FreightCasts

As 2025 comes to a close, The Long Haul host Adam Wingfield looks back on a year that tested small carriers and owner-operators like never before. This special Year in Review episode features powerful clips and insights from 15 guests, covering the challenges, lessons, and wins that shaped the trucking industry. It’s a reflection on progress, resilience, and what it really takes to keep moving forward in the long haul.

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This episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute examines Amazon’s recent support for Flowers Foods in a Supreme Court case that could redefine legal protections for local delivery drivers. The retail giant argues that single-state drivers do not qualify for the federal arbitration exemption reserved for interstate transportation workers.

We also report on the abrupt closure of Queen Transportation, a North Carolina carrier that ceased operations over the Christmas holiday. The shutdown left nearly 90 drivers jobless and highlights the severe liquidity pressures currently facing the trucking industry.

Finally, we look at the logistics real estate boom in Arizona, signaled by Walmart’s $152 million acquisition of a massive industrial complex in Glendale. Data from the Phoenix market indicates that local trucking capacity is tightening as major investments reshape the region's supply chain infrastructure.

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In this episode of The Daily, we explore why Transport Capacity Services is betting on Monterrey to manage the surge in nearshoring activity and cross-border complexity. As manufacturing investment floods northern Mexico, stricter customs enforcement and driver regulations threaten to tighten freight capacity significantly by 2026.

To support these long-term trade flows, Union Pacific is developing a massive industrial park near Houston, while developers repurpose facilities like a former Waco bottling plant for distribution. Meanwhile, market distress has forced Standard Forwarding Freight to cease operations after 91 years, signaling how the downturn is punishing leveraged operators.

Consolidation continues to reshape the rail sector as GATX and Brookfield complete their acquisition of Wells Fargo’s rail leasing portfolio in a multibillion-dollar joint venture. On the technology front, telematics provider Motive has filed for an IPO, underscoring how software is becoming core infrastructure for fleets facing thin margins.

Severe weather is also impacting operations, with Winter Storm Ezra triggering FMCSA hours-of-service waivers across 20 states and prompting warnings for truckers east of I-35 to stay off the roads. Finally, we discuss unconfirmed reports that China may be converting a cargo ship into a missile launcher, a development that could fundamentally alter global supply chain security.

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After nearly two decades of litigation, 17 years later, Teamsters locals will get payments into benefit trust marks the end of a dispute involving Oak Harbor Freight Lines. An administrative law judge has ordered the LTL carrier to pay over $23 million for unfair labor practices committed during a 2008 strike.

As nearshoring activity accelerates, TCS is betting on Monterrey as cross-border trade gets more complicated and highlights new logistics investments south of the border. Additionally, Union Pacific is developing a massive 2,000-acre industrial park near Houston to better serve international gateways.

Drivers are facing hazardous conditions as Truckers east of I-35 advised to stay home outlines the dangers of Winter Storm Ezra. High winds across the Midwest and Northeast pose a significant risk of trailer rollovers, prompting urgent warnings for fleets to halt operations in affected areas.

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In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we investigate a major class-action filing aimed at stopping the California DMV from canceling nearly 20,000 commercial driver's licenses due to administrative errors. The Lawsuit Targets California DMV Over Administrative Failures Affecting 20,000 CDL Drivers argues that these cancellations disproportionately affect the Sikh community and pose an immediate risk to the stability of the supply chain.

We also break down critical leadership updates in maritime governance, including the Senate confirmation of former Maersk executive Stephen Carmel as the administrator of the Maritime Administration. As the Marad chief, FMC nominee confirmed, these new appointees are set to fill vital gaps in the agencies that regulate U.S. ocean and port logistics.

Finally, we discuss the rejection of an ambitious rail initiative after Amtrak turns down the ‘Transcontinental Chief’ proposal, citing a lack of a fundamental business case for the 72-hour transcontinental service. AmeriStarRail now plans to lobby Congress to force negotiations for the drive-aboard train service in hopes of launching by the 2028 Olympics.

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In this episode of Loaded and Rolling, host Thomas Wasson sits down with Adam Kahn from Netradyne to explore how the company has evolved over the past decade—and how fleet technology has changed right along with it.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Netradyne reflects on its early days in video telematics and the shift from basic visibility to true, AI-powered context. Adam shares how advancements in edge computing, multi-camera systems, and intelligent alerts are helping fleets move beyond reactive safety programs toward proactive coaching, recognition, and real driver buy-in.

The conversation also dives into how fleets are using the platform today—from improving safety and reducing litigation risk to uncovering operational insights around loading, unloading, detention, fuel efficiency, and last-mile challenges. Adam discusses recent partnerships, evolving adoption strategies for driver-facing cameras, and why transparency and flexibility are critical to successful deployments.

Looking ahead, the episode explores how generative AI and prompt-based video search are poised to transform fleet operations, allowing managers to ask smarter questions and get faster, more meaningful answers—without changing their entire business model.

Whether you’re a fleet operator, safety leader, or technology enthusiast, this episode offers a forward-looking look at where video telematics is headed and how Netradyne is shaping the future of connected fleets.

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In this episode of The Daily, we explore the rising cost of rigidity as new regulations and market shifts challenge supply chain agility. We analyze how the FRA caps non-English rail crews at 10-mile border zone to create cross-border capacity bottlenecks and discuss New legislation could upend truck broker margins by imposing steep surcharges on carriers with safety violations.

Shippers face a difficult balancing act as Inventory management strategy shifts once again toward leaner models, potentially risking stockouts if demand spikes in 2026. Meanwhile, ocean carriers are adopting split strategies, with significant Ocean rates as the New Year promises a good ‘blanking’ for US East Coast, driving up rates while West Coast capacity expands.

In the equipment sector, REPOWR’s data shows it cost more in ‘25 for a short-term dry van rental despite a weak market, driven largely by tighter network security efforts. Finally, we look at the Canada Post, mail carriers tentatively agree on labor deal, which secures weekend delivery but locks in operational rigidity by rejecting dynamic routing.

We also briefly touch on the STB asks comments on ‘completeness’ of rail merger application as regulators review the 7,000-page document regarding the UP-NS deal. This regulatory scrutiny adds another layer of complexity to an industry already grappling with rapid structural changes.

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Every December, thousands of volunteers and hundreds of truck drivers move in unison for one mission: remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom.

In this episode of The Long Haul, Adam sits down with Courtney George, Director of Transportation and Industry Relations for Wreaths Across America, to explore the heart of a program that relies on the trucking community to carry more than just freight — they carry legacy, gratitude, and remembrance.

Courtney shares how Wreaths Across America mobilizes drivers, carriers, communities, and families across the country to ensure veterans are honored with dignity. We talk about the emotional impact on drivers, the logistics behind such a massive mission, and why goodwill still matters in a world that feels divided and distracted.

This one’s bigger than trucking — it’s about purpose.

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In this episode, we discuss how Canada Post, mail carriers tentatively agree on a labor deal after a difficult period involving strikes and work slowdowns. The proposed five-year contract includes wage increases and the introduction of weekend parcel delivery, though it excludes the corporation's demands for dynamic routing and load leveling.

We also examine why new legislation could upend truck broker margins by imposing a 10% surcharge on contracts involving carriers with multiple safety violations. This bill aims to hold brokers directly accountable for carrier safety, a shift that could challenge smaller brokers with data-intensive tracking requirements regarding violation histories.

Finally, we look at the announcement that Stord to double e-commerce fulfillment capacity in Kentucky through a $40 million investment in a new facility and advanced automation. This expansion complements the company's recent acquisition of Penny Black, a software solution designed to personalize the post-purchase customer experience through custom packaging inserts.

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Welcome back to #WithSONAR!

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