FreightWaves NOW

In this episode, Craig Fuller and Julie discuss how GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are changing consumer behavior — and why those changes could have a measurable impact on freight volumes. The conversation explores declining food and beverage consumption, shifting demand for snacks, soda, alcohol and restaurant meals, and what those trends could mean for trucking and the broader freight economy. The show also covers the latest FreightTech 100, FreightWaves' annual list recognizing innovative companies across freight and supply chain technology. This year's list reflects the growing influence of artificial intelligence, automation and autonomous trucking. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining Tesla's ambitious push into the European freight market as the electric vehicle giant targets late-2027 customer deliveries for the Semi after demonstrations begin in the first half of that year. The first European trucks will roll off the Reno, Nevada production line, which is designed for fifty thousand units annually, and will feature a 342-mile usable range with the ability to recover more than sixty percent of range in just thirty minutes using Tesla's new Megacharger network of over one hundred stalls across Europe. Shifting gears to the rails, we examine how Norfolk Southern is positioning its proposed combination with Union Pacific as a transformative step for intermodal freight. According to the railroad's leadership, the proposed mega-merger is central to removing structural friction from the freight network by creating single-line service for roughly ten thousand existing lanes and eliminating approximately 2,400 railcar handlings and 60,000 car-miles per day. With Norfolk Southern's intermodal volume already up nearly fourteen percent year-over-year, the railroad argues that removing friction rather than simply undercutting truck prices is the key to capturing highway freight. Finally, we cover a critical new resource for freight brokers navigating heightened liability in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling. Cambridge Mobile Telematics has officially launched Freight Safety Intelligence, a platform that analyzes carrier driving behavior from the previous ninety days and generates real-time carrier-level safety scores. The platform leverages data from carriers' existing telematics systems without requiring new hardware, and it arrives at a crucial moment as brokers face increased exposure to negligent-selection claims following the Supreme Court's ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FreightWaves Today dives into the latest forces reshaping freight markets, from rising carrier costs and cross-border trade tensions to stronger-than-expected import volumes and signs of tightening truckload capacity. Hosts Julie Van de Kamp and Zach Strickland break down J.B. Hunt's warning that higher diesel and driver costs are outpacing pricing gains, as well as the growing challenges around recruiting, retaining and developing qualified drivers. They also examine rising rail dwell at the Los Angeles–Long Beach port complex and what the divergence between rail and truck dwell times means for intermodal reliability. Peacock Tariff Consulting principal Kyle Peacock joins the show to discuss the breakdown in U.S.-Canada trade negotiations, new Canadian tariffs and product bans, and the ongoing U.S.-Mexico talks over USMCA and automotive content requirements. The conversation explores how tariff uncertainty is reshaping freight lanes, supply chains and long-term planning for shippers and carriers. In the SONAR market update, Zach looks at rising tender rejection rates following Labor Day and a sharp post-holiday surge in truckload volumes. The data points to broad-based increases in rejection rates across major freight markets, while refrigerated freight continues its seasonal influence on the national market. The show also features Mark McEntire, the new CEO of Emerge, who discusses his shipper-focused vision for the company, the shift from episodic to continuous procurement, the growing role of AI and data in freight procurement, and Emerge's efforts to bring truckload, LTL, intermodal and other modes together on a single platform. Finally, FreightWaves writer Stuart Chirls joins the program to examine elevated U.S. container imports, including August's exceptionally strong volumes at major ports such as Long Beach and Charleston. The discussion looks at the forces driving import demand—from consumer goods to data-center construction—and whether elevated volumes will persist into the fall. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining the brutal earnings warning that triggered a sharp sell-off in one of the country's largest logistics providers. J.B. Hunt's shares sank twelve percent after executives disclosed severe third-quarter cost pressures, driven by a sharp runup in diesel fuel prices and twenty-five million dollars in incremental driver-related expenses. The company's third-quarter EPS guidance came in roughly sixteen percent below Wall Street's consensus estimate, despite management characterizing the inflation as more cyclical than structural. Next, we explore how the persistent driver shortage is fundamentally reshaping safety strategies across the private fleet sector. Private fleets are increasingly focused on developing struggling drivers rather than dismissing them, as qualified replacements remain difficult to find and accident litigation costs continue to climb. Dot Foods has shifted from a reactive safety model to one driven by data and behavior patterns, targeting the bottom ten to twenty percent of its nearly two thousand two hundred driver population with mandatory professional development plans. Finally, we shift over to the rails to discuss a troubling bottleneck developing at the nation's busiest port complex. Rail-destined cargo dwell at Los Angeles-Long Beach climbed to six point seven five days in August, even as local truck dwell remained remarkably fluid at sub-three-day levels. The divergence underscores the critical importance of intermodal rail performance to overall cargo fluidity, especially as a significant share of containers arriving at the gateway is destined for inland U.S. markets. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FreightWaves Today digs into the latest signals from across the freight and transportation markets — from weakening freight demand and rail volumes to record diesel prices, supply chain disruptions and the evolving role of technology in trucking and procurement. The team breaks down J.B. Hunt's latest commentary, softer consumer demand, tight capacity and what current tender rejection and truckload volume data are saying about the fall freight market. Energy advisor Tom Kloza examines the forces driving diesel and crude markets, the impact of disruptions in the Middle East and Russia, refining capacity, renewable diesel and what the next several months could mean for transportation costs. Daniel Silverfield, Head of Value and Selection for Amazon Business, explains how the B2B operation serves millions of business customers, simplifies procurement and uses AI and data to help companies consolidate purchases and find savings. Bill Stephens, Editor of Trains Magazine, joins the show to discuss the latest railroad data. North American rail traffic declined year over year, with weakness across several economically sensitive commodities, including chemicals, petroleum and autos. Michael Cainey from Highway joins the conversation on the challenges facing the brokerage and trucking markets, including fraud, carrier verification, tracking technology and how legitimate carriers can stand out in an increasingly complex freight environment. Plus, the latest SONAR data on diesel, spot rates, shipment volumes and tender rejections — and a look at what those numbers could mean as the freight market heads into peak season. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FreightWaves Today takes a deep look at where the freight market is headed, from tightening capacity and rising rates to regulation, industrial demand, global trade and the forces reshaping supply chains. Tom Albrecht of Reliance Partners joins the show to discuss the current freight cycle, drawing on decades of experience covering both trucking and rail. The conversation examines improving industrial demand, strong rail volumes, capacity constraints and the regulatory changes that could determine how long the current freight recovery lasts. Jason Miller weighs in on the demand side of the market, including the massive buildout of AI data centers and the possibility that traditional freight metrics are underestimating the amount of freight moving through the industrial economy. The discussion also looks at truck capacity, driver availability, equipment orders and the potential impact of interest rates on the freight cycle. Rush from Tabi breaks down how freight brokers are adapting to a more data-driven market. Tabi's Pricing Pressure Index, which measures the balance of pricing power between shippers and brokers, is showing a market that remains favorable to brokers but is beginning to normalize. The conversation explores spot pricing, margins, shipper behavior and why disciplined, data-driven brokers are outperforming those still chasing volume. Lakshman Achuthan, co-founder of the Economic Cycle