FreightCasts

On this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, Host Malcolm Harris welcomes Mary O’Connell to break down the real-world freight impacts of a major winter storm, from power outages to network disruptions. Then Mark Borchert from Travelers joins to unpack the 2026 freight market outlook, cargo risk, and insurance trends. Wrapping up the show, Grace Sharkey from Orderful brings insights from the retail and te...

Welcome back to #WithSONAR! This week, we’re shifting to Critical Events and showing how you can track real-time weather disruptions directly within SONAR—while you’re already analyzing rates and market conditions. In this session, we’ll walk through SONAR’s weather intelligence tools, powered by our partnerships with WeatherOptics and Everstream, and how they help you proactively manage risk duri...

The regulatory battle between Washington and Sacramento reaches a boiling point as the ⁠DOT threatens to strip California of its authority to issue commercial driver's licenses⁠. This unprecedented "nuclear option" escalates beyond the initial dispute over non-domiciled credentials and could leave hundreds of thousands of drivers unable to operate in interstate commerce. On the weather front, the...

In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we examine the escalating standoff between federal regulators and California that could paralyze the nation's largest trucking workforce. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is threatening to strip the state of its commercial licensing power over safety concerns regarding 17,000 non-domiciled licenses. Markets are also bracing for a major shift,...

On this Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris breaks down the biggest stories shaping freight right now — from Winter Storm Fern threatening major U.S. freight corridors to consolidation moves and rail investments impacting the market. Malcolm is joined by two industry heavy-hitters for a jam-packed conversation covering technology, operations, and money on the ground: Steve She...

The industrial economy flashes a warning sign as⁠ CSX reports a dip in revenue⁠ and pivots back to a strategy of strict cost discipline. Executives cite subdued demand as the primary driver for⁠ abandoning previous growth targets⁠ in favor of efficiency. In the brokerage sector, the⁠ sudden collapse of the R&R Family of Companies⁠ serves as a brutal cautionary tale about rapid expansion and cash b...

In this Friday edition of the Morning Minute, Isaiah Buchanan reports on a major legislative win for drivers as the House passes a spending bill that dedicates $200 million to truck parking. This first-of-its-kind line item now heads to the Senate, where lawmakers are racing against a January 30 government shutdown deadline. A Texas court has delivered a massive blow to Landstar System, ruling tha...

Winter weather has been the most disruptive force of nature on transportation in the past few years. The freight market may not be as resilient as it has been.  Follow the Freightonomics Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode analyzes a massive shift in the logistics landscape as Echo Global Logistics moves to acquire ITS Logistics in a deal creating a $5.4 billion combined entity. We discuss why this merger signals a strategic pivot toward asset control as the industry anticipates a future market turn. Attention then turns to the Southeast, where logistics leaders are bracing for Winter Storm Fern and its...

Fuel prices just jumped again — up nine cents this week — and for small carriers, that’s not a market trend, that’s a problem. In this episode of The Long Haul, Adam sits down with Zach Buckner, Senior VP of Sales at OTR Solutions, to dig into what really separates good financial partners from the ones who quietly drain your margins. Zach shares his journey from sales executive to senior leadershi...

On today’s episode, we discuss the major announcement that Echo Global Logistics is acquiring ITS Logistics to create a combined entity valued at over $5.4 billion. Leadership indicates this merger will enhance their AI capabilities and expand solutions for complex supply chains. We also look at the forecast for Winter Storm Fern, which threatens to paralyze transportation networks across more tha...

The battery landscape is shifting, and the stakes for domestic manufacturing have never been higher. In this episode of Truck Tech, host Thomas Wasson sits down with Dave Rubin, Head of Policy at Proterra, to unpack the complex realities of building commercial EV batteries in the U.S. From strict "Build America, Buy America" (BABA) compliance rules to the strategic use of friendshoring with allies...

In this update edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris is back in the studio with a powerhouse lineup covering freight strategy, logistics tech, industry trust, and driver health — all in one jam-packed episode. The show kicks off with a fast-moving global freight headlines roundup, breaking down what matters most right now: new Tennessee trucking legislation, volatile U.S.–Mexico cross-...

The trucking market is defying the typical post-holiday slump, with data showing high tender rejections instead of the usual January hangover. Rapid inventory contraction suggests shippers may soon rush to restock, keeping spot rates elevated. However, this boom attracts "chameleon carriers" who utilize magnetic placards to swap identities and bypass safety regulations. Industry experts warn that...

In this episode, we break down new data revealing that organized crime rings are keeping cargo theft levels near record highs across North America. We discuss how these sophisticated groups are increasingly targeting rail corridors and exploiting security gaps during freight handoffs. Next, we look at the Postal Service's bold strategy to transform its last-mile network by requiring retailers to b...

Recorded live at Trimble Insight 2025 in New Orleans, FreightWaves’ Thomas Wasson sits down with Jonah McIntire, Chief Platform Officer at Trimble Transportation, for a wide-ranging and refreshingly candid conversation about AI, software, and the future of logistics work. Jonah breaks down how Trimble operates at the “plumbing layer” of the supply chain, why tools like PC*MILER are still the indus...

In this high-stakes episode of Freight Expectations, Craig Fuller and Matthew Leffler pull back the curtain on the “incompetent” Forward Air and Omni Logistics merger, a deal so controversial it led to a courtroom showdown at the “Madison Square Garden” of corporate litigation. From exposing the “light audits” that kill M&A deals to debating the federal power grab behind autonomous truck laws, the...

In this episode, we analyze how Maersk’s decision to restart Red Sea transits is flooding the global market with capacity and driving down ocean rates. This shift could release significant tonnage back into circulation, effectively erasing the pricing power carriers gained during the disruptions. Domestic markets are showing a strange contradiction, as the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index climbs even...

Host Alex Quarles opens the show with a look at a new Tennessee bill imposing strict penalties on carriers that employ undocumented drivers. The legislation mandates automatic notifications to federal immigration authorities and establishes a $1 million minimum in damages for accidents involving unlawful operators. Federal regulators have halted consolidation plans as the Surface Transportation Bo...

Host Malcolm Harris kicks off a high-impact 2026 episode covering the freight, logistics, and supply chain issues everyone in the industry is feeling right now. Malcolm opens the show with the latest freight headlines — including Amazon last-mile closures, AI-driven DOT enforcement, major broker and carrier developments, and legal decisions that could reshape liability across the industry. Then, t...

In this episode, we explore the paradoxical freight environment of early 2026, where⁠ strategic cost management drives success⁠ for industry giants while others face immediate collapse. We analyze how J.B. Hunt achieved a Q4 earnings beat through internal discipline, even as the broader market offers mixed signals on demand. The distress in the market is palpable, evidenced by the⁠ abrupt closure...

On today's FreightWaves Morning Minute, J.B. Hunt exceeded fourth-quarter earnings expectations by implementing aggressive cost cuts even as revenue dipped slightly. