Talking Transports

Second-quarter earnings reports could show that the worst is behind freight transportation and logistics companies that may see muted progress heading into 2H. In this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s Talking Transports podcast, Evercore ISI’s senior managing director and surface and marine transportation equity analyst Jon Chappell joins Lee Klaskow, BI senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his thoughts on what investors could expect from quarterly reports and for the rest of the year. Market disruptions like the Red Sea crisis and failure of Yellow have benefited tanker and less-than-truckload companies, which has added to his positive pricing thesis. He also talks about growth prospects for intermodal, nearshoring and some of his favorite names in his coverage universe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryder System has its sights on a new long-term return-on-equity target in the low-20% range, up from its previously obtained goal in the high teens. Improved returns will be driven by high-single-digit revenue growth coupled with productivity gains. Ryder has plenty of runway for organic growth, given the outsourcing opportunities in the markets it serves. In this Talking Transports podcast, Robert Sanchez, Ryder System’s chairman and CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to discuss some of the key takeaways from its recent investor day and how technology investments are optimizing transportation networks and providing better client interactions. Sanchez also talks about the company’s sustainability initiatives, autonomous trucking and some recent acquisitions. He shares how he got into transportation, Miami Hurricanes football and one of his favorite founding fathers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 The supply-chain dislocations created by the pandemic thrusted logistics into everyday news and conversations. This increased visibility has attracted more students to supply-chain and logistics programs at universities across the country. In this Talking Transports podcast, Terry Esper, Ph.D. and full professor at the The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior transportation & logistics analyst, to discuss the trends facing the freight markets in and outside the classroom. Dr. Esper also talks about artificial intelligence and other technology-driven productivity tools, decarbonization and his love for bourbon, football and Detroit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Schneider National appears well positioned once the current trough in the freight cycle gives way to growth. There’s a lot of uncertainty over timing for when rates will inflect positively, but there are some encouraging signs. In this Talking Transports podcast, Mark Rourke, Schneider National’s president and CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights into the truckload, intermodal and brokerage markets. Rourke also talks about the company’s sustainability initiatives, the driver market, cross-border opportunities, regulations, rail service and life as a “cheesehead.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Visibility and flexibility are becoming increasingly important for supply chains for both shippers and capacity providers. The growth in machine learning and artificial intelligence is helping to optimize shipments and rates as well as take out costs and increase productivity at freight forwarders. In this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s Talking Transports podcast, Ryan Petersen, Flexport’s CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, BI’s senior transportation & logistics analyst, to discuss the company Petersen founded in 2013 and its role in the technology revolution changing the freight-transportation and logistics markets. Petersen talks about the state of the ocean and air-freight markets, recent acquisitions into adjacent businesses and how Flexport was born out of the frustrations he faced as an importer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crude and product tanker operators look well positioned given the positive rate backdrop created by increased consumption and low orderbook, dislocations from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Red Sea, which have soaked up additional capacity from longer voyages. In this Talking Transports podcast, Lois Zabrocky, International Seaways president and CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share her insights into the tanker markets. Zabrocky also talks about how Seaways is navigating new emission regulators facing the global shipping industry. In addition, she discusses Seaways’ fleet, demand trends, the company’s use of cash and leaving Iowa for a career on the high seas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shippers with time-sensitive, perishable or high-value freight look to expedited transportation markets to ensure on-time delivery of critical shipments. In this Talking Transports podcast, Nicole Glenn, Candor Expedite’s founder and CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share her insights into this growing and often overlooked part of the freight market. She also talks about the growth in recurring business and Candor’s new food-chain division, which uses reusable cold packaging and provides constant temperature monitoring. Glenn also shares the challenges she faces as an entrepreneur, what motivates her to expand the businesses and how a chance meeting changed her career trajectory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first quarter may have marked the bottom for freight markets, even as the outlook remains mixed with a high degree of uncertainty. In this Talking Transports podcast, Ravi Shanker, Morgan Stanley’s managing director and lead analyst for North American freight transportation and airlines, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his takeaways from 1Q earnings and his longer-term outlook. Shanker expects the truckload market cycle will turn on increased demand over an acceleration of supply leaving the market as inventories are restocked. He also talks about precision-scheduled railroading, focusing beyond operating ratio for railroads, parcel markets, airlines service, less-than-truckload valuation and how a quote in Car and Driver magazine changed his life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New and pending shipping regulations are increasing the complexity and costs to operate in the dry-bulk market, resulting in higher barriers to entry. This could drive market consolidation as carriers look to build scale. In this Talking Transports podcast, Cetus Maritime Chief Operating Officer Olivia Lennox-King joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to talk about the state of the dry-bulk and handysize markets. Increased ton-miles from market dislocation, like those in the Red Sea, coupled with a low order book, should bode well for Handy-size rates this year. Lennox-King also talks about how the sector will most likely look to meet global standards to reach net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A more competitive bid season, an irrational spot market and severe January weather took a toll on truckers this year. More capacity will need to exit the market before freight rates and earnings can inflect positively for truckload carriers. In this Talking Transports podcast, American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) Chief Economist and Senior Vice President Bob Costello joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to talk about the state of the truckload and less-than-truckload segments and what lies down the road for the trucking industry. The market has become more volatile, and a turnaround will likely happen quicker than in previous cycles, Costello says. He also talks about autonomous trucking, electric trucks, new emission standards and driver availability.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Assessing and mitigating geopolitical risks is becoming more important for supply chains. In this Talking Transports podcast, Eurasia Group’s president and founder Ian Bremmer joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his perspective on the threat of an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran as well as hot spots around the world that have an impact on global trade. Increased tensions between China and its neighbors in the South China Sea could have ripple effects on trade and may be more of a peril for regional stability than a conflict with Taiwan. Bremmer also talks about artificial intelligence, the rise of populism, social media’s impact on the political process and what a change in the administration in the US might mean for businesses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s plenty to unpack this year from road, rail, ocean and air freight markets as the 1Q earnings season kicks off with J.B. Hunt on April 16. In this Talking Transports podcast, Barclays’ director of airline and transportation research Brandon Oglenski joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation & logistics analyst, to share his thoughts about the quarter and his longer-term outlook. With changes underway at Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, Oglenski says this will be the year of the railroad. He also talks about precision schedule railroading, less-than-truckload prospects, the US Postal Service’s shift toward UPS and all of the freight that’s piling up in the West Coast ports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supply chain dislocations, low orderbook and low-single-digit demand growth for oil bodes well for crude tanker rates over the coming years. In this Talking Transports podcast, DHT Holdings President and CEO Svein Moxnes Harfjeld joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation & logistics analyst, to discuss the outlook for the very large crude carrier (VLCC) tanker market. The changes in freight flows from Russia’s war with Ukraine has had a bigger impact on rates then the crisis in Red Sea, as VLCC ships don’t traverse the Suez Canal when fully loaded. Moxnes Harfjeld also talks about DHT’s approach to lowering emissions, the shadow fleet, changes in global crude demand and life before shipping as a drummer in the band Small Affairs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Better service and reduced rate volatility are just some of the benefits to becoming a shipper of choice. In this Talking Transports podcast, John Janson SanMar’s Vice President of global logistics, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation & logistics analyst, to discuss how relationships with trucking, intermodal, parcel and ocean partners are critical for managing his supply chain. SanMar has moved some imports away from the East Coast to avoid potential disruption due to pending labor negotiations. Janson also talks about bid season across modes of transportation, railroad service, inventory destocking, sustainability, near-shoring trends and how he pushed his dream of being a placekicker for the Chicago Bears aside for a career in logistics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shippers are increasingly looking for freight forwarders to drive more-resilient networks, which are under strain from risks in the Red Sea, low water levels in the Panama Canal, port labor negotiations and a trend toward derisking supply chains. In this Talking Transports podcast, DHL Forwarding’s CEO of the Americas Tim Robertson joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to discuss how DHL is positioning in a rapidly changing environment. A focus on high-growth segments like health care and small- to medium-sized shippers should fuel organic expansion at one of the largest forwarders. Robertson also talks about technology-fueled productivity investments, market consolidation, near-shoring trends and how a chance meeting got him into logistics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A focus on value-added verticals, like life sciences and over-dimensional markets, has helped mitigate the weak freight backdrop for some North American freight brokers. In this Talking Transports podcast, Tucker Company Worldwide CEO Jeff Tucker joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to discuss the broker’s more resilient business model and how the company may be positioned for growth when the freight cycle turns. Trucking conditions could improve as the market appears to be at equilibrium, with more capacity slowly leaving the market and demand growth likely around the corner. Tucker also talks about technology, the bid season, sustainability and the importance of therapy and communication when running a privately held business with his brother.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The exit of Yellow Corp. from the less-than-truckload (LTL) market last summer helped mitigate weak freight demand and provided a tailwind for pricing. In this Talking Transports podcast, Old Dominion Freight Line’s CFO Adam Satterfield joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior freight transportation & logistics analyst, to discuss the outlook for LTL markets and how the company is positioned to take on more freight demand when it starts to inflect upward. The company’s industry-leading service levels — measured by low cargo claims and high on-time deliveries — has allowed it to drive rates higher. Tonnage growth should come at high incremental margin and could drive a sub-70 operating ratio over time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transport management teams appear cautiously optimistic that freight demand will bounce off the current state of malaise. In this Talking Transports podcast, Citi Research Managing Director and lead equity analyst of air freight, surface and marine transportation Christian Wetherbee joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation & logistics analyst, to discuss his takeaways from Citi’s industrial conference in Miami last week. J.B. Hunt’s management noted increased competition early on during its intermodal bid season. Norfolk Southern’s presentation left the audience wanting more details about how its strategy is better than the one proposed by activist Ancora. Wetherbee also talks about how the trucking, railroad, ocean and parcel markets are shaping up heading into March.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The crisis in the Red Sea, low water levels in the Panama Canal and other supply-chain dislocations have increased the importance of enabling shippers to know where their freight is. That helps ensure customers’ needs are met and production shutdowns avoided. In this Talking Transports podcast, Project44’s founder and CEO Jett McCandless joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation & logistics analyst, to discuss the importance of supply-chain visibility and how the company is leading the digitalization of freight markets. McCandless also talks about acquisitions, investing for growth and leveraging its datasets with AI to empower customers, as well as the company’s journey toward going public and getting an enterprise value of over $100 billion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The low orderbook, demand growth and longer ton-miles created by supply-chain disruptions bode well for the health of the dry-bulk industry. In this Talking Transports podcast, Seanergy Maritime Holdings Chairman and CEO Stamatis Tsantanis joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation & logistics analyst, to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the global dry-bulk shipping market. A prolonged crisis in the Red Sea could drive Capesize rates and profit higher for owners in the coming months. One of the biggest challenges will be the industry’s ability to meet the International Maritime Organization’s goals for zero emissions by 2050 through a transition toward greener fuels, he says. Tsantanis also talks about the impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine and China’s demand for raw materials.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.