News

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is first cabinet head to quit after storming of U.S. Capitol.

FreightWaves launches Long-Haul Crime Log, a weekly true-crime podcast about the dark side of the world of freight. Our first episode covers the crimes of an executed trucker, drug busts at the U.S.-Mexico border and cyberattacks on the trucking industry.

Ridgemont becomes Seko’s majority investor by buying Greenbriar Equity’s stake. Greenbriar retains a minority position.

Volvo’s decision to discontinue the sale of Class 8 trucks in Mexico concerns cross-border carriers’ ability to resell vehicles.

FMCSA rule expanding definition of ag commodities called “meritless and reckless” by group of safety advocates.

Luke Falasca and Kyle Taylor break down high prices brokers are paying in this week’s freight market.

Business groups stand on the side of democracy versus Trump.

Crew of the Polar Star conducting new scientific research and patrolling international waters.

Consumer goods demand, recovery in manufacturing and shortage of drivers combine to create profits that fleets spend to upgrade and expand truck capacity.

Evans Transportation needed to update its TMS platform but couldn’t find exactly what it was looking for in the marketplace, so it built its own system.

Ladingo’s growth suggests a segment of the market is not being adequately served by existing solutions.

Revised from earlier Department of Labor rule, it isn’t expected to survive an early Biden administration review

The railcar manufacturer sustained a net loss of $10 million in its fiscal-year first quarter, but it’s eyeing a market recovery in the second half of 2021.

Reflecting on how consumer behaviors influenced changes in sourcing and shipping.

Truckers will have to chain up in the southern Appalachians as a snowstorm approaches Friday (with forecast video).

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, YRC’s government loan is coming under increased scrutiny. Plus, the 20 Best Fleets to Drive For are named and a bill to allow truck drivers to carry a concealed weapon has been introduced in Congress.

Pandemic-driven factors in 2020 had impacts that are not likely to be repeated

How surprise Saudi production cuts and escalating Mideast tensions could impact timing of crude-tanker rate recovery.

The air cargo market is doing much better than passenger business for airlines. It could reach equilibrium, following the pandemic shock, in the next few months.

As e-commerce continues to surge, consumers are demanding more sustainable practices throughout the supply chain. Reusable packaging solutions and strategic container designs are emerging.

Anthony Smith and Zach Strickland share their predictions for the state of freight in the new year.

Kevin Hill and Blythe Brumleve discuss how to catch your audience’s attention from the start and keep them on the line until the close.

Falling U.S. coal carload volumes reflect the decline of U.S. energy consumption of power generated by coal. Also, U.S. intermodal traffic offset volume losses in 2020.

The driver of a tanker truck died Tuesday afternoon when his vehicle burst into flames after crashing on a Houston highway.

Fraley & Schilling has acquired the assets of KBT Enterprises, an Indiana-based carrier specializing in dry bulk material transportation.

Sixteen repeat fleets have been named to the TCA and CarriersEdge 2021 Best Fleets to Drive For list, which honors for-hire trucking fleets identified as offering the best workplace experiences for drivers.

Momentum for increasing railroad chemical traffic should continue in 2021.

With 10,000 severe storms hitting the U.S. each year, they’re bound to delay truckers at times.

Nikola is recasting its board of directors to make crisis management and business expertise available to management as the electric truck startup seeks to regain credibility lost after a stratospheric beginning as a public company.

Truckers will have to chain up as two more snowstorms hit the Northwest this week (with forecast video).

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, the CEO of flatbed operator Daseke has stepped down, plus project44 accuses FourKites of defamation over alleged emails sent to board members, and a key index covering transportation, inventory and warehousing, is suggesting a possible slowdown in the supply chain.

David Henry, regional manager for Mexico at GlobalTranz, makes his predictions for cross-border trade.

XPO Logistics’ virtual reality program is designed to promote effective loading procedures at LTL docks, the company says.

The sponsor of concealed-carry reciprocity legislation in Congress has singled out truck drivers as beneficiaries of the proposal.

Like clockwork, liner operators sharply reduce their sailings each year during the Chinese New Year holiday. Not in 2021.

A congressional oversight report highlights flaws in the Defense Department’s designation of less-than-truckload carrier YRC Worldwide as a company vital to national security.

In this issue freight’s ransomware problem, project44 sues FourKites, skies cleared for drones, more

Will the new year bring market booms or busts? Andrew Cox and Seth Holm react to a bold prediction from Deutsche Bank analyst Amit Mehrotra.

These apps can help truckers learn about weather changes, construction and more while providing something entertaining on long drives.

The FAA is adding new experts to its Drone Advisory Committee.

Acquisitions and record Canadian grain loadings round out rail news

Albertsons, subsidiaries turn to alternatives such as DoorDash

Michael Vincent and Kevin Hill assess how Georgia’s runoff elections and a new administration will affect the world of trucking.

BNSF and Wabtec conduct advanced tests on a battery-electric locomotive by putting it in service in California with two Tier 4 diesel locomotives.

Amazon Air is becoming a major airline and has now taken ownership of its first aircraft after new deals with Delta and WestJet.

Bison Transport, one of Canada’s largest trucking companies, has been acquired by Canadian agricultural and industrial conglomerate James Richardson & Sons.

While the pace of growth in the supply chain cooled during December, transportation and warehouse capacity remains tight and prices are high.

Digital yard management solutions company PINC partners with Lazer Spot to improve efficiency and visibility in trailer yards.

TruckPark and FuelMe have launched a service that allows truck drivers to reserve a parking space and schedule a fuel delivery at the same time.

Flatbed carrier Daseke announced several moves Tuesday. The company’s CEO has resigned, former founder Don Daseke will be renominated to the board and institutional shareholder Lyons Capital will occupy a board seat.

Suit alleges that FourKites’s fake email accounts called project44 “the next Theranos.”

OneRail eliminates friction from the final mile by reducing fulfillment operation costs and increasing delivery speed. Its courier network of 4.5 million drivers reaches virtually every market from coast to coast.

Nucor Tubular Products and PowerFleet on Tuesday announced a partnership.

Truckers will have to keep chaining up this week in the Northwest. More heavy snowfall and gusty winds are forecast to hit the region (with forecast video).

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, an activist investor is pushing Forward Air to create more shareholder value. Plus, retail supply chain trends to watch in 2021 and Deutsche Bank’s Amit Mehrotra shares his truckload stock outlook.

The Transportation Security Administration’s top official for air cargo security is looking at a less-expensive alternative to intrusive inspection of all freighter shipments.

Dooner and The Dude start the new year breaking down how freight tech is becoming accessible for businesses of all sizes.

Some market signs point to gains fizzling out for now.

Experts share how DHL Supply Chain’s GoGreen and GoHelp initiatives are paving the way for sustainable progress.

Trailer Bridge’s Indie Bollman describes the company’s efforts to remain engaged with staff and provide opportunities for growth amid a restricted work environment.

No end date is in sight as the wreckage removal proceeds nearly 16 months after the roll-on/roll-off vessel capsized off the coast of Georgia.

Workhorse Group booked its biggest order for its electric delivery vans, but the deal requires the company to come through on time starting this July — maybe.

Benjamin Hartford joins Marie Colbert and Derek Nelson to fill out Mastery’s top executive ranks.

From narrow lanes to sheer old age, these are some more bridges that truckers fear the most.

Missouri-based Boomerang Tube lays off 185 workers from its manufacturing operation in Liberty, Texas.

Retail analyst Andrew Cox makes five predictions for retail supply chains in 2021. First and foremost: An inventory correction.

Former executives at Forward Air along with an activist investor have been acquiring shares since October in efforts to make changes to the management team, board and capital allocation strategy, which may include divesting “non-core assets.”

1994: Despite its effectiveness in catching contraband, Customs pulls the plug on X-ray procedures at Tacoma.

Dana Inc. spotted the trend toward zero-emission commercial vehicles four years ago when China offered incentives for battery-powered buses. That led the Tier 1 supplier to start buying and partnering with companies to build an all-in approach to electrification.

XPO gets most of K + N’s U.K. contract logistics business.

On today’s FreightWaves Now, Michael Vincent discusses what to expect for January in the Carrier Update presented by PowerFleet.

Automakers have put a high priority on EVs as the world shifts to cleaner modes of transportation. With demand for EVs forecasted to rise, the demand for rare earth metals used in both EV drivetrains and batteries will definitely be on the rise as well.

A train carrying more than 160 Volkswagen vehicles was derailed in Mexico last week by thieves, according to Mexican authorities.

Truckers will have to chain up this week in the Northwest. More heavy mountain snowfall, gusty winds (with forecast video).

Schmitt says the company had “muscle memory” that enabled a shift to methods that predated the technology shutdown by a ransomware attack

The trucking sector has been on a historic run of late, with some pointing to an end nearing. Don’t tell that to Deutsche Bank’s Amit Mehrotra, who sat down with FreightWaves to discuss his positive outlook for the new year.

Reefer spot volume volatility has exploded across the nation over the past week.

Successful IPO by ZIM would offer investors direct exposure to trans-Pacific freight-rate craziness, but not without risks from debt load.

An Oregan man was recently sentenced to over eight years in prison and ordered to pay back over $3.2 million for his role in an elaborate fraud scheme while living in Hawaii.

Electric vehicle sector hottest area for SPACs

LoadStop digitizes fleet operations with automated dispatch and carrier TMS.

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Mexico registers a $3 billion trade surplus in November; Wholesum inaugurates a new facility in Mexico; the Nogales port of entry to reopen Sundays; and Shacman Trucks signs distribution agreement.

The Boeing 777 is highly prized for its cargo capability, whether it’s in passenger or cargo configuration. Three airlines are adding freighters to their fleets, which is welcome news to companies trying to book cargo space when there aren’t enough aircraft flying.

Five-year-old Liam Salmon lost his nearly year-long battle to brain cancer on New Year’s Eve.

Everything from shipments of tomatoes, avocados, jalapenos and broccoli, to loads of electronic equipment were used in attempted smuggling cases at the Mexico border.

Zach Strickland and Anthony Smith count down the best episodes during this crazy year for freight markets.

There’s so much change happening around the world as society advocates for sustainable and clean transportation. Although a lot of the hype generated from EV development is deserved, some people believe EVs are overhyped, including Toyota President Akio Toyoda.

Previous New Year’s storms have shut down transportation and knocked out power for weeks in some regions of the country.

In the first half of 2021, truckload volumes and prices will continue to go up as they have in the second half of 2020.

New Jersey has become the first state in the nation to announce plans to adopt California’s Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) and Heavy-Duty Omnibus rules as momentum builds to expand the […]

Wabash National discloses Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions in its first sustainability report.

In 2020, the U.S. trucking industry was turned on its head by a pandemic and an oil glut that forced many small fleets and owner-operators to cease operations or file for bankruptcy protection. Others cited legal woes as the main reason to file Chapter 7 or 11 this year.

Federal excise tax waiver could help Volvo’s VNR Electric truck reach price parity, says electric vehicles director

Daimler Trucks North America signed a consent order with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration agreeing to pay up to $30 million for tardiness in reporting safety recalls in 2017 and 2018.

DHL Freight promotes two and ev Transportation appoints two to board.

Americold announced that it has closed on a 46-facility deal valued at $1.74 billion.

Cranes arrive, environmental prizes are awarded and cruise ships are welcomed.

There is no shortage of opportunities for AI and machine learning to be applied to the solution of big problems in global supply chains.

Traffic app Waze squeaks into the FreighTech 25 at No. 25, rounding out the group for 2020.

Selling in 2020 looked completely different thanks to the shift to remote work and limits on corporate travel. Hear from industry leaders on maximizing sales potential in today’s climate.