News

Chubb, the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurer, recently became an industry association member of the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

The Heartland Express pay increase, what commenters said about young military drivers, and oil tankers are getting scrapped quickly.

Over the last couple of years, edge computing has emerged from relative obscurity to become one of the most talked about trends in internet infrastructure.

FreightWaves released an updated version of SONAR today that added thousands of new tickers to give market participants with better insights into the current state of the freight market.

The Cass Shipment Index (CFIS.USA) is showing freight market volumes that are nearly as strong as the 2006 peak season. This is a bullish sign for the second half of 2018.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a loophole that will allow glider kit manufacturers to avoid certain Obama-era emissions regulations and, effectively, build as many trucks as they deem fit, according to the New York Times.

In fiscal 2017, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection made over 32,000 seizures involving counterfeit goods totaling an estimated value of more than $1.2 billion.

The United States’ deficit in goods and services trade narrowed for the third straight month in May, falling to its lowest level in 18 months.

Ocean carriers transported just under 14.5 million TEUs for the month, a 1.3 percent increase from the same 2017 period.

Carriers are aggressively slashing services, despite the approaching peak season.

French carrier follows withdrawals by Maersk, MSC.

Florida congressman’s proposed legislation designed to boost understanding of the consumer protection services available.

Companies announce employees’ promotions.

Homeland Security and Treasury give their approval.

The investigation covers products of sodium gluconate, gluconic acid and derivatives between April 1 and Sept. 30, 2017.

Divestiture to “suitable, unrelated third party” part of OOCL acquisition plan.

The keynotes at Transparency18 included some of the top minds discussing the future of transportation. Check them out right here.

The rise of e-commerce has pressured warehouses to raise throughput in smaller spaces with fewer people, creating a business opportunity for tech firms promising to find efficiencies and increase productivity.

Most carriers are satisfied with their ELD providers, but they haven’t yet figured out how to turn compliance into a business advantage by operationalizing their data.

The details in the company statement are not precise, but the all-in number for some drivers could be as high as 67.5 cts per mile.

Major tech changes will hurt the for-hire trucking market within the next decade. Where are the drivers going? Look no further than the warehouse. JP and Chad do 5 GOOD Minutes with Craig and Ben from CDL Marketing on driver retention. LNG carries crack open the Northern Sea Route. The U.S. has borne the Jones Act long enough. JP and Chad discuss all this and more on this week’s episode.

On July 5, hours after attending the White House’s annual Fourth of July picnic, Scott Pruitt announced his resignation from his position as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Job growth continued at an impressive pace in June, beating expectations for the second consecutive month.  Trucking hires also made significant strides during the month, but increased competition from within transportation and other competing industries will remain a challenge going forward.

An OOIDA executive took to the airwaves a few days after its ELD exemption request was denied, and he had a few things to get off his chest.

Turndowns and trucks in market both deteriorated this week as shippers and carriers enjoyed their Independence Day holiday. US-China tariffs begin today; railroads worried about tariffs’ impact on carloads; air freight’s pilot shortage accelerating drone adoption; unemployment up slightly as US adds 213K jobs.

Dock411 says that 60% of truckers visit a new location each day and 70% have lost time because of unfamiliarity with a location. But that is only half the story. Once at a facility, many locations do not have amenities such as bathrooms for drivers.

Cosco selling shares in parent company of OOCL in order to keep listing on Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index estimates spot rates are down 8 percent from this time last year.

Court of Appeals upholds cargo suit dismissal in case of damaged plywood shipped from Malaysia and Indonesia to New Jersey in 2013.

Both companies have promoted autonomous ships.

The U.S. Transportation Department has initiated a pilot program to allow 18- to 20-year-olds who hold the military equivalent of a commercial driver’s license to operate big rigs across state […]

The Kolkata has nearly 211 tonnes of heavy fuel oil in her tanks and is carrying nearly 200 tonnes of other oil.

The first of grounded fleet of Boeing 747s has received clearance to return to flight operations.

Firms added another 15,400 jobs in June.

Company seeks to add finished products and foreign status materials and components to the scope of authority.

Fleets ordered 41,800 new trucks in the month of June, making last month the busiest June on record. OEM stock prices rose on the news, and their order backlogs continued to lengthen.

A $200 million injection of new capital at Celadon is withdrawn because of a DOJ investigation, but the operating numbers are looking up.

There are trucks involved in the deal, but what Covenant really sought is the logistics capabilities of Landair.

Survey data in both the manufacturing and service sectors continued to point to strong economic growth at the end of the 2nd quarter. Details in the survey responses continue to suggest that high transportation costs, labor shortages, and tariff uncertainty remain significant issues in the economy.

With the second quarter of 2018 coming to an end this past Saturday, we saw tender rejections spike to their highest level since January at almost 27%. Major markets like […]

The end of the second quarter was explosive in terms of freight market activity. Rates expanded as carriers refused loads. July typically sees volumes fall a bit in relation to June. There is no reason to think it will be indicative of any long run contractions in rates.

Even before a round of U.S. tariffs levied on China comes into force Friday, there are signs that global trade is already cooling.

Home delivery of items that require someone to be home to accept the package is one of the most frustrating parts of the online experience for many. Package.AI believes involving the consumer sooner in the process can improve that process.

Dip Shipping president and sales manager were arrested Tuesday for allegedly raising forwarding service prices charged to U.S. customers.

While the nation’s unemployment rate has been declining, truck driver turnover has been on the rise.

Taiwan carrier to charter five 11,000-TEU and five 12,000-TEU ships starting in 2020.

The Canadian government is investing C$7.5 million in transportation infrastructure at the Great Lakes port.

Global demand for air cargo grew 4.2 percent for the month following a revised 5.2 percent uptick in April.

The $494.2 million budget includes $34.7 million for capital projects.

AAR senior VP: “For now, things are looking good for the railroads and the economy despite the many threats, such as a potential trade war, that could bring change quickly.”

Board chair, directors, managers and chief wharfinger named.

The digital freight forwarder added Thailand and Malaysia as import countries to its online platform.

The Agricultural Marketing Service clarifies “that honey packers must include conspicuous and indelible labeling.”

USTR undergoing annual check for unilateral U.S. trade preference program for countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Loops will be reduced from five to four at the end of July.

FTR Transportation Intelligence says operators are ordering new vehicles in such large volumes that production can’t keep up due to a lack of available components.

Drewry warns worst-case scenario is that nearly 1 percent of world loaded traffic could be lost.

The OOIDA request would have exempted companies meeting the definition of a small business along with various safety standards.

RIM logistics, a leading provider of global freight forwarding and third-party logistics services, announced it has joined BiTA

A rule last year by DOT on testing trucking applicants for drugs specifically left hair testing out, but the HHS needs guidelines if the push is to proceed.

FloraHolland is the world’s largest flower market, creating liquidity for flower growers all over the world.

A USDOT 3-year pilot program would allow drivers under the age of 21 and holding a military CDL to drive interstate commerce when sponsored by a participating trucking company.

VOLT Technology, a post-ICO startup using the power of blockchain to provide companies, individuals and couriers a decentralized platform that manages point-to-point (P2P) deliveries, has joined BiTA.

UPS remains silent on the agreed-upon contract, but its union makes it look all but certain that Sunday delivery is coming.

CVTA has recently received approval to be listed as a National Standard Registered Apprenticeship Program for professional truck drivers, allowing CVTA member carriers to compete for discretionary apprenticeship grants.

For many drivers, health tends to take a back seat—yet the job remains a dangerous combination of days that can be both sedentary and stressful. FreightWaves had a chance to speak with Hazen Mirts, CEO of Enrollment First, and Stephen Kane, President of Rolling Strong to hear about how the two companies are coming together to better the driver experience.

President Trump’s global trade war is posing a growing risk to the kind of robust job gains that the U.S. probably enjoyed again in June.

New icebreaking LNG carriers are sailing directly from Russia to China through the Northern Sea Route, creating a faster, cheaper connection between some of the world’s largest gas fields and the world’s largest gas consumers.

Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …Drivers can potentially benefit from added flexibility by utilizing the current split sleeper provision allowed under hours-of-service laws.

On June 2, 1973, the containership C.V. Sea Witch collided with the tanker Esso Brussels, sparking a catastrophic fire.

American Automotive Policy Council warns increase in tariffs “will undermine the enormous economic contributions the U.S. auto sector makes.”

Deepening and widening of channels will allow for two-way traffic of ultra-large containerships.

British International Freight Association says only shipping lines could receive payouts for port disruptions.

Logistyx is enhancing its parcel shipping SaaS solution through the acquisition of Transparix.

Matson will deploy the 3,600-TEU Daniel K. Inouye in the Hawaii trade.

The Athens-based containership lessor saw earnings fall 18.7 percent year-over-year in the first quarter despite rising revenues.

The new refrigerated containers are cooled with 3,000 of Carrier Transicold’s PrimeLINE refrigeration units.

“The livelihoods of all these people are at risk,” says international trade adviser.

In the one question from the earnings call, an analyst asked Roadrunner executives about the goodwill-heavy balance sheet.

The Jones Act has proved itself costly and irrelevant to the U.S. for long enough. Unfortunately, it will take more than an “act of God” to change the law. It will take an act of Congress.

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) delivered on its promise to produce 5,000 Model 3 vehicles in a single seven-day span by the end of the second quarter over the weekend

The Indian trucking ecosystem now witnesses frequent strikes, as different economic reforms and the more recent rise in fuel prices are forcing a lot of carriers to accrue losses.

SF Holdings, a leading integrated logistics and supply chain service provider based in China, has joined BiTA.

Freight markets still hot to close Q2; COSCO/OOCL merger approved by US, China; Tesla hits Model 3 production goal; CSX revives plan for intermodal hub in North Carolina; EU threatens retaliation over auto tariffs.

SOURCE: FREIGHTWAVES SONAR DISPLAYING THE CASS FREIGHT VOLUME INDEX 2018 is shaping up to be the highest freight volume market in over a decade according to the Cass Freight Index […]

Freight conditions generally held solid during the month despite some softening in the manufacturing sector. With economic fundamentals largely in place, the focus has shifted to trade policy, where trade war escalations threaten domestic activity.

Sanctions and the Iranian rial’s collapse could remove supply from global oil markets, spiking prices and spurring more production in the United States.

Citing depressed sales for products like its line of Yoplait yogurts and ‘rising commodity and freight expenses,’ General Mills announced it would eliminate hundreds of positions in an attempt to strengthen its margins.

The SCFI surged 9.3 percent last week, while the WCI was relatively steady compared with the previous week.

Plan for Gulftainer to take over Port of Wilmington passes CFIUS review.

Business still will be conducted in wake of Maffei’s departure.

North Carolina Department of Transportation investing up to $118.1 million in the 330-acre site.

CMA CGM founding president’s funeral service took place in Marseilles on Friday.

FAA has proposed a $1,466,775 civil penalty for alleged violations at two airports.

General Electric has filed a patent that draws out its plan on using blockchain in validating and verifying 3D-printed products making its way into its supply chain.

Technology is set to up-end three of the largest industries that truckers ship for: Retail, auto, and agriculture. All three are under attack from technology forces.

The trucking industry isn’t at the point of no return yet, but it is at risk. Many of those jobs are heading into the increasingly efficient warehouses.

Solar power may not be the cure-all for reducing fuel costs, but it can provide assistance and achieve payback in relatively short time if used in the right applications.

FreightWaves visited the completely automated APM Container Terminal at the Port of Rotterdam, which is faster, safer, and doesn’t lose boxes like a human-staffed terminal.