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Craig Fuller, CEO at FreightWaves Saturday, April 4, 2026

Rail and truck data highlight a strong industrial economy

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 […]

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FreightWaves Staff Sunday, March 22, 2026

Ozempic slims America — and it’s lightening truckers’ loads!

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 […]

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FreightWaves Staff Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Dalilah’s Law plans to restrict foreign dispatchers and brokers

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 […]

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Craig Fuller, CEO at FreightWaves Wednesday, February 25, 2026

The Dalilah Law could create a trucking rate super cycle

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 […]

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Craig Fuller, CEO at FreightWaves Saturday, January 17, 2026

Trucking rates have dropped 27% versus CPI

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 […]

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FreightWaves Staff Saturday, January 10, 2026

Last mile provider FAST Group’s post-merger meltdown: PE-backer freezes fund amid financial red flags

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 […]

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Craig Fuller, CEO at FreightWaves Thursday, October 9, 2025

Insurance Companies Likely to Take Hard Stance on Non-Domiciled CDLs

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 […]

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Craig Fuller, CEO at FreightWaves Thursday, October 9, 2025

1000 employees out of work as flatbed operator files for bankruptcy

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 […]

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Craig Fuller, CEO at FreightWaves Sunday, October 5, 2025

Duffy’s halt of non-domiciled CDLs could wipe out illegal operators

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. […]

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FreightWaves Staff Friday, June 27, 2025

DOT Secretary plans to use AI to solve carrier identity

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 […]

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Craig Fuller, CEO at FreightWaves Thursday, June 26, 2025

ELP Rule Threatens 10% of Truckers, Risks Carrier CSA Scores

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 […]

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FreightWaves Staff Wednesday, June 25, 2025

English Language Proficiency Standards Could Drive Rates Higher

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 […]

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FreightWaves Staff Wednesday, January 8, 2025

ILA, USMX reach contract agreement on automation, avoiding port strike

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 […]

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