Members of the team at Cowboy Trucking finally managed to sit CEO Luis Diaz down with a coffee and a comfortable chair. We asked him about infrastructure hauling in 2026 – and what General Contractors (GCs) can expect from Cowboy as demand for construction hauling continues to grow across Texas.
Team Cowboy (TC): There have been lots of changes recently. How have these affected both infrastructure hauling and General Contractors?
Luis Diaz (LD): Honestly, everyone in this construction hauling industry has felt the ripple effects. The big construction programs rolling through Texas are keeping the whole region busy.
And on the trucking side, the regulatory load hasn’t slowed down either. Things like tighter ELD enforcement, immigration and visa policy changes affecting the wider driver pool, the odd ICE audit, and even toll increases on key routes… it all adds pressure. None of it stops the work, but when you stack it together, it affects timing, cost, and availability.
But these pressures are part of the job. You stay steady, adapt, and keep the work moving.
TC: In light of these disruptions nationally, how can GCs focus best in 2026?
LD: I think, as always, they need to protect their contracts and deadlines both with their prime contractors and with their construction hauling partners. Keeping a reputation for finishing on time really matters when the next bid round comes. Rules and policies will keep shifting, so the real focus is staying prepared rather than getting caught off guard.
TC: We know how protecting contracts affects us as a business. How does this look from their point of view?
LD: It boils down to materials and equipment – keeping an eye on the realities! They need to plan ahead for material needs. By which I mean, scale the specific project area for available suppliers and look honestly at productivity with their teams. Because the first step is always to figure out how to meet the project’s actual demands.
From our experience, having at least two or three material sources is essential for construction hauling. It’s never good to rely on just one. And summer months are hit the hardest with shortages. So that’s something to keep in mind.
TC: Back here in the office there are stories about scheduling and site coordination issues that annoy GCs when dealing with other firms. What’s the problem there?
LD: I think it often comes down to who they hire – not every firm specializes in infrastructure hauling. Or maybe how a firm handles scheduling. That’s where coordination problems usually start.
For example, we require at least 24 hours’ notice for truck orders. In fact, the more notice, the better. It allows our dispatchers time to locate and confirm the trucks and quantity needed.
For GCs reading this, here’s what we request for a truck order:
- Job name and job/PO #
- How many trucks needed; truck type (for example, end dumps)
- Preferred date(s) and start time
- Specified tonnage/load count to complete (if available)
- Site contact name and phone number
- Load/unload locations
This helps our team – in the office and in the field – to stay organized, which leads to faster coordination, accurate tickets, and and smooth invoicing.
Some companies may not ask for this much detail – and that’s often where the scheduling issues GCs talk about come from.
TC: Yes, we know it seems picky and OTT to ask for detail at the time, but most GCs understand when we explain why we need it. So – where are the best opportunities for both Cowboy Trucking and GCs going forward?
LD: I obviously can’t answer for them, but from our side, we’re prioritizing TXDOT and infrastructure hauling projects. Those are at the top of our list.
But another thing we’ve always prioritized is establishing long-term relationships with our customers. That benefits GCs too. When you’re working with partners you trust, and the working style is already established, repeat business becomes a win-win.
TC: Agreed. And you always tell us that our founder, the original Cowboy, also focused on excellent communication. Where did this stem from?
LD: The family, I think. In a family, you trust each other, share, and fail or succeed together. We’ve always been a family firm and our values matter.
I think in today’s economic environment, GCs also value consistency and transparency in communication – even if it’s about a problem! Instant communication has pretty much become the norm.
We also take pride in curating an experience for the services we provide. There’s a very intentional process we take each customer through to make sure needs are met on both sides.
TC: It’s worked for decades and we’re proud to be part of the family team. But we know you have to get back to work. Any final comment?
LD: It may sound old-fashioned, but the homegrown values of reliability, consistency, good communication, and quality workmanship have helped us build on our founder’s legacy. All the GCs we work with depend on those qualities – so we’re looking forward to carrying them into 2026.
Our team is always available to answer questions about infrastructure and construction hauling. Let’s talk!
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