FreightCasts

The Canadian government announced major reform for Canada Post including the end of most door-to-door delivery and reduced frequency, as part of a turnaround plan for the "insolvent" national carrier. This decision comes as the institution, suffering from an outdated business model and protracted labor disputes, is on track to lose US$1.1 billion this year alone, adding to US$3.6 billion in losses since 2018. Singapore’s Seatrium Ltd. has completed the sale of its Texas shipyard at the Port of Brownsville to Karpower Valley LLC for around $50 million. The 240-acre facility supports various offshore and marine engineering projects, and the buyer is an affiliate of Karpowership, the global operator of 50 floating power plants. The Port of San Diego has appointed Matthew Vesby as its new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), tapping into his more than 20 years of public sector experience, including 14 years with the City of San Diego. Vesby will oversee multiple key areas, including Commissioner Services, Human Resources, and IT departments, and is dedicated to supporting staff success.  Stay current on all the biggest trends in transportation and register now for the F3: Future of Freight Festival, happening October 21-22. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The freight economy has been depressed for the past three years. The broader economy has stumbled into stagnation in 2025, but the financial markets have largely ignored it. Zach and Thomas break down why. ⁠Follow the Freightonomics Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A "relentless" surge has happened in U.S-Mexico trade, which reached a staggering $840 billion in 2024 and jumped another 21% year-to-date in 2025. Companies like Echo Global Logistics are capitalizing on this growth, accelerating investment by opening a new office in Monterrey, Mexico, a key hub in the "golden triangle" of manufacturing. Nearshoring significantly enhances supply chain efficiency, cutting transit times from finished product to a U.S. door down to just 24 to 72 hours, far superior to the 14 to 20 days typically needed for freight coming from Asia. Shifting focus to the Pacific ports, we analyze the sharp, "truly historic decline" in U.S. container imports, projected to fall 15.7% for the remainder of 2025, driven by China tariffs and shipment front-loading. This soft volume is "absolutely hammering" the domestic trucking sector, leading to significant cuts in Q3 and Q4 earnings estimates for major asset-based truckload carriers like Schneider and Werner. Small carriers are feeling a "brutal" cash flow crisis, illustrated by the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of H5 Transport, which relied heavily on factoring to make weekly payroll. Union Pacific's proposed merger with Norfolk Southern is still on, aimed at achieving $1 billion in annual cost savings. We discuss why industry veterans caution that the secured lifetime job protection guarantees for the SMART-TD union might become a "ticket to misery" for employees forced into undesirable work or relocations. Ultimately, navigating the freight industry's future requires adapting to three massive disruptive forces: effectively integrating AI and FreightTech, managing geopolitical shifts and trade policies, and adjusting to changing workforce dynamics due to automation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the regulatory changes that led to a 30% drop in express volumes from China/Hong Kong, DHL surges customs agent hiring as new tariffs confuse importers. Despite sourcing diversification driving double-digit growth from countries like Vietnam and Mexico, DHL Express is forecasting an unusually muted peak season lift of just 20% to 25%, down significantly from the typical 40% to 50% jump. Domestically, we dive into the contentious legal battle over California’s Advanced Clean Trucks Rule (ACT) as the Federal goverment fires back in court over California waiver cancellation. Owner-operators, who face astronomical repair costs like $21,000 for emissions equipment on a $30,000 truck, argue that these standards dramatically drive up operating expenses, leading major associations to back regulatory rollbacks, as noted in Truckers back Trump’s emissions rollback at EPA. The soft freight market highlights the intense need for financial agility, illustrated by a recent small carrier filing for Chapter 11, where their lawyer stressed that the cash needed for operations “doesn’t generate itself”. This scenario emphasizes why the reliance on factoring services is now a critical lifeline for many smaller outfits struggling in the current economic environment, as detailed in Small carrier’s bankruptcy spells out need for factoring. We examine how the annual corn harvest creates a short but lucrative peak season for Midwestern carriers, relying heavily on the FMCSA agricultural commodity exemption to maximize hours and earnings, as explored in How the corn harvest season changes freight networks across the Midwest. Finally, we analyze the structural shifts impacting the rails following the Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern proposed merger, where a union job guarantee meant to secure support is being widely warned against by former executives, as heard in Rail merger: Lifetime job is great “until you are stuck in it”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. government has filed its arguments in the lawsuit concerning California’s claim that Congress was out of line when it yanked EPA waivers allowing policies like the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, a topic covered in Federal goverment fires back in court over California waiver cancellation. Susquehanna Financial Group has significantly cut earnings estimates for asset-based truckload carriers, reflecting soft spot rates, tender rejections, and a muted outlook for peak season. As reported in Truckload earnings estimates cut heading into Q3 reports, the cuts ahead of the third-quarter earnings season ranged from mid-single to low double-digit percentages for carriers including Schneider National and Werner Enterprises. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is recommending that trucks over 10,000 lbs. be equipped with driver monitoring systems, following a report on a 2023 fatal crash linked to trucker inattention. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy asserted in NTSB to Feds: Require truck-driver monitoring that stronger vehicle safety standards and preventative technologies could have prevented this chain-reaction collision. Tune in later today to FreightWaves TV for an episode of The Long Haul with Adam Wingfield. Remember that you can still take advantage of a $500 deal for general admission to the F3: Future of Freight Festival, which is less than a month away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the constant tension between brokers and carriers just bad communication, or is it a sign of a deeper issue? In this powerful episode of The Long Haul, host Adam Wingfield sits down with Annique Lesage, the freight-savvy broker and coach known for her direct, no-fluff truth bombs on TikTok. Annique shares her incredible journey from handling customs to becoming a successful broker, and opens up about how the industry became her lifeline while escaping an abusive marriage. This isn't your typical broker vs. carrier debate. Annique provides a masterclass in shifting from a transactional, load-by-load mindset to building lasting, profitable partnerships. She breaks down why there’s no such thing as "cheap freight," only bad negotiators, and challenges carriers to operate as strategic business owners rather than just drivers. If you’ve ever felt burned by a broker or struggled to make the industry work for you, this is a conversation you can't afford to miss. ⁠Follow The Long Haul Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thomas Wasson sits down with Jim Connelly, Chief Revenue Officer of Bollinger Motors, to explore the company’s recent rebrand following its consolidation with Mullen Automotive. They discuss Bollinger’s pivot into the medium-duty EV market, the role of incentives like California’s HVIP in fleet adoption, and the challenges of scaling infrastructure. Connelly also shares insights into Bollinger’s upcoming B5 and B6 models, the move to a new production facility in Mississippi, and how startups can compete with legacy OEMs in the rapidly evolving commercial EV space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris is joined by a lineup of M’s: Marcus and Matt for a jam-packed show. First, Malcolm goes one-on-one with Marcus Lewis, founder of the National Trucking Network. As a broker and a former carrier, they “take the gloves off” for a candid discussion about the tense but necessary relationship between brokers and truckers. Marcus shares his perspective on what brokers can do better to support drivers, the number one mistake new truckers make, and why he believes an educated trucker is a broker’s worst nightmare. Later in the show, Matt Dahl, Director of Agent Recruiting at HD Ships and co-host of the “two dogs one pod” podcast, joins Malcolm. Matt breaks down what it takes to be a successful freight agent, the common misconceptions about the agent model, and the importance of being independent and entrepreneurial. ⁠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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In today's Episode, Peter Goldwasser, Executive Director at Together for Safer Roads joins us to talk about how nongovernmental organizations are helping companies, governments, and communities improve road safety through technology and policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices