FreightWaves Today

On Tuesday’s FreightWaves Morning Minute, we cover the news that Jacobs’ QXO gets big investment from group led by Apollo, securing $1.2 billion to consolidate the building product supply chain. This fresh capital empowers the logistics venture to manage a growing asset base within a fragmented ecosystem.

Next, we discuss how Stord buys e-commerce specialist Shipwire from Ceva Logistics as part of a strategy to rapidly scale its operations. The acquisition provides Stord with 12 new fulfillment centers and access to a global network of 1,000 warehouses.

We also report that Trump delays furniture, cabinet tariffs; scales back duties on pasta, pushing planned hikes on furniture imports back to at least 2027,. The administration simultaneously reduced proposed duties on Italian pasta while keeping the existing 25% duty on furniture in place.

Finally, be sure to tune in to FreightWaves TV today for new episodes of Check Call and Loaded and Rolling. These programs will air at 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively.

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In this episode of The Daily, we break down the record-breaking peak retail season of 2025, which saw tender rejections soar above 13% amidst severe winter storms. We also explore why truckload order lead times continue to rise, hitting a six-year high as shippers adjust their strategies to cope with escalating trade tensions.

The discussion turns to a critical regulatory standoff as California faces threats of federal funding cuts and CDL program decertification over improperly issued non-domiciled licenses. This potential "nuclear option" from the FMCSA could ground hundreds of thousands of drivers, creating a massive liability risk for carriers and brokers alike.

On the labor front, we analyze a major court ruling where Amazon lost its bid to halt NLRB proceedings, keeping the controversial "joint employer" designation in play for delivery service providers. Meanwhile, in the rail sector, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern defend their merger application against competitors claiming the nearly 7,000-page filing is incomplete.

Finally, we look south at the booming nearshoring trend where Chihuahua has emerged as Mexico's top exporting state driven by advanced manufacturing and electronics. We also discuss how Mexico's new tariffs on Asian imports are aligning with U.S. trade policy to reshape cross-border logistics in 2026.

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Kodiak AI has announced a strategic partnership with Bosch to scale its autonomous truck platform for broader manufacturing integration. This collaboration aims to install the Kodiak Driver system directly on assembly lines or through specialized upfitters to ensure commercial scalability.

The Ninth Circuit Court has denied an injunction request as Amazon loses a court fight regarding National Labor Relations Board proceedings. This ruling allows the labor board to continue examining the critical legal question of whether the tech giant qualifies as a joint employer with its third-party delivery companies.

North Carolina carrier Queen Transportation shuts down operations over the holiday break, grounding a fleet of 89 trucks. The sudden closure was effective immediately, leaving approximately 90 drivers and support staff unemployed without prior warning.

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In this episode of FreightWaves’ The Daily, we map out the critical operational shifts defining the 2026 supply chain landscape, focusing on risk management over pure technology. We examine how generative AI and OEM partnerships are accelerating Waabi's push for point-to-point autonomous trucking to solve the commercial inefficiencies of the "highway trap."

Regulatory risks are rising as a massive budget deficit in California threatens to disrupt federal, leading to significant compliance volatility for carriers. An internal audit highlights systemic weaknesses in the state's safety programs that could make roadside inspections and protocols increasingly unpredictable.

On the macro front, a robust 4.3% GDP growth rate in Q3 signals a healthier economic foundation driven by strong consumer spending and exports rather than just import fluctuations. This economic shift is prompting industry leaders to stop designing for certainty and start building supply chains for adaptability to better handle market disruptions.

We also discuss how this renewed focus on efficiency is setting the stage for a resurgence in large carrier M&A, including the anticipated spin-off of FedEx Freight. Finally, we analyze the urgent need to harden networks against sophisticated criminal rings that are exploiting commercial freight channels to smuggle narcotics and stolen vehicles across borders.

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In this episode of the Freightways Morning Minute, we explore why autonomous trucking companies are shifting strategies to tackle surface streets for door-to-door delivery. By ditching the highway-only model detailed in Beyond the highway: Waabi's bet on door-to-door autonomy, these companies aim to eliminate costly first- and last-mile inefficiencies known as the "highway trap".

We also break down the latest economic data, which reveals that GDP grew 4.3% in Q3, and it was ‘healthier’ growth driven by robust domestic demand rather than technical anomalies. This expansion signals underlying strength in consumer spending and exports, offering positive news for future freight volumes.

Finally, we look ahead to a potential resurgence of deal-making in 2026, highlighted by FedEx Freight’s plans to spin off as an independent public company. While Large carrier M&A proves elusive in 2025, stabilizing volumes and lower interest rates are expected to fuel a massive industry shakeup next year.

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This episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute examines Amazon’s recent support for Flowers Foods in a Supreme Court case that could redefine legal protections for local delivery drivers. The retail giant argues that single-state drivers do not qualify for the federal arbitration exemption reserved for interstate transportation workers.

We also report on the abrupt closure of Queen Transportation, a North Carolina carrier that ceased operations over the Christmas holiday. The shutdown left nearly 90 drivers jobless and highlights the severe liquidity pressures currently facing the trucking industry.

Finally, we look at the logistics real estate boom in Arizona, signaled by Walmart’s $152 million acquisition of a massive industrial complex in Glendale. Data from the Phoenix market indicates that local trucking capacity is tightening as major investments reshape the region's supply chain infrastructure.

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In this episode of The Daily, we explore why Transport Capacity Services is betting on Monterrey to manage the surge in nearshoring activity and cross-border complexity. As manufacturing investment floods northern Mexico, stricter customs enforcement and driver regulations threaten to tighten freight capacity significantly by 2026.

To support these long-term trade flows, Union Pacific is developing a massive industrial park near Houston, while developers repurpose facilities like a former Waco bottling plant for distribution. Meanwhile, market distress has forced Standard Forwarding Freight to cease operations after 91 years, signaling how the downturn is punishing leveraged operators.

Consolidation continues to reshape the rail sector as GATX and Brookfield complete their acquisition of Wells Fargo’s rail leasing portfolio in a multibillion-dollar joint venture. On the technology front, telematics provider Motive has filed for an IPO, underscoring how software is becoming core infrastructure for fleets facing thin margins.

Severe weather is also impacting operations, with Winter Storm Ezra triggering FMCSA hours-of-service waivers across 20 states and prompting warnings for truckers east of I-35 to stay off the roads. Finally, we discuss unconfirmed reports that China may be converting a cargo ship into a missile launcher, a development that could fundamentally alter global supply chain security.

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After nearly two decades of litigation, 17 years later, Teamsters locals will get payments into benefit trust marks the end of a dispute involving Oak Harbor Freight Lines. An administrative law judge has ordered the LTL carrier to pay over $23 million for unfair labor practices committed during a 2008 strike.

As nearshoring activity accelerates, TCS is betting on Monterrey as cross-border trade gets more complicated and highlights new logistics investments south of the border. Additionally, Union Pacific is developing a massive 2,000-acre industrial park near Houston to better serve international gateways.

Drivers are facing hazardous conditions as Truckers east of I-35 advised to stay home outlines the dangers of Winter Storm Ezra. High winds across the Midwest and Northeast pose a significant risk of trailer rollovers, prompting urgent warnings for fleets to halt operations in affected areas.

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In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we investigate a major class-action filing aimed at stopping the California DMV from canceling nearly 20,000 commercial driver's licenses due to administrative errors. The Lawsuit Targets California DMV Over Administrative Failures Affecting 20,000 CDL Drivers argues that these cancellations disproportionately affect the Sikh community and pose an immediate risk to the stability of the supply chain.

We also break down critical leadership updates in maritime governance, including the Senate confirmation of former Maersk executive Stephen Carmel as the administrator of the Maritime Administration. As the Marad chief, FMC nominee confirmed, these new appointees are set to fill vital gaps in the agencies that regulate U.S. ocean and port logistics.

Finally, we discuss the rejection of an ambitious rail initiative after Amtrak turns down the ‘Transcontinental Chief’ proposal, citing a lack of a fundamental business case for the 72-hour transcontinental service. AmeriStarRail now plans to lobby Congress to force negotiations for the drive-aboard train service in hopes of launching by the 2028 Olympics.

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In this episode of The Daily, we explore the rising cost of rigidity as new regulations and market shifts challenge supply chain agility. We analyze how the FRA caps non-English rail crews at 10-mile border zone to create cross-border capacity bottlenecks and discuss New legislation could upend truck broker margins by imposing steep surcharges on carriers with safety violations.

Shippers face a difficult balancing act as Inventory management strategy shifts once again toward leaner models, potentially risking stockouts if demand spikes in 2026. Meanwhile, ocean carriers are adopting split strategies, with significant Ocean rates as the New Year promises a good ‘blanking’ for US East Coast, driving up rates while West Coast capacity expands.

In the equipment sector, REPOWR’s data shows it cost more in ‘25 for a short-term dry van rental despite a weak market, driven largely by tighter network security efforts. Finally, we look at the Canada Post, mail carriers tentatively agree on labor deal, which secures weekend delivery but locks in operational rigidity by rejecting dynamic routing.

We also briefly touch on the STB asks comments on ‘completeness’ of rail merger application as regulators review the 7,000-page document regarding the UP-NS deal. This regulatory scrutiny adds another layer of complexity to an industry already grappling with rapid structural changes.

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