FreightCasts

By FreightWavesNews News Commentary Daily News Business News

FreightCasts episodes

July 15 FreightWaves Today | July 15
Welcome to a special edition of FreightWaves Today, broadcast LIVE from the Supply Chain AI Symposium in Chicago! 🚛🤖
Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp co-host this special live edition from one of the premier gatherings of logistics, transportation, and artificial intelligence leaders. Together, they welcome some of the industry's top innovators to separate AI hype from reality and explore how artificial intelligence is already reshaping freight, transportation, and supply chain operations.
Featuring conversations with executives from across the logistics ecosystem, this episode dives into where AI is creating measurable ROI today, where companies are still struggling, and what organizations need to do to successfully implement AI at scale. From enterprise adoption and autonomous workflows to TMS evolution, document automation, appointment scheduling, and the future of human-AI collaboration, this episode is packed with practical insights for carriers, brokers, shippers, and technology providers alike.
Featured Guests
Eric Rempel – Chief Innovation Officer, Redwood
Val Marchevsky – Uber Freight
Jett McCandless – Project44
Alyssa Norcross – Revenova
Megan Orth – C.H. Robinson
David Bell – CloneOps
In this episode:
* Is AI a bubble—or the biggest technology shift in decades?
* Why AI isn't replacing logistics professionals as fast as many think
* The biggest mistakes companies make when implementing AI
* How to measure real ROI from AI initiatives
* Why clean, connected data is still the foundation of successful AI
* AI's growing impact on TMS platforms and enterprise software
* The future of SaaS in an AI-driven world
* How logistics companies are using AI for document processing, workflow automation, appointment scheduling, and customer service
* Why change management—not technology—is often the biggest obstacle to AI success
* Human-in-the-loop AI and why judgment still matters
* Building AI-ready organizations and preparing employees for the future of work
* What brokers, carriers, and shippers should look for when evaluating AI vendors
* The next frontier of AI across freight and supply chain operations
Whether you're leading digital transformation, evaluating AI vendors, building logistics software, or simply trying to understand where the industry is headed, this special live edition of FreightWaves Today delivers valuable insights from the executives putting AI to work across the global supply chain today.
#FreightWaves #FreightWavesToday #SupplyChain #SupplyChainAI #ArtificialIntelligence #Logistics #FreightTech #Transportation #Trucking #Automation #EnterpriseAI #Redwood #UberFreight #Project44 #CHRobinson #CloneOps

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2 hr 1 min
July 15 Arizona Law Enforcement on The Evolving Threat of Cargo Theft | Fraud Watch
In Episode 10 of Fraud Watch, Phil Brink sits down with Sergeant Jeff Gordon of the Phoenix Police Department, Detective Curtis Peery of the Coconino County Sheriff's Office, and Eduardo Castillo, Global Transportation Security Manager and retired Phoenix Police detective, for a conversation about the evolution of cargo theft and freight fraud. Drawing on firsthand investigative experience, they discuss why organized criminal groups continue to target the transportation industry, how their tactics are changing, why Arizona has become a hotspot for these crimes, and what brokers, carriers, shippers, and law enforcement can do together to better protect the nation's supply chain.

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1 hr 1 min
July 15 Freight Closures Erase 245 Jobs, BulkLoads Buys Livestock Network, & Driver Pay Index Surges | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off with a sobering snapshot of the freight industry's ongoing financial pain. Four companies are eliminating nearly 250 jobs at logistics and distribution facilities across New Jersey, North Carolina, Illinois, and California, while ⁠nine transportation and logistics-related companies have recently sought bankruptcy protection⁠. The largest announced workforce reduction involves Fusion Transport, a New Jersey logistics provider planning to lay off seventy-nine employees at its Piscataway facility effective October first, while bankruptcy filings continue to pile up across multiple freight segments.
Next, we shift over to the agricultural freight sector, where a strategic acquisition is dramatically expanding access to specialized livestock hauling services. Springfield, Missouri-based BulkLoads announced Monday that it has ⁠acquired Livestock Network, an online load board and community serving the livestock transportation industry since 2000⁠. Livestock Network members will now gain access to BulkLoads' broader ecosystem of products, including Smart Freight Funding for freight factoring, Bulk Insurance Group, BulkTMS transportation management software, and Bulk Freight Insights market intelligence.
Finally, we unpack a staggering shift in driver compensation as ⁠the Truck Driver Pay Index surged by 13.5 percent in just two months⁠. Jointly calculated by AscendTMS and Superior Trucking Payroll Services, the index hit 170.04 in June, up from 150.83 in April — easily the highest two-month gain in the history of the index, which has been calculated since 2020. With a typical lag of four to six months between higher spot rates and driver pay, experts suggest more increases are likely in the coming weeks and months.
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4 min
July 14 FreightWaves Today | July 14
Based on the episode transcript, here's a YouTube description that highlights the biggest stories and guest interviews while optimizing for search.
The global supply chain is facing another major test as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to evolve. On today's FreightWaves Today, Craig Fuller and Joey discuss the latest developments after President Trump reverses course on a proposed transit fee and instead announces a blockade targeting Iranian trade. What does it mean for oil prices, diesel costs, ocean shipping, and the broader freight market?
Joining the show:
🚛 Syd Brown, CEO of NFI
* Why NFI exited the one-way truckload business
* How dedicated fleets and warehousing transformed the company into a $3.8 billion logistics powerhouse
* Why driver shortages are returning
* The impact of freight fraud and stricter carrier enforcement
* Why safety investments are becoming a competitive advantage
* How shippers are responding as freight capacity tightens
🌍 Stuart Chirls, FreightWaves International Reporter
* Breaking down the latest developments in the Strait of Hormuz
* What a potential blockade means for global trade
* Rising ocean freight rates and supply chain disruptions
* Why importers are front-loading freight ahead of additional uncertainty
* The growing importance of alternative shipping routes through the Middle East
🤖 Jake Dettmer, SVP of Product at Optimal Dynamics
* Using AI to optimize freight acceptance before dispatch
* Why maximizing revenue matters more than minimizing empty miles
* Forward-looking fleet optimization strategies
* The future of AI-powered trucking operations
* Is AI in logistics entering a bubble—or just getting started?
⛽ John Kingston, FreightWaves Energy Expert
* Weekly diesel price update
* How geopolitical tensions are impacting fuel markets
* What trucking companies should expect from diesel prices in the weeks ahead
🌊 Captain Rahul Khanna, Global Head of Marine Risk Consulting at Allianz Commercial
* How geopolitical tensions are reshaping global maritime risk
* The insurance industry's perspective on disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz
* The biggest threats facing global shipping today
* How shipping companies are preparing for increased security and operational risks
* What cargo owners, carriers, and logistics providers should watch as global trade routes evolve
* Why marine risk has become one of the most critical factors in supply chain resilience
📰 Top stories covered:
* Project44 splits into two companies with the launch of LSP44
* AI-native logistics technology and the future of transportation management
* Risinger Brothers driver classification lawsuit receives class-action status
* Freight market conditions continue tightening
* Driver recruiting challenges return as regulatory enforcement increases
* Intermodal volumes continue climbing
* Why shippers may soon face higher transportation costs
Whether you're a carrier, broker, shipper, owner-operator, or logistics technology leader, this episode breaks down the biggest freight, supply chain, transportation, and economic stories shaping the industry today.
Subscribe for daily freight market analysis, supply chain news, trucking updates, logistics technology, AI insights, and exclusive interviews from the industry's leading experts.
#FreightWaves #Trucking #Logistics #SupplyChain #Freight #Diesel #OilPrices #Project44 #AI #Transportation #Shipping #TruckingNews #FreightMarket #NFI #SupplyChainAI

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2 hr 1 min
July 14The Next Freight War Won't Be Won With More Trucks | Brake Check
Artificial intelligence isn't replacing truckers.
It's giving smart carriers an advantage.
In this episode of Brake Check, we separate real technology from industry hype and show how AI is helping carriers make better decisions, fight freight fraud, and run more profitable businesses.
First, Dale Prax from ⁠Truckstop.com⁠ and FreightValidate pulls back the curtain on the latest freight fraud schemes, identity theft, fake MC numbers, and the tools carriers can use to protect themselves before a load ever moves.
Then Jacky Zhao, Senior Director of Technology Innovation at ⁠Truckstop.com⁠, introduces AVA—the freight industry's first voice-native AI carrier assistant. Learn how voice-powered AI can help owner-operators and fleets search freight, check rates, and stay productive without taking their eyes off the road.
Inside this episode:
How freight fraud is evolving in 2026

The biggest identity verification mistakes carriers make

The newest scams targeting trucking companies

How Truckstop is fighting fraud

What AVA actually does—and why it's different from the AI hype

How AI can help carriers work smarter without replacing drivers

Where trucking technology is headed next
The future belongs to carriers that adapt—not because AI is replacing truckers, but because technology is becoming a competitive advantage.
If you're serious about protecting your business, staying ahead of fraud, and running a smarter operation, subscribe for more episodes of Brake Check on FreightWaves.
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49 min
July 14 Project44 Splits Into Two, Driver Suit Goes Class Action, & DP World Bypasses Hormuz | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off by examining the massive strategic restructuring at project44 that splits the visibility giant into two distinct businesses. The company is separating into project44, which will serve enterprise shippers as a decision intelligence platform, and LSP44, a newly launched AI-native infrastructure business built exclusively for logistics service providers. LSP44 launches with day-one profitability and processes a staggering seven hundred six million carrier events daily across four continents.
Next, we explore a significant development in the legal arena as a driver misclassification lawsuit against Illinois-based Risinger Brothers Transfer gains class action status. The drivers allege that Risinger misclassified them as independent contractors rather than employees, and that wage deductions for truck payments, insurance, fuel, and maintenance left some drivers earning below minimum wage for all hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Finally, we break down a strategic infrastructure project in the Middle East as DP World plans a new UAE port near Fujairah to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The new container terminal would lessen dependence on the UAE's Port of Jebel Ali and route cargo through the Gulf of Oman instead. This move comes amid heightened regional tensions and President Trump's recent suggestion that the U.S. seize control of the critical chokepoint and charge vessels a toll for passage.
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5 min
July 13FreightWaves Today | July 13
Welcome to another Monday edition of FreightWaves Today! Hosts Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp are back in the studio to break down a massive week for the logistics and transportation sectors. As the market continues its recovery, we tackle the latest geopolitical escalations impacting global shipping routes, preview the start of Q2 earnings season with JB Hunt, and look at how artificial intelligence is transforming truck financing and historical transactional standards like EDI.
Featured guests:
Tobias Waldeck – Chief Revenue Officer at Daimler Truck Financial Services. Tobias gives his perspective on exiting the longest freight recession on record, normalizing truck replacement cycles, and the booming flatbed activity driven by AI data center infrastructure.

Kevin Bangston – CEO of Daimler Truck Finance. Kevin discusses the shifting ecosystem of captive truck financing, navigating final EPA emissions rulings, and utilizing AI for administrative relief and analytic predictability.

Mark Vitner – Chief Economist at Piedmont Crescent Capital. Mark shares insights on the strengthening manufacturing sector, GDP growth forecasts for the second half of the year, inventory replenishment cycles, and the unique challenges facing the current housing market.

Christopher Versace – Chief Investment Officer & Thematic Strategist at Tematic Research. Christopher analyzes logistics stocks, hyperscaler CapEx spends, chip demand, and why structural shifts in heavy truck orders keep him bullish heading into the Q2 earnings cycle.

Erik Kiser – CEO & Founder of Orderful Technologies. Fresh off a $35 million funding round with Koch Disruptive Technologies, Eric highlights how Orderful is utilizing AI models to completely disrupt and automate traditional EDI onboarding experiences.
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2 hr 1 min
July 13Where the Digital Supply Chain Goes to Die (The Yard Black Hole) | WHAT THE TRUCK?!?
Welcome to another action-packed Monday edition of What the Truck! Hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent are back to unpack the latest supply chain news, upcoming events, and the technological revolutions hitting global logistics.
In this episode, we dive deep into the unexpected places importers are actually losing money after containers hit the port, and why the yard remains one of the least digitized aspects of the supply chain in 2026. Plus, we preview the upcoming Supply Chain AI Symposium in Chicago!
Featured guests:
Steven Dodola – CIO and Owner of Dodola Global Logistics. Steven joins the show to break down the costly handoffs at the port, navigating demurrage and detention, and how freight forwarders are utilizing tools like Claude Code and AI to streamline operations.

Jake Coppinger – CEO & Co-Founder of Yardflow by Freight Roll. Jake talks about the massive gaps in yard management digitization, the hurdles facing truck drivers, and the impending shift toward autonomous trucking.

Casey Larkin – Co-Founder of Yardflow by Freight Roll. Casey dives into standardizing workflows across fragmented carrier networks, eliminating paper dependency, and building the "digital brain" required to run the automated yard networks of the future.
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59 min
July 13 Iran Attacks Ship in Hormuz, Toyota's $3.6B Texas Bet, & Q2 Trucking Earnings Rise | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off with a major escalation in the Middle East that's sending shockwaves through global energy markets and ocean shipping. Iran on Saturday attacked a feeder container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, setting the seven-thousand-TEU GFS Galaxy ablaze and forcing the crew to abandon ship. Iran over the weekend declared the strait closed to vessel traffic and expanded missile and drone attacks across the region, pushing Brent crude up about twelve percent, European natural gas up nearly seventy percent, and U.S. gasoline futures up roughly ten percent since late last week.
Next, we explore the automotive sector where Toyota is making a massive three-point-six-billion-dollar bet on Texas manufacturing with a stunning expansion in San Antonio. The Japanese automaker is shifting production of its popular Tacoma pickup from Baja California, Mexico, to San Antonio as part of an investment that will double the size of its Texas manufacturing campus and create two thousand new jobs over the next four years.
Finally, we break down how Wall Street is raising the bar for trucking carriers heading into second-quarter earnings season. Deutsche Bank analyst Richa Harnain is forecasting mainly beats across her transportation coverage, with less-than-truckload carriers leading the charge. She expects median earnings-per-share growth of fifteen percent year-over-year for the second quarter and twenty-one percent for the third quarter, marking a meaningful improvement from the three percent increase the group recorded in the first quarter.
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5 min
July 10 The Facebook Trailer Scam Targeting Truckers | Freight Expectations
A $104 million nuclear verdict against Mesilla Valley Transportation has the trucking industry asking one question: Could this happen to anyone?Matt and Craig break down the landmark case, explain why jury awards continue to skyrocket, and discuss what it means for carriers, brokers, insurers, and shippers moving forward.
The conversation also dives into the EPA's latest emissions rule changes, why modern diesel trucks have become so expensive to maintain, and a brand-new trailer rental scam targeting truckers through Facebook and WhatsApp.
Plus, Matt and Craig discuss cargo theft, organized crime, and why legislation like CORCA continues to stall in Washington despite broad bipartisan support.
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48 min

About FreightCasts

From the publisher's feed

A full trailer load of freight podcasts from FreightWaves. Enjoy shows like the award-winning WHAT THE TRUCK?!? podcast, Put That Coffee Down, Freightonomics, Fuller Speed Ahead, Great Quarter, Gals…