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The freight downturn that defined 2023 and 2024 has decisively reversed, and the May data clarifies the mechanism behind it: industrial production, rather than consumer spending or inventory restocking, is now driving the cycle. FreightWaves identified the inflection months ago. The latest readings from the Institute for Supply Management and the Logistics Managers’ Index, corroborated […]

One week ago today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous 9-0 decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II that is already reshaping the $800-billion-plus truckload brokerage sector. The Court ruled that the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (FAAAA) does not preempt state-law negligent hiring claims against brokers. In plain English: brokers can now be […]

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Derek Barrs sat down with me and Matt Leffler in our Chattanooga studio this week for a live taping of Freight Expectations. What I came away with — beyond the hour of substantive policy conversation — was the clearest articulation yet of why this administration is having a measurable, […]

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas is calling for an investigation into Chinese-controlled parcel delivery companies in the U.S., saying they receive heavy subsidies that allow them to underprice domestic carriers and could be sharing critical U.S. market data with the Chinese government.

Spot rates hit $3.55 a mile yesterday — a clear signal that capacity is not flowing in to relieve the tightness we saw during road check week. And we’re heading into Memorial Day, which historically creates a surge as shippers push product out ahead of the holiday and carriers take time off with their families. […]

Target has recruited ex-Walmart exec Jeff England away from QXO to be its next chief supply chain officer.

Amazon is expanding its new 30-minute delivery service to dozens of U.S. cities this year.

Six months after the crash of a UPS plane and the FAA ordered the grounding of all MD-11 aircraft, FedEx has been authorized to fly the freighter jets again.

Autopilot helps project44 customers build and deploy their own AI agents.

The U.S. Postal Service made strides in the second quarter reducing heavy losses, but has a long way to go to become profitable.

FedEx is in the final stages of resurrecting its MD-11 fleet after helping Boeing redesign a part that contributed to the fiery crash of a UPS jet in November, executives said during an employee briefing on Wednesday.

DHL Express gets four years of labor peace after Teamster union workers voted in favor of a negotiated contract.

Amazon announced that same-day grocery delivery is now available to Business Prime members.

Amazon announced it has stitched together logistics services into a unified supply chain product for manufacturers and retailers to move and distribute heavy freight and parcels, which poses a potential threat to other freight management and transport companies.

FedEx is telling pilots and other personnel to get ready for the return to service of the MD-11 freighter as federal regulators could soon approve a Boeing fix for the grounded aircraft.

2025 was a difficult year financially for Canada Post, but the hope is that a new labor deal opens the door for needed reforms this year.

FedEx says it is looking for a new CFO after John Dietrich decided to step down from the position.

The cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service has suspended pension payments and seeks to raise the price of a First-Class stamp by 4 cents.

Under strong pressure from the Teamsters union, UPS has agreed to limit how many drivers it eliminates through an early-retirement program

U.S. freight railroads delivered one of their strongest performances in years during March 2026, signaling that the goods-producing economy is regaining meaningful momentum across multiple sectors. According to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) latest Rail Industry Overview, total U.S. rail carloads averaged 230,401 per week in March — the strongest March result since 2019 […]

U.S. Postal Service is ready to charge parcel customers a fuel surcharge for the first time in its history because fuel prices are rising faster than it can change its base transportation rate.

The freight market momentum is building at a rapid clip. National dry van spot rates — tracked via the SONAR National Truckload Index (NTI.USA), the 7-day moving average of booked rates including fuel — have broken out to a new cycle high of $2.89 per mile. This represents the strongest level since 2022 and confirms […]

The freight market is no stranger to disruptive forces — tariffs, recessions, weather, economic fluctuations, and capacity crunches have all reshaped freight demand over the years. But a new contender is emerging from an unexpected corner: the widespread adoption of GLP-1 medications (think Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and similar GLP-1 receptor agonists). These drugs, originally developed […]

FedEx delivered strong third-quarter results, buoyed by volume and yield growth and structural cost savings.

All-cargo airline 7Air has named Ed Wegel as its new CEO seven months after the company began revenue service.

As the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced H.R. 5688, now known as Dalilah’s Law, on March 18, 2026 , the bill’s provisions targeting foreign entities in the freight ecosystem have drawn particular attention from carriers, brokers, and fraud-watchers. While much of the legislation focuses on Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) reforms—such as mandating English-language testing […]

Atlas Air has handed Airbus a major victory over Boeing in the widebody freighter market with an agreement to purchase 20 large A350 cargo aircraft.

Businesses are bracing for higher air cargo rates and shipping delays as airlines ground aircraft and avoid Middle East airspace as the U.S. and Israel battle Iran.

A suit against FedEx for a refund of $36 in duties plus fees could expand to millions of plaintiffs if a judge certifies it as a class action in the wake of a Supreme Court decision deeming certain Trump tariffs unlawful.

The Dalilah Law, the Senate bill introduced by Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) following President Trump’s call during the State of the Union, would trigger a sharp, immediate contraction in trucking capacity if enacted, potentially igniting a trucking super cycle with overnight rate surges amid severely tight supply. Much higher trucking rates could become permanent, giving […]

UPS is using incentives to encourage parcel drivers to leave their jobs.

A U.S. district court in Boston has rejected a Teamsters union motion to stop UPS from buying out package car drivers in an effort to reduce excess capacity.

Brandon Fried announced his retirement as head of the Airforwarders Association, effective at the end of the year.

El Paso is a major border crossing for freight.

FedEx has partnered with three investment companies to buy European parcel carrier InPost and take it private, with both sides leveraging complimentary strengths in last-mile delivery and global distribution.

Maersk Air Cargo is giving up on Boeing 767 freighters for trans-Pacific service and cutting ties with partner airline Amerijet as it transitions to the use of larger, more economical 777 jets.

Filter to succeed Rourke.

American Eagle Outfitters is closing down Quiet Logistics and Office Depot is cutting its logistics service subsidiary Veyer, demonstrating that sidelight businesses can be distractions from core retail execution.

UPS has accelerated the retirement of its MD-11 freighter fleet because they will likely require extensive repairs to make them airworthy following a fatal crash and there are newer planes in the delivery pipeline.

Trucking operations in the Midwest will halt this weekend.

Highways, airports, and distribution centers to be most affected by icy weather.

The U.S. trucking industry continues to face a harsh economic reality: spot rates have failed to keep pace with inflation, squeezing carrier margins and contributing to significant financial pressure on truckers nationwide. Here’s a clear visual of the disconnect — spot trucking rates (via the SONAR National Truckload Index) overlaid against the Consumer Price Index […]

In the fast-paced world of e-commerce logistics, mergers are often hailed as game-changers, promising synergies, expanded networks, and economies of scale. But for FAST Group—the entity born from the August 2025 merger of Australian parcel delivery firm Sendle, U.S.-based FirstMile, and ACI Logistix—the honeymoon was short-lived. Just months after the deal closed, Sydney-based Federation Asset […]

FedEx has removed MD-11 freighter flights from its December schedule. The carrier could be without the freighters for a long time as aviation authorities investigate the cause of the recent UPS MD-11 crash.

Canada Post and the mail carriers’ union have agreed to end two years of bitter negotiations pending resolution of some final details.

The left-engine separation that caused a UPS cargo jet to crash in Kentucky this month is tied to metal fatigue in a key structural component, a preliminary report by investigators said.

The U.S. Postal Service is looking to its parcel business for revenue growth. On Friday, it announced another round of rate increases.

The FAA has prohibited all MD-11 aircraft from flying after the deadly crash of a UPS MD-11 cargo jet this week.

UPS is quickly getting back to work at its Worldport air parcel hub after a one-day suspension of cargo operations because of a major aircraft accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board will conduct an exhaustive examination of the events leading up to the crash of a UPS MD-11 freighter on Tuesday, but hopes to quickly finish evidence collection on the Louisville airfield so UPS can resume critical shipping activity.

Emergency crews are responding to a UPS Airlines plane crash at the Louisville International Airport in Kentucky.

Enforcement and Insurance Implications A change in insurance policies could be coming to the trucking industry, signaling a major shift in their approach to non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). As enforcement of the new non-domiciled CDL rule takes shape, insurance companies are likely to position themselves to avoid potential liability exposure. According to an insurance […]

Mutha Trucker, a YouTube news source covering the trucking industry has reported that Montgomery Transport LLC, a Birmingham, Alabama-based trucking company, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and ceased operations effective immediately. 1000 employees out of work as trucker files for bankruptcy The sudden shutdown has left hundreds of drivers stranded across America as the company’s […]

On September 26, 2025, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced an emergency order requiring states to immediately stop issuing or renewing non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). This directive ends a widespread practice in many states of issuing CDLs to non-citizens without employment-based visas or extending them well beyond the expiration of holders’ work visas. […]

The Canada Post labor dispute continues to worsen, with letter carriers announcing they won’t deliver marketing mail.

The U.S. International Trade Commission has ruled in favor of Motive, rejecting Samsara’s claims of patent infringement.

Korean Air has ordered eight next-generation 777-8 freighters from Boeing.

The Canadian government’s decision to end a strike by Air Canada flight attendants is good news for the airline and its customers.

Air Canada flight attendants are set to strike Saturday. Cargo shipments are at risk.

Carroll Fulmer Logistics, a Florida-based trucking company that has operated for more than 70 years, is shutting down. The carrier had 400 trucks and 1,700 trailers. Some 600 employees will be laid off as operations cease. The company plans to offer them 60 days’ severance pay as it winds down. According to the Clermont Sun, […]

DAT Freight & Analytics has announced the acquisition of the Convoy platform from Flexport. Sources suggest the price was around $250m in cash. DAT intends to shift away from its main business: a dumb load-board service that connects brokers with carriers. Convoy, a venture-backed unicorn, shut down abruptly in October 2023. Flexport snapped up its […]

Ceva Logistics has named a top executive from France to improve the performance of its North American business, as it tries to improve profit margins in the wake of a major acquisition last year.

Werner Enterprises v. Blake: Texas Supreme Court Reverses $100 Million Verdict Introduction to the Case In a significant legal decision, the Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of Werner Enterprises, Inc. and its driver, Shiraz A. Ali, reversing a $100 million verdict previously upheld by an appellate court. The case stemmed from a 2014 fatal […]

The Freight Fraud Crisis The trucking industry is grappling with a surge in freight fraud, leaving carriers, brokers, and shippers vulnerable to sophisticated scams like identity theft and unauthorized double brokering. These schemes disrupt supply chains, undermine trust, and cause significant financial and logistical challenges. The root cause is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s […]

The English Language Proficiency (ELP) rule, now in effect, could significantly reduce trucking capacity. For a decade, large truckload carriers have embraced regulations like the ELD mandate and Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to limit market capacity, but effects were typically short-lived. The ELP mandate, enforced by a DOT Executive Order, requires commercial drivers to demonstrate […]

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is intensifying enforcement of English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards, signaling major operational changes for the trucking industry. As of today, June 25, 2025, drivers who fail to meet these requirements face immediate grounding, potentially straining trucking capacity, increasing tender rejections, and driving up national truckload rates. FreightWaves estimates […]

Prices reached just over $72 a barrel on Thursday evening.

United Natural Foods Inc. has temporarily taken some of its systems offline to investigate a possible cyberattack.

Adding to a flurry of recent criticisms aimed at the 2026 federal budget bill and other fiscal concerns, Elon Musk stated on social media platform X that President Trump’s tariffs “will cause a recession in the second half of this year.”

BMX Transport filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia on Tuesday.

Part of Interstate 5 was closed hours after a semi struck a barrier in Tacoma, Washington, on Tuesday. The truck driver was killed in the crash, and authorities are investigating the cause.

A family-owned and -operated Florida trucking company has announced it will close after 44 years in business.

The cloud-based TMS provider was founded in 2013.

Franco Hauling LLC, a service-disabled veteran-owned construction hauling company based in Bensenville, Illinois, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Northern District of Illinois.

The French shipping and logistics conglomerate CMA CGM said it is investing $20 billion in its U.S.-based shipping, port and supply chain capabilities, using pro-American language that might appeal to President Trump.

A large stretch of interstate 40 in North Caroline, shut by Hurricane Helene, is reopening this weekend.

President Trump said he plans to impose 25% tariffs on imports of goods from the European Union, which he said was formed “to screw the United States.”

President Trump is ready to unilaterally put the U.S. Postal Service under White House control, in what would be an unprecedented move to control the nation’s primary mail delivery provider, according to The Washington Post.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has terminated New York City’s congestion pricing plan, drawing praise from trucking groups.

More than 500 Teamsters drivers at 10 Roads Express have gone on strike across eight states, accusing the company of “unfair labor practices and refusal to bargain in good faith.”

U.S. Postmaster Louis DeJoy has expressed a desire to transition out of that role. The Postal Service’s board will soon start looking for a successor.

Ridgefield, Washington, industrial automation company Lab0 announced the launch of the first industrial humanoid-inspired system designed to fully automate inbound warehouse operations.

Turk Transportation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Mexico and Canada have announced agreements with President Donald Trump to delay tariffs on imports of goods from those countries for one month.

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year master contract. The agreement will replace the expiring contract which had been extended after a short strike in October 2024.  The two groups issued a joint statement late Wednesday evening, saying “the two sides […]

Intermediaries and incumbents roared back in the FreightTech 25 rankings during a protracted soft market for freight.

The growth of cross-border e-commerce shipping influenced investment house Stonepeak’s decision to acquire Air Transport Services Group.

Boeing is scaling back production plans for the 767 and next-gen 777-X freighters, which could create a shortage of widebody cargo aircraft later this decade.

Fast, accurate freight market data is critical in periods of volatility.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday he will deploy the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard to ports affected by the International Longshoremen’s Association strike.

Union dockworkers began striking against employers at ports across the U.S. East and Gulf coasts early Tuesday morning.

For the first time in its history, the Teamsters union has announced it will make no endorsement for president this election year.

Alaska Airlines will become a major cargo airline with the integration of Hawaiian Airlines’ freighter fleet that services Amazon.

Air Canada and its pilots resolved their contract dispute at the last minute on Saturday, preventing a strike.

Workers who build Boeing aircraft will go on strike Friday after spurning a deal recommended by their union.

Maine State Police are investigating after a tractor-trailer carrying a massive wind turbine blade overturned Friday morning, shutting down part of the roadway until at least Saturday.

MyCarrier asked a Delaware judge to stop project44 from cutting off visibility data to MyCarrier.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced Friday that its membership would be voting on the union’s endorsement for U.S. president this election year.

Charles Christian Haskell, 51, of Las Vegas, was charged with five counts of death by motor vehicle after a crash involving his tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 in Wilson County, North Carolina, on July 24.

Supply chain logistics company Stord purchased the fulfillment services operation of Pitney Bowes’ e-commerce division on Friday.