Welcome to the WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Newsletter presented by Talon Logistics. In this issue, Houston begins recovery from Beryl, speed limiters delayed and more.
Talon Logistics allows forward-thinking BCOs and Freight Forwarders to reduce their carbon footprint while achieving cost parity for Zero-Emission Vehicles. Find out more at TalonLogisticsInc.com/Sustainability.
Beryl’s aftermath
A sharp turn toward Houston — Hurricane Beryl tore through Houston on Monday, leaving at least eight people dead and over 2.5 million homes without power. As of Tuesday morning, the Category 1 storm still has over 2.2 million Texans in the dark, according to PowerOutage.us.
The storm also caused ports in Houston, Corpus Christi, Galveston, Freeport and Texas City to halt operations. The port at Corpus Christi reopened to cargo ship traffic Tuesday. However, FreightWaves reports, “The Ports of Galveston and Freeport, as well as the Freeport Harbor Channel, also remained closed as of 11 a.m. CDT on Tuesday.”
With the heat index expected to hit 105 degrees Tuesday, a new concern is a heat advisory. Many locals are reporting that power companies have not released clear maps or timelines on when power should be restored. For many, it’s going to be a wait.
AEP Texas
It may take a few days for the power to return in some areas. AEP released restoration estimates of Thursday for the Bay City, Palacio and El Campo areas.
Community Support – Local truckers like Emperor Spud are doing what they can to lend a hand to the community amid the flooding and blackouts.
Relief loads should start moving soon. If you happen to get called upon to move any FEMA loads, FreightWaves’ founder Craig Fuller released this handy guide on what to expect.
Expect spot rates and capacity to tighten until that region is sorted. If you have freight in the area, please have your drivers call ahead.
Gone fishing – A story of a man who caught a bass while trapped by floodwaters in a Whataburger parking lot has gone viral. Unfortunately, it wasn’t actually from Beryl. The 4-pound bass was reeled in five years ago during Hurricane Imelda.
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Volumes up, capacity down
Is recovery in sight? — If you’re anything like me, you’re sick of asking and being asked that question, but lately the prognosticators are starting to sound pretty optimistic. FreightPlus’ Tanner DeHart points to truckload tender volumes being up 20% since Q1 2023 as well as a 10% drop in capacity since Q4 2022.
What do you think? Do volumes hold through the summer and beyond Labor Day, or is it all downhill from here? Email me.
Some delivery drivers have bigger problems than others
Speed limiters, ADS and improving safety for female drivers kicked down the road
Speed limiters limited — If you’ve been waiting with bated breath for the FMCSA to finally release its long-delayed speed limiter ruling and maximum speed limit, I have some bad news.
FreightWaves’ John Gallaghar reports, “The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposed truck speed limiter rule, scheduled to be published last month, has been delayed to May 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s latest agenda released by the White House Office of Management and Budget.”
That agenda also pushes rulings on ELD revisions, automatic driving systems, automatic emergency braking systems and female driver safety to December 2024.
The delay in female driver safety is most concerning. According to Safety and Health Magazine, “A Feb. 8 Request for Information states that FMCSA is acting on recommendations of its Women of Trucking Advisory Board ‘to better understand problems’ of sexual assault and sexual harassment, or SASH.” Now it appears that nothing may be done about these findings until December.
WTT Wednesday
Transfix’s big pivot; inside intermodal; how to be a supply chain digital nomad — This Wednesday on WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, I’m joined by Transfix co-founder Drew McElroy. Transfix rode the FreightTech wave from the top to the bottom and came out the other side as a different company. McElroy talks about the company’s latest pivot and why it moved away from being a digital freight marketplace by selling its brokerage unit to NFI.
While the news may be trying to gaslight you into thinking remote work is dead, Journey’s Morgan MacDermaid is living the digital nomad’s dream. We’ll find out how she’s managing to get the most out of her career and life while seeing the world.
Maka Logistics’ Rob Liss talks about intermodal and reefer moves out of Mexico, potential disruptions and more.
Plus, latest news, weirdness and trends.
Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 5 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146.
Now on demand
Hurricane Beryl hits Texas; 75% increase in truck crash fatalities since 2009
The explosive episode; C.H. Robinson layoffs; war on detention
The rest of the noise
- FMCSA orders California trucking company to shut down after deadly crash
- Port of Singapore congestion raising spot market prices, report finds
- Werner battling unions on 2 fronts
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Don’t be a stranger,
Dooner