Chicago

The overall freight transportation market may be soft but the natural imbalance in the flow of freight is still able to create pockets of tightness.

Chicago commuter rail system Metra filed a lawsuit against the Surface Transportation Board over its decision to approve the merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern.

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The Surface Transportation Board is grappling with fallout from its March decision to approve the CP-KCS merger. Three progressive groups want STB Chairman Marty Oberman stripped of his role, while western Chicago suburbs have filed a lawsuit against the board.

Four lawmakers from Illinois want the Surface Transportation Board to delay its decision on whether to approve the merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern because of their concerns about the freight rail traffic projections used in STB’s environmental review.

Freight projects get underway in Chicago and Laredo, Texas; CN beats its grain record; Patriot Rail appoints a new COO; and Canadian Pacific disputes a court ruling on an Alberta land sale.

Senators and two U.S. House representatives from Illinois object to the railway merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern as currently proposed, saying the Surface Transportation Board should respond to their constituents’ concerns.

Capacity tightness was fueled by a massive demand spike along the I-55 corridor.

The World Business Chicago (WBC) report, Logistics Tech in Chicago 2022, is available for download. Chicago has a long history of being at the crossroads of transportation, distribution and logistics. […]

Canadian Pacific is launching an international intermodal service between Mexico and Chicago, while state DOTs and Amtrak say a $31 million federal grant will add to existing passenger rail service and improve freight efficiency.

Eight Chicago-area communities say a merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern would result in more freight traffic and an increased likelihood of blocked crossings stemming from longer trains.

The market set records across the board in 2021, with all-time vacancy lows expected to be set by the end of the first quarter, Colliers says.

The pilot program in Chicago and Kansas City aims to encourage trucks to come — and go — with a shipping container.

AxleHire has expanded its final-mile delivery services for DTC shipper X Delivery with a Chicago service.

Freight railroads are committed to delivering the best possible service product for customers and consumers

With no previous experience in the trucking and logistics industries, Mohammad Banibaker struck out on his own during the COVID-19 pandemic and founded Azmi Freight.

“At Uber, we get to build on the shoulders of giants,” said Val Marchevsky, Uber Freight’s new head of logistics tech.

U.S. rail terminals that handle imports are still grappling with chassis shortages, although efforts are being made to address overflow at the terminals.

The facility at CP’s Bensenville, Illinois, rail yard, which is already in operation, will support the construction industry’s supply chain.

Low vacancy rate amid surges in development is unprecedented for the market

APM Terminals on the U.S. Gulf Coast wants potential importing customers to know it has access to the Midwest via five Class I railroads.

The ocean carrier said Monday that BNSF is reducing import traffic at the ports of LA and Long Beach, while inbound trains from New York area ocean terminals to three Midwestern destinations are also being monitored.

The seven-day suspension of service, starting on Sunday, is aimed at helping ocean carriers, UP and other stakeholders to catch up and relieve the congestion at West Coast ports and busy inland terminals, especially Chicago.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding $905 million to 24 infrastructure projects. Among those are a handful of projects that involve making freight rail movements more efficient.

Last-mile delivery firm AxleHire has added a sortation center in Chicago, where it will start making deliveries using its expanding transportation network.

Cargo handling companies at Chicago O’Hare International Airport are crying, “No mas.” They’re investing in warehouses outside the airport because cargo volumes are causing gridlock at airport terminals.

Union Pacific is constructing a grain transload facility at its intermodal terminal near Chicago, while two U.S. senators introduce bipartisan legislation to form a grant program that aims to reduce highway-rail grade crossings.

Increased use of micro-fulfillment centers and more efficient vehicles and routing can reduce carbon emissions by 25% in urban environments, according to Accenture.

Rockford International Airport is fast becoming an air cargo hub. Amazon and UPS have big operations there, and construction is underway to increase capacity for freighters and storage for new customers.

A Canadian National freight train derailed at an intersection with a West Chicago commuter line. Service remained disrupted early Monday afternoon.

Canadian cross-border trucking and logistics company Titanium Transportation Group gains global access to key freight networks in Chicago with the latest U.S. brokerage office.

Truckers will hit heavy snowfall and gusty winds this weekend from Iowa to Pennsylvania (with forecast video).

Freight volumes have exploded out of southern California over the past two years. Is this pattern sustainable?

A rideshare drivers union that has helped push up wages and benefits for gig economy workers in New York City has expanded to Chicago.

The short line operator is working with local economic development commissions to develop rail-ready sites for industrial use.

When it comes to airports and cargo, bigger isn’t always better. Shippers are finding the benefits of airports that fly under the radar.

Mark-It Express Logistics is expanding again, acquiring 20-truck carrier Sava Transportation, as it looks to build a national name for itself in the intermodal business.

As protests over the death of George Floyd expand nationwide, road closures and safety concerns are starting to impact freight movements and put the lives of truck drivers at risk

Late season winter weather heading to northern Rockies tonight, possibly Midwest Friday.

“We expect that more shippers will shift from just-in-time supply chains to just-in-case supply chains,” U.S. CEO Mark McCullough said.

Container equipment shortage exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic stresses upper-Midwest soybean exporter trying to fill his springtime customer orders to Asia.

A foot of snow possible in the Chicago metro area.

The layoffs close a chapter of freight brokerage in Chattanooga.

Chicago company nearly doubles its size with “likely the first acquisition of several.”

It’s helpful for new brokerages to study the staying power of brokerages like ITG, especially in volatile markets.

Over the past two and a half years, Uber Freight, the freight brokerage division of Uber Technologies (NYSE: UBER), has already proven itself capable in two key areas for young […]

In order to compete with other industries, carriers need to offer drivers a way to get what they are looking for out of the job, whether that is home time, upward career movement or ownership opportunity.

Hundreds of flight cancellations, multiple highway accidents in Midwest as record-setting snowfall makes mess of Veterans Day.

Don’t let snow and cold keep you from the hottest freight conference of the year. See you at FreightWaves LIVE Chicago!

Do not let snow, wind and cold keep you from coming to the hottest freight conference of the year. Bundle up and join the excitement!

Bitter cold snap coming to Chicago next week during the freight industry’s hottest event. Bundle up!

FreightWaves LIVE Chicago: Everything you need to know about the year’s hottest FreightTech event Nov. 12-13, FreightWaves will host a FreightWaves LIVE event at McCormick Place in Chicago. As we […]

Gillihan plans to build a process-driven sales floor that can scale.

Three heavy hitters to take the stage at FreightWaves LIVE next month in Chicago.

Hear Belfort’s story, straight from the Wolf’s mouth.

7-minute company demos will garner a lot of attention at the upcoming FreightWaves LIVE Chicago conference, November 12-13.

The move signals the shift from a tech startup to a mature logistics operation.

FreightWaves LIVE is the logistics and transportation industry’s immersive experience, where innovation and markets collide.

Union drivers, warehousemen employed by Starbucks distributor reject ultra-short contract

FourKites has connected the truck to the distribution center with its new Facility Manager solution, providing new levels of visibility into operations.

After a nine-year absence, Japan Air Lines resumes scheduled air cargo service in deal with Kalitta Air Photo: Flickr/Bill Wilt)

When it came to choosing the location for our latest and greatest event, Chicago was a no brainer. The Windy City isn’t just at the heart of the Midwest, it’s […]

Rail congestion in regions such as Chicago and Houston may have eased for now, but the railroads will still need to find ways to increase capacity at those busy city locations as the U.S. population grows, Class I railroad executives said at an investor conference this week.

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) announced which intermodal terminals it would close around Chicago, Illinois, weeks after hinting on its first quarter earnings call that it planned to consolidate operations there. […]

So far this February has been what we would expect. Does the normally slow month have any surprises up its sleeves?

Sponsored by Redwood LogisticsRedwood Logistics announced its acquisition of Strive Logistics Monday, cementing Redwood’s place as a top-15 truck broker and an emerging multimodal logistics provider with over $1 billion in freight under management.

New building to support 1-hour deliveries into downtown area.

Freight volumes recover as January closes. The artic air freezes the Midwest as the Chicago market heats up.

Sponsored by Redwood LogisticsWhile Redwood has moved freight in and out of the Southeast for quite some time, this acquisition provides the company with strong operational presence in the region. This geographical expansion is a key component of Redwood’s overall acquisition strategy.

Chicago to Atlanta is holding up around $2/mile net of fuel, while lanes like Los Angeles to Dallas have crashed 40% off their November high.

The United States is in the midst of a building boom for industrial space as the logistics market struggles to accommodate surging e-commerce demand.

Originally planned as an outlet mall, lot to get new lease on life as industrial property

January’s World Economic Forum (WEF) white paper identified 16 factories that are leading the world economy in manufacturing technology. The United States has only one of these “lighthouse” facilities – Fast Radius’s Chicago factory, located in the city’s West Loop.

Forager is building a digital freight marketplace to automate elements of cross-border logistics.

A pause for industrial real estate after a stellar run, JLL predicts.

Logistical Labs COO speaks on the elevation of the company to #25 on Freight.Tec via pricing portal LoadDex.

We talked to freight brokers at LYNC Logistics, Arrive Logistics, and MoLo Solutions about whether recent softness in flatbed demand signaled a return to normal seasonality, and where unexpected opportunities might be hiding.

A surge in freight from Los Angeles has started to inflect the Dallas and Houston freight markets. Meanwhile, Harrisburg, PA’s strong headhaul score makes that Northeast market a diamond in the rough.

SONAR’s Headhaul Index map and the HAUL.JOT Index are both showing that the return to growth in inbound loaded container flow first seen in the Long Beach/LA port is continuing and gathering momentum.

MoLo Solutions did $20M in revenue in its first twelve months of operations and is on a $70M run rate for its second year. FreightWaves interviewed CEO Andrew Silver and President Matthew Vogrich.

SONAR’s new index shows the cost difference for Asian exporters moving goods into East Coast or West Coast ports. When combined with trucking spot prices, the Panama spread helps explain recent shifts in trade flows.

Amazon has promised to name a location this year for the so-called HQ2 project, which it claims will ultimately employ 50,000 people. Using SONAR, from a freight perspective, we’re here to help.

Intermodal tightness has pumped the hub of hubs, the Chicago freight market especially on lanes paralleling major railroads; meanwhile a minor heatwave in St. Louis may have been behind a massive surge in reefer turndowns.

Elon Musk said that Saudi Arabia wants to buy Tesla; The New York Times wakes up to the driver pay issue; Amazon touts its private label brands ahead of the holiday season; lidar maker Quanergy appears to be struggling; Chicago’s mysterious surge in turndowns.

The 3PL company saw its revenue climb in both its key units, with its services in demand in a tight market.

Why, when capacity is so tight, is Chicago of all places overheated?

The Chicago area is considered a keystone to many freight networks and as such a reliable indicator to the overall health of the trucking industry. WIth all the talks of trade wars and ELDs signs point to a remarkably stable environment, but for how long?

The cost, size, complexity and power consumption of the supercomputers and sensors on each car are the main factors preventing today’s autonomous cars from scaling.

We discuss our list of cities that made up our long-wait times for drivers and our methodology for how we came up with the list 

Outbound rates from the Great Lakes have held steady at the high prices reached during last September’s nationwide spike, but over the past 7 days, they’re trending upward again.

Mudslides and a dead Pacific Northwest are contributing to high northbound rates coming out of Los Angeles, while extreme winter weather in the Northeast and freight backbuilds are keeping Chicago hot.