Talking Transports

Second-quarter earnings reports could show that the worst is behind freight transportation and logistics companies that may see muted progress heading into 2H. In this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s Talking Transports podcast, Evercore ISI’s senior managing director and surface and marine transportation equity analyst Jon Chappell joins Lee Klaskow, BI senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his thoughts on what investors could expect from quarterly reports and for the rest of the year. Market disruptions like the Red Sea crisis and failure of Yellow have benefited tanker and less-than-truckload companies, which has added to his positive pricing thesis. He also talks about growth prospects for intermodal, nearshoring and some of his favorite names in his coverage universe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryder System has its sights on a new long-term return-on-equity target in the low-20% range, up from its previously obtained goal in the high teens. Improved returns will be driven by high-single-digit revenue growth coupled with productivity gains. Ryder has plenty of runway for organic growth, given the outsourcing opportunities in the markets it serves. In this Talking Transports podcast, Robert Sanchez, Ryder System’s chairman and CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to discuss some of the key takeaways from its recent investor day and how technology investments are optimizing transportation networks and providing better client interactions. Sanchez also talks about the company’s sustainability initiatives, autonomous trucking and some recent acquisitions. He shares how he got into transportation, Miami Hurricanes football and one of his favorite founding fathers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 The supply-chain dislocations created by the pandemic thrusted logistics into everyday news and conversations. This increased visibility has attracted more students to supply-chain and logistics programs at universities across the country. In this Talking Transports podcast, Terry Esper, Ph.D. and full professor at the The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior transportation & logistics analyst, to discuss the trends facing the freight markets in and outside the classroom. Dr. Esper also talks about artificial intelligence and other technology-driven productivity tools, decarbonization and his love for bourbon, football and Detroit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Schneider National appears well positioned once the current trough in the freight cycle gives way to growth. There’s a lot of uncertainty over timing for when rates will inflect positively, but there are some encouraging signs. In this Talking Transports podcast, Mark Rourke, Schneider National’s president and CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights into the truckload, intermodal and brokerage markets. Rourke also talks about the company’s sustainability initiatives, the driver market, cross-border opportunities, regulations, rail service and life as a “cheesehead.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Visibility and flexibility are becoming increasingly important for supply chains for both shippers and capacity providers. The growth in machine learning and artificial intelligence is helping to optimize shipments and rates as well as take out costs and increase productivity at freight forwarders. In this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s Talking Transports podcast, Ryan Petersen, Flexport’s CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, BI’s senior transportation & logistics analyst, to discuss the company Petersen founded in 2013 and its role in the technology revolution changing the freight-transportation and logistics markets. Petersen talks about the state of the ocean and air-freight markets, recent acquisitions into adjacent businesses and how Flexport was born out of the frustrations he faced as an importer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crude and product tanker operators look well positioned given the positive rate backdrop created by increased consumption and low orderbook, dislocations from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Red Sea, which have soaked up additional capacity from longer voyages. In this Talking Transports podcast, Lois Zabrocky, International Seaways president and CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share her insights into the tanker markets. Zabrocky also talks about how Seaways is navigating new emission regulators facing the global shipping industry. In addition, she discusses Seaways’ fleet, demand trends, the company’s use of cash and leaving Iowa for a career on the high seas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shippers with time-sensitive, perishable or high-value freight look to expedited transportation markets to ensure on-time delivery of critical shipments. In this Talking Transports podcast, Nicole Glenn, Candor Expedite’s founder and CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share her insights into this growing and often overlooked part of the freight market. She also talks about the growth in recurring business and Candor’s new food-chain division, which uses reusable cold packaging and provides constant temperature monitoring. Glenn also shares the challenges she faces as an entrepreneur, what motivates her to expand the businesses and how a chance meeting changed her career trajectory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first quarter may have marked the bottom for freight markets, even as the outlook remains mixed with a high degree of uncertainty. In this Talking Transports podcast, Ravi Shanker, Morgan Stanley’s managing director and lead analyst for North American freight transportation and airlines, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his takeaways from 1Q earnings and his longer-term outlook. Shanker expects the truckload market cycle will turn on increased demand over an acceleration of supply leaving the market as inventories are restocked. He also talks about precision-scheduled railroading, focusing beyond operating ratio for railroads, parcel markets, airlines service, less-than-truckload valuation and how a quote in Car and Driver magazine changed his life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New and pending shipping regulations are increasing the complexity and costs to operate in the dry-bulk market, resulting in higher barriers to entry. This could drive market consolidation as carriers look to build scale. In this Talking Transports podcast, Cetus Maritime Chief Operating Officer Olivia Lennox-King joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to talk about the state of the dry-bulk and handysize markets. Increased ton-miles from market dislocation, like those in the Red Sea, coupled with a low order book, should bode well for Handy-size rates this year. Lennox-King also talks about how the sector will most likely look to meet global standards to reach net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A more competitive bid season, an irrational spot market and severe January weather took a toll on truckers this year. More capacity will need to exit the market before freight rates and earnings can inflect positively for truckload carriers. In this Talking Transports podcast, American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) Chief Economist and Senior Vice President Bob Costello joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to talk about the state of the truckload and less-than-truckload segments and what lies down the road for the trucking industry. The market has become more volatile, and a turnaround will likely happen quicker than in previous cycles, Costello says. He also talks about autonomous trucking, electric trucks, new emission standards and driver availability.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.