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FreightCasts

FreightWaves

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!

151 episodes
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English

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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
October 7 · 3 min
LAPD Uncovers $1M Stolen Rail Cargo, TA Services Expands Cross-Border, & Uber Acquires ezCater | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off in Southern California, where law enforcement just uncovered a massive cache of stolen rail freight hiding in plain sight. Los Angeles Police Department detectives searched a Whittier shoe retailer and discovered 59 pallets of branded merchandise connected to stolen BNSF and Union Pacific rail cargo totaling about one million dollars. The recovered property included Nike, New Balance, Brooks and Sanuk footwear, along with Yeti cups, JanSport backpacks, and Shark vacuums, and led to the arrest of the business owner on suspicion of receiving stolen goods. Meanwhile, a major expansion is reshaping the U.S.-Mexico cross-border logistics landscape. Mansfield, Texas-based third-party logistics provider TA Services announced it has acquired two Texas trucking companies, adding 133 power units and a massive 550,000 square feet of warehousing to its growing cross-border network. The transaction expands TA Services' footprint in El Paso and Laredo—two critical gateways for freight moving between the U.S. and Mexico—and strengthens the company's ability to serve manufacturers in the expanding industrial corridor. Finally, we explore how Uber is making a colossal bet on high-value business deliveries as Uber Technologies agreed to acquire workplace catering platform ezCater for $2.3 billion in an all-cash transaction. The deal combines ezCater's corporate catering business with Uber Eats and Uber for Business, giving Uber access to a large pool of higher-value, scheduled deliveries with an average order value exceeding four hundred dollars. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 6 · 25 min
Moving Beyond the Load: Redefining TMS with Network-Centric Intelligence | Loaded and Rolling
Host Thomas Wasson sits down with Drew Farwell, Chief Operating Officer at Midwest Carriers, live from the Barkcast booth at Trimble Insight 2026. Drew breaks down the operational philosophy behind his whitepaper, "The Next Generation TMS: From Load-Centric to Network-Centric Intelligence," and why traditional transportation management systems fall short in today’s complex trucking landscape. In this episode, they discuss: The Load-Centric Fallacy: Why viewing freight as individual, isolated transactions misses the bigger picture of round-trip costing, equipment moves, and total network efficiency. Asset Utilization & Unused Capacity: Managing drop-and-hook operations, reefer pre-cooling costs, trailer pools, and non-revenue equipment moves. Capturing "Commitment Intelligence": How tracking lost opportunities and unawarded lanes from RFPs helps carriers price smarter and optimize network health. The "Madden Profile" for Fleet Operations: Leveraging AI and predictive modeling to build individual driver and asset profiles—evaluating performance, safety, and operational fit like stats in a video game. The Future of Human-AI Collaboration: Moving dispatchers away from manual data entry toward high-level network orchestration. ⁠Follow the Loaded and Rolling Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 6 · 1 hr 4 min
FreightWaves Today | October 6
The freight industry continues to digest C.H. Robinson's acquisition of RXO, described as the largest brokerage M&A transaction in history. Craig and Julie speak with Chris Wofford, founder and managing partner of Wofford Advisors, for a deeper look at the roughly $5.8 billion transaction, the importance of the $300 million in expected synergies, the challenges Robinson will face in delivering those savings, and what the deal could mean for competition, market consolidation and the next wave of M&A across freight and logistics. The episode also features an in-depth conversation with ImportGenius co-founder and CEO Michael Kanko about what shipment-level trade data reveals about the U.S. economy and the ongoing trade war. Kanko explains how ImportGenius tracks nearly 8 billion international shipment records, offering granular visibility into products, shippers, receivers and sourcing patterns. The discussion covers shifting import activity in China, Vietnam and Mexico, the gap between Chinese and U.S. trade data, compliance and enforcement applications, and the company's push for the Manifest Modernization Act to bring greater transparency to air cargo. The show also takes a closer look at freight capacity through a SONAR market update, challenging the idea that rising operating authorities necessarily mean more trucks are entering the market. Julie examines elevated tender rejections, relatively modest truckload volume growth, declining new-fleet tractor counts and the barriers keeping capacity from returning, including driver availability, insurance, litigation, regulation and diesel costs. The outlook points to a capacity-constrained market through early 2027 and potentially longer, with tractor counts, fleet miles and the gap between tender volumes and rejections emerging as key indicators to watch. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 6 · 1 hr
80,000 MORE DRIVERS? OR JUST 18 MINUTES? | Brake Check
For years, trucking has been told it has a driver shortage. But what if the bigger problem isn't how many drivers we have? What if we're wasting the ones already here? Research led by Dr. David Correll at MIT FreightLab found long-haul drivers averaged roughly 6.5 hours of actual driving in an available 11-hour driving window. When Correll compared utilization with the industry's then-claim of an 80,000-driver shortage, the math produced a wild alternative: Roughly 18 more productive minutes per existing driver per day could theoretically create comparable additional capacity, Not 18 more hours....18 MINUTES. So where the hell is the rest of the driver's day going? Detention, Appointment delays, Loading, Unloading, Congestion, Parking, And hours of a professional driver's life that somebody else controls. On this episode of Brake Check, we put the policy AND the data in the same show. OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh joins us fresh off TenFour D.C. on the National Mall to talk about what truckers actually told Washington, what FMCSA heard, broker transparency, detention, parking, diesel, bad actors, CDL enforcement and why OOIDA continues challenging the industry's driver-shortage narrative. Then Dr. David Correll of Telegraph, formerly with U.S. DOT and MIT FreightLab, brings the receipts. We ask him to revisit the famous 18-minute calculation for TODAY'S trucking market. Is it still 18 minutes? How much productive capacity are we wasting? How much money does detention really cost? Are railroads taking freight from trucks? And if Washington gets ONE chance to increase trucking capacity, should it put more people behind the wheel... OR GIVE THE DRIVERS ALREADY HERE THEIR DAMN TIME BACK? Because maybe trucking doesn't need another recruiting funnel. Maybe it needs to stop wasting the professionals already moving America. SOUND OFF: What's the most time you've lost at a shipper or receiver WITHOUT getting paid for it? And the bigger question: DRIVER SHORTAGE...OR DRIVER-TIME SHORTAGE #Trucking #DriverShortage #TruckDrivers #OwnerOperator #OOIDA #Detention #Freight #TruckingIndustry #FMCSA #BrakeCheck ⁠Follow the Brake Check Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 6 · 3 min
STG Logistics Names New CEO, FMCSA Doubles HOS Emergency Relief, & Class 8 Orders Jump 18% | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off by examining the major leadership changes at STG Logistics, where ⁠the intermodal marketing company has installed a new CEO following its massive financial restructuring⁠. Jack Holmes, a UPS veteran who previously led UPS Freight, takes the helm after the company slashed its funded debt by a staggering ninety percent through a pre-packaged Chapter 11 that reduced debt by nearly one billion dollars while securing one hundred fifty million in fresh capital. Over in Washington, truckers responding to regional disasters just received significant regulatory relief as ⁠FMCSA published a final rule doubling the automatic hours-of-service exemption period from fourteen days back to thirty days⁠. This change, which took effect immediately, reverses a 2023 policy that had shortened the emergency relief window and is expected to drastically reduce administrative burdens, cutting annual extension requests from approximately fifty down to twenty-five. Finally, we explore the heavy-duty truck market where ⁠Class 8 orders climbed eighteen percent in September as fleets navigate murky regulatory terrain heading into model year 2027⁠. While year-to-date orders have surged a massive ninety-five percent compared to last year, the market faces significant uncertainty over upcoming EPA nitrogen oxide emissions requirements, with nonconformance penalties potentially adding six to seven thousand dollars per truck versus eight to twelve thousand for fully compliant engines. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 5 · 1 hr 4 min
FreightWaves Today | October 5
The freight industry wakes up to a blockbuster deal as C.H. Robinson announces its acquisition of RXO in what the show describes as the largest transaction in freight brokerage history. Craig and Julie break down the roughly $5.8 billion deal, the $300 million in expected synergies, the strategic rationale behind the acquisition, and what the combination could mean for competition and further consolidation across the brokerage market. The episode also features an in-depth conversation with Estes President and COO Webb Estes, about the current freight market, including strong tonnage growth, available trucking capacity, regional freight trends, manufacturing, retail and grocery demand, and the outlook for the next phase of the freight cycle. The discussion explores Estes' emphasis on customer transparency, employee retention and service, along with the company's plans for a new Chattanooga-area cross-dock facility. Later, the show returns to the C.H. Robinson-RXO deal with John Kingston for a deeper look at Dave Bozeman's transformation of C.H. Robinson, the role of technology and AI, the companies' recent financial performance, and why the transaction could become a catalyst for additional M&A throughout the freight industry. The episode also includes a Highway Verified segment covering a major cocaine seizure at the Lewiston Bridge and a cargo theft involving a redirected shipment of glycerin, plus a preview of the upcoming F3: Future of Freight Festival in Chattanooga. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 5 · 50 min
Why C.H. Robinson Just Bought RXO (And What It Means for Freight Rates) | WHAT THE TRUCK?!?
In this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent kick off "Rocktober" with a action-packed Monday show covering key industry news, major market shifts, and an innovative sanitation solution for truck drivers. The duo reacts to breaking news regarding C.H. Robinson's acquisition of RXO, analyzing what the consolidation means for multimodal networks and carrier capacity. They also examine recent border freight fraud schemes in Mexico, Lego’s massive manufacturing investments in Monterey and Virginia, the latest BLS trucking employment data, and the widespread results of cross-border enforcement sweeps like Operation Saturday Night Fever. Additionally, the show highlights sponsor ⁠Truckstop.com⁠ and previews the upcoming Future of Freight Festival (F3) in Chattanooga. The featured segment features Mark Ryland, Founder and CEO of P Dispose, who shares how his 18 years as an over-the-road driver inspired him to solve the pervasive issue of discarded roadside urine bottles. Ryland outlines P Dispose's plan to create a discrete, eco-friendly infrastructure utilizing RFID-enabled reusable bottles and automated fluid-extraction stations near fuel islands. Coupled with a mobile app that rewards drivers with fuel points for proper disposal, Ryland explains how his team is partnering with engineering and environmental students across the University of Wisconsin system to develop prototypes ahead of a planned 2027 pilot launch. ⁠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 5 · 3 min
C.H. Robinson Acquires RXO, Truckload's Mixed Signals, & NMFTA Cybersecurity Portal | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off by examining a powerful new cybersecurity defense tool as the freight industry battles escalating digital threats. The National Motor Freight Traffic Association has launched ⁠a comprehensive threat reporting portal where companies can anonymously share attack data⁠ to help protect the entire sector. By pooling intelligence on hacker tactics and breach indicators, carriers and logistics providers can stop bad actors from simply recycling the same playbook across multiple targets. Next, we discuss a massive consolidation move reshaping the third-party logistics landscape as ⁠C.H. Robinson announced its acquisition of RXO in a major cash-and-stock transaction⁠. The deal values RXO shares at thirty dollars and twenty-five cents each and will significantly expand the country's largest 3PL by combining complementary brokerage, managed transportation, global forwarding, and last-mile capabilities into one diversified multi-modal powerhouse. Finally, we explore the genuinely puzzling dynamics unfolding in the truckload market where ⁠spot rates are climbing rapidly even as actual freight volumes decline⁠. The National Truckload Index has surged more than ten percent since late August and now sits fifty percent higher year-over-year, yet the accepted load volume index has fallen below its twelve-month average. Analysts point to sharply rising diesel costs as a key culprit, squeezing carrier cash flow as fuel expenses spike before revenue adjusts upward. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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