Business

American Truck and Rail Audits, Inc. (AMTR) announced that it has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

Virgin Hyperloop One has established a new record for hyperloop technology, appointed Richard Branson chairman, and secured $50 million in new funding.

Thor describes themselves as a “transportation lab with a goal of tackling fleet management problems.”

Carriers continue to feel good about 2018, according to the latest Morgan Stanley survey, however, overall sentiment declined in the past two weeks and underperformed seasonality.

Frustrated truckers lashed out on ELD companies’ Facebook sites, complaining of technical issues and customer service delays on Dec. 18, the first day of the new mandate.

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) published a notice identifying 26 individuals slated to testify as witnesses on one of six different panels covering issues related to detention, demurrage, and […]

The Maryland Port Administration (MPA) received grant funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for port security upgrades at Baltimore’s public marine terminals.

The Port of Seattle names executive director; Port of Galveston appoints director of administration; and Bourque Logistics hires regional vice president of sales.

The global freight forwarder has gone to great lengths to prioritize compliance with U.S. and overseas export regulations, as well as help others do the same.

This afternoon FedEx announced its Q2 earnings for fiscal year 2018, which exceeded analyst expectations. FedEx cited higher base rates, volume growth, and cheap fuel as factors in the company’s performance.

Travel around the DuPont area of Washington remains snarled this morning as officials work to clear wreckage from the Amtrak derailment over Interstate 5, just south of Tacoma, that killed at least 3 people and injured dozens more.

Navistar delivers massive quarter, blowing away estimates and showing tremendous year-over-year growth. This reinforces the view that the freight market is strong, as carriers purchase new trucks to take advantage of freight demand. 

Chattanooga, TN-based BlockArray is one of the companies working to develop blockchain-enabled solutions, and it is looking for companies to participate in pilot studies.

The Dow Jones U.S. Trucking Index (DJUSTK) surged to an all-time high for trucking today, and ended up at growing to 4.39 for the day.

Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA), the freight industry’s first advocacy organization devoted to the development of blockchain standards and education, today announced the first board of directors for its standards council, following the inaugural board meeting on December 5, 2017.

An automated refuse collection vehicle (RCV) was officially launched at the Volvo Innovation Summit in Brussels, Belgium, by the Volvo Truck Corporation.

L.A. is a hotbed for EV talent, and electric truck startup, Thor, is ready to take advantage. Last week they announced plans to bring a heavy-duty electric vehicle to market before the Tesla Semi hits in 2019.

On Saturday, two days after taking medical leave from CSX, CEO Hunter Harrison died. Investors have serious concerns about the railroad’s commitment to executing Harrison’s vision, while some observers disagreed with his approach entirely.

World-renowned author, thought leader, speaker, educator and entrepreneur, Tony Seba, has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at Freightwaves’ Transparency18 conference in Atlanta, Georgia, next May. 

Nearly 17 years in the making since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration first attempted to require electronic logging devices (ELDs) on commercial vehicles, the day has finally arrived for most of the nation’s 3 million plus driver workforce to begin using the devices.

The Canadian government told the U.S. International Trade Commission today that a petition by Boeing, which claims that it’s harmed by a Bombardier Commercial Aircraft deal with Delta Air Lines, […]

The Commerce Department has instructed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to begin assessing antidumping duties on imports of fine denier polyester staple fiber from China, India, South Korea, and Taiwan.

For many fleets, the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate presents a new variable in the regulatory landscape that must be carefully navigated. Following best practices will help fleet managers identify the most common mistakes and pitfalls that may result in a fine, expensive roadside delays or even worse, a business shutdown.

The ELD mandate has finally arrived, but lets stop pretending this is a safety issue. Its not. The ELD mandate is about money. If we wanted to talk safety, our attention should focus on the real-evil: Hours of Service rules. 

The Port of Corpus Christi names CEO; Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty appoints North American regional head of specialty lines, and North American regional head of marine; and the U.S. […]

With truck drivers across the country being required to have electronic logging devices in their vehicles as of Dec. 18, some have complained about the move to electronic recording of hours when paper logs work just fine. For BigRoad CEO Tony Lourakis, the rule presented an opportunity.

Everyone who is even remotely aware of the trucking industry in the U.S. knows that the ELD rule goes into effect on Monday. Time will tell, but if there are not massive numbers of trucks parked on the side of the road, and shippers are actually able to find trucks to move loads, we will not be surprised. 

Don Tapscott, business executive and blockchain thought leader, has been confirmed as a keynote speaker for FreightWaves’ Transparency18 conference. Tapscott combines a deep knowledge of the ways that technological innovation has changed business over the past thirty years with his up-to-date network of blockchain researchers.

Taiwanese company Foxconn Technology Group is planning to build a manufacturing plant in Mount Pleasant, WI, and now wants the state to build it a roadway for autonomous vehicles

In 2009, Jason Schenker founded Prestige Economics, a top-ranked financial market research firm.

CSX Corp. CEO Hunter Harrison has taken a medical leave of absence from the railroad due to complications from a recent illness. Investors sold off the company stock, causing a 12% drop and $6 billion loss in company value in morning trading.

Go99, a digital freight-matching marketplace based out of Vancouver, Canada, has achieved a major revenue milestone and now it is setting its sights on expansion with the rest of Canada and busy lanes in the U.S. on its target. 

Since last week, spot rates from Shanghai to the U.S. West Coast jumped 9.7 percent, while spot rates from Shanghai to the U.S. East Coast increased 9 percent, according to […]

Trains are easier to run with autonomous vehicle technology, so they should come before self-driving cars, right?

YRC Worldwide CEO intends to retire; Bahri appoints new CEO; the GAC Group names managing director of GAC North America – Logistics; and the Tanker FFA Brokers Association elects chairman.

Canada and the United States have piloted pre-clearance of passengers at designated airports, and newly approved Canadian legislation promises to expand this activity to other transport modes and cargo.

Target has made a massive investment in Shipt, a same-day grocery delivery service for online orders that relies on personal shoppers. Target hopes to challenge the rapid growth of Walmart’s online food sales and wants to offer same-day shipping for all of its products by the end of 2019.

While all projections point toward a big future for EVs, one big question remains—what type of battery will emerge as the winner?

Morgan Stanley and SIG see great prospects for truckload carrier stocks going into 2018. Large carriers’ valuations should benefit from both the ELD mandate and the GOP tax reform.

With the evolution of trucks into computers on wheels, cybersecurity becomes more of an issue. Autonomous trucks are especially an attractive target for the hacking community.

YRC Worldwide CEO James Welch announced he will retire in July 2018. Current YRC Freight President Darren Hawkins is expected to be named to succeed Welch by the Board of Directors at its July 2018 meeting, the company said in a release.

To get a more detailed look at the impact ELDs are having on the industry, FreightWaves talked with drivers and a fleet that has been running the devices, and each has reported different experiences, but in the end, the concern of all of them is that the devices simply work.

Sustainability initiatives are good for business, the long-term health of urban citizens, and the environment, but it will take long-term thinking and engaged problem-solving strategies. (Shutterstock)

The Berlin, Germany-based digital freight forwarder secured $20 million in a Series A funding round just 18 months after its initial market launch.

The Port of Galveston appoints port director; Ryder names rental sales executive for Scotland; Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg adds an advisor in its export controls and sanctions practice; and the […]

Sydney, Australia-based Global logistics software provider WiseTech Global, which has made seven other various acquisitions around the globe throughout the year, has snatched up warehouse management solutions (WMS) provider Microlistics.

The Fed has raised interest rates to 1.25%–rates on new loans, equipment leases, old variable debt, and factoring services will all go up. 

The adoption rate for ELDs is slowly inching up as more fleets come into compliance with the law, which goes into effect on Dec. 18.

The enormity of the trucking industry can be realized by looking at the myriad of industries that depend on freight hauling for their sustenance and growth. Add the fracking industry to that list as  frac sand has become a major commodity.

Weak workforce training, high corporate tax rates, poor road & rail infrastructure quality, and a lack of regulatory transparency are all hurting America’s competitiveness as a manufacturing location.

The Budweiser brewer says this is part of its strategy to reduce the company’s carbon emissions by 30% by 2025.

Dry van spot rates hit a 3-year monthly high in November, according to data compiled by DAT Solutions. The November rate was $2.07 per mile, the highest monthly average since December 2014, the firm said, and 5 cents above October levels.

Both East Coast Transport (ECT) and the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) believe blockchain is one of the most significant developments for the industry since the creation of the internet. ECT has joined BiTA to part of that development.

In an interview with FreightWaves, Tadmore Transportation CEO Pete Emahiser says the blockchain will create a common language that carriers, shippers and brokers can all speak, but he also forsees other possibilities, including a capacity blockchain.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) notified the Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) that it plans to grant the association’s request for a 90-day waiver from the electronic […]

U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner William P. Doyle, Sr., who is stepping down from the regulatory body Jan. 3, was selected by the Dredging Contractors of America’s board of directors to […]

Samsung Heavy Industries appoints chief executive officer; the Association of American Railroads names senior vice president of communications; the Baltic Exchange Advisory Council elects chairman; and iTradeNetwork names senior vice […]

The Rhode Island Trucking Association (RITA) has called out the Rhode Island Department of ansportation (RIDOT)’s allegedly inadequate environmental assessment (EA), hoping that the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) will reject the report.

More than 400,000 Freightliner and Western Star Trucks are being recalled by Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) due to a potentially defective brake light.

Technology startup FR8 Revolution has received an investment from Sandhills Publishing as well as announced a new technology partnership with the company.

Recently, Mexico shifted into a supply-and-demand based pricing structure for its fuel markets, ditching the old system where the government set the fuel price through state-owned oil company Pemex as it seeks to attract more U.S. investment.

The Federal Aviation Administration proposed a $1.1 million civil penalty against Braille Battery, representing the largest civil penalty the agency has proposed for alleged illegal air transport of lithium batteries.

The demands of today’s marketplace are moving in one direction: giving us exactly what we want, when and where we want it. In his 2016 Ted Talk, Alan Amling reimagines the supply chain of the future. By integrating ideas from the past with today’s most promising technologies, he paints a surprising picture of how we might manufacture and move things in the years to come.

Walmart has patented an ‘unattended retail storefront’ that would be located in customers’ homes and stocked by autonomous vehicles, part of its quest to compress or eliminate delivery delays altogether.

By the first week of December, the DAT weekly spot market price for dry-van loads had reached $2.09 (including fuel surcharge) or almost 30% higher in just 9 months. This is an extraordinary, but what is more extraordinary is the fact that the trucking marketplace is more than 3 times the size of the Bitcoin market capitalization, which has grown 22% in 12 months.

North American third-party logistics provider (3PL) and specialist in less-than-truckload and multi-modal shipping, Cerasis, is the latest transportation entity becoming a member of the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA). With […]

South Africa’s Heavyweight Group starts a digital load board and joins Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

Last-minute efforts to delay or stop the electronic logging device rule (ELD) are continuing, but it may be too little, too late unless President Donald Trump throws a Hail Mary.

One of the questions many ask as the electric and autonomous vehicles are introduced to market is: What happens with the “last mile” delivery? It can be the most expensive leg of deliveries, especially in rural areas.

Ports covered by the National Retail Federation’s Global Port Tracker handled 1.77 million TEUs of imports in October, up 0.3 percent from September and a year-over-year boost of 5.9 percent.

FedEx and UPS are squeezing e-commerce shippers with more expensive DIM pricing, accessorial fees, and tough rate negotiations. 

Hyundai Merchant Marine appoints chief of container business office and chief of HMM America; and the North American Council for Freight Efficiency names new chairman.

Losses and debts can be a deadly combo for any shipping company to handle. In a report from the Wall Street Journal looking at so-called “zombie companies” in Europe, one logistics company stood out.

Supply Chain Dive has announced its list of awards for 2017 and one award that garnered some interesting attention is the Buzzword of the Year: blockchain.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has taken over the transportation industry. In a press release from Microsoft, the tech giant has officially confirmed the launch of Azure Location Based Services (LBS).

For millions of football fans, a trip to the Super Bowl is the ultimate bucket list item. For blue collar workers, though, attending the game is often out of reach with ticket prices reaching $5,000 and above on the secondary ticket market. For two lucky truck drivers that will change.

The out-of-control wildfires burning in California have had a dramatic impact on spot rates in the region.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has issued a letter to state attorneys general in all states asking them to review potential problems surrounding upcoming enforcement of the electronic logging device mandate.

The cleverness of the plan resides in the kind of “under-21 truckers” they’re talking about: only those with military driving experience.

The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday afternoon unanimously approved Kevin McAleenan’s confirmation to serve as commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), moving the vote to the full Senate […]

Spot container rates from Shanghai to the United States declined since last week, while rates from Shanghai to Europe and the Mediterranean increased slightly, according to the Shanghai Shipping Exchange’s […]

The process of sending bills-of-lading with cargo has changed little in generations, but the problems have remained: BOLs arrive at different times than the cargo, causing delays and added cost. But blockchain could eliminate these expenses and streamline the process.

AAL appoints commercial manager of its Canada operations; and the Baltic and International Maritime Council’s secretary general and chief executive officer extends his contract to the end of 2022.

While U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s basic responsibilities remain unchanged, agency leadership says CBP will focus on secure trade lanes, next-generation facilitation, intelligent enforcement and resource optimization in the coming […]

​Electronic filing of the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) admission (e214) transactions and the creation of manufacturer identifications within the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system will become mandatory on Dec. 9.

While some U.S. states have relaxed their marijuana laws, the drug remains a prohibited substance under federal law and proposed legalization in Canada could make things much more complicated for […]

The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) has filed a petition with the Federal Communication Commission asking it to reconsider the import responsibilities of customs brokers when […]

U.S. customs brokers are concerned that the industry will need more than the next four weeks to comply with new entry data requirements for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s […]

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, which participated in the G20’s second meeting of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity in Berlin this week, expressed overall disappointment at […]

Newly appointed Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced the formation of new office within the Department of Homeland Security that will focus on keeping weapons of mass destruction and their […]

As a result of the affirmative preliminary determination, Commerce has instructed U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to begin collecting cash deposits on imports of both CORE and cold-rolled steel […]

Let go of your fear-of-missing-out (FOMO): the blockchain revolution is just beginning. 

Most carriers are currently coming to terms with the inevitability of the ELD mandate, and scrambling to get ready. Those carriers who are truly ELD-ready are in prime position to benefit.

The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday afternoon unanimously approved Kevin McAleenan’s confirmation to serve as commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, moving the vote to the full Senate for […]

Anheuser-Busch’s private fleet is among the leaders in the country when it comes to efforts to cut carbon emissions through alternative fuel use. The company is taking another step, announcing it has reserved 40 Tesla Semi electric tractors.

The growth in cargo volumes at London’s Heathrow Airport has created severe congestion across the region, which has the airport facing a dire situation due to long queues, which is increasing waiting times and thus delaying an already slow-moving air freight operation.

ZED Connect offers an ELD device that comes with a one-time purchase fee and no monthly charges. COO Chris Harlow offered up some last-minute thoughts as the deadline quickly to implement ELDs quickly approaches.

Formerly one of the top contract carriers for the U.S. Postal Service, Beam Bros Trucking, along with its holding company and four corporate officers, were sentenced for violating Federal Motor […]

The United States saw a boost in beef and pork exports in terms of volumes and value in October compared to 12 months prior, despite lamb export volumes and value […]

Tesla is losing investor support as losses continue to mount as competition from the Chevy Bolt stiffens and Model 3 production issues linger. This might impact their ability to compete in the commercial vehicle market