FreightCasts

Malcolm Harris is joined by two industry leaders for a jam-packed show. This episode is brought to you by Descartes MacroPoint, the industry’s best transportation visibility and risk monitoring platform. First, Malcolm speaks with Michael Hain, Director of Product Marketing at Descartes. They dive deep into the latest Descartes Transportation Management Benchmark Study. Hain reveals that a surprising 81% of respondents now see transportation as a competitive weapon and a key customer service differentiator. They discuss the gap between high AI adoption and low full-process automation (only 17%) , and how companies can leverage their existing tech stack to its fullest potential. Hain also explains how Descartes’ solutions like MyCarrierPortal and MacroPoint FraudGuard help companies combat the rising risk of cargo theft. Later, Tyler “T-Mont” Montgomery, Chief Commercial Officer at Scout Freight, joins the show. Montgomery shares his excitement for his new role and the vision for Scout Freight to be an agile, core truckload provider that doesn’t lose its entrepreneurial spirit. He speaks passionately about the importance of respecting carriers, a value instilled in him by his grandfather, who was also in the trucking industry. Montgomery also discusses the unique logistics ecosystem of “Freight Alley” here in Chattanooga and shares a “What The Truck” moment from his first week on the job involving a 15-foot-tall piece of freight. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Visit our sponsor⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Long Haul, Adam sits down with Marcus Cooksey, founder and CEO of ⁠Duke.AI⁠ — a tech platform that helps small carriers simplify bookkeeping, automate back-office operations, and stay in control of their numbers without hiring a full accounting team.We talk about the real barriers small trucking companies face when it comes to automation, why AI doesn’t have to mean “overcomplicated,” and how tools like ⁠Duke.AI⁠ are designed to meet you where you’re at — not replace you. If you’ve ever said, “I just want something that works,” this episode is your blueprint. ⁠Follow The Long Haul Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s daily update tackles extreme market volatility, starting with the unprecedented regulatory about-face by the California Air Resources Board. ⁠CARB has essentially wiped out the two biggest components of their Advanced Clean Fleets rule⁠, including the High Priority Fleets regulation covering fleets over 50 trucks and rules that were set to bar non-ZEV trucks from port operations. We analyze the looming threat of a federal shutdown,⁠ noting that while essential safety functions like FMCSA roadside inspections and CBP cargo inspections are expected to continue⁠, critical oversight functions will largely cease. Agencies like the Federal Maritime Commission and the Surface Transportation Board, which handles shipping disputes and vital transportation data, will suspend case processing, potentially ⁠leading to increased dwell times at major ports like LA-Long Beach⁠. Moving to efficiency gains, we examine how ⁠AI startup Oatway is tackling the “dirty secret of full truckload”⁠—partially filled trailers—by dynamically matching partial shipments with empty capacity on existing FTL run. This innovation optimizes existing infrastructure using machine learning and ELD data, potentially boosting net annual revenue for carriers by up to 30% while cutting shipper costs by up to 50% compared to traditional LTL. In corporate news, Interstate Personnel Services , the parent company of Paschall Truck Lines, is in⁠ formal talks to acquire J&R Sugar Trucking⁠, which would create a combined fleet of around 2,000 trucks and 5,000 trailers. This merger strategically adds temperature-controlled refrigerated transport capacity to IPS's existing dry van network, highlighting the current premium placed on reefer capacity. Finally, Texas has ⁠halted the issuance of Commercial Driver's Licenses to non-citizens⁠, including DACA recipients and refugees, following a federal directive aimed at tightening commercial licensing rules. Since 2015, Texas has issued almost 52,000 non-domiciled CDLs, and this regulatory move presents an immediate challenge for fleet staffing and recruitment efforts across the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BNSF Railway claims Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern combination will severely hurt competition and service. BNSF’s position paper argues that the $85 billion deal will force UP to drive up rates and favor high-density lanes, prompting the railway to urge shippers to contact the Surface Transportation Board with their concerns. Trade tensions are mounting in the trans-Pacific maritime sector as Beijing prepares a regulatory volley in response to U.S. charges on Chinese ships. China amended regulations to allow "necessary countermeasures," potentially including fees on vessels or prohibiting U.S.-service ships from entering or leaving Chinese ports, in retaliation for costly U.S. port fees. Finally, we look at the logistics impact of new U.S. duties on construction and home goods materials. The proclamation introduces a 10% tariff on imported softwood lumber and timber, and a 25% duty on imported kitchen cabinets, vanities, and upholstered wood furniture, all effective starting October 14. Critics caution that these tariffs, which the administration states are aimed at protecting the U.S. wood industry, will inevitably lead to higher costs for American consumers and builders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode Stefan Heck, CEO of Nauto joins us to talk about the technology and processes behind fleet vehicle safety technology and how artificial intelligence and machine learning are changing how fleets handle safety. ⁠Follow the Loaded and Rolling Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into the new partnership between the NMFTA and OOIDA. Our guest, Joe Ohr, COO AT NMFTA, breaks down their new training series and why cybersecurity is crucial for small to medium-sized carriers as well as enterprise-level carriers. For more information, subscribe to ⁠Check Call the newsletter⁠ or the podcast. ⁠Follow the Check Call Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Regulatory whiplash in California as the state effectively held a funeral for the two largest components of the Advanced Clean Fleet Rules, including mandates for high-priority fleets and drayage trucks. Despite the official withdrawal of these mandates by CARB, zero-emission vehicle sales are surprisingly growing in the state, suggesting market momentum is now driven by factors beyond regulatory pressure. The ongoing pricing standoff in the parcel sector, where UPS and FedEx are imposing significant peak season surcharges despite projections for muted demand growth, has heated up. Analysts warn that demanding these high fees in a soft market is short-sighted, leading to a major diversion of volume to alternative carriers like Amazon, Walmart, and independent services like OnTrac. Our brief concludes with the tectonic plates shifting in corporate freight strategy, starting with the massive $85 billion UP-NS merger that is already forcing competitors like CSX to seek its own merger partner after a CEO change. Meanwhile, ArcBest unveiled an ambitious plan to double its adjusted earnings per share by 2028 by targeting a highly optimized, asset-based operating ratio of 87% to 90% through technology and cost controls. Finally, we address the industry's perennial challenge of safety, noting that Wyoming currently tops the list for deadly truck crashes by death rate while Texas leads the nation in total fatalities by volume. These sobering statistics are fueling calls from victim advocates for mandatory safety technology, specifically demanding that all new commercial trucks be equipped with Automatic Emergency Braking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CSX Corp. announced a surprising leadership change, naming Steve Angel as president and CEO, effective last Sunday, succeeding Joe Hinrichs. The move follows activist investor calls for Hinrichs to step down as CSX’s metrics trailed other Class I carriers. California has officially gutted the two largest components of its Advanced Clean Fleets rule that would have impacted trucking in the state. This withdrawal was inevitable after the California Air Resources Board yanked its request for an EPA waiver in the face of the imminent Trump administration. New federal data ranks Wyoming as the deadliest state for truck crashes per capita, followed by New Mexico and Mississippi. You can read more about the findings, based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data which also noted that Texas ranked first for the overall total number of fatalities. Tune into FreightWaves TV later today for Check Call with Mary O’Connell and Loaded and Rolling with Thomas Watson. Also, remember that we are less than three weeks away from the Future of Freight Festival (F3) in Chattanooga, Tennessee, so register soon to save money off your ticket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Monday on What the Truck?!?, we're joined by Curtis Spencer, CEO of Bloodhound Tracking Device, a leading innovator in real-time asset tracking solutions for global supply chains. With over four decades of experience in logistics, ports, and intermodal shipping, Curtis shares his journey to launching a tech startup and the lessons he's learned along the way. We'll also cover the latest headlines in the freight world: SCOTUS takes up broker liability as new cases arise that could reshape risk for 3PLs. Cargo theft surges in Q3 along the U.S.-Mexico border as criminals adopt new tactics. A proposed 25% tariff on imported trucks by Trump could raise supply chain stakes. Truck drivers are demanding more money, not more hours. Flexport unveils a tech-driven duty drawback strategy for bigger refunds. Plus, Curtis Spencer discusses the intersection of industrial real estate and supply chain tech, what makes Bloodhound's device and platform different, and the future of tracking with AI, ESG reporting, and blockchain. And as a special What the Truck?!? tradition, we ask Curtis the wildest supply chain disaster story he's seen in his career and how today's tech could have saved it. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Visit our sponsor⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starting with high stakes legal risks surrounding broker liability, we explore the Supreme Court’s scheduled conference to discuss whether to grant certiorari on two landmark cases, Cox v. TQL and Montgomery v. Caribe II, which hinges on interpreting the safety exception in the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (F4A). We shift gears to financial risks, where dry van contract rates have remained stalled and fell only a marginal 0.3% year-over-year as of early September. This flat rate environment is extremely stressful because the average cost to operate a truck has increased 33% since 2019, compared to only a 17% rise in contract rates over the same period, leading to massive carrier attrition. Operational security is also paramount as cargo theft tactics are becoming incredibly sophisticated, with Mexico serving as the epicenter and accounting for 75% of all North American incidents in Q3. Furthermore, we analyze the surprise leadership shift at CSX, where the board named Steve Angel as the new president and CEO, following activist investor pressure over persistent underperformance metrics compared to other Class I carriers. Finally, we cover the ultimate labor battleground: the fight for driver hours and pay, as the FMCSA proposes pilot programs that could allow for up to 17-hour driving windows. Many drivers argue that the solution is not more hours but mandatory federally-mandated detention pay, suggesting compensation should kick in after just 30 minutes of waiting at docks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All eyes are on Washington today as the Supreme Court is scheduled to discuss whether to grant review in two critical broker liability cases under the F4A. The fundamental issue is whether the safety exception, which allows state action for negligence causing physical harm, extends to third-party logistics providers or brokers. The FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database modernization, part of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's broader Pro-Trucker Package, has officially gone live with Phase One. This long overdue tech upgrade is mobile-optimized and creates an official federal mechanism for reporting broker complaints, which can directly influence a company's safety ratings and audit priorities. The Surface Transportation Board is seeking more time to review the proposed $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern by Union Pacific. The board has proposed a procedural schedule that slightly tweaks the original timeline and grants the Justice Department and Department of Transportation an extra 15 days to file their official comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris is in Chattanooga breaking down the week’s biggest headlines and talking with industry titans. First, we dive into the FMCSA’s new emergency rule that immediately restricts the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs. Then, we cover President Trump’s new tariffs targeting heavy trucks and other goods, which could lead to higher costs for imported trucks and parts. Other topics include Volvo making side curtain airbags a standard feature on all new North American models and a CDL testing scam in Massachusetts. This episode features two incredible guests: Kevin Nolan:  Founder of Nolan Transportation Group (NTG) and the mastermind behind OTR Solutions, Marquee Insurance, PayHawk, and Sope Creek Capital. Kevin joins Malcolm in the studio to discuss everything from building a business and evolving with the industry to their shared love for Atlanta hip-hop. Kevin also gives a preview of the epic after-parties planned for the F3: Future of Freight Festival, including specialty cocktails, an 80s cover band, and live midget wrestling. Brandon Wiseman:  President of Truck Safe Consulting. Brandon provides an expert legal breakdown of the FMCSA’s emergency rule on non-domiciled CDLs. He clarifies that while there are an estimated 200,000 such CDL holders, the rule will likely impact a smaller percentage by narrowing eligibility criteria. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Visit our sponsor⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The biggest global shift is the cancellation of the de minimis rule, which previously offered a duty-free pass for low-value parcels but now adds huge friction by requiring formal customs entries. In response to this turbulence, companies like DHL are pouring millions into compliance, hiring over 880 new customs experts and investing heavily in AI and digital platforms to manage the rising complexity. The U.S. trucking market faces a capacity crisis marked by systemic overcapacity—a 54% surge in for-hire carriers since 2018 compared to only a 1.2% rise in freight volume. This environment has enabled dangerous "chameleon carriers" linked to hundreds of deaths, prompting the FMCSA to issue an emergency rule severely restricting non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs). Carriers must prepare for major cost inflation starting October 2025, when the U.S. is set to slap a new 25% import tariff on heavy-duty trucks, hitting an equipment market already reeling from low orders. Adding to regulatory uncertainty, the Department of Justice is seeking to dismiss California's lawsuit over Congress overturning key EPA waivers, even as Automated Manual Transmissions (AMTs) make driving easier but eliminate the traditional mechanical knowledge defining professional skill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Canadian government announced major reform for Canada Post including the end of most door-to-door delivery and reduced frequency, as part of a turnaround plan for the "insolvent" national carrier. This decision comes as the institution, suffering from an outdated business model and protracted labor disputes, is on track to lose US$1.1 billion this year alone, adding to US$3.6 billion in losses since 2018. Singapore’s Seatrium Ltd. has completed the sale of its Texas shipyard at the Port of Brownsville to Karpower Valley LLC for around $50 million. The 240-acre facility supports various offshore and marine engineering projects, and the buyer is an affiliate of Karpowership, the global operator of 50 floating power plants. The Port of San Diego has appointed Matthew Vesby as its new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), tapping into his more than 20 years of public sector experience, including 14 years with the City of San Diego. Vesby will oversee multiple key areas, including Commissioner Services, Human Resources, and IT departments, and is dedicated to supporting staff success.  Stay current on all the biggest trends in transportation and register now for the F3: Future of Freight Festival, happening October 21-22. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The freight economy has been depressed for the past three years. The broader economy has stumbled into stagnation in 2025, but the financial markets have largely ignored it. Zach and Thomas break down why. ⁠Follow the Freightonomics Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A "relentless" surge has happened in U.S-Mexico trade, which reached a staggering $840 billion in 2024 and jumped another 21% year-to-date in 2025. Companies like Echo Global Logistics are capitalizing on this growth, accelerating investment by opening a new office in Monterrey, Mexico, a key hub in the "golden triangle" of manufacturing. Nearshoring significantly enhances supply chain efficiency, cutting transit times from finished product to a U.S. door down to just 24 to 72 hours, far superior to the 14 to 20 days typically needed for freight coming from Asia. Shifting focus to the Pacific ports, we analyze the sharp, "truly historic decline" in U.S. container imports, projected to fall 15.7% for the remainder of 2025, driven by China tariffs and shipment front-loading. This soft volume is "absolutely hammering" the domestic trucking sector, leading to significant cuts in Q3 and Q4 earnings estimates for major asset-based truckload carriers like Schneider and Werner. Small carriers are feeling a "brutal" cash flow crisis, illustrated by the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of H5 Transport, which relied heavily on factoring to make weekly payroll. Union Pacific's proposed merger with Norfolk Southern is still on, aimed at achieving $1 billion in annual cost savings. We discuss why industry veterans caution that the secured lifetime job protection guarantees for the SMART-TD union might become a "ticket to misery" for employees forced into undesirable work or relocations. Ultimately, navigating the freight industry's future requires adapting to three massive disruptive forces: effectively integrating AI and FreightTech, managing geopolitical shifts and trade policies, and adjusting to changing workforce dynamics due to automation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the regulatory changes that led to a 30% drop in express volumes from China/Hong Kong, DHL surges customs agent hiring as new tariffs confuse importers. Despite sourcing diversification driving double-digit growth from countries like Vietnam and Mexico, DHL Express is forecasting an unusually muted peak season lift of just 20% to 25%, down significantly from the typical 40% to 50% jump. Domestically, we dive into the contentious legal battle over California’s Advanced Clean Trucks Rule (ACT) as the Federal goverment fires back in court over California waiver cancellation. Owner-operators, who face astronomical repair costs like $21,000 for emissions equipment on a $30,000 truck, argue that these standards dramatically drive up operating expenses, leading major associations to back regulatory rollbacks, as noted in Truckers back Trump’s emissions rollback at EPA. The soft freight market highlights the intense need for financial agility, illustrated by a recent small carrier filing for Chapter 11, where their lawyer stressed that the cash needed for operations “doesn’t generate itself”. This scenario emphasizes why the reliance on factoring services is now a critical lifeline for many smaller outfits struggling in the current economic environment, as detailed in Small carrier’s bankruptcy spells out need for factoring. We examine how the annual corn harvest creates a short but lucrative peak season for Midwestern carriers, relying heavily on the FMCSA agricultural commodity exemption to maximize hours and earnings, as explored in How the corn harvest season changes freight networks across the Midwest. Finally, we analyze the structural shifts impacting the rails following the Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern proposed merger, where a union job guarantee meant to secure support is being widely warned against by former executives, as heard in Rail merger: Lifetime job is great “until you are stuck in it”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. government has filed its arguments in the lawsuit concerning California’s claim that Congress was out of line when it yanked EPA waivers allowing policies like the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, a topic covered in Federal goverment fires back in court over California waiver cancellation. Susquehanna Financial Group has significantly cut earnings estimates for asset-based truckload carriers, reflecting soft spot rates, tender rejections, and a muted outlook for peak season. As reported in Truckload earnings estimates cut heading into Q3 reports, the cuts ahead of the third-quarter earnings season ranged from mid-single to low double-digit percentages for carriers including Schneider National and Werner Enterprises. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is recommending that trucks over 10,000 lbs. be equipped with driver monitoring systems, following a report on a 2023 fatal crash linked to trucker inattention. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy asserted in NTSB to Feds: Require truck-driver monitoring that stronger vehicle safety standards and preventative technologies could have prevented this chain-reaction collision. Tune in later today to FreightWaves TV for an episode of The Long Haul with Adam Wingfield. Remember that you can still take advantage of a $500 deal for general admission to the F3: Future of Freight Festival, which is less than a month away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the constant tension between brokers and carriers just bad communication, or is it a sign of a deeper issue? In this powerful episode of The Long Haul, host Adam Wingfield sits down with Annique Lesage, the freight-savvy broker and coach known for her direct, no-fluff truth bombs on TikTok. Annique shares her incredible journey from handling customs to becoming a successful broker, and opens up about how the industry became her lifeline while escaping an abusive marriage. This isn't your typical broker vs. carrier debate. Annique provides a masterclass in shifting from a transactional, load-by-load mindset to building lasting, profitable partnerships. She breaks down why there’s no such thing as "cheap freight," only bad negotiators, and challenges carriers to operate as strategic business owners rather than just drivers. If you’ve ever felt burned by a broker or struggled to make the industry work for you, this is a conversation you can't afford to miss. ⁠Follow The Long Haul Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thomas Wasson sits down with Jim Connelly, Chief Revenue Officer of Bollinger Motors, to explore the company’s recent rebrand following its consolidation with Mullen Automotive. They discuss Bollinger’s pivot into the medium-duty EV market, the role of incentives like California’s HVIP in fleet adoption, and the challenges of scaling infrastructure. Connelly also shares insights into Bollinger’s upcoming B5 and B6 models, the move to a new production facility in Mississippi, and how startups can compete with legacy OEMs in the rapidly evolving commercial EV space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices