FreightCasts

In this episode, we dive into why food and beverage freight is the top target for cargo theft and how to handle it. Our guest, Scott Cornell, Travelers’ Vice President of Transportation breaks down how thieves can move freight through the the supply chain without getting caught. For more information subscribe to ⁠Running on Ice the newsletter⁠ or podcast.

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Welcome to FreightWaves Editorial, your deep dive into the best articles we have to offer on freightwaves.com. Today, we're unpacking the latest financial results and strategic maneuvers from shipping giant FedEx (NYSE: FDX). After a quarter marked by ongoing network transformation and a dynamic global trade environment, what do the numbers tell us about FedEx's current health, and what are their long-term plans to stay competitive and profitable?

⁠FedEx retires a dozen freighter aircraft in efficiency move⁠

⁠FedEx navigates tariff swings to modest profit gain⁠

⁠FedEx fills out Freight executive team ahead of spin off⁠

⁠FedEx to close 30% of package facilities as network integration ramps up⁠

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FedEx's strategic Network 2.0 consolidation program, aims to close 30% of its U.S. package distribution facilities within two years. This initiative is already contributing significant savings, with $200 million expected this quarter, and involves integrating legacy Express and Ground networks to achieve greater efficiency and eliminate $2 billion in annual costs. 

The broadcast also details Maersk's decision to reopen service at Israel's largest port, Port of Haifa, after a brief suspension due to heightened tensions and missile attacks from Iran. The carrier is closely monitoring the situation, including the navigability of the critical Strait of Hormuz, following reports of a ceasefire. 

Additionally, Air Hong Kong, a freighter subsidiary of Cathay Pacific Airways and a DHL Express capacity provider, has completed a seven-year transition from an Airbus A300-600 fleet to an all-A330 freighter fleet. The new A330s are larger and newer than the retired A300-600s, offering 25% more payload and an extended range for new destinations such as Bahrain and Sydney. 

Finally, don't miss upcoming FreightWaves events, including a What the Truck?!? episode featuring Transportation Secretary Shawn Duffy, and major summits like the Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd, and the Supply Chain AI Symposium on July 30th in Washington D.C.. Register for these and get your F3 tickets by visiting live.freightwaves.com.

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Saia obtained court approval to purchase three terminals⁠ from Yellow's bankruptcy in New York, California, and Florida. These assets, priced at $8.5 million, further Saia's aggressive terminal growth strategy, which has seen 21 new terminals opened in the last year as of their first quarter 2024 earnings call.

⁠DHL Express Canada has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract⁠ with its striking Unifor Union workers after nearly two weeks of halted operations. Unifor, which represents over 2,100 DHL Express truck and van drivers, warehouse pickers, and other Canadian workers, will not disclose deal details until finalized, with a ratification meeting set for the coming days.

⁠Estes Forwarding Worldwide (EFW) was the victim of a cyberattack⁠ earlier this week. Despite the attack, the company confirmed there was no significant disruption to its business, and its parent company, Estes Express Lines, which was previously targeted in 2023, was unaffected and provided recovery support.

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This week on The Long Haul, Adam sits down with Carlos Otero, CEO of efRouting—a platform using real data to help small carriers stop bleeding money on poor load choices. Carlos blends academic freight research with family trucking roots to explain why chasing high-rate loads isn’t always profitable, how routing is costing carriers more than they think, and what a smarter, multi-day planning strategy really looks like. If you’ve ever booked a great-paying load and still lost money, this one’s for you.

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Welcome to a special episode of Truck Tech where Thomas Wasson dives deep into the world of commercial vehicle batteries with Mabel Feng, Director of Product Management at Proterra.

Ever wondered what really goes into powering heavy-duty electric trucks and buses? Mabel breaks down the complex science and engineering behind these crucial components. We discuss:

Whether you're a fleet manager, an industry enthusiast, or just curious about the future of transportation, this episode offers invaluable insights into the heart of electric commercial vehicles.

#TruckTech #Proterra #EVBatteries #CommercialEV #BatteryTechnology #ElectricTrucks #ElectricBuses #FleetElectrification #HeavyDutyEV #BatteryScience #ChargingInfrastructure #MegawattCharging #InductiveCharging #CleanTransportation #SustainableFleets #ACTExpo #FutureOfTrucking #ZeroEmission #EVAdoption #TruckingIndustry

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On episode 854 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is joined by FreightWaves’ CEO and Founder, Craig Fuller. English language proficiency enforcement begins today. How will it impact carriers, shippers, brokers, and the truckload market? Fuller breaks it down.

We’ll also explore:

-The freight market in the first half of 2025

-Global turmoil and its effects on supply chains

-Key market trends and insights from SONAR’s Trade War Command Center

-Freight industry feuds

-Updates on the Motion Museum, this year’s F3, and more

FreightWaves’ John Paul Hampstead talks about his call that truckload markets could be in for a red hot 4th of July. 

Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 6 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146.

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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is intensifying enforcement of English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards as of June 25, 2025, which could lead to the immediate grounding of truck drivers who do not meet Department of Transportation requirements. This move is expected to shrink the pool of qualified drivers, creating capacity constraints, increasing tender rejections, and driving national truckload rates higher, with the National Truckload Index currently at $2.27 per mile. 

In other news, Relay Payments is expanding its services beyond fuel payments into repair and maintenance, announcing partnerships with Southern Tire Mart at Pilot, Boss Truck Shops, and AMBEST Service Centers, collectively offering over 235 locations. This initiative aims to streamline payment processes for carriers and improve workflows for merchants by utilizing digital RelayCodes, allowing fleets to consolidate all over-the-road expenses on a single platform. 

Turning our eyes skyward, FedEx has retired a dozen freighter aircraft, including Airbus A300s, MD-11s, and Boeing 757-200s, as part of an effort to streamline its air network and modernize its fleet, taking a $21 million impairment charge. While flying less domestically after its USPS contract ended, FedEx is focusing on efficient widebody freighters and plans further acquisitions of Boeing 777s and ATR 72-600 turboprops to meet strong international parcel demand and boost efficiency. 

On the ground in the food sector, a wave of layoffs and closures is hitting major food retailers, distributors, and producers across the U.S., with over 1,500 job cuts announced since early May. Companies affected include United Natural Foods Inc., which is closing a distribution center in Pennsylvania and cutting 716 jobs; Albertsons, which laid off 275 corporate employees and plans to close a grocery store in Portland, Oregon; and Amazon Fresh, which shuttered a grocery location near Seattle with 125 job losses. 

In the maritime realm, Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Louis Sola announced he is stepping down as his carryover term expires this month, having served since 2018 as a Trump appointee. Sola played a key role in safeguarding the U.S. maritime industry, bringing greater transparency to port operations, and overseeing a supply chain that moves more than $5 trillion in goods annually, including leading an investigation that resulted in the de-flagging of 140 sanctioned vessels. 

The Ports of Indiana are partnering with Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) to restart operations at the Burns Harbor grain terminal on Lake Michigan, a crucial asset for Midwest grain exports since its opening in 1979. LDC, one of the world's "big four" global agri-commodities companies, plans to begin operating the terminal in early 2026, aiming to boost grain exports and provide vital market access for regional farmers.

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