FreightCasts

In this episode, we dive into the world of automation and efficiency. Our guest, Jesse Buckingham, founder of Vooma to break down how to create more efficient processes and integrate AI into an organization. For more information, subscribe to Check Call the newsletter or the podcast.

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This episode of What the Truck?! delivers a packed lineup of industry insights and big-name guests. After a quick sponsor spotlight on Verizon Business, Harris dives into the headlines—covering FMCSA’s English proficiency testing concerns, the latest State of Freight report, President Trump’s approval of an $85B Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger, and shipping disruptions on the Mississippi River.
The first guest, Scott Cornell, VP of Transportation at Travelers and a veteran cargo theft expert, breaks down the surge in cargo theft, particularly a 96% spike in metal thefts driven by copper demand. He explains thieves’ methods, from straight theft at truck stops to sophisticated double-brokering scams, and shares prevention and recovery strategies for brokers and carriers.
Later, David Galbraith, VP of Global Brand and Marketing at Mack Trucks, joins to discuss brand legacy, driver engagement, and marketing innovation. With decades of experience across automotive and tech, Galbraith explains how Mack is blending its heritage of toughness with forward-looking sophistication and comfort—highlighted by initiatives like the Mack Hotel campaign and the “Driven by Heroes” platform celebrating truck drivers as essential workers.

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This week’s deep dive unpacks the relentless surge of nearshoring at the U.S.-Mexico border, where year-to-date trade has surpassed the $507 billion mark, cementing Mexico’s place as the number one U.S. trade partner. We examine how logistics firms like Uber Freight are heavily integrating customs, brokerage, and transportation services to digitalize the “black hole” at the border and navigate the growing complexity of USMCA rules and new tariffs.

We shift from land to air to analyze how the U.S. policy ending the de minimis exemption for small parcels from China is hammering global carriers. This single change trimmed FedEx’s Q1 operating income by $150 million and created a projected $1 billion fiscal year headwind, forcing the company to cut its Trans-Pacific capacity by 25% and redeploy assets to the profitable Asia-to-Europe lane.

Finally, we explore the domestic physical limits currently squeezing the supply chain, including the severe crisis on the Mississippi River where drought-driven low water levels are forcing capacity cuts and causing barge rates to jump nearly 50% . We also discuss the immediate pressure on the new Federal Highway Administration administrator, Sean McMaster, to prioritize the persistent lack of critically needed truck parking capacity across the country.

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Uber Freight is betting big on cross-border trade, deepening its imprint in Mexico by integrating customs, brokerage, and transportation services to help shippers navigate the complex trade environment, especially as U.S.-Mexico trade has surged 21% this year. The company uses a digitized method to provide visibility at the border, which historically has been referred to as the "black hole" in logistics, and helps customers avoid extra duties or delays due to shifting regulations like USMCA rules of origin.

President Trump has voiced his approval for the proposed $85 billion merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, calling Union Pacific a "great railroad". If approved by the Surface Transportation Board (STB), this deal would create the nation's largest railroad, boasting 52,000 miles of track across 43 states.

Volvo Trucks North America has also launched Load Finder, a new, free load board designed to help carriers reduce empty miles and deadhead operations. Developed in partnership with Canadian-based freight tech company Class8, the platform aggregates available loads from over 40 sources and integrates into the existing Volvo Connect system for customers.

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In this episode, we get into how produce season can be chaotic but not with the proper plan in place. Our guest, George Schergen, Chief Client Officer at Dynamic Logistix, breaks down the ways to best plan and prepare for produce season as well as the best ways to help produce season shippers. For more information, subscribe to Running on Ice the newsletter or podcast.

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On this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris is joined by the “freight sensei” himself, Thomas Wasson. The two dive into a wide-ranging conversation that blends industry insights with personal stories from Thomas’s career in logistics.

They cover everything from Tesla’s latest autopilot lawsuits and the future of autonomous trucking , to how companies like Outpost are scaling up terminal networks to handle billions in freight . Thomas also unpacks why trailers are the unsung heroes of supply chains , the potential ripple effects of major rail mergers , and what driver appreciation really means in an industry that stops the world without them.

Along the way, Thomas reflects on his own journey—from struggling as a new broker to building startups and finding his voice at FreightWaves. It’s a mix of freight tech, hard-earned lessons, and the human side of trucking that you won’t want to miss.

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⁠Amazon has aggressively expanded its third-party logistics footprint⁠. They opened their Multi-Channel Fulfillment service to merchants on rival platforms like Shein, Shopify, and Walmart, leveraging their scale to become the default logistics backbone for e-commerce.

We analyze the major corporate reality shift in Less-Than-Truckload as ⁠FedEx Freight remains firmly on track to become an independent public company by June 2026⁠, trading on the NYSE as FDXF. Despite a constrained LTL market due to a weak industrial economy, FedEx Freight announced a 5.9% general rate increase taking effect January 5th, driven by spin-off cost pressures and rising wages.

The episode shares a stark economic warning of ⁠"profitless prosperity," which projects steady, slow expansion for US GDP and freight activity through 2029⁠, yet requires operators to fight hard for margins. Persistent inflation is expected, fueled by factors like labor scarcity, fiscal deficits, and rising energy demand, making these rate increases likely to stick.

Adding to the inflation headache, ⁠the weighted average U.S. tariff rate has climbed to 16.4%, the highest level seen since the 1930s⁠, which is expected to generate 1.3% to 1.4% inflation. We also cover capacity dynamics, noting that while the Outbound Tender Rejection Index remains low (stuck just over 5%) signaling persistent excess capacity, capacity exits are expected to continue as smaller carriers struggle to afford replacing aging truck fleets.

Finally, we address critical regulatory changes related to risk and driver welfare, starting with the ⁠Department of Transportation launching a major crackdown on cargo theft⁠ after a spike of more than 90% between 2021 and 2024. ⁠New legislation is also moving fast to ban predatory lease-purchase programs⁠, which were concluded by an FMCSA task force to be "irredeemable tools of fraud and driver oppression" that shift the financial burden onto drivers.

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FedEx Freight is becoming a standalone public company, with its parent planning to spend $600 million to enhance its IT systems and infrastructure ahead of the separation . Consolidated adjusted earnings for FedEx were strong for the fiscal first quarter, exceeding expectations even though FedEx Freight revenue saw a 3.1% year-over-year decline.

Hear the latest on the ongoing labor negotiations as Canada Post prepares to present a new contract offer to unionized mail carriers in an effort to break the existing stalemate. However, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers declined to immediately drop their limited strike action—a ban on delivering marketing mail—and asked why negotiations need to be postponed for another week after two years without new collective agreements.

The morning minute also features the opening of the Savage Tooele Railroad in the northwest corridor of Utah, marking the state’s first new short line railroad in over a century. This 11-mile route restores a former Union Pacific branch and serves the Lakeview Business Park, a project Governor Spencer Cox hailed as a major step forward for Utah’s economy .

Tune into FreightWaves TV later today for WHAT THE TRUCK?!? with Malcolm Harris at noon. You can also register for next month's State of Freight which will be live and in-person at the Future Freight Festival (F3).

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The freight market continues to shift under the weight of economic stagnation, unpredictable demand patterns and industry headwinds.

As we move into peak season, the question remains: What comes next?

Join Craig Fuller, Founder & CEO at FreightWaves, and Zach Strickland, Head of Freight Market Intelligence at SONAR for this month’s State of Freight, presented by Triumph, as they discuss:

- Economic Pressures: How ongoing stagnation is reshaping freight dynamics- Peak Season Outlook: A refined read on what shippers and carriers should really expect- Market Wild Cards: The external forces that could send the industry in a new direction

Whether you’re planning capacity, managing spend, or assessing risk, this discussion will help you stay one step ahead of market uncertainty.

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August saw an ⁠accelerated decline in freight shipments⁠, particularly in less-than-truckload (LTL) volumes, marking the largest year-over-year drop since October 2023. Meanwhile, the Port of Los Angeles experienced record container traffic in July and August due to early holiday stocking, but anticipates a ⁠significant slowdown through the end of 2025⁠ as economic caution grows and new ship fees are implemented.

In a move to enhance infrastructure,⁠ Outpost has secured $1 billion in funding to double its truck terminal network⁠, expanding its national footprint across key logistics hubs. Their proprietary gate automation platform, leveraging AI and computer vision, provides customers with comprehensive asset visibility and flexible service options.

The U.S. Postal Service is also modernizing, investing in ⁠next-generation package sorting machines⁠ like the PILS and MEWS systems to significantly boost processing capacity and reduce operating costs. On the rails, ⁠Watco has signed an agreement with Intramotev to deploy its TugVolt autonomous battery-electric railcars⁠, marking the first commercial deployment of such innovative freight rail technology by a railroad operator.

Despite these advancements, the industry faces ongoing challenges, as evidenced by a federal appeals court upholding a ruling that requires the defunct ⁠Yellow Corp. to pay over $6.5 billion in pension withdrawal liabilities⁠. This decision rejects Yellow Corp.'s argument that federal bailout funds absolved it of this significant debt.

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