Are supply chains already manifesting significant changes in domestic transportation patterns?
A FreightWaves webinar featuring CEO Craig Fuller looked at the current state of the freight market.
2004: The capsizing of two vessels rocks the project cargo industry.
Volumes have continued their recovery from the winter holiday season with a surge in pent-up freight demand unleashed into the market. Naturally, since last week’s data was affected by holiday noise, the Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) faces some absurdly easy comps on a weekly basis. Even still, accepted tender volumes remain below their levels of 2021 and ’22 for the time being.
Debuting in 1936, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was created as a marketing device and to transport the company spokesman. The unique transportation method went on to symbolize the meat brand and 21st century Americana.
Speculation is swirling on how the end of a global container shipping alliance will affect ocean carriers and cargo shippers.
1994: Those involved in response to the 600,000-gallon spill reflect on their efforts.
FreightWaves has announced that its TRAC spot rates have been integrated into FreightFriend, a truckload procurement platform.
Imagine drowning in a flood of molasses that entombed you as it hardened. That’s what 21 people suffered in 1919 when the storage of molasses in Boston went awry.
As an energy industry logistics provider, Filamar Energy’s goal is to continue to set new carbon neutral CleanMile® benchmarks that reduce lifecycle emissions and CO2 levels while bringing positive impactful change to the planet without sacrificing efficiency.
NASA hauls the longest heavy cargo delivery; Reefers run food to the Bahamas; Submarine cables connect the Virgin Islands.
The benchmark diesel price for most fuel surcharges continues to fall even as other key numbers are rising before a ban on some Russian imports.
Early freight data and channel checks would suggest the freight market could be stabilizing and clearer skies are ahead.
AskWaves checks on the latest FMCSA certification requirements for medical examiners qualified in the trucking industry.
What conclusions can we draw from the relationship between imports and trucking?
The biggest container ships sailing on the oceans can carry more than 24,000 TEUs and are as tall as the Empire State Building.
Volumes have continued their recovery from the winter holiday season with a surge in pent-up freight demand unleashed into the market. Naturally, since last week’s data was affected by holiday noise, the Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) faces some absurdly easy comps on a weekly basis. Even still, accepted tender volumes remain below their levels of 2021 and ’22 for the time being.
1971: Londoners are able to buy American melons for the first time after test shipments to the U.K. proved successful.
From tragedy to unprecedented feats, the Golden Gate Bridge is an important part of American history in freight, transportation and architecture.
Marine fuel rules have become a key factor in diesel prices, but a new set of regulations may actually push downward on the market.
Move will add 35.6 cents a gallon to truckers’ fuel tab.
We take a look back at the state-of-the-art technology that streamlined trucking in 1961.
Trade has been proven time and time again to blow away the bluster of political rhetoric. China’s sleight of hand with its COVID reporting has the WHO accusing China of “under-representing” the severity of cases, and the flow of trade can back up the WHO’s statement.
Truckload carriers nearly auto-accepted load requests during the holidays. While this may look like a blessing to shippers, the implications are not great.
AskWaves looks at how recent changes requiring disclosure of supply chain finance programs could impact shippers.
For all intents and purposes, the month of December has only three weeks of freight activity, as the final week from Christmas to New Year’s is effectively null. In years prior, freight demand has fallen throughout the month before bottoming out in that final week. So far, December looks to be following seasonal trends, which is to say that, while shippers’ activity is winding down, this movement is not alarming by itself. Rather, the gap in freight demand between 2022 and ’21 (or even ’20) is the main symptom of current ailments.
1992: 2-D bar codes provide an almost infinite variety of codes, which could prove especially useful in international shipping.
The top 10 liner operators hiked aggregate capacity by 13% in 2000-22 and continue to control 85% of the global fleet.
Electric vehicle fleet provider Lightning eMotors has introduced a new tool to help operators get the most out of their EV fleets.
As cars gained popularity, ships were converted and built specifically for transporting vehicles overseas.
The benchmark DOE/EIA diesel price used for most fuel surcharges moved higher Tuesday for the first time since early November.
So much of the history of the United States can be traced back to Route 66, including major growth in the trucking industry.
This year, FreightWaves Classics took a look back at some of history’s most interesting stories in freight, logistics and supply chains. These are the articles that readers found most engaging.
Tesla, GM, Chevy and other EV makers may see early volume before revised tax credit provisions’ full criteria take effect.
Electric vehicle maker Workhorse announced that it escaped action from the Securities and Exchange Commission related to fraud accusations.
The U.K.’s largest sunken merchant ship met a dramatic end. But no one knew what actually happened until 20 years after the disaster, thanks to the families of the crew who fought hard for answers.
The benchmark DOE/EIA diesel price dropped for the seventh consecutive week, falling by more than 80 cents during that time.
China’s COVID problem and the impact on the supply chain are not going away anytime soon.
2000: World container port throughput increased 7.8% last year to about 201 million TEUs — the first time volume exceeded 200 million TEUs.
1974: They may be the last hurdles in the way of renewed trade between the
United States and Cuba. An embargo failed to work and indirect business
has begun.
Debate on whether we are in a freight recession has been raging since the first quarter of 2022. The conclusion is now obvious: Freight volumes have collapsed this year, dragging down spot rates with them.
By the start of the 1900s, about 40 U.S.-flag ships were operated by the country’s lumber titans, proving to the industry at the time that marine transport was more efficient than rail.
Dec. 17 marked 119 years since the Wright brothers first successfully flew a man-powered airplane, paving the way for continuous innovation in the flying world.
Diesel prices at the pump still have a ways to go to catch up with earlier declines in wholesale and futures prices.
Since this isn’t 1997, UPS will stay open because it wants to keep business in a changed world for parcel delivery.
Truckload carriers are providing the best contract compliance since COVID started during a traditionally chaotic time. What does this mean for 2023?
For all intents and purposes, the month of December has only three weeks of freight activity, as the final week from Christmas to New Year’s is effectively null. In years prior, freight demand has fallen throughout the month before bottoming out in that final week. So far, December looks to be following seasonal trends, which is to say that, while shippers’ activity is winding down, this movement is not alarming by itself. Rather, the gap in freight demand between 2022 and ’21 (or even ’20) is the main symptom of current ailments.
Class I railroads CSX, CN, CP and KCS tout recognition for their sustainability efforts, while rail technology provider Wabtec gets a nod for its battery-electric locomotive.
The benchmark DOE/EIA average retail diesel price fell by the second-biggest one-week amount in the history of the data series.
Freight technology buyers should carefully assess their mindset when it comes to purchasing new technology in times of a less robust market.
AskWaves looks at GAO’s warning that the U.S. needs to step up capabilities and oversight in the Arctic region as emerging shipping routes gain steam.
Normally one of the softest regions for truckload activity in the U.S., the Pacific Northwest has become the tightest in the nation.
Nuclear verdicts against the trucking industry are becoming more frequent, with freight brokers now being sued after accidents.
Contrary to popular opinion, December is not a peak season for freight. True, the freight that needs to be moved in this month typically has greater urgency than usual, which does put upward pressure on carrier rates. But peak truckload volumes are largely influenced by maritime imports, which historically peak between July and September.
Canada’s GoBolt, which is building an end-to-end supply chain network powered by an all-electric fleet, receives Series C financing.
1991: The new system allows automobiles to move in regular intermodal containers instead of the multilevel railcards that now are the industry standard.
The benchmark DOE/EIA diesel price fell by the biggest one-week amount since 2009.
Fuel costs are a huge cost component of operating a trucking business. Small operators are at a significant disadvantage in the current market thanks not only to declining demand but fuel price volatility.
Historically, November is the month in which maritime imports begin to move inland for their final push before the holiday shopping season. Yet such imports were lost at sea this year, failing to materialize during ocean shippers’ peak season. This one-two punch of weakened import volumes and overstocked retail inventories means that carriers are left with fewer opportunities to source freight.
It has been 109 years since the assembly line debuted on the Ford factory floor. The system became the basis for an innovative way of manufacturing in the United States.
It will be years before the Tesla Semi — or any electric vehicle — becomes a trucking industry standard.
Three laid-up Mission tankers were enlisted to help get a man on the moon.
What’s it like to ride a historic locomotive? Go behind-the-scenes during FreightWaves’ ride on the No. 4014.
The benchmark diesel price used to set most fuel surcharges has dropped four out of the past five weeks.
AskWaves looks at how carriers are better communicating rules tariffs to customers.
1999: eBay ushers in e-commerce’s most dramatic distribution channel disruption in decades.
Nike has remained a popular shoe brand for decades (Photo: AP File/Matt Rourke)
Join like-minded business owners to network, find best practices and quickly implement solutions.
A potential rail strike in the coming weeks has echoes of the infamous railroad strike of 1877, but with hopefully much less dire consequences. (Photo: AP/Gene J. Puskar)
The benchmark diesel price used for most fuel surcharges is down 8 cents this week, with other indicators signaling further market weakness.
Stratospheric LNG shipping rates offer a lesson on the do’s and don’ts of measuring earnings momentum.
Transportation demand continues to erode heading into the slowest months of the year. Could this be the bottom?
Historically, November is the month in which maritime imports begin to move inland for their final push before the holiday shopping season. Yet such imports were lost at sea this year, failing to materialize during ocean shippers’ peak season. This one-two punch of weakened import volumes and overstocked retail inventories means that carriers are left with fewer opportunities to source freight.
FreightWaves Classics examines storied ocean carrier U.S. Lines, which was persistent in its desire to operate a successful cargo ship named the American Shipper.
In 1952, a C-124 flew straight into a remote Alaskan mountaintop, killing all aboard. Here’s the story of what it’s taking to bring them home.
Outbound demand in Harrisburg and Allentown, Pennsylvania, bottomed out at the start of the month and are starting to slowly rise. Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, both are seeing rejection rates drop to a two-year low.
FreightWaves SONAR recently released two new market analysis tools that provide lane-level rate benchmarking capabilities and insight into the future state of the domestic truckload spot market.
Egypt’s Suez Canal was built 153 years ago this week, and its storied history is so much more than last year’s drama.
Atlanta still owns the most market share by outbound volume but saw a drop in its value as demand falls further. Imports to the Port of New York and New Jersey fell to their lowest levels since 2021, bringing surface transportation volumes down with them.
The benchmark price used for most diesel fuel surcharges ticked down a couple cents even as futures market are racing lower.
Contracted tender volumes in Ontario, California, remain at their lowest levels since 2020, and markets in Illinois are struggling to recover from drops this month.
Zero100 is educating industry professionals on not only how to recycle but to regenerate and use less in the first place.
The automotive industry has been going strong while other sectors of the economy are slowing. What are some of the reasons for this and how long will it last?
Markets along the East Coast in the path of Tropical Depression Nicole are seeing relatively normal fluctuations in rejections in volume compared to previous severe storms.
Since the pandemic started, many shippers found their existing contracts unable to ensure carrier compliance. Supply and demand were especially volatile, and so spot rates, which are more sensitive to changing market conditions, handily outpaced contract rates.
As far as aircraft go, the Douglas C-124 Cargomaster II was a vital waymarker for the U.S. Air Force in the years following the Berlin Airlift, when U.S. and British air forces began airlifting food and fuel to a blockaded West Germany after World War II.
Dry van volume dropped significantly this month leading into the holidays, but reefer demand remains strong. Diesel price per gallon grows slowly, but the spread between wholesale and retail prices rises.
Nicole is forecast to move through Florida to Georgia on Thursday and then to the Carolinas on Friday.
Markets across the board have been seeing drops in both inbound and outbound volume since the start of the month.
Cargo misdeclaration may save a shipper money on freight rates, but this underhanded act threatens the lives of those who provide the transportation.
Two key sellers of diesel fuel see supplies being tight but in a market that can adjust to help ensure supply.
Outbound volumes from Atlanta are picking back up after hitting their lowest levels since 2020, and imports to the Port of New York and New Jersey drop, dragging truckload volumes with them.
U.S. policymakers and electric vehicle manufacturers have a path to making EVs accessible to every American.
The key benchmark price used for diesel surcharges increased as the market absorbs divergent sets of data.
Forum Mobility, a startup in California, is focusing on zero-emission transportation by creating more charging facilities and offering EV trucking-as-a-service to drayage carriers.
FreightWaves unveiled two new features in SONAR at the F3 event, and container spot rates from China dropped further.
FreightWaves new spot rate forecast supports a slow start to trucking’s peak season.
DHL Supply Chain is placing bets on different emerging technologies to get a “green” fleet.
Diesel inventories are “running on fumes,” according to an industry expert Wednesday at FreightWaves’ Future of Freight Festival, but the week’s stock report was encouraging.
Most politicians are clueless about supply chains, so it’s a shame when industry veteran Mike Erickson runs for Congress and pins inflation on ocean carriers.
