News

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 

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Alkane Truck Company, based in Myrtle Beach, SC, and evLaboratory Inc., to have the latter’s powertrain and battery management technology integrated into Alkane’s OEM chassis products.

TuSimple, a Chinese autonomous truck technology startup that is backed by Nvidia with offices in San Diego, has raised an additional $55 million in venture capital.

Following a Thanksgiving week that saw loads depressed, but not rates, the spot freight market was going full steam ahead last week with loads climbing 64% on the DAT network of load boards.

Blockchain is a foundational technology, said Jason Kerner, vice president of sales engineering for Project44, that will allow the building of transformational technologies in the future.

COSCO Shipping Holdings’ acquisition of the parent of Hong Kong-based liner carrier Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) gained approval from the European Commission, the anti-trust watchdog of the European Union.

The non-profit filed a motion for preliminary injunction on Monday to postpone the project, but a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson told American Shipper Wednesday it is still anticipating […]

The fee adjustments at the Port of Vancouver in British Columbia are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2018 and will benefit smaller container trucking companies servicing the western Canadian […]

A 300,000-square-foot warehousing and logistics facility will be constructed on Wilmington port property by Florida-based company Chesterfield, the port confirmed.

Massachusetts Port Authority hires new deputy port director of business development; and Simplified Logistics hires chief financial officer and executive vice president of strategy, and executive vice president of sales.

Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway totaled 5.7 million tons in November 2017, a 1.1 percent boost from the same month last year, according to […]

Like all of the companies at the first Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) meeting, held last month in Atlanta, TMW Systems sees blockchain technology playing a critical role in the freight transportation industry going forward.

Don Hummer Trucking is betting on the future of blockchain technology to radically transform the trucking industry. The company recently announced it is joining the Blockchain in Transport Alliance.

UPS has angered the Teamsters union after it implemented a longer workweek for package delivery drivers for the holidays.

As it stands, the tax bill, as it’s currently drafted, looks to benefit the industry in general, but what it means for the individual trucker is less clear.

The EPA has canceled a rule that would have subjected glider kits to the same emissions standards as newly manufactured heavy duty vehicles. Glider truck assemblers lauded the announcement while environmental advocate groups protested.

BNSF Logistics, a leading multi-modal third-party logistics service provider, announced it has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) to help lead, develop and promote benchmark standards for blockchain applications; the next generation of secure transactions in logistics and supply chain management.

Following on the footsteps of its European counterpart, Daimler Trucks North America will begin shipping 3D printed parts under a pilot program. Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz unit started a similar pilot in Europe last year.

Truck drivers are concerned with pay, but it’s not the most important topic on their mind when providing feedback to their employers. WorkHound compiled a list of topics drivers talked about the most, and pay only came in fourth. What was number one?

Under the agreement, CMA CGM will remain a minority shareholder with a 10 percent stake in the Port of Los Angeles terminal and will continue to be a major user […]

The U.S. trade deficit totaled $48.7 billion in October, an 8.6 percent increase from September, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

George Abernathy, an industry veteran, joins TransRisk as the company accelerates growth

FedEx Express has announced the second planned purchase upgrading its feeder fleet–a more powerful Cessna that can haul twice the freight and fly faster than the old Caravan 208s.

Xeneta forms NVO commercial team; Anacostia Rail Holdings announces marketing and sales appointments; Mohawk Global Logistics names general manager of its Cleveland branch; and the Virginia Maritime Association elects new […]

Cowan Systems, a Transport Topics Top 100 for-hire carrier and Top 50 Logistics provider, announced it has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

Eastern Europe’s infrastructure lags behind Western Europe, yet the logistics industry in that region has outperformed the remainder of Europe in the past year.

An NTSB investigation found that the FMCSA and Dept of Labor have failed to deter unsafe driving practices in the transportation of agricultural workers, leading to dozens of deaths in the past few years.

One of the largest elements of operational expenses in the freight hauling business is fuel, and yet there are a limited number of fleets that actively manage this cost effectively. Wisconsin-based Breakthrough Fuel is providing a way to effectively manage energy and reduce costs.

Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz Vans brand has introduced its third-generation Sprinter van at an event in Stuttgart, Germany. The van features many of the iconic attributes it always has, but has added new connectivity to further improve its utilization.

The Atlanta-based parcel giant has acquired Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services, the world’s largest dedicated global trade compliance management firm.

Job application fraud is a serious and significant problem in all industries. But without the time and financial resources to properly vet candidates, especially in an industry such as trucking with is facing a shortage of some 50,000 drivers, bad employees get through.

The Postal Regulatory Commission issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on Friday, calling for U.S. Postal Service price increases beyond the rate of inflation.

The Dubai-based port terminal operator acquired an additional 66.67 percent stake in Empresa Brasileira de Terminais Portuários (Embraport) in Brazil, giving it a 100 percent stake in the terminal, which […]

The Danish shipping giant is beefing up its cyber security, automation and big data analytics by hiring “world-class talent” for its India-based digital technology center, according to local media outlet […]

Licensed customs brokers can begin turning in their 2018 triennial status reports on Dec. 15, with a final deadline for submissions of Feb. 28, 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection […]

NFI names senior vice president of global logistics; Swissport International appoints VP head of group communications; and InstaFreight names managing director.

Despite significant investment in supply chain and logistics technology firms, venture capitalists say a divide remains between investors and the industry when it comes to understanding how shipping works, what […]

German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen has decided to throw its hat into the electric vehicle market, planning to develop 40 models for Chinese automobile market by 2025.

Security within the supply chain can be increased with blockchain technology because of its transparency.

The Grundon system is a hydrogen-fueling system that is retrofitted onto a DAF truck. It is a dual-fuel system, allowing the truck to operate on diesel fuel when hydrogen is not available.

FreightWaves launches its Women of Transportation series with Part 1: truck drivers. We spoke to Ellen Voie of Women in Trucking and Stephanie Klang, who’s been driving with CFI since the 1980s, about issues women drivers face and what’s being done to improve work environments.

The deployment of autonomous vehicles will become a viable option for Singaporean locals, thanks to a joint effort between the city-state’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Ministry of Transportation (MOT).

Turning bits into atoms in real-time? It’s as profound as the idea of instantly sharing thoughts across the world would have been to a person just a few decades ago. So how close are we to the dreams of the 21st century, and what does 3D printing have to do with it?

ZIM, MTI, and Maersk have all announced trials of blockchain-based solutions for shipping, from bills-of-lading to cybersecurity protections. 

Toyota announced it is building a megawatt Tri-Gen hydrogen plant in California. The plant will produce hydrogen using renewable sources and will provide fuel for its Project Portal Class 8 hydrogen truck.

Almost every freight flow is growing. Some are growing a little and some are growing a lot, and all of them are accelerating in their rates of growth. Transports are surging as the underlying strength in both the consumer and industrial goods flow continues to improve. We see this as extraordinarily bullish for the overall U.S. economy.

Defining a common set of standards is critical to ensuring the mainstream adoption of blockchain-enabled technologies. That’s according to the CEO of Marine Transport International, a UK logistics technology provider that specializes in blockchain-enabled products.

An Administrative Law Judge has ruled that Intermodal Bridge Transport’s practice of “misclassifying employees as independent contractors” is an “unfair labor practice” and a violation of their rights under the […]

Spot container rates from Shanghai to Europe, the Mediterranean and the United States all increased since last week, according to the Shanghai Shipping Exchange’s Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI).

Carbon emissions, safety and cyber security were at the top of the agenda at last month’s meeting of the Tripartite Shipbuilding Forum, which attracted over 100 delegates and was hosted […]

Global airfreight volumes rose 5.9 percent in October from 12 months prior, while capacity ticked up 3.7 percent, according to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The planned $11.7 billion sale of Global Logistic Properties (GLP), a Singapore-based provider of logistics facilities, received overwhelming shareholder support on Thursday, according to a statement from the company.

The Berlin-based digital forwarding startup has closed an 8 million euro (U.S. $9.5 million) series A funding round with a private investment company.

Natilus, a startup based out of California, is looking to provide a drone solution that allows it to transport freight multiple times faster than when it is shipped across the ocean, at half the price of regular air freight.

The fledgling containership owner and operator (together with its subsidiaries) recorded a profit before taxes of $200,000 on revenues of $7 million for the quarter, according to the company’s most […]

Already a hot commodity in Asia, exports of frozen and chilled meat from the U.S. Midwest and California could get a boost from a $90 million temperature-controlled rail transloading facility […]

Embark, Ryder and Frigidaire are testing Embark’s semi-autonomous trucks on routes running from Texas to California.

Yesterday, the Small Business House Committee heard how forthcoming ELD regulations will stifle competition, and how it won’t actually provide safety benefits.

Kroger has joined Walmart in charging accessorial fees for late deliveries to their retail stores, citing lost sales of 10% due to spoilage and understocking. 

One of the common questions surrounding blockchain is how it will be utilized in the supply chain. Many people assume smart contracts, transparency and quicker payments will be early uses. For Rana Basu, founder and president of Consurgo, that discussion is ongoing on a daily basis.

CMA CMG and MSC have entered orders for a total of 20 record-breaking 22,000 TEU ships, reflecting a long-term trend toward consolidation in larger vessels and growing confidence in maritime shipping rates.

Any job that involves repetitive action is an easy target for mechanical replacement. Many economists and employers wonder how long the warehouse hiring boom will last before robots prevail.

LoadDelivered, a leading temperature-controlled third-party logistics (3PL) provider in North America, announced today that it has become a member of the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

FourKites has launched its own ELD certification program that operates on an open architecture platform to help shippers and 3PLs to assist carriers in choosing ELD solutions that offer visibility into location data.

The French freight industry is one of the largest markets in the world. But like its North American counterpart, the industry suffers from considerable fragmentation, with 90% of the fleet companies owning fewer than 10 trucks. Convargo is working to solve this by connecting shippers and carriers in real-time.

Sheer Logistics, a 3PL and transportation services provider headquartered in St. Louis, MO, has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance.

Larger fleets sometimes control their insurance costs by self-insuring. Smaller fleets, though, often don’t have the financial resources to self-insure, so more of them are turning to “captive” insurance programs.

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a proposed rulemaking that the agency says “expands flexibility and deregulates” Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier Service Arrangements (NSAs) and Negotiated Rate Arrangements (NRAs).

The ocean freight rate benchmarking and market intelligence platform said that over 30,000 reefer container rates are available immediately for beta program customers.

Third-party logistics provider Kane Is Able signed a letter of intent to purchase Vintners Logistics, with the deal expected to close in the first quarter of 2018, the company said […]

DHL Global Forwarding has introduced a new online freight quotation and booking service for international airfreight transportation, already making the product available in over 40 countries across the globe.

Supply chain software provider BluJay Solutions has launched its MobileSTAR mobility platform to increase shipper and carrier productivity while reducing operations costs, the company said in a statement.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending its regulations to allow fresh mango fruit imports from Vietnam to enter the continental United States […]

Just as people are getting used to the concept of blockchain and Bitcoin, now we have something called initial coin offerings (ICOs), which use cryptocurrencies to raise money. Sometimes called token sales or TGEs, they are becoming a popular way for companies, especially startups, to raise funds.

The North American Chassis Pool Cooperative (NACPC) has added 1,200 chassis that will be integrated into its South Atlantic Consolidated Pool and Chicago & Ohio Valley Consolidated Pool common-use and […]

UPS hires chief transformation officer; Canadian Pacific names vice presidents for its three business units within the sales and marketing team; SeaCube Container Leasing names chief commercial officer; and MPC […]

Fuel surcharges have a long history in the transportation industry, dating back to the Arab oil embargo in 1973 by most accounts. While the early days of surcharges were straightforward to calculate, that is no longer true, and they may not even be the best way to manage costs anymore.

Arke Technology, a company dedicated to improving driver retention, has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA). This membership will allow it to influence the future of transportation technology by taking part in the development of blockchain technology standards and education for the freight industry.

British startup Tevva Motors was one of the companies that took advantage of the exposure afforded transportation companies at the recent Freight in the City 2017 event in London. The company introduced its greenest truck ever, Trucking TV reports.

American oil production and the number of rigs should reach record highs in 2018. This is good news for trucking: both demand for truckload miles and overall economic growth will increase.

When people discuss blockchain, often the concept is too abstract to grasp. In many respects, you need a phD to understand it. So it was fortuitous for Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) members that the group’s first meeting in Atlanta recently had just such a person.

Used-truck sales volumes continued their upward trend in October, but the industry is still facing an oversupply of vehicles, according to ACT Research. Class 8 same dealer used truck sales increased 12% month-over-month and 37% over October 2016, the firm said.

Velodyne LiDAR in San Jose, CA, announced this morning the release of its ground-breaking new sensor for autonomous vehicles, the VLS-128, which offers double the range and 10x the resolution of its previous industry-leading sensor.

What’s technology is next in line to become the new normal? Blockchain technology? Drones delivering anything under five pounds within hours or minutes? Maybe. Just as likely, and maybe even sooner: self-driving cars and, especially, self-driving trucks.

Shipbroker and research consultant Clarksons revealed Wednesday that sensitive data had been potentially compromised by an outside hack and that the attacker may release some of the breached data today.

The total value of cross-border trade between the United States and its partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rose 3.6 percent year-over-year in September, but the future […]

FedEx Express will purchase 50 clean-sheet Cessna SkyCourier 408 aircraft from Textron Aviation, with options to buy up to 50 additional aircraft, the parcel carrier said in a statement.

DHL Supply Chain will test the trucks at its customer operations in major U.S. metro cities, and they will be used for shuttle deliveries and same-day customer deliveries when they […]

The Icelandic ocean carrier will up the frequency of its Green Line service by adding a third vessel between Reykjavik, Halifax and Portland, Maine.

Regardless of their level of knowledge on blockchain, attendees at the first BiTA meeting were engaged by Ken Craig, senior vice president of special projects for McLeod Software, as he delivered an energetic and entertaining primer on Blockchain 101. 

A.P. Møller-Maersk appoints members to executive board; ShipMoney selects head of the company’s Scandinavian operations; CRST International names president of CRST’s Logistics Inc.; and the IACSC elects new officers and […]

The U.S. Justice Department will make permanent a program that encourages companies to self-disclose violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), but it’s not a get-of-jail-free pass for wrongdoing.

As the talks concluded last week on Round 5 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the 3 NAFTA ministers included among the 30 negotiating parties agreed to “step back” to give negotiators additional time to “analyze proposals and conduct internal consultations,” according to LandLine Magazine.

Logis9, a tech-enabled, non-asset based 3PL based in Sunnyvale, CA, that designs customer transportation solutions, announced it has joined as a new member of the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

Pilot CEO Jimmy Haslam III insists he had no knowledge of the fuel rebate fraud scheme his company perpetrated against thousands of its customers. But why does his name keep coming up in court?

Could the economy be starting to slow? That is a conclusion that FTR’s Don Ake has drawn after reviewing a number of economic indicators. He bases his evaluation on current GDP growth and what he thinks will be coming in 2018.

Electric vehicles have a hidden carbon footprint: their intensive use of aluminum and copper, and the dirty electric grids that charge their batteries, make them much less environmentally friendly than their boosters admit.

Nearly 60% of people find blockchain interesting, but remain unclear on its usefulness, according to a Gartner Research survey. That was just one of the nuggets of information Bart DeMuynck, research director at Gartner, imparted on the audience during the recent Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) meeting.

If your small trucking company seems like it is operating on a week-to-week basis, you are not alone. According to a new survey from Mercator Advisory Group, 75% of small businesses in the U.S. routinely delay purchases at least once or twice a year because of cash flow issues. You can minimize this impact, though, through proper planning.