# Logistics Assistance Now

> Veteran- and women-owned logistics and transportation consulting firm based in Hernando, Mississippi (Memphis metro), serving carriers, fleets, and independent owner-operators across the United States, remotely. Founded and led by Lisa Boerger, a U.S. Air Force veteran with 30+ years in logistics.

Logistics Assistance Now advises two distinct audiences, and its content is organized to keep them separate:

- **Transportation businesses (carriers & fleets):** DOT/FMCSA compliance, fleet safety, supply chain strategy, driver recruitment and onboarding, and operational cost reduction.
- **Independent contractors & owner-operators:** starting a trucking or delivery business, operating authority, compliance, financial management, and profitability.

First consultations are free. Phone: (407) 878-8017. Email: info@logisticsassistancenow.com.

## Core pages
- [Home](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/): overview of the firm and its services.
- [All Services](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/services/): the full consulting lineup for carriers and owner-operators.
- [For Businesses (carriers & fleets)](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/for-businesses/): supply chain strategy, compliance, fleet safety, and IC recruitment for transportation companies.
- [For Independent Contractors](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/for-independent-contractors/): business setup, DOT authority, compliance, and profitability help for owner-operators.
- [About / Lisa Boerger](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/about/): the founder's background — USAF veteran, 30+ years in logistics, ADA paratransit programs, national IC recruitment programs.
- [Our Team](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/team/): the firm's expert consultants and their credentials.
- [Contact](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/contact/): book a free consultation or call (407) 878-8017.

## Resources
- [Insights (blog index)](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/): all articles, filterable by topic.
- [Glossary](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/glossary/): 60+ logistics, trucking, and DOT/FMCSA compliance terms defined.
- [FAQ](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/faq/): common questions about the firm, services, and compliance.
- [RSS feed](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/rss.xml): latest articles.
- [Full site text (llms-full.txt)](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/llms-full.txt): every page and article in one file for AI ingestion.

## Guides for carriers & fleets

- [Building a Fleet Safety Program That Actually Reduces Crashes](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/fleet-safety-program-that-reduces-crashes/): A real fleet safety program does more than satisfy auditors. Learn the components that reduce crashes, lower insurance costs, and protect your CSA scores.
- [Choosing a TMS: When You Need One and How to Evaluate It](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/choosing-a-tms-when-and-how/): Not every carrier needs a TMS — and buying one to fix a process problem is a costly mistake. Learn when to get a TMS, what it should do, and how to evaluate
- [Clean Truck Mandate 2026: Where Things Actually Stand](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/ev-clean-truck-mandates-2026-status/): A neutral 2026 status update on zero-emission truck mandates — the ACF repeal, rescinded federal waivers, what still applies to government fleets
- [DOT Compliance Consulting: What It Is and Why It Matters](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/dot-compliance-consulting-what-it-is/): Find out what a DOT compliance consultant actually does, the signs your fleet needs one, and the real ROI versus the cost of fines, audits, and lost contracts.
- [Driver Qualification File Requirements: The Complete DQ Guide](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/driver-qualification-files-dq-requirements/): Everything that belongs in a compliant DQ file under 49 CFR 391 — plus the items auditors find missing most and how to stay audit-ready year-round.
- [Driver Recruitment Consulting: Stop Losing Drivers in 90 Days](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/driver-recruitment-onboarding-retention/): Most driver turnover isn't a shortage—it's a retention failure. Learn how to build a recruitment, onboarding, and retention system that holds.
- [ELP Enforcement in 2026: What Carriers Must Know](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/english-language-proficiency-enforcement-2026/): ELP is now an out-of-service criterion for CDL drivers. Learn what the FMCSA English language proficiency rule requires and how to build ELP verification
- [Fleet Maintenance Program: Cut Downtime and Stay Compliant](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/fleet-maintenance-program-reduce-downtime/): Build a preventive maintenance program that reduces truck downtime, Vehicle Maintenance CSA violations, and cost — from a fleet manager with 40 years
- [How to Improve CSA Scores Across FMCSA BASIC Categories](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/improve-csa-scores-fmcsa-basic/): Learn how FMCSA SMS and the BASICs actually work, and which practical levers move CSA scores — from a consultant who cut a Crash BASIC from 82% to 23%
- [How to Prepare for a DOT Audit in 2026: A Practical Checklist](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/how-to-prepare-for-a-dot-audit-2026/): Former Texas DPS officer and certified FMCSA instructor explains what triggers a DOT audit, what records are reviewed, and how to prepare before the notice
- [How to Reduce Driver Turnover: Pay, Home Time, and Culture](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/reduce-driver-turnover-pay-hometime-culture/): Driver turnover is a cost problem, not an industry inevitability. Learn the real causes of churn and a practical retention playbook for carriers and fleets.
- [How to Win Dedicated Freight Contracts and Shipper RFPs](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/how-to-win-dedicated-freight-contracts-rfp/): Small and mid-size carriers can win dedicated lanes and shipper RFPs — if they know how to build a capability story, price lanes, and pass compliance vetting.
- [Post-Accident Procedures for Trucking: A Carrier's Complete Guide](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/post-accident-procedures-accident-register/): What to do when a truck is in a crash — scene steps, DOT-recordable definition, post-accident drug testing timing, accident register rules, and CSA impact.
- [Route Optimization: Cut Empty Miles, Fuel Costs, and Detention](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/route-optimization-cut-miles-fuel-detention/): Route optimization is a discipline, not just software. Learn how better lane design, data quality, and planning cut empty miles, fuel, and detention costs.
- [Truck Driver Pay Models: CPM vs Percentage and Beyond](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/driver-pay-models-cpm-vs-percentage/): Cents-per-mile, percentage of load, or salary? Compare truck driver pay models — how each works, who they favor, and which keeps drivers and protects your margins.
- [Warehouse Optimization: When to Buy a WMS (and When Not To)](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/warehouse-optimization-when-to-bring-in-wms/): Outgrown spreadsheets? Before buying a WMS, diagnose your real problem. A consultant's guide to warehouse optimization that actually moves the needle.
- [When to Use a 3PL — and How to Choose the Right One](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/when-to-use-a-3pl-how-to-choose/): Not every shipper or carrier needs a 3PL. Learn when outsourcing to a third-party logistics provider makes sense, what to evaluate, and how to avoid a bad fit.

## Guides for owner-operators & independent contractors

- [Best Freight to Haul: Choosing Your Trucking Niche](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/choosing-freight-niche-reefer-flatbed-hotshot/): Dry van, reefer, flatbed, hotshot, or tanker? Compare the freight niches by pay, startup cost, and lifestyle so you can choose the best freight to haul for you.
- [Buying Your First Truck: New vs. Used & Financing Tips](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/buying-first-truck-new-vs-used-financing/): How to buy your first semi truck without getting buried — new vs. used trade-offs, pre-purchase inspection, financing realities, and total cost of ownership.
- [Detention Pay Trucking: How to Claim Every Dollar Owed](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/detention-accessorial-pay-how-to-claim/): Detention, TONU, layover, lumper — learn how detention pay in trucking works, what your contract should say, and how to document and claim every dollar you are owed.
- [FMCSA Compliance Checklist for Owner-Operators 2026](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/fmcsa-compliance-checklist-owner-operators-small-fleets-2026/): A practical 2026 FMCSA compliance checklist for owner-operators and small fleets — MCS-150, UCR, DQ files, ELD, Clearinghouse, ELP, and more. Don't miss
- [Form 2290 HVUT Guide for Owner-Operators 2026](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/form-2290-heavy-vehicle-use-tax/): Plain-English guide to Form 2290 heavy vehicle use tax for owner-operators: who files, the Aug 31 2026 deadline, e-filing, Schedule 1, and penalties.
- [Freight Factoring vs Quick Pay: Owner-Operator Cash Flow](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/factoring-vs-quick-pay-cash-flow/): Compare freight factoring vs broker Quick Pay for owner-operators. Learn fees, contract red flags, recourse vs non-recourse, and when each option makes sense.
- [Fuel Cost Management for Owner-Operators in 2026](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/fuel-cost-management-owner-operators/): Practical fuel cost management strategies for owner-operators: fuel cards, discount networks, MPG improvement, fuel surcharges, and IFTA implications in 2026.
- [Health Insurance for Owner-Operators: Your Real Options](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/health-insurance-benefits-owner-operators/): Practical guide to health insurance and benefits for self-employed truckers — ACA marketplace, association plans, HSAs, disability, and how to budget
- [How to Find Freight as an Owner-Operator (Beyond Load Boards)](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/how-to-find-freight-beyond-load-board/): Stop living and dying on the spot market. Learn how owner-operators build direct shipper relationships, win contract freight, and reduce load board
- [How to Get Your DOT Number & MC Authority in 2026](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/how-to-get-dot-number-mc-authority-2026/): Step-by-step guide to getting your USDOT number and FMCSA operating authority in 2026, including new physical address, Login.gov, BOC-3, and new-entrant
- [How to Grow a Trucking Company: From One Truck to a Small Fleet](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/scaling-one-truck-to-fleet/): The jump from one truck to a fleet breaks more owner-operators than it makes. Here's the cash, systems, and mindset you need before you add a second truck.
- [How to Negotiate Freight Rates as an Owner-Operator](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/negotiate-freight-rates-contracts-owner-operator/): Most owner-operators don't realize rates are negotiable — until it's too late. Learn how to use your cost per mile, read contracts, and protect your pay
- [How to Start a Cargo Van Delivery Business in 2026](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/how-to-start-non-cdl-cargo-van-delivery-business/): Learn how to start a non-CDL cargo van or final-mile delivery business — models, insurance, authority, contracts, and real margin talk from a 30-year
- [How to Start a Medical Courier Business in 2026](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/how-to-start-a-medical-courier-business/): A logistics veteran's guide to starting a medical courier business — what you haul, HIPAA and compliance requirements, insurance, certifications
- [How to Start a Trucking Business in 2026: A Realistic Guide](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/how-to-start-a-trucking-business-2026/): Step-by-step guide to starting a trucking business in 2026 — LLC setup, DOT authority, insurance, ELD, and the mistakes that sink new owner-operators.
- [How to Write a Trucking Business Plan That Works](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/how-to-write-trucking-business-plan/): Learn how to write a trucking business plan that's useful beyond the bank — covering costs, break-even math, revenue assumptions, and real milestones.
- [IFTA Fuel Tax for Owner-Operators: A Clear How-To Guide](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/ifta-fuel-tax-owner-operator/): Learn how IFTA quarterly filing works for owner-operators — deadlines, recordkeeping, calculations, decals, and audit triggers explained by a compliance expert.
- [Is a Truck Dispatch Service Worth It for Owner-Operators?](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/truck-dispatch-service-worth-it/): What a truck dispatch service actually does, how pricing works, pros vs. cons, how to vet one, and red flags every owner-operator should know before signing.
- [LLC for Owner-Operator Trucking: How to Set It Up Right](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/llc-for-owner-operators/): Why owner-operators need an LLC, how to set one up correctly for trucking, and the setup errors that can cost you your liability protection.
- [Lease-Purchase Trucking Programs: What to Know Before You Sign](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/lease-purchase-truck-programs-risks/): Lease-purchase trucking can work — but most failures are visible in the contract on day one. Here's the honest math, the traps to avoid, and when it makes
- [Own Authority vs. Leasing On: An Honest Comparison for 2026](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/own-authority-vs-leasing-on/): Own authority vs. leasing on — an honest pros and cons comparison for owner-operators in 2026. Control, income ceiling, overhead, and who each path suits.
- [Owner-Operator Bookkeeping: A Year-Round Tax System](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/bookkeeping-taxes-owner-operators/): Build a year-round bookkeeping system as an owner-operator: what to track, quarterly taxes, trucker per diem, common deductions, and when to hire a pro.
- [Owner-Operator Cost Per Mile: How to Calculate It in 2026](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/owner-operator-cost-per-mile/): Learn how to calculate your owner-operator cost per mile — fixed vs. variable costs, example math, and how to use CPM to pick profitable loads in 2026.

## Industry, regulatory & market insights (both audiences)

- [2026 Broker Financial Responsibility Rules Explained](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/2026-broker-financial-responsibility-rules/): FMCSA's Jan 2026 broker bond enforcement is live. Here's what the $75K BMC-84 rule means for carriers getting paid—and how to protect your cash flow.
- [2026 Freight Market Outlook & Survival Plan](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/2026-freight-market-outlook-survival-plan/): The 2026 freight market offers modest rate recovery but razor-thin margins. Here's what carriers and owner-operators must do now to stay profitable.
- [CDL Classes and Endorsements Explained: A–Z Guide](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/cdl-classes-endorsements-explained/): Class A, B, or C — plus which CDL endorsements actually pay off. A clear breakdown of every license class, what it lets you haul, and the ELDT rules.
- [Cargo Securement Rules Every Driver and Carrier Must Know](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/cargo-securement-rules-drivers/): FMCSA 49 CFR 393 cargo securement explained: WLL, the 50% aggregate rule, tiedown counts, the 50-mile check, and commodity gotchas. Real expert guidance.
- [Cold Chain Logistics Compliance: A Practical Guide](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/cold-chain-logistics-compliance/): Cold chain compliance covers more than temperature gauges. Learn FSMA Sanitary Transport requirements, reefer best practices, and where carriers get burned
- [Commercial Truck Insurance Explained: Coverages & Costs in 2026](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/commercial-truck-insurance-explained/): What commercial truck insurance actually covers, what's driving premiums to record highs in 2026, and the concrete steps to lower your rate. Expert guidance
- [DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing Program: Setup Guide](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/dot-drug-alcohol-testing-program-setup/): How to set up a compliant DOT drug and alcohol testing program — required test types, random rates, joining a C/TPA, and Clearinghouse integration explained.
- [DOT Physical Requirements: What Drivers Need to Know](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/dot-physical-cdl-medical-card/): Everything CDL drivers need to know about the DOT physical — what gets checked, how long the med card lasts, common disqualifiers, and how to keep
- [DOT Roadside Inspection Levels: What Inspectors Really Check](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/how-to-pass-dot-roadside-inspection-levels/): Learn all six CVSA roadside inspection levels, what puts drivers and vehicles Out of Service, and how to prepare from a 31-year enforcement veteran.
- [FMCSA Clearinghouse Compliance: A Small-Carrier Guide](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/fmcsa-drug-alcohol-clearinghouse-small-carriers/): Small carriers and owner-operators: understand FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse registration, pre-employment queries, the Jan 5 annual deadline
- [Hazmat Trucking Requirements: Is It Worth It in 2026?](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/hazmat-hauling-requirements-worth-it/): What it really takes to haul hazmat — H endorsement, TSA check, HMR compliance, placarding, PHMSA registration — and an honest cost-benefit for carriers
- [Hours of Service Rules Explained: The 2026 Driver's Guide](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/hours-of-service-rules-explained-2026/): Clear 2026 breakdown of HOS rules — the 11/14/10 rule, 30-minute break, 60/70-hour limits, sleeper berth splits, and what the FMCSA pilots mean for you.
- [Last Mile Delivery Optimization: What Actually Works](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/last-mile-delivery-optimization/): Last-mile delivery loses margin to failed deliveries and dead miles. Learn the route-density, scheduling, and tech levers that make a final-mile operation profitable.
- [Logistics Consultant in Southaven & Olive Branch MS | LAN](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/logistics-consulting-southaven-olive-branch-desoto/): LAN delivers veteran- and women-owned logistics consulting to carriers, fleets, and operators in Southaven, Olive Branch, and DeSoto County, MS. Call (407) 878-8017.
- [Nearshoring & Tariffs 2026: The Freight Opportunity Map](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/nearshoring-tariffs-2026-freight-impact/): How nearshoring to Mexico and 2026 tariffs are reshaping freight volumes, border capacity, and compliance demands — and what carriers and owner-operators
- [The 2026 ELD Crackdown: What Carriers Must Do Now](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/eld-crackdown-2026-revoked-devices/): FMCSA removed 14 ELDs from its registered list in 2026. Using a revoked device is an out-of-service violation. Here's what to check and what to do right now.
- [Transportation Consulting in Memphis & DeSoto County](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/memphis-area-local-logistics-consultant/): Looking for a transportation consultant in Memphis or Hernando, MS? LAN is a veteran- and women-owned logistics firm serving Memphis-area carriers and ICs
- [Tri-State Trucking Compliance: MS, TN, and AR in the Memphis Metro](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/tri-state-trucking-compliance-ms-tn-ar/): Carriers and owner-operators in the Memphis tri-state freight hub face multi-state DOT compliance and interstate authority questions. Here's what you need
- [UCR & MCS-150: The Filings Carriers Forget](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/ucr-mcs-150-filings-carriers-forget/): Missed UCR registration or an overdue MCS-150 update can deactivate your DOT authority. Learn the deadlines, fee tiers, and how to keep your carrier status
- [Veteran & Women-Owned Logistics Contracts (SDVOSB/WOSB)](https://logisticsassistancenow.com/blog/veteran-women-owned-logistics-sdvosb-wosb-contracts/): A practical guide to SDVOSB, WOSB, WBENC, and state DBE certifications for logistics firms—and how to actually win set-aside and supplier-diversity contracts.

## Contact
- Phone: (407) 878-8017
- Email: info@logisticsassistancenow.com
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM CST
- Based in Hernando, MS (Memphis metro); serving clients nationwide, remotely.