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. 12 hr 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
  2. 18 hr 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
  3. 3 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
  4. 4 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
  5. 5 days ago

    FreightWaves Today | August 19

    On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp break down the latest signals from across trucking, rail, intermodal and the broader industrial economy. Thom Albrecht of Reliance Partners joins the show to discuss where the freight cycle is headed, improving demand signals and the supply-side forces reshaping trucking. Albrecht explains how English-language proficiency enforcement, non-domiciled CDL scrutiny, changes to CDL and ELD self-certification, safety enforcement and major court decisions could affect capacity and potentially extend the current freight cycle. The show also dives into what the railroads are telling us about the health of the industrial economy, including strength across commodities such as chemicals, scrap metal, steel-related freight and grain. Craig and Julie examine the continued shift of freight toward intermodal and BNSF's expanded Phoenix-to-Dallas-Fort Worth service as railroads look to capture more over-the-road truckload freight. Plus, Bloomberg Intelligence's Lee Klaskow provides his outlook for transportation and what the fourth quarter could hold, Oliver Sawbridge brings a supply chain intelligence perspective to the conversation, and Bill Stephens closes out the show with a deeper look at the rail industry and what current volumes are signaling about the economy. Craig and Julie also cover the day's biggest freight headlines, including Americold's new $80 million cold-storage hub at Port Saint John, BNSF's intermodal expansion between Phoenix and Dallas-Fort Worth, and UPS strengthening its Asia-Pacific air cargo network. Subscribe to FreightWaves for the latest news, analysis and conversations covering trucking, transportation, logistics, supply chains and the global freight economy. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    FreightWaves Today | August 19
  6. 6 days ago

    Burq Bets on Last-Mile Orchestration, GlobalX Revokes Lawsuit, & Armenia Freight Fraud Bust | The Morning Minute

    In this episode, we kick things off by examining a strategic bet on orchestration software as national parcel carriers continue to shed unprofitable volume. Last-mile delivery technology company Burq is wagering that enterprise retailers will pay for orchestration platforms that sit above the growing bench of regional carriers and gig courier networks. With fifty-five percent of retailers now using carriers outside FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service, and alternative carriers moving two point six billion parcels last year, the last-mile delivery duopoly is rapidly eroding. Next, we discuss a messy legal battle in the air cargo sector that has officially come to an end. Miami-based charter operator Global Crossing Airlines has dismissed its thirty-million-dollar breach-of-contract lawsuit against Ascent Global Logistics and terminated their exclusive brokerage agreement. GlobalX had alleged its former investment partner failed to honor an agreement to steer air cargo business its way, and during the second quarter, the carrier's cargo revenue dropped two point nine million dollars, or about fifty percent, year over year. Finally, we explore a sophisticated international freight fraud operation as Armenian authorities busted a Yerevan-based group that posed as American carriers and converted stolen freight proceeds into crypto. Cyber police raided commercial space inside a Yerevan hotel on July twenty-third, where suspects allegedly used specialized computer equipment to gain trust from businesses arranging transportation services, then redirected shipments to different locations instead of completing intended deliveries. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Burq Bets on Last-Mile Orchestration, GlobalX Revokes Lawsuit, & Armenia Freight Fraud Bust | The Morning Minute
  7. 17 Aug

    FreightWaves Today | August 17

    Join Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp on FreightWaves Today as they break down the critical developments shaping the freight, logistics, and supply chain markets. In the morning minute, they A look at an alarming $111 million wave of high-tech cargo thefts targeting semiconductor and data center freight, featuring coordinated "bump and run" syndicate tactics. Plus, an urgent FBI tax fraud investigation involving self-employed truck drivers in Georgia, and Mexico's surging heavy-duty truck production and export gains. Drone Warfare & Supply Chains: Analysis of Ukraine's drone strikes on Russian distribution hubs—including Wildberries facilities—and what targeting fulfillment networks means for modern logistics vulnerability. Freight Payments & Shippers of Choice: Jeff Pape (US Bank Corporate Payment Systems) stops by to discuss rising freight payment predictability, early holiday peak planning, emerging AI applications in logistics, and credit quality across the sector. SONAR Market Update: Craig and Julie break down SONAR’s Tender Lead Time Index (OU.TLT), examining why shippers are tendering freight further in advance, how lead times impact tender rejections, and how to utilize the SONAR Coverage Guide to manage spot rate volatility. Real-World Tesla Semi Demo: Bob Lewis from Intercoastal Trucking shares first-hand driver feedback from testing the Tesla Semi in hard Northeast corridors, discussing range management, regenerative braking, maintenance savings, and charging infrastructure challenges. The Freight Cycle Debate: Ken Adamo (Chief Strategy Officer at Ease Logistics) and Dr. Jason Miller engage (Michigan State University) in a debate over capacity supply, driver availability, data center demand surges, and regulatory enforcement shifts. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    FreightWaves Today | August 17

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.

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