FreightCasts

The freight market is living a double life. On one hand, the domestic market is hitting the brakes, defined by shrinking truckload capacity and regulatory friction. On the other, global players and specialized sectors are flooring the accelerator on massive investments.In this episode, we dissect this "market schizophrenia". We look at how a 32% drop in new tractor builds and stricter enforcement of driver language rules are tightening the screws on capacity. We also explore the massive strategic investments happening in global air cargo, AI-driven safety tech, and specialized healthcare logistics.But as fleets fight for volume, they're also battling a two-front war. Michael "Mike" Precia, President and CSO of Fleetworthy, joins the show to discuss the other crisis: the compounding rise in essential costs. With truck insurance premiums up 43% in five years and toll costs doubling in the last decade, Precia argues that survival in this cycle won't come from waiting for demand. It will be won by fleets that master "fleet readiness" and gain visibility over the costs they can control.Follow the Loaded and Rolling PodcastOther FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For-hire trucking capacity is contracting significantly due to a 32% reduction in tractor builds (taking equipment below replacement levels) and stricter FMCSA English Language Proficiency enforcement, which could affect up to 10% of the driver pool. Despite shrinking capacity, freight rates are only seeing marginal spot market improvements of 1-2%, failing to keep pace with 3% inflation, due to volume volatility and broader macroeconomic risks. Regulatory friction is also widespread, as a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the California Air Resources Board from enforcing its Clean Truck Partnership against major OEMs (like Daimler, PACCAR, and Volvo). This legal development was driven by the judge's conclusion that CARB's lawsuit was attempting to enforce potentially federally preempted standards, creating an "impossible situation" for manufacturers after federal waivers for rules like the Advanced Clean Truck rule were withdrawn. In stark contrast to regulatory tangles, technology offers surprisingly frictionless solutions: fleets using complete AI safety solutions saw a 73% reduction in crash rates over 30 months, nearly double the industry average. Within just six months of implementation, these systems also achieved a 49% drop in harsh driving events and an 84% reduction in mobile phone use behind the wheel, alongside a 57% boost in Hours of Service compliance. Serious, hyperfocused investment is flowing into specialized logistics globally, notably in air cargo where Cargojet launched a new direct weekly service connecting its Canadian hubs to Liege Airport in Belgium. Latam Cargo also boosted its Europe-South America capacity by 25% (reaching 15 weekly frequencies), adding specialized routes like São Paulo to Brussels with a stop in Recife to handle mango exports. Domestically, TRAC Intermodal is focusing on standardization and efficiency by partnering with Florida East Coast Railway to stage standardized, GPS-integrated 53-ft domestic chassis directly at FEC terminals, aiming to build a national footprint for their T-53 program. Meanwhile, UPS completed its $1.6 billion acquisition of Andlauer Healthcare Group to strengthen its specialized Canadian cold chain and accelerate its strategic goal of doubling high-margin healthcare logistics revenue to $20 billion by 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction stopping the California Air Resources Board from enforcing the Clean Truck Partnership against truck manufacturers. This block occurred because a state court lawsuit filed by CARB seeking OEM compliance was viewed by the federal court as an attempt to enforce potentially preempted zero emissions standards, particularly since Congress withdrew the EPA waivers that allowed the Advanced Clean Truck rule to go into effect. UPS has completed the acquisition of Canadian logistics provider Andlauer Healthcare Group for $1.6 billion in cash. Michael Andlauer, AHG's founder and CEO, will now lead UPS Canada Healthcare and AHG, significantly bolstering UPS’s specialized cold chain network and strategic focus on the high-margin healthcare sector. Learn how AI is reshaping fleet operations with the release of Samsara’s Safety Report: Benchmarking the Future of Safety. The report reveals that fleets implementing complete AI safety solutions saw a 73% reduction in crash rates over 30 months, with visibility and immediacy provided by dual-facing dash cams being identified as the biggest difference-maker. Don't miss today's FreightWaves TV lineup, including an episode of Loaded and Rolling with Thomas Wasson and Check Call with Mary O'Connell. You can always find your favorite FreightWaves shows on the FreightWaves YouTube channel if you miss the live broadcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FreightWaves Founder and CEO Craig Fuller joins host Malcolm Harris for an unfiltered look at what he calls “the busiest news week in trucking history.” They break down why the ATA’s so-called “driver shortage” is a myth, how unqualified drivers and lax regulations have shaken the industry, and why the freight brokerage world is facing its toughest market in years. Craig also dives into Secretary Duffy’s crackdown on noncompliant carriers, the coming shakeout in freight, and how trucking leaders can restore integrity—and profitability—to the road ahead. ⁠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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Malcolm Harris kicks off a spooky edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? live from Chattanooga, Tennessee, diving into some of the biggest stories shaping trucking and logistics. First up, OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh joins the show to react to Secretary Duffy’s fiery comments on driver qualification standards and language proficiency. Lewie breaks down the long-running myth of the “driver shortage,” calling it a cover for low pay, poor training, and unsafe working conditions. He lays out OOIDA’s priorities—from codifying DOT rules into law to passing the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act—and challenges lawmakers to finally put people over profits. Next, Greg Braun, CRO and cofounder of C3 Solutions, celebrates 25 years of innovation while discussing their new C3 Hive platform. Despite a surprise fire alarm mid-interview, Greg powers through to explain how C3 Hive connects shippers, carriers, and yard operators in real time—reducing dwell time, streamlining communication, and using AI to optimize dock and yard management. Finally, Veer Junja, USC alum and cofounder of Fleetline, joins from San Francisco to share how his startup is empowering carrier planners with AI-driven optimization. Drawing from his debate background and family ties to trucking, Veer discusses how Fleetline uses algorithmic planning to boost efficiency and cut deadhead, helping carriers thrive in any market cycle. ⁠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 Department of Transportation is escalating its battle against "CDL mills" accused of certifying unqualified drivers, promising to eliminate unsafe operators and investigate fleets that hire them. This heightened regulatory enforcement is already leading to a significant capacity shakeout in the truckload market, which could potentially overshadow Schneider’s tough Q3 earnings report. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy is expanding driver enforcement to shippers who load up rigs, warning that companies must ensure truck drivers meet federal English language proficiency rules or face substantial penalties. This focus on language compliance follows the sidelining of more than 7,000 truckers reportedly for English proficiency violations due to a revived out-of-service criterion this year. Meanwhile, UPS announced that 2,000 drivers left UPS after taking buyouts in the third quarter, part of a major streamlining campaign that has eliminated 48,000 jobs over the past 18 months. Across the industry, TFI International reported mixed signs of a turnaround at TFI’s U.S. LTL operations, showing flat year-over-year operating ratios and decreased operating income across all major segments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transportation Secretary Shawn Duffy announced a major new initiative this week, ramping up efforts to crack down on fraudulent CDL mills and unsafe drivers after increased roadside inspections led to over 7,000 service violations. The Department of Transportation is now focusing on the integrity of the certification process and plans to investigate both driver training programs and trucking companies that hire drivers with questionable credentials, holding them accountable for safety standards. LTL carrier XPO continues to defy the soft market cycle, reporting significant margin improvement in its LTL segment during the third quarter. The company achieved an 82.7% operating ratio for the quarter by leveraging a variety of pricing levers and implementing AI optimization initiatives. Parcel analyst Satish Jindel estimates that approximately 2,000 unionized delivery drivers accepted a voluntary separation package offered by UPS during the third quarter. These buyouts, which cost the company $175 million and offered severance packages of $1,800 per year of service, were part of a major streamlining campaign intended to align capacity with lower volumes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SONAR's Director of Freight Market Intelligence Zach Strickland sits down in studio with JP to discuss macroeconomic data around the American manufacturing economy, industrial production, and employment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices