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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

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

President Donald Trump announced a significant trade deal with China, which he states is nearly complete and pending final approval from himself and China's president. This agreement reportedly includes China providing rare earth metals upfront, with the U.S. receiving 55% tariffs and China 10%, highlighting an "excellent" relationship between the two nations. The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) has released their annual logistics report, revealing a substantial increase in the logistics portion of the U.S. GDP for 2024. This share rose by $133 billion to $2.58 trillion, marking a 5.4% increase from the previous year, and is not expected to decrease soon. Union Pacific is actively rolling out a multifaceted technology strategy designed to benefit both truckers and rail shippers across its network. Key initiatives include the implementation of API solutions for real-time shipment updates, comprehensive GPS tracking for containers, and the utilization of RailPulse technology for real-time railcar data. These advancements, alongside an updated website and customer portal, aim to improve service, reduce wait times at intermodal ramps, and enhance overall safety and efficiency. Tune in today to FreightWaves TV for a new episode of What The Truck?!? At noon, followed by Truck Tech with Thomas Wasson later this afternoon. Don't forget to sign up for the 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

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