News

Here’s how 10 federal agencies plan to protect carriers and their customers if Congress fails to approve funding by Saturday night.

The U.S. government at the start of World War I looked to concrete vessel hulls to counter severe steel shortages when the country entered the war.

Warehouse Services Inc. said Thursday it has acquired Sky Transportation Services, a dry van fleet specializing in cross-border shipments.

A broker that hired a carrier whose truck struck a teenager is not liable, according to an Illinois appellate court.

In this issue of the WTT newsletter: government shutdown alert; Flexport shakeups; used truck prices hit new lows; and more.

A flood of tanks, military vehicles and weapons systems is flowing from the U.S. to Europe. Shipowner ARC plays a pivotal transport role.

While AI has the potential to prevent accidents, it can only deliver on its potential if it’s consistent and accurate.

Recruiting costs for companies with a frequent hiring need often exceed thousands of dollars per driver. In an economic environment that has left most carriers strapped for cash, this financial burden can be insurmountable.

The Office of Inspector General reported the rate of illness and injury at U.S. warehouses as “consistently high.”

MNX Global Logistics focuses on managing time-critical, specialized shipments.

Seacor Holdings has sold its U.S. harbor towing operations to firms in Louisiana and Texas.

FLS Transportation builds out a North American footprint with the acquisition of AMAC Logistics.

Hyzon Motors agreed to pay a $25 million fine to settle a Securities and Exchange Commission fraud case.

Comments from Amazon merchandising expert add context to nuanced issue.

“Violations could indicate that you don’t have sufficient safety management controls,” said Rick Malchow, industry business adviser at J. J. Keller & Associates Inc.

Loadsmart CEO Felipe Capella said there’s “massive value potential for the whole freight industry” by applying computer vision technology.

The Federal Aviation Administration and Customs and Border Protection are two key agencies involved in goods movement that will be short-handed if the government shuts down nonessential services.

Cargo volumes were a mixed bag for Gulf Coast ports in August, with Corpus Christi and New Orleans reporting gains, while Houston saw a 20% decline in container shipments.

In an article published in 1981 in American Shipper magazine, a Bethlehem Shipyard case focuses attention on a maritime problem as old as the “master’s gratuity,” according to a former company official who was charged with bribery at the time.

Declaring East Palestine, the town impacted by a Norfolk Southern train derailment, as the site of a public health emergency would allow area residents to have long-term access to Medicare, Ohio’s senators said in a letter to the EPA.

Supply chains are one crisis away from seizing up again, say the CEOs of Prologis and Home Depot.

Now on demand on WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is joined by Jennifer DeAngelis; Zach Jecklin; Rachel Premack; Justin Martin

Several data points provided by ACT Research on Wednesday showed the trucking market may be shaking off the downcycle.

Seattle-based logistics provider Flexe has laid off a third of its workforce.

WestJet Cargo and Lufthansa Cargo are connecting new cities to their narrowbody freighter networks.

Zerobroker’s fundraising round saw participation from freight forwarder Flexport, FundersClub and Streamlined Ventures.

Two Florida East Coast Railway terminals will gain access to Norfolk Southern’s network, and NS and FEC will use a steel wheel interchange in Jacksonville, Florida, which will bolster access to Midwest markets.

A ShipStation survey found U.S. consumers are more concerned about package theft than late deliveries. 

Soft economic conditions have prompted many companies to swap out previously devised growth strategies for more conservative “stay afloat” plans. This is not the case for XPO.

The Georgia Ports Authority reported a dip in August volumes at the Port of Savannah. But volume increases for rail traffic and roll-on/roll-off cargo were bright sports for GPA last month.

Online marketplace uShip has been investing in technology, sales and partnerships in anticipation of when the freight economy surges again.

The Federal Trade Commission and 17 state attorneys general filed suit against Amazon.com on Tuesday, alleging the e-commerce giant used its monopoly power to “inflate prices, degrade quality and stifle innovation for consumers and businesses.”

Daimler Truck set a record for a zero-emission hydrogen-powered fuel cell truck, traveling 650 miles on a single fill of liquid hydrogen.

A new regulatory agenda sets dates for trucking sector rulemakings ranging from speed limiter mandates to automatic emergency braking.

FedEx partners with an AI-powered robotics firm to load FedEx Ground trailers.

Inflation and economic fallout from the war are curbing demand just as a tidal wave of new ship supply hits the water.

The most widely used IRS rate for per diem payments will be held steady in 2023-24.

Brokers know that cash flow is one of the most critical aspects of their companies’ success — or failure. Despite this, the primary focus of popular industry technologies lies in freight delivery, not necessarily extending to proof of delivery or payment collection.

By employing the China Plus One strategy, companies can hedge against the headwinds they are facing in China while still benefiting from the country’s wealth of resources and well-established supply chain processes.

Another top-level cargo executive for a Middle Eastern airline has found a new job. Atlas Air, which leases and flies cargo and passenger aircraft for airlines, logistics companies, sports teams […]

A former Texas Border Patrol agent pleaded guilty to hiring undocumented immigrants as drivers for Gonmor Transportation.

UPS is looking to fill full- and part-time seasonal positions.

DHL is moving its A300 fleet from Asia because the region doesn’t have sufficient aerospace support services for the aircraft.

Cincinnati voters will determine on Nov. 7 who should own the Cincinnati Southern Railway, which is currently owned by a group affiliated with the city. The city wants to sell it to Norfolk Southern for $1.62 billion.

The benchmark diesel price used for most fuel surcharges declined for the first time since early summer.

Now on demand on WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is joined by Ken Evans; Christopher Carpenter; Justin Martin

Two subsidiaries of trucking conglomerate TFI International have been sued by the EEOC over alleged discrimination against two gay employees who ultimately were fired.

The Federal Railroad Administration’s CRISI program for rail infrastructure projects awarded a record $1.4 billion to 70 projects across the U.S.

Air Canada is backing out of a deal to buy two large 777 freighters from Boeing.

An 85-year-old Indiana-based trucking and logistics company and its affiliates recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection less than nine months after it was acquired by private-equity firm Transport Acquisitions.

As many organizations still have functional silos, it is becoming paramount to the success of broader supply chain technologies that those functions collaborate across the organizations.

One terminal of trucking giant Werner filed to join the Teamsters union. Teamsters said key organizers were terminated afterward.

During the NMFTA’s cybersecurity webinar, Guidacent CISO Drew Williams discussed ransomware’s toll on the trucking industry — and what carriers can do to protect themselves.

FreightWaves, the leading provider of freight market intelligence, and Decision Spot, a provider of strategic supply chain planning and design software, are pleased to announce a partnership to integrate FreightWaves SONAR TRAC Spot Rates into Decision Spot’s platform.

California, Georgia, Texas and Florida were the most targeted states for cargo theft during the second quarter of 2023.

This week: A Michigan-based 3PL aims to capitalize on Mexico trade through an acquisition; San Antonio mulls banning overnight truck parking; a Texas-based electric mini-truck maker begins production; and $9.9 million worth of marijuana is seized at the World Trade Bridge.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom sided with autonomous technology developers over organized labor and his own party in vetoing AB 316.

Diesel is an essential fuel for the global economy. The world’s second-largest seaborne supplier, Russia, just halted exports.

Barge rates for moving grain on the Mississippi have continued to rise as water levels remain low.

There may be a tussle to capture peak surcharge revenue on those shippers that pay the levies.

DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy says Atlas rail car system has undergone final testing, while Minneapolis-based Thermo King introduced its next-generation temperature-controlled slimline rail unit.

According to a recent study by SkyQuest Technology, every year more than $750 billion worth of losses occur worldwide due to poor cold chain logistics and facilities and improper handling procedures.

In 1965 a truck driver sacrificed himself to save others as his brakes failed on a steep hill while he was transporting bananas. The compelling story became the subject of a folk song by Harry Chapin almost 10 years later.

Consumer demand during the holiday season is expected to be relatively soft, which should temper expectations for a red-hot peak season in truckload markets.

During this episode of Taking The Hire Road, guest host Leah Shaver, president and CEO of the National Transportation Institute, chats with Kameel Gaines, founder, president and CEO of Rig on Wheels, a third-party driver recruiting firm.

Few details have been released two days after a truck driver was fatally shot by an Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) trooper during a traffic stop that turned “physical” on the Turner Turnpike in Creek County.

Now on demand on WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is joined by Rob Cook; Tyler Deaton; Scott Fisher

FleetPride, a privately held supplier of truck parts, held on to its debt rating from two key ratings agencies. 

Stack AV founder Bryan Selesky is keeping most of the details of his autonomous trucking startup to himself for now.

Volvo Group had scant interest in producing fuel cell trucks five years ago. Now they play a role in the pursuit of zero-emissions trucking.

: In 1947, tragedy struck the port in Texas City, Texas, where a French ship carrying highly flammable fertilizer caught fire and caused devastation to the port town. But the lessons learned from the disaster likely saved lives in the years following, according to the latest episode of Tracks Through Time.

Dozens of household names are already using this new way to book trucking capacity in a way that reflects the larger market.

Although U.S. rail volumes may still be sluggish, Greenbrier received orders for 15,300 new rail cars in its latest fiscal quarter. The orders have an aggregate value of $1.9 billion.

“One of the key requests that we hear from our customers is an ability to reduce charging times, and that requires both improvement of vehicle technology as well as charging technology,” Prologis’ Henrik Holland said at FreightWaves’ Net-Zero Carbon Summit.

Novadev is tackling aviation sustainability by focusing on the air cargo sector.

The recent rate rebound turned out to be fleeting. As rates deteriorate yet again, shipping lines face mounting losses.

The future of long-haul trucking could include more fuel cell and hydrogen-powered vehicles, experts said during FreightWaves’ Net-Zero Carbon Summit on Thursday.

What’s next for the three-headed beast of AB5 litigation in California? It might be whether the state’s Supreme Court takes up the so-called Olson case.

Pricing strategies advance as companies model changes in consumer behavior.

Covenant Logistics Group’s Matt McLelland said at FreightWaves’ Net-Zero Carbon Summit on Thursday that his company’s sustainability plan includes fleet initiatives to reduce idle percentage and increase miles per gallon.

“Within a few years you’ll see a revolutionized logistics space with true decarbonization taking place,” says Sustainable Freight Buyers Alliance’s Rik Arends.

A report published Tuesday by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) must make its complaint database more transparent and publicly available.

Texas-run truck inspections at the Mexican border are causing hourslong waits for cargo truckers.

Zeina El-Azzi, founder and CEO of Gage Zero, talks with FreightWaves’ Thomas Wasson about why logistics and trucking companies should seek to ensure that they are protecting local communities as they roll out fleet electrification plans.

President Joe Biden wants Norfolk Southern and federal agencies to stay involved in recovery efforts in East Palestine, Ohio, where an NS train carrying hazardous materials derailed on Feb. 3.

Freight-movement data reveals the importance of factoring sustainability measures into transportation planning.

Sheer Logistics showed off the capabilities of its carbon emissions dashboards during FreightWaves’ Net-Zero Carbon Summit on Thursday.

Sam Stockdale chats about Link Logistics’ energy-efficiency initiatives at FreightWaves’ Net-Zero Carbon Summit.

Estes Express Lines was named the winning stalking horse bidder in Delaware bankruptcy court on Thursday.

Swedish startup Einride reduces the carbon footprint of its trucking customers by matching electric trucks with available chargers.

ACT Research, a leading transportation research firm, is on the side of the debate that sees significant penetration of alternative fuels for trucking.

The latest FAA approval for Zipline could mean a huge step forward in drone delivery.

Voltera handles land purchases, oversees power needs and manages regulatory approvals for companies that want to scale their charging infrastructure.

Progress Rail is asking a federal court to order Wabtec to divest of its GE Transportation unit, hold up its end of two agreements and correct statements it made about Progress Rail and its locomotive manufacturing program.