FreightCasts

FedEx's board of directors elected R. Brad Martin as chairman following the passing of founder Fred Smith, and a decision to reduce the board's size to 12 members. The company expressed profound gratitude for Smith's vision and contributions, as Martin, previously vice chairman, now leads the audit and finance committees. Maersk has suspended services to Israel’s busiest port, Haifa, and halted cargo acceptance due to ongoing conflict and safety risks from missile attacks. This decision was made prior to new missile attacks, which occurred despite reports of a potential ceasefire. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a five-year, $10 million research initiative to study the long-term health effects of the 2023 railroad derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. This marks the first large-scale coordinated federal program to address community health concerns, focusing on public health tracking, chemical exposure impacts, and multi-disciplinary communication. Also, tune into FreightWaves TV for programs like Check Call and Loaded and Rolling, and mark your calendars for upcoming events like the Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd. Don't miss the Supply Chain AI Symposium on July 30th in Washington D.C., where a special ticket offer allows combining it with your F3 ticket for a reduced price. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On episode 853 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner discusses with FreightWaves’ oil expert, John Kingston, the impact of fuel costs following the U.S. bombing of Iran. With saber-rattling around the Strait of Hormuz and a potential prolonged war with Iran, could diesel prices skyrocket? The recent fire aboard the Morning Midas has OEC Group raising concerns about the risks of shipping cargo on vessels carrying electric vehicles. OEC Group’s Joe Klobus explains how to protect your ocean freight. If your truck gets stuck on train tracks, what should you do? Call the blue sign! Operation Lifesaver’s Jennifer DeAngelis joins the show to discuss ENS Sign Awareness Day and its importance. Travelers’ Mark Borchert shares the latest workforce trends. Plus, long-haul truckers offer advice for long-distance bomber pilots; a tribute to RIP Fred Smith; 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

Global tensions as oil prices react to geopolitical events, with Brent crude ticking up after the US strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, though prices later flattened as tankers moved through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite Iran's parliament voting to close the strategic waterway, top leadership approval is required, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China to discourage such a shutdown given its critical impact on global oil consumption. Spot rates for large crude oil tankers from the Persian Gulf to China have surged dramatically amid heightened Middle East stability concerns, nearly doubling to over $57,000 per day for the largest crude carriers. Despite threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, major container lines like Maersk and CMA CGM continue their sailings, closely monitoring the situation while maintaining operations. In industry news, we pause to honor the passing of Frederick W. Smith, the visionary founder of FedEx, who died at age 80, transforming a college term paper idea into an $87.7 billion global overnight delivery powerhouse. Smith's pioneering concepts, military service, and strategic financial moves, like a high-stakes blackjack win, shaped FedEx into a company whose legacy touches virtually every corner of global logistics. The US truckload market continues to face significant challenges, with carrier revocations, or trucking businesses shutting down, running 16% higher year-over-year through mid-2025, reflecting sustained industry vulnerability. Recent regulatory enforcement, including renewed English language proficiency rules and stricter CDL fraud crackdowns, may be raising entry barriers, while softening demand and rising operating costs further squeeze profitability. Supply chain investments are on the rise in Mexico to support growing trade with the US, its largest trading partner. This includes Evans Transportation opening a new office in Laredo, DP World launching a freight forwarding hub in Mexico City, Geodis Logistics opening a new office in Guadalajara, We Store Frozen building a cold storage facility in Laredo, and Japanese firms Tokai Kogyo and Benchmark Electronics expanding their manufacturing footprints. FreightWaves is proud to spotlight the dawn of a new era with the AI Excellence in Supply Chain Award, recognizing game-changing use of artificial intelligence in logistics. The Supply Chain AI Symposium in Washington, D.C., happening this July, will crown industry leaders harnessing AI, machine learning, and large language models to drive smarter, more resilient, and sustainable supply chains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heightened tensions in the Middle East have caused ⁠spot rates for large crude oil tankers from the Persian Gulf to China to surge over 50%⁠. This surge comes after a U.S. attack on Iran and threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a route for about 20% of the world's oil, equating to over $57,000 per day for a roundtrip charter.  Frederick W. Smith, who founded FedEx Express Corp. fifty-four years ago and revolutionized parcel delivery by using aircraft for overnight delivery, ⁠passed away over the weekend at the age of 80⁠. FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam stated that "Fred was more than just the pioneer of an industry and the founder of our great company. He was the heart and soul of FedEx – its People-Service-Profit culture, values, integrity, and spirit," underscoring his profound impact.  The Supreme Court has weighed in on California's ability to create its own environmental regulations via waivers from the EPA, a ruling that was more procedural than substantive on regulatory lawmaking. This decision, which overruled a D.C. Circuit Court case regarding a challenge to California's Clean Cars One Act, could ⁠benefit how trucking groups fight state regulations impacting their industry going forward⁠.  Don't miss ⁠What The Truck?!?⁠ live at noon today on FreightWaves TV, with the replay available on SiriusXM channel 146. Also, mark your calendars for the free ⁠Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd⁠ and the ⁠Supply Chain AI Symposium on July 30th⁠ in Washington D.C., with a special combo ticket available for the latter and the Future of Freight Festival. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On episode 852 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner talks with project44 founder and CEO Jett McCandless about their new decision intelligence platform, Movement. Movement represents a fundamental shift in supply chain management philosophy, moving “beyond mere ‘features’ or ‘visibility’ to focus on execution, outcomes, and transformation,” said project44 CEO Jett McCandless.  We’ll explore how it works, why it’s a game-changer, and why it has project44’s competitors on edge. McCandless and the project44 team recently returned from the White House, where they advised on tariffs. We’ll find out why they were there. Plus, a Will Rogers Turnpike wreck, Texas Trucker in recovery mode, and more. Chapters 1:15 Texas Trucker update 4:01 Will Rogers Turnpike crash 5:40 Launching Movement | Jett McCandless 28:10 Clapping back | Jett McCandless 33:12 Advising The White House on tariffs | Jett McCandless 36:57 A look ahead | Jett McCandless 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

In this episode, we dive into world of reefer unit efficiency. Our guest, Travis Ross, Sr. Sales Engineer breaks down the cost-savings that comes with on/off vs continuous reefer running. 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

C.H. Robinson announces groundbreaking adoption of AI agents to classify LTL freight, a move set to revolutionize classification, enhance efficiency, and accuracy in logistics. This innovation is particularly significant given upcoming changes to the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) system and is expected to generate operating leverage in North American Surface Transportation (NAST) by automating over 75% of LTL orders. Canada Post reached a collective bargaining agreement with its second-largest union, the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association (CPAA), after 18 months of negotiations. This deal grants postmasters an 11% wage increase over three years, while a standoff continues with their largest union, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), prompting government intervention. DHL Express Canada requested for an exemption from new legislation banning replacement workers during strikes or lockouts, forcing them to suspend operations. The company argues this cessation significantly harms businesses and communities, affecting over 50,000 international shipments daily, but the union, Unifor, strongly opposes any special treatment. Explore the swift resolution of a legal battle between DAT Freight & Analytics and factoring company OTR Solutions, bringing a quick end to a dispute over factoring services. This settlement allows DAT to market the factoring services of Outgo, a company it recently acquired, on its platform, which had been previously suspended by a court order. FourKites CEO allegedly manipulated comments by FreightWaves' CEO to unfairly criticize Project44’s Movement platform, highlighting competitive rivalries in logistics technology. This behavior, which included misrepresenting the context of the statements, raises questions about ethical conduct, given FourKites' history of purported unethical actions against Project44. Recent flooding and rockslides shut down a critical stretch of Interstate 40 between the North Carolina and Tennessee border. This key route was previously ravaged by Hurricane Helene last September and only partially reopened in February 2025, emphasizing its vulnerability to natural disasters. This episode ensures you stay ahead of the curve in freight and logistics news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, the audio file delves into C.H. Robinson's groundbreaking AI agent, a proprietary technology poised to revolutionize less-than-truckload (LTL) freight classification by adapting to upcoming changes in the National Motor Freight Classification (NMFC) system. As North America's largest third-party logistics (3PL) provider for LTL freight, C.H. Robinson's innovation promises enhanced efficiency and accuracy across the logistics industry by automating tasks that previously defied automation for decades. The podcast also covers the swift resolution of the legal dispute between factoring company OTR Solutions and DAT Freight & Analytics, with OTR voluntarily dismissing its lawsuit. This settlement enables DAT to fully launch Outgo, a recently acquired financial services and factoring company, through the DAT One platform. In global news, the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict has not yet severely impacted freight markets, but significant concerns persist regarding the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This strategic passage is vital for Persian Gulf nations, exporting 20% of the global oil supply, and any disruption could dramatically affect oil prices and international shipping routes. Listeners can catch Tim Dooner on What the Truck?!? for the latest on the Project44 and Fourkites feud, and Mario Connell on Running on Ice discussing cold chain efficiency with E-Road. Registration is open for the upcoming Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd and the Supply Chain AI Symposium on July 30th in Washington D.C.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Surface Transportation Board regulates railroad freight markets, maintaining a competitive landscape in the industry and ensuring that shippers have good service. Chairman Fuchs explains to JP Hampstead and Stuart Chirls how the STB is also enabling American reindustrialization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Long Haul, Adam sits down with Coleman Ruffin—industry vet, team builder, and former CH Robinson broker—to expose what small carriers need to know about how freight really gets moved. Coleman shares the truth about rate negotiations, how brokers decide who gets the good freight, and the quiet reasons carriers get skipped over. This is a raw look inside the brokerage world that’ll change how you approach your next load. If you want to stop being transactional and start being essential, this is the episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices