FreightCasts

In this special Truck Tech episode from ACT Expo, FreightWaves’ Thomas Wasson sits down with Plus CEO & Co-founder Shawn Kerrigan to dive into the fast-moving world of autonomous trucking. They cover Plus’s driverless truck milestone, global OEM partnerships with Hyundai, Scania, and International, and how data and AI are redefining the future of freight. Learn how Plus is building a virtual driver, what the AV 2.0 shift means for the industry, and why 2025–2027 is shaping up to be the breakout window for commercial deployment. ⁠Follow the Truck Tech Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On episode 835 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking to DHL Express about shipping endangered bongo antelopes to Kenya. The bongos were transported in custom-built crates, alongside 6 tonnes of pellet feed and 3 specialist animal care staff including a veterinarian and 2 bongo specialists from the US. DHL’s Jimmy Eades tell us all about this unique shipment. Are you savvy enough to spot freight fraud? Truckstop’s Taryn Daker shares their latest freight fraud data and shares tips on prevention.  Backhaul is a dirty word in some circles. Pedro Prado and LogShare aim to change that with their platform that matches your empty trailer with loads headed your way.  Plus, CVSA roadcheck week; did you get your Real ID; trucking cats and dogs.  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

This week's episode highlights the news that ⁠Detroit-based grocery carrier SFD Transportation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy⁠, joining a larger case with its parent company and several subsidiaries. The 300-truck carrier estimated assets between $1 billion and $10 billion but liabilities ranging from $500 million to $1 billion. We also look at the ⁠April Logistics Managers Index (LMI)⁠, which reported mixed transportation metrics. Capacity ticked higher by 1.6%, but utilization reached its lowest level since November 2023, even as prices grew sequentially. In fuel news, the ⁠benchmark diesel price fell for the fourth straight week⁠ on Monday. The price reached $3.49 a gallon, down 1.7 cents for the week and representing its lowest point since before Christmas. Looking ahead, don't miss ⁠What the Truck?!?⁠ live with Tim Dooner on FreightWaves TV and its replay on SiriusXM. Also, mark your calendars for the ⁠freight fraud symposium in Dallas⁠, where the freight fraud fighters award winners will be announced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, Charlotte Argue, Senior Manager of Sustainable Mobility at Geotab joins us to talk about the Geotab Sustainability Center and how their platform is helping fleets monitor everything from EV charging, emissions reduction to preventative maintenance. ⁠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 cluster theft. Our guest, Scott Cornell, Travelers’ Transportation Practice Lead and crime and theft specialist breaks down trends in cargo theft as well as the rise of cluster theft and how to best go about reducing the chances of it happening. 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

We dive into the latest shifts in independent contractor classifications, with differing approaches being seen in New Jersey and at the federal level, a topic explored in the source discussing how New Jersey and the feds are taking opposite paths on these rules. The New Jersey Department of Labor is proposing rules to ⁠codify the ABC test⁠, potentially tightening the definition there, while the acting administrator of the federal Wage and Hour Division is reconsidering the 2024 ABC rule entirely. Also making headlines is the ongoing legal battle between Omnitrax and Motive. Omnitrax has filed a ⁠motion for retrial⁠ after a jury unanimously ruled in favor of Motive in a lawsuit alleging patent infringement. The 33-page motion claims Motive's conduct during the original trial was prejudiced and relied on improper assertions, including racial and religious insinuations, as detailed in the source about Omnitracs filing a motion for retrial. In legal news, a Massachusetts State Police Sergeant is scheduled for sentencing in July after being found ⁠guilty in a CDL bribery scheme⁠. Gary Cedarquist was convicted of accepting various bribes and faced charges including extortion and mail fraud, according to the source discussing the Massachusetts man convicted in this scam. He was acquitted of nine other related charges. Finally, tune into Freight Waves TV today for new episodes of ⁠Check Call⁠ and ⁠Loaded and Rolling⁠. Don't miss the upcoming ⁠Freight Fraud Symposium⁠ next week in Dallas, Texas, where the winners of the fraud fighters award will be announced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On episode 834 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is hosting an Ask Me Anything with ShipHero’s Aaron Rubin all about tariffs. They’re getting into questions about: -Tariff fraud -Bonded warehouses -TikTok knockoffs - Death of de minimis  - Toys and consoles are already passing on costs to consumers, will your daughter only get 2 dolls for Christmas? - Movie tariffs and much 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 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

On FreightWaves’ retail and CPG show, Mike Baudendistel and Grace Sharkey discuss CPG and retail reactions to tariffs and interview Wiley Jones, Co-founder and CEO at Doss. ⁠Follow The Stockout Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US rail car load volumes are currently outpacing last year's figures⁠, despite looming concerns about incoming ocean containers. Weekly railcar volumes exceeded 502,000, representing a 5.5% year-over-year increase, while year-to-date American railroad traffic is up slightly, contrasting with only a 2% gain in Canadian traffic and a 10% drop in Mexican traffic.  Forward Air is seeking shareholder approval to ⁠change its state of incorporation from Tennessee to Delaware⁠. This strategic maneuver is described as an effort to "resteer the ship" following a challenging merger with Omni Logistics and aims to provide increased flexibility, potentially making it easier to sell the company. The Forward Air board approved this reincorporation plan, which leverages Delaware’s corporate governance framework to explore strategic options like a sale. A group of ⁠West Coast politicians and port leaders are issuing a stern warning that Trump administration tariffs are triggering significant supply chain disruptions⁠ that pose serious threats to both regional and national economies. They stress that the window to minimize the economic harm is rapidly closing, noting that small businesses are already facing consequences similar to those experienced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Tune in to "⁠What The Truck?!?⁠" today for a segment breaking down the realities of these tariffs, including potential adjustment strategies and whether companies are genuinely passing on costs to consumers. Also, don't forget to secure your tickets for the Freight Fraud Symposium happening next week on May 14th in Dallas, Texas by visiting ⁠live.frightwaves.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Episode 833 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Dooner is talking to Flexport’s Bill Driegert about resurrecting Convoy Platform. The company has just announced that it has had zero loads stolen over its past 380,000 shipments. Across the industry, cargo thefts were up 27% year over year, and the average value of theft ballooned to $202,364. We’ll find out how Flexport has managed to beat the bad guys.  Can fasteners hang in there against tariffs? Field Fastener’s John Oldham Jr. stops by to talk about how trade policy could be impacting the very goods holding everything together.  Plus, Commercial Carrier Journal gets cooked over driver shortage article; layoffs/bankruptcies hit trucking; GTA6 delayed until 2026; XBOX Series X up $100; and is the port of Seattle really empty?  Chapters 1:30 GTA 6 delayed, XBOX Series X up $100 3:52 Layoffs and carrier bankruptcies 8:33 CCJ gets roasted over driver shortage article 12:01 Is the Port of Seattle really empty? 13:22 Convoy Platform: No thefts over last 380K loads | Bill Driegert 24:06 Menace on 4 wheels 24:21 Tariffs vs fasteners | John Oldham Jr. at Field Fastener 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