FreightWaves Today

North American rail traffic is booming, with intermodal volumes hitting record highs. But as the economy recovers, a critical bottleneck threatens to derail this growth: declining drayage capacity. We dive into the latest AAR weekly report and analyze the surprising rebound in chemical and petroleum shipments, while exploring how a shortage of drayage drivers could […]

After years of skepticism, FreightWaves’ Adam Wingfield, a former over-the-road truck driver, finally got behind the wheel of a fully loaded Tesla Semi. He shares his honest, unfiltered experience – from tackling an 8% grade with ease to the surprising comfort and advanced features that could reshape the future of short-haul trucking. Was it enough […]

The economy is expanding, yet consumer sentiment is dipping below Global Financial Crisis levels. Dr. Jason Miller breaks down the surprising disconnect, revealing how everything from AI CapEx and rising interest rates to local NIMBYism and GLP-1 drugs are shaping the freight market. Discover which sectors are booming and which are hurting, and what it […]

Diesel prices soaring to new highs, driver pay increasing, and operating costs up 40-50% since 2019 are reshaping the freight landscape. David Parker of Covenant Logistics Group joins us to break down the latest SONAR data, discussing everything from tight drayage capacity to the surprising impact of NIMBYism on data center growth and its implications […]

David Parker, CEO of Covenant Logistics Group, discusses the evolving freight landscape, including the impact of emissions standards, the move away from commoditized OTR, and surprising insights into specialized markets like live chicken hauling. He shares his views on the future of electric and autonomous trucks, and how economic factors like GLP-1 drugs are affecting […]

AI load negotiation is getting real for carriers — and it could cut hours out of booking a truck. Gabe Ribeiro of Hey Bubba AI breaks down where fleets actually stand on AI, why small carriers still aren’t far behind, and how AI can negotiate with multiple brokers at the same time through email, calling […]

Diesel is up 10 cents in a week while truckload spot rates only gained 2 cents — and that margin squeeze is the real freight market story. In this update, we break down stable tender rejections around 14%, elevated but flattening spot rates, rising contract rates, tight capacity, intermodal share gains and why weak housing […]

Trailer insurance gaps can get expensive fast — especially if you’re relying on someone else’s coverage or anything called contingent coverage. Andy Kuchar of Centerline Insurance breaks down 3 red flags companies should watch for, who actually needs dedicated trailer coverage, and why freight brokers, trailer pool operators, repower networks and leasing companies may all […]

Tender rejections hit 14%, but demand isn’t the real story. This SONAR update breaks down why van rejection rates are staying elevated, why capacity still looks fragile, and what that means for spot rates heading into quarter-end and October. We dig into national rejection trends, van vs. reefer vs. flatbed, tender volume seasonality, Midwest market […]

Freight AI is getting sold like a job killer. Will Bewley says the real ROI is much simpler: give brokers, dispatchers and ops teams time back. In this FreightWaves Today interview, the WoFlow co-founder breaks down where AI is actually working inside freight workflows, why we’re still early, and how carriers and 3PLs can use […]

Small brokerages should be nervous right now. Ryder VP Kendra Phillips breaks down how post-Montgomery liability, carrier vetting and safety standards are changing freight brokerage and managed transportation. In this FreightWaves Today interview, Phillips explains why shippers are asking tougher questions, why some carriers are being removed from networks, and why paying more for safer […]

Green Bay, Wisconsin, isn’t just about football. Brian Figueroa of KBX Logistics reveals why this city, with 1/10th of 1% of the US population, accounts for over 1% of all national transportation roles. Discover how Green Bay leverages deep industry collaboration and talent development to cement its status as a critical supply chain hub. Plus, […]

Craig Dickman of TitletownTech joined FreightWaves Today to talk freight tech, capital discipline, and what actually stands out in this market. If you’re building, buying, or betting on logistics tech, what’s the one signal you trust most right now? TitletownTech, the early-stage venture fund launched in 2019 as a partnership between the Green Bay Packers […]

Schneider CEO Jim Filter breaks down the freight market outlook, trucking demand and what carriers should watch next. In this FW Today interview, Filter sits down with Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp to talk through the cycle, operating conditions and the signals that matter for fleets, brokers and shippers. If you want the […]

Short-haul freight is up 35% year to date, and that shift is changing the truckload market. In this SONAR update, we break down why under-100-mile freight is growing, why long-haul volumes are slipping, and how intermodal is pulling freight out of over-the-road networks. You’ll also get the latest read on tender rejections, which are still […]

Third-generation trucking owner Pam Polyak reveals how she uses AI to dramatically cut costs and boost efficiency. Learn how understanding your numbers and leveraging technology can transform your trucking business, especially for small owner-operators navigating volatile markets. A Wisconsin trucking company recovered $53,000 in labor costs after its owner used Claude AI to audit telematics […]

North American rail traffic saw a bounce back in Week 37, with carload and intermodal volumes showing positive year-over-year growth. However, the week closed with significant news regarding the Surface Transportation Board’s review of a major railroad merger application. A new board member issued a surprising concurring opinion, criticizing the application as “shallow” and lacking […]

Nuclear verdicts in trucking are reshaping carrier risk, insurance costs and courtroom strategy. In this FW Today roundtable, Greg Reed of Hanson Bridgett and Drew Singleton Wilder of Vicarious Liability Risk Management break down what fleets, brokers and trucking leaders need to know. The panel digs into liability exposure, litigation trends and how the legal […]

John Ferguson of Pivot Supply Chain Solutions joins FreightWaves Today for a straight conversation on supply chain strategy, market conditions and what operators should actually focus on. What’s the biggest issue your team is dealing with right now? Freight brokers are fielding a new kind of sales call. John Ferguson, founder and CEO of Chattanooga-based […]

Sean Dehan breaks down Truckstop strategy and the freight market view on FW Today. Truckstop Chief Operating & Strategy Officer Sean Dehan joins FreightWaves to talk through what he’s seeing in the market, how strategy is shifting and what matters for freight operators right now. Straight discussion, no filler. #FreightWaves #Truckstop #FreightMarket Spot market load […]