News & Insights

If you’ve ever talked to a banker, investor, or potential buyer, chances are you’ve heard the term EBITDA thrown around. It sounds technical, but the idea behind it is actually pretty simple—and very useful for business owners. EBITDA stands for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization. In plain English, it’s a way of measuring how much money your business generates from its core operations, before certain financial and accounting factors are taken into account. Think ...

When a school bus driver fails a drug or alcohol test, refuses to submit to required testing, or otherwise violates U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) drug testing regulations, a specific regulatory framework governs driver and employer obligations. Federal regulations require such drivers participate in the Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) program before they return to safety-sensitive duties. 49 C.F.R. §40.285(a). For school bus operators, understanding how this process works, and what ...

The 2025-2026 school year is already half-way over, and for many contractors this means peak sports and activities season is only right around the corner. As contractors know, there is plenty of extra work to go around during this time of year, and many drivers jump at the opportunity to pick up extra trips. Although it is great to have employees eager to take on additional work, transportation contractors should be mindful of federal hours of service requirements, and ensure that their drivers ...

Once again, marijuana is in the spotlight. On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14370 on expanding medical marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) research, with the goal of rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. Some may recall that the Biden Administration began taking similar steps in 2024. Continue reading for a brief discussion on the recent history of marijuana reclassification, what Executive Order 14370 accomplishes, and what considerations ...

A family business is more than just a company; it’s a legacy, or maybe it’s a retirement asset. Yet, without a thoughtful and strategic succession plan, that legacy or that retirement plan is at risk. Statistics show that many family businesses fail to survive past the second generation, some don’t even make it that far. Most often the culprit is lack of formal succession planning. The good news is that a structured approach can ensure a smooth handover, preserve family harmony, and set the b...

Many employers pay their salaried employees an annual salary amount that is paid in twenty-six biweekly installments over the course of each year, most often with payday on a Friday. But if the first Friday payday in 2026 is January 2nd, the last bi-weekly payday in 2026 will be Thursday December 31st, because Friday January 1, 2027 is a bank holiday and banks are closed. Most employers pay employees a day early if banks are closed on a Friday payday. As a result, there will be twenty-seven payd...

Employee performance management is not just about managing when problems arise, as discussed last month. Performance management also includes managing opportunities to retain employees. Employers should explore a collection of approaches to maintain a good work environment and to keep employees engaged and motivated.