FreightWaves Today

FreightWaves

FreightWaves NOW is your daily source for the most impactful news in logistics. We break down the complex world of freight—covering trucking, rail, air, and ocean markets—to bring you actionable insights. Whether you are a carrier, shipper, or broker, we provide the data-driven context you need to navigate a volatile market.

  1. fa 2 h

    FreightWaves Today | June 29

    The freight market is heating up—and this week's episode breaks down why. We kick off the show with a look at record-setting trucking spot rates, why the July 4 holiday is the freight industry's "Super Bowl," and what tightening capacity means for carriers, brokers, and shippers heading into the second half of the year. Then we dive into the day's biggest logistics headlines, including: A $1.3 million cargo theft recovery near Chicago Boeing's major freighter deal with China Southern Airlines A growing biometric privacy class-action lawsuit impacting the trucking industry Our featured guests include: Steve Lockington, President & CEO of Geotab Vitality, on how behavioral science, telematics, and positive incentives are improving driver safety, retention, and fleet performance. Burak Cendek, Managing Director at AutoTech Ventures, discussing the venture capital landscape and where transportation technology is headed next. Michael Farkas, Founder & CEO of NextNRG, on AI, energy infrastructure, remote fueling, and the impact of lower oil prices on freight. Gabe Ribeiro, Head of Partnerships & Marketing at Hey Bubba, on building community and innovation in trucking. Plus, Craig Fuller delivers a SONAR market deep dive covering: All-time high trucking spot rates Tender rejection trends Blue-to-Blue freight markets Fuel prices vs. freight pricing What carriers and brokers should expect in the weeks ahead Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2 h 1 min
  2. $1.3M Cargo Theft Recovery, China Southern Orders Boeing Freighters, & ULH Biometrics Case | The Morning Minute

    fa 10 h

    $1.3M Cargo Theft Recovery, China Southern Orders Boeing Freighters, & ULH Biometrics Case | The Morning Minute

    In this episode, we kick things off by examining a massive cargo theft recovery near Chicago that reveals the sophisticated nature of organized freight crime. The Cook County Sheriff's Office recovered two stolen trailers containing over $1.3 million in copper wire and data center equipment at a truck yard in Elk Grove Township. Both trailers had been equipped with stolen license plates and were linked to the same unidentified driver, though no arrests have been announced yet. Next, we shift over to the air cargo sector where a state-owned Chinese carrier is making a landmark move that signals a major thaw in trade relations. China Southern Airlines placed an order with Boeing for seven freighter aircraft, including five of the all-new 777-8F models expected to hit the market in 2028. This represents the first purchase of the 777-8 freighter by a mainland China carrier and comes after China reopened its market to Boeing during President Trump's May visit to Beijing. Finally, we explore how a biometric privacy lawsuit filed in 2021 by an Illinois truck driver has just expanded into a potentially costly class action. A federal judge granted class status to the case against Universal Intermodal Services over fingerprint scanners used at its Harvey, Illinois facility. The broader class definition brings in workers from a Universal Logistics subsidiary and third-party staffing agencies, significantly expanding the scope of potential damages under Illinois' stringent Biometric Privacy Act. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    4 min
  3. ILWU Sugar Strike, FMCSA Motus Rollout Troubles, & USPS Cash Crisis | The Morning Minute

    fa 3 dies

    ILWU Sugar Strike, FMCSA Motus Rollout Troubles, & USPS Cash Crisis | The Morning Minute

    In this episode, we kick things off in California, where warehouse workers launched the first ILWU strike against a major sugar producer in decades. The walkout at C&H Sugar's massive Bay Area refinery involves roughly ninety to one hundred unionized employees fighting over healthcare, retiree benefits, sick leave, and overtime rules. While American Sugar Refining offered a twenty percent wage increase, workers say the company proposed slashing half their annual sick days, ending retiree medical coverage, and limiting premium overtime pay. Meanwhile, in Washington, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration quietly suspended its biennial update requirement for entities that missed their deadline since June first, a clear signal that the Motus registration portal rollout continues to struggle. Despite FMCSA leadership characterizing the technical issues as minor, industry consultants report that conflicting government data is preventing carriers from operating, creating serious compliance headaches across the sector. Finally, we examine how the U.S. Postal Service has delayed a shutdown until the early 2030s through accounting maneuvers, but the fundamental liquidity crisis remains unresolved. Postmaster General David Steiner warned senators that USPS carries nearly thirty-one billion dollars in debt against just eight point nine billion in unrestricted cash, as mail volume has plummeted by more than half since two thousand while delivery addresses continue growing by one million annually. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    4 min
  4. Bendix Taps Aeva LiDAR, Echo Expands Mexico Services, & DHL Autonomous Ops Go Live | The Morning Minute

    22 de juny

    Bendix Taps Aeva LiDAR, Echo Expands Mexico Services, & DHL Autonomous Ops Go Live | The Morning Minute

    In this episode, we kick things off by examining a major advancement in commercial vehicle safety technology that's targeting mass production across the Class 8 market. Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems has officially selected Aeva to integrate 4D LiDAR sensors and perception software into its next-generation collision mitigation systems for Class 8 trucks. With roughly 300,000 new Class 8 trucks entering the North American market annually, this program is targeting mass production of one of the first LiDAR-based L2+ driver assistance solutions for commercial vehicles, marking a strategic shift toward using advanced perception technology in active safety systems rather than just higher levels of autonomy. Next, we shift to cross-border logistics, where Echo Global Logistics is making an aggressive play to dominate the entire U.S.-Mexico freight corridor. The Chicago-based third-party logistics provider has formally unveiled a new suite of intra-Mexico domestic transportation services, giving shippers a fully integrated supply chain solution spanning both sides of the border. The expansion includes city-to-city freight transportation, port drayage, domestic intermodal services, and managed transportation solutions across Mexico, all integrated with Echo's existing cross-border operations and allowing the company to capture growing freight movements tied to nearshoring trends. Finally, we explore how autonomous technology is officially moving beyond pilot programs and into full-scale daily operations at a major logistics hub. DHL has transitioned autonomous vehicles from its Fast Forward Challenge into live daily operations at its Singapore facility, partnering with Zelostech to operate fully electric, driverless vehicles for point-to-point transfers between logistics facilities on campus. Each vehicle averages 40 trips and covers 28 kilometers daily, delivering consistent performance at roughly half the operating cost of diesel trucks while cutting emissions to support customers' sustainability goals. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    4 min

Informació

FreightWaves NOW is your daily source for the most impactful news in logistics. We break down the complex world of freight—covering trucking, rail, air, and ocean markets—to bring you actionable insights. Whether you are a carrier, shipper, or broker, we provide the data-driven context you need to navigate a volatile market.

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