Q1 volumes expected to be strong, but reefer capacity is tight
Headlines
Analysts are expecting a strong first quarter for consumer and freight volumes as stimulus checks are distributed and the labor market slowly recovers. However, reefer capacity remains incredibly tight, especially in California where agencies have started leasing refrigeration trailers as temporary storage for COVID-19 victims.
FreightWaves author Hunter Carroll takes a deeper dive into the reefer order market in his new newsletter, The Stockout.
OmniTRAX is the latest company to come under ransomware attack and it confirmed to FreightWaves the Conti ransomware gang posted stolen data on a leak site and demanded payment for the data.
Swimming with sharks
Founder of TrophySmack Matt Walsh makes a second appearance on WTT?!? fresh off a successful trip to “Shark Tank.” Walsh has a logistics background with Echo and credits that background for helping his success on the show.
Walsh pitched his company in front of the sharks in Las Vegas, a complete turnaround from the usual “Shark Tank” pitching taped in Los Angeles. He says he was “a deer in headlights” because he was unfamiliar with the television aspect and that added challenge to his pitch.
Walsh secured the deal with Mark Cuban, saying “he made the most sense for us,” and that the next steps are to accelerate the fantasy sports aspect of their business into other industries; they want to expand custom trophy creation to be for more than just fantasy.
Navigating liability for brokers
Dooner and The Dude host Elizabeth Simpkins, regional underwriting officer for inland marine and transportation for Travelers Insurance to learn about the differences in liability issues for shippers, carriers and brokers.
Simpkins says brokers can decrease their liability by doing a few things: knowing what they’re signing, knowing the role their company is playing in the agreement, and understanding the coverage they have should something go wrong or their motor carrier refuses to pay a claim.
Kraft logistics, but not cheesy
Next up on the WTT?!? slate is Trent Zuberi, associate manager of logistics finance and freight payables at The Kraft Heinz Co.; Dooner and The Dude bring him on by playing a sample from his band HEMI.
Zuberi reflects on the panic grocery buying that happened in spring 2020, saying that was definitely a boost for Kraft Heinz sales. He thinks the panic put a damper on product innovation but also “led to some brand loyalty.”
You can find more WHAT THE TRUCK?!? recaps and recaps from all our live podcasts here.
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now