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On this FreightWaves morning minute, hear updates on a major labor dispute and a system outage impacting the logistics sector. A lengthy Teamsters strike against 10 Roads Express may be nearing an end after several months of negotiations. A representative from Teamsters Local 79 in Tampa, Florida, indicated that talks are in the final stages of settlement for the walkout, which began in February and involved over 500 Teamster drivers across 10 states for the U.S. Postal Service contract carrier.  Additionally, United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) was hit with a cyberattack over the weekend, causing some of its systems to be temporarily taken offline. The wholesale food distributor reported finding unauthorized activity and has notified law enforcement, with social media showing that receivers were unable to scan delivered goods since Sunday.  In Canada, DHL Express locked out 2,100 delivery drivers, warehouse workers, and customer service personnel on Sunday due to a failure to reach a collective bargaining agreement. While DHL states it has activated contingency plans and anticipates no significant service disruptions, this situation adds to existing parcel uncertainty in Canada, including issues with Canada Post.  Looking ahead, FreightWaves TV offers Loaded and Rolling with Thomas Wason, and you can register for the Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd. Furthermore, an in-person Supply Chain AI Symposium is scheduled for July 30th in Washington D.C. at the Spy Museum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, trucking and transportation jobs have surged above last year's figures for the first time since April of 2023. However, an independent economist is wary, suggesting this number might be "more noise than signal" amid ongoing policy uncertainties. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is rolling out a significant $89.4 million in grants aimed at boosting commercial driver's license programs. The application requirements have been streamlined by removing diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates, refocusing funds squarely on safety improvements and compliance with federal regulations. In ocean freight news, rates have soared by an astonishing 88% on trans-Pacific routes as shippers respond to a temporary freeze in US-China tariffs. Analysts anticipate this surge to be short-lived, primarily driven by businesses rushing to capitalize on the tariff hiatus before capacity normalizes. Looking ahead, make sure to catch What the Truck?!? live at noon on FreightWaves TV for updates with Tim Dooner, with a replay available on SiriusXM channel 146. Also, mark your calendars for the Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd and the Supply Chain AI Symposium on July 30th in Washington D.C., with free registration available online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune into this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute for crucial updates impacting the freight industry, including the recent doubling of tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. These duties now stand at 50%, effective Wednesday, aiming to bolster domestic metals manufacturing and shield American steel worker jobs. This move has prompted Canada to negotiate for tariff removal, while Mexico has denounced the hike as a violation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). We also delve into the latest from LTL carrier XPO, which reported a modest 5.7% year-over-year decline in tonnage for May. This decline aligns with previous guidance and typical seasonality, as the industry continues to await an uptick in demand. The company's monthly declines show an improvement compared to the first quarter.  Additionally, the episode covers Descartes' significant announcement of a 7% workforce reduction, impacting approximately 200 jobs. This action is an expansion of an earlier restructuring plan, designed to manage the uncertainties facing the freight industry due to changing trade policies and volatile economic forecasts. Despite these challenges, Descartes reported a 12% year-over-year increase in revenue, although it fell short of wider market estimates for earnings per share.  Finally, we highlight upcoming FreightWaves TV events, including episodes of Freightonomics and The Long Haul. Mark your calendars for the Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd and the Supply Chain AI Symposium on July 30th in Washington D.C., and be sure to register at live.freightwaves.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has revealed plans to cut its workforce by approximately 7%, eliminating 89 full-time and part-time positions primarily at its headquarters, while simultaneously requesting a slight increase in funding, bringing its total budget to over $1 billion for the next fiscal year.  The DOE benchmark diesel price has fallen to a milestone low, reaching its lowest point since September 2021, with the average weekly retail price now at $3.45 a gallon, marking a decline over seven of the past eight weeks. Despite this trend, futures prices moved up even after news that OPEC Plus would increase output, indicating a continued unwinding of their 2023 production cuts.  Furthermore, the labor dispute involving Canada Post continues to intensify after the state-owned corporation rejected a proposal for binding arbitration from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). This rejection prolongs uncertainty following the union's refusal to work overtime since May 23rd, which has already caused delivery slowdowns and a significant drop in Canada Post's parcel volumes, pushing e-commerce retailers to alternative carriers.  Looking ahead, FreightWaves is hosting several key events, including the Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd. Additionally, the Supply Chain AI Symposium is scheduled for July 30th in Washington D.C., with opportunities for interested speakers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A significant drug trafficking seizure at the Port of Long Beach, where authorities intercepted 55 tons of dicumyl peroxide, a chemical used in methamphetamine production. This shipment, which originated in China and was destined for the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico, was confiscated as part of an ICE initiative launched in 2019 to target suspicious chemical precursor shipments.  The podcast also provides an update on Yellow Corp.'s asset liquidation process, noting the company has filed a motion in federal bankruptcy court to sell four of its terminals valued at $6.8 million. This action represents a further step toward winding down operations, with mostly non-logistics buyers showing interest in these property assets.  Additionally, the Trump administration's announcement of $5.4 billion available for major bridge projects across the United States is covered, including $4.9 billion for the Bridge Investment Program and an additional $500 million dedicated to rural bridge repairs. A key highlight of this program is the removal of previous Biden-era approval requirements related to climate change and environmental justice considerations, aiming to streamline the process for state and local governments involved in these critical infrastructure projects.  Finally, the episode reminds listeners about upcoming FreightWaves virtual events, including the Enterprise Summit on July 23rd and the Supply Chain AI Symposium coming up quickly on July 30th in Washington D.C.. Registration for these events can be completed by visiting live.frightwaves.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump has announced a doubling of tariffs on imported steel from 25% to 50% to protect domestic jobs and strengthen the industry. This move follows a previous tariff announcement and aims to ensure America's future is built with U.S.-produced steel rather than "shoddy steel from Shanghai". You can read more about the tariff increase here. We also discuss the ongoing labor dispute involving Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW). Canada Post has requested government intervention to hold a vote among unionized employees on its latest contract offer, highlighting the impasse in negotiations over wages and structural changes. The situation is a continuation of a conflict that included a nearly five-week strike last year. For more details on the Canada Post situation, see the article here. Additionally, we highlight executive changes and potential IPO plans at the autonomous freight technology company Einride. Founder Robert Falck is transitioning from CEO to executive chairman, while CFO Roozbeh Charll is taking over the CEO role with an eye toward a potential IPO in the U.S.. This leadership pivot is intended to capitalize on a favorable regulatory environment for autonomous vehicles and support future expansion and investment opportunities. Learn more about the changes at Einride by reading the article here. The episode also announced upcoming FreightWaves virtual events: the Enterprise Fleet Summit on July 23rd and the Supply Chain AI Symposium on July 30th in Washington D.C.. Information and registration for these events can be found at live.freightwaves.com. Please note that details about these specific event announcements are derived solely from the audio file and not from the provided article sources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A federal appeals court has temporarily paused a ruling by the Court of International Trade that blocked tariffs enacted by President Trump. This decision follows the Trump administration's plans to seek intervention from the Supreme Court, arguing presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.  In other news, Sport LA Inc., a California freight forwarding company, has been charged in a smuggling operation alleged to be worth billions of dollars. Executives Ralph Olarte and Humberto Lopez Belmonte face a 22-count indictment for an elaborate scheme exporting illegal goods from the U.S. to Mexico, allegedly employing fraudulent documentation, shell companies, bribes, and involvement with cartels since 2013. Meanwhile, Americold is strategically expanding into Canada with the groundbreaking of its first import-export hub in New Brunswick. This venture involves a substantial investment of $75 million to $80 million and is set to transform cold storage facilities at Port Saint John, partnering with DP World and Canadian Pacific Kansas City to streamline food flows across various regions and create up to 100 permanent jobs by 2029.  Looking ahead, be sure to catch FreightWaves TV shows like What the Truck?!? and Running on Ice today. Also, mark your calendars for upcoming events such as the Enterprise Fleet Summit and the Supply Chain AI symposium. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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