FreightCasts

Danielle Spinelli, a fraud and cargo-theft specialist at GenLogs, explains organized Mojave thefts and tech used to track trailers. Matthew Leffler, an armchair attorney, analyzes legal risk around enforcement and ICE activity. They discuss ICE presence in airports, manipulation of logs and compliance systems, and what carriers should watch for next.

Sal Mercogliano, maritime historian and shipping commentator, gives a field report from the Strait of Hormuz crisis. He describes thousands of ships and seafarers trapped, insurance and fuel cost spikes, and how nations and shippers are adapting. The conversation also covers the ripple economic and geopolitical winners, and what would be needed to reopen critical trade routes.

Shifting trade patterns and geopolitical tensions are forcing major ocean carriers to reshuffle routes and assets. Recent consolidation and acquisitions among shipping giants get a close look. U.S. officials push urgent investments to strengthen seaports and supply chain security. A high-profile fraud trial over staged car-truck collisions and its fallout for commercial insurance is also covered.

In this Monday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, hosts Malcolm and The Dude are joined by FreightWaves Editor-at-Large John Kingston to break down the explosive conclusion of the “Operation Sideswipe” trial. The discussion centers on the federal conviction of two Louisiana attorneys who orchestrated a massive scheme involving staged tractor-trailer accidents dating back to 2011. Kingston details the dramatic scenes in the New Orleans courtroom, where the verdict led to outbursts from family members and the physical collapse of one of the defendants. The episode also explores the broader impact of this fraud on Louisiana’s soaring insurance rates and the possibility of future civil litigation against those involved.Shifting to market trends, the trio examines the curious stability of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) prices despite extreme volatility in the diesel and crude oil sectors. Kingston explains that while diesel costs have climbed steadily, retail DEF prices at major chains like Pilot Flying J and Love’s have remained flat, likely due to the nature of urea contracts. The conversation touches on the global supply shocks affecting the energy market, including the unprecedented closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its long-term implications for the trucking industry. Watch on YouTube Visit our sponsor - JJ KELLER Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to #WithSONAR! In this episode we're walking through the SONAR Excel Add-In, a powerful tool that lets you pull SONAR data directly into your spreadsheets to enhance pricing models, automate reporting, and streamline decision-making. No IT support needed — just download, log in, and start building. What you’ll learn: 📊 Pull SONAR data directly into Excel Access rates, capacity, volumes, and more with customizable date ranges and granularity. ⚡ Single Field Calls Quickly return point-in-time values for any SONAR index — perfect for validating pricing decisions or pulling historical snapshots. 📈 Time Series Data Analyze trends over time with dynamic data pulls for rejections, volumes, and lane-level rate changes. 📉 Data Summaries Simplify large datasets by pulling averages over time — ideal for long-term pricing strategies and benchmarking. 🚛 Lane-Level & RFP Modeling Build multi-lane views with real-time insights on: Capacity conditions Spot vs. contract rate changes Volume trends Lane-level market dynamics 📍 Coverage Guide Integration Incorporate near-term capacity indicators directly into your spot pricing models. Whether you're building RFP strategies, validating rates, or automating reports, the SONAR Excel Add-In gives you the flexibility to bring real-time market data into your existing workflows. 📩 Have questions? Reach out to cs@gosonar.com or your Account Manager. 💡 Subscribe for more quick SONAR insights! #freight #freighttech #gosonar #sonar #softwareasaservice #logistics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into the fallout from the recent Supreme Court decision striking down emergency tariffs and the resulting administrative chaos for cross-border operators. Companies are now scrambling to navigate the legal gray area as they seek billions of dollars in potential tariff refunds. We also explore the findings from Fullbay's latest industry report, which highlights a severe and systemic commercial technician shortage. As veteran mechanics retire, shop owners are being forced to aggressively hike hourly wages and utilize advanced shop management tech to maintain efficiency. Finally, we discuss why domestic prices for diesel exhaust fluid have remained completely steady despite the escalating war in Iran. Robust domestic production has successfully insulated the North American market from overseas maritime bottlenecks, providing a much-needed sigh of relief for fleet operators battling tight margins. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? embraces the spirit of March Madness as hosts Malcolm and The Dude dive into a “fully loaded” show featuring expert insights on the freight market and the future of energy. Episode Highlights: • Market Deep Dive with John Kingston: FreightWaves Editor-at-Large John Kingston joins the show to break down the “State of Freight”. He discusses five major takeaways from recent market data, including a positive outlook for the freight market supported by a 13% tender rejection rate—a significant jump from six months ago. Kingston also provides an “expert” perspective on the impact of infrastructure damage and risk premiums on oil prices following the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz. • Legal Breaking News: The hosts and Kingston discuss a major legal development involving a $22.5 million jury award in an Ohio pregnancy discrimination case against TQL. • Renewable Energy and Innovation: Scott Brinner and Russ Bouillon from Nopetro Energy join the conversation to discuss their work in the energy sector. The segment highlights their ties to Knoxville and their efforts in the transportation technology space. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Visit our sponsor - JJ KELLER⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Freight markets are entering a critical transition point. Rising geopolitical tension in the Middle East is already rippling through global supply chains. Shipping lanes are shifting, fuel prices are rising and carriers across every mode are adjusting capacity and pricing. At the same time, the U.S. freight market appears to be approaching its long-anticipated turning point. Join Craig Fuller and Zach Strickland for this month's State of Freight webinar as we break down the latest data and what it means for shippers, carriers and brokers. We’ll cover: - How the escalating conflict involving Iran is impacting global supply chains - The latest signals around the long-awaited freight market flip - How trucking, ocean, rail and air cargo markets are responding - What the latest data is telling us about capacity, pricing and demand Follow the Freightonomics Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, we explore how autonomous trucking technology could generate $9 billion in annual consumer savings by 2035. This new report highlights massive improvements in equipment utilization, alongside significant safety dividends that could prevent hundreds of fatalities each year. Next, we cover Volvo Trucks North America's sweeping $2 billion North American investment program. This massive push features a new $700 million facility in Mexico, as well as a milestone order for 400 new VNL sleepers that are currently delivering a 10% boost in fuel efficiency. Finally, we unpack the details of a heartbreaking legal battle that resulted in an Ohio jury awarding $22.5 million in damages against Total Quality Logistics. The jury found that the company's refusal to grant a pregnant employee's doctor-ordered work-from-home request led to the premature birth and death of her child. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This isn’t just another trucking story.This is what happens when a broken system finally meets real consequences.On this episode of Brake Check, we take a hard look at Dalilah’s Law — a piece of legislation born out of a devastating tragedy involving a non-domiciled CDL driver that forever changed a young girl’s life and a family’s future.This conversation goes beyond headlines.We’re joined by Bryce Mongeon of OOIDA, breaking down why one of trucking’s most respected advocacy groups is supporting this bill and what it actually means for drivers, carriers, and enforcement moving forward.Then we hear directly from Marcus Coleman, Dalilah’s father ... a voice no one in this industry should ignore. This is not policy theory. This is real life. Real consequences. Real accountability.We dig into:The failures in the current CDL and enforcement systemHow non-domiciled licensing is being exploitedWhat Dalilah’s Law aims to fix and where it may fall shortWhy this moment could reshape compliance, safety, and accountability in truckingThis episode is about more than regulation.It’s about responsibility.The question is simple:Do we fix the system now… or wait for the next tragedy?This is Brake Check.No fluff. No filters. Just the truth.#fmcsa #usdot #dot #laws #trucking #truckingnews #nondomiciled  #cdl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices