FreightCasts

Tune into this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute for crucial updates impacting the freight industry, including the recent doubling of tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. These duties now stand at 50%, effective Wednesday, aiming to bolster domestic metals manufacturing and shield American steel worker jobs. This move has prompted Canada to negotiate for tariff removal, while Mexico has denounced the hike as a violation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

We also delve into the latest from LTL carrier XPO, which reported a modest 5.7% year-over-year decline in tonnage for May. This decline aligns with previous guidance and typical seasonality, as the industry continues to await an uptick in demand. The company's monthly declines show an improvement compared to the first quarter. 

Additionally, the episode covers Descartes' significant announcement of a 7% workforce reduction, impacting approximately 200 jobs. This action is an expansion of an earlier restructuring plan, designed to manage the uncertainties facing the freight industry due to changing trade policies and volatile economic forecasts. Despite these challenges, Descartes reported a 12% year-over-year increase in revenue, although it fell short of wider market estimates for earnings per share. 

Finally, we highlight upcoming FreightWaves TV events, including episodes of Freightonomics and The Long Haul. Mark your calendars for the Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd and the Supply Chain AI Symposium on July 30th in Washington D.C., and be sure to register at live.freightwaves.com.

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Get ready for an in-depth look at the cutting edge of logistics with Thomas Wasson from ACT Expo! This episode of Truck Tech features a dual dive into the future of fleet operations.

First, we sit down with Daniel Hilson, CEO and Founder of BetterFleet, to discuss how their innovative software is helping municipalities like the Metropolitan Water District strategically electrify their fleets.

Learn about:1. The “digital twin” technology optimizing routes and vehicle utilization.2. Phased approaches to EV adoption for cost-effectiveness.3. Global trends in clean fleet mandates and what sets California apart.4. The critical importance of data in making smart electrification decisions.

Then, we jump into the yard with Kalmar and Product Manager Ryan Sipple to unveil their groundbreaking autonomous electric terminal tractor, the Ottawa Auto-PT!

Discover:1. How Kalmar Ottawa partnered with Forterra for the advanced autonomous drive software.2. The robust sensor suite and redundancy features enabling “driver-out” operations in pilots.3. The unique challenges and solutions for autonomous backing in a busy yard environment.4. The evolution of Kalmar’s EV terminal tractor, now in its third generation, offering up to 20 hours of operation with opportunity charging.5. Insights into future developments like inductive charging and optimized powertrain configurations.

This video is packed with essential information for anyone in fleet management, logistics, or interested in the future of sustainable and autonomous transportation!

#TruckTech #ACTExpo #EVTrucks #AutonomousVehicles #TerminalTractor #YardDog #FleetElectrification #BetterFleet #KalmarOttawa #Forterra #CleanLogistics #SustainableTransportation #ElectricTrucks #FutureOfFreight #SupplyChainInnovation #DigitalTwin #SmartFleet #GreenTech #AutonomousDriving #FreightTech #ElectricTerminalTractor#trucking #logistics #news

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On Episode 845 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking to Pallet CEO and founder Sushanth Raman about the company’s recent $27 million series B funding round. We’ll find out the latest on AI workforces for 3PLs, what problems it may solve and whether broker jobs are at risk. 

We head north of the border with Left Lane Associates Mike “Ace” McCarron to find out the good, bad and ugly of Canadian trucking. We’ll learn about U.S.-Canada tensions, tariff impacts on cross-border, crime in Canadian trucking and more. 

Operation Spiderweb puts trucks on the front line as one was recently used to launch a daring attack on Russia’s bomber fleet. Will trucks become a target? 

ICE sets its sights on trucking. With reports of agents hitting shipping facilities and a massive bust in Texas, the industry is on notice. 

Tesla Semi claims it has an 800-mile bobtail range. WattEV unveils its Tesla Semi and says it can fully charge the truck in 30 minutes or less.

Chapters

0:59 WWE Knoxville 

4:08 Operation Spiderweb: Trucks on the frontline

7:54 ICE sets sights on trucking

11:22 Tesla Semi: Bobtail beast

13:20 Pallet raises $27M series B | Sushanth Raman

16:16 AI workforce | Sushanth Raman 

29:39 Who is at fault: Car or truck?

32:23 Good, bad, and ugly of Canadian trucking | Mike “Ace” McCarron

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 (FMCSA) has revealed plans to cut its workforce by approximately 7%⁠, eliminating 89 full-time and part-time positions primarily at its headquarters, while simultaneously requesting a slight increase in funding, bringing its total budget to over $1 billion for the next fiscal year. 

The ⁠DOE benchmark diesel price has fallen to a milestone low⁠, reaching its lowest point since September 2021, with the average weekly retail price now at $3.45 a gallon, marking a decline over seven of the past eight weeks. Despite this trend, futures prices moved up even after news that OPEC Plus would increase output, indicating a continued unwinding of their 2023 production cuts. 

Furthermore, the ⁠labor dispute involving Canada Post continues to intensify⁠ after the state-owned corporation rejected a proposal for binding arbitration from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). This rejection prolongs uncertainty following the union's refusal to work overtime since May 23rd, which has already caused delivery slowdowns and a significant drop in Canada Post's parcel volumes, pushing e-commerce retailers to alternative carriers. 

Looking ahead, FreightWaves is hosting several key events, including the ⁠Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd⁠. Additionally, the ⁠Supply Chain AI Symposium is scheduled for July 30th⁠ in Washington D.C., with opportunities for interested speakers.

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In today’s episode, Tom Larson, senior vice president of sales at ITS Logistics joins us to talk about drop trailers, power only, freight fraud and catching up on market trends.

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In this episode, we dive into how weather can impact the supply chain. Our guest, Renny Vandewege, General Manager, Weather & Climate Intelligence at DTN breaks down how to include weather forecasting and planning in supply chains. For more information subscribe to ⁠Check Call the newsletter⁠ or the podcast.

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A significant drug trafficking seizure at the Port of Long Beach, where authorities intercepted 55 tons of dicumyl peroxide, a chemical used in methamphetamine production. This shipment, which originated in China and was destined for the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico, was confiscated as part of an ICE initiative launched in 2019 to target suspicious chemical precursor shipments. 

The podcast also provides an update on Yellow Corp.'s asset liquidation process, noting the company has filed a motion in federal bankruptcy court to sell four of its terminals valued at $6.8 million. This action represents a further step toward winding down operations, with mostly non-logistics buyers showing interest in these property assets. 

Additionally, the Trump administration's announcement of $5.4 billion available for major bridge projects across the United States is covered, including $4.9 billion for the Bridge Investment Program and an additional $500 million dedicated to rural bridge repairs. A key highlight of this program is the removal of previous Biden-era approval requirements related to climate change and environmental justice considerations, aiming to streamline the process for state and local governments involved in these critical infrastructure projects. 

Finally, the episode reminds listeners about upcoming FreightWaves virtual events, including the Enterprise Summit on July 23rd and the Supply Chain AI Symposium coming up quickly on July 30th in Washington D.C.. Registration for these events can be completed by visiting live.frightwaves.com.

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President Trump has announced a doubling of tariffs on imported steel from 25% to 50% to protect domestic jobs and strengthen the industry. This move follows a previous tariff announcement and aims to ensure America's future is built with U.S.-produced steel rather than "shoddy steel from Shanghai". You can read more about the tariff increase here.

We also discuss the ongoing labor dispute involving Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). Canada Post has requested government intervention to hold a vote among unionized employees on its latest contract offer, highlighting the impasse in negotiations over wages and structural changes. The situation is a continuation of a conflict that included a nearly five-week strike last year. For more details on the Canada Post situation, see the article here.

Additionally, we highlight executive changes and potential IPO plans at the autonomous freight technology company Einride. Founder Robert Falck is transitioning from CEO to executive chairman, while CFO Roozbeh Charll is taking over the CEO role with an eye toward a potential IPO in the U.S.. This leadership pivot is intended to capitalize on a favorable regulatory environment for autonomous vehicles and support future expansion and investment opportunities. Learn more about the changes at Einride by reading the article here.

The episode also announced upcoming FreightWaves virtual events: the Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd and the Supply Chain AI Symposium on July 30th in Washington D.C.. Information and registration for these events can be found at live.freightwaves.com. Please note that details about these specific event announcements are derived solely from the audio file and not from the provided article sources.

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On episode 844 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is catching up with SearchCarrier’s Garrett Allen. His new site allows you to easily look up any carrier and see how often it’s been put out of service, inspected and more. We’re also diving into his blitz week dashboard to break down this year’s top violations.

Konexial’s Jerry D’Addesi on the latest in AI load matching, double broker prevention and edge computing.

Is the FMCSA starting to take freight fraud more seriously? After FMCSA’s identity verification became mandatory in April 2025, published authority counts dropped by over 50%. We’ll take a look at the numbers. 

And in headlines: tariffs on, tariffs off; fast food restaurants vs fleet sizes; excessive LEGO sets and more. 

Chapters

3:04 New authority approvals down 50%

5:19 Tariffs on, tariffs off, tariffs on

8:16 Fleet sizes vs. fast food restaurant locations

10:52 Konexial | Jerry D’Addesi

16:54 FreightTech innovations | Jerry D’Addesi

20:15 Too much LEGO

22:40 SearchCarriers | Garrett Allen

27:41 Blitz week breakdown | Garrett Allen

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