FreightWaves Today

By FreightWavesNews Business News

FreightWaves Today episodes

July 22FreightWaves Today | July 22
This episode of FreightWaves Today covers key developments across logistics, freight technology, and the industrial economy:
Key Episode Highlights & Topics
Industry News & AI Breakthroughs: The hosts review major headlines, including JB Hunt's partnership with startup Overroot to deploy AI-led freight execution platform agents across millions of loads. They also examine Forward Air's nonbinding agreement to retain 50% to 75% of a crucial $250 million account (believed to be NVIDIA) that was at risk due to customer diversification, alongside MARAD's agreement with the Port of Long Beach to test small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).

Modal Shifts & Bulk Logistics with Circle Logistics: Nicholas Schipe, Director of Premium Transportation at Circle Logistics, discusses automotive expedited shipping, intermodal conversions, and chemical/liquid bulk freight. He highlights how supply disruptions, port downtimes, and domestic energy production trends (like wastewater and transformer oils) drive modal shifts between rail and truckload.

AI and Automation in Warehousing: Andre Luecht, Global Strategy Lead for Transport & Logistics at Zebra Technologies, details how "physical AI," mobile devices, and environmental sensors (e.g., tracking temperature, shock, and ripening gases) empower frontline warehouse workers. He explains how smart assistants give frontline workers instant access to tribal knowledge and standard operating procedures.

AAR Rail Data Analysis: The hosts break down the latest Association of American Railroads (AAR) weekly report, pointing to overall volume growth (up 3.4% total traffic, 3.8% intermodal) as a strong indicator of industrial momentum. They contrast solid U.S. demand with declines in Canadian auto parts and commodities tied to trade policy uncertainties.

Class 8 Truck Orders & Used Market Dynamics: Chris Ciolino (Industrials Analyst from Bloomberg Intelligence) shares insights on strong Class 8 truck orders and dealer sentiment. He notes that while order backlogs are full through early 2027, much of the volume represents replacement demand ahead of EPA 2027 regulations rather than aggressive fleet expansion, due in part to driver shortages, engine pricing, and tariff impacts.

Earnings & Financial Trends with Triumph: Aaron Graft, CEO and Founder of Triumph, breaks down their spectacular Q2 earnings. He reports a 26% increase in average invoice size in their factoring business and highlights why this tight, supply-driven freight market feels structural rather than short-lived. He also discusses operational efficiencies, their 65% market touch in brokered freight, and the rapid 49% growth of their LoadPay digital wallet product.
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2 hr 3 min
July 22 J.B. Hunt's AI Platform, Forward Air Saves $250M Account, & Nuke Power at Long Beach | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off by examining a major AI breakthrough that could fundamentally transform freight execution across North America. J.B. Hunt Transport Services has partnered with a startup to publicly launch an AI-led freight execution platform following a year-long co-design process. The platform leverages AI agents to automate shipment coordination, reading live data, detecting exceptions, and managing customer communications while working within carriers' existing systems. Overroute's technology is now deployed across J.B. Hunt's business units, with AI agents working behind the scenes on millions of loads.
Meanwhile, Forward Air just pulled off a critical rescue of a massive customer relationship that nearly sank the entire company. The logistics provider secured a deal to keep at least half of a $250 million account that had threatened to pull all of its business back in May. Forward's shares had plummeted over forty percent following the warning that it might lose a customer responsible for ten percent of its annual revenue, and the potential loss also foiled its plan to sell the company. Shares of Forward Air surged nineteen percent in early trading following Tuesday's announcement.
Finally, we explore how the nation's busiest container port is about to become the testing ground for nuclear-powered maritime operations. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration will sign the first-ever agreement with the Port of Long Beach to test small modular reactors for commercial vessels and other potential port uses. Separately, Bluecore Energy, a startup headquartered at the Port of Long Beach, announced it has raised ten million dollars to develop floating, barge-mounted reactors to power ports and eventually cargo ships.
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4 min
July 21 FreightWaves Today | July 21
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2 hr 1 min
July 21 Trump Hits Canada with 50% Tariffs, Non-Domiciled CDL Court Battle, & Houthi Red Sea Blockade | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off by examining a massive escalation in the U.S.-Canada trade fight as President Trump announced sweeping fifty percent tariffs on roughly twenty billion dollars worth of Canadian imports scheduled to take effect in thirty days. Using an obscure authority from the Tariff Act of 1930, the new duties will apply even to goods that qualify under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, prompting Ontario's premier to demand reciprocal measures if the tariffs take effect.
Next, we explore a high-stakes legal battle heading for oral arguments this fall as federal agencies prepare to defend the FMCSA's controversial restrictions on non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses in the D.C. Court of Appeals on September 15. Petitioners argue the February rule will render ineligible ninety-seven percent of noncitizens who currently hold a CDL, broadly prohibiting asylum seekers, refugees, and DACA recipients from obtaining licenses even though they are legally authorized to work in the United States.
Finally, we cover a new threat to a critical shipping corridor as Houthi rebels in Yemen declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia at the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. This escalation comes just as major container carriers had recently announced a return of scheduled services to the key route connecting Asia with Europe and North America, raising the risk of wider disruption in a region that is strategically vital for global energy exports and maritime traffic.
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4 min
July 20FreightWaves Today | July 20
In this action-packed episode of FreightWaves Today, hosts Julie Van de Kamp and Malcolm Harris break down the biggest stories impacting global supply chains, cross-border commerce, and freight fraud.
From escalating military conflict in the Strait of Hormuz to billion-dollar federal fraud busts and deep dives into freight market economic trends, we've got you covered!
The Strait of Hormuz & Legal Liability
Nitsana Darshan-Leitner (Founder & President, Shurat HaDin / Israeli Law Center) joins the show for a discussion on Iranian missile strikes on oil tankers, legal recourse for shipowners, international sanctions, and military blockades.
Verified: $1B Cargo Theft Ring & CDL Fraud Crackdown
Philip Brink (Head of Fraud, Media, and Education at FreightWaves) unpacks the FBI’s $1B international cargo theft network, the DHS/DOT crackdown on 75 fraudulent CDL training schools, and Indiana State Police interdictions.
Freight Economy Data & AI Infrastructure Bubble?
Dr. Jason Miller (Supply Chain Professor, Michigan State University) on why AI data center buildouts are driving electrical/steel freight, whether an AI CapEx bubble is forming, and capacity forecasts through 2027.
Digital Broker Liability & Carrier Vetting in Court
Cassandra Gaines (Founder & CEO, Carrier Assurer) breaks down how broker technology and unmanaged data can be used in court, mitigating nuclear lawsuits, double-brokering traps, and shipper liability at the guard shack.
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2 hr 2 min
July 20 US-Mexico Trade Hits $87B, United Cargo Revenue Surges 23%, & Saronic's $3B Texas Shipyard | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off by examining a massive milestone for North American cross-border commerce as Mexico remained the United States' largest overall trading partner in May, recording $87.23 billion in two-way trade. Trade between the U.S. and Mexico surged 17.06% year-over-year, fueled by $33.05 billion in U.S. exports and $54.18 billion in imports, with the port of entry in Laredo, Texas, remaining the nation's busiest international trade gateway.
Next, we shift over to the air cargo sector where United Airlines is riding a massive wave of disruption-driven pricing power straight to the bank. The carrier's cargo revenue surged 22.6% to $527 million in the second quarter as it benefited from a sharp rise in air cargo rates related to disruptions from the Iran war and the strongest volumes since the Covid-fueled boom in 2020. Higher yields were the main contributor, with global shipping space on aircraft falling more than 12% in the Middle East due to ongoing war risks.
Finally, we explore a major bet on American shipbuilding coming to the Texas coast as autonomous maritime technology company Saronic selected the Port of Brownsville for Port Alpha, a planned $3 billion-plus next-generation shipyard that will dramatically expand U.S. shipbuilding capacity while creating up to 10,000 jobs in South Texas. The software-defined facility will focus on building autonomous maritime vessels for commercial and defense applications, initially occupying 835 acres with room to expand to nearly 4,400 acres.
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4 min
July 17 FreightWaves Today | July 17
Welcome to another jam-packed episode of FreightWaves Today! In today's broadcast, we break down the latest shifting dynamics across the logistics, freight, and supply chain industries. From major LTL restructuring news and federal crackdowns on CDL fraud to exclusive expert insights on AI and global geopolitics, we’ve got everything you need to stay ahead of the curve.
We dive deep into ArcBest’s massive rebranding and workforce optimization, look at why the mid-July "summer doldrums" aren't as weak as they seem, and discuss the future of purpose-built, sovereign AI models in logistics. Finally, in our Freight Expectations segment, we debate the real economic impact of the ongoing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz and break down the unprecedented $1.5 trillion U.S. defense budget.
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2 hr 2 min
July 16FreightWaves Today | July 16
This episode of FreightWaves Today features a comprehensive breakdown of the major industry earnings reports that shook the market, with a primary focus on JB Hunt’s impressive quarterly performance.
Key discussion topics include:
Earnings Analysis: Beyond JB Hunt, the hosts discuss the bullish outlook from Prologis and the tightness in industrial warehouse capacity, indicating a shift in supply chain geography toward the center of the country.

M&A in Freight: Eddie Zakowski and Spencer Tenney provide expert insight into the current mergers and acquisitions landscape. They debate the challenges private equity faces when entering the asset-heavy trucking market versus the relative success found in specialized freight niches (e.g., bulk, chemical).

Industry Trends: The segment covers the impact of the Montgomery decision on carrier liability, the state of the spot market, and how capacity constraints are influencing shipper behavior and carrier recruitment.

Freightonomics: Zach Strickland and Ben Peterson conclude the show by analyzing the Pricing Power Index (PPI), discussing how shippers can improve their "shipper of choice" status through facility efficiency, load leveling, and improved payment strategies.

Viral Coverage: The hosts touch on recent real-world disruptions, including the harrowing video of a CN Rail train crew escaping wildfires in Ontario, Canada, and the broader impact of extreme weather on air quality and logistics operations.
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2 hr 1 min
July 16 J.B. Hunt Intermodal Surge, Navistar Wins Delivery Lawsuit, & Tesla Semi Chicago Pilot | The Morning Minute
In this episode, we kick things off by examining the powerful momentum shift toward the rails that's creating massive growth opportunities for the nation's largest intermodal player. J.B. Hunt Transport Services just reported a blockbuster second quarter, with intermodal volumes jumping ten percent year-over-year and significantly outpacing the broader market. Eastern intermodal volumes surged sixteen percent year-over-year, driven by conversion activity at levels the company has not seen in more than a decade, while revenue of three point five billion dollars crushed analyst expectations.
Next, we explore a high-stakes legal battle in federal court where truck manufacturer Navistar defeated a sixteen point five million dollar lawsuit over delayed deliveries during the pandemic-era supply crunch. A Michigan jury sided with Navistar on Monday, rejecting breach of contract and fraud claims brought by GLS LeasCo and Central Transport, and concluding the company was not liable for damages related to the delayed delivery of one thousand one hundred International tractors ordered in twenty twenty-two.
Finally, we head to the Midwest where a major Wisconsin carrier is partnering with Tesla to evaluate the electric Semi in dedicated Chicago operations. De Pere-based Paper Transport Inc., which has logged over eighty-seven million miles using compressed and renewable natural gas, is assessing the battery-electric truck in an environment where predictable routes and consistent mileage provide ideal conditions for real-world testing as Tesla ramps toward volume production this year.
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5 min
July 15 FreightWaves Today | July 15
Welcome to a special edition of FreightWaves Today, broadcast LIVE from the Supply Chain AI Symposium in Chicago! 🚛🤖
Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp co-host this special live edition from one of the premier gatherings of logistics, transportation, and artificial intelligence leaders. Together, they welcome some of the industry's top innovators to separate AI hype from reality and explore how artificial intelligence is already reshaping freight, transportation, and supply chain operations.
Featuring conversations with executives from across the logistics ecosystem, this episode dives into where AI is creating measurable ROI today, where companies are still struggling, and what organizations need to do to successfully implement AI at scale. From enterprise adoption and autonomous workflows to TMS evolution, document automation, appointment scheduling, and the future of human-AI collaboration, this episode is packed with practical insights for carriers, brokers, shippers, and technology providers alike.
Featured Guests
Eric Rempel – Chief Innovation Officer, Redwood
Val Marchevsky – Uber Freight
Jett McCandless – Project44
Alyssa Norcross – Revenova
Megan Orth – C.H. Robinson
David Bell – CloneOps
In this episode:
* Is AI a bubble—or the biggest technology shift in decades?
* Why AI isn't replacing logistics professionals as fast as many think
* The biggest mistakes companies make when implementing AI
* How to measure real ROI from AI initiatives
* Why clean, connected data is still the foundation of successful AI
* AI's growing impact on TMS platforms and enterprise software
* The future of SaaS in an AI-driven world
* How logistics companies are using AI for document processing, workflow automation, appointment scheduling, and customer service
* Why change management—not technology—is often the biggest obstacle to AI success
* Human-in-the-loop AI and why judgment still matters
* Building AI-ready organizations and preparing employees for the future of work
* What brokers, carriers, and shippers should look for when evaluating AI vendors
* The next frontier of AI across freight and supply chain operations
Whether you're leading digital transformation, evaluating AI vendors, building logistics software, or simply trying to understand where the industry is headed, this special live edition of FreightWaves Today delivers valuable insights from the executives putting AI to work across the global supply chain today.
#FreightWaves #FreightWavesToday #SupplyChain #SupplyChainAI #ArtificialIntelligence #Logistics #FreightTech #Transportation #Trucking #Automation #EnterpriseAI #Redwood #UberFreight #Project44 #CHRobinson #CloneOps

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2 hr 1 min

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