FreightCasts

Welcome back to #WithSONAR!

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In this episode, we kick things off by examining a massive milestone for North American cross-border commerce as ⁠Mexico remained the United States' largest overall trading partner in May⁠, recording $87.23 billion in two-way trade. Trade between the U.S. and Mexico surged 17.06% year-over-year, fueled by $33.05 billion in U.S. exports and $54.18 billion in imports, with the port of entry in Laredo, Texas, remaining the nation's busiest international trade gateway.

Next, we shift over to the air cargo sector where United Airlines is riding a massive wave of disruption-driven pricing power straight to the bank. The carrier's ⁠cargo revenue surged 22.6% to $527 million in the second quarter⁠ as it benefited from a sharp rise in air cargo rates related to disruptions from the Iran war and the strongest volumes since the Covid-fueled boom in 2020. Higher yields were the main contributor, with global shipping space on aircraft falling more than 12% in the Middle East due to ongoing war risks.

Finally, we explore a major bet on American shipbuilding coming to the Texas coast as autonomous maritime technology company ⁠Saronic selected the Port of Brownsville for Port Alpha, a planned $3 billion-plus next-generation shipyard⁠ that will dramatically expand U.S. shipbuilding capacity while creating up to 10,000 jobs in South Texas. The software-defined facility will focus on building autonomous maritime vessels for commercial and defense applications, initially occupying 835 acres with room to expand to nearly 4,400 acres.

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Welcome to another jam-packed episode of FreightWaves Today! In today's broadcast, we break down the latest shifting dynamics across the logistics, freight, and supply chain industries. From major LTL restructuring news and federal crackdowns on CDL fraud to exclusive expert insights on AI and global geopolitics, we’ve got everything you need to stay ahead of the curve.
We dive deep into ArcBest’s massive rebranding and workforce optimization, look at why the mid-July "summer doldrums" aren't as weak as they seem, and discuss the future of purpose-built, sovereign AI models in logistics. Finally, in our Freight Expectations segment, we debate the real economic impact of the ongoing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz and break down the unprecedented $1.5 trillion U.S. defense budget.
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Welcome back to another highly anticipated episode of Freight Expectations! This week, Craig and Matt dive deep into the massive, real-time shifts hitting global supply chains, trade policies, and military spending.

First, they break down the unfolding aftermath of the IEEPA (International Economic Emergency Powers Act) tariffs. With billions of dollars already refunded to importers, the hosts debate what this means for the American economy—and whether everyday consumers will ever see a dime of that money back. Craig shares a personal story of dealing with international shipping tariffs firsthand, while Matt explains how to navigate the government’s new refund portal before the window closes.

Later in the episode, the conversation shifts to the high-stakes geopolitics of the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing conflict with Iran. Matt and Craig engage in a fiery debate over the true health of the US consumer. Is energy volatility about to sap consumer demand, or is the US economy uniquely positioned as a global energy powerhouse to treat this disruption as an industrial stimulant?

Finally, they unpack the staggering new $1.5 trillion US defense budget proposal, the rising threat of asymmetric drone warfare, why the military is spinning up a brand-new anti-drone branch, and what the US must do to ensure its manufacturing supply chain is ready for future global adversaries.

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Welcome back to another hilarious, high-energy Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? In this episode, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent break down the wild world of logistics, cover the craziest headlines making waves in the freight industry, and dive deep into major changes hitting cross-border and summer highway infrastructure.
In This Episode:

Special Guests:
• Omar Kari – CEO of Logicbroker
 Omar joins the show to break down the highly anticipated opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Ontario and the US. He shares vital insights on how this new artery will change dynamic routing, carrier allocation, and why companies need to digitize their systems to conquer cross-border customs before their trucks ever hit the border.
• Rob Abbott – VP of Corporate Strategy at Fleetworthy
 Rob brings the heat (and an accidental air horn!) to talk about summer construction season, low-clearance bridges, and major traffic diversions like the massive freeway shutdown in Louisville. He explains how Fleetworthy is utilizing GPS and in-cab notifications to give drivers real-time, virtual sign alerts to prevent costly incidents, bridge strikes, and route navigation issues.

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Former General Mills Transportation Procurement Manager Ben Peterson joins the show to discuss how the market looks from a shipper’s point of view and what strategies are available to them in easy and tough markets. 

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This episode of FreightWaves Today features a comprehensive breakdown of the major industry earnings reports that shook the market, with a primary focus on JB Hunt’s impressive quarterly performance.

Key discussion topics include:

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Jerry Murphy has a felony on his record. He was a raging alcoholic — his words, not mine. Working part-time to drink full-time. He had his own motorcycle shop once and drank it into the ground, and he'll tell you straight up whose fault that was.

Then he got sober. Six years now.

He built a trucking company out of Circleville, Ohio from two trucks scraping by on the load board into an operation his drivers call home. And this past June, he closed on something most small carriers only talk about — he bought a trucking company that's been running for 40 years, from an owner who chose Jerry over every bigger check he could've taken, because he trusted Jerry to take care of his people.

But here's what nobody watching from the outside knew. While that deal was sitting in limbo, Jerry lost his brother. And the man who had rebuilt his whole life found himself in the darkest place he'd been since he put the bottle down. Sleeping past his alarm for the first time in years. Walking away from the jiu-jitsu classes he loved to teach. Carrying something he couldn't name.

He didn't drink. Not once. He didn't even think about it.

Months later, he signed the papers on the biggest move of his life.This is a conversation about what rock bottom actually looks like, what it takes to climb out more than once, and why the hardest fight isn't building the business — it's believing you deserve what you built.

If you're carrying something right now and telling everybody you're fine, this episode is for you.

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What's really happening inside FMCSA?

In this exclusive episode of Brake Check, FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs joins us for a candid conversation about the issues shaping trucking today.

No press releases.

No prepared statements.

Just the questions America's truckers and carriers have been asking.

We discuss MOTUS....why FMCSA believed the industry needed it, the challenges during rollout, what went wrong, what's been fixed, and where the platform is headed next.

We also tackle freight fraud, identity verification, randomized MC numbers, enforcement, recent high-profile commercial vehicle crashes, and what FMCSA believes the industry must do to improve safety while protecting legitimate carriers.

Inside this episode:

Whether you're an owner-operator, fleet owner, safety director, broker, or professional driver, this conversation offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from the person leading the agency responsible for commercial motor vehicle safety in America.

If you want honest conversations with the people shaping the future of trucking, subscribe to FreightWaves and never miss an episode of Brake Check.

Because understanding the rules is one thing...

Understanding where they're headed is another.

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In this episode, we kick things off by examining the powerful momentum shift toward the rails that's creating massive growth opportunities for the nation's largest intermodal player. J.B. Hunt Transport Services just reported a blockbuster second quarter, with intermodal volumes jumping ten percent year-over-year and significantly outpacing the broader market. Eastern intermodal volumes surged sixteen percent year-over-year, driven by conversion activity at levels the company has not seen in more than a decade, while revenue of three point five billion dollars crushed analyst expectations.

Next, we explore a high-stakes legal battle in federal court where truck manufacturer Navistar defeated a sixteen point five million dollar lawsuit over delayed deliveries during the pandemic-era supply crunch. A Michigan jury sided with Navistar on Monday, rejecting breach of contract and fraud claims brought by GLS LeasCo and Central Transport, and concluding the company was not liable for damages related to the delayed delivery of one thousand one hundred International tractors ordered in twenty twenty-two.

Finally, we head to the Midwest where a major Wisconsin carrier is partnering with Tesla to evaluate the electric Semi in dedicated Chicago operations. De Pere-based Paper Transport Inc., which has logged over eighty-seven million miles using compressed and renewable natural gas, is assessing the battery-electric truck in an environment where predictable routes and consistent mileage provide ideal conditions for real-world testing as Tesla ramps toward volume production this year.

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