The Trump administration has placed an  immediate pause on new commercial truck driver work visas. This decision, stemming from safety concerns and a desire to protect American truckers' livelihoods, impacts both H-2B temporary and EB-3 permanent visas, foreshadowing a potential capacity crunch.

Next, we dive into the contentious debate over truck vehicle weight limits, where retailers are pushing for increases to boost freight efficiency and lower costs. However, this faces strong opposition from safety advocates and a divided trucking industry, with the truckload segment firmly against bigger, heavier trucks.

DHL Express extends its contract with Global Crossing Airlines for four months, covering the crucial peak season. GlobalX, utilizing Airbus A321 freighters for daily routes between DHL hubs, saw significant growth including a 7% revenue increase and doubled net income in Q2.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services has appointed Brad Delco as its new CFO, effective September 1st. This strategic financial leadership appointment underscores J.B. Hunt's commitment to disciplined growth, operational excellence, and cost discipline in a challenging market.

The macro freight market outlook remains murky, with the August State of Freight webinar revealing historically weak demand; national truckload volumes are significantly down year-over-year and below 2019 levels. Despite shrinking carrier capacity and rising tender rejection rates, the market is stuck in a "range-bound" cycle of stagnant volumes and rates, driven by consumer spending shifts, weak housing/auto sectors, and pervasive business uncertainty.

A new US-EU framework agreement on reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade designed to boost transatlantic economic ties. This comprehensive deal includes the EU eliminating tariffs on US industrial goods, market access for US agricultural products, and substantial commitments in energy and tech, beyond just tariff reductions.

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Trump’s administration has placed an immediate pause on new commercial truck driver work visas. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited concerns that the increasing number of foreign drivers endangers American lives and undercuts American truckers' livelihoods, a decision that followed a fatal semi-truck crash in Florida and is supported by the ATA.

A framework agreement was announced on Thursday to boost transatlantic economic ties and resolve trade imbalances. Under this deal, the EU will eliminate tariffs on all U.S. industrial goods and grant preferential market access for various American agricultural products, while the U.S. commits to applying a maximum 15% tariff rate on most EU goods.

Furthermore, FedEx is turning its attention to Europe, sending specialists from its U.S. ground, parcel, and freight units to streamline operations and improve efficiency, particularly in route planning and package efficiency. This initiative is a major part of FedEx's plan to cut an additional $1 billion in structural costs this fiscal year, building on the $4 billion already eliminated in the past two years.

Finally, stay updated with FreightWaves TV, featuring new episodes of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? with Thomas Wasson and Running on Ice with Mary O'Connell airing today. Don't forget to register for the upcoming F3: Future of Freight Festival on October 21st and 22nd, and use the code MORNINGMINUTEF325 to receive a $900 discount on your ticket.

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FedEx is undergoing a massive strategic overhaul, aiming to cut another $1 billion in costs this fiscal year, with a primary focus on its European operations. They are leveraging U.S. expertise, consolidating facilities, and heavily investing in AI and machine learning through their Dataworks team to boost efficiency and monetize data from millions of customers and packages daily.

Next, we tackle the growing problems of supply chain fraud and data fragmentation, highlighting exciting new developments. Highway, a carrier verification platform, secured a strategic investment to expand its product suite, offering real-time verification and serving as a crucial first line of defense against skyrocketing fraud for over 1,050 brokers. Additionally, Loop and Data2Logistics have merged to address "dark data" by using Loop's AI-powered DUX platform to convert raw supply chain information into structured, usable intelligence, dramatically cutting invoice processing time and enhancing visibility into true supply chain costs.

Shifting to the human and geopolitical factors, the freight landscape is experiencing significant labor shifts. Over 3,090 freight-related job cuts have been announced since July 18th across 12 states, affecting sectors like party goods, logistics, and auto parts due to bankruptcies, closures, and declining demand. On the trade front, the U.S. has expanded its 50% tariff on imported steel and aluminum to over 400 additional product categories, effective immediately, impacting goods like auto parts and railcars, prompting Mexico to seek an exemption.

Finally, we examine a complex discussion on the rail side concerning border operations. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLET) president is pushing the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for mandatory crew changes at the U.S.-Mexico border, citing English proficiency and safety concerns, particularly regarding Mexican safety inspections. However, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) argues that current cross-border practices are safe, efficient, and create U.S. jobs, as non-U.S. crews are trained in U.S. rules and undergo vetting.

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On this Thursday, August 21st, hear about the strategic merger between Workhorse Group and Motiv Electric Trucks, which aims to create one of North America's largest medium-duty electric truck original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) by combining their strengths in last-mile delivery and medium-duty vehicles. This all-stock transaction, valued at $5 million to approximately $105 million and expected to close in Q4 2025, is poised to target the $23 billion medium-duty truck market and generate at least $20 million in cost synergies by the end of 2026. 

Richard Smith, son of FedEx's late founder Fred Smith, has been nominated for the company's board of directors, setting the stage for him to potentially follow in his father's footsteps as CEO. Currently serving as chief operating officer for FedEx Express International and Airline Operations, this nomination is widely seen as a key step in a succession plan, positioning him for increased responsibilities and to continue his father's legacy within the company. 

Fraud-fighting tech company Highway has secured a strategic growth equity investment for its Carrier Identity platform, led by FTV Capital with additional funding from Lead Edge Capital. This investment aims to expand Highway's product suite and accelerate its growth in the freight brokerage market, providing crucial real-time carrier verification to help brokers combat skyrocketing fraud and improve efficiency within their networks. 

Finally, don't miss out on upcoming FreightWaves events, including today's August state of freight webinar and the F3: Future of Freight Festival taking place in Chattanooga this October. You can also register for the Crossborder Summit at the very beginning of next month, and be sure to use the code MORNINGMINUTEF325 for a $900 discount on your F3 ticket.

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A significant leadership transition at Marten Transport, as CEO Tim Kohl retires at the end of September. Executive Chairman Randy Martin will step back into the CEO role on October 1st, following the refrigerated carrier's recent strategic moves to lower its tractor count and sell its intermodal unit. 

The Port of New Orleans reported continued gains in cargo volume and trade activity through the first half of 2025. This growth was driven by higher container imports and improved schedule reliability, with overall volumes up 2% year-over-year and 9% compared to the second half of 2024. 

Air Canada has restored services after a three-day labor dispute with flight attendants led to disrupted flight schedules. The airline reached a tentative settlement for a new four-year contract, though a full return to regular service may take seven to ten days as aircraft and crew are repositioned.

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Air Canada flight attendant strike caused significant disruption to cargo transport. A tentative agreement was reached, allowing operations to gradually resume after a three-day stoppage. Air Canada's six Boeing 767 freighters maintained a modified schedule during the strike, providing vital continuity for cargo.

The US imposed new reciprocal tariffs on over 90 trading partners, including a new 20% tariff on imports from Taiwan effective August 7th. In response, Foxconn plans new tech parks in the US and Mexico, a strategic pivot aimed at helping Taiwanese companies circumvent these tariffs and accelerate regionalized manufacturing.

The bipartisan Secure Trade Act proposes a 10% baseline tariff on all imports and significantly higher tariffs on goods from China. This legislation aims to reshore manufacturing, reduce reliance on China, and strengthen the Committee on Foreign Investment's power to block foreign investments from "countries of concern".

Shippers are adapting by moving from "just-in-time" to "just-in-case" inventory strategies. This involves consolidating shipments and building buffers to manage increased volatility, with a notable 32.2% surge in units shipped in March despite dropping order counts.

Truckstop.com acquired Denim, a financial technology company specializing in automated invoicing and factoring. This acquisition leverages AI to automate 75% of payments in under a minute, improving cash flow and operational efficiency for carriers and brokers.

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New research from Noël Perry and Truck Parking Club suggests that truck parking problems are more about operational inefficiencies and a lack of awareness rather than an actual shortage of spaces. Although the U.S. has approximately 23.4 million truck parking spaces, only about 3% of this supply is open for public use, pointing to a vast amount of underutilized capacity.

Bipartisan legislation, the Secure Trade Act, has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to give Congress more control over trade and tariff policy and to incentivize American-produced domestic goods. This bill codifies the 10% tariff baseline on all imports and establishes higher tariffs for China, including a 35% tariff on non-strategic goods and a 100% tariff on strategic goods, phased in over five years.

Truckstop.com announced its acquisition of Denim, a transportation-focused financial technology business and factoring service that automates invoicing. This strategic acquisition aims to help both carriers and brokers better manage and increase security for their businesses, while also reducing time-to-cash and optimizing back-office processes by leveraging Denim's AI and automation to process 75% of payments in under one minute.

Stay tuned to FreightWaves TV this afternoon for Loaded and Rolling and Check Call with Mary O'Connell. Remember to visit live.freightwaves.com to register for upcoming events like F3 and the Cross Border Summit to take advantage of registration discounts.

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Air Canada is facing significant disruption as its flight attendants continue an illegal strike, defying a federal order to return to work. This has led to the indefinite suspension of all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights, impacting an estimated 500,000 people and disrupting crucial cargo shipments.

A tragic Florida crash highlights dangerous gaps in commercial driver licensing standards, revealing a system with minimal practical experience requirements and inadequate attention to cultural and language barriers. The shift to automatic transmissions has removed a natural screening mechanism, and inconsistent state licensing requirements create alarming inconsistencies in driver preparation.

California's Clean Truck Partnership is embroiled in multiple legal challenges, with OEMs suing the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Department of Justice intervening to invalidate the deal. The core dispute questions whether federal Congressional action can override EPA waivers that allowed California's stricter emission standards, which CARB continues to enforce despite federal opinions.

SONAR has launched its new "Blue to Blue" mobile app, providing small trucking carriers with affordable, real-time freight market data to identify high-demand, high-rate lanes and maximize profitability. Meanwhile, Xeneta's acquisition of maritime data company eeSea expands its capabilities to offer clients comprehensive data for managing ocean freight contracts based on both cost and service levels, reflecting a trend of strategic mergers in supply chain technology.

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Good morning, and welcome to your FreightWaves Warning Minutes! This episode covers US trade with Mexico, which continued to dominate in June, with volumes up 4.4% year-over-year to $73 billion. Mexico held its position as the top US trade partner, ahead of Canada and China, with key imports from Mexico including computers, passenger vehicles, and auto parts.

We also discuss the Air Canada flight attendant strike, which saw the Canadian government order both parties back to the bargaining table and into binding arbitration just 12 hours after the strike began. This intervention, deemed necessary to protect the Canadian economy, was strongly opposed by the flight attendants' union, CUPE, which criticized it as undermining workers' rights and favoring Air Canada, leading to a delayed operational restart.

Finally, Canada Post is dealing with ongoing labor issues, as it will resume contract negotiations with the mail carriers' union this Wednesday for the first time in three months. This follows the union's overwhelming rejection of Canada Post's final offer, continuing a contentious dispute that has spanned over 18 months and included a 32-day strike last year.

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