Lessons from TCA’s Small Carrier University
By Chris Noble, Sr. Director of Product, PCS Software
I recently had the opportunity to attend the first session of the Truckload Carriers Association’s Small Carrier University, an online educational series built for fleets running around 100 trucks, sponsored by PCS. The focus? Trucking operations. The format? Peer-to-peer collaboration—and I can tell you this: it works.
There’s something powerful about joining a conversation with fellow trucking leaders who are actively looking to scale their operations. These aren’t corporate execs chasing quarterly gains—they’re tactical, resourceful, and hungry to make their business better. These leaders show up ready to collaborate, share what works, and challenge each other to improve.
This session underscored a few truths we often overlook in the tech world:
1. Technology Must Serve the Business, Not the Other Way Around
These owners aren’t early adopters for the sake of shiny features. But show them how a tool will buy back hours in their day—or help a dispatcher do more with less—and you’ve got their attention. Every minute they save tracking loads or chasing paperwork is a minute they can use to build relationships, develop lanes, or simply breathe.
“Technology can feel like a big leap—but it’s the leverage you need to scale. A TMS gives you control, clarity, and the power to grow with confidence.” Chris Noble, Sr. Director of Product, PCS
2. Operational Success Isn’t Just About “Surviving the Week”
We talked a lot about KPIs. Many fleets are still measuring success by whether all the drivers were dispatched or if all the freight was moved. That’s table stakes in today’s modern world. To grow, decision makers need deeper visibility: profit per lane, per truck, per load. You need planning, strategy, SMART goals—and a culture that knows what winning really looks like. The fleets that set these goals are the ones that will win.
3. Sales is Everyone’s Job
One of the most compelling discussions came when someone said, “If dispatch had more time, they’d sell.” That hit home. What if your driver managers, customer service reps, and even your accounting team all thought like salespeople—proactively helping grow the business, not just respond to issues? That starts with giving them tools that remove the busywork and unlock time.
4. Data is Power, but Only if It’s Trusted
Spreadsheets can’t scale. Neither can disconnected systems. To compete, fleets need a single source of truth—a system that helps them plan routes, assign loads, pay drivers, invoice customers, and track profitability. In real time. With confidence.
The Bottom Line
These conversations reinforced what I believe deeply: growth starts with clarity. Clarity on what matters. Clarity on how you measure it. And clarity on how to get better—together.
The TCA Small Carrier University delivers that clarity through honest, open conversations among operators who’ve been there. It’s not theory. It’s practical, peer-led, and rooted in reality.
Grab Your Seat!
There’s still time to join the discussion. Limited seats remain for upcoming sessions including maintenance, safety, culture and recruitment—don’t wait!
Register by August 6, 2025, by emailing Elizabeth Nicholson, enicholson@truckload.org and mention “PCS” to save $495 off your company’s registration.
Let’s keep learning, building, and growing—together.
About the Author
Chris Noble is the Sr. Director of Product at PCS where he directs enterprise resource planning and business intelligence platform integrations to achieve increased efficiency and visibility. His experience includes global supply chain, media services, and corporate finance.
