FreightCasts

A Delaware bankruptcy court has cleared the path for the final liquidation of Yellow Corp.'s estate, which will distribute as much as $700 million to creditors, but the order could face an appeal from Yellow’s largest equity holder, MFN Partners. We discuss the poor third-quarter results for ocean carrier CMA CGM, which saw group net income fall 72.6% year-over-year and revenue drop 11.3%. The carrier attributed this downturn to geopolitics, trade tensions in the U.S., and a corresponding slowdown in maritime activity, though it noted an improvement quarter-over-quarter after trade between the U.S. and China picked back up. Finally, truck safety advocates are strongly opposing the FMCSA’s proposed pilot program that would allow drivers to pause their 14-hour on-duty period for up to three hours, essentially extending the work window to 17 hours. While the FMCSA claims the allowance would mitigate excessive detention times and improve working conditions, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety argue the initiative is dangerous and misguided. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Malcolm kicks off the week with energy, industry insights, and a packed lineup of guests who deliver deep expertise across transportation safety, branding, and heavy-haul logistics. Malcolm opens with key headlines impacting the freight world — from upcoming USPS parcel price hikes to fluctuating global trade patterns, ocean carrier earnings, FMCSA’s new crash-risk study, and shifting M&A trends in the freight sector. The episode’s interviews begin with Chris Isley, Risk Control Specialist at Travelers Transportation, who breaks down the complexities of heavy equipment transportation, load securement standards, DOT compliance, specialized permits, escort coordination, and the safety measures needed to move oversized cargo. His decades of experience inform a detailed look at how fleets can strengthen safety programs, prevent losses, and keep operators protected. Next, Malcolm is joined by Alex Martin-Banzer, Brand Marketing Manager for Western Star and Daimler Truck North America. Alex shares her journey from intern to brand leader, offering an inside perspective on engineering, product strategy, and the storytelling behind one of the industry’s most iconic vocational truck brands. She dives into the massive Western Star–supported move of a historic Martin Mars aircraft, reflects on the brand’s legacy, and previews upcoming projects and the Star Nation operator experience. The show closes with Kyle Wilkes, Project Manager at Southwest Industrial Rigging, who provides an up-close look at the monumental effort required to transport the enormous Martin Mars bomber fuselage across Arizona — the tallest load ever moved on Arizona highways. Kyle walks through the intense planning, routing, permitting, engineering challenges, electrical coordination, and teamwork needed to pull off one of the most complex heavy-haul feats in recent memory. He also shares career advice, industry trends, and a thoughtful tribute to company founder Harry Baker. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Visit our sponsor⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The current intersection of federal regulation and enforcement is creating significant market risk, forcing carriers to exit and fundamentally tightening liability for both carriers and the shippers who hire them. The immediate shockwave comes from California, where the cancellation of 17,000 non-domiciled CDLs—over 9% of the state's for-hire carrier base—is expected to cause substantial capacity constraints and firm up outbound freight rates, signaling national enforcement scrutiny. This episode unpacks the crucial precedent set by California's AB5 enforcement action, which resulted in an $868,000 penalty against three companies, including shipper Costco and 3PL Ryder Last Mile. Ryder and Costco were found jointly liable with the carrier for exercising "direct or indirect control" over drivers, demonstrating that managing drivers like employees results in liability like an employer. We debate whether the current market slump is purely demand-driven or if regulatory fear is driving non-compliant carriers out, causing spot rates to slowly "melt up" despite weak volumes. Further regulatory focus is evident as the FMCSA launches a major study with 60 carriers to analyze the link between driver work schedules, hours-of-service, and crash risk, aiming to inform future HOS restrictions. Shifting focus to logistics investment, the USPS reported a massive $9 billion loss but is executing an urgent, long-term modernization push, including investing nearly $20 billion in automated sorters and new vehicles to attract parcel volume. Finally, we examine the unanimous industry consensus that autonomous trucking is inevitable, with the rapid "J-curve of adoption" expected to hit between 2035 and 2040 as labor and regulatory risks accelerate investment in driverless technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On November 13th FreightWaves Founder & CEO Craig Fuller took on DAT’s industry veteran Ken Adamo in a debate that covered everything from market forecasts and capacity crunch to tech disruption and the future of brokerage. Presiding over the debate was the one and only Armchair Attorney, Matt Leffler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three major companies—Mega Nice Trucking, Ryder Last Mile, and Costco Wholesale Corp—are facing what is likely the first significant enforcement action of California's AB5 regulation in the trucking industry, resulting in an $868,000 fine. The California Labor Commission cited the trio for contractor misclassification and resulting wage theft, finding that Ryder and Costco exercised both direct and indirect control over delivery drivers, thereby establishing a joint employer relationship with the carrier.  The trucking industry continues to monitor the fight over the Department of Transportation's non-domiciled Commercial Driver's License rules following the cancellation of 17,000 CDLs in California. Although California Governor Gavin Newsom and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy are engaged in a heated public dispute over the cause, industry experts warn that the evolving enforcement signals new restrictions that will significantly impact carrier liability and freight capacity across the country, with analysts expecting more CDL cancellations in the near future.  A group of Attorneys General from nine states is urging the Surface Transportation Board to conduct a "thorough and exacting" review of the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. These AGs, representing GOP states, argue that the consolidation of rail services will compromise national security and stifle competition, leading to exacerbated existing problems such as higher costs and lower reliability for key strategic American industries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The European Union is expected to revoke duty-free status for parcel imports through the elimination of the de minimis rule for small parcel imports, which is expected to be fully implemented by 2028. This significant policy change aims to level the playing field for European businesses and limit the influx of low-cost goods, especially considering that 91% of low-value shipments last year originated from China. We also track how global trade volatility and depressed freight rates have severely impacted ocean carriers, leading to Hapag-Lloyd's nine-month profits dropping nearly 50% from $1.83 billion down to $946 million. This decline occurred despite a 9% rise in transport volumes, demonstrating how upward cost pressures and start-up expenses related to the new Gemini Alliance are squeezing carrier margins. Finally, we analyze a proposed strategic pivot for UPS to stay competitive in the high-volume e-commerce space, focusing on a retooling of last-mile delivery. This unified strategy suggests using higher-cost Teamster drivers for the middle mile delivery to UPS Stores, allowing lower-cost independent gig workers to handle the final local delivery, which could drastically lower B2C costs and end the company’s reliance on the U.S. Postal Service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JP Hampstead gives a presentation to shippers about what macroeconomic data tells us about production, employment, productivity, and the prospects for reindustrialization at FreightWaves' Future of Freight Festival in Chattanooga, TN. In this episode JP covers: - Why U.S. manufacturing output hasn’t recovered since the Great Recession - The surprising role of energy production in “industrial growth” - How offshoring reshaped America’s productivity curve - Why AI is now the largest driver of U.S. energy demand - Whether the big White House manufacturing announcements are real - Why nuclear power is surging back - How productivity gains reshape the workforce (100 years of data) - What the U.S. must fix to get industrial production unstuck Subscribe to the Newsletter Subscribe to the Bring It Home YouTube Channel #BringItHome #FreightWaves #Manufacturing #Reindustrialization #SupplyChain #F3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this uncaged episode of The Long Haul, Adam sits down with Sage — CDL driver, O/O, Landstar agent, broker, and commercial auto insurance pro — to tackle the freight industry’s most controversial topics. This one’s not safe for the faint of heart. We dig into broker dishonesty, insurance scams, the broker-agent world, O/O pain points, and what never gets talked about in polite circles. No fluff. Real talk. If you’re in the business and tired of half-truths, this is your episode. Follow The Long Haul Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We analyze why Ocean rates tested by capacity conundrum despite carriers attempting General Rate Increases and blanked sailings, indicating continued overcapacity and weak demand on the trans-Pacific trade lane. Simultaneously, we explore the quick response from air cargo providers, detailing how FedEx plugs transport hole caused by MD-11 groundings by activating spare aircraft and diverting packages to its domestic ground network. We examine the state of port traffic, noting that Container imports off 17.6% at leading US port in October 2025, although the Port of Long Beach remains on pace to surpass its all-time annual cargo record from 2024. Turning to rail, we discuss Union Pacific's strategic moves as Union Pacific guarantees more post-merger union jobs, successfully securing the support of the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (NCFO) and SMART-TD by committing to career-long employment for hundreds of members. In the trucking sector, we analyze carrier strategy as Werner says ‘no retreat’ possible in dedicated fleet size, citing base capacity needs despite the ongoing severe downturn in the industry. Finally, we delve into the dramatic collapse of a highly anticipated venture, learning the story behind why “America’s Biggest Truck Stop” Falls Silent — Inside the Eviction of Trucker’s Paradise in Texas after months of financial disputes, investor issues, and allegations of unpaid wages. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s hump day on WHAT THE TRUCK?!? and host Malcolm Harris is bringing the heat with a jam-packed lineup covering innovation, strategy, and the latest headlines shaking up logistics. In this episode: Arthur Axelrad, CEO & Co-Founder of Dispatch Science, breaks down the launch of DataSync — the newest part of their DSX ecosystem giving carriers real-time control and visibility over operations. Discover how data is reshaping last-mile logistics and why modern architecture and APIs are key to the future. Sarah Olmstead (President, Rebel Logistics Service) and Mike Holland (Senior Director of Domestic Logistics, Five Below) join forces to dive into the ECA Marketplace — the unique “speed dating for logistics” event where shippers and carriers forge real partnerships and optimize freight strategy for 2026. Freight headlines on CDL rule reversals, Zoom Freight’s bankruptcy, and U.S. port fee suspensions on Chinese vessels. Plus, Malcolm previews: ProShip’s 2025 End-of-Year Parcel Roast — where shipping strategies get roasted live The Great Freight Debate featuring Craig Fuller, Ken Adamo, and Matthew “The Armchair Attorney” Leffler, live from the Traffic Club of Chicago ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Visit our sponsor⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices