FreightCasts

In this post-holiday hangover episode of Freight Expectations, Craig Fuller and Matt Leffler tackle the “dumbest law” in trucking and why a pending Supreme Court ruling could change your wallet forever. The hosts go scorched-earth on the Tesla Semi, revealing why charging just one truck takes as much power as 4,000 American homes, and break down the “Dumbass” Safety Act that could effectively ban the world’s safest carriers from hauling broker freight. From explaining why your magazines are legally exempt from tariffs to the urgent need for a Yellowstone-style show to educate a “clueless” Congress, it’s an unfiltered deep dive into shrinkflation, federal supremacy, and the supply chain “we deserve”.

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On today’s FreightWaves Morning Minute, we discuss Allegiant Air’s $1.5 billion acquisition of Sun Country Airlines, a merger heavily supported by Amazon through the addition of two extra cargo jets. This strategic move allows the combined company to leverage year-round cargo revenue to offset the seasonality of leisure travel, with cargo earnings expected to top $215 million this year.

In technology news, researchers at Purdue University have successfully demonstrated the ability to wirelessly charge a heavy-duty truck while it travels at highway speeds. By delivering 190 kilowatts of power through pavement-embedded coils, this breakthrough could drastically reduce the need for massive EV batteries and allow carriers to haul more freight.

STG Logistics has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, utilizing a pre-negotiated deal to eliminate nearly $1 billion in debt while securing $150 million in new capital. Company leadership insists this is a restructuring rather than a liquidation, aiming to use the fresh funding to support operations and emerge from the process in approximately five months.

Finally, tune in to FreightWaves TV for a state of freight webinar with Craig Fuller and Zack Strickland to help navigate the 2026 market. Following that, a new episode of Loaded and Rolling features Thomas Wasson discussing the intersection of AI and human expertise in fleet management.

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On this Monday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris breaks down the biggest headlines shaping the freight and supply chain world—and then sits down with three industry leaders to unpack what 2026 is already throwing at transportation professionals.

Andrew Wimer, VP of Strategic Operations at Descartes, kicks things off with a deep dive into freight tech, operational resilience, and why trust with carriers and drivers is more important than ever. He also shares how AI and automation are being used to fix visibility gaps without creating more friction on the road.

Lida Zurabashvili, Founder of Freight Freedom, joins the show to share her journey from truck driver to brokerage owner. She talks transparently about building a carrier-first brokerage, fighting fraud and scams in today’s market, and why long-term relationships—not quick wins—are the key to sustainable success.

Rounding out the episode in studio is Sebastian Waters, Director of Maintenance Services at PLM Fleet. With nearly two decades of experience, Sebastian delivers practical winter maintenance advice for fleets, covering everything from preventive maintenance and reefer reliability to diesel, batteries, and cold-weather readiness.

From market pressures and layoffs to freight tech, fleet operations, and broker-carrier trust, this episode is packed with real-world insight for anyone moving freight today.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

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In this episode of the Daily, FreightWaves investigates a startling report on national security, detailing Dragon in the Cab: How China Quietly Embedded Itself in American Trucking. We discuss the growing concerns regarding unvetted drivers hauling military freight and the specific vulnerabilities found within U.S. port infrastructure.

In major corporate news, we cover the return of a legacy fleet to private domestic ownership as Former, current USA Truck execs acquire TL carrier from DSV. Conversely, we analyze a severe financial crisis in the last-mile sector, looking at the factors behind Last mile provider FAST Group's post-merger meltdown.

The industry's financial volatility is further highlighted by the news that STG Logistics files Chapter 11, charts path forward. We also touch on regulatory and labor enforcement, including a whistleblower victory where a Texas carrier ordered to pay more than $100K to fired driver and a security-related contract cancellation where USPS insourcing forces Denver contractor to layoff 700 workers.

Finally, we examine critical economic indicators showing a shift in supply chain strategies as Warehouses empty in December. This segment explores how historic lows in inventory levels may force shippers back into a reactive, just-in-time operating environment for the year ahead.

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In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we discuss how activist investor Ancora carves out a niche in the transportation sector by forcing shakeups at major companies like C.H. Robinson and CSX. Ancora director Conor Sweeney highlights the firm’s strategy to drive returns by replacing leadership and restructuring boards at underperforming logistics giants.

We also analyze recent trade statistics showing that while global demand grew, U.S. container traffic fell in November due to ongoing trade tensions. Import volumes in North America dropped nearly 4% for the eighth consecutive month, sharply contrasting with double-digit growth seen in regions like sub-Saharan Africa.

Additionally, the show covers the latest employment figures as truck transportation jobs remained flat in December, hitting their lowest point in four and a half years. This stagnation in the trucking sector is accompanied by a significant drop in warehouse jobs, which have plummeted by over 150,000 from their peak in 2022.

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Welcome back to #WithSONAR!

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In this episode, we dive into the world of freshness and shelf-lives. Our guest, Karl McDermott, General Manager, UBQ Network and Chief Saas Officer at DeltaTrak, breaks down DeltaTraks’s Freshness Index and how getting days back into shelf life is possible.

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On this Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris breaks down the biggest stories shaping freight right now — from layoffs and carrier consolidation to aggressive DOT enforcement and tightening compliance standards — before diving into two powerhouse conversations that deliver a true blueprint for brokerage success.

First up:

Malcolm is joined by Trent Tulloh, CEO & Founder of Forever Freight Broker, for a no-nonsense discussion on:

Why relationships (not AI) are the future of brokerage

How to build trust with carriers and shippers

Training brokers the right way

Why paying carriers fairly drives long-term growth

What new brokers are getting wrong — and how to fix it

Then Malcolm sits down in-studio with Seth Shaver, EVP of Sales at Steam Logistics, for a candid conversation on:

Grit, resilience, and longevity in freight sales

Building winning teams and culture in tough markets

Leadership lessons from scaling through multiple market cycles

What young brokers must understand to survive and thrive

This episode is packed with real talk, practical insight, and hard-earned lessons from leaders who’ve lived the freight grind — not just talked about it.

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Join us for a deep dive into the "SELF DRIVE Act" of 2026, a bipartisan bill aiming to dismantle state-level regulatory patchworks for autonomous trucking. This legislation promises legal certainty for cab-less truck designs and establishes a national safety data repository to replace fragmented reporting mandates.

We also analyze the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's plan to restore the 30-day automatic emergency relief window for hours-of-service rules. This reversal addresses the uncertainty and delays caused by the previous 14-day limit during recent disasters like the Key Bridge collapse and regional hurricanes.

The conversation shifts to a critical compliance failure in North Carolina, where a DOT audit revealed that over half of commercial licenses issued to foreign drivers were illegal. The state now faces a potential $50 million funding loss and decertification of its CDL program if immediate corrective actions aren't taken.

On the business front, we cover the acquisition of Dart Transit by Avkha Equity Holdings, marking the end of nine decades of family ownership for the Minnesota-based carrier. Additionally, we look at the revolving door at the Federal Maritime Commission as longtime Chief of Staff Mary Thien Hoang departs for a partner role at a D.C. lobbying firm.

Finally, we explore why analysts have upgraded American Airlines and Sun Country, citing a robust recovery in air travel and resilient cargo operations. Sun Country’s hybrid model and partnership with Amazon are highlighted as key drivers for substantial free cash flow projections.

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In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we discuss how the 2026 AV bill a game changer for heavy trucking aims to replace a patchwork of state regulations with a unified federal framework for autonomous vehicles. The legislation would allow driverless, cab-less trucks to move from testing tracks to interstate commerce, marking a major shift for the industry.

The new year has started on a rough note, as Layoffs, bankruptcies batter U.S. logistics and manufacturing at start of 2026 with over 2,200 workers losing their jobs in just the first few weeks. Rising operating costs and shrinking demand have forced widespread restructuring and Chapter 11 filings across the supply chain sector.

Finally, we look at why Prolonged post office closures focus of House bill, forcing the USPS to create a transparent database for service suspensions. Tune in for these stories and a look at today's lineup on FreightWaves TV, including new episodes of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? and Running on Ice.

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