilling Deep: Battery technology racing ahead; so is the price of diesel
Drilling Deep: getting regulation right to push ahead on autonomous vehicles
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now