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In this episode of The Daily, we explore why Transport Capacity Services is betting on Monterrey to manage the surge in nearshoring activity and cross-border complexity. As manufacturing investment floods northern Mexico, stricter customs enforcement and driver regulations threaten to tighten freight capacity significantly by 2026. To support these long-term trade flows, Union Pacific is developing a massive industrial park near Houston, while developers repurpose facilities like a former Waco bottling plant for distribution. Meanwhile, market distress has forced Standard Forwarding Freight to cease operations after 91 years, signaling how the downturn is punishing leveraged operators. Consolidation continues to reshape the rail sector as GATX and Brookfield complete their acquisition of Wells Fargo’s rail leasing portfolio in a multibillion-dollar joint venture. On the technology front, telematics provider Motive has filed for an IPO, underscoring how software is becoming core infrastructure for fleets facing thin margins. Severe weather is also impacting operations, with Winter Storm Ezra triggering FMCSA hours-of-service waivers across 20 states and prompting warnings for truckers east of I-35 to stay off the roads. Finally, we discuss unconfirmed reports that China may be converting a cargo ship into a missile launcher, a development that could fundamentally alter global supply chain security. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After nearly two decades of litigation, 17 years later, Teamsters locals will get payments into benefit trust marks the end of a dispute involving Oak Harbor Freight Lines. An administrative law judge has ordered the LTL carrier to pay over $23 million for unfair labor practices committed during a 2008 strike. As nearshoring activity accelerates, TCS is betting on Monterrey as cross-border trade gets more complicated and highlights new logistics investments south of the border. Additionally, Union Pacific is developing a massive 2,000-acre industrial park near Houston to better serve international gateways. Drivers are facing hazardous conditions as Truckers east of I-35 advised to stay home outlines the dangers of Winter Storm Ezra. High winds across the Midwest and Northeast pose a significant risk of trailer rollovers, prompting urgent warnings for fleets to halt operations in affected areas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we investigate a major class-action filing aimed at stopping the California DMV from canceling nearly 20,000 commercial driver's licenses due to administrative errors. The Lawsuit Targets California DMV Over Administrative Failures Affecting 20,000 CDL Drivers argues that these cancellations disproportionately affect the Sikh community and pose an immediate risk to the stability of the supply chain. We also break down critical leadership updates in maritime governance, including the Senate confirmation of former Maersk executive Stephen Carmel as the administrator of the Maritime Administration. As the Marad chief, FMC nominee confirmed, these new appointees are set to fill vital gaps in the agencies that regulate U.S. ocean and port logistics. Finally, we discuss the rejection of an ambitious rail initiative after Amtrak turns down the ‘Transcontinental Chief’ proposal, citing a lack of a fundamental business case for the 72-hour transcontinental service. AmeriStarRail now plans to lobby Congress to force negotiations for the drive-aboard train service in hopes of launching by the 2028 Olympics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Daily, we explore the rising cost of rigidity as new regulations and market shifts challenge supply chain agility. We analyze how the FRA caps non-English rail crews at 10-mile border zone to create cross-border capacity bottlenecks and discuss New legislation could upend truck broker margins by imposing steep surcharges on carriers with safety violations. Shippers face a difficult balancing act as Inventory management strategy shifts once again toward leaner models, potentially risking stockouts if demand spikes in 2026. Meanwhile, ocean carriers are adopting split strategies, with significant Ocean rates as the New Year promises a good ‘blanking’ for US East Coast, driving up rates while West Coast capacity expands. In the equipment sector, REPOWR’s data shows it cost more in ‘25 for a short-term dry van rental despite a weak market, driven largely by tighter network security efforts. Finally, we look at the Canada Post, mail carriers tentatively agree on labor deal, which secures weekend delivery but locks in operational rigidity by rejecting dynamic routing. We also briefly touch on the STB asks comments on ‘completeness’ of rail merger application as regulators review the 7,000-page document regarding the UP-NS deal. This regulatory scrutiny adds another layer of complexity to an industry already grappling with rapid structural changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we discuss how Canada Post, mail carriers tentatively agree on a labor deal after a difficult period involving strikes and work slowdowns. The proposed five-year contract includes wage increases and the introduction of weekend parcel delivery, though it excludes the corporation's demands for dynamic routing and load leveling. We also examine why new legislation could upend truck broker margins by imposing a 10% surcharge on contracts involving carriers with multiple safety violations. This bill aims to hold brokers directly accountable for carrier safety, a shift that could challenge smaller brokers with data-intensive tracking requirements regarding violation histories. Finally, we look at the announcement that Stord to double e-commerce fulfillment capacity in Kentucky through a $40 million investment in a new facility and advanced automation. This expansion complements the company's recent acquisition of Penny Black, a software solution designed to personalize the post-purchase customer experience through custom packaging inserts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Daily from FreightWaves, we dive into the escalating risks facing global logistics, starting with a $200K cargo theft that exposes growing fraud schemes in trucking industry and highlights the sophisticated digital deception threatening shippers. Impersonators posing as a global engineering firm used fake paperwork to steal merchandise from a small business, underscoring a reported 29% spike in cargo theft incidents. We also analyze the historic UP, NS: Merger will create 10,000 single-line service lanes, shift 105k truckloads to rail, a strategic move designed to reverse a decade-long decline in rail market share. This massive consolidation targets "watershed markets" and aims to reduce transit times by up to 70 hours on key routes by eliminating costly interchanges. In regulatory news, the New York City bill that targeted Amazon won’t get taken up in 2025, avoiding a potential legal battle over interstate commerce despite having supermajority support in the City Council. Meanwhile, infrastructure concerns take center stage after over-sized cargo strikes six Oklahoma overpasses, forcing closures and prompting an emergency declaration for expensive repairs along the Will Rogers Turnpike. Legal scrutiny intensifies as a judge denies summary judgment in deaf driver applicant’s rejection, allowing a discrimination suit against Wilson Logistics to proceed to trial. On the global front, the Federal Maritime Commission is escalating a dispute as the US weighs sanctions as Spanish port ban escalates over denied docking access for U.S.-flagged vessels bound for Israel. Finally, we discuss the critical distinction highlighted in The Difference Between a Truck Owner and a Business Owner in Trucking, emphasizing how intentional systems—not just hustle—are essential for survival. This episode challenges listeners to consider whether they are building a fragile operation dependent on personal effort or a durable business asset. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BNSF CEO: Rail merger still a “significant threat” to economy, consumers covers the intensifying opposition to the proposed Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merger, as rival BNSF warns of potential service failures and higher rates. CEO Katie Farmer argues that the deal fails to meet regulatory requirements and offers public benefits that could otherwise be achieved through simple collaboration. We also analyze the "Chart of the Week" in Inventory management strategy shifts once again, which highlights a move toward leaner inventories after periods of over-ordering and destocking. This strategy increases the value of agile transportation services but carries the risk of missed revenue opportunities if demand suddenly spikes. Finally, we look at a discrimination lawsuit in Judge denies summary judgment in deaf driver applicant’s rejection, where a federal judge ruled that a case against Wilson Logistics will proceed to trial or settlement. The suit alleges the company illegally refused to hire a qualified deaf driver who held a valid federal hearing exemption. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of FreightWaves Daily, we analyze why the freight market has shifted into panic mode with rejection rates doubling and spot rates climbing significantly. We break down the perfect storm of weather, holiday demand, and regulatory crackdowns that are rapidly removing carrier capacity from the road. We then turn to the escalating constitutional showdown in California, where the state plans to reissue 17,000 non-domiciled CDLs despite federal warnings. The FMCSA has threatened to withhold highway funding or even decertify the state's entire commercial licensing program if officials proceed with the plan. In rail news, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have filed a historic application to create America's first transcontinental railroad, uniting western and eastern networks. This massive merger aims to convert interline lanes to single-line service, potentially shifting millions of truckloads off the highway and onto the tracks. The U.S. Postal Service is making a desperate pivot by opening its last-mile network to retailers and logistics companies in a bid to stave off insolvency. This strategy allows shippers to bid on volume and pricing for same-day or next-day delivery using the USPS infrastructure. Facing a 1,500% surge in organized crime, industry leaders are pressuring lawmakers to pass legislation that federalizes the fight against cargo theft. The proposed bill would lower the threshold for federal intervention and create a coordination center to track transnational criminal rings. Finally, we cover Maersk’s recent test transit through the Red Sea and RPM Freight’s strategic acquisition to enter the luxury vehicle transport market. Volatility is baked into the 2026 landscape, so tune in to understand how these shifts impact your supply chain planning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have officially submitted their nearly 7,000-page application to the Surface Transportation Board to create the nation's first Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern file historic rail merger application. If the merger meets regulatory approval, the companies anticipate the deal will be finalized and the new network operational by early 2027. In an effort to restore financial viability, the United States Postal Service is opening its US Postal Services wants retailers to compete for last-mile delivery network to retailers and logistics companies willing to bid for the service. Postmaster General David Steiner's new strategy will begin accepting bids early next year, with service potentially launching in the third quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, DHL Global Forwarding has committed $1.5 million to expand DHL drops $1.5 million to expand cold storage at LAX capabilities near Los Angeles International Airport. This investment targets the growing demand from pharmaceutical and life sciences shippers while strengthening Los Angeles' role as a critical gateway for temperature-sensitive cargo. Stay tuned to FreightWaves TV for new episodes of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Freight Expectations, and Running on Ice later this afternoon. Listen now for a concise summary of today’s top logistics stories before heading into the new year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Daily, we explore the historic downturn in the trucking market where compliant carriers are struggling against rates that have fallen well below operating costs. We examine claims that labor arbitrage and CDL fraud are tilting the playing field by allowing non-compliant fleets to undercut the market. We also investigate a potential regulatory ticking time bomb as the administration considers rescheduling marijuana, a move that could inadvertently strip the DOT of its authority to test drivers. With marijuana accounting for nearly 60% of positive drug tests, the industry is urgently pushing for a safety carve-out to prevent liability risks. Global operations are facing their own chaos, illustrated by FedEx struggling to manage pilot accommodations after grounding its MD-11 fleet during peak season. On the ocean side, carriers like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are dropping Baltimore from key services, citing the risks associated with the long transit up the Chesapeake Bay. Geopolitical tensions are also rising as a massive sale of global port assets has stalled because China is demanding a controlling interest in Panama Canal facilities. This move highlights the growing struggle for control over critical trade choke points in the global supply chain. Finally, we look at how technology is stepping in to help fleets build resilience, from Nirvana Insurance raising $100M to create an AI-driven operating system for risk management. We also discuss a new partnership between OTR Solutions and SONAR that embeds real-time rate intelligence directly into carrier workflows to help them negotiate with confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices