FreightCasts

A significant legal setback for rail shippers dropped as a federal court has tossed out the Surface Transportation Board's (STB) 2024 reciprocal switching rule, ruling that the STB exceeded its authority and that the rule was inconsistent with the Staggers Act of 1980, a decision challenged by major railroads including CSX, Canadian National, and Union Pacific.  Watt EV has broken ground on its sixth electric charging depot at the Port of Oakland, establishing a vital zero-emission freight corridor connecting the Bay Area to Sacramento, Nevada, and Southern California. This new facility will feature 15 240-kilowatt CCS dispensers and six MCS dispensers, significantly expanding the region's heavy-duty electric truck charging  The Small Business and Transportation Coalition (SBTC) has petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation to repeal regulations allowing new entrant non-North America domiciled carriers to apply for operating authority in the US, alleging unfair competition against American trucking companies. However, federal data from the FMCSA contradicts this claim, showing very few non-North America-based operating authorities currently exist, with all such companies required to complete a safety audit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On episode 859 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Kaylee Nix and Adam Wingfield host the show. They start with an update on the world of small carriers, what is happening with the market, and if a container boom sends optimistic signs to the trucking market.  Carpenter Compliance’s Rob Carpenter joins to discuss staying compliant with the now-enforceable English language proficiency standards, how new drivers can make sure they are compliant and how companies can make sure their existing team is up to par.  Then Grace Sharkey, former FreightWaver, rounds us out to talk about her move to Orderful, the partnership with Dr. Squatch Soap, and what is happening in the freight tech world.  Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠X⁠ or ⁠YouTube⁠, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 6 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Check out the WTT merch store⁠ ⁠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

In today’s episode, Jeff Lynch, founder and CEO of Idle Smart joins us to talk about how his company is revolutionizing idle management for heavy-duty fleets. Moving beyond the costly and fragmented solutions of the past, like APUs, Idle Smart offers an automated, fleet-focused system that cuts fuel costs, boosts ROI, and enhances sustainability. ⁠Follow the Loaded and Rolling Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into the issues surrounding CDLs in the U.S. Our guest, Thomas Wasson, Enterprise trucking analyst at FreightWaves, breaks down what the motives are behind the enforcement of the english language proficiency and why non-domiciled CDL holders are at the center of the discourse. 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

The Trump administration announced potential ⁠higher import tariffs starting August 1st⁠, including 25% on Japan and South Korea, with threats against retaliatory measures from other nations. This action follows President Trump's executive order to extend a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs until next month.  Geodis has appointed ⁠Laura Ritchey as the new President and CEO of its Americas region⁠, where she will manage and grow contract logistics, freight forwarding, and transportation across North and South America. Ritchey will oversee approximately 20,000 employees in eight countries and has also joined the group’s executive board.  The American Trucking Associations (ATA)  is ⁠losing its influence in the trucking industry⁠, as many small fleets and owner-operators, who have increased their truck numbers by 245% since 2008, criticize the ATA for misrepresenting their interests. The ATA, primarily representing larger fleets, faces criticism for backing legislation that harms independent truckers, despite claiming to speak for all.  Listeners are also reminded of upcoming FreightWaves TV episodes, including ⁠Check Call with Mary O’Connell⁠ at 12:30 and ⁠Loaded and Rolling with Thomas Wasson at 2 PM⁠. Don't forget to register for the ⁠Enterprise Fleet Summit⁠ coming up on July 23rd and the ⁠Supply Chain AI Symposium⁠ in Washington DC on July 30th at ⁠live.freightwaves.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On episode 858 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking to the teams at Dr. Squatch and ShipMonk to learn how they’re cleaning up in the soap business. How does manly soap go from source to sold? We’ll find out from Dr. Squatch’s Andrew Sutton and Jason Welsh and ShipMonk’s Kevin Sides. Ordinary Times’ Andrew Donaldson doesn’t just write about trade; he used to move it himself. We’ll learn about the logistics of delivering bathtubs in West Virginia and examine Trump’s tariff trade deal delay. We’ll dive into what’s happening now and what may occur on August 1. Plus, the first Red Sea attack of 2025; who’s getting $5 million to haul the space shuttle; smuggling in flatbed trailers; a Jurassic Park Rebirth review; and more. Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 6 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Watch on YouTube Check out the WTT merch store Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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We begin with news of a ⁠Houthi attack on the Liberian-flagged bulk tanker, Magic Seas⁠, in the Red Sea, marking the first such incident on commercial shipping since December of last year. This attack, which occurred 51 nautical miles southwest of Hudaydah, Yemen, led to the vessel being set on fire and sinking, with its 23-person crew abandoning ship.  UPS plans to offer ⁠voluntary buyouts to unionized drivers⁠ for the first time in their history, as part of an effort to eliminate approximately 20,000 frontline positions and increase profits. While drivers taking the buyout would receive a generous financial package and earned retirement benefits, the Teamsters union strongly opposes this plan, viewing it as an illegal violation of their contract's commitment to creating new jobs.  In other news, DP World, a global ports and logistics operator, is seizing ⁠significant opportunities across Latin America⁠, having recently opened a freight forwarding hub in Mexico City to support rising demand in US-Mexico cross-border logistics. The company has expanded aggressively in the Americas over the last two years, establishing 35 freight forwarding offices, including locations in Brazil and Toronto. Finally, don't miss out on upcoming Freight Waves events, including a new episode of ⁠What The Truck?!?⁠ today at noon, with a replay on Road Dog Trucking at 6 p.m.. Also, remember to sign up for the ⁠Enterprise Fleet Summit⁠ on July 23rd and the ⁠Supply Chain AI Symposium⁠ on July 30th in Washington DC, both accessible for registration at ⁠live.freightwaves.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charles Yang tells JP Hampstead about his contribution to the Techno-Industrial Playbook, which explains the levers that the government can pull to expand financing for domestic critical mineral processing. Charles and JP discuss the economics of minerals commodity markets and the risks that domestic processors take on by entering a market whose prices can be manipulated by China. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Long Haul, Adam sits down with Clay and Nick from FreshX to talk about one of the biggest shifts happening in the freight market right now—reefer LTL. They break down how food and beverage shippers are rethinking distribution, why reefer LTL is gaining momentum, and how tech is finally making it accessible to small carriers.If you’ve got a reefer unit and you’re tired of chasing one-off loads, this episode shows you how to build smarter weeks, tap into higher-paying opportunities, and position yourself for the new direction the market is heading. Clay and Nick don’t just talk theory—they’ve built the tech that’s actually changing the game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices