FreightWaves NOW

In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we discuss the Department of Transportation's decision to drop its appeal regarding highway funding for sanctuary states, even as Secretary Sean Duffy shifts tactics to target non-domiciled CDL compliance as detailed in Trump Administration Waves White Flag on Transportation Funding Immigration Fight, But the War is Far From Over. Despite this legal concession, the administration is using compliance audits to withhold funding over English language standards and license requirements, a move that threatens to impact nearly 200,000 immigrant drivers. We also analyze the latest economic data showing inflation has accelerated with a 2.7% rise for the year, a trend explored in Consumer Price Index reports continued hikes in 2025. Rising costs for shelter, food, and energy are driving this increase, while transportation capacity has simultaneously plummeted to its lowest level since 2021. Additionally, the federal government is calling on industry experts to help identify the most critical physical and digital impediments to commerce, according to Feds seek input on solving supply chain bottlenecks. This new Request for Information aims to guide federal research and technology investments through 2030 to ensure goods move more smoothly across the nation's infrastructure. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for today's freight roundup as we explore the financial maneuvers and technological breakthroughs transforming the logistics landscape. This episode dives into how activist investor Ancora has carved out a niche in the transportation sector, driving leadership shakeups at major companies like Norfolk Southern and Forward Air to boost shareholder returns. We also analyze the 2025 holiday rush, where large parcel carriers significantly improved on-time delivery rates despite facing higher volumes than the previous year. Data reveals that the U.S. Postal Service achieved the largest performance jump, while UPS maintained the highest overall reliability during the peak season. In technology news, we discuss a major milestone in electric infrastructure where Purdue University achieved the first U.S. wireless charging of a heavy-duty truck traveling at highway speeds. This innovative system delivered 190 kilowatts of power to a moving vehicle, a breakthrough that could eventually allow for smaller batteries and increased cargo capacity. Looking at cross-border trade, we profile a Mexican-built logistics startup, WeShip, which has set its sights on U.S. expansion after rapid growth in its home market. The company aims to compete in the concentrated American parcel sector by leveraging software designed by former e-commerce operators to solve real-world shipping pain points. Finally, we address developing concerns in the brokerage space as the R&R Family of Companies faces uncertainty amid executive departures and reports of payment delays. Industry sources warn of potential operational disruptions across the Pittsburgh-based group's subsidiaries, including R&R Express, alongside signals of credit tightening. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s FreightWaves Morning Minute, we discuss Allegiant Air’s $1.5 billion acquisition of Sun Country Airlines, a merger heavily supported by Amazon through the addition of two extra cargo jets. This strategic move allows the combined company to leverage year-round cargo revenue to offset the seasonality of leisure travel, with cargo earnings expected to top $215 million this year. In technology news, researchers at Purdue University have successfully demonstrated the ability to wirelessly charge a heavy-duty truck while it travels at highway speeds. By delivering 190 kilowatts of power through pavement-embedded coils, this breakthrough could drastically reduce the need for massive EV batteries and allow carriers to haul more freight. STG Logistics has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, utilizing a pre-negotiated deal to eliminate nearly $1 billion in debt while securing $150 million in new capital. Company leadership insists this is a restructuring rather than a liquidation, aiming to use the fresh funding to support operations and emerge from the process in approximately five months. Finally, tune in to FreightWaves TV for a state of freight webinar with Craig Fuller and Zack Strickland to help navigate the 2026 market. Following that, a new episode of Loaded and Rolling features Thomas Wasson discussing the intersection of AI and human expertise in fleet management. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Daily, FreightWaves investigates a startling report on national security, detailing Dragon in the Cab: How China Quietly Embedded Itself in American Trucking. We discuss the growing concerns regarding unvetted drivers hauling military freight and the specific vulnerabilities found within U.S. port infrastructure. In major corporate news, we cover the return of a legacy fleet to private domestic ownership as Former, current USA Truck execs acquire TL carrier from DSV. Conversely, we analyze a severe financial crisis in the last-mile sector, looking at the factors behind Last mile provider FAST Group's post-merger meltdown. The industry's financial volatility is further highlighted by the news that STG Logistics files Chapter 11, charts path forward. We also touch on regulatory and labor enforcement, including a whistleblower victory where a Texas carrier ordered to pay more than $100K to fired driver and a security-related contract cancellation where USPS insourcing forces Denver contractor to layoff 700 workers. Finally, we examine critical economic indicators showing a shift in supply chain strategies as Warehouses empty in December. This segment explores how historic lows in inventory levels may force shippers back into a reactive, just-in-time operating environment for the year ahead. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we discuss how activist investor Ancora carves out a niche in the transportation sector by forcing shakeups at major companies like C.H. Robinson and CSX. Ancora director Conor Sweeney highlights the firm’s strategy to drive returns by replacing leadership and restructuring boards at underperforming logistics giants. We also analyze recent trade statistics showing that while global demand grew, U.S. container traffic fell in November due to ongoing trade tensions. Import volumes in North America dropped nearly 4% for the eighth consecutive month, sharply contrasting with double-digit growth seen in regions like sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, the show covers the latest employment figures as truck transportation jobs remained flat in December, hitting their lowest point in four and a half years. This stagnation in the trucking sector is accompanied by a significant drop in warehouse jobs, which have plummeted by over 150,000 from their peak in 2022. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for a deep dive into the "SELF DRIVE Act" of 2026, a bipartisan bill aiming to dismantle state-level regulatory patchworks for autonomous trucking. This legislation promises legal certainty for cab-less truck designs and establishes a national safety data repository to replace fragmented reporting mandates. We also analyze the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's plan to restore the 30-day automatic emergency relief window for hours-of-service rules. This reversal addresses the uncertainty and delays caused by the previous 14-day limit during recent disasters like the Key Bridge collapse and regional hurricanes. The conversation shifts to a critical compliance failure in North Carolina, where a DOT audit revealed that over half of commercial licenses issued to foreign drivers were illegal. The state now faces a potential $50 million funding loss and decertification of its CDL program if immediate corrective actions aren't taken. On the business front, we cover the acquisition of Dart Transit by Avkha Equity Holdings, marking the end of nine decades of family ownership for the Minnesota-based carrier. Additionally, we look at the revolving door at the Federal Maritime Commission as longtime Chief of Staff Mary Thien Hoang departs for a partner role at a D.C. lobbying firm. Finally, we explore why analysts have upgraded American Airlines and Sun Country, citing a robust recovery in air travel and resilient cargo operations. Sun Country’s hybrid model and partnership with Amazon are highlighted as key drivers for substantial free cash flow projections. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we discuss how the 2026 AV bill a game changer for heavy trucking aims to replace a patchwork of state regulations with a unified federal framework for autonomous vehicles. The legislation would allow driverless, cab-less trucks to move from testing tracks to interstate commerce, marking a major shift for the industry. The new year has started on a rough note, as Layoffs, bankruptcies batter U.S. logistics and manufacturing at start of 2026 with over 2,200 workers losing their jobs in just the first few weeks. Rising operating costs and shrinking demand have forced widespread restructuring and Chapter 11 filings across the supply chain sector. Finally, we look at why Prolonged post office closures focus of House bill, forcing the USPS to create a transparent database for service suspensions. Tune in for these stories and a look at today's lineup on FreightWaves TV, including new episodes of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? and Running on Ice. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Daily, we uncover why many freight brokers are structurally losing roughly $19 on every load despite seemingly stable contract rates. We break down the "negative operating leverage trap" detailed in How are Freight Brokers Staying Afloat? that is forcing companies to burn cash while desperately chasing volume. The conversation shifts to the rail sector, where CSX lays off 5% of management staff, furloughs conductors in a move that signals a permanent shift toward leaner operations. These deep cuts reflect a broader industry trend of redrawing profitable baselines amidst challenging economic conditions and declining high-margin traffic. Regulatory pressure is also intensifying, as the DOT strips California of $160M over foreign truckers for failing to revoke thousands of unlawfully issued commercial driver's licenses. This systemic collapse in the state's licensing process threatens to tighten capacity further in the stressed West Coast freight market. We also examine compliance risks, highlighting a case where an air cargo contractor reimburses Postal Service for fraudulent billing after falsifying delivery scans to avoid late penalties. This recurring pattern of fraud underscores the rigorous compliance demands fleets must manage alongside financial pressures. Physical risks are escalating as well, with new analysis on Minneapolis, 1992, and What Fleets Need to Know About the Insurrection Act as state and federal tensions create volatile conditions for urban logistics. Fleet operators are urged to prioritize real-time visibility and safety training to navigate these potential disruptions effectively. Finally, we look at market data where U.S. Bank, DAT launch quarterly truck freight rates report showing that carrier capacity is quietly shrinking while contract rates hold steady. This disconnect raises the critical question of which sector will force a necessary margin reset in the coming year. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, the U.S. Department of Transportation has officially withheld $160 million in safety funding from California following a dispute over commercial driver’s licenses. The state missed a critical deadline to revoke thousands of licenses issued to foreign drivers, a situation federal officials describe as a systemic collapse of safety protocols. Shifting to the rails, the Surface Transportation Board has introduced a proposal designed to give captive shippers access to competing lines through reciprocal switching. By removing the requirement to prove anti-competitive conduct, this regulatory change aims to foster competition and offer more options to businesses served by a single railroad. Additionally, a new quarterly report from U.S. Bank and DAT warns that a shrinking carrier pool could cause shipping costs to spike rapidly if demand rebounds. The episode wraps up with a preview of today’s FreightWaves TV lineup, featuring discussions on trucker wages, the Logistics Manager Index, and the outlook for manufacturing in 2025. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we unpack a confusing market paradox where transportation capacity has hit a four-year low even as fleets place massive orders for new equipment. Analysts attribute the surge of over 42,000 Class 8 truck orders to a regulatory pre-buy ahead of 2027 emissions rules rather than a true recovery in freight demand. We also explore how C.H. Robinson is utilizing 30 agentic AI tools to execute "gross margin arbitrage" and respond to quote requests in just 32 seconds. This strategy allows the brokerage to dynamically adjust pricing hundreds of times a day, turning speed directly into expanded margins. The conversation then shifts to the legal hurdles facing autonomous trucking, where liability often hinges on whether a "safer alternative design" existed rather than a comparison to human drivers. Experts warn that this unique product liability standard exposes manufacturers to nuclear verdicts even if their vehicles perform safer than people. Finally, we discuss the push by safety advocates to end the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot for under-21 truckers. Opponents argue the program is dangerous, citing data that drivers aged 19 to 20 are six times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices