In this episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott Luton and Tandreia Bellamy welcome Bobby Holland of U.S. Bank and Dr. Jason Miller of Michigan State University for a data-packed discussion on what’s really happening in the U.S. freight market—and what it signals for supply chain professionals moving into Q2 and beyond.

They explore the Q1 2025 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index, revealing surprising drops in shipment volume, regional disparities, and the ongoing impact of unpredictable weather. Jason and Bobby break down trends in key sectors like manufacturing, retail, and automotive, while Tandreia shares how shifts in freight data should inform cross-functional planning across finance, logistics, and operations.

From capacity crunch risks and rising costs to resilient regions and unexpected market drivers, this discussion offers actionable insights for anyone navigating today’s freight economy. The panel also looks ahead at what to watch in Q2—from new tariffs and raw material price spikes to changing consumer demand and the importance of regional signals.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(00:52) What the Freight Payment Index reveals

(03:09) Meet the guests: Bobby Holland and Dr. Jason Miller

(07:17) National freight trends and shipment volume drops

(12:56) Weather, retail slowdowns, and sector variability

(13:34) Q1 2025 regional breakdown begins

(18:03) West region: port activity, wildfires, and aerospace recovery

(21:29) Southwest region: historic shipment decline and high costs

(25:46) Midwest region: housing, auto, and weather impact

(29:02) Northeast region: retail growth and import uptick

(32:47) Southeast region: flat manufacturing and tourism concerns

(36:08) What to watch in Q2: Fed data, tariffs, and vehicle sales

(40:21) Holiday toy season predictions and trade timing

(43:13) How to access the Freight Payment Index and connect with guests

Additional Links & Resources:

• Download the full Q1 2025 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index: https://freight.usbank.com
• Connect with Bobby Holland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-holland-4a9355/
• Connect with Dr. Jason Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-miller-32110325/
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com 
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now  
• Subscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/join  
• Work with us! Download Supply Chain Now’s NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVk
• WEBINAR- Supply Chain Orchestration with SAP: https://bit.ly/4jFJn9q

This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Tandreia Bellamy and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/analysis-us-bank-2025-q1-freight-payment-index-1434