FreightCasts

Historian and energy writer Emmet Penney, host of the Nuclear Barbarians podcast, discusses the role nuclear power will play in America's reindustrialization with JP Hampstead, with wide-ranging commentary on the history of nuclear policy and recent announcements by Westinghouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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In this episode of The Long Haul, Adam sits down with Tapan Chaudhari, Founder and CEO of Bubba AI, to talk about what happens when artificial intelligence stops being a buzzword and starts booking freight. Tapan isn’t a tech outsider—he’s the founder of TruckX and has spent years building tools for small carriers and owner-operators. Now with Bubba AI, he’s tackling the one thing that eats up most of a driver’s day: dispatching and back-office work. From negotiating rates to optimizing loads and handling paperwork, Bubba is built to run the lanes while you run the miles. If you’ve ever wondered whether AI could actually make your trucking business more profitable—or just replace the human dispatcher—this is the conversation you need to hear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Thomas Wasson dives into a packed episode featuring Steve Gold, CEO of Truckers Network Association, on the evolving driver job market, training quality, and where the best opportunities are for new and experienced CDL holders. FreightWaves economist Michael Rudolph breaks down fresh CPI data, the Fed’s next moves, consumer spending trends, and what it all means for freight demand. Plus, headlines on California’s clean truck lawsuit, DEF rules, autonomous trucking developments, and the upcoming Future of Freight Festival. ⁠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

Waabi announced the appointment of former Uber Freight CEO Leor Ron as its new COO, signaling a major transition from research and development to commercialization and scale. This strategic move aims to accelerate Waabi's journey towards a driver-out milestone by year-end and expand partnerships with industry giants like Volvo and Uber Freight. The US and China have extended a pause on higher tariffs for goods from each country until November 10th, narrowly avoiding proposed increases. This extension maintains the US levy on Chinese imports at 30% and China's tariff on American products at 10%, allowing for continued negotiations on key trade issues. Freight tech company GoodShip also announced a successful Series B funding round, securing $25 million to advance its AI-driven freight management platform. This platform has already proven its value for enterprise shippers, helping clients significantly reduce transportation costs by 3-5% and decrease late shipments by 20%. Tune into FreightWaves TV today for a new episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? at noon, with a replay available later. Don't forget to get your tickets for the upcoming F3 event (Use code MORNINGMINUTEF325 for $900 off) and register for the crossborder logistics summit in early September, both offering valuable insights and networking opportunities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into the world of Hauler Hub. Our guest Sam Agyemang, VP of Business Development and Sales at ITF Group, breaks down how they’re trying to bring the transportation industry up to the 21st century and improve tech where it’s actually needed. 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

Current tariff policies and economic uncertainties are profoundly reshaping the U.S. freight and manufacturing industries. A significant surge in U.S. container imports in July, nearing record highs and driven notably by a 44% month-over-month recovery from China, is largely attributed to importers "front-loading" shipments. This strategic move is a response to the end of the "de minimis" exemption for imports under $800 and ongoing uncertainty regarding various tariffs, including a temporary 30% rate on some Chinese goods and new reciprocal tariffs affecting over 90 U.S. trade partners. Despite this import boom, Trans-Pacific spot rates have plummeted, falling 62% from the Far East to the U.S. West Coast since June 1st, a paradox driven by significant global overcapacity and potentially muted consumer demand, which carriers attempt to counter through increased blank sailings, contributing to congestion at Chinese ports. Experts now view tariffs as a "new normal" for businesses, a permanent fixture influencing market dynamics. Consequently, the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates forecast a 5.6% decrease in U.S. import cargo volume for 2025, primarily due to tariffs leading to higher consumer prices and reduced demand. Domestically, the manufacturing and trucking sectors are experiencing weakness, with heavy-duty truck sales hitting multi-year lows due to trade policy shifts and a lack of clarity on future emissions regulations, deterring companies from making significant investments. While there are "green shoots" of slight pickup in order activity, manufacturers anticipate needing to adjust prices for 2026 truck orders due to rising costs partly from these same tariffs on components. This environment underscores how trade policy has become a primary driver in the market, making precise calculation of "total landed costs"—factoring in these new baseline tariffs—critical for supply chain professionals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Teamsters Union and UPS reached a resolution early this morning that successfully averted a strike at several key locations. Despite resolving grievances and a local contract dispute, relations remain tense as the Teamsters navigate buyout offers and alleged contract violations, with the union prepared to set up strike lines in multiple states. Forward Air unveiled their second-quarter earnings, where the company missed expectations with a net loss of $20.4 million, which was worse than the consensus estimate. Revenue saw a 4% year-over-year decline but increased 1% from the first quarter, and no update was provided on the ongoing strategic review that could potentially lead to the company's sale. Echo Global Logistics announced its acquisition of fellow 3PL FreightSaver, a California-based company founded in 2014 by Ryan Renne and Buster Schwab. FreightSaver specializes in truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), expedited, and specialized shipments; Echo's CEO stated that FreightSaver's customer-centric, tech-enabled business complements Echo's strengths and accelerates its ability to deliver value through managed transportation. Finally, the podcast highlights upcoming content on FreightWaves TV, including Check Call and Loaded and Rolling. Listeners are encouraged to register for the F3: Future of Freight Festival using a special code and also for the Crossborder Logistics Summit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of What the Truck?!?  dives into the latest in freight science, technology, and market dynamics. MIT FreightLab’s Angie Acocella shares research on shipper–carrier relationships, ghost lanes, and index-based pricing, revealing how data-driven strategies can improve procurement and market resilience. Later, Grace Sharkey from Orderful discusses modernizing EDI through API integrations, faster onboarding, cost reduction, and new AI-powered tools like their GS1 label maker. Plus, headlines on UPS driver buyouts, container booking declines, truck sales slumps, and autonomous trucking innovations. ⁠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

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