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A full trailer load of freight podcasts from FreightWaves. Enjoy shows like the award-winning WHAT THE TRUCK?!? podcast, Put That Coffee Down, Freightonomics, Fuller Speed Ahead, Great Quarter, Gals and more with one click of the subscribe button. One freight feed to rule them all!

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October 14 · 1 hr 10 min
FreightWaves Today | October 14
On today’s episode of FreightWaves Today, hosts Craig Fuller and Malcolm Harris kick off earnings season with an in-depth look at what lies ahead for public freight companies, comparing current Wall Street expectations against real-time high-frequency data. They are joined first by FreightWaves Finance Editor Todd Maiden to discuss Q3 earnings projections, JB Hunt’s upcoming reports and intermodal bid season, fuel surcharge dynamics, and capacity trends across the LTL sector. The market analysis continues with a SONAR update from Zach Strickland, who breaks down an unexpected mid-October surge in the Outbound Tender Rejection Index, record import volumes fueling West Coast activity, and the latest regional spot rate shifts. Later, Jordan Kidd, Head of Product at Datatruck, shares how unified TMS technology and native AI solutions are democratizing operations for small-to-midsize carriers, enabling them to scale billing, tracking, and fleet management without ballooning overhead costs. Finally, Trains Magazine Editor Bill Stephens closes out the show with a look at the latest Association of American Railroads weekly report, examining strong intermodal growth, surging chemical carloads, and key regulatory updates from the Surface Transportation Board. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 14 · 1 hr 1 min
The Rise of Freight Fraud & The Trucking Age Debate | WHAT THE TRUCK?!?
On this update edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent break down the latest supply chain news, major legal cases, and safety updates affecting the freight industry. The hosts kick off the segment discussing a tragic single-vehicle rollover crash on I-84 in Idaho involving a 74-year-old Reno truck driver, sparking a broader debate over whether age caps should exist for commercial truck drivers while referencing FMCSA and NHTSA fatal crash statistics. The guest lineup begins with Andrey Drotenko, President of Strategic Relations at Verified Carrier, who joins to mark Freight Fraud Awareness Day. Andre breaks down the biggest emerging threats in freight fraud, how fraudsters are increasing their sophistication, and what proactive steps brokers and carriers must take before accepting a load. Next, Alex Fraser, Vice President at Cox Fleet, examines why equipment quality serves as a core driver experience and retention strategy. Alex reviews new research showing equipment maintenance issues rank as the leading source of driver dissatisfaction ahead of pay, detailing the hidden time costs to drivers and how predictive maintenance can prevent breakdowns before trucks end up stranded on the shoulder. Closing out the show, Jane Jazrawy, CEO at Carrier's Edge, joins to celebrate 18 years of the Best Fleets program. Jane shares crucial insights into what drivers value most, what top-performing fleets refuse to cut when budgets tighten, and what drivers need to know before nominating their carriers ahead of the October 31st deadline. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP.COM⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 14 · 3 min
Pilot-Tesla Megacharger Opens, Bot Auto Cuts Autonomy Costs, & CCT Acquires Livingston VTS | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off with a major infrastructure milestone for heavy-duty electric trucking as Pilot Travel Centers and Tesla officially open their first Megacharger site in Georgia. The facility features six charging stalls capable of delivering up to 1.2 megawatts each, with twelve more sites currently under construction across key freight corridors including I-5 and I-10. This strategic rollout arrives as Tesla moves the Semi into high-volume production at its Sparks, Nevada factory, designed to build fifty thousand trucks annually. Next, we explore the autonomous trucking sector where Houston-based Bot Auto is aggressively driving down costs by selecting Lenovo's AD1 autonomous-driving domain controller built on Nvidia Hyperion. The company expects its full autonomy hardware bill of materials to run just fifty thousand dollars per truck—three to eight times less than competing systems. Bot Auto currently moves about three hundred fifty loads per month across Texas and reported massive two hundred seventy percent revenue growth from May to August. Finally, we look at the accelerating consolidation across the finished vehicle transportation sector as CCT Auto Trans acquires fellow Canadian car hauler Livingston Vehicle Transportation Services. The deal positions CCT as the only company in Canada delivering open, enclosed, and rail vehicle transport. This acquisition follows other recent blockbuster deals in the car haul space, including Acertus's purchase of Fisher Shipping and Proficient Auto Logistics acquiring Hansen & Adkins for one hundred thirty million dollars. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 13 · 1 hr 3 min
FreightWaves Today | October 13
Cross-border freight constraints are tightening, diesel prices are swinging wildly, and AI is taking driver safety to the next level! On today’s episode of FreightWaves Today, we break down what shippers, brokers, and carriers need to know to navigate today's volatile supply chain. IN THIS EPISODE AI Fleet Safety Upgrades: Netradyne launches customizable AI agents to gamify driver coaching and pull instant live fleet data. Cross-Border Squeeze: US authorities revoke ~25,000 Mexican driver visas. Combine that with capacity bottlenecks and trade friction, and cross-border constraints could last into 2027! Tariff & Logistics Strategy: Guest James Edge breaks down how importers can rethink warehouse placement in Canada and US lanes to reduce tax exposure and speed up final-mile delivery. Diesel Market Volatility: Ultra-low sulfur diesel futures swing by double digits! John Kingston explains why emergency red-dyed diesel policies won't solve the underlying global supply deficit. Subscribe to FreightWaves on YouTube for daily market intelligence, freight news, and expert commentary! Get SONAR Freight Data: ⁠https://sonar.freightwaves.com⁠ Read more logistics news: ⁠https://www.freightwaves.com⁠ #Freight #SupplyChain #Logistics #CrossBorder #Trucking #DieselPrices #FleetSafety #SONAR ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 13 · 31 min
Inside Trimble's Next-Gen Cloud TMS and BTO Solutions | Loaded and Rolling
Join host Thomas Wasson on Loaded and Rolling, live from day one of Trimble Insights 2026! In this episode, Thomas sits down with Trimble's George Lutz (Senior Director of Engineering) and Matt Brinkman (Lead Product Manager) to explore how Trimble is reshaping transport management. Discover how Trimble TMS delivers a cloud-native, multi-tenant solution with both standard and Build-to-Order (BTO) tiers—tailored to meet the specific operational workflows of modern fleets. They dive into customer-centric engineering, AI-accelerated prototyping, real-world specialized load cases, and what’s next on Trimble's product roadmap. ⁠Follow the Loaded and Rolling Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 13 · 48 min
BIG FLEET MONEY vs. SMALL FLEET RESPECT: WHO WINS? | BRAKE CHECK
BIG FLEET vs. SMALL FLEET: WHO REALLY TREATS TRUCK DRIVERS BETTER? BIG FLEET MONEY vs. SMALL FLEET RELATIONSHIPS....WHO ACTUALLY EARNS YOUR LOYALTY? Every trucking company promises great pay, great equipment, great home time, and a place where you're treated like family. Sounds fantastic RIGHT? SO WHY THE HELL DO GOOD DRIVERS KEEP LEAVING? On this episode of Brake Check, Charles puts two very different trucking operations in the hot seat to tackle one of the industry's biggest problems: DRIVER RETENTION. BEN PILE | WERNER ENTERPRISES Werner has the resources, recruiting technology, freight network, and career-development opportunities most smaller fleets can only dream about. But does BIGGER actually mean BETTER for the professional truck driver?We're digging into driver pay, career advancement, specialized freight, home time, training, and what happens when the promises made during recruiting don't match reality after orientation. If you're building careers instead of filling seats, WHY DO DRIVERS STILL LEAVE? DAVID FOOTE | BROWN DOG CARRIERS & LOGISTICS On the other side, we've got a smaller carrier competing for those same professional drivers WITHOUT the mega-fleet recruiting budget.No giant marketing machine. No endless list of terminals.Just the promise of being treated like a PERSON instead of a truck number. But is knowing your driver's name enough when another carrier offers $10,000 more a year? CAN RESPECT REALLY COMPETE WITH A BIGGER PAYCHECK? We're putting both sides to the test. BIG FLEET vs. SMALL FLEET! Recruiting promises vs. operational reality... Career advancement vs. personal relationships... Higher pay vs. long-term opportunity... And the question that should make EVERY trucking company uncomfortable: IF YOUR COMPANY IS SO GREAT TO WORK FOR, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING DRIVERS? Because trucking doesn't have a shortage of recruiting promises. IT HAS A SHORTAGE OF PROMISES KEPT! TRUCK DRIVERS, SOUND OFF! Would you rather drive for a BIG fleet with more career opportunities or a SMALL fleet where you have a direct relationship with the people running the company? And what's the ONE thing that would make you leave either one?Drop your answer in the comments. We want to hear from the people actually doing the job. Like, subscribe, and follow FreightWaves for more Brake Check, FreightCasts, trucking news, and conversations with some actual damn teeth. SMASH THE DAMN BRAKES AND LET'S GO FULL STOP! #Trucking #TruckDrivers #WernerEnterprises #DriverRetention #TruckDriverJobs #OwnerOperator #TruckingIndustry #FreightWaves #BrakeCheck ⁠Follow the Brake Check Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 13 · 3 min
Netradyne's AI Agent Expansion, Mexico Driver Visa Crisis, & Freight Fraud Awareness Day | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off with a major AI expansion designed to let fleet managers build their own custom safety tools. San Diego-based Netradyne has expanded its lineup of⁠ AI agents running on its Netradyne Intelligence platform⁠, adding a Campaign Agent for driver coaching and a builder that lets fleet managers create custom agents by describing in plain language what they need. Customers created more than two hundred fifty agents within a month of release, turning coaching into competitions and automating recognition lists. Next, we head south to examine a critical capacity crisis as⁠ severe driver shortages and aggressive visa restrictions squeeze cross-border trucking⁠ even as freight demand remains soft. U.S. authorities have withdrawn visas from approximately twenty-five thousand Mexican freight drivers, while an aging driver workforce and security concerns deter younger workers from entering the profession. Logistics provider TRAFFIX warns that North American cross-border capacity will remain constrained into twenty twenty-seven, with rates on some Canadian corridors climbing twenty-five to thirty-five percent over the past month. Finally, we cover the freight industry's annual moment to confront a hidden epidemic as⁠ Freight Fraud Awareness Day returns on October fourteenth⁠ with advocates across transportation and insurance pushing for open dialogue about criminal schemes and prevention resources. This marks the third annual campaign, with supporters including Verified Carrier, Truckstop, and multiple insurance providers. Industry experts warn that cargo theft has been exploding, with some criminals leveraging their understanding of legitimate operations to exploit businesses. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 12 · 1 hr 16 min
FreightWaves Today | October 12
In today’s episode of FreightWaves Today, hosts Craig Fuller and Malcolm Harris dive into the latest developments, market trends, and high-impact discussions shaping the logistics and transportation sector: Legal & Regulatory Watch: The show opens with key legal cases disrupting the industry, including a Fifth Circuit appellate court consideration regarding broker and carrier liability involving Penske, along with an EEOC age discrimination lawsuit filed against a Texas trucking carrier over insurance policy restrictions. Cross-Border Market Intelligence: A look into Mexico’s automotive export trends highlights a widening gap between domestic demand and export-oriented manufacturing bound for North America, featuring recent production data from GM, Nissan, and Ford. Electric Heavy-Duty Trucking: Rudy Diaz, Founder & CEO of Hight Logistics, joins the show to share real-world operational insights on running electric drayage fleets (including Volvo and Tesla models) out of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. He breaks down the realities of range, vehicle weight, charging infrastructure, and total cost considerations. SONAR Market Update: A deep dive into data trends covering diesel price shifts, rising contract rates, spot rate movement, and tender rejection metrics as the market prepares for peak season. Tech & Freight Innovation: Felipe Capella, Co-Founder & CEO of Loadsmart, discusses the evolution of digital freight brokerages over the past decade, the shift toward blended SaaS/service models, and how AI agents are transforming freight orchestration workflows. Global Air Freight & AI Boom: Senior Editor Eric Kulisch breaks down how the surging AI data center expansion and semiconductor demand across Asia are driving massive air cargo volumes, altering traditional trade flows across the Pacific. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 12 · 58 min
The Trucking Age Discrimination Lawsuit (And the Shift to Alternative Fuels) | WHAT THE TRUCK?!?
On this Monday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent break down the latest supply chain news, major legal cases, and severe weather updates affecting the freight industry. The hosts kick off the news segment with an attempted $273,000 frozen seafood theft in New Jersey where an unauthorized freight broker redirected 29,000 pounds of cargo to a box truck on the side of the road, pointing out that food and beverage cargo thefts jumped 47% in 2025. They also examine an EEOC age discrimination lawsuit filed in Texas against Trancasa USA after a 64-year-old driver with over 20 years of experience was allegedly denied employment due to insurance coverage restrictions, debating the balance between driver age limits and soaring nuclear verdicts. Additionally, they review a $1 million USPS freight auction fraud scheme involving an Orlando trucking owner who pleaded guilty to submitting fake delivery records. The guest lineup begins with Steve Logue, General Manager at Sensolis, who discusses tackling the blind spots in supply chain tracking. Steve explains why non-powered assets like pallets, totes, and crates vanish between trailers, warehouses, and factory floors, emphasizing how tracking dwell time and utilization provides real visibility instead of guesswork. Closing out the show, Sam Girard, Vice President of Customer Success and Senior Site Executive at ENGIE Energy, joins to detail the fleet transition toward alternative fuels like CNG and RNG. Sam shares insights into the multi-energy shift away from single diesel replacements, evaluating fueling infrastructure needs and the economic feasibility for modern fleet operations. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP.COM⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 12 · 4 min
Penske En Banc Fight, Mexico Vehicle Exports Plunge, & Texas Carrier Sued Over Age Limits | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off by examining a closely watched federal appellate case with enormous disruptive potential for broker and carrier liability. The Fifth Circuit is now considering whether to grant an en banc hearing in⁠ a fatal crash case involving companies in the Penske network⁠ that centers on a double-brokered load and the question of control. The appellate court's ruling that Penske Logistics was liable for a subcontracted driver's actions has prompted the American Trucking Associations, Truckload Carriers Association, and Trucking Industry Defense Association to file amicus briefs in support of the company's petition. Next, we shift to the cross-border sector where⁠ Mexico's automotive export trade is flashing warning signs for North American freight flows⁠. While more than three-quarters of Mexico's light-vehicle exports still head to the U.S., September shipments plunged eleven point nine percent year over year to two hundred seventy-seven thousand units, with production falling even more sharply at fifteen point one percent. General Motors, Nissan, and Ford all posted double-digit declines, highlighting a widening gap between Mexico's domestic automotive market and its export-oriented manufacturing sector. Finally, we cover⁠ federal discrimination charges against a Texas trucking company over age-based hiring restrictions⁠ allegedly tied to its insurance policy. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit against Pharr-based Trancasa USA Inc., alleging the company systematically rejected older driver applicants based on a commercial liability insurance policy that capped eligibility at age sixty-five. The lawsuit stems from a discrimination charge filed by Gilbert Cerda, a sixty-four-year-old truck driver with more than two decades of experience, who was told by a company recruiter he could not be hired because of his age. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 9 · 1 hr 2 min
FreightWaves Today | October 9
On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Malcolm Harris and Julie Van de Kamp break down the latest developments shaping freight markets, transportation regulations, and logistics technology. The show opens with a look at Hurricane Isaias and its potential impact on the Gulf Coast, including flooding risks, road closures, and disruptions to freight operations across Alabama and the Southeast. The Morning Minute covers a legal challenge involving a truck driving school's removal from the FMCSA training registry, a proposed split sleeper berth pilot program, and record-setting global container shipping volumes. Malcolm and Julie also discuss a federal fraud case involving fictitious trucking accounts. Nextcade co-founder and CEO Dan Bailey joins the show to examine how artificial intelligence is transforming logistics, including C.H. Robinson's planned acquisition of ECHO Global Logistics. Bailey explains why capturing industry-specific knowledge is essential to successful AI implementation, how companies can launch smaller pilot projects, and how AI-powered agents can automate freight quote requests, improve response times, reduce costs, and drive revenue growth. Julie delivers the latest SONAR market update, highlighting stable tender rejections, rising contract and spot rates, and increasing freight market activity around Mobile and Montgomery ahead of the approaching storm. She also explores SONAR's new intermodal rate intelligence capabilities, which allow users to compare intermodal and truckload rates, evaluate potential savings, and identify nearby rail ramps. Finally, transportation attorney Matthew Leffler, the Armchair Attorney, joins Malcolm and Julie for an in-depth discussion of C.H. Robinson's proposed $5.8 billion acquisition of ECHO Global Logistics. The conversation explores the deal's potential $300 million in synergies, shareholder and regulatory considerations, integration challenges, nuclear verdicts and liability exposure, and the growing importance of drop-trailer networks as brokers expand beyond traditional brokerage services. From AI-driven efficiency and freight market trends to major industry mergers and evolving legal risks, this episode delivers essential insights into the forces shaping the future of freight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 9 · 1 hr
The $3.5M Amazon Ghost Trailer Scam (And Why Peak Season Started Early) | WHAT THE TRUCK?!?
On this Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent break down the latest supply chain news, major legal cases, and severe weather updates affecting the freight industry. The hosts kick off the news segment with the sentencing of Amir Nazir, a Connecticut man ordered to serve two years in federal prison and pay $3.5 million in restitution after registering 23 fake trucking businesses and fabricating over 1,000 trailer movements with Amazon Logistics. They also examine Samsung Electronics America’s Federal Maritime Commission complaint against ocean carrier CMA CGM, seeking at least $186 million in damages over alleged unlawful demurrage and detention charges resulting from store-door delivery delays. Additionally, they review weather tracking on Hurricane Isaias as it reaches Category 3 status with 120 mph winds heading toward the Gulf Coast, warning of potential supply chain and regional transport disruptions. The guest lineup begins with Adam Kahn, Chief Business Development Officer at Netradyne, who discusses the industry's quest for zero preventable accidents. Adam argues that fleets are measuring the wrong metrics by focusing solely on lagging indicators like overall accident reductions, and instead encourages tracking leading indicators such as complete stop sign compliance, safe following distances, and speed management. He emphasizes that gamifying and rewarding positive driver behavior helps conquer the final, most difficult 20% of preventable accidents while ensuring drivers feel supported by safety technology rather than surveilled. Closing out the show, Ari Silkey, Chief Operating Officer at TEN (Transport Enterprise Leasing), joins to detail why this year's peak season is kicking off 4 to 6 weeks early as retailers pull imports forward. To meet changing demand, TEN is adding 3,000 new dry vans to push its fleet beyond 85,000 trailers. Ari shares insights into equipment planning strategies, potential capacity bottlenecks, and how flexible leasing options give carriers the balance-sheet agility required to navigate unpredictable Q4 freight volumes. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP.COM⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 9 · 2 min
NJ CDL School Sues FMCSA, Split Sleeper Berth Pilot, & Record Container Volumes | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off by examining a major legal challenge that raises serious questions about federal oversight of driver training schools. Start CDL Inc., a New Jersey-based truck driving school, is contesting its emergency removal from the federal registry after FMCSA cited six trainees with English-language violations but provided evidence containing troubling discrepancies. The two hundred thirty-six-page complaint highlights contradictory documents that name different schools and drivers, raising fundamental questions about how regulators connect roadside safety violations to training providers. Next, we explore a regulatory development that could fundamentally reshape how drivers manage their mandatory rest periods. In a Federal Register notice released Wednesday, FMCSA moved closer to launching a pilot program that would test shorter split sleeper berth configurations, allowing five-five or six-four hour splits instead of the current seven-three minimum. The program will recruit up to two hundred fifty-six volunteer drivers who will each receive one thousand six hundred dollars for sixteen weeks of participation in a pilot scheduled to run thirty-four to thirty-six months. Finally, we break down historic milestones in global container shipping despite ongoing disruptions across major trade routes. According to Container Trades Statistics, global container volumes reached a record seventeen point four six million TEUs in August, surpassing the previous record set in July and marking a three point seven percent increase year over year. Freight pricing climbed alongside volumes, with the Global Price Index hitting one hundred seventeen in August, approximately fifty percent above its January level, driven largely by an eight percent increase in Asia exports year to date. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 8 · 36 min
An acquisition and a hurricane | Freightonomics
Discussion of headlines CH Robinson acquiring RXO and the first Atlantic side hurricane making landfall as well as what impact tariffs and trade are telling us about inflation and the economy. ⁠Follow the Freightonomics Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 8 · 1 hr 23 min
FreightWaves Today | October 8
FreightWaves Today looks at the latest forces shaping freight markets and supply chains, beginning with Hurricane Isaias and the potential impact of severe weather on freight infrastructure and operations. Malcolm Harris and Zach Strickland also discuss weather risks across the country, including flooding concerns in the West and what freight operators should watch as additional systems develop. The Morning Minute covers major developments across rail, cross-border and ocean freight, including Union Pacific’s proposed $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern, record U.S.-Mexico trade activity and rising profit expectations at ZIM amid strong container demand. The conversation also examines Mexico’s growing importance to North American supply chains and the movement of automotive components across the border. The episode features a conversation with Ilhan Kolko of Aviro36, focused on the company’s third-generation mobile inventory product and the use of hardware, computer vision and AI to provide real-time visibility inside freight yards. The discussion explores “yard blindness,” reducing asset search times, improving gate and yard operations, integrating with existing systems of record and the potential for greater automation and autonomy in freight yards. Zach then delivers a Sonar Update on the freight market, examining elevated tender rejection rates, rising spot rates, fuel prices and regional volatility. Particular attention is given to Ontario and Southern California, with the analysis emphasizing that the biggest sources of market volatility may be outside the areas receiving the most headlines. The episode closes with Zach and Sonar head economist DJ Donahue discussing the broader economy, including the effect of tariffs on consumer prices and inflation, along with major developments in the freight brokerage market. Together, the segments connect current weather, trade, technology, freight rates and economic conditions to the issues facing transportation and supply chain professionals today. ⁠Follow the Freightonomics Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 8 · 59 min
TESLA SEMI & DRIVER SIMULATORS: WORTH THE MONEY? | Brake Check
SMARTER TRUCKS, BETTER DRIVERS, OR JUST MORE EXPENSIVE BS Everybody in trucking has a shiny new toy promising to change the industry. Electric trucks. Driver simulators. Alternative fuels. Next-generation technology. And every sales pitch comes with the same promise: “IT PAYS FOR ITSELF.” Cool..... SHOW ME THE DAMN MATH! On this episode of Brake Check, Charles puts trucking's next generation of technology on trial with two guests who actually work with it. MATT McLELLAND | COVENANT LOGISTICS Covenant's VP of Sustainability and Innovation put a loaded Tesla Semi through California's infamous Grapevine, tackling steep grades and real-world trucking conditions. We're asking: Can the Tesla Semi actually compete with diesel when you calculate the REAL cost per mile? What happened climbing and descending a 6% grade? Does regenerative braking actually deliver measurable savings? What about charging, battery life, resale value and driver acceptance? At $6-plus diesel, when does electric finally make financial sense? Would Matt spend his OWN money on a Tesla Semi? Forget the Tesla hype, WOULD YOU WRITE THE CHECK? ENRIQUE ALLEN MAR | SIM EXPERTS Next, we're putting driver training under the microscope. Can simulators create safer, better-prepared professional truck drivers, or are carriers buying really expensive video games? We're digging into simulator training, CDL schools, emergency maneuvers, crash prevention, insurance costs and whether technology can improve training WITHOUT replacing real behind-the-wheel experience. And we're asking the uncomfortable question: IF SIMULATORS MAKE DRIVERS SAFER, WHERE'S THE PROOF? Because the trucking industry doesn't need another shortcut to a CDL. IT NEEDS BETTER-PREPARED PROFESSIONALS. One guest tests the machines. One guest trains the humans. And BOTH have have to answer the same question: DOES THE TECHNOLOGY ACTUALLY EARN ITS DAMN KEEP? No corporate sales pitches. No PowerPoint promises. Just real trucking, real costs and questions with some actual teeth. SOUND OFF IN THE COMMENTS: You've got $350,000 to invest in your trucking operation, ARE YOU BUYING AN ELECTRIC TRUCK, INVESTING IN DRIVER TRAINING, OR KEEPING YOUR DIESEL AND YOUR MONEY? Tell us WHY. Like, subscribe and follow FreightWaves for more Brake Check, FreightCasts and trucking conversations that don't pull punches.SMASH THE DAMN BRAKES, LET'S GO FULL STOP! #TeslaSemi #Trucking #ElectricTrucks #TruckDrivers #CDLTraining #DriverSafety #FreightTech #OwnerOperator #CovenantLogistics #BrakeCheck ⁠Follow the Brake Check Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 8 · 46 min
Seven Trucks and a Hard Lesson About Consistency | The Long Haul
Blackwell Trucking didn't start as a trucking company. They started as a pipeline construction operation out of Wayne, Oklahoma. The trucks were there to haul equipment to the job sites — and when the jobs were done, they'd grab backhauls to make the trip pay. That worked until pipeline construction slowed down. And then it stopped working completely. So they pivoted. Tried stepdecks and RGNs over the road. Rates were falling, loads were inconsistent, and the model wasn't producing what they needed. So they made another call — hoppers. And that one stuck. Seven trucks now. Plans to keep growing. Jared Reaves manages operations at Blackwell Trucking and has watched this business navigate every version of that story. The good freight. The bad freight. The drivers who didn't work out and the ones who did. The temptation to grow before the foundation is ready. This episode is about what it actually looks like to run a small specialty freight operation in a market that doesn't care about your plans. And why the carriers who find consistency aren't always the ones who picked the right freight from the start — they're the ones who were honest enough to pivot when the first answer wasn't working. ⁠Follow The Long Haul Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 8 · 3 min
UP CEO 99.99% Confident on Merger, Mexico Trade Hits $94.3B, & Zim Lifts Profit Forecast 72% | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off by examining the railroad industry's most ambitious consolidation as Union Pacific's CEO expresses extraordinary confidence that regulators will approve the $85 billion Norfolk Southern acquisition. Despite fierce opposition from labor unions, agricultural groups, and competing railroads, the executive argues that combining the two networks would save customers up to 48 hours by eliminating interchange delays. The proposed mega-merger would create a rail giant controlling roughly 50,000 miles of track, with a final decision from the Surface Transportation Board expected in 2027. Meanwhile, cross-border commerce is reaching record-breaking levels as Mexico remains the United States' largest trading partner with August two-way trade surging to $94.3 billion, up nearly 27% year over year. Port Laredo handled $38.56 billion in commerce during August, cementing its position as the nation's busiest international trade gateway and the primary conduit for the rapidly expanding U.S.-Mexico supply chain. Motor vehicle parts and diesel engines led the gateway's top export commodities. Finally, we cover a major ocean carrier that is dramatically raising its full-year profit outlook by 72% on surging container demand and favorable freight-rate momentum. Zim Integrated Shipping Services now expects adjusted EBITDA of $2.7 billion to $3 billion for 2026, up from its previous August guidance range of $2 billion to $2.4 billion. The Israeli container carrier's revised forecast represents a midpoint increase of approximately $650 million as it awaits completion of its pending acquisition by Hapag-Lloyd. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 7 · 1 hr 1 min
FreightWaves Today | October 7
In this episode of FreightWaves Today, hosts Julie Van de Kamp and Malcolm Harris break down the latest supply chain headlines, including a major LA rail cargo bust, 247Services' cross-border expansion, and Uber's $2.3B acquisition of ezCater. Trains Magazine Editor Bill Stevens and Trinity Industries CFO Eric Marchetto join the show to analyze recent rail traffic trends, equipment fleet capacity, and trade tariff uncertainties. Malcolm has his meteorologist debut in the SONAR update as he and Julie track Hurricane Isaias's potential impacts on Gulf Coast freight and fuel refining capacity. Finally, John Conrad, Chief Revenue Officer at Evans Transportation Services, stops by the studio to discuss the true meaning of managed transportation, the role of AI in 3PL operations, and current carrier pricing dynamics. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 7 · 57 min
$1M Stolen Rail Merch & Why 600k Carrier Lists Are Complete BS | WHAT THE TRUCK?!?
In this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent cover key industry headlines before sitting down for an in-depth interview with three-time founder Tristan Bordeleau. The hosts break down major supply chain news, starting with the LAPD's recovery of $1 million in stolen BNSF and Union Pacific rail cargo from a Whittier shoe retailer, which included high-value goods like Nike footwear, Yeti cups, and Shark vacuums. They also examine the legal nuances of a civil RICO lawsuit filed by six trucking companies against C.H. Robinson—comparing precedents like Anza v. Ideal Steel and Bridge v. Phoenix—and discuss TA Services expanding its US-Mexico cross-border network by acquiring assets from Carmen Pacheco Transportation and Intermodal Cartage. Additionally, the duo analyzes Wall Street's reaction to C.H. Robinson's $6 billion acquisition of RXO and what the deal means for the broader 3PL landscape. The main segment features Tristan Bordallo, who draws from his 22 years of experience in brokerage and fleet ownership to share lessons on carrier liabilities, rising operational costs, and the importance of founder vulnerability. Bordallo discusses shifting his focus to Fr8topia, a boutique brokerage serving local consumer packaged goods (CPG) and natural product brands in Los Angeles. He also tackles the ongoing divide between brokers and carriers, stressing that greater transparency, aligned interests, and leading with quality service are essential to repairing relationships in today's fast-moving freight market. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP.COM⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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