In the spirit of Halloween, let’s start with a throwback that still gives finance and operations leaders a few chills—because some ghosts aren’t found in haunted houses, but in your P&L. 👻
Halloween Throwback Feature
Chasing Ghost Invoices: A Real Profitability Haunt
Earlier this year, I shared a story about ghost invoices—those hidden expenses that appear months after the work was done and haunt your P&L when you least expect it.
In the spirit of Halloween, it’s the perfect time to revisit how a few simple process improvements—pre-approvals, shared expense logs, and vendor accountability—can exorcise those financial phantoms for good.
🔗 Read the throwback: How to Address the Ghost Invoices
Subscriber Growth Continues to Accelerate
October was another record month for Ground Transportation Insights.
Subscriber growth rose 24% in October, and overall readership has increased 70% in less than three months.
Thank you to every reader who continues to support, share, and engage with this publication. Your feedback and participation keep the conversations moving forward — and your enthusiasm helps spread the word about leadership and operational excellence in our industry.
If you enjoy a particular post, please like and comment when you read it — those small actions make a big difference in helping Ground Transportation Insights reach more leaders across the industry.
Looking Back at October
October was a month of clarity, creativity, and continued growth for Ground Transportation Insights—where leadership lessons, operational strategy, and storytelling all came together to drive momentum into the year’s final stretch.
Ground Transportation Insights is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
10/1 – Dirt Turns to Gold. So Can Steel →
Inspired by country artist Zach Top’s song “Dirt Turns to Gold,” this reflection connected family-owned transportation businesses to the power of patience, discipline, and resilience. It explored how, just as dirt can become gold, steel can transform through teamwork and perseverance—especially across generations.
🔗 Read it here.
10/7 – The Eye Doctor Who Looked Deeper →
This article reminded leaders that treating only what’s visible—the symptom—rarely solves the real issue. By looking deeper at cultural, structural, and leadership causes, organizations can move from reaction to transformation.
🔗 Read it here.
10/15 – When Strategy Becomes the Engine →
Drawing from my experience as VP & GM of American Coach Lines of Orlando, this piece explored how a $2 million profitability swing came not from new markets or resources, but from clarity, alignment, and disciplined execution. Strategy, when it lives in the culture—not just on a slide deck—becomes the engine that powers sustainable success.
🔗 Read it here.
10/22 – What Southwest Airlines Can Teach Ground Transportation Leaders →
This article examined how simplicity drives scalability. By looking at Southwest’s single-aircraft model, it explored how operators can strengthen their own performance through streamlined fleets, reduced complexity, and intentional focus—without losing stability or flexibility.
🔗 Read it here.
10/29 – You Spoke. We’re Addressing (Part 3): Insurance and Safety Risk →
In this video feature, I sat down with Alan Mar and Carter Bumgardner of Graham Company to discuss rising insurance costs and safety risks—the pressures squeezing operators from all sides. We unpacked what’s driving premiums higher, how culture and accountability shape underwriting confidence, and what leaders can do to regain control before renewal season.
🔗 Watch and read the recap.
Looking ahead to November
November’s lineup continues the momentum with two new features focused on collaboration and culture—the forces shaping the industry’s future:
The Broker-Operator Relationship: A Conversation with BusBank’s Harald Kruse
A candid discussion with BusBank CEO Harald Kruse on margins, payments, and how operators can navigate partnerships with brokers and intermediaries.
Also, look out for a text version of this discussion in the October/November issue of BUSRide Magazine.
You Spoke. We’re Addressing: Driver Recruitment, Readiness & Retention
The final article in our reader-inspired series explores one of the industry’s greatest ongoing challenges—building and sustaining a strong driver workforce. Drawing on lessons from Disney, decades of operational leadership, and feedback from operators across the country, this piece outlines actionable strategies around the “Three R’s”: Recruitment, Readiness, and Retention.
Thank you for continuing to read, share, and support Ground Transportation Insights.
I’m grateful for this growing community of leaders who, like me, believe that clarity, culture, and consistency move our industry forward.
Here’s to finishing 2025 strong — and to the insights still ahead in November and December.
Another great read by Brian Dickson @ Bus Business Consultants..........