WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

First, Chad and JP parry and thrust between a Bell’s Two-Hearted and a Sweet Water IPA. Then, they dive into a couple of driver headlines, some tough tariff talk, and then they absorb some exciting tech news. Headlines of the week: Walmart faces $50k fine for allowing truck parking at Illinois store Safeway delivery drivers make history with newly ratified union contract Sen. Corker interview: Trump ‘ready-fire-aim’ on tariffs 162 transportation and logistics companies make the 2018 Inc. 5000 Finally, the dynamic freight duo take on another eight headlines in under two minutes with another round of Big Deal, Little Deal? Home Depot sees higher costs as tight transport markets bite retailer: big deal, or little deal? Updated: Universal Logistics adds to its intermodal and drayage business with Southern Counties purchase: big deal, or little deal? Redwood Games raise $75K for vets with PTSD: big deal, or little deal? Will Berkshire Hathaway buy Southwest Airlines? Morgan Stanley analysts weigh in: big deal, or little deal? Solar farms, CO2 and mobile racking part of the journey as RLS Logistics transforms traditional cold storage: big deal, or little deal? Uber sees a 38% yearly increase in gross bookings as it gears up to face competition: big deal, or little deal? How one little autonomous shuttle in Quebec thinks it can: big deal, or little deal? Warburg Pincus puts $35 million into start-up targeting dray/short-haul market: big deal, or little deal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JP and Zach Strickland were at the McLeod CFO conference at the Westin in Nashville. We sat down with BiTA Managing Director and co-founder (and FreightWaves CEO!) Craig Fuller and McLeod's VP of Special Projects Ken Craig, also a BiTA cofounder, to talk about the history of the Blockchain in Transport Alliance. We talk about technology alliances, intellectual property, data standards, and, of course, the promise of blockchain. BiTA.studio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First, the dynamic freight duo compare Bell’s Two-Hearted (shocker!) versus Drivin and Cryin Straight to Hell IPA. Then, they cover the headlines of the week from Uber to toys to blockchain to Bangladesh. Uber spins off Uber Freight as separate business unit, brings back Lior Ron to lead Toys ‘R’ Us bankruptcy leaves retailers anxious to pick up the slack Maersk, IBM open blockchain platform to world as they seek additional partners The shipbreaking industry where workers die on the shores of Bangladesh And after all that goodness, they tap into a competitive round of Big Deal, Little Deal? Volkswagen AG could recall 124,000 electric and hybrid cars due to poisonous cadmium presence: big deal, or little deal? Redwood announces cross-border supply chain solution to simplify shipping to and from Mexico: big deal, or little deal? XPO's Last Mile business putting down its first facility in Canada: big deal, or little deal? Nikola raises $100 million in August, anticipates oversubscribed Series C: big deal, or little deal? Women make better drivers than men so why aren't there more during a capacity crunch?: big deal, or little deal? Retaliatory tariffs sour US cranberry market: big deal, or little deal? Rising transportation costs, Brazil trucking strike put pressure on Kellogg's profit margins: big deal, or little deal? A strong quarter for 3PL Expeditors, but ocean freight shows some weakness: big deal, or little deal? Then we look back to the McLeod CFO conference as JP and Zach talk to McLeod Manager of Product Development Robert Brothers about Capacity Creator, a new machine learning tool to automate brokers' workflows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surprise, surprise, JP knocks back yet another round of Bell's Two-Hearted, and what's even more surprising is Chad joins the dark side and follows suit. Then, they lay waste to the headlines of the week: Uber shuts down self-driving truck program, leaving questions about Uber Freight's future Weekly Market Update 7.31.18 - Freight markets still cooling but history says not for long August Economic Roundup Federal standards or state's rights? Making sense of Denham and Dynamex Key takeaways from Stifel’s deep dive on trade war risk Then, the dynamic freight duo destroy another round of Big Deal, Little Deal? How do they do it? Blockchain for babies: Nestlé to test blockchain tech on Gerber products: big deal, or little deal? Reckless driving boosts likelihood of a future crash, and other findings from ATRI’s Crash Predictor Model: big deal, or little deal? The future of electric vehicles lie in the sourcing of lithium and cobalt for batteries: big deal, or little deal? Data standardization is the need of the hour in the maritime industry: big deal, or little deal? Pilot Flying J expands reach into oil and gas service: big deal, or little deal? Amendment for another year of livestock ELD exemption makes it on to Senate spending bill: big deal, or little deal? UPS and Thor collaborate to test electric delivery trucks: big deal, or little deal? Another Lawson lawsuit? John R. Lawson Rock & Oil speaks out against CARB regulations: big deal, or little deal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JP and market analyst Zach Strickland climb in 'The Grumpy Pete', a customized 2003 Peterbilt, and crack open some Foster's Ales with Dean Croke, FreightWaves' Chief Analytics Officer. We talk about Dean's experiences driving two million miles through the Australian outback, and then we turn to earnings week: Knight-Swift Transportation misses earnings mark with lagging refrigerated segment Werner's earnings trounce the estimates, with EPS almost double a year earlier After a strong quarter, Norfolk Southern management asked: why aren't you more like CSX? Strong earnings be damned: trucking stocks are getting crushed Tuesday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JP and market analyst Zach Strickland were at the Westin in Nashville for McLeod's CFO conference and recorded a special episode of What the Truck?!? from the event. They talk about declining lengths of haul in the age of e-commerce, the current environment for mergers & acquisitions in transportation, and the Trump tax reform's impact on new truck orders. Topics included the difference in valuations for asset-light and asset-heavy companies, the importance of culture when considering a deal and going through integration, and historical data on driver retention. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JP brings his standard approach with a Bell’s Two-Hearted while Chad branches out with an absurdly hopped Orpheus Transmigration of Souls. The daring duo then takes on an eclectic mix of trucking headlines. Opponents of EPA loosening glider kits rules get a quick stay from DC court How community colleges are combating the driver squeeze Amazon Prime Day's "Christmas in July" to test supply chain CSX announces record 58.6% OR, says turnaround not finished yet All this followed by a rousing round of Big Deal, Little Deal? (what's the deal with you?) J.D. Power: ELD mandate contributed to subdued supply in June: Big deal or little deal? Lyft looks to create human, autonomous hybrid network in ride-sharing space: Big deal or little deal? Have Los Angeles turndowns found a bottom?: Big deal or little deal? Ground breaks on the Gordie Howe International Bridge: Big deal or little deal? Solving the parking crisis in the cities of the future: Big deal or little deal? FedEx Institute partners with Good Shepherd Pharmacy to build a blockchain: Big deal or little deal? Strong consumer spending boosts retail sales in June: Big deal or little deal? Freight matching Cargo Chief announces new data partnership: Big deal or little deal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of What the Truck?!? JP and Chad discuss the benefits of Bell’s Two-Hearted versus Cigar City Brewing's Jai Alai pale ale. They discuss the headlines of the week with a focus on global and domestic economics this week. Trump’s trade war is aimed toward reshoring, but will it work? Can you solve the driver problem by making trucking cool again? A new frac sand giant is born amid an industry shift Shell CEO suggests a swifter ban on diesel cars in the UK Producer price data shows surging trucking, transportation rates Then, they destroy another round of Big Deal, Little Deal, taking on eight headlines all in under two minutes. What could go wrong? A little bit of everything. Hyperledger Fabric 1.2’s private data collections make B2B collaboration easier: big deal, or little deal? Hyliion acquires battery supplier, strikes strategic partnership with Toshiba: big deal, or little deal? FR8Star opens door to more flatbed revenue with partial loads service offering: big deal, or little deal? Intermodal is just one piece of what Deutsche Bank sees as an improving rail picture: big deal, or little deal? Ohio moves forward on autonomous, but public still needs assurance : big deal, or little deal? Fallout from the Dynamex decision?: big deal, or little deal? Used truck prices continue strong in May, equipment supply remains tight: big deal, or little deal? Mack, Volvo develop technician training programs in conjunction with colleges: big deal, or little deal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First, JP cracks open yet another Bell’s Two-Hearted, and Chad explores his options with Hutton and Smith's New England IPA, Promenade. Then, the dynamic logistics duo covers the headlines of the week, with a focus this week on drivers and the disruptions facing the industry in jobs from tech and other market forces. Major tech changes will hurt the for-hire trucking market within the next decade Where are the drivers going? Look no further than the warehouse Then, it's time for 5 GOOD minutes with Craig and Ben from CDL Marketing on driver retention. After that, Chad and JP touch on some maritime headlines. LNG carriers crack open the Northern Sea Route The U.S. has borne the Jones Act long enough Finally, it's time for everybody's favorite game. Another round of Big Deal, Little Deal? Tesla finally reaches Model 3 production goal, CFRA downgrades stock to sell: Big Deal or Little Deal? The Indian drivers are angry: Big Deal or Little Deal? Could turmoil in Iran set off the Eagle Ford shale play?: Big Deal or Little Deal? USDOT announces pilot program to allow under-21 drivers with military CDL: Big Deal or Little Deal? July Economic Roundup: Tariffs take center stage: Big Deal or Little Deal? Citing freight costs, declining sales, General Mills to cut 625 jobs: Big Deal or Little Deal? OOIDA request for a small business ELD exemption gets thumbs down by FMCSA: Big Deal or Little Deal? Rolling Strong and Enrollment First partner to prioritize drivers: Big Deal or Little Deal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Find out whether JP decides to drink something other than his go-to Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale, while Chad digs in with a Narragansett pilsner. Then, the pair runs down the headlines of the week, featuring a tech-focus: blockchain, automation, autonomous, and electric. SMC3: Blockchain panelists talk current use cases, regulation, and crypto JD.com opens automated warehouse that employs four people but fulfills 200,000 packages daily Amazon unveils plans to ramp up delivery services for their own packages Volvo Trucks and FedEx demo platooning in North Carolina NFI, Penske to trial Freightliner electric trucks Then, as if that's not enough, JP and Chad run down the rest of the week's news in a two-minute blast of Big Deal, Little Deal? What could go wrong? New home sales surge, boosting demand for future construction and freight: big deal, or little deal? Michael Lewis confirmed as MarketWaves18 keynote speaker: big deal, or little deal? Goods trade deficit narrows again as export growth outstrips gains in imports: big deal, or little deal? Jobs, auto freight in crosshairs as Trump ramps up tariff talk: big deal, or little deal? Airfreight showing warning signs: big deal, or little deal? Chicago is overheated on Outbound and Inbound Turndowns: big deal, or little deal? Biofuel industry thrilled with EPA for support, refiners not so much: big deal, or little deal? FMCSA provides updates on ELD efficacy: big deal, or little deal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices