FreightCasts

This week, we dive into the pivotal shifts creating a complex and challenging freight landscape. We start at the U.S.-Mexico border, where a fascinating paradox is unfolding: U.S. tariffs are leading to job losses in the maquiladora industry, even as wages and foreign investment hit record highs. Then, we shift tracks to the rail industry, where Warren Buffett's BNSF is rejecting the mega-merger trend, creating a strategic split among Class I railroads. We also cover urgent regulatory changes, including the sudden elimination of the de minimis exemption that’s throwing international parcel shipping into chaos, and the federal crackdown on trucker compliance that comes with multi-million dollar penalties. Finally, we break down why trans-Pacific ocean rates have plummeted to pre-Red Sea crisis lows, despite ongoing geopolitical risks. This is your essential guide to the interconnected forces that will define your operational strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The benchmark diesel price, which has now declined for a fifth consecutive week, reaching $3.708/gallon for a total drop of 10.4 cents since late July. This downward trend is linked to relative oil price stability, even as Midwest refinery issues impact gasoline prices without significantly affecting diesel. Korean Air has made a significant order for eight Boeing 777-8 freighter aircraft, part of a larger $50 billion deal that helps Boeing compete with Airbus in the next-generation widebody freighter market. This strategic acquisition highlights a push for efficiency in air cargo, as the new freighters promise 30% better fuel efficiency and 25% lower operating costs per ton. The rail merger debate heats up as CPKC advocates against further Class I rail consolidation, asserting that such mergers are unnecessary and could trigger an undesirable industry restructuring. Instead, CPKC champions interline partnerships, citing its collaboration with CSX on the Southeast Mexico Express service as an example of achieving benefits without integration risks. The Department of Transportation's (DOT) warns California, New Mexico, and Washington, threatening to withhold millions in federal highway funds for allegedly failing to enforce federal English proficiency standards for truck drivers. This action follows a fatal accident involving a driver with reported language issues and a history of non-compliance, with states given 30 days to rectify the situation. Explore the Trump administration's challenge to California's Clean Truck Check (CTC) rule, with the EPA proposing to disapprove its application to out-of-state trucks due to concerns about the Commerce Clause and the Clean Air Act. While the rule remains in effect for California-based vehicles, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) views the EPA's move as illegal interference, signaling a potential legal battle over state versus federal authority. Also don't miss the FreightWaves Q3 2025 Carrier Rate Report, sponsored by Trimble, offering a comprehensive review of Q2 performance and forecasts for the coming months. This valuable resource combines carrier survey responses with SONAR data to provide essential intelligence for strategic planning, covering supply, earnings, and demand forecasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive in what to watch out for and keep an eye on when implementing AI at an organization. Our guest, Adrian Coutsoftides, CEO & Co-founder of Solitude AI breaks down how to ensure data privacy and utilizing AI correctly within an organization. For more information, subscribe to ⁠Check Call the newsletter⁠ or the podcast. ⁠Follow the Check Call Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett announced his company will not bid for CSX or Norfolk Southern, opting instead for BNSF Railway to form closer alliances for growth synergies. This decision came after Union Pacific's $85 billion deal to acquire Norfolk Southern, despite Wall Street expectations for a competitive bid. The American Trucking Association (ATA) is facing a lawsuit from three former employees of its Transport Topics publication, alleging wrongful termination based on age and race discrimination. The plaintiffs claim their 2024 firings were age-motivated and done under the pretext of restructuring, with one plaintiff, Lorrie Grant, also alleging racial discrimination. Highway has launched its Trusted Freight Exchange (TFX), powered by Triumph, aiming to provide brokers and carriers a more secure alternative to traditional load boards and combat freight fraud. The TFX platform incorporates identity proofing to block anonymous traffic, broker-specific compliance rules, and credit assurance from Triumph, allowing carriers to confirm payment means before booking loads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Thomas Wasson covers the latest headlines in freight before diving deep into driver wellness with Travelers’ Monica Rinaldi. She breaks down the mental and physical health challenges truckers face on the road and what fleets can do to better support them. Then, Kenworth’s Sarah Abernathy joins to spotlight the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence Award, celebrating veterans who’ve successfully moved into transportation. Finally, Kenworth’s Alex Reid takes us under the hood of the iconic W900 Legacy Edition as the legendary model nears the end of its run. Plus: breaking news on ATA lawsuits, import trends, new rail partnerships, and even a little cow jazz. ⁠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

A decade-long misclassification lawsuit involving NFI drivers is being settled for over $5 million. This landmark case could see individual payouts ranging from $30,000 to more than $50,000 for eligible drivers, as detailed in this comprehensive report:⁠ NFI driver misclassification case in New Jersey could reach individual payouts of $50k⁠. We also cover global postal operators suspending parcel services to the U.S. due to new de minimis rules and airline embargoes. Learn why many European and Asian postal services are pausing or restricting shipments to the U.S. in this in-depth article:⁠ Global postal operators suspend parcel service to US⁠. Stay informed on significant leadership changes at South Carolina Ports, with CEO Barbara Melvin resigning after nearly 30 years to pursue new personal and professional opportunities. Discover more about her impactful tenure, including the Port of Charleston becoming the busiest southern port on the U.S. East Coast, and the port's record performance in fiscal year 2025 here:⁠ South Carolina ports chief resigns, citing ‘personal reasons’⁠. Don't miss FreightWaves TV's ⁠What the Truck?!?⁠ Live at noon today and be sure to register for the upcoming ⁠Cross Border Logistics Summit⁠ at the beginning of September. Additionally, you can secure your tickets for the ⁠Future of Freight Festival⁠ happening this October in Chattanooga, all part of the extensive FreightWaves event offerings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into ColdTrack’s 100% pack accuracy guarantee. Our guests, Luke Vaccaro, COO at ColdTrack and Josh Lett, SVP Customer Experience at Deposco break down how ColdTrack got to 100% accuracy and how it could be the new standard in the industry. For more information, subscribe to ⁠Running on Ice the newsletter⁠ or podcast. ⁠Follow the Running on Ice Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thomas Wasson breaks down the top stories in freight, including the Trump administration’s sudden pause on work visas for foreign truck drivers and what it means for the industry. It’s also an “autonomous trucks” edition, featuring in-depth conversations with Shahrukh Kazmi, Chief Product Officer at Volvo Autonomous Solutions, on their new VNL autonomous trucks running freight in Texas, and Shawn Kerrigan, COO of Plus, on their path to commercial launch and partnerships with global OEMs. From labor disruptions to driverless tech, this episode dives into the challenges and opportunities shaping trucking’s future. ⁠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 Trump administration has placed an  immediate pause on new commercial truck driver work visas. This decision, stemming from safety concerns and a desire to protect American truckers' livelihoods, impacts both H-2B temporary and EB-3 permanent visas, foreshadowing a potential capacity crunch. Next, we dive into the contentious debate over truck vehicle weight limits, where retailers are pushing for increases to boost freight efficiency and lower costs. However, this faces strong opposition from safety advocates and a divided trucking industry, with the truckload segment firmly against bigger, heavier trucks. DHL Express extends its contract with Global Crossing Airlines for four months, covering the crucial peak season. GlobalX, utilizing Airbus A321 freighters for daily routes between DHL hubs, saw significant growth including a 7% revenue increase and doubled net income in Q2. J.B. Hunt Transport Services has appointed Brad Delco as its new CFO, effective September 1st. This strategic financial leadership appointment underscores J.B. Hunt's commitment to disciplined growth, operational excellence, and cost discipline in a challenging market. The macro freight market outlook remains murky, with the August State of Freight webinar revealing historically weak demand; national truckload volumes are significantly down year-over-year and below 2019 levels. Despite shrinking carrier capacity and rising tender rejection rates, the market is stuck in a "range-bound" cycle of stagnant volumes and rates, driven by consumer spending shifts, weak housing/auto sectors, and pervasive business uncertainty. A new US-EU framework agreement on reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade designed to boost transatlantic economic ties. This comprehensive deal includes the EU eliminating tariffs on US industrial goods, market access for US agricultural products, and substantial commitments in energy and tech, beyond just tariff reductions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

⁠Trump’s administration has placed an immediate pause on new commercial truck driver work visas⁠. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited concerns that the increasing number of foreign drivers endangers American lives and undercuts American truckers' livelihoods, a decision that followed a fatal semi-truck crash in Florida and is supported by the ATA. A framework agreement was announced on Thursday to boost transatlantic economic ties and resolve trade imbalances. Under this deal, the ⁠EU will eliminate tariffs on all U.S. industrial goods⁠ and grant preferential market access for various American agricultural products, while the U.S. commits to applying a maximum 15% tariff rate on most EU goods. Furthermore, ⁠FedEx is turning its attention to Europe⁠, sending specialists from its U.S. ground, parcel, and freight units to streamline operations and improve efficiency, particularly in route planning and package efficiency. This initiative is a major part of FedEx's plan to cut an additional $1 billion in structural costs this fiscal year, building on the $4 billion already eliminated in the past two years. Finally, stay updated with FreightWaves TV, featuring new episodes of ⁠WHAT THE TRUCK?!?⁠ with Thomas Wasson and ⁠Running on Ice⁠ with Mary O'Connell airing today. Don't forget to register for the upcoming ⁠F3: Future of Freight Festival⁠ on October 21st and 22nd, and use the code MORNINGMINUTEF325 to receive a $900 discount on your ticket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices