FreightCasts

In this episode, we dive into the world of small and medium sized carriers and government contracting. Our guest, Melanie Patterson founder and managing director at Team Integrity Knowledge Center & Integrity Global Logistics shares how government contracting is a viable option for small to mid-sized reefer carriers. For more information subscribe to Running on Ice the newsletter or podcast. Follow the Running on Ice Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon beat expectations in its first-quarter earnings release⁠, but company officials noted that global tariffs are looming over potential profits in upcoming quarters. First-quarter earnings per share were up 64% year over year to $1.59, with both EPS and revenue surpassing Wall Street expectations.  Another round of ⁠layoffs has impacted several businesses across the freight industry⁠, particularly in the Southeast. Companies like C&S Wholesale Services, Adient PLC, and Saks Global announced significant job cuts due to facility closures.  The ⁠bipartisan SHIPS for America Act⁠ is back in front of Congress, aiming to revitalize the domestic maritime industry. This legislation calls for funding to support the build of a fleet of 250 US flag cargo vessels and includes provisions like increasing cargo preference for US government cargo.  Tune in today for the final ⁠What the Truck?!?⁠ episode of the week at noon with Tim Dooner. Also, nominations for the FreightWaves fraud fighters award are ending tomorrow, so be sure to get those in at ⁠live.freightwaves.com⁠. While you're there, register for the Freight Fraud Symposium happening in Dallas, Texas, in just two weeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and John Paul Hampstead bring on Dr. Zac Rogers, co-author of the Logistics Managers’ Index to discuss the influence of tariffs on supply chains. ⁠Follow the Freightonomics Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Long Haul, I’m joined by Garrett Steenblik—founder of Trucker Body Shop and a former driver who turned his own health journey into a full-blown movement. Garrett breaks down how drivers can take control of their health right from the cab of their truck—no gym, no gimmicks. We talk about the realities of being on the road, how to build habits that stick, and practical exercises that work in tight spaces with tight schedules. If you’ve been putting your health on the back burner, this conversation will hit home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aurora Innovation⁠ has officially launched its commercialized driverless trucking operations in Texas, running autonomous trucks without a human driver along the I-45 corridor between Houston and Dallas. The company partnered with Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor companies for this program, which received praise from Texas Governor Greg Abbott for its potential to move products efficiently, create jobs, and improve road safety. Carrier ⁠Heartland Express⁠ posted another disappointing quarterly result for 2025, reporting its seventh straight net loss on Wednesday. Revenue fell 19 percent year over year, with leadership citing tariff uncertainties, adverse weather, and prolonged industry challenges like cost inflation outpacing freight demand as reasons for the poor performance. ⁠Penske Logistics⁠ is cutting over 300 warehouse jobs from a facility in Missouri after losing a contract with a grocery in the area. A WARN notice reported the permanent closure effective July 15th, with plans to transfer the service to a different warehousing provider and offer employees transfer opportunities to BGDC Distribution. And companies across various sectors are releasing ⁠new plans to adjust services, pricing, and more in response to evolving trade policies⁠. Staff writer Grace Sharkey gathered responses from dozens of companies, including retailers, automakers, and tech giants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 832 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is sharing the trucking industry’s reaction to Trump’s executive order requiring truck drivers to speak and understand English. The order rescinds a 2016 FMCSA memo that effectively eliminated roadside enforcement of English proficiency.  Adil Ashiq is a former U.S. Merchant Marine captain-turned-supply chain and maritime industry nerd. We’ll find out how to navigate tumultuous trade waters. We’ll look at maritime employment and the Jones Act.  CloneOps’ David Bell talks about who the winners and losers will be in AI lead communication for logistics service providers. Plus, some auto tariffs hit reverse; rate the strap work; 100 truckers vs 1 gorilla, and more.  3:27 Trucking leaders applaud English language Executive Order 12:25 Auto tariffs in reverse? (Craig Video 15:00) 16:14 FreightTech adoption | David Bell 24:51 100 truckers vs 1 gorilla  26:37 Rate the strap work 27:37 Show me the tariffs | Capt. Adil Ashiq 39:57 Maritime policy | Capt. Adil Ashiq 43:25 100 seamen vs 1 gorilla 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 5 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

Truckload carrier Werner Enterprises experienced a historic first-quarter operating loss, attributing the result to factors like elevated insurance costs, extreme weather, a smaller fleet, and changes in customer activity stemming from tariff uncertainty. CEO Derek Leathers stated that this performance "does not represent who we are" and that the company is making near-term moves while keeping an eye on future market changes. UPS plans to eliminate approximately 20,000 front-line positions this year and undergo a significant network restructuring, including closing sortation centers, partly to manage the reduction of unprofitable business from Amazon. The company aims for over $3 billion in cost savings in 2025 as it moves to decrease outbound Amazon deliveries by 50% by 2026. Despite concerns about tariffs and expected volume declines, Gulf Coast ports, including Houston, New Orleans, and Corpus Christi, reported rising freight volumes in March. These ports saw a bump in volumes after a slow February, with Houston experiencing a 7% year-over-year increase, helped by manufacturing raw materials like steel and aluminum and increases in loaded exports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, Sebastian Baquero founder and CEO of RueData joins us to talk about their tire technology optimization platform. For many fleets tires are their largest expense outside of fuel. ⁠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 world of freight payment fraud. Our guest, Sean Smith, VP of Product and Client Service at Denim breaks down ways to keep brokerages out of the clutches of fraud. 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

Apollo Global Management has issued a severe warning for the U.S., forecasting mass layoffs in the trucking and retail sectors expected to begin in the next four to six weeks due to the ripple effects of tariffs and trade uncertainty. This outlook includes anticipated shortages across the retail space as import volumes are expected to drop substantially, with declining import volumes impacting trucking workloads and forcing carriers to cut labor costs. DHL has ended its temporary suspension on shipping medium-value business-to-consumer (B2C) goods valued between $800 and $2,500 to the United States after negotiating changes to customs rules that previously created administrative burdens and shipment backlogs. This allows these shipments to once again enter the U.S. using expedited informal declaration processes, although DHL noted customers might still experience some slight delays as they work through the backlog. President Trump has signed an executive order requiring the nation's truck drivers to be proficient in speaking and reading English. The order mandates revising out-of-service criteria to ensure drivers violating this English proficiency rule are placed out-of-service, aiming to enhance roadway safety by adding enforcement to existing federal law. Upcoming FreightWaves TV programming includes 'Check Call' and 'Loaded and Rolling'. FreightWaves is also hosting the Freight Fraud Symposium in Dallas on May 14th, and nominations for the Fraud Fighters Award close on Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices