FreightCasts

JP Hampstead gives a presentation to shippers about what macroeconomic data tells us about production, employment, productivity, and the prospects for reindustrialization at FreightWaves' Future of Freight Festival in Chattanooga, TN.

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In this uncaged episode of The Long Haul, Adam sits down with Sage — CDL driver, O/O, Landstar agent, broker, and commercial auto insurance pro — to tackle the freight industry’s most controversial topics. This one’s not safe for the faint of heart. We dig into broker dishonesty, insurance scams, the broker-agent world, O/O pain points, and what never gets talked about in polite circles. No fluff. Real talk. If you’re in the business and tired of half-truths, this is your episode.

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We analyze why Ocean rates tested by capacity conundrum despite carriers attempting General Rate Increases and blanked sailings, indicating continued overcapacity and weak demand on the trans-Pacific trade lane. Simultaneously, we explore the quick response from air cargo providers, detailing how FedEx plugs transport hole caused by MD-11 groundings by activating spare aircraft and diverting packages to its domestic ground network.

We examine the state of port traffic, noting that Container imports off 17.6% at leading US port in October 2025, although the Port of Long Beach remains on pace to surpass its all-time annual cargo record from 2024. Turning to rail, we discuss Union Pacific's strategic moves as Union Pacific guarantees more post-merger union jobs, successfully securing the support of the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (NCFO) and SMART-TD by committing to career-long employment for hundreds of members.

In the trucking sector, we analyze carrier strategy as Werner says ‘no retreat’ possible in dedicated fleet size, citing base capacity needs despite the ongoing severe downturn in the industry. Finally, we delve into the dramatic collapse of a highly anticipated venture, learning the story behind why “America’s Biggest Truck Stop” Falls Silent — Inside the Eviction of Trucker’s Paradise in Texas after months of financial disputes, investor issues, and allegations of unpaid wages.

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It’s hump day on WHAT THE TRUCK?!? and host Malcolm Harris is bringing the heat with a jam-packed lineup covering innovation, strategy, and the latest headlines shaking up logistics.

In this episode:

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While the Port of Long Beach saw container volumes drop significantly—imports declined 17.6% and total TEUs fell 14.9% in October 2025 compared to the previous year's record-setting month—the hub remains ahead of its 2024 all-time annual cargo record pace through the first 10 months of 2025. Port officials are anticipating that American consumers will likely see ⁠price escalation⁠ on goods in the coming months as shippers are expected to pass along the costs of ongoing tariffs and trade policies.

In trucking, a major regulatory shift has been halted as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ⁠temporarily stayed the FMCSA’s interim final rule⁠ heavily restricting non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses. This administrative stay, ordered pending a review of a lawsuit filed by an affected driver, means state agencies can presumably resume issuing and renewing these non-domiciled CDLs.

Truckload carrier Werner Enterprises stated at an investor conference that it has hit a baseline capacity and sees "no retreat" from its current dedicated fleet size, despite calling the current downcycle the worst he has seen in 35 years in the industry. Werner's CEO asserted that the duration of the downturn and rising trucking accident rates across the industry may be linked to ⁠lower standards on CDL issuance and driver schools⁠, which have contributed to excess capacity.

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In today’s episode, Michael Caney, Chief Commercial Officer at Highway joins us to talk about their recent funding, how they’re fighting fraud and the new release of their Trusted Freight Exchange.

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Carrier sentiment is suppressed by a weak rate environment as the market waits for necessary fleet rationalization, highlighted by historic levels of Class 8 oversupply exceeding 90,000 units. The physical evidence of financial distress is staggering, demonstrated by the collapse in trailer prices—with 3-year-old 53-foot dry vans now trading for under $20,000—and the high volume of repossessions dominating used equipment sales, where 158 out of 162 units sold by Ritchie Bros. in Q3 2025 were repossessions.

This contraction is bleeding into the tech sector, as evidenced by the Chapter 11 filing of VC-backed freight tech startup Zuum, which listed assets and liabilities between $10 million and $50 million. Importantly, 19 of Zuum's top 20 unsecured creditors are freight brokers, revealing how interconnected the ecosystem is and exposing brokers to significant financial risk from failed tech platforms.

Amidst the contraction, the future driver talent pipeline is seeing massive investment, including a 4.9 million earmark secured by Senator Thom Tillis for Southeastern Community College in North Carolina to aggressively expand its truck driver training program. Furthermore, a significant bureaucratic roadblock was temporarily removed when the DC Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay on the FMCSA’s non-domiciled CDL rule, halting restrictions while the court reviews a lawsuit against the regulation.

We also cover major international policy shifts, including the U.S. Trade Representative suspending Section 301 port fees on China-built cargo ships for one year, a reciprocal move that temporarily eases global trade tensions. Finally, we discuss the sobering update in air cargo capacity, where the FAA temporarily grounded all MD-11 freighters for inspection following a tragic UPS crash in Louisville, impacting major carriers like UPS and FedEx globally.

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The growing list of bankruptcies in trucking has caught up a significant new participant from the freight tech part of the business, as ⁠VC-backed Zuum files for chapter 11 protection⁠ with assets and liabilities listed in the range of $10 million to $50 million.

The US Trade Representative officially announced the one-year suspension of ⁠port fees on Chinese ships⁠ docking at American ports. This suspension, effective until November 10, 2025, is part of a wide-ranging trade agreement where China simultaneously dropped retaliatory fees on U.S.-flagged vessels.

A legislative package designed to end the 40-day government shutdown includes a major earmark: ⁠$4.9 million for trucker training in North Carolina⁠. Secured by Senator Thom Tillis, this appropriation for Southeastern Community College is seen as unusual because it is the ninth highest earmark among 360 others and dwarfs typical federal grants for truck driver training programs.

Plus, check out the FreightWaves TV lineup, including ⁠Loaded and Rolling⁠ with Thomas Wasson.

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This episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? features two in-depth conversations focused on how technology is reshaping trucking safety, operations, and cargo security. Host Malcolm Harris first speaks with Kiren Sakhar, Chief Product Officer at Samsara, about how AI-powered dashcams, sensors, and real-time coaching are helping fleets shift from reactive safety practices to predictive, preventative ones. They discuss improvements in driver experience, reduced accidents, and how balanced coaching and recognition can strengthen retention and culture.

In the second segment, Danny Ramon, Director of Intelligence and Response at Overhaul, breaks down the rapid rise in cargo theft, especially sophisticated fraud-based schemes and strategic theft methods. He explains how criminals are using identity spoofing, double/triple brokering, and cyber tactics to target freight—and how better training, authentication, and proactive security can reduce risk during high-volume seasons.

Overall, the episode highlights the increasing importance of AI, real-time data, and informed security practices across fleet operations—from protecting drivers to preventing multimillion-dollar supply chain losses.

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Aifleet is cutting its fleet size from approximately 180 trucks down to about half and letting go of nearly 100 personnel, triggered by the abrupt termination of a contract with a key supplier.

The air cargo market is facing its own shock following a tragic crash, resulting in the temporary grounding of MD-11 freighters by both UPS (27 planes) and FedEx (28 planes) as a precautionary measure, following Boeing's recommendation. Since the MD-11 makes up about 9% of both companies' main fleets, this temporary loss of lift creates significant capacity tightness systemwide heading into peak season.

Simultaneously, U.S. tariff policies are forcing real, fundamental supply chain changes, with IKEA, for example, estimating over $400 million in additional tariff-related costs this year alone. This pressure is accelerating nearshoring efforts, with Mexico emerging as the strongest beneficiary, evidenced by investments like Motherson putting $50 million into a new auto parts plant and Kuehne+Nagel expanding its cross-border infrastructure in El Paso.

Looking overseas, the shift in sourcing is accelerating the decline in container import volumes, which are now projected to keep falling into early 2026, with December expected to be down almost 18% year-over-year. Meanwhile, the Suez Canal Authority, whose revenue plummeted 60% this year, is offering a 15% discount on tolls, hoping that stability returns and ships start coming back through the Red Sea in the new year. Finally, carriers must be cautious about immediate operational risks, as early blizzard conditions are severely hitting Chicago and the Midwest, causing major delays and poor visibility, especially around I-57.

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