News

AskWaves checks on the latest FMCSA certification requirements for medical examiners qualified in the trucking industry.

This week in Borderlands: Port Laredo was the No. 2 gateway for international trade in November; Tesla acquired a massive logistics center near Houston; the Port of Brownsville set a record for steel cargo tonnage; and First Call Logistics launched a Texas logistics hub.

What conclusions can we draw from the relationship between imports and trucking?

The biggest container ships sailing on the oceans can carry more than 24,000 TEUs and are as tall as the Empire State Building.

Nikola will move battery pack manufacturing to Arizona and files layoffs notice for a former Romeo Power plant.

The U.S. Small Business Administration wants the Federal Railroad Administration to revise its analysis for the proposed train crew size rule, contending it “significantly understated” costs and the number of potentially affected businesses.

The California Trucking Association is making its pitch for another injunction to keep AB5 out of the state’s trucking sector.

Nearly 1,400 delivery drivers will split $5.6 million following an eight-year investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, which found that Parts Authority Arizona LLC and Diligent Delivery Systems misclassified its employee drivers as independent contractors.

The Transportation Intermediaries Association and the Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired are partnering to create brokerage opportunities for those with vision impairment.

Tenstreet’s Job Store allows clients to post their openings across major job boards, partners, and social media websites from one central platform, seriously cutting down on the amount of time companies must spend fine-tuning, managing and checking up on listings.

Ondemand on WTT: Pam Simon gets us ready for one of the biggest FreightTech conferences of the year; Tom Curee on surviving at a conference; Torc talks autonomy

Delta Air Lines carried more than $1 billion in cargo below passengers’ feet last year, setting a company record.

Volumes have continued their recovery from the winter holiday season with a surge in pent-up freight demand unleashed into the market. Naturally, since last week’s data was affected by holiday noise, the Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) faces some absurdly easy comps on a weekly basis. Even still, accepted tender volumes remain below their levels of 2021 and ’22 for the time being. 

It is pretty much acknowledged across the trucking industry that a consolidation of players in autonomous trucking is coming.

1971: Londoners are able to buy American melons for the first time after test shipments to the U.K. proved successful.

Reliance Partners’ Brian Runnels says that a disorganized permit book is a red flag to roadside inspectors.

The ever-changing trucking scene in California started off 2023 with a visit from Washington and a removal of some engines from the road.

Oklahoma-based Diamond T Holdings, the parent company of truckload carrier Western Flyer Xpress, announced late Thursday the expansion of its freight network through an asset deal for the equipment and real estate of Springfield, Missouri-based Indiana Western Xpress Inc.

Deceleration in Constellation Brands’ shipment growth and disappointing margin outlook Constellation Brands, the owner of the Corona and Modelo beer brands and various wine and spirits brands, such as Svedka […]

WTT is live from FreightWaves Sales and Marketing Summit with sessions on social marketing, branding, internal and external marketing

Companies should maintain a curious mindset, creating space for feedback, to improve overall business performance.

In a blockbuster new partnership, Walmart will offer its GoLocal and Store Assist technologies through the Salesforce app.

From tragedy to unprecedented feats, the Golden Gate Bridge is an important part of American history in freight, transportation and architecture.

FreightWaves hosted its Sales and Marketing Summit, a free one-day virtual event covering all of the top strategies and technological innovations.

The contract logistics provider sees a solid demand for the next five years.

Shippers are seeing relief in freight costs for the first time in more than two years, according to the December Cass Freight Index.

A year ago, shippers were in scrums to find cargo space on airlines. The market has softened considerably and 2023 could see more declines before things get better.

Legislation aimed at “fixing the supply chain” would allow drivers under age 21 to haul freight to and from ports.

Supply chain financing is a major way that corporate behemoths keep cash flow humming. This tool is about to get its moment in the spotlight. 

Marine fuel rules have become a key factor in diesel prices, but a new set of regulations may actually push downward on the market.

Chris Grey, vice president of business development at SmartKargo, says not all delivery partners have the shipper’s best interest in mind.

Freight railroads face fierce competition

The remarkably buoyant Chicago industrial real estate market faces supply shortages and elevated rents as big investors step back, Colliers says.

Swissport, a large cargo handler at Chicago O’Hare airport, has finally complied with the city’s requirement for a labor peace agreement, ensuring uninterrupted cargo flow.

Cargo drone manufacturer and delivery provider Elroy Air hit a new high after signing a deal with Dublin-based LCI.

Things get noisy at the union’s two-day meeting to begin reviewing thousands of negotiating proposals.

Ondemand on WTT: “Candy land” director John Swab; FAA system shutdown; human trafficking awareness and more

Tesla plans to spend $775 million to expand its electric vehicle factory in Austin this year.

Influential logistics provider Flexport says it will reduce its staff by 20% in the face of a looming global recession.

Nikola purchased ailing battery startup Romeo Power Systems before its likely failure, but the fallout is spreading.

Wabash has signed a multiyear trailer supply agreement with J.B. Hunt, making good on its plan to smooth out equipment ordering.

A first-ever strategy aimed specifically at decarbonizing transportation encourages maritime and rail over highway freight.

Imports continue to decline and are close to where they were before COVID-19, but the coastal mix is very different.

Move will add 35.6 cents a gallon to truckers’ fuel tab.

We take a look back at the state-of-the-art technology that streamlined trucking in 1961.

E2open, a publicly traded supply chain software provider, reveals earnings that provide a look into the state of the industry.

Estes Express Lines announced Tuesday that Webb Estes has been named president and chief operating officer.

Starting Jan. 31, more U.S. merchants, including those on the BigCommerce platform, can access Amazon Prime services like free and next-day delivery.

Trade has been proven time and time again to blow away the bluster of political rhetoric. China’s sleight of hand with its COVID reporting has the WHO accusing China of “under-representing” the severity of cases, and the flow of trade can back up the WHO’s statement.

A private investment group is rolling up large chunks of land at smaller airports to develop air cargo facilities.

Already serving nearly seven years in federal prison for embezzling more than $700,000 from the trucking company where she worked, a Missouri bookkeeper was sentenced to two more years for committing Paycheck Protection Program loan fraud.

Sanctions on Russian crude exports have yet to boost tanker rates. Some question whether sanctions on Russian diesel will either.

Mexican authorities reported a total of 1,181 cargo theft incidents across the country in November.

The East and Gulf coasts combined have overtaken the West Coast in port market share, but there are limitations the East needs to deal with, said panelists at a meeting of the Transportation Research Board.

Morgan Stanley said trucking fundamentals could be “bottoming” in a Monday note to clients while Susquehanna called it quits on several stocks.

Patriot Rail seals a deal; BNSF signs an MOU; Trinity strengthens its position; Port of Pasco secures project funding; Indiana Rail Road sets titles; and Hedlund succeeds Schulz as STB vice chair.

A new book raises doubts about whether the ELD mandate has boosted truck safety.

Andrew Clarke, the ex-C.H. Robinson Worldwide executive, would relish the opportunity to return as its CEO, according to sources.

The state of autonomous trucking; what you need to know about ocean freight in Q1; NIMBYs vs truckers and more on WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

Reducing costs and shifting supply chain conditions were among the reasons why rail car manufacturer Greenbrier is ceasing production at its longtime Portland, Oregon, facility.

Truckload carriers nearly auto-accepted load requests during the holidays. While this may look like a blessing to shippers, the implications are not great.

This week in Borderlands: Canada remains top US trading partner ahead of Mexico; Texas group acquires heavy-haul carrier United Vision Logistics; GM plans to expand electric vehicle production in Mexico; and Chinese manufacturer announces first plant in Mexico.

This week: J.B. Hunt is inducted into the philanthropic society of a Texas cancer center, NFI helps Girl Scouts earn their Transportation Badge and Werner continues to wear red to support a military nonprofit.

AskWaves looks at how recent changes requiring disclosure of supply chain finance programs could impact shippers.

Amanda May, 36, of Whitesville, Kentucky, has filed a motion to intervene in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by her mother’s partner, Spangle The Clown, against Lala Trucking Inc. and one of its drivers.

Remaining queues of waiting ships are dwindling, another sign that supply chain pressure is winding down.

Alliance Ground International has agreed to give a major union access to workers at its O’Hare airport cargo facilities, averting a potential suspension of operating rights.

FedEx Freight Direct now offers returns of big and bulky items.

Reliance Partners’ Robert Kaferle stresses the importance of continual training because no one knows everything — no matter how long you’ve been in the industry.

Four Class I railroads have asked the Surface Transportation Board and U.S. appeals courts to review an order that seeks to resolve small rate disputes through voluntary arbitration.

The “doomsday clock” ticking on ocean contracts
Rise of AI in supply chain
Candy Land review
Starting a fleet in ’23 need to knows
How tech is expediting LTL and more

For all intents and purposes, the month of December has only three weeks of freight activity, as the final week from Christmas to New Year’s is effectively null. In years prior, freight demand has fallen throughout the month before bottoming out in that final week. So far, December looks to be following seasonal trends, which is to say that, while shippers’ activity is winding down, this movement is not alarming by itself. Rather, the gap in freight demand between 2022 and ’21 (or even ’20) is the main symptom of current ailments.

See how Walmart — quickly becoming one of the biggest names in drone delivery — and its network fared in 2022.

Port Houston plans to begin implementing fees for long-dwell containers beginning Feb. 1.

1992: 2-D bar codes provide an almost infinite variety of codes, which could prove especially useful in international shipping.

Autonomous trucking language can be a little off-putting to the uninitiated. One exception may be the term “feature complete.”

The number of truck transportation jobs rose in December, but following revisions of the earlier months, the fourth-quarter gain was minimal.

Jason Berry was key to getting Air Canada’s new-and-improved cargo unit off the ground but isn’t sticking around to see it reach cruising altitude.

NOVA Infrastructure has announced it added another port drayage provider serving the Port of Charleston to its portfolio.

Planned Battery Plant Capacity in North America by 2030

Less-than-truckload provider Roadrunner has announced its “biggest-ever transit improvements.”

Uber Freight’s Frank McGuigan, who played a key role in selling Transplace to the digital brokerage company, is leaving at the end of the month.

In this issue of the WHAT THE TRUCK?!? newsletter spot rates hit high, C.H. Robinson fallout; a new trucking movie and more.

The top 10 liner operators hiked aggregate capacity by 13% in 2000-22 and continue to control 85% of the global fleet.

Meadow Lark boasts diversity efforts and driver benefits in an unstable labor market.

Flexport is hiring top tech talent to scale up its digital logistics platform.

Capacity investments and slowing online demand helped carriers hit their peak-season delivery targets, according to ShipMatrix.

Class 8 truck backlogs enter 2023 in healthy shape despite three consecutive months of lower orders after a record September.

Electric vehicle fleet provider Lightning eMotors has introduced a new tool to help operators get the most out of their EV fleets.

U.S. freight railroads moved fewer volumes in 2022 than 2021 amid declines in intermodal traffic, according to recent industry data.

Locus is expanding its workforce and solution offerings for Mexico’s booming e-commerce market.

Ditat’s load planning board lets carriers view and manage all their load planning necessities in one place. It’s also a powerful recruiting tool.

E-commerce giant Amazon will lay off over 18,000 workers during its current round of job cuts, first reported in November.

Analysts waxed pessimistic about C.H. Robinson’s near-term outlook, arguing that the company’s culture needs to change.

Forward Air announced it will buy fellow expedited less-than-truckload provider Land Air Express in a $56.5 million transaction.

You don’t have to tackle your safety goals alone. Partner with a safety expert that can develop a plan with realistic and attainable objectives.

Microsoft Corp. is reportedly near an investment in Gatik, the middle-mile autonomous trucking startup.

Regulators are modifying financial requirements and penalties for brokers, freight forwarders and surety bond issuers.

Fall out from C.H. Robinson firing CEO; a containership powered by sails; top-5 tips to get paid as a driver and more on WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

Shopper engagement services provider Relationshop acquired grocery e-commerce firm Stor.ai for more than $50 million.