FreightWaves Today

In this episode, Craig Fuller and Julie discuss how GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are changing consumer behavior — and why those changes could have a measurable impact on freight volumes. The conversation explores declining food and beverage consumption, shifting demand for snacks, soda, alcohol and restaurant meals, and what those trends could mean for trucking and the broader freight economy.

The show also covers the latest FreightTech 100, FreightWaves’ annual list recognizing innovative companies across freight and supply chain technology. This year’s list reflects the growing influence of artificial intelligence, automation and autonomous trucking.

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In this episode, we kick things off by examining Tesla's ambitious push into the European freight market as the electric vehicle giant targets late-2027 customer deliveries for the Semi after demonstrations begin in the first half of that year. The first European trucks will roll off the Reno, Nevada production line, which is designed for fifty thousand units annually, and will feature a 342-mile usable range with the ability to recover more than sixty percent of range in just thirty minutes using Tesla's new Megacharger network of over one hundred stalls across Europe.

Shifting gears to the rails, we examine how Norfolk Southern is positioning its proposed combination with Union Pacific as a transformative step for intermodal freight. According to the railroad's leadership, the proposed mega-merger is central to removing structural friction from the freight network by creating single-line service for roughly ten thousand existing lanes and eliminating approximately 2,400 railcar handlings and 60,000 car-miles per day. With Norfolk Southern's intermodal volume already up nearly fourteen percent year-over-year, the railroad argues that removing friction rather than simply undercutting truck prices is the key to capturing highway freight.

Finally, we cover a critical new resource for freight brokers navigating heightened liability in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling. Cambridge Mobile Telematics has officially launched Freight Safety Intelligence, a platform that analyzes carrier driving behavior from the previous ninety days and generates real-time carrier-level safety scores. The platform leverages data from carriers' existing telematics systems without requiring new hardware, and it arrives at a crucial moment as brokers face increased exposure to negligent-selection claims following the Supreme Court's ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II.

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FreightWaves Today dives into the latest forces reshaping freight markets, from rising carrier costs and cross-border trade tensions to stronger-than-expected import volumes and signs of tightening truckload capacity.

Hosts Julie Van de Kamp and Zach Strickland break down J.B. Hunt’s warning that higher diesel and driver costs are outpacing pricing gains, as well as the growing challenges around recruiting, retaining and developing qualified drivers. They also examine rising rail dwell at the Los Angeles–Long Beach port complex and what the divergence between rail and truck dwell times means for intermodal reliability.

Peacock Tariff Consulting principal Kyle Peacock joins the show to discuss the breakdown in U.S.-Canada trade negotiations, new Canadian tariffs and product bans, and the ongoing U.S.-Mexico talks over USMCA and automotive content requirements. The conversation explores how tariff uncertainty is reshaping freight lanes, supply chains and long-term planning for shippers and carriers.

In the SONAR market update, Zach looks at rising tender rejection rates following Labor Day and a sharp post-holiday surge in truckload volumes. The data points to broad-based increases in rejection rates across major freight markets, while refrigerated freight continues its seasonal influence on the national market.

The show also features Mark McEntire, the new CEO of Emerge, who discusses his shipper-focused vision for the company, the shift from episodic to continuous procurement, the growing role of AI and data in freight procurement, and Emerge’s efforts to bring truckload, LTL, intermodal and other modes together on a single platform.

Finally, FreightWaves writer Stuart Chirls joins the program to examine elevated U.S. container imports, including August’s exceptionally strong volumes at major ports such as Long Beach and Charleston. The discussion looks at the forces driving import demand—from consumer goods to data-center construction—and whether elevated volumes will persist into the fall.

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In this episode, we kick things off by examining the brutal earnings warning that triggered a sharp sell-off in one of the country's largest logistics providers. J.B. Hunt's shares sank twelve percent after executives disclosed severe third-quarter cost pressures, driven by a sharp runup in diesel fuel prices and twenty-five million dollars in incremental driver-related expenses. The company's third-quarter EPS guidance came in roughly sixteen percent below Wall Street's consensus estimate, despite management characterizing the inflation as more cyclical than structural.

Next, we explore how the persistent driver shortage is fundamentally reshaping safety strategies across the private fleet sector. Private fleets are increasingly focused on developing struggling drivers rather than dismissing them, as qualified replacements remain difficult to find and accident litigation costs continue to climb. Dot Foods has shifted from a reactive safety model to one driven by data and behavior patterns, targeting the bottom ten to twenty percent of its nearly two thousand two hundred driver population with mandatory professional development plans.

Finally, we shift over to the rails to discuss a troubling bottleneck developing at the nation's busiest port complex. Rail-destined cargo dwell at Los Angeles-Long Beach climbed to six point seven five days in August, even as local truck dwell remained remarkably fluid at sub-three-day levels. The divergence underscores the critical importance of intermodal rail performance to overall cargo fluidity, especially as a significant share of containers arriving at the gateway is destined for inland U.S. markets.

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FreightWaves Today digs into the latest signals from across the freight and transportation markets — from weakening freight demand and rail volumes to record diesel prices, supply chain disruptions and the evolving role of technology in trucking and procurement.

The team breaks down J.B. Hunt’s latest commentary, softer consumer demand, tight capacity and what current tender rejection and truckload volume data are saying about the fall freight market.

Energy advisor Tom Kloza examines the forces driving diesel and crude markets, the impact of disruptions in the Middle East and Russia, refining capacity, renewable diesel and what the next several months could mean for transportation costs.

Daniel Silverfield, Head of Value and Selection for Amazon Business, explains how the B2B operation serves millions of business customers, simplifies procurement and uses AI and data to help companies consolidate purchases and find savings.

Bill Stephens, Editor of Trains Magazine, joins the show to discuss the latest railroad data. North American rail traffic declined year over year, with weakness across several economically sensitive commodities, including chemicals, petroleum and autos.

Michael Cainey from Highway joins the conversation on the challenges facing the brokerage and trucking markets, including fraud, carrier verification, tracking technology and how legitimate carriers can stand out in an increasingly complex freight environment.

Plus, the latest SONAR data on diesel, spot rates, shipment volumes and tender rejections — and a look at what those numbers could mean as the freight market heads into peak season.

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FreightWaves Today takes a deep look at where the freight market is headed, from tightening capacity and rising rates to regulation, industrial demand, global trade and the forces reshaping supply chains.

Tom Albrecht of Reliance Partners joins the show to discuss the current freight cycle, drawing on decades of experience covering both trucking and rail. The conversation examines improving industrial demand, strong rail volumes, capacity constraints and the regulatory changes that could determine how long the current freight recovery lasts.

Jason Miller weighs in on the demand side of the market, including the massive buildout of AI data centers and the possibility that traditional freight metrics are underestimating the amount of freight moving through the industrial economy. The discussion also looks at truck capacity, driver availability, equipment orders and the potential impact of interest rates on the freight cycle.

Rush from Tabi breaks down how freight brokers are adapting to a more data-driven market. Tabi’s Pricing Pressure Index, which measures the balance of pricing power between shippers and brokers, is showing a market that remains favorable to brokers but is beginning to normalize. The conversation explores spot pricing, margins, shipper behavior and why disciplined, data-driven brokers are outperforming those still chasing volume.

Lakshman Achuthan, co-founder of the Economic Cycle Research Institute, brings a macroeconomic perspective, warning that global and U.S. industrial growth may be approaching a turning point. He explains how leading indicators are signaling slower growth ahead and discusses the risk of sticky costs, higher interest rates and a potential period of stagflation.

The episode closes with a wide-ranging conversation about North American trade and supply chains, including the future of USMCA, sourcing strategies, U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade relationships, reindustrialization and national security. The discussion highlights how decades of integrated North American supply chains could be affected by changing trade policies and tariffs.

Also featured: a look at the role of AI data centers, energy infrastructure and the challenge of balancing technological investment with regulatory and community concerns.

Watch FreightWaves Today for the latest analysis on freight markets, trucking, logistics, rail, supply chains and the economy.

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Autonomous trucking is moving from the drawing board to real-world operations — and the implications for the freight industry could be enormous.

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Join Julie Van de Kamp and Malcolm Harris on FreightWaves Today as they break down major freight news, market trends, and industry insights. In this episode, industry leaders discuss small carrier financial discipline, fleet repair innovations, and regional market volatility.

In our Morning Minute: Teamsters President Sean O’Brien warns UPS of potential 2028 strike risks, Delaware breaks ground on a $669M container terminal project, and a cargo ship fire in China leaves 25 dead.

Then, Dave Gilbert, Founder and CEO of National Funding, discusses why a full order book doesn’t always signal expansion readiness, navigating high repair costs, and how small carriers can avoid cash flow traps.

Julie has a breakdown of national tender rejections, spot rates, and headhaul vs. backhaul trends across key markets including Cincinnati, Detroit, Joliet, Miami, and Houston.

And to wrap up the first hour, Andy Klobnock, COO of ServiceUp, breaks down their new partnership with Stellantis Pro One, detailing how centralized billing and AI agents are untangling fleet repair headaches.

Then in our 2nd hour, Zach Strickland and economist D.J. Donahue break down the latest economic data and what it means for transportation, consumers and the broader freight economy.

Zach is also joined by Thomas Wasson who helps Zach to explore the changing North American freight landscape. They discuss Mexican cross-border trucking, cabotage enforcement, falling Laredo freight volumes, shifting Mexico trade flows and the growing influence of data-center construction on freight demand. Data-center investment is generating demand for electronics, steel, concrete and open-deck capacity even as traditional consumer demand remains relatively muted.

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In this episode, we kick things off with a stark warning from the Teamsters union as President Sean O'Brien puts UPS on notice for a potential strike in 2028, two full years before contract negotiations typically turn contentious. Among the key demands are protections against benefit rollbacks, restrictions on autonomous trucks, and a highly unusual provision allowing regional unions to strike mid-contract over unresolved grievances.

Next, we explore major maritime infrastructure developments as construction officially begins on Delaware's massive $669 million container terminal along the Delaware River. The Delaware Container Terminal will feature a 45-foot berth depth capable of handling post-Panamax vessels up to 16,000 TEUs and is projected to create nearly 6,000 new jobs once fully operational by late 2028.

Finally, we cover a devastating incident in China where a deadly fire aboard a cargo ship at a Qingdao shipyard claimed 25 lives during repair operations. The blaze erupted Thursday morning aboard the Liberia-flagged dry bulk carrier Ocean Melody, with authorities launching an investigation into the cause of the tragedy that left 42 people aboard at the time of the incident.

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The freight market is heading into peak season with plenty of uncertainty. On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Malcolm Harris and Zach Strickland break down the latest data shaping trucking, logistics and the broader economy.

First, Eric Lemus of The Fulfillment Lab joins the show to discuss new Commerce Signal data showing operator margin cushions nearly disappearing as shipping costs rise faster than revenue. With parcel costs up sharply and peak-season surcharges approaching, retailers and 3PLs face growing pressure to control transportation spend while managing lean inventories. Lemus also explains why diversifying carrier strategies could deliver significant savings.

Then, Zach dives into the latest SONAR data, including tender rejection rates, tender volumes, spot rates, diesel prices, imports and the potential for tighter capacity as retailers replenish inventory heading into Q4.

Weather is also taking center stage. Ben Hershey of DTN explains how AI-powered weather intelligence and crash-risk forecasting can help fleets anticipate dangerous conditions, improve routing decisions and keep drivers moving safely. The discussion also examines what the developing El Niño pattern could mean for winter weather, freight corridors and mountain passes across the country.

In the second hour, Zach is joined by FreightWaves economist D.J. Donahue to unpack the latest economic releases, consumer credit, transportation inflation, tariffs and the growing influence of AI and data-center construction on the economy and freight demand.

Finally, Thomas Wasson returns to discuss major transportation and international trade issues, including U.S.-Mexico cross-border freight, cabotage enforcement, changing freight flows, maritime rates and the latest FMCSA carrier data. The conversation takes a close look at whether trucking capacity is actually growing — and what recent regulatory changes could mean for the carrier base.

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