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. 1 hr ago

    FreightWaves Today | August 26

    In this episode of FreightWaves Today, hosts Craig Fuller and Julie Garner analyze the current trajectory of the North American economy, key supply chain news, and recent data across freight modes. Craig and Julie open with commentary on strong U.S. industrial and rail volume data, record corporate profit margins driven by technological efficiency, and the passing of country music legend Dolly Parton, highlighting her recent venture into driver-centric travel stops. They also cover a proposed $6 billion freight rail bypass around Atlanta and a major $150,000 cargo theft bust in California’s Mojave Desert. Pavan Joshi, Chief Strategy Officer at E2open, breaks down ongoing trade posturing between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Joshi highlights the operational challenges of unwinding 30 years of integrated continental supply chains (particularly in auto, agriculture, and energy) and stresses the need for stable trade policies and strategic friend-shoring. Sonar Daily Market Update: A deep dive into tender rejections shows refrigerated capacity remaining tight (~20.5%) due to summer weather demand, while flatbed rejection rates have cooled off. The hosts highlight strong intermodal performance, driven by a 33% contract cost-savings advantage over truckload. Einride CEO Roozbeh Charli discusses the commercialization of autonomous and electric freight networks. He reviews recent deployments, including their partnership with Tesla, the expansion of their vehicle-agnostic software stack, and their entry into defense applications to remove human drivers from high-risk zones. Valentina Jordan, CEO and co-founder of Nada, explains why successful AI adoption requires a solid, contextual data foundation rather than just standalone AI agents. She shares details on their recent strategic funding round and how Nada's platform processes fragmented global trade data to eliminate stockouts and reduce costs. Aaron Decker, CEO of Multi-Service Fuel Card, clarifies that elevated retail diesel prices are primarily driven by historic refining crack spreads and global refining disruptions (including attacks on Russian energy infrastructure) rather than crude shortages alone. Weekly AAR Rail Report: The episode closes with the latest Association of American Railroads (AAR) data, which reveals sustained year-over-year volume growth in U.S. intermodal units (+5%) and Canadian trade traffic. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    FreightWaves Today | August 26
  2. 4 hr ago

    Atlanta Rail Bypass Proposal, $150K Boxcar Theft, & Dolly Parton Dies at 80 | The Morning Minute

    In this episode, we kick things off by examining an ambitious infrastructure proposal that could dramatically reshape freight movement in the South. An influential coalition is leveraging the proposed Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern mega-merger to demand a massive freight rail bypass around Atlanta that would free up track for passenger trains and thin out the city's legendary traffic congestion. The six-billion-dollar project would divert eighty percent of freight trains onto a U-shaped route, opening capacity for fourteen commuter rail lines and offering a far cheaper alternative to the ninety billion dollars Georgia would otherwise need to spend on highway expansion by 2050. Next, we shift over to the rails to discuss a brazen cargo theft in California's Mojave Desert that illustrates how quickly high-value freight can disappear. San Bernardino County deputies recovered over $150,000 in New Balance shoes after reports of people breaking into BNSF boxcars near Daggett, an unincorporated community east of Barstow along I-95. Authorities arrested a suspect following a traffic stop and foot pursuit, underscoring how rail cargo theft can move high-value inventory from a railcar to a highway within minutes. Finally, we cover the passing of an American icon who made professional drivers part of her final business chapter. Country music legend Dolly Parton died peacefully Tuesday in Nashville at age 80, just two months after making a surprise appearance at the grand opening of Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop in Cornersville, Tennessee. The facility, located about an hour south of Nashville, was designed specifically for professional drivers and featured truck parking, fuel, showers, laundry, restaurants, and a dog park, reflecting Parton's decades spent touring the country by bus. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. 2 days ago

    FreightWaves Today | August 24

    In this episode of FreightWaves Today, hosts Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp break down the major trade and regulatory shifts shaking up the freight industry—including the newly implemented 50% tariffs on Canadian imports and the sudden departure of ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. Keith Moore, CEO of Auto Scheduler AI, discusses how AI-powered warehouse orchestration software helps manage complex facility operations. He explains that by using an "operational twin" model of a warehouse, the software helps optimize inventory flow, decision-making, and labor utilization while addressing the bottlenecks created by modern automation. Eric Kulisch, Air Cargo Reporter at FreightWaves, shares updates on Amazon's expanding drone delivery program and the evolving regulatory environment surrounding drone logistics. He details how tech capabilities like detect-and-avoid features are shaping the space, as well as the long-term industry projections for urban air mobility. Russell Jones CEO of Private Fleet Net Zero, breaks down how his company functions as a digital matching platform specifically designed to unlock unused backhaul capacity for private fleets. He highlights how this approach offers freight brokers reliable, safer, and heavily discounted capacity while simultaneously cutting down on empty miles and carbon emissions. Kurt Mann, Head of Transportation at Mitsubishi HC Capital, provides a financial perspective on the current state of the freight and equipment markets following an extended economic downturn. He outlines lender strategy, equipment valuation shifts from peak bubble levels, and why fleets remain cautious about adding new capacity until overall freight demand sees a sustained rebound. Plus, we explore the latest industry headlines, deep-dive into freight market data, and feature insights from expert guests across warehouse automation, drone delivery, private fleets, and equipment financing. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    FreightWaves Today | August 24
  4. 2 days ago

    $9.5M Meth Bust at Texas Border, RoadOne Expands Charleston Ops, & ATA Chief Steps Down | The Morning Minute

    In this episode, we kick things off at the Texas border, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers uncovered a massive narcotics smuggling operation hiding in plain sight. On August eleventh at the Roma International Bridge, CBP officers directed a tractor-trailer arriving from Mexico to secondary inspection after it declared a routine commercial detergent shipment. Using nonintrusive inspection equipment and a canine team, authorities discovered over 1,000 pounds of suspected methamphetamine concealed within the detergent load, with a staggering street value exceeding $9.57 million. Port Director Andres Guerra credited advanced technology and frontline vigilance with identifying the contraband in what appeared to be routine freight. Next, we explore the intermodal sector, where RoadOne IntermodaLogistics is aggressively expanding its Port of Charleston footprint through strategic acquisition. The Randolph, Massachusetts-based provider announced it has acquired Higgins Transport Service, a Charleston-based drayage and intermodal provider, adding fifteen drivers and critical capacity to serve the Southeastern market. RoadOne recently opened a massive 384,000-square-foot facility in Summerville, South Carolina, and plans to add another 279,700-square-foot warehouse on the 100-acre property next year to support its growing Southeast global trade corridor operations. Finally, we break down major leadership upheaval rocking the trucking industry's most prominent trade organization as Chris Spear departs as president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, effective immediately. Spear had recently observed his ten-year anniversary in the role and was just beginning an extension of his contract—a five-year deal signed in 2021 was extended in 2024 until 2029. ATA chairman Greg Hodgen said a search has begun to identify the organization's next leader, while assuring members that ATA remains strong, focused, and fully engaged in delivering results. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    $9.5M Meth Bust at Texas Border, RoadOne Expands Charleston Ops, & ATA Chief Steps Down | The Morning Minute
  5. 5 days ago

    Best of FreightWaves Today | August 21

    In this Best Of episode of FreightWaves Today, we are replaying top industry interviews that focus on earnings before diving into an exclusive freight market breakdown. David Parker, founder and CEO of Covenant Logistics, weighs in on the urgent necessity of federal tort reform in the face of skyrocketing insurance costs and severe "nuclear verdicts". He also breaks down Covenant's strategic shift away from one-way over-the-road freight and shares his perspective on where we stand in the current market cycle. Julie Van de Kemp breaks down the latest market trends using FreightWaves SONAR, featuring key insights on: Spot vs. Contract Rates: Tender rejections and volumes are stabilizing. Meanwhile, contract rates continue to rise, significantly narrowing the rate gap with spot market pricing. Intermodal Savings Index: Why intermodal rates have remained relatively steady compared to volatile truckload spot and contract rates, offering massive cost savings. Top Cost-Saving Lanes: Analysis of high-savings outbound routes, including key East Coast and Midwest corridors out of Atlanta and Pennsylvania. Rail Merger Impact: How current railroad merger discussions could keep intermodal contract rate increases quiet to avoid regulatory pushback from shippers. FreightWaves Finance Editor Todd Maiden shares his expert financial perspective on the public transport sector. He breaks down recent earnings reports, key Wall Street movements, and what carrier financial disclosures reveal about underlying demand and market health. Chris Versace brings a high-level macroeconomic and OEM market perspective to the show. He analyzes transportation stocks, equipment manufacturing trends, and what broader economic indicators signify for freight volumes moving forward. ArcBest President & CEO Seth Runser dives into the company's strong performance, early signals of demand recovery, and their strategic consolidation efforts. He also highlights ArcBest's latest platform technology and how LTL carriers are adapting to changing market conditions. Aaron Graft, CEO of Triumph Financial, discusses the real-world operational pressures hitting independent truckers and small fleets. He outlines how surging input costs—from insurance to equipment and fuel—are squeezing carrier margins and how tech-driven financial tools are helping operators stay afloat. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Best of FreightWaves Today | August 21
  6. 6 days ago

    FreightWaves Today | August 20

    Broadcasting live from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia, this episode of FreightWaves Today dives into major industry headlines and explores Atlanta’s vital role as a global freight and logistics hub. The hosts cover crucial market trends—from regulatory impacts on capacity to rail surge data and cold chain innovations—alongside interviews with top supply chain executives. Clayton Griffin (President, OTR Solutions): Discusses the factoring industry, OTR Select's capacity and data product, fraud mitigation, non-recourse models, and market cycle predictions amid regulatory crackdowns. Tony Broyles (Head of Sales, Overdrive Logistics): Shares insights from both the shipper and broker perspectives, highlighting how market tightening, capacity shifts, and authentic networking shape modern freight relationships. Ed Elkins (EVP & Chief Commercial Officer, Norfolk Southern): Explores Atlanta's historical and modern significance in rail logistics, mode conversion in the "Golden Triangle," reshoring trends, and the strategic vision behind the pending transcontinental rail merger. Brian Dunn (SVP of Facilities & Engineering, Americold): Breaks down cold storage growth, energy efficiency, risk resiliency during extreme weather, and how AI technology optimizes thermal management across temperature-controlled facilities. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    FreightWaves Today | August 20

About

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.

You Might Also Like