US rail car load volumes are currently outpacing last year's figures, despite looming concerns about incoming ocean containers. Weekly railcar volumes exceeded 502,000, representing a 5.5% year-over-year increase, while year-to-date American railroad traffic is up slightly, contrasting with only a 2% gain in Canadian traffic and a 10% drop in Mexican traffic. 

Forward Air is seeking shareholder approval to change its state of incorporation from Tennessee to Delaware. This strategic maneuver is described as an effort to "resteer the ship" following a challenging merger with Omni Logistics and aims to provide increased flexibility, potentially making it easier to sell the company. The Forward Air board approved this reincorporation plan, which leverages Delaware’s corporate governance framework to explore strategic options like a sale.

A group of West Coast politicians and port leaders are issuing a stern warning that Trump administration tariffs are triggering significant supply chain disruptions that pose serious threats to both regional and national economies. They stress that the window to minimize the economic harm is rapidly closing, noting that small businesses are already facing consequences similar to those experienced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Tune in to "What The Truck?!?" today for a segment breaking down the realities of these tariffs, including potential adjustment strategies and whether companies are genuinely passing on costs to consumers. Also, don't forget to secure your tickets for the Freight Fraud Symposium happening next week on May 14th in Dallas, Texas by visiting live.frightwaves.com.

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Aurora Innovation has officially launched its commercialized driverless trucking operations in Texas, running autonomous trucks without a human driver along the I-45 corridor between Houston and Dallas. The company partnered with Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor companies for this program, which received praise from Texas Governor Greg Abbott for its potential to move products efficiently, create jobs, and improve road safety.

Carrier Heartland Express posted another disappointing quarterly result for 2025, reporting its seventh straight net loss on Wednesday. Revenue fell 19 percent year over year, with leadership citing tariff uncertainties, adverse weather, and prolonged industry challenges like cost inflation outpacing freight demand as reasons for the poor performance.

Penske Logistics is cutting over 300 warehouse jobs from a facility in Missouri after losing a contract with a grocery in the area. A WARN notice reported the permanent closure effective July 15th, with plans to transfer the service to a different warehousing provider and offer employees transfer opportunities to BGDC Distribution.

And companies across various sectors are releasing new plans to adjust services, pricing, and more in response to evolving trade policies. Staff writer Grace Sharkey gathered responses from dozens of companies, including retailers, automakers, and tech giants.

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Truckload carrier Werner Enterprises experienced a historic first-quarter operating loss, attributing the result to factors like elevated insurance costs, extreme weather, a smaller fleet, and changes in customer activity stemming from tariff uncertainty. CEO Derek Leathers stated that this performance "does not represent who we are" and that the company is making near-term moves while keeping an eye on future market changes.

UPS plans to eliminate approximately 20,000 front-line positions this year and undergo a significant network restructuring, including closing sortation centers, partly to manage the reduction of unprofitable business from Amazon. The company aims for over $3 billion in cost savings in 2025 as it moves to decrease outbound Amazon deliveries by 50% by 2026.

Despite concerns about tariffs and expected volume declines, Gulf Coast ports, including Houston, New Orleans, and Corpus Christi, reported rising freight volumes in March. These ports saw a bump in volumes after a slow February, with Houston experiencing a 7% year-over-year increase, helped by manufacturing raw materials like steel and aluminum and increases in loaded exports.

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Apollo Global Management has issued a severe warning for the U.S., forecasting mass layoffs in the trucking and retail sectors expected to begin in the next four to six weeks due to the ripple effects of tariffs and trade uncertainty. This outlook includes anticipated shortages across the retail space as import volumes are expected to drop substantially, with declining import volumes impacting trucking workloads and forcing carriers to cut labor costs.

DHL has ended its temporary suspension on shipping medium-value business-to-consumer (B2C) goods valued between $800 and $2,500 to the United States after negotiating changes to customs rules that previously created administrative burdens and shipment backlogs. This allows these shipments to once again enter the U.S. using expedited informal declaration processes, although DHL noted customers might still experience some slight delays as they work through the backlog.

President Trump has signed an executive order requiring the nation's truck drivers to be proficient in speaking and reading English. The order mandates revising out-of-service criteria to ensure drivers violating this English proficiency rule are placed out-of-service, aiming to enhance roadway safety by adding enforcement to existing federal law.

Upcoming FreightWaves TV programming includes 'Check Call' and 'Loaded and Rolling'. FreightWaves is also hosting the Freight Fraud Symposium in Dallas on May 14th, and nominations for the Fraud Fighters Award close on Friday.

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LTL carrier Saia faced a difficult first quarter, reporting a net loss and earnings per share significantly below expectations, leading to a 30% drop in its stock price. Tariffs and other market forces impacted demand, exacerbating costs from carrying excess capacity. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) completed audits in March that identified $310 million in duties and fees owed due to undervalued or improperly declared goods. This represents a 10,590% increase in assessed fees compared to February, which experts attribute to increased scrutiny under the administration's new trade policy. 

In legal news, the patent infringement lawsuit between Omnitracs and Motive concluded with a federal jury unanimously ruling that Motive was not guilty of infringing any of Omnitracs’ patents related to fleet management technology. 

Additionally, FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller discussed the 'collapse' of outbound freight from China into the United States on CNBC. This situation, affecting West Coast ports with blank sailings, is driven by factors including tariffs on Chinese goods, proposed fees on Chinese carriers, and economic uncertainty impacting American consumers. 

Today’s upcoming FreightWaves TV programming includes 'The Stockout' and 'What the Truck?!?', and mentions upcoming events like the Freight Fraud Symposium and the Freight Fraud Fighters Awards

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FreightWaves' Kaylee Nix, John Kingston, John Gallagher and Noi Mahoney break down the latest news on President Donald Trump's tariff proposals and share what impact they could have on the economy.

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In this spooktacular Check Call Halloween episode, Mary O'Connell joins Kaylee Nix for a freight-filled fright fest! They discuss scary broker stories, Halloween candy logistics, and the regulations that give you chills. Don't miss out on the tricks and treats (and maybe a joke or two) in the Check Call newsletter!

Key points:

This episode is full of Halloween fun and spooky freight stories.

Mary O'Connell discusses the scariest things that can happen to a freight broker.

The conversation covers Halloween candy logistics and the regulations that can make your hair stand on end.

Subscribe to the Check Call newsletter for tricks, treats, and maybe even a joke!

Links:

Check Call newsletter: freightwaves.com/check-call

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Join us as we discuss the rise of organized retail crime and its impact on the retail industry. Our guest, Grace Sharkey, co-host of the Stuck Out podcast, shares valuable insights on this pressing issue. We delve into the following topics:

The evolution of organized retail crime: How has it changed in recent years?

The role of freight fraud: How does it contribute to the problem?

The impact on retailers and consumers: What are the consequences?

Raising awareness and taking action: How can we address this issue?

Don't miss this informative and engaging conversation!

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Join us for a lively community update as host Mary O'Connell dives into the latest episode of "Running on Ice." Kicking off with some Halloween spirit, Mary discusses her spooky attire before introducing a special crossover episode featuring Thomas Wasson from "Loaded and Rolling." They explore the unexpected rise in reefer outbound tender rejections leading up to the holiday season, the impact of recent hurricanes, and what to expect as Thanksgiving approaches. Tune in for hot takes, festive fun, and insights that will help you navigate the end of the year in the freight market. Don’t miss out—"Running on Ice" drops today at 2 PM ET on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms!

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In this episode of the Loaded and Rolling community update, we're joined by Thomas Wasson, host of Loaded and Rolling, the show, newsletter, and podcast dedicated to all things trucking! Thomas dives into the latest industry trends, including:

Critical issues facing truck drivers and motor carriers according to a recent report.

The rise of electric vehicles in the trucking industry and the impact on concerns.

The surprising omission of freight fraud from the top ten concerns, and why it might become a bigger issue soon.

A new first-responder service for commercial drivers from Motive and how it can save lives.

Signs of stabilization in the freight market and what to expect for the rest of the year, including Thanksgiving and the impact of recent hurricanes.

Plus, Thomas gives us a sneak peek at the upcoming "Spooktacular crossover event" episode of Loaded and Rolling! You won't want to miss this fun and informative episode.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Loaded and Rolling newsletter for more trucking industry insights!

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