FreightCasts

Buffalo is growing again! Tom Kucharski, President and CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara, tells JP about the long road to reindustrializing the Buffalo - Niagara region, including the Micron 'megafab' semiconductor plant currently under construction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Long Haul, Adam sits down with Rahmel Wattley—founder of Truck N’ Hustle, creator of FreightFest, and one of the most influential voices in trucking media. Rahmel shares how he went from driver recruiting to building a movement, what he’s learned from interviewing hundreds of industry leaders, and how small carriers can tap into the power of storytelling, strategy, and community to grow with purpose. We dive into the real struggles owner-operators face, what it takes to stand out in today’s market, and why brand matters more now than ever. If you’re trying to scale your business—or your voice—this is one episode you don’t want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune into this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute for crucial updates impacting the freight industry, including the recent doubling of tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. These duties now stand at 50%, effective Wednesday, aiming to bolster domestic metals manufacturing and shield American steel worker jobs. This move has prompted Canada to negotiate for tariff removal, while Mexico has denounced the hike as a violation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). We also delve into the latest from LTL carrier XPO, which reported a modest 5.7% year-over-year decline in tonnage for May. This decline aligns with previous guidance and typical seasonality, as the industry continues to await an uptick in demand. The company's monthly declines show an improvement compared to the first quarter.  Additionally, the episode covers Descartes' significant announcement of a 7% workforce reduction, impacting approximately 200 jobs. This action is an expansion of an earlier restructuring plan, designed to manage the uncertainties facing the freight industry due to changing trade policies and volatile economic forecasts. Despite these challenges, Descartes reported a 12% year-over-year increase in revenue, although it fell short of wider market estimates for earnings per share.  Finally, we highlight upcoming FreightWaves TV events, including episodes of Freightonomics and The Long Haul. Mark your calendars for the Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd and the Supply Chain AI Symposium on July 30th in Washington D.C., and be sure to register at live.freightwaves.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get ready for an in-depth look at the cutting edge of logistics with Thomas Wasson from ACT Expo! This episode of Truck Tech features a dual dive into the future of fleet operations. First, we sit down with Daniel Hilson, CEO and Founder of BetterFleet, to discuss how their innovative software is helping municipalities like the Metropolitan Water District strategically electrify their fleets. Learn about:1. The “digital twin” technology optimizing routes and vehicle utilization.2. Phased approaches to EV adoption for cost-effectiveness.3. Global trends in clean fleet mandates and what sets California apart.4. The critical importance of data in making smart electrification decisions. Then, we jump into the yard with Kalmar and Product Manager Ryan Sipple to unveil their groundbreaking autonomous electric terminal tractor, the Ottawa Auto-PT! Discover:1. How Kalmar Ottawa partnered with Forterra for the advanced autonomous drive software.2. The robust sensor suite and redundancy features enabling “driver-out” operations in pilots.3. The unique challenges and solutions for autonomous backing in a busy yard environment.4. The evolution of Kalmar’s EV terminal tractor, now in its third generation, offering up to 20 hours of operation with opportunity charging.5. Insights into future developments like inductive charging and optimized powertrain configurations. This video is packed with essential information for anyone in fleet management, logistics, or interested in the future of sustainable and autonomous transportation! #TruckTech #ACTExpo #EVTrucks #AutonomousVehicles #TerminalTractor #YardDog #FleetElectrification #BetterFleet #KalmarOttawa #Forterra #CleanLogistics #SustainableTransportation #ElectricTrucks #FutureOfFreight #SupplyChainInnovation #DigitalTwin #SmartFleet #GreenTech #AutonomousDriving #FreightTech #ElectricTerminalTractor#trucking #logistics #news ⁠Follow the Truck Tech Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 845 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking to Pallet CEO and founder Sushanth Raman about the company’s recent $27 million series B funding round. We’ll find out the latest on AI workforces for 3PLs, what problems it may solve and whether broker jobs are at risk.  We head north of the border with Left Lane Associates Mike “Ace” McCarron to find out the good, bad and ugly of Canadian trucking. We’ll learn about U.S.-Canada tensions, tariff impacts on cross-border, crime in Canadian trucking and more.  Operation Spiderweb puts trucks on the front line as one was recently used to launch a daring attack on Russia’s bomber fleet. Will trucks become a target?  ICE sets its sights on trucking. With reports of agents hitting shipping facilities and a massive bust in Texas, the industry is on notice.  Tesla Semi claims it has an 800-mile bobtail range. WattEV unveils its Tesla Semi and says it can fully charge the truck in 30 minutes or less. Chapters 0:59 WWE Knoxville  4:08 Operation Spiderweb: Trucks on the frontline 7:54 ICE sets sights on trucking 11:22 Tesla Semi: Bobtail beast 13:20 Pallet raises $27M series B | Sushanth Raman 16:16 AI workforce | Sushanth Raman  29:39 Who is at fault: Car or truck? 32:23 Good, bad, and ugly of Canadian trucking | Mike “Ace” McCarron 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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The ⁠Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has revealed plans to cut its workforce by approximately 7%⁠, eliminating 89 full-time and part-time positions primarily at its headquarters, while simultaneously requesting a slight increase in funding, bringing its total budget to over $1 billion for the next fiscal year.  The ⁠DOE benchmark diesel price has fallen to a milestone low⁠, reaching its lowest point since September 2021, with the average weekly retail price now at $3.45 a gallon, marking a decline over seven of the past eight weeks. Despite this trend, futures prices moved up even after news that OPEC Plus would increase output, indicating a continued unwinding of their 2023 production cuts.  Furthermore, the ⁠labor dispute involving Canada Post continues to intensify⁠ after the state-owned corporation rejected a proposal for binding arbitration from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). This rejection prolongs uncertainty following the union's refusal to work overtime since May 23rd, which has already caused delivery slowdowns and a significant drop in Canada Post's parcel volumes, pushing e-commerce retailers to alternative carriers.  Looking ahead, FreightWaves is hosting several key events, including the ⁠Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd⁠. Additionally, the ⁠Supply Chain AI Symposium is scheduled for July 30th⁠ in Washington D.C., with opportunities for interested speakers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, Tom Larson, senior vice president of sales at ITS Logistics joins us to talk about drop trailers, power only, freight fraud and catching up on market trends. ⁠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 how weather can impact the supply chain. Our guest, Renny Vandewege, General Manager, Weather & Climate Intelligence at DTN breaks down how to include weather forecasting and planning in supply chains. 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

A significant drug trafficking seizure at the Port of Long Beach, where authorities intercepted 55 tons of dicumyl peroxide, a chemical used in methamphetamine production. This shipment, which originated in China and was destined for the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico, was confiscated as part of an ICE initiative launched in 2019 to target suspicious chemical precursor shipments.  The podcast also provides an update on Yellow Corp.'s asset liquidation process, noting the company has filed a motion in federal bankruptcy court to sell four of its terminals valued at $6.8 million. This action represents a further step toward winding down operations, with mostly non-logistics buyers showing interest in these property assets.  Additionally, the Trump administration's announcement of $5.4 billion available for major bridge projects across the United States is covered, including $4.9 billion for the Bridge Investment Program and an additional $500 million dedicated to rural bridge repairs. A key highlight of this program is the removal of previous Biden-era approval requirements related to climate change and environmental justice considerations, aiming to streamline the process for state and local governments involved in these critical infrastructure projects.  Finally, the episode reminds listeners about upcoming FreightWaves virtual events, including the Enterprise Summit on July 23rd and the Supply Chain AI Symposium coming up quickly on July 30th in Washington D.C.. Registration for these events can be completed by visiting live.frightwaves.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices