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FreightWaves Today kicks off the fourth quarter with a packed episode covering autonomous trucking, freight market conditions, driver appreciation and the latest issues shaping transportation. Malcolm Harris and Zach Strickland break down the morning's biggest freight headlines, including new commercial trucking and cross-border enforcement legislation, a bizarre autonomous-trailer theft involving Plus AI, and growing challenges around cross-border freight between the U.S. and Mexico. Then, Kodiak's Daniel Goff and PrePass CTO Chas Worcester join the show to discuss Kodiak's partnership with IKEA as a driverless launch shipper and its work with PrePass to connect autonomous trucks with roadside inspection systems. They explain how autonomous vehicles are being tested for safety, how enhanced inspections work and what the path toward nationwide deployment could look like. Zach Strickland delivers a SONAR market update, examining tender rejection rates, truckload capacity, spot rates, early-October freight demand and the continued growth of domestic intermodal. The episode also features a conversation with Samsara's Kelly Soderlund about the company's first Driver Appreciation Month and its new Driver Perks program, including discounts and benefits designed for professional drivers. Later, Zach and Thomas Watson dig deeper into the fourth-quarter freight outlook, economic indicators and the impact of elevated diesel prices on carriers and transportation costs. Plus, get the latest details on the upcoming F3: Future of Freight Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, taking place October 27–28. 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 in Washington, where a Texas congressman has introduced sweeping legislation aimed at overhauling trucking safety and cross-border enforcement. Named after eight-year-old Barron Ritchey, who was tragically killed when a wheel assembly struck his family's vehicle, the bill would require mandatory English-proficiency tests for all commercial drivers and impose fines of up to $100,000 per vehicle per day on foreign carriers caught illegally hauling domestic freight. The legislation also targets chameleon carriers and would establish a pilot program using GPS and geofencing technology to identify foreign-domiciled carriers suspected of cabotage violations. Next, we explore a bizarre cargo crime story out of California that took a remarkably unexpected turn. When thieves stole two PlusAI trailers bearing NVIDIA branding from the company's Fremont warehouse, they expected high-value autonomous trucking technology but instead found 40,000 pounds of sand used for simulated loads during manual testing. In a stroke of luck, both trailers were discovered just hours later outside a Newark office, abandoned with all the sand still intact after the disappointed thieves opened the back doors and found nothing worth stealing. Finally, we examine how the massive nearshoring boom is running into serious operational headwinds at the U.S.-Mexico border. Industry executives warn that a shrinking pool of cross-border drivers, tougher customs enforcement, and increasingly sophisticated cargo theft are making cross-border freight movements more difficult and expensive. Cargo theft in Mexico's key Bajío manufacturing region has surged eleven percent year-over-year, with criminal organizations now deploying GPS jammers, inside information, and violent tactics that render basic tracking systems inadequate for freight security. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the third quarter comes to a close, FreightWaves Today looks at the forces shaping freight heading into Q4 — from cargo theft and diesel prices to record-setting intermodal volumes and the evolution of electric trucking. The show opens with a look at a coordinated national cargo-theft enforcement operation that recovered roughly $635,000 in stolen freight, followed by an update on falling diesel prices and new cold-storage warehouse safety requirements in California. Then, Sarit Tamir, founder and CEO of a computer-vision company, explains how warehouses can use cameras they already have to identify hidden sources of lost capacity, including idle dock doors, congestion, blocked aisles and forklift bottlenecks. The episode also features a SONAR intermodal update, with domestic rail container volumes reaching a new annual high and shippers continuing to shift freight from truckload to rail in search of significant cost savings. The discussion examines whether railroads, terminals and drayage providers can keep pace as intermodal volumes continue to grow. Trains Magazine editor Bill Stephens joins the show to break down the latest rail traffic data, including growth in intermodal, chemicals and metals, while discussing drayage capacity, rail service and the bankruptcy of Brightline. Finally, FreightWaves' Adam Wingfield shares his firsthand experience driving a loaded Tesla Semi. A longtime skeptic, Adam discusses the truck's acceleration, regenerative braking, camera-based visibility, maintenance advantages and the remaining questions around range and long-haul applications. 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 landmark law enforcement operation that dealt a major blow to cargo theft networks nationwide. The coordinated National Supply Chain Blitz resulted in multiple arrests and approximately $635,000 in recovered stolen freight, including thirty stolen transformers worth roughly $600,000 that were located at a Massachusetts facility using fraudulent documentation. Next, we explore how California is tightening regulatory oversight of cold-storage facilities following a devastating industrial fire. Governor Gavin Newsom signed new legislation requiring emergency financial resources and authorizing significantly higher penalties for safety violations at large cold-storage warehouses after the massive eight-day Lineage fire in Los Angeles triggered a state emergency declaration and widespread public health concerns. Finally, we cover some welcome news for truckers as retail diesel prices dropped nearly fifteen cents per gallon from their recent all-time highs. The decline ends a three-week streak of record-breaking weekly prices and is being driven by increasing crude oil flows out of the Persian Gulf approaching pre-war levels. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FreightWaves Today looks ahead to the fourth quarter and holiday peak season with an in-depth discussion of freight market conditions, capacity, operating costs and the broader economy. Covenant Logistics Group Founder and CEO David Parker joins the show live in Chattanooga to discuss the company's strategy of moving away from commoditized truckload freight and deeper into specialized, service-intensive operations, including poultry transportation, expedited freight and logistics supporting AI data-center construction. Parker shares his outlook for peak season, contract rates, capacity, driver pay, diesel costs and the potential impact of autonomous trucking and electric trucks. The episode also examines major industry headlines, including Daimler Truck North America's opposition to proposed NOx noncompliance penalties, Trimble's strategic review of its transportation and logistics business, and uncertainty surrounding U.S. port fees on China-linked and China-built vessels. The SONAR market update explores tender rejections, spot and contract rates, freight volumes and the tightening capacity environment. With tender rejections around 14%, the discussion examines why the market can remain healthy without reaching the extreme tightness seen during previous freight booms. Economist Jason Miller joins the show for a broader look at the freight economy, including diesel prices, regulatory enforcement, capacity exits, consumer spending, energy markets, interest rates, housing and the driver labor market. Miller also discusses how AI and data-center investment are supporting industrial freight while weaker consumer activity creates potential headwinds. The episode closes with a discussion of changing student-loan policies and their potential implications for consumer spending and freight, along with an update on FreightWaves Today's new one-hour-plus format. 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 fierce regulatory battle over proposed non-compliance penalties that could allow engine makers to simply pay fines rather than meet the drastically tighter nitrogen oxide standard taking effect in 2027. Daimler Truck North America is publicly resisting this controversial loophole, warning that PACCAR's suggestion of treating 6,000–7,000 per-engine penalties as an acceptable business strategy undermines Congressional intent and threatens the investments made by companies that developed compliant technology over the past decade. Next, we explore the freight technology sector where a potential blockbuster divestiture remains in limbo as Trimble keeps multiple interested parties on the hook for its transportation and logistics business. Speaking at the company's Insight 2026 conference, CEO Rob Painter offered no timetable or clarity on whether the strategic review with Goldman Sachs will result in a sale, spinoff, or no transaction at all, even as Trimble continues investing aggressively in new AI-powered tools like Arc Agent. Finally, we discuss a critical regulatory gap that has U.S. port-entry fees targeting China-linked vessels scheduled to resume in November despite last week's broader trade truce extension through January 2027. The discrepancy leaves liner operators and cargo interests in limbo, awaiting formal USTR action to align the maritime-fee suspension with the newly extended diplomatic accord, as no such notice had been issued as of September 28. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Julie Van de Kamp and Malcolm Harris break down the biggest stories shaping freight and logistics, from autonomous trucking and artificial intelligence to fraud, cargo theft and the evolving freight market. The show leads with Aurora Innovation's plan to scale to more than 30,000 driverless trucks by 2030, prompting a discussion about truck utilization, the future ownership of autonomous assets and how widespread autonomy could reshape freight brokerage. The hosts also examine a $105 million alleged trucking investment fraud scheme and proposed changes to Mexico's customs law that could affect cross-border freight through increased inspections and potential cargo seizures. In the featured interview, Gabriel Ribeiro of Hey Bubba AI discusses how carriers are actually adopting AI, where smaller fleets can begin, and why data security and human oversight remain critical. Ribeiro explains how AI can automate load discovery and negotiation, connect with TMS, telematics, email and phone systems, flag discrepancies in freight documents, provide driver support and create hands-free workflows designed to reduce distraction. The episode also features a SONAR market deep dive, examining rising diesel prices, elevated but relatively stable spot rates, tight capacity, tender rejections and the potential impact of automotive and housing demand heading into peak season. The hosts revisit freight fraud and cargo theft, discuss emerging last-mile delivery technology including drone delivery, and preview the upcoming F3: Future of Freight Festival in Chattanooga. 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 Aurora Innovation's aggressive expansion strategy as the autonomous truck developer charts a path toward massive commercial scale. Listen in to discover how Aurora plans to deploy more than 30,000 driverless trucks by 2030, targeting over five billion dollars in revenue with a sixty percent gross margin. Most of this ambitious growth hinges on transitioning from Aurora owning the trucks to carriers taking ownership under a Driver as a Service model, where carriers pay eighty-five cents or more per mile for the driving technology. Next, we explore a shocking case that federal prosecutors are calling a massive Ponzi scheme in the trucking sector. We break down how a Nevada man allegedly defrauded hundreds of investors out of $105 million by selling truck leases with promises of guaranteed passive income. Investigators claim approximately seventy-five million dollars from newer participants went toward earlier payouts, while more than twenty-five million dollars funded luxury purchases including real estate, sports cars and jewelry. Finally, we head south to examine a proposed Mexican customs law overhaul that could trigger major border delays and cargo seizures for cross-border freight operations. The legislation would grant Mexican customs authorities greater power to initiate verification procedures and would eliminate an existing fifty percent undervaluation threshold associated with precautionary seizure, potentially impacting thousands of customs operations valued at nearly ninety million dollars. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join host Malcolm Harris and Zach Strickland for today's episode of FreightWaves Today as they dive into the current freight market dynamics, artificial intelligence, and crucial risk management strategies. In Block A, Malcolm sits down with Will Bewley, Co-Founder & CEO of WoFlow, to cut through the noise and negative press surrounding artificial intelligence. Will breaks down how WoFlow approaches AI transformation in practical terms, how businesses can leverage AI to navigate today's constrained capacity environment without just adding another tool, and the critical importance of data quality. He also addresses common fears about AI replacing logistics jobs and shares where he sees the technology heading next. In Block C, Andy Kuchar, President of Centerline Insurance Company and Chief Risk Officer for Watkins Associated Industries, returns to the show to discuss trailer insurance gaps. Andy highlights three key warning signs that a company might have an uninsured exposure, unpacks common misconceptions surrounding trailer coverage, and explains why brokers, agents, and leasing companies need to pay close attention. Drawing on over 25 years of risk management experience, Andy also touches on nuclear verdicts, rising litigation costs, and offers actionable advice for transportation companies reviewing their overall insurance programs. Plus, stay tuned for the latest market intelligence during our SONAR Update, along with key industry developments in the Morning Minute. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into a deeply troubling federal lawsuit filed by dozens of Mexican truck drivers who allege they were recruited with false promises and subjected to coercive labor practices. Twenty-nine plaintiffs are now suing California-based Omega Compliance Solutions and several U.S. carriers, claiming they were lured across the border with fraudulent visa promises and trapped through forced-labor tactics including passport confiscation, unlawful deductions, and deportation threats when they tried to leave. Next, we explore how the logistics giant is setting new benchmarks in last-mile delivery with a massive technology and compensation rollout. Amazon is installing 360-degree Netradyne cameras on half its Rivian electric vans and injecting $1.9 billion to boost driver pay by an average of 16 percent nationwide, forcing competitors across the parcel sector to keep pace with both its advanced AI-backed safety systems and rising wage floor. Finally, we cover a strategic acquisition expanding cold chain visibility for some of the most temperature-sensitive freight in healthcare and life sciences. Temperature-control systems provider Copeland has acquired Dickson to integrate cloud-based monitoring technology that alerts pharmaceutical and food shippers of potential losses before they occur, combining Dickson's compliance platform with Copeland's 200 million HVAC and refrigeration installations across 40 countries. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FreightWaves Today goes live from Green Bay, Wisconsin, as hosts Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp sit down with some of the biggest names in transportation and technology to discuss the state of freight, innovation and automation. Jim Filter, President and CEO of Schneider, breaks down today's freight market, including tightening capacity, driver recruiting, intermodal opportunities, cargo theft and the changing liability landscape. He also discusses the potential impact of the proposed Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern combination and makes the case for Green Bay as one of America's premier freight cities. Craig Dickman, Managing Partner at TitletownTech, explores Green Bay's freight and startup ecosystem, how transportation develops strong problem solvers and where AI, optimization and emerging technologies could take supply chains next. Brian Figueroa, Managing Director, Transportation at KBX, joins the conversation to discuss the state of freight and Green Bay's deep connection to transportation and logistics. Finally, Kendra Phillips, VP of Global Transportation Management at Ryder System, Inc., discusses how AI and automation are transforming transportation management and helping companies identify inefficiencies, improve decision making and build smarter freight networks. What does the freight market look like from inside one of America's biggest transportation hubs, and where is the industry headed next? Watch the full episode for insights from the leaders moving freight, investing in its future and building the technology that will shape what comes next. #FreightWaves #FreightWavesToday #Trucking #Logistics #SupplyChain #GreenBay #FreightTech 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 technology partnership pushing heavy-duty autonomous trucking toward highway operations. Swedish company Einride announced it will build its next-generation autonomous driving system on Nvidia's Hyperion platform, a compute and sensor architecture designed for Level 4 autonomy. The two companies will collaborate to extend Hyperion's compute, sensor, and safety architecture to the demands of heavy-duty freight, with Einride expecting its fleet footprint to reach 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles by 2028. Shifting gears to the rails, we examine a major merger review that hit a significant snag despite officially moving forward. The Surface Transportation Board declined to dismiss the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern application, but a pointed concurring opinion from board member Richard Kloster revealed the merger application is shallow and lacks detail on how competition concerns will be addressed. Kloster's skepticism is particularly notable because Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena appeared with President Trump in the Oval Office in September, and Trump subsequently called the merger a good idea. Finally, we explore how fleet technology giant Samsara is going after a massive opportunity hiding in plain sight. The company launched its Fuel Command Center, a new dashboard that consolidates total and recoverable fuel spend while targeting $2 billion in potential savings across its U.S. customers in the first six months of 2026 alone. The platform pulls transactions from any fleet's existing fuel card, integrates Coast's spend controls directly, and combats fraud by tying card authorization to vehicle location. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of FreightWaves Today, hosts Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp sit down with leaders from trucking, logistics, transportation law and rail to examine the forces shaping freight markets. John Ferguson, founder and CEO of Pivot Supply Chain Solutions, Inc., joins the show in studio to discuss the state of freight, current supply chain conditions and the trends transportation companies should be watching. Drew Singleton Wilder, founder and CEO of Vicarious Liability Risk Management, and Greg Reed, partner at Hanson Bridgett, tackle transportation risk and liability, including legal exposure across transportation relationships and what businesses should understand about managing risk. Trains Magazine Editor Bill Stephens provides perspective on developments across North American freight rail and what changes in the sector could mean for shippers and the broader supply chain. Pam Polyak, founder of Polyak Trucking and Polyak Consulting, brings an operator's perspective to the conversation, discussing the realities facing carriers and owner-operators as they navigate changing freight demand, costs and operating conditions. Subscribe to FreightWaves for more transportation and logistics news, analysis and interviews. #FreightWaves #FreightWavesToday #Trucking #Logistics #SupplyChain #Freight #Transportation #Rail #FreightRail #TruckingIndustry #RiskManagement 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 sobering wave of financial distress as at least sixteen trucking and transportation companies entered bankruptcy proceedings in less than a month. The geographically widespread filings include both Chapter 11 reorganizations and Chapter 7 liquidations, spanning carriers from small owner-operators to mid-sized fleets operating dozens of trucks across general freight, last-mile, agricultural and specialized operations. Rising diesel fuel prices and elevated operating costs continue to squeeze margins in an already challenging freight environment. Over on the rails, Alabama is pushing forward with a massive infrastructure project as construction remains on schedule for the Montgomery Intermodal Container Transfer Facility's early 2027 opening. The $100 million, 272-acre terminal will provide direct CSX rail service connecting inland shippers to the Port of Mobile, creating a rail alternative to truck drayage. At full operation, the facility is expected to handle up to 60,000 container units annually and will be equipped with two rubber-tired gantry cranes scheduled for delivery in late 2026. Finally, we unpack a major legal battle over federal trucking rules where judicial questioning showed more skepticism toward the Department of Transportation's position than toward plaintiffs challenging recent FMCSA changes. During oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in Lujan v. FMCSA, judges questioned the DOT's rationale for narrowing acceptable documentation to only an unexpired passport and Form I-94, particularly when non-domiciled applicants can provide ten years of driving history. The new rule, which went into effect this spring, no longer accepts Employment Authorization Documents as proof of eligibility for commercial driver's licenses. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The freight market is shifting as carriers, brokers and shippers head toward Q4. On this episode of FreightWaves Today, we break down the latest trucking industry news, freight rates, insurance risks, fuel prices, capacity trends and the outlook for the 2026 peak season. In this episode: Trucking litigation & legal developments — We examine the latest developments in the Super Ego case and discuss the growing legal exposure facing carriers, brokers and other participants in the freight ecosystem. Cargo theft — Florida authorities recover stolen tractor-trailers in a coordinated cargo theft investigation, highlighting the continued threat of freight and equipment theft. Driver safety & crash risk — New Samsara data shows how combinations of risky driving behaviors can dramatically increase crash risk and why fleets are increasingly focused on identifying patterns rather than isolated safety events. Transportation insurance — Andy Sharpe, founder and CEO of MeshVI, joins the show to discuss real-time insurance verification, missing asset risk, certificate of insurance accuracy, insurance fraud and the growing importance of vehicle- and driver-level coverage data. Freight market update — We look at tender rejections, spot rates, intermodal volumes, freight demand and regional market conditions as the industry approaches peak season. Houston freight market — Houston has rapidly shifted from one of the loosest markets to one of the tightest, providing an important look at changing capacity conditions. Diesel & energy prices — Diesel prices continue to climb, putting additional pressure on trucking costs and potentially influencing both freight rates and consumer demand. Q4 freight outlook — We discuss whether peak season will be muted, how capacity exits are affecting the market, and what current conditions could mean for freight rates heading into 2027. Contract rates & routing guides — We examine changing shipper routing-guide strategies, the narrowing gap between spot and contract rates, and why double-digit contract rate increases could be on the table for 2027. Fuel markets with John Kingston — John Kingston joins us to discuss oil, diesel, geopolitical developments and the energy factors affecting trucking and transportation. Key topics: trucking news, freight market update, freight rates, truckload market, spot rates, contract rates, diesel prices, trucking insurance, cargo theft, carrier capacity, routing guides, peak season, transportation logistics, freight demand, supply chain, trucking industry and 2027 freight outlook. Subscribe to FreightWaves for daily coverage of the trucking, freight, logistics and supply chain industries. #FreightWaves #FreightWavesToday #Trucking #Freight #Logistics #SupplyChain #Truckload #FreightRates #Diesel #TruckingNews #Transportation #TruckingIndustry 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 legal development in the controversial Super Ego trucking network case. A federal judge has dismissed several counts against Aleksandar Mimic in a lawsuit filed by drivers, though drivers' claims against Super Ego Holding and nine affiliated defendants remain fully intact. Court records reveal that an all-day settlement conference made significant progress toward resolving the case, even as the judge's dismissal reshapes the litigation. Next, we explore a coordinated cargo theft operation as Florida's task force recovered two stolen tractor-trailers hauling tires and batteries along Interstate 95. Troopers arrested one driver at a travel center on charges including first-degree grand theft of automobile tires worth over one hundred thousand dollars, though a second suspect fled on foot and remains at large. Finally, we unpack groundbreaking research from Samsara showing that just ten percent of the highest-risk drivers account for nearly half of all fleet crashes. The company's Compounding Risk Report reveals that combinations of risky behaviors—like mobile phone use, distraction, and harsh braking together—create exponentially greater crash risk than isolated safety events, allowing fleet managers to focus coaching resources on the behavioral patterns most strongly linked to accidents. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The freight market is shifting, cargo theft is getting more sophisticated, diesel prices are under pressure, and artificial intelligence is raising new questions for freight brokers and carriers. On this episode of FreightWaves Today, we break down the biggest stories shaping trucking, logistics, supply chains and transportation. We're also heading to Green Bay this week, and Ben Schill, Chief Corporate Development Officer at Paper Transport, joins the show to discuss the company's long-running logistics partnership with the Green Bay Packers, including how Paper Transport moves the team's equipment for away games. He also discusses trucking market conditions, dedicated freight, acquisitions, fleet growth and the company's strategy for building density in Wisconsin. In this episode: • Cargo theft and freight fraud: Two men allegedly posed as FedEx drivers to steal more than $680,000 in electronics from a Delaware warehouse. We also discuss an unusual Memphis case involving a $110,000 chicken shipment allegedly being used to settle a drug debt. • AI and freight brokerage liability: What does the future of AI-driven carrier selection look like following the Supreme Court's decision involving broker liability? We examine whether human brokers could become more important as artificial intelligence takes on more decision-making. • Paper Transport & Green Bay Packers logistics: Ben Schill explains how Paper Transport handles the Packers' equipment, including game-day gear, backup equipment and logistics surrounding away games. • Trucking market conditions: Paper Transport discusses the current dedicated freight environment, inflation, rates, fuel costs and why the trucking market feels more stable than it did previously. • Site selection and supply chain investment: Companies are reconsidering where to build factories, distribution centers and data centers as they navigate energy availability, labor constraints, infrastructure, tariffs and geopolitical risk. • Autonomous yard trucks: We explore the growing adoption of autonomous yard automation, including autonomous yard trucks, remote supervision, yard-management technology and what it could mean for trucking operations.• Truckload market & tender rejections: The FreightWaves SONAR update examines truckload rejection rates, freight volumes, capacity and the potential impact of peak season on trucking rates. • Diesel prices and the global energy crisis: We examine how disruptions in Russia and the Middle East are affecting crude oil, refining capacity, diesel fuel and transportation costs — and what higher energy prices could mean for trucking and supply chains. Whether you're a truck driver, owner-operator, carrier, freight broker, shipper, logistics professional, investor or supply chain executive, FreightWaves Today delivers the news, data and analysis you need to understand the freight market. Subscribe to FreightWaves for daily coverage of trucking, freight, logistics, supply chains, transportation technology and the global economy. #FreightWaves #FreightWavesToday #Trucking #Freight #Logistics #SupplyChain #Transportation #Truckload #CargoTheft #FreightFraud #ArtificialIntelligence #AutonomousTrucks #Diesel #TruckingNews #FreightMarket 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 latest developments in broker liability law and how they're unexpectedly reshaping the role of technology in freight brokerage. Industry experts now argue that the Supreme Court's Montgomery decision will actually make human brokers more valuable rather than less, as firms face tough questions about whether AI-driven carrier selection will hold up under courtroom scrutiny following fatal crashes. This shift could force brokerages to invest heavily in human oversight and robust compliance systems instead of relying purely on automated platforms. Next, we explore a brazen cargo security breach that highlights the vulnerability of standard warehouse pickup procedures. Delaware State Police arrested a California man after two suspects posing as FedEx drivers stole a $680,000 electronics load from a New Castle, Delaware, facility using fake driver's licenses and forged shipping documents. Troopers recovered the entire shipment intact at a nearby parking area, underscoring how fraudsters can exploit routine documentation checks to make off with high-value freight. Finally, we head south to Central Texas, where Tesla is planning a massive 538,000-square-foot distribution center in Mustang Ridge with an estimated construction cost of $1.44 million. The sprawling facility will add critical distribution capacity near Tesla's Gigafactory Texas manufacturing complex and the extensive cross-border supplier network in Mexico, supporting the automaker's rapidly expanding production operations. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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