FreightCasts

Get ready for a game-changing episode of Truck Tech! Thomas Wasson sits down with Ali Javidan, Founder & CTO of Range Energy, to reveal groundbreaking electrification technology that's not focused on the tractor. Range Energy is putting the trailer to work with an innovative e-axle and battery system that promises to revolutionize fuel efficiency, safety, and operational transparency for fleets. In this deep dive, learn about: The "Ignored" Trailer: Why focusing on the trailer, not just the tractor, is key to decarbonizing commercial transportation. E-Axle Innovation: How a drive motor and battery pack on the trailer can reduce fuel consumption (up to 70%!), provide regenerative braking, and integrate seamlessly with any tractor. Smart Braking & Stability: Witness incredible safety improvements with faster reaction times than traditional ABS, significantly reducing stopping distances and preventing jackknifing, even on ice! Reefer Electrification: Discover how Range Energy's system can power refrigeration units, eliminating the need for diesel gensets and capturing enough regenerative energy to run reefers for an entire shift. Operational Simplicity: Learn why Range Energy's system requires zero modifications to the tractor, using standard air and light connections, and how it can be easily bolted onto existing trailers. Future Applications: Explore the potential for powering auxiliary components, APUs, and even defense applications. Ali, with his extensive background from Tesla, Google, and Zoox, shares the vision behind Range Energy and how they're empowering fleets to achieve significant decarbonization without major operational disruptions. Don't miss this look at the smart, sustainable future of trucking! #TruckTech #RangeEnergy #ElectricTrailer #EAxle #FleetElectrification #EVTrucking #ReeferTrailer #RegenerativeBraking #SmartTrailer #CommercialTrucking #SupplyChain #Logistics #Decarbonization #CleanTransportation #ACTExpo #FutureOfTrucking #Innovation #TruckingIndustry #Freight #ColdChain #SustainableLogistics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On episode 851 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner talks to lawyers about a fatal truck accident case. Today, they’ll examine Roth v. NFL and Gursimran Singh. Attorneys Kevin Etzkorn and Nathan A. Steimel break down the timeline of events that led to Gursimran Singh crashing into a stalled car, killing its driver. They’ll explain why they argued Singh was untrained, unqualified, and unsafe. The latest freight theft victim? Nintendo. Thieves stole $1.4 million worth of Switch 2 consoles from a truck at a Love’s in Bennett, Colorado. Has the tariff hangover hit ports? Los Angeles box volumes have fallen to two-year lows. FreightWaves’ Stuart Chirls helps us uncover what’s happening with shipping. Plus, a trucker needs your help; what’s your inseam?; crane crashes; and more. Chapters 0:57 Men: what’s your inseam? 2:43 Help a trucker out 5:27 $1.4M Switch 2 truck theft 9:01 Roth v. NFL and Gursimran Singh | Kevin Etzkorn, Attorney, Kevin Etzkorn Law and Nathan A. Steimel, Attorney, SK Law 36:51 LAs box volume hits 2 year low | Stuart Chirls  39:53 Is the worst yet to come? | Stuart Chirls 41:14 Israel/Iran impact | Stuart Chirls 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

An Ohio couple that owned multiple trucking companies pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges related to COVID-19 loan programs, fraudulently obtaining over $900,000. Ajay and Ruhi Chawla used these funds primarily for real estate acquisitions instead of employee payroll for their four trucking-related businesses. A new U.S. Department of Transportation enforcement policy is drawing criticism from the Truck Safety Coalition, who warn it could lead to "political interference" and undermine safety oversight. The policy would allow truck drivers and companies under investigation to petition DOT officials, potentially causing a "chilling effect" on federal regulators and risking disciplinary action against FMCSA investigators. Independent terminal operator Outpost has acquired four new facilities, bringing its national network to 25 locations, with plans to add another eight to ten by year-end. Supported by a $500 million capital fund, Outpost offers truck parking, maintenance partnerships, and cross-dock facilities, differentiating itself from traditional travel centers by focusing heavily on truck capacity rather than free parking.  A trailer carrying 2,810 Nintendo Switch 2 consoles, valued at $1.4 million, was stolen overnight from a Love's Travel Stop in Bennett, Colorado. This high-value cargo heist highlights a 27% surge in cargo theft, with the scale of the operation suggesting potential inside involvement due to the specialized equipment needed to move the heavy pallets.  The Port of Los Angeles experienced a surprising dip in May container volumes, snapping a 10-month growth streak, with imports falling 9% year-over-year. An economist warned that ongoing tariffs, averaging 55% on Chinese imports, could effectively increase costs to American families by about $2,500 annually, disproportionately affecting lower-income households. FedEx has deployed an AI-powered robotic arm at its Cologne, Germany, air gateway to improve package sorting precision, the first of its kind in FedEx’s European network. This robot processes up to 1,000 small packages per hour, ensuring labels are correctly oriented for scanning, which enhances efficiency and reduces physical strain on employees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An Ohio couple pleaded guilty to fraud charges involving COVID-era loan programs for their trucking companies. These funds, totaling over $900,000, were reportedly misused for real estate acquisitions instead of employee payroll. We also discuss the ongoing debate surrounding new enforcement rights proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, with the Truck Safety Coalition warning of negative impacts on investigations. Conversely, the American Trucking Associations supports these rules, viewing them as a path to greater accountability. Furthermore, learn how electronics manufacturer Jabil is making a significant $500 million investment to expand its cloud and AI data center infrastructure in the U.S. Southeast. This new facility, expected to be operational by mid-2026, aims to meet the surging demand for AI, serving major clients like Apple, UPS, and Amazon. Don't miss today's What the Truck?!? live on FreightWaves TV at noon, and register for the free Enterprise Fleet Summit virtual event on July 23rd. Plus, grab your tickets for the Supply Chain AI Symposium in Washington D.C. on July 30th, with a bundle deal available for the Future of Freight Festival in October. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, Reed Loustalot, Chief Marketing Officer at Truck Parking Club, co-founder and board member of LOST FR8 joins us to tell his story, how to turn memes into d dreams, and Truck Parking Club is helping solve the truck parking problem. ⁠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 new world of Transfix’s flatbed pricing tool. Our guest, Jonathan Salama, founder of Transfix, breaks down the motivation behind the rollout of the flatbed pricing tool and how they got to this point. 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 dramatic incident happened in the Persian Gulf, where a "dark fleet" tanker collided with another crude oil vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, igniting a fire amidst rising GPS disruptions in the region. This critical maritime choke point, responsible for a fifth of the world's oil and gas supply, continues to be a hotspot for geopolitical tensions. Shifting to international trade, President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have announced a significant easing of tariffs between their nations. This new agreement zeroes out aerospace import tariffs from the UK and reduces auto tariffs to 10% on the first 100,000 vehicles, a sharp drop from the previous 27.5% duty. On the fuel front, benchmark diesel prices have seen their biggest upward move since January, rising 10 cents per gallon to $3.571, largely driven by escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. While crude oil prices briefly dipped, market anxieties over tightened diesel availability persist, especially given Iran's role as a supplier of heavier crude. In North America, DHL Express Canada is preparing to suspend parcel operations due to a tough labor dispute with Unifor, impacting 2,100 workers. A new Canadian law prohibiting replacement workers has forced DHL's hand, leading to an indefinite shipment embargo starting Tuesday night with full operations pausing by Friday. A serious crackdown on safety and fraud in Florida has led to the arrest of eight individuals, including two state employees, for selling fraudulent driver's licenses to undocumented migrants. Shockingly, some of these illicitly obtained licenses were commercial, enabling unqualified individuals to potentially operate tractor-trailers, posing a significant threat to highway safety. Finally, in the skies, Saudi Arabia-based AviLease has made a bold entry into the widebody air cargo market with a direct order for 10 Airbus A350 freighters. These state-of-the-art jets promise remarkable fuel efficiency and the capacity to carry up to 120 tons, featuring the industry's largest cargo door for oversized shipments and even 20-foot containers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's FreightWaves Morning Minute, we cover significant developments in the freight industry, including recent bankruptcy filings from two trucking companies and a distribution service, with creditors seeking millions. Get the full story on these financial challenges, including specific companies like Dolche Truckload Corp., Contract Managed Services, and GD Transport, and the millions claimed by their creditors, by reading "⁠Creditors claim millions as freight bankruptcy filings roll in - FreightWaves⁠". ⁠California's Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's decision to revoke the state's zero-emission vehicle waivers⁠, labeling the federal action unlawful and unconstitutional. This legal challenge impacts key environmental regulations like the Advanced Clean Trucks Act, the nitrogen oxide rule, and the Clean Cars 2 regulation. We also report on ⁠DHL Express Canada's decision to suspend parcel operations, effective this Friday, June 20th⁠. This suspension is a direct consequence of an escalating labor dispute and new Canadian legislation prohibiting the use of replacement workers. Additionally, tune in for upcoming FreightWaves TV events like "⁠Check Call⁠" and "⁠Loaded and Rolling⁠," and mark your calendars for the virtual Enterprise Fleet Summit. For registration and ticket information on these and other events such as the ⁠Supply Chain AI Symposium⁠ and ⁠Future of Freight Festival⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On episode 850 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner discusses a recent series of busts revealing the shady underbelly of the CDL industry. Danielle Chaffin joins to break down CDL scams in Massachusetts, Oregon, and Florida, exploring their connection to the rise in fatal semi-truck crashes and rampant freight theft. Following several major accidents involving Amazon Relay-hired trucks, Chaffin dives into data on the carriers operating within Amazon’s network.  GenLogs’ Ryan Joyce discusses their cameras monitoring highways nationwide. With a network of sensors spanning California to New York, Minnesota to Texas, Washington to Florida, Joyce explains how GenLogs’ cameras help solve freight theft cases and recover stolen loads. We’ll also explore the most active carriers on the road. GenLogs has released its Most Observed Carrier Report, revealing which companies’ trucks appear most frequently on their cameras. Plus, imports rebound to 2024 levels, the impact of war on diesel prices, 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 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 episode 849 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner celebrates Friday the 13th with Carrier411’s Darren Brewer. Some consider him the Jason Voorhees of freight, but is he really the boogeyman? Brewer discusses the latest change to their platform, targeting brokers accessing the site from foreign IP addresses. We’ll find out what measures they’re taking to combat fraud and bad actors. We’ll also explore how FreightGuards work, how to avoid being FreightGuarded, what to do if you are, and examine the broker vs. carrier battle. Plus, a judge forces DAT to halt its factoring platform; Overhaul releases protest alert; a bicycle-riding attorney pushes to ban spiked truck hubcaps; and more. Chapters Judge demands DAT halt factoring platform 01:03 Containerized rocket launchers at Fort Bragg 02:42 Weekend protest alert 3:03 Carrier411 | Darren Brewer 05:02 Foreign broker access | Darren Brewer 07:52 How to avoid getting FreightGuarded | Darren Brewer 36:31 How to respond to FreightGuards | Darren Brewer 41:16 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