Research Institute, brings a macroeconomic perspective, warning that global and U.S. industrial growth may be approaching a turning point. He explains how leading indicators are signaling slower growth ahead and discusses the risk of sticky costs, higher interest rates and a potential period of stagflation. The episode closes with a wide-ranging conversation about North American trade and supply chains, including the future of USMCA, sourcing strategies, U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade relationships, reindustrialization and national security. The discussion highlights how decades of integrated North American supply chains could be affected by changing trade policies and tariffs. Also featured: a look at the role of AI data centers, energy infrastructure and the challenge of balancing technological investment with regulatory and community concerns. Watch FreightWaves Today for the latest analysis on freight markets, trucking, logistics, rail, supply chains and the economy. #FreightWaves #FreightWavesToday #Trucking #Logistics #Freight #SupplyChain #Truckload #Rail #FreightMarket Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Autonomous trucking is moving from the drawing board to real-world operations — and the implications for the freight industry could be enormous. In this special edition of FreightWaves Today, we take an in-depth look at the future of automation with leaders across autonomous trucking, freight marketplaces, artificial intelligence and autonomous delivery. The episode explores how purpose-built autonomous vehicles could reshape the way freight moves, including the potential decline of traditional drop-trailer models and the rise of on-demand, dock-to-dock transportation. Industry leaders also discuss whether autonomous trucking will accelerate consolidation among carriers and brokers, and which companies could be best positioned for the transition. We also examine the business of autonomous transportation with Einride CEO Roozbeh Charafeddine, including the company's growth, its work with major customers such as Amazon, its 500-truck Tesla Semi commitment and its strategy for gradually introducing autonomous and electric vehicles into freight networks. Charafeddine also discusses Einride's defense business and how autonomous technology can remove people from dangerous transportation environments. uShip CEO Shawn Wu talks about the role of marketplaces in a changing freight environment, including the challenges of moving non-standardized and oversized freight, marketplace trust and safety, cargo security, household moves and the current market for large and bulky shipments. The conversation then expands beyond trucking to autonomous delivery. AV Ride discusses its autonomous passenger vehicles and delivery robots, the role of platforms such as Uber and Grubhub, and the challenges of bringing autonomous delivery from dense urban areas and college campuses into suburban markets. We also examine how artificial intelligence could transform global trade, with a focus on the data and operational knowledge needed to make AI agents useful in real-world supply chain operations. From autonomous trucks and electric fleets to AI, delivery robots and the potential consolidation of the freight industry, this special edition looks at the technologies and business models that could define the next decade of transportation. Subscribe to FreightWaves for more coverage of the people, companies and technologies shaping the future of freight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Julie Van de Kamp and Malcolm Harris on FreightWaves Today as they break down major freight news, market trends, and industry insights. In this episode, industry leaders discuss small carrier financial discipline, fleet repair innovations, and regional market volatility. In our Morning Minute: Teamsters President Sean O'Brien warns UPS of potential 2028 strike risks, Delaware breaks ground on a $669M container terminal project, and a cargo ship fire in China leaves 25 dead. Then, Dave Gilbert, Founder and CEO of National Funding, discusses why a full order book doesn't always signal expansion readiness, navigating high repair costs, and how small carriers can avoid cash flow traps. Julie has a breakdown of national tender rejections, spot rates, and headhaul vs. backhaul trends across key markets including Cincinnati, Detroit, Joliet, Miami, and Houston. And to wrap up the first hour, Andy Klobnock, COO of ServiceUp, breaks down their new partnership with Stellantis Pro One, detailing how centralized billing and AI agents are untangling fleet repair headaches. Then in our 2nd hour, Zach Strickland and economist D.J. Donahue break down the latest economic data and what it means for transportation, consumers and the broader freight economy. Zach is also joined by Thomas Wasson who helps Zach to explore the changing North American freight landscape. They discuss Mexican cross-border trucking, cabotage enforcement, falling Laredo freight volumes, shifting Mexico trade flows and the growing influence of data-center construction on freight demand. Data-center investment is generating demand for electronics, steel, concrete and open-deck capacity even as traditional consumer demand remains relatively muted. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off with a stark warning from the Teamsters union as President Sean O'Brien puts UPS on notice for a potential strike in 2028, two full years before contract negotiations typically turn contentious. Among the key demands are protections against benefit rollbacks, restrictions on autonomous trucks, and a highly unusual provision allowing regional unions to strike mid-contract over unresolved grievances. Next, we explore major maritime infrastructure developments as construction officially begins on Delaware's massive $669 million container terminal along the Delaware River. The Delaware Container Terminal will feature a 45-foot berth depth capable of handling post-Panamax vessels up to 16,000 TEUs and is projected to create nearly 6,000 new jobs once fully operational by late 2028. Finally, we cover a devastating incident in China where a deadly fire aboard a cargo ship at a Qingdao shipyard claimed 25 lives during repair operations. The blaze erupted Thursday morning aboard the Liberia-flagged dry bulk carrier Ocean Melody, with authorities launching an investigation into the cause of the tragedy that left 42 people aboard at the time of the incident. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The freight market is heading into peak season with plenty of uncertainty. On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Malcolm Harris and Zach Strickland break down the latest data shaping trucking, logistics and the broader economy. First, Eric Lemus of The Fulfillment Lab joins the show to discuss new Commerce Signal data showing operator margin cushions nearly disappearing as shipping costs rise faster than revenue. With parcel costs up sharply and peak-season surcharges approaching, retailers and 3PLs face growing pressure to control transportation spend while managing lean inventories. Lemus also explains why diversifying carrier strategies could deliver significant savings. Then, Zach dives into the latest SONAR data, including tender rejection rates, tender volumes, spot rates, diesel prices, imports and the potential for tighter capacity as retailers replenish inventory heading into Q4. Weather is also taking center stage. Ben Hershey of DTN explains how AI-powered weather intelligence and crash-risk forecasting can help fleets anticipate dangerous conditions, improve routing decisions and keep drivers moving safely. The discussion also examines what the developing El Niño pattern could mean for winter weather, freight corridors and mountain passes across the country. In the second hour, Zach is joined by FreightWaves economist D.J. Donahue to unpack the latest economic releases, consumer credit, transportation inflation, tariffs and the growing influence of AI and data-center construction on the economy and freight demand. Finally, Thomas Wasson returns to discuss major transportation and international trade issues, including U.S.-Mexico cross-border freight, cabotage enforcement, changing freight flows, maritime rates and the latest FMCSA carrier data. The conversation takes a close look at whether trucking capacity is actually growing — and what recent regulatory changes could mean for the carrier base. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining a massive milestone in cross-border commerce as US-Mexico trade smashed the monthly record at nearly $95 billion in July. Two-way trade surged 27.5% year over year, with Mexico now firmly holding its position as America's number one trading partner ahead of Canada and China. Laredo, Texas, retained its crown as the nation's busiest international trade gateway, handling nearly $37 billion in commerce while experiencing tight trucking capacity. Meanwhile, federal regulators are giving carriers some breathing room during a major technology transition. We discuss how FMCSA suspended enforcement of biennial update requirements and stopped deactivating USDOT numbers for missed filings. The relief covers deadlines on or after June 1, 2026, and remains in place while registrants transition to the agency's new MOTUS system, which launched in May. Finally, we unpack the federal government's aggressive crackdown on alleged CDL fraud as ICE launched a tip line for reporting suspected commercial driver's license fraud in partnership with the Department of Transportation. The tip line comes shortly after federal officials removed over 110 commercial driver training schools from a federal registry, with HSI already receiving more than 1,000 leads involving CDL-related businesses suspected of unsafe practices and potential connections to human smuggling, drug trafficking, and cartel activity. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Malcolm Harris and Julie Van de Kamp break down the latest developments shaping freight, transportation and global supply chains. The show leads with escalating trade tensions as Canada imposes retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on nearly $20 billion of U.S. goods, while President Donald Trump raises the possibility of further changes to trade with Mexico, Canada and the European Union. The hosts examine what the uncertainty could mean for cross-border freight, manufacturers, shippers and transportation costs. Then, Jason Murray, CEO and co-founder of Shipium, and Penny Allen, SVP of AI Product and Engineering, join the show to discuss Shipium's new "Always-On Audit." They explain how AI-powered, continuous auditing can track shipments in real time, identify billing and data issues, catch problems before they become costly and automate freight-payment reconciliation. The team also digs into the deadly Amazon cargo jet crash at Miami International Airport with FreightWaves air and parcel expert Eric Kulisch. Eric provides an update on the NTSB investigation, the sequence of events surrounding the Boeing 767 freighter's runway overrun and the potential implications for air cargo operations at one of the country's key international gateways. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining the massive trade escalation adding serious costs and uncertainty across North American supply chains. Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs of up to fifty percent on nearly twenty billion dollars worth of U.S. goods following the collapse of bilateral trade negotiations in August. These duties target hundreds of American products, from steel and aluminum to dairy, clothing, furniture, and industrial equipment, impacting one of the world's largest bilateral trading relationships. Meanwhile, investigators are piecing together critical details from Sunday's deadly cargo jet crash at Miami International Airport. National Transportation Safety Board officials revealed that the Amazon Boeing 767 freighter was carrying over thirty-two thousand pounds of contact lenses and failed to deploy critical systems meant to slow the aircraft upon landing. The plane hovered well past the normal runway zone, ran off the runway at one hundred eighty-one miles per hour, and plowed into vehicles and fences, leaving five people dead. Finally, we unpack President Trump's dramatic escalation of trade rhetoric against America's largest trading partners. During a September fourth Oval Office news conference, Trump suggested the U.S. could stop trading with Mexico and other countries where it runs large trade deficits, claiming America could prosper by reducing its dependence on foreign trade. Trump singled out Mexico, Canada, and the European Union, arguing the U.S. could eliminate trade deficits simply by refusing to trade with those markets. Follow the FreightWaves Today PodcastOther FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of FreightWaves Today, the team breaks down the latest freight market developments as the industry heads into fall peak season. Topics include the deadly cargo plane accident at Miami International Airport, rising truckload tender rejections, spot and contract rate trends, strong intermodal demand and what the latest SONAR data signals for the weeks ahead. The episode also explores record-high diesel prices and their impact on carriers and brokers, along with the evolving legal and regulatory landscape facing the trucking industry. Plus, the team looks at autonomous trucking, automation and the potential for consolidation across freight and logistics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off with a tragic cargo jet accident that has crippled half of Miami International Airport's operations. An Amazon Air Boeing 767 freighter operated by 21 Air overran a runway during landing, struck multiple vehicles on a nearby road, and caught fire, leaving five people dead and five seriously injured. Listen in to learn how two of Miami's four runways remain closed following the deadly Amazon cargo jet accident, causing massive flight disruptions while the National Transportation Safety Board investigates the runway excursion that occurred at one hundred thirty miles per hour. Shifting gears to the rails, we examine a rare display of Democratic Party unity just weeks before crucial midterm elections. More than one hundred House Democrats are demanding that railroad workers come first in the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern mega-merger review by the Surface Transportation Board. The eighty-five billion dollar deal would create the first transcontinental freight railroad and the largest rail network in U.S. history, but union leaders warn that Union Pacific's lifetime employment offer does not fully protect some critical positions. Finally, we cover a critical visa enforcement dispute threatening to disrupt cross-border freight flows between Mexico and the United States. Mexican trucking industry leaders are intensifying calls for clarity after a trucker protest raised the stakes in the escalating Mexico-U.S. B-1 visa dispute with drivers blocking the Mexicali-Calexico East border crossing. Mexico's National Chamber of Freight Transportation estimates more than twenty-five thousand visas have been revoked from commercial drivers, potentially disrupting time-sensitive shipments including medical products, technology, food, and perishables. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FreightWaves Today takes a look back at some of the biggest conversations shaping freight and transportation in this special edition featuring a collection of standout interviews from the summer. Malcolm Harris and the FreightWaves team dig into the real-world performance of the Tesla Semi with Inter-coastal Trucking's Bob Lewis, including driver feedback, range, charging infrastructure, maintenance savings and where electric trucks make the most sense in a fleet. The show also explores the state of the rail freight market with Telegraph's David Correll, including rail volume forecasts, coal exports, tank car availability, AI data center construction and the growing gap between truck and intermodal pricing. Freight market strategy takes center stage with RXO Chief Strategy Officer Jared Weisfeld, who discusses the ongoing capacity correction, tightening freight markets, shipper concerns, routing guide failures, spot versus contract rates and why he believes the industry could be entering a multi-year freight recovery. Mitsubishi HC Capital America's Kirk Mann joins the conversation to examine the equipment financing market, the impact of the freight recession on small carriers, truck values, lending conditions and what fleets are doing as the market begins to recover. Finally, Ken Adamo of EASE Logistics weighs in on current freight volumes, seasonality, intermodal growth, contract repricing and the question of whether new capacity is actually entering the trucking market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Malcolm Harris and Zach Strickland break down the latest developments shaping freight, logistics and the broader economy. The show opens with the latest headlines, including an EPA proposal that could change how diesel exhaust fluid warnings work, a series of commercial vehicle safety enforcement blitzes and rising Pacific container rates amid strong peak-season demand and port congestion. Then, Ainsley Williams, VP of Automation and Innovation at Kenco, joins the show to discuss the expansion of Kenco's Innovation Lab in Chattanooga from 10,000 to 30,000 square feet. She explains how the larger facility will allow Kenco to test interconnected warehouse robotics, automation systems and emerging technologies in a real-world environment before deploying them for customers. Zach then dives into the latest SONAR data, examining the impact of Labor Day on tender rejections, freight volumes and spot rates across van, reefer and flatbed markets. Later, Matt Pyatt, CEO and co-founder of Arrive Logistics, joins the show to discuss Mubadala Capital's majority investment in Arrive, the company's growth strategy and what the deal means for its future. Pyatt also shares his outlook on freight demand, capacity, truckload rates and why he believes the market remains highly susceptible to disruption. Finally, the FreightWaves team examines the latest JOLTS and ADP employment data with economist D.J. Donahue, looking at what the numbers reveal about the labor market and the health of the economy. Subscribe to FreightWaves for the latest news, data and analysis from across the transportation and logistics industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off in Washington, where the public comment period has just closed on a major Environmental Protection Agency proposal that could fundamentally reshape how diesel engine systems operate. Listen in to learn how the EPA's controversial plan to replace engine deratement with warning signals has drawn nearly two hundred submissions spanning industry praise and sharp environmental criticism, while the proposal also includes nonconformance penalties allowing manufacturers to pay fines and continue selling current products. Next, we explore the results of a sweeping series of state enforcement blitzes where inspectors uncovered thousands of safety violations and placed ninety-nine drivers out of service across six states. Texas authorities led with a brutal operation in the Permian Basin that posted a staggering forty-seven point six percent vehicle out-of-service rate, averaging five point five violations per inspection and signaling dramatically heightened enforcement exposure for carriers operating through major freight corridors. Finally, we examine the ocean freight market as trans-Pacific container rates climb to fresh highs on resilient peak-season demand and severe port congestion caused by typhoons hammering Chinese and regional Asian facilities since mid-July. Asia-to-U.S. West Coast spot rates increased to seven thousand six hundred twenty-one dollars per forty-foot unit, while a succession of disruptions at Shanghai and Ningbo has forced carriers to omit port calls and adjust vessel rotations, creating significant capacity constraints supporting freight rates across multiple trade lanes. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI is transforming freight operations, but how far can automation go — and what happens when location intelligence, rail networks and energy markets collide? On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Malcolm Harris and Julie Van de Kamp break down the biggest stories and trends shaping transportation and logistics. The show opens with three major headlines: an alleged Texas grain theft ring involving more than 170 loads, a federal crackdown on 110 commercial driver training schools, and the latest developments in Yellow Corp.'s bankruptcy and pension settlements. Then, EAIGLE CEO and founder Amir Hoss joins the show to explain how AI-powered computer vision is automating truck gates and yards. The discussion covers unmanned and paperless facilities, real-time yard visibility, fraud prevention, data accuracy and the path toward fully autonomous yards. HERE Technologies' Bart Coppelmans discusses the next phase of AI in logistics, including spatial reasoning, location intelligence and the importance of connecting planning, execution and analytics. He explains how AI can help fleets make better routing decisions while keeping humans in control of critical decisions. For the weekly rail segment, Trains Magazine editor Bill Stephens and Trinity Rail Chief Commercial Officer Charlie Moore break down the latest rail traffic numbers, railcar demand, intermodal growth, coal shipments, tariffs and steel costs. They also discuss the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, rail service reliability and what could drive railcar demand into 2027. Finally, FreightWaves editor-at-large John Kingston takes a deep dive into surging diesel prices, refinery constraints, Russia-Ukraine disruptions, the Strait of Hormuz and what historically high diesel costs could mean for trucking and the broader economy. Plus, Julie breaks down the latest manufacturing and logistics data, including the August PMI and Logistics Managers' Index, with a look at transportation capacity, utilization, pricing and what the numbers could mean heading into peak season. Subscribe to FreightWaves for the latest news, analysis and data covering trucking, freight, logistics, rail and supply chain. #FreightWaves #FreightWavesToday #Trucking #Logistics #SupplyChain #AI #Rail #Diesel #Freight Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off with a massive organized crime investigation that has rocked the agricultural sector across Texas. Authorities have linked three men to an alleged theft ring involving one hundred seventy-six grain loads valued at over eight hundred thousand dollars, spanning more than nine million pounds of stolen agricultural product. The inquiry now covers over two hundred confirmed or potentially stolen shipments, with additional arrests remaining possible as investigators unravel this elaborate network. Next, we explore a sweeping federal crackdown on substandard driver training facilities as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy orders the emergency shutdown of one hundred ten commercial driving schools nationwide. These schools collectively certified more than five thousand drivers who were later cited for failing to meet federal English-language proficiency requirements during roadside inspections, raising serious questions about the quality and integrity of commercial driver training across the country. Finally, we cover the winding down of one of trucking's most significant bankruptcies as defunct Yellow Corporation reaches settlement agreements totaling up to five hundred twenty-six million dollars to resolve remaining withdrawal liability claims with four multiemployer pension plans. If approved by the federal bankruptcy court in Delaware, the liquidating trust would finally be able to make distributions to creditors, bringing an end to a legal battle that began when the carrier filed for bankruptcy in August twenty twenty-three. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FreightWaves Today hits the road for a special episode live from ShipStation Global headquarters in Austin, Texas, as Craig Fuller and Zach Strickland break down the latest forces shaping freight, logistics and the broader economy. The show opens with a look at the current freight and economic environment, including rising transportation and warehousing costs, inventory management challenges and the growing gap between truckload and intermodal pricing. Craig and Zach discuss why shippers are becoming more selective with inventory and SKUs, how uncertainty around demand and interest rates is influencing supply chain decisions, and what elevated costs could mean for the remainder of the year. They also dive into the extraordinary investment surrounding AI and data centers. With corporate profits climbing and massive infrastructure projects driving industrial activity, Craig and Zach examine how the AI boom is affecting railroads, construction, manufacturing and blue-collar employment. They also discuss the growing community backlash against hyperscale data centers and why the technology industry's messaging around AI could become an increasingly important part of the conversation. Then, ShipStation Global CEO Tom Madine joins the show to discuss the combination of ShipStation and Worldwide Express and what the newly integrated company is building for shippers. Madine explains how ShipStation Global is bringing together ShipStation's e-commerce shipping technology with Worldwide Express' transportation and freight expertise to create a more unified logistics platform. The goal is to give small and midsized businesses the ability to manage more of their supply chain from a single place instead of jumping between different providers and systems. A major focus is ShipStation's newly launched LTL offering. Madine explains why LTL was one of the most requested additions from ShipStation customers and how integrating freight directly into the platform can simplify inbound inventory movements, middle-mile transportation and other shipping needs that previously required merchants to leave the ShipStation ecosystem. The conversation also explores why transportation decisions can't simply come down to finding the cheapest rate. Service reliability, damage risk, estimated arrival times, carrier selection and the consequences of a failed shipment can all dramatically change what "best" means for an individual shipper. Craig, Zach and Madine discuss how data and intelligence can help businesses make better transportation decisions, particularly for smaller companies that don't have dedicated logistics teams or the resources to constantly monitor freight market cycles. Madine also lays out ShipStation Global's larger vision: bringing parcel, LTL, truckload, final mile and potentially additional transportation modes together into a more unified experience. He explains why simplifying logistics could be especially valuable for entrepreneurs and SMBs already balancing everything from finance and accounting to marketing, inventory and product development. Finally, the conversation turns global. Madine discusses ShipStation's presence across North America, Europe and Australia, the company's hundreds of parcel-carrier API connections and its ambition to become a truly global shipping technology platform. Topics include: • ShipStation Global's new LTL offering • The ShipStation and Worldwide Express combination • Bringing parcel, LTL and truckload together• Freight market cyclicality and SMB shippers • Using data to improve carrier and shipping decisions • Why the lowest freight rate isn't always the best option • Rising transportation and warehousing costs • Inventory management and changing shipper behavior • Truckload versus intermodal economics • AI, data centers and industrial freight demand • Corporate efficiency and the AI investment boom • The growing economic importance of hyperscale data centers • ShipStation Global's international expansion • The future of multimodal shipping technology FreightWaves Today brings together the latest freight market intelligence, transportation news and conversations with the leaders shaping global supply chains. Subscribe to FreightWaves for more interviews, market analysis and breaking news from across trucking, logistics, technology and the global supply chain. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The freight industry is facing a major wave of regulatory, economic and operational changes. On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Craig and Julie breaks down the latest developments affecting trucking, freight brokers, autonomous trucks, railroads and cross-border freight. The show opens with the FMCSA crackdown on CDL schools, including the shutdown of hundreds of driving schools over concerns involving English-language proficiency, facilities and instructor qualifications. The discussion examines what tougher barriers to entry could mean for trucking safety, capacity and the broader freight market. The hosts also dive into a major Penske liability case, the future of the independent contractor model and the potential impact of new legal precedents on freight brokers and motor carriers. They discuss the latest movement on the FMCSA freight broker transparency rule, which could require brokers to maintain electronic transaction records and provide them to carriers or shippers upon request. The episode also explores California's autonomous truck regulations, including the state's million-mile testing requirement and a legal challenge from the California Teamsters. With autonomous trucking continuing to advance, the conversation looks at the growing battle over technology, regulation and trucking jobs. Joining the show is Dr. David Correll of Telegraph, who discusses his company's latest six-month freight rail outlook. Harrell shares his forecast for rail carload and intermodal volumes, the potential for coal exports, tank car availability, the impact of energy prices and the massive industrial demand being created by AI data center construction. He also explains why the widening price gap between truckload and intermodal transportation could continue shifting freight from trucks to rail. The team then examines the rapid growth of U.S.-Mexico cross-border freight, with Laredo and other border markets seeing significant increases in transportation activity amid nearshoring and changing global trade patterns. Later, Josh Lovan of J.J. Keller joins the show to discuss carrier vetting, freight broker compliance, safety management and the growing legal risks facing brokers after major nuclear verdicts. Loving outlines what companies should be doing now to create a defensible carrier-vetting process, including reviewing CSA and roadside inspection data, documenting carrier-selection decisions and consistently enforcing safety standards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off in California, where organized labor is aggressively challenging the state's newly implemented autonomous truck framework. The California Teamsters filed suit in Alameda County Superior Court, arguing that the DMV improperly fast-tracked driverless truck testing regulations through an expedited process reserved for minor updates. Despite the legal challenge, the permit queue continues to move forward with Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI already holding drivered testing permits. Meanwhile, two powerful trucking industry groups are sounding the alarm over a recent appellate court decision they say could fundamentally upend the entire carrier liability model. The American Trucking Associations and the Truckload Carriers of America filed a joint amicus brief requesting a full en banc hearing to reconsider a Fifth Circuit ruling that found Penske Logistics liable for a fatal crash involving a double-brokered driver the company knew nothing about. The associations warn that if the precedent stands, the entire trucking industry may have been violating federal leasing regulations for decades. Finally, we cover a long-awaited federal transparency rule for freight brokers that has cleared a critical Washington checkpoint. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sent its broker transparency rulemaking to the White House on August twenty-seventh, marking the first concrete movement since the comment period closed in March twenty twenty-five. The rule would require brokers to maintain transaction records electronically and provide copies to carriers or shippers within forty-eight hours of a request. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Labor Day is just around the corner, but is the freight market ready for the traditional fall surge? On this episode of FreightWaves Today, we break down the latest signals across trucking, rail, freight technology and the broader supply chain. We cover the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern mega-merger, a wave of freight and logistics bankruptcies, and new federal pilot programs that could give truck drivers more flexibility with hours of service.Then, we dive into the growing battle between Highway and Motive over ELD data access — and what the dispute could mean for small carriers, brokers, fraud prevention and access to freight. AVRide Chief Commercial Officer Sergei Kirillov joins the show to discuss autonomous vehicles, delivery robots, robotaxis, college-campus deliveries and what it will take for autonomous delivery to expand into more cities and suburban markets. We also examine the latest SONAR freight data heading into Labor Day, including tender rejection rates, spot rates and whether the anticipated peak-season surge is finally beginning to emerge. Plus, Trains Editor Bill Stephens joins from the North Carolina Transportation Museum to discuss Mexico's growing rail market, Grupo México's innovative rail-ferry operations and the technology and security measures being used to combat cargo theft. And in Freight Expectations with Matt Leffler, we tackle organized cargo crime, the push for the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (COCA), the legal risks surrounding double brokering, and how massive AI data-center construction is creating new demand for industrial freight. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining the heated regulatory battle over the proposed mega-merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. The Class I railroads are aggressively defending their application, telling the Surface Transportation Board that their filing contains extensive evidence demonstrating benefits for employees, customers and the broader economy. The combined company promises new single-line service across more than eighty-eight thousand county-to-county lanes and the diversion of two point one million truckloads from highway to rail. Meanwhile, a brutal wave of financial distress is hitting the freight and logistics sector as at least twenty-one transportation companies filed for bankruptcy protection between late July and August twenty-fifth. The filings range from single-truck carriers to massive national distributors with hundreds of millions in assets and liabilities, underscoring how financial hardship remains uneven across the freight economy as small trucking companies struggle alongside larger logistics businesses confronting debt loads and restructuring challenges. Finally, we explore how federal regulators are moving ahead with pilot programs that could fundamentally reshape how truck drivers manage their workdays. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced Thursday that it has completed pre-tests for its Flexible Sleeper Berth and Split Duty Period pilot programs and is reviewing results ahead of a planned full launch in twenty twenty-seven. The Split Duty Period pilot would allow participating drivers to pause the critical fourteen-hour driving window for up to three hours per day, effectively giving drivers more ability to wait out heavy traffic or severe weather. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to FreightWaves Today! Host Malcolm Harris and Zach Strickland kick off today's show breaking down the latest supply chain headlines, market data, and major industry developments. Morning Minute Headlines: Kenco successfully deploys six supply chain AI agents in just three months with Deep Fabric; Canadian authorities seize nearly 850 lbs of cocaine at the Bluewater Bridge; and a deep dive into the massive global container ship order book pressuring ocean rates. State of Freight Fraud: Danielle Spinelli (Director of Partnerships at Gen Logs & "The Fraud Girl") breaks down Q2 cargo theft trends, high-value target risks, and how Gen Logs' nationwide sensor network helps catch criminals and assist law enforcement. $100M Tech Acquisition: Andrew Wimer and Mitch Mitchell join the show to discuss Descartes acquiring Ty Software. Learn how combining AI-powered brokerage workflows with global visibility tools like MacroPoint aims to streamline broker operations into a single execution layer. Driver-Led Innovation: 20-year veteran professional truck driver James Boyce, founder of Bubba Lee LLC, introduces the "Trucker Tote"—a modular console designed to eliminate cab distractions, improve safety, and help fleets prevent thermonuclear verdicts. SONAR & Freightnomics Update: Lead Economist DJ Donahue and Ben Peterson (Head of Shipper Solutions) join Zach for a deep dive into tender rejections, Q2 GDP revisions, PCE inflation figures, and strategic shipper advice for the upcoming bid season. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining a major breakthrough in the often-painful journey from AI demo to live operations. Third-party logistics provider Kenco has successfully deployed six supply chain AI agents into production with DeepFabric in just three months, a stark contrast to broader industry trends where Gartner expects more than forty percent of agentic AI projects to be canceled by the end of twenty twenty-seven. The partnership is now scaling aggressively, with twenty agents planned across North America over the next twelve months and audit-spend reductions of forty-five percent already achieved.Next, we explore the critical role of border security in cross-border supply chain integrity. Canada Border Services Agency officers seized approximately three hundred eighty-five kilograms of suspected cocaine from a commercial truck at Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, Ontario on August thirteenth. The driver was arrested and charged with importing a controlled substance and possession for trafficking, underscoring the ongoing enforcement challenge at busy commercial border crossings.Finally, we discuss the ocean freight sector bracing for a massive wave of new capacity that could severely pressure container rates. The global containership orderbook has reached an orderbook-to-fleet ratio of roughly thirty-eight point seven percent, meaning vessels on order represent nearly two-fifths of the existing fleet's capacity. With fleet growth running at about four point two percent against expected container-trade growth of only three to four percent, industry analysts warn that vessel supply is likely to outpace demand, potentially releasing significant downward pressure on freight rates once current geopolitical disruptions normalize. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of FreightWaves Today, hosts Craig Fuller and Julie Garner analyze the current trajectory of the North American economy, key supply chain news, and recent data across freight modes. Craig and Julie open with commentary on strong U.S. industrial and rail volume data, record corporate profit margins driven by technological efficiency, and the passing of country music legend Dolly Parton, highlighting her recent venture into driver-centric travel stops. They also cover a proposed $6 billion freight rail bypass around Atlanta and a major $150,000 cargo theft bust in California's Mojave Desert. Pavan Joshi, Chief Strategy Officer at E2open, breaks down ongoing trade posturing between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Joshi highlights the operational challenges of unwinding 30 years of integrated continental supply chains (particularly in auto, agriculture, and energy) and stresses the need for stable trade policies and strategic friend-shoring. Sonar Daily Market Update: A deep dive into tender rejections shows refrigerated capacity remaining tight (~20.5%) due to summer weather demand, while flatbed rejection rates have cooled off. The hosts highlight strong intermodal performance, driven by a 33% contract cost-savings advantage over truckload. Einride CEO Roozbeh Charli discusses the commercialization of autonomous and electric freight networks. He reviews recent deployments, including their partnership with Tesla, the expansion of their vehicle-agnostic software stack, and their entry into defense applications to remove human drivers from high-risk zones. Valentina Jordan, CEO and co-founder of Nada, explains why successful AI adoption requires a solid, contextual data foundation rather than just standalone AI agents. She shares details on their recent strategic funding round and how Nada's platform processes fragmented global trade data to eliminate stockouts and reduce costs. Aaron Decker, CEO of Multi-Service Fuel Card, clarifies that elevated retail diesel prices are primarily driven by historic refining crack spreads and global refining disruptions (including attacks on Russian energy infrastructure) rather than crude shortages alone. Weekly AAR Rail Report: The episode closes with the latest Association of American Railroads (AAR) data, which reveals sustained year-over-year volume growth in U.S. intermodal units (+5%) and Canadian trade traffic. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining an ambitious infrastructure proposal that could dramatically reshape freight movement in the South. An influential coalition is leveraging the proposed Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern mega-merger to demand a massive freight rail bypass around Atlanta that would free up track for passenger trains and thin out the city's legendary traffic congestion. The six-billion-dollar project would divert eighty percent of freight trains onto a U-shaped route, opening capacity for fourteen commuter rail lines and offering a far cheaper alternative to the ninety billion dollars Georgia would otherwise need to spend on highway expansion by 2050. Next, we shift over to the rails to discuss a brazen cargo theft in California's Mojave Desert that illustrates how quickly high-value freight can disappear. San Bernardino County deputies recovered over $150,000 in New Balance shoes after reports of people breaking into BNSF boxcars near Daggett, an unincorporated community east of Barstow along I-95. Authorities arrested a suspect following a traffic stop and foot pursuit, underscoring how rail cargo theft can move high-value inventory from a railcar to a highway within minutes. Finally, we cover the passing of an American icon who made professional drivers part of her final business chapter. Country music legend Dolly Parton died peacefully Tuesday in Nashville at age 80, just two months after making a surprise appearance at the grand opening of Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee. The facility, located about an hour south of Nashville, was designed specifically for professional drivers and featured truck parking, fuel, showers, laundry, restaurants, and a dog park, reflecting Parton's decades spent touring the country by bus. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of FreightWaves Today covers critical shifts across truckload market dynamics, equipment remarketing, cross-border trade, software consolidation, and global energy risks. Used Truck Market Update: Chris Backeberg (President, Daimler Trucks Remarketing) discusses tight sleeper and day cab inventories, stable used-truck pricing, and fleet age/maintenance cycles. Spot Market & Bidding Dynamics: Rush Feldhacker (Tabi) details Tabi's Pricing Pressure Index and how disciplined brokers leverage spot data and automation to navigate shifting pricing power. Credit Quality & Energy Risks: John Kingston (FreightWaves) dives deeper into BMO's credit metrics, historical diesel crack spreads, and seasonal heating oil demand. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trucking Credit Recovery: BMO's quarterly earnings show dramatic drops in distress metrics, with credit loss provisions plunging to $15 million and gross impaired loans crashing to $440 million. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/likely-bmo-swan-song-shows-trucking-credit-strengtheningUS-Canada Tariff Escalation: The US hits Canadian goods with 50% tariffs after negotiations stall, prompting Canada to prepare retaliatory tariffs starting September 8. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-canada-supply-chains-face-uncertainty-as-trade-talks-collapse Descartes Systems Group announced it has acquired Tai, an AI-powered transportation management system provider, for one hundred million dollars in cash. This marks the thirty-fourth deal for the Canadian company since twenty seventeen, following recent acquisitions of Latin American last-mile logistics tech provider Drivin and Pittsburgh-based fleet safety solutions provider Idelic. CEO Ed Ryan stated that Tai complements their strengths in carrier onboarding, compliance, fraud prevention and real-time visibility, creating significant opportunities to help freight brokers streamline operations and improve margins. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of FreightWaves Today, hosts Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp break down the major trade and regulatory shifts shaking up the freight industry—including the newly implemented 50% tariffs on Canadian imports and the sudden departure of ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. Keith Moore, CEO of Auto Scheduler AI, discusses how AI-powered warehouse orchestration software helps manage complex facility operations. He explains that by using an "operational twin" model of a warehouse, the software helps optimize inventory flow, decision-making, and labor utilization while addressing the bottlenecks created by modern automation. Eric Kulisch, Air Cargo Reporter at FreightWaves, shares updates on Amazon's expanding drone delivery program and the evolving regulatory environment surrounding drone logistics. He details how tech capabilities like detect-and-avoid features are shaping the space, as well as the long-term industry projections for urban air mobility. Russell Jones CEO of Private Fleet Net Zero, breaks down how his company functions as a digital matching platform specifically designed to unlock unused backhaul capacity for private fleets. He highlights how this approach offers freight brokers reliable, safer, and heavily discounted capacity while simultaneously cutting down on empty miles and carbon emissions. Kurt Mann, Head of Transportation at Mitsubishi HC Capital, provides a financial perspective on the current state of the freight and equipment markets following an extended economic downturn. He outlines lender strategy, equipment valuation shifts from peak bubble levels, and why fleets remain cautious about adding new capacity until overall freight demand sees a sustained rebound. Plus, we explore the latest industry headlines, deep-dive into freight market data, and feature insights from expert guests across warehouse automation, drone delivery, private fleets, and equipment financing. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off at the Texas border, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers uncovered a massive narcotics smuggling operation hiding in plain sight. On August eleventh at the Roma International Bridge, CBP officers directed a tractor-trailer arriving from Mexico to secondary inspection after it declared a routine commercial detergent shipment. Using nonintrusive inspection equipment and a canine team, authorities discovered over 1,000 pounds of suspected methamphetamine concealed within the detergent load, with a staggering street value exceeding $9.57 million. Port Director Andres Guerra credited advanced technology and frontline vigilance with identifying the contraband in what appeared to be routine freight. Next, we explore the intermodal sector, where RoadOne IntermodaLogistics is aggressively expanding its Port of Charleston footprint through strategic acquisition. The Randolph, Massachusetts-based provider announced it has acquired Higgins Transport Service, a Charleston-based drayage and intermodal provider, adding fifteen drivers and critical capacity to serve the Southeastern market. RoadOne recently opened a massive 384,000-square-foot facility in Summerville, South Carolina, and plans to add another 279,700-square-foot warehouse on the 100-acre property next year to support its growing Southeast global trade corridor operations. Finally, we break down major leadership upheaval rocking the trucking industry's most prominent trade organization as Chris Spear departs as president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, effective immediately. Spear had recently observed his ten-year anniversary in the role and was just beginning an extension of his contract—a five-year deal signed in 2021 was extended in 2024 until 2029. ATA chairman Greg Hodgen said a search has begun to identify the organization's next leader, while assuring members that ATA remains strong, focused, and fully engaged in delivering results. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Best Of episode of FreightWaves Today, we are replaying top industry interviews that focus on earnings before diving into an exclusive freight market breakdown. David Parker, founder and CEO of Covenant Logistics, weighs in on the urgent necessity of federal tort reform in the face of skyrocketing insurance costs and severe "nuclear verdicts". He also breaks down Covenant's strategic shift away from one-way over-the-road freight and shares his perspective on where we stand in the current market cycle. Julie Van de Kemp breaks down the latest market trends using FreightWaves SONAR, featuring key insights on: Spot vs. Contract Rates: Tender rejections and volumes are stabilizing. Meanwhile, contract rates continue to rise, significantly narrowing the rate gap with spot market pricing. Intermodal Savings Index: Why intermodal rates have remained relatively steady compared to volatile truckload spot and contract rates, offering massive cost savings. Top Cost-Saving Lanes: Analysis of high-savings outbound routes, including key East Coast and Midwest corridors out of Atlanta and Pennsylvania. Rail Merger Impact: How current railroad merger discussions could keep intermodal contract rate increases quiet to avoid regulatory pushback from shippers. FreightWaves Finance Editor Todd Maiden shares his expert financial perspective on the public transport sector. He breaks down recent earnings reports, key Wall Street movements, and what carrier financial disclosures reveal about underlying demand and market health. Chris Versace brings a high-level macroeconomic and OEM market perspective to the show. He analyzes transportation stocks, equipment manufacturing trends, and what broader economic indicators signify for freight volumes moving forward. ArcBest President & CEO Seth Runser dives into the company's strong performance, early signals of demand recovery, and their strategic consolidation efforts. He also highlights ArcBest's latest platform technology and how LTL carriers are adapting to changing market conditions. Aaron Graft, CEO of Triumph Financial, discusses the real-world operational pressures hitting independent truckers and small fleets. He outlines how surging input costs—from insurance to equipment and fuel—are squeezing carrier margins and how tech-driven financial tools are helping operators stay afloat. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadcasting live from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia, this episode of FreightWaves Today dives into major industry headlines and explores Atlanta's vital role as a global freight and logistics hub. The hosts cover crucial market trends—from regulatory impacts on capacity to rail surge data and cold chain innovations—alongside interviews with top supply chain executives. Clayton Griffin (President, OTR Solutions): Discusses the factoring industry, OTR Select's capacity and data product, fraud mitigation, non-recourse models, and market cycle predictions amid regulatory crackdowns. Tony Broyles (Head of Sales, Overdrive Logistics): Shares insights from both the shipper and broker perspectives, highlighting how market tightening, capacity shifts, and authentic networking shape modern freight relationships. Ed Elkins (EVP & Chief Commercial Officer, Norfolk Southern): Explores Atlanta's historical and modern significance in rail logistics, mode conversion in the "Golden Triangle," reshoring trends, and the strategic vision behind the pending transcontinental rail merger. Brian Dunn (SVP of Facilities & Engineering, Americold): Breaks down cold storage growth, energy efficiency, risk resiliency during extreme weather, and how AI technology optimizes thermal management across temperature-controlled facilities. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp break down the latest signals from across trucking, rail, intermodal and the broader industrial economy. Thom Albrecht of Reliance Partners joins the show to discuss where the freight cycle is headed, improving demand signals and the supply-side forces reshaping trucking. Albrecht explains how English-language proficiency enforcement, non-domiciled CDL scrutiny, changes to CDL and ELD self-certification, safety enforcement and major court decisions could affect capacity and potentially extend the current freight cycle. The show also dives into what the railroads are telling us about the health of the industrial economy, including strength across commodities such as chemicals, scrap metal, steel-related freight and grain. Craig and Julie examine the continued shift of freight toward intermodal and BNSF's expanded Phoenix-to-Dallas-Fort Worth service as railroads look to capture more over-the-road truckload freight. Plus, Bloomberg Intelligence's Lee Klaskow provides his outlook for transportation and what the fourth quarter could hold, Oliver Sawbridge brings a supply chain intelligence perspective to the conversation, and Bill Stephens closes out the show with a deeper look at the rail industry and what current volumes are signaling about the economy. Craig and Julie also cover the day's biggest freight headlines, including Americold's new $80 million cold-storage hub at Port Saint John, BNSF's intermodal expansion between Phoenix and Dallas-Fort Worth, and UPS strengthening its Asia-Pacific air cargo network. Subscribe to FreightWaves for the latest news, analysis and conversations covering trucking, transportation, logistics, supply chains and the global freight economy. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining a major cold chain infrastructure investment at one of the Atlantic seaboard's fastest-growing container gateways. Americold has opened a roughly eighty million dollar import-export hub at Port Saint John, stitching together DP World and CPKC into one seamless cold chain and eliminating the inefficient routing of Canadian-bound refrigerated freight through U.S. ports. This temperature-controlled facility, which provides twenty-two thousand pallet positions, is the only one in Eastern Canada directly connected to a port without drayage, arriving just as Port Saint John's container volumes surged one hundred seventy-five percent since 2021. Shifting gears to the rails, we examine how BNSF is aggressively capturing truck freight between two of the Southwest's fastest-growing metropolitan areas. The Class I railroad has expanded its intermodal rail service between Phoenix and North Texas to six days a week, completing the route in just over three days as domestic peak shipping season approaches. The enhanced service is explicitly designed to convert over-the-road truck freight to rail as shippers face tighter highway capacity and higher rates, while BNSF simultaneously builds out Logistics Park Phoenix, its second intermodal facility in the region. Finally, we explore a major routing shift that positions UPS to strengthen its Asia-Pacific freight network as the logistics giant grows aggressively in the region. The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved UPS's transfer of six Hong Kong flying rights to Clark Airport in the Philippines, where a hub expansion project is expected to be completed later this year. The move comes as UPS's Asia-to-Asia export volume surged thirteen point six percent year over year in the second quarter, enabled by recent investments including a major expansion project for its Hong Kong hub and terminal upgrades at Incheon airport in Seoul. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp dive into the most pressing headlines and structural shifts impacting the supply chain, logistics, and transportation sectors. They discuss the escalation of organized freight fraud—including a recent raid in Armenia targeting U.S. carriers—and why the industry urgently needs coordinated law enforcement solutions like the CAUCA legislation Lakshman Achuthan, Co-Founder of the Economic Cycle Research Institute (ECRI), breaks down leading indicators signaling a potential slowdown in global industrial growth and what sticky business costs mean for freight margins. Jared Weisfeld, Chief Strategy Officer at RXO, shares why structural capacity exits and federal regulatory enforcement could pave the way for a multi-year recovery in truckload markets. Pat Dillon, CEO of Flock Freight, explains how pooling technology and shared truckload models are helping enterprise shippers optimize partial loads and reduce costs during shifting market conditions. Lainey Sibble rom Cox Automotive's Central Dispatch discusses new biometric identity verification and secure vehicle transfer technologies built to safeguard vehicle transport against bad actors. Plus, tune in for a live SONAR market update breaking down tender rejections, spot rate movements, and ocean freight rate spikes! Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining a strategic bet on orchestration software as national parcel carriers continue to shed unprofitable volume. Last-mile delivery technology company Burq is wagering that enterprise retailers will pay for orchestration platforms that sit above the growing bench of regional carriers and gig courier networks. With fifty-five percent of retailers now using carriers outside FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service, and alternative carriers moving two point six billion parcels last year, the last-mile delivery duopoly is rapidly eroding. Next, we discuss a messy legal battle in the air cargo sector that has officially come to an end. Miami-based charter operator Global Crossing Airlines has dismissed its thirty-million-dollar breach-of-contract lawsuit against Ascent Global Logistics and terminated their exclusive brokerage agreement. GlobalX had alleged its former investment partner failed to honor an agreement to steer air cargo business its way, and during the second quarter, the carrier's cargo revenue dropped two point nine million dollars, or about fifty percent, year over year. Finally, we explore a sophisticated international freight fraud operation as Armenian authorities busted a Yerevan-based group that posed as American carriers and converted stolen freight proceeds into crypto. Cyber police raided commercial space inside a Yerevan hotel on July twenty-third, where suspects allegedly used specialized computer equipment to gain trust from businesses arranging transportation services, then redirected shipments to different locations instead of completing intended deliveries. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp on FreightWaves Today as they break down the critical developments shaping the freight, logistics, and supply chain markets. In the morning minute, they A look at an alarming $111 million wave of high-tech cargo thefts targeting semiconductor and data center freight, featuring coordinated "bump and run" syndicate tactics. Plus, an urgent FBI tax fraud investigation involving self-employed truck drivers in Georgia, and Mexico's surging heavy-duty truck production and export gains. Drone Warfare & Supply Chains: Analysis of Ukraine's drone strikes on Russian distribution hubs—including Wildberries facilities—and what targeting fulfillment networks means for modern logistics vulnerability. Freight Payments & Shippers of Choice: Jeff Pape (US Bank Corporate Payment Systems) stops by to discuss rising freight payment predictability, early holiday peak planning, emerging AI applications in logistics, and credit quality across the sector. SONAR Market Update: Craig and Julie break down SONAR's Tender Lead Time Index (OU.TLT), examining why shippers are tendering freight further in advance, how lead times impact tender rejections, and how to utilize the SONAR Coverage Guide to manage spot rate volatility. Real-World Tesla Semi Demo: Bob Lewis from Intercoastal Trucking shares first-hand driver feedback from testing the Tesla Semi in hard Northeast corridors, discussing range management, regenerative braking, maintenance savings, and charging infrastructure challenges. The Freight Cycle Debate: Ken Adamo (Chief Strategy Officer at Ease Logistics) and Dr. Jason Miller engage (Michigan State University) in a debate over capacity supply, driver availability, data center demand surges, and regulatory enforcement shifts. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off with an alarming wave of high-tech cargo theft that's costing the freight industry a staggering fortune. Cargo thieves have stolen nearly $111 million in data center freight since early June, with individual cases ranging from $2 million to a jaw-dropping $38 million. In a disturbing new tactic, criminals deliberately crashed into security escorts protecting high-value technology shipments, then continued driving with the loads in what experts call the "bump-and-run" method. Next, we discuss a massive fraud case unfolding in Georgia where the FBI is urgently seeking truck drivers nationwide who may be victims in a 54-count tax fraud indictment. Federal prosecutors charged 62-year-old Diane Marie Poe, owner of Genuine Financial Services in Walton County, with 32 counts of bank fraud and 14 payroll-related tax offenses. Prosecutors accuse Poe of keeping money that customers provided for estimated tax obligations instead of delivering promised services, with at least 26 identified clients working as self-employed truck drivers who relied on her company for bookkeeping and tax preparation. Finally, we head south to examine how Mexico's heavy-duty truck production surged 51.8% in July as tariff tensions continue to simmer. Mexico's National Association of Bus, Truck and Tractor-Trailer Producers reported that manufacturers produced 14,675 heavy-duty vehicles during July, while exports climbed 66.7% year over year to 13,117 units. With a staggering 92.4% of Mexico's truck and bus exports through July shipped to the United States, ANPACT officials are urging policymakers to preserve the USMCA's core principles and renewing their call for changes to Section 232 tariffs. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of FreightWaves Today, hosts Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp explore key headlines and developments across the logistics, trucking, and transportation sectors. The show features discussions on the state of trailer insurance, driver recruitment and health, alongside live market analysis via FreightWaves SONAR. Andy Kuchar explains that freight brokers and logistics companies utilizing leased trailer pools are frequently exposed to unmanaged liability risks. Many traditional commercial auto policies contain exclusions for trailers when they are over the road. He points out three warning signs of coverage gaps: reliance on "contingent" coverage language, assuming a third-party driver's Certificate of Insurance protects you, and lacking a dedicated trailer policy. In our SONAR Update, we see that tender rejections have moderated around 13.5%, overall rejection metrics and spot rates remain significantly higher compared to recent years (up ~21% year-over-year). Craig and Julie characterize explain that this is typical seasonal behavior before the late-summer and Labor Day ramp-up. Jeremy Reymer introduces Project 61, a non-profit initiative created to address the alarmingly low average lifespan of commercial truck drivers (61 years old). The program focuses on practical, free lifestyle improvements for drivers centered on food/nutrition, movement, sleep/recharge, mental health, and preventative care. The segment highlights how driver health directly correlates to highway safety and accident risk reduction. In our 2nd hour, it's return of the Matt! Matthew Leffler joins Craig for an episode of Freight Expectations. The two cover the FMCSA's proposed rulemaking to codify English language proficiency as an out-of-service violation. They also dive deep into asymmetric warfare, drone technology, and potential vulnerabilities across U.S. logistics infrastructure, fuel refining capacity, and transport hubs. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices