In this episode of FreightWaves’ What The Truck?!?, host Malcolm Harris dives into how technology is quietly reshaping the freight world. From AI-powered visibility to smarter dock operations, this show takes you under the hood of innovation in logistics.

Guests:

Wesley Montague, CEO & Founder of ShipItPro — shares how his platform is tackling freight damage and cargo claims head-on, saving shippers billions through proactive tech and smarter communication across the supply chain.

David Mendelson, Chief Product Officer at Super Dispatch — talks scaling logistics tech, the evolution of SuperPay, and how invisible AI is making carriers’ lives easier (and getting them paid faster).

Headlines:

- ⁠U.S. DOT halts non-domiciled CDLs — what it means for illegal operators⁠

- ⁠USPS carrier shot by Amazon driver raises questions about delivery safety⁠

- ⁠Red Sea tensions impact global trade routes amid Gaza peace talks⁠

- ⁠Derek Bars confirmed as new FMCSA chief, signaling tighter regulatory focus⁠

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Join Craig Fuller and freight tech veteran Prasad Gollapalli (Founder of Trucker Tools and Queued) as they dive deep into the brutal competition and market dynamics shaking up the load board ecosystem.

#FreightTech #LoadBoards #Trucking #DAT #Highway #TruckStop #Logistics #SupplyChain #FreightRecession #Entrepreneurship

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The U.S. Department of Transportation issued an emergency order on September 26th mandating that states immediately stop issuing or renewing non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits and CDLs, targeting licenses often held long after their legal authorization to be in the U.S. had expired.

This crackdown follows a nationwide Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration audit that linked at least five fatal crashes this year to improperly issued licenses. Industry analysis predicts a significant surge in bankruptcies especially among small and mid-size carriers who built their business models on skirting the law by using non-compliant labor willing to run severe hours-of-service violations.

Capacity issues are also global, as ongoing geopolitical uncertainty keeps ocean carriers away from the critical Suez Canal choke point. Maersk’s CEO, Vincent Clerc, stated that shipping firms are unlikely to return until security is “reliably restored” due to unacceptably high risks to crews and vessels. This continued rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope has caused container revenue for the Suez Canal Authority to plummet by as much as 60%, locking in elevated costs and longer transit times across the entire global supply chain.

Connecting these domestic compliance costs and global operational headwinds, Werner CEO Derek Leathers recently characterized freight rates as "stably horrible" for years in the address, noting that potential tariffs on Class 8 trucks made in Mexico could further inflate equipment costs and cap future capacity. Ultimately, this market reset is being structurally guaranteed not by a sudden demand boom, but by the simultaneous removal of illegal low-cost capacity domestically and persistent geopolitical risk that maintains a high operational cost ceiling globally.

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A U.S. Postal Service mail carrier was shot in the face by an Amazon package delivery driver during an altercation that escalated from an argument into a shoving match. Local law enforcement, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI are investigating this incident, which reportedly occurred after the Amazon driver was prevented from entering an area where USPS workers had the mailboxes open. 

The U.S. Senate has confirmed former law enforcement official Derek Barrs to serve as the eighth administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Barrs, who was nominated in March, previously served as the Florida Highway Patrol’s lead representative with the CVSA Enforcement Committee. 

Long Beach Port Chief Mario Cordero is stepping down after dedicating over 20 years of service in the container trades. Cordero, who guided the port through the global pandemic's supply chain disruptions, helped spearhead and formalize the port’s pioneering Green Port Policy in 2005. [Link to "Long Beach port chief Mario Cordero to retire - FreightWaves"]

Finally, be sure to tune in live at noon for an episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? with Malcolm Harris on FreightWaves TV today. The Future of Freight Festival, where you can join the leaders shaping freight’s future, is just about two weeks away in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

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In this episode, we dive into the adaptability of the food distribution industry to temperature tracking. Our guest, Per Mange, CEO and founder of Surfact, breaks down the intricacies of the food distribution network and what’s next for additional temperature-controlled industries. For more information, subscribe to ⁠Running on Ice the newsletter⁠ or podcast.

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In part 5 of Fuller Speed Ahead: Generational Grit, Craig Fuller sits down with trucking legend Max Fuller for a raw look at his career. Max shares shocking stories from his early days working for his father, Clyde Fuller, in the 1970s—including using questionable tactics to keep the business afloat and Max’s bold move to defy his father’s low-profile approach to branding.

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It’s a jam-packed Friday on WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Host Malcolm Harris is joined in the Chattanooga studio by the one and only Dr. Phil of Trucking, Charles Gracey!  They’re breaking down the biggest headlines and getting real about the state of the industry.

First up, a bombshell legal story: The Supreme Court is stepping in to clarify broker and carrier liability once and for all. FreightWaves Editor at Large John Kingston calls in to explain how this ruling could reshape how brokers are held accountable and what it means for YOU. We want to hear your thoughts on this—tweet the show!

Then, Charles Gracey gets candid about his wild journey—from the Navy to culinary school (he was a professional cake decorator!) to becoming a driver and now the voice of “Trucking Sense” on SiriusXM. He’s dropping unfiltered truths on driver recruiting, why authenticity is everything, and what he would change about trucking with a magic wand.

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The core issue involves whether the safety exception of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (F4A) shields brokers, like C.H. Robinson, from negligent hiring claims, a question that has caused conflicting decisions across federal circuits. Brokers view this as fundamental to their business model and urgently need the Supreme Court to provide clarity on where the lines are drawn for their legal protection.

Turning to infrastructure, the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest U.S. import gateway, has announced plans for a massive new container terminal called the Pier 500 project. This undertaking includes two berths and 3,000 feet of wharf across 200 acres, intended to accommodate ultra-large container ships such as the MSC Irina, which can carry over 24,000 TEUs. This expansion, which is expected to take about 10 years to complete, highlights the significant time required for major port infrastructure to keep pace with the increasing size of global shipping vessels.

In the financial sector, we examine Moody’s affirmation of Echo Global Logistics’ corporate family debt rating at B3, which is considered deep into non-investment grade territory. Despite the persistently challenging freight trucking environment, Moody’s held the company's outlook at stable, anticipating that cost saving actions will help offset margin pressure tied to soft freight rates. While leverage remains high, expected to be slightly below 7X debt/EBITDA this year, Echo maintains steady earnings and adequate liquidity.

A surprising tech hurdle impacting EV adoption is revealed in a new report showing that nearly one-third of charging attempts fail, leaving the actual First-Time Charge Success Rate (FTCSR) stuck at 71%, despite high charger uptime statistics. This issue stems primarily from fragmentation in the multiple software systems—including the vehicle, charger, and payment network—that must perform a perfect digital handshake to initiate a charge. Furthermore, success rates drop significantly after about three years because older charging stations often cannot be updated to support newer charging protocols. 

Finally, the podcast addresses accelerating investment in e-commerce fulfillment, driven by consumers still ordering large items online. Walmart recently announced plans to build a $300 million fulfillment center in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, specifically designed to handle bulky online orders like furniture. This massive 1.2 million square-foot facility is expected to open in 2027, underscoring the ongoing need for specialized infrastructure in the supply chain.

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The Port of Los Angeles, which handled 10.3 million TEUs in 2024 and forms the busiest U.S. container gateway with Long Beach, plans to build a brand new terminal to accommodate the world's largest container ships. The new Pier 500 project will comprise two berths and 3,000 feet of wharf on 200 acres of land along the Pier 400 channel, with LA currently seeking proposals for a pre-development agreement regarding financial feasibility and other requirements. 

In legal news, former Surface Transportation Board member Robert Primus filed a federal lawsuit challenging his August 27th dismissal by President Trump, who removed him without giving a reason. Primus, the sole STB member to vote against the 2023 Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, claims his firing violated the law requiring STB members to be removed only for causes like neglect of duty or malfeasance, and he is suing the President, STB Chairman Patrick Fuchs, and the STB. 

Walmart announced plans to build a $300 million fulfillment center in Kings Mountain, near Gastonia, North Carolina, which will be a 1.3 million square foot facility expected to open in 2027. This new center is designed to help Walmart serve customers faster, potentially shipping large items, while creating 300 jobs supported by a potential $4 million state job development grant.

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Brooks Mendenhall of Astronomy Magazine joins host JP Hampstead for a conversation about SpaceX's unique approach to manufacturing the Starship.

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