FreightCasts

On this episode of What the Truck?!, Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent break down Amazon’s latest logistics moves—from expanding warehouse robotics across Europe to officially entering the less-than-truckload (LTL) market. What does increased automation mean for workers, shippers, and the future of supply chains?

The duo also dives into a growing crackdown on customs fraud, exploring how whistleblowers, tariff enforcement, and the False Claims Act are reshaping international trade. Plus, they unpack rising ocean freight rates, resilient container volumes despite geopolitical disruptions, and what the latest trade data may be signaling for freight markets.

Later, Gary Cornelius, VP of Business Development at TCW, joins the show to discuss the industry implications of the Montgomery decision, broker liability, carrier vetting, and what could come next as litigation and regulation continue to evolve. Then, Quarterhill CEO Chuck Myers stops by to talk about the technology powering the transportation infrastructure that keeps freight moving every day.

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In this episode, we kick things off by examining a massive competitive move that could fundamentally reshape the less-than-truckload landscape. Amazon announced the full expansion of its LTL service to all destinations, rolling out a traditional hub-and-spoke network capable of moving palletized freight anywhere nationwide at lower costs than legacy carriers. The service includes next-day live pickup, same-day drop-trailer options, real-time GPS tracking, and automated appointment scheduling, positioning the e-commerce giant as a serious threat to incumbent trucking companies like FedEx Freight, Old Dominion, and Estes.

Next, we shift over to the autonomous trucking sector, where PepsiCo and Gatik have launched the largest commercial driverless freight deployment to date. This multi-year strategic partnership brings fully driver-out trucks into PepsiCo's consumer goods supply chain, with operations already live across Texas, Arizona, and Arkansas serving around two hundred fifty retail locations. These autonomous trucks maintain a ninety-nine percent on-time track record with no safety drivers in the cab, and a South Carolina production facility is set to begin mass-producing Level four autonomous trucks in the second half of twenty twenty-seven.

Finally, we explore the trans-Pacific shipping market, where new tariffs are fueling an unusually early frontloading frenzy and peak season. Rate hikes and surcharges that took effect June first sent Asia-to-U.S. West Coast prices soaring fifty-one percent to four thousand eight hundred thirty-six dollars per forty-foot container, while East Coast prices jumped twenty-five percent. With the U.S. Trade Representative announcing new tariffs on sixty countries over forced labor concerns, the National Retail Federation has moved the expected peak season to June from July and predicts June import volumes will run five percent higher than May.

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What if trucking's biggest problems aren't being ignored...

What if they're being protected?

On this episode of Brake Check, Charles Gracey sits down with two of the most outspoken voices in trucking to tackle the issues drivers, carriers, and owner-operators are talking about across America.

First, Charles Claburn joins the show. With 30 years behind the wheel, more than 3 million accident-free miles, and decades spent advocating for truck drivers, Claburn shares his unfiltered perspective on retention, training, truck parking, regulations, and why so many trucking companies continue making the same mistakes.

Then Mike Cobb, CEO of the Federation of Professional Truckers (FOPT), joins Brake Check to discuss the organization's challenge to the ELD mandate, broker accountability, insurance requirements, FMCSA oversight, non-domiciled CDLs, and what real trucking reform looks like from the driver's seat.

Topics include:

ELD Mandate Debate

FMCSA & Federal Regulation

Truck Parking Crisis

Driver Retention & Turnover

Broker Accountability

Insurance Minimums

Non-Domiciled CDLs

Trucking Safety

Owner-Operator Challenges

The Future of Professional Trucking

Whether you're a driver, owner-operator, carrier, broker, or industry leader, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

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#Trucking #OwnerOperator #ELD #FMCSA #TruckDriver #Logistics #Freight #Transportation #CDL #BrakeCheck

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In this episode, we kick things off with heartbreaking news from the freight analysis community as Donald Broughton, the bowtie-wearing analyst of freight markets, has died suddenly at home on May 30th. Broughton, who founded Broughton Capital in 2017 and was not known to have been ill, had spoken at the Transportation Intermediaries Association's annual meeting in mid-April and appeared on CNBC in mid-May with a bullish freight outlook. His trademark bow tie and intimate knowledge of freight transportation data made him one of the industry's most respected voices for drawing conclusions about the broader economy.

Meanwhile, aggressive consolidation powered by artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the brokerage sector. Cincinnati-based freight broker Fura announced Monday that it has acquired LG Logistics Solutions, marking its sixth acquisition as the AI-powered third-party logistics provider continues its aggressive roll-up strategy. Fura's approach is to migrate each acquired brokerage onto a shared automation platform that handles repetitive work, allowing every business to run leaner and more efficiently than it did as a standalone operation in one of the country's most fragmented service industries.

Finally, the country's biggest brokerage is rolling out its next massive AI initiative designed to continuously optimize supply chains around the clock. C.H. Robinson is launching the Lean AI Engineer this month, a follow-up to last year's Lean AI Planner that now autonomously drives 92 percent of Managed Solutions' shipments. This groundbreaking closed-loop AI system runs continuously, holding historical and current data simultaneously across the entirety of a network to proactively identify inefficiencies like multiple LTL shipments headed to the same destination that could be consolidated into a single truckload. The system can heal itself when something breaks without requiring an alert or human intervention first.

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Welcome back to WithSONAR!

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Welcome to a packed Monday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, hosted by Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent! In this episode, we dive deep into a multi-state cargo theft operation that recently led to eight indictments in New York after diverting $4.5 million worth of freight—ranging from beef and copper to massive hauls of cigarettes. Michael also shares a frustrating personal story about the disappearing security of airport valet tickets after his $3,000 Martin guitar vanished on a direct flight. On a brighter note, we highlight the Broker Carrier Summit’s exciting launch of the "Veterans in Logistics" initiative in Kansas City, naming John Tozer to lead the charge in connecting military veterans with great careers in transportation.

Our first featured guest is small business credit fintech guru Gerri Detweiler, who explains why owner-operators must treat their business credit with the same urgency as their next load. Gerri breaks down how business credit reports are compiled behind the scenes by bureaus like Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax to influence lenders, fuel card issuers, and insurance companies.

Closing out the show is Aqil Naeem, founder and CEO of the e three group, the first AI transformation partner for middle-market and enterprise freight companies. Aqil explains that as traditional cybersecurity improves, sophisticated bad actors are pivoting to physical cargo theft because defenses in logistics haven't kept pace.

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In this episode, we kick things off on the rails, where a powerful House committee is backing strict scrutiny for the proposed Union Pacific-Southern Pacific merger. The bipartisan House Appropriations Committee added language to the fiscal 2027 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill during markup on June 2nd, urging the Surface Transportation Board to conduct a rigorous review of the $72 billion deal that would create the first all-freight transcontinental railroad. The committee specifically endorsed the STB's revised 2001 merger rules, which require applicants to not only preserve rail-to-rail competition but offer enhanced competitive options for railroad shippers.

Meanwhile, in the cargo security sector, federal prosecutors have indicted eight individuals in what they allege was a massive carrier impersonation scheme targeting shipments moving through logistics facilities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia between October 2025 and April 2026. Prosecutors allege the group stole approximately $4.49 million worth of products, including lamb, cheese, beef, copper and cigarettes, by obtaining legitimate carrier information and using it to impersonate those carriers at pickup locations with matching carrier names, MC numbers and DOT numbers on their tractor-trailers.

Finally, we explore how FedEx is teaming up with a major Chinese carrier to strengthen its air logistics footprint in Asia. FedEx Corp. and the air cargo arm of China Southern Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding in Guangzhou, agreeing to strategically collaborate on ways to improve the efficiency and service capabilities of their air logistics networks. Under the agreement, the companies will explore cooperation opportunities in several areas, including capacity sharing, routes, hub connections, network planning, fleet resources, ground operations and digitalization.

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What does it actually mean to be a "safe" carrier in today's freight market?

In this episode, Craig Fuller sits down with transportation attorney Matt Leffler to discuss the growing legal risks facing brokers, carriers, and shippers as negligent selection lawsuits continue to reshape the industry.

They break down the real-world impact of nuclear verdicts, the legal standards brokers are being held to, and why recent court decisions are forcing transportation companies to rethink carrier vetting, compliance, and risk management.

Whether you're a broker, carrier, shipper, transportation executive, or industry professional, this conversation offers a clear look at the legal realities shaping freight today.

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Welcome to a Friday edition of What the Truck, hosted by Malcolm Harris! In this episode, Malcolm is joined by his co-host, Michael "The Dude" Vincent, to break down the latest news shaking up the logistics world and talk to the experts navigating the future of the supply chain.
From the rollout headaches of the FMCSA’s new Modus registration system to a deep dive into how AI is shifting from hype to a full-on survival tool in the nuclear verdict era—we’re covering it all. Plus, we explore how one trucking school is completely redefining what it means to prepare the next generation of drivers for the realities of the road.

Johan Land, Chief Product Officer at Samsara joins the show to talk about moving past AI hype, using data for proactive maintenance, optimizing routes, and why cameras are protecting professional drivers from nuclear verdicts.

Dusty Kushard, Director of Training at the Missouri Trucking School explains how they are moving beyond standard testing to give students live-load warehouse experience, CAT scale training, and high-tech simulation for worst-case scenarios like steer-tire blowouts.

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In this episode, we kick things off by examining the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's rocky debut of its new Motus registration system. Since launching in mid-May, the platform has sparked widespread industry frustration as ⁠carriers struggle to link their DOT numbers and access critical registration tools⁠. While FMCSA leadership praised the rollout as a major milestone, industry consultants report clients are spending hours on hold with little clarity on when these access issues will be resolved.

Next, we explore a major new initiative designed to combat the freight industry's escalating fraud and cargo theft crisis. The National Motor Freight Traffic Association has ⁠launched a free anonymous portal allowing carriers, brokers and shippers to report cybersecurity incidents and freight fraud⁠. This threat intelligence sharing tool aims to address the persistent problem of underreporting, as many organizations hesitate to disclose incidents due to concerns about reputational damage or legal exposure.

Finally, we cover a major leadership transition at one of the nation's largest truckload carriers as ⁠Kevin Knight retires from his role as executive chairman of Knight-Swift Transportation⁠. The founder and former CEO played an instrumental role in building Knight Transportation and orchestrating its blockbuster 2017 merger with Swift Transportation, creating a diversified freight giant that now generates $7.5 billion in annual revenue.

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