News

(PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK) By Ray Haight, TCA Retention Coach An old saying goes “Silence speaks louder than words” and this can be especially true if your company doesn’t have an effective, […]

Marseille, France-based maritime container shipping giant CMA CGM generated record revenues of over USD$23 billion but suffered a huge 91 percent slump in profitability after the group experienced several massive cost increases.

GrainCorp, an agribusiness and bulk-ports operator, has agreed to sell its Australian bulk liquid terminals business to independent bulk liquid storage company, ANZ Terminals, for about AUD$350 million (USD$248 million).

We checked in with executives from Edge Logistics, Avenger Logistics, and Convoy to see how brokers are handling YOY volume growth.

The 25-year contract, which includes a facilities lease and equipment sublease, calls for a $238.7 million investment, including the operator putting $28 million toward the harbor deepening project.

The China Post and Deppon Express will begin autonomous package delivery in April using technology developed by FABU, a self-driving startup based in China and the U.S.

Refineries and supply chain not ready for ocean shipping’s uptake of new fuel; even heating oil prices possibly in play during election year.

Happy Returns has unveiled a self-service return solution that would allow shoppers to return items at the storefront – eliminating the need for them to return items through a laborious mail process that is the norm today.

NTSB will look at the potential for hazmats such as lithium-ion batteries as a contributing factor in last week’s Atlas Air crash.

Mexico’s current economic boom is providing business for the country’s cross-border shipping industry, but also emphasizing the industry’s growing pains.

More than 20 people were killed Sunday by a tornado in eastern Alabama. Winds estimated at 170 mph. How you can prepare for severe storms to increase chances of survival.

The credit metrics for XPO have weakened but are still good enough for a BB rating.

Canada’s largest port handled 147 million tons of cargo during 2018.

It is no secret that truck driving can take a toll on one’s physical wellbeing. From obesity to smoking, drivers consistently experience more risk factors for serious disease than other Americans. However, it is becoming clear that their mental health also takes a hit.

The Brexit debate is hotting up in Britain as expectations are that an outcome of some sort will be reached on 12 March. In Europe the debate is also raging, with varied views on the next steps for the UK in Europe…or out of it.

Several more feet of snow coming to the Sierra Nevada this week, along with heavy rain elsewhere in the state. Flooding, mudslides, debris flows possible.

The Swiss engineering group’s MoorMaster systems are scheduled to enter service in 2020.

Columbia Transport, based in Italy, joins the Blockchain in Transport Alliance.

Truck Spot is an app that helps truckers sub-lease parking spots on an hourly or daily basis and make sure they do not run out of options to park their trucks at the end of their HOS, or when they want to take a break.

Asparagus from Mexico and California moves around the world as air cargo from Los Angeles International Airport.

Want an snapshot of what the markets are doing? We’ve got you covered with our weekly market forecast.

Nah, the roads don’t need the money!

FreightWaves executives discuss how futures mitigate risks facing carriers, shippers and intermediaries in spot trucking market.

E-commerce platforms and rapidly changing IT are challenging the agency’s regulatory oversight and systems to keep pace.

The State and Commerce departments work to release final rules to shift some firearms and related items from the U.S. Munitions List to the Commerce Control List.

Oregon business and philanthropic leader Peter Stott started his first trucking company in 1969.  

But net profit still sags from year earlier levels due to higher fuel bills.

CBP and COAC make strides to improve procedures for bonded cargo moves, but more work still needs to be done.

Competition will stimulate industry submissions of cutting-edge, nonintrusive technologies that detect opioids in small packages.

French carrier says CEVA acquisition will create $30 billion company offering door-to-door logistics.

Ashley Coker IMAGE: JIM ALLEN / FREIGHTWAVES It is no secret that truck driving can take a toll on one’s physical wellbeing. From obesity to smoking, drivers consistently experience more […]

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure is still in its infancy, but is making progress.

National freight volumes are flat year-over-year, but capacity is as loose as ever. What is driving the discrepancy?

Trucking-as-a-service is poised to break out into 5x growth over the next five years, says Frost & Sullivan.

Also this week: another hint at what IMO2020 might do to prices; more signs that the OPEC cuts are real and are taking hold.

Will `Amazon Day’ be the answer to B2C stop density challenges?

Transportation-as-a-service will have a huge 2019, and Lyft is kicking it off.

Funding announced as investment heats up for low-carbon fuel technology.

Exports improve sequentially, raw materials price ease again.

A summary of the key developments in the U.S. economy over the past month and highlighted trends to watch in March.

The British Government and Eurotunnel have come to a £33 million agreement that will keep them out of the High Court, following what the rail company believed were secretive no-deal Brexit contract awards to roll-on/roll-off ferry companies.

A few feet of snow, high winds will give truckers problems in Colorado this weekend. Some delays, disruptions in supply chain for a few days.

Lower investments and exports help push down Canadian GDP growth to lowest level in more than two year.

Using a TMS to Solve the Visibility ChallengeIn the B2B world, getting visibility into the logistics flow has traditionally been either very expensive or produced limited results because of the different data sources, languages, relationships, as well as the number of internal and external systems. But a TMS with the right framework and business logic can integrate disparate data sources and use the data in-line with intelligence and workflow as part of your execution system to help solve B2B visibility challenges. It enables data integration and has the ability to translate and share information flowing in from shippers, carriers, mobile applications, financial systems, emails, portals, and more. Download this white paper today to learn more.

For the second time in several weeks, Amazon has pulled out of a huge real estate deal many thought was a sure thing.

Flashback Fridays previews the soon-to-open Freight Alley Haul of Fame and showcases four trucking companies that contributed to the history of trucking.

Technologies can help prevent rollovers, but a new startup company believes influencing driver behavior is the best approach to preventing rollovers.

Top Five Riskiest half square-mile road stretches of 2018 in Texas, based on Lytx’s proprietary risk score system.

CHRW fills out geographical white space and adds density to its Transatlantic forwarding business after turning the corner on the Milgram & Co. integration.

The launch of Scan Reach’s digital connectivity mesh network system will allow smaller vessel owners and their customers to reap the benefits of the digital age at an affordable cost.

Liner alliances in a quandary about what to do with largest capacity ships as cancelled port calls increase to deal with capacity glut.

The leaders of the Senate Finance Committee this week in a letter urged U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to maintain the current $800 de minimis level in forthcoming USMCA implementing […]

FMC kicks off industry innovation teams in an effort to develop “transparent and standardized language for detention and demurrage practices.”

Worklete helps frontline workers in the logistics ecosystem to avoid workplace injuries by focusing on their body movement and the way they interact with the environment.

The Spanish freight forwarder will be integrated into global forwarding division and technology platform following the approximately $48 million cash purchase.

CBP Commissioner McAleenan said the advisory committee’s Northern Triangle Working Group will tackle trade barriers in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Plus: LA aims to tax Uber and Lyft; Best Buy’s 4Q gains electrify and pizza chains tap into food delivery

Tariffs have forced U.S.-based retailers to rethink the sourcing of their goods. “Our 2018 country of origin chart was 29 percent made in China. In 2019 the estimate is it’s […]

A facility expected to be finished in 2020 will move about 120,000 vehicles annually through the Tradepoint Atlantic terminal.

Shipping lines with direct service calls to the port and that do not transship within 250 nautical miles are eligible for the incentives.

Built at a cost of $1 billion, the Moín terminal will be used to move refrigerated cargo to Europe and Asia

FreightWaves, Nodal Exchange, DAT and ABInBev hosted the seventh Freight Futures Road Show in St. Louis on Wednesday, February 27. The show introduced transportation and logistics leaders to Trucking Freight Futures.

The reduction, effective March 29, is the fourth one of 2019 announced by the Panama Canal Authority following low rainfall in December.

The Blockchain in Transport Alliance was founded in 2017 and currently has nearly 500 members in more than 25 countries.

IMAGE: JIM ALLEN / FREIGHTWAVES By TCA Vice President of Government Affairs Dave Heller & TCA Manager of Government Affairs Kathryn Sanner February saw the start of Congress’ work on […]

In announcing of giant revenues and super-massive dividends, Australian mining colossus Rio Tinto delighted markets, shareholders… and maybe even roboticists too!

A carbon tax is expected to be levied on polluting ships within the next few years so finding energy solutions that will reduce or eliminate those charges could give operators a competitive advantage. Corvus Energy’s range of batteries could offer a solution.

Australian miner Rio Tinto generated over US$12 billion (all figures in U.S. dollars) from its bauxite, alumina and aluminum production in 2018. It predicts about 67 million tonnes production of bauxite, alumina and aluminum this year. These minor bulk commodities are significant seaborne cargoes.

UPS provides fulfillment, shipping for SMBs using e-marketplaces.

Owens & Minor is exploring a sale, according to sources reached by Reuters, on the heels of earnings that have disappointed investors.

Protecting market share is part of the battle over longer trucks.

Did USPS finally have enough of postage reseller abuse?

Truck technology manufacturer WABCO has confirmed that it is in negotiations with ZF Friedrichshafen AG with a view to selling the company to the Germans. Shares in WABCO increased more than 8 percent on the news.

Icy, snow, sleet won’t make the Mid-Atlantic morning commute easy on the first day of March. Slick roads from Washington, D.C. to New York likely.

Alain Bédard says Canadian transport giant expects growth and acquisitions to continue on both sides of border.

Growth in the U.S. economy slowed further in the fourth quarter of 2018, but came in well above expectations to round out an impressive year of growth.

Record rainfall this week, several feet of standing water have flooded homes, businesses, roads just north of San Francisco. Rivers should begin receding today.

Market volumes have increased significantly over the past several days, bringing national levels to those similar to early March of 2018 when the market was thought to be more active. The data tells us one aggregate value cannot tell the whole story.

The Nikola Motor Company announced that Mark Russell has joined its executive management team as president. According to Nikola’s press release, Russell will manage the company’s production of new zero-emission vehicles.

Dale Chrystie of FedEx was elected as the first chair of the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) Standards Council (BiTAS), during its February Board of Directors meeting.

DAC, a Polish software development and hardware integration company, has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA), the largest commercial blockchain partnership in the world.

Shale oil rig count on decline since November last year; price of renewable hydrogen fuel decreases; Apple lays off 190 employees of its self-driving car program; Europe looking to create standard regulations for hyperloop infrastructure across the continent.

LTL shippers account for around 13.6% of America’s trucking sector, shipping almost $48B each day or about 63 tons of goods per person per year. 48% of consumers are demanding next day delivery according to retailers.

In partnership with Reliance Partners …Cargo theft is a threat for warehousing operations, and visualizing floor operations using 3D interactive maps could be a easier way out for security to pinpoint locations and movement of items in the warehouse space.

In partnership with Slync… Markdowns cost retailers $300 billion a year, and inventory mismanagement is largely to blame.

Consulting firm says requirement to use low-sulfur fuel could raise costs by $10 billion for industry.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said he’s “not foolish enough” to think one trade negotiation with China will change all allegedly unfair commercial practices.

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao Wednesday voiced support of the federal government investing in infrastructure while also streamlining the permitting and approval process to speed up the delivery of road and […]

Simplification and improvement of capital structure will support long-term business plans, says the logistics and transportation company.

The Swiss company, which has been an acquisition target of Danish firm DVS, reported a drop in ocean freight volume last year.

A healthy month-end volume uptick hasn’t tightened capacity, allowing brokers to stay in their happy place.

The Food and Drug Administration has unveiled a plan to further enhance its safety oversight of imported foods through the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Chris Henry, Program Manager, TCA Profitability Program (PHOTO: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES) One of the most frequent questions I get asked is, “What are the best KPIs that we/I should be tracking […]

Political tensions in the Washington-Beijing bilateral relationship are making the China-based U.S. business community uneasy. Tariffs are being blamed for driving business confidence down, decreasing investment and for re-routing Asia-Pacific supply chains.

Canadian TFI saw revenues and income surge in its truckload segment, while margins improved.

Express firm adds 17 origin markets in Mexico for samples deliveries to U.S. labs.

Sentiment could be growing for lowering the driver age, but questions linger over safety and wages.

The LINK 2019 retail supply chain conference concluded this morning in Orlando. The conference, hosted by the Retail Industry Leaders Association, will reconvene in Dallas in 2020.

Oregon truckers and fuel interests are lobbying against a carbon pricing bill that they contend unfairly targets the transportation sector, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state.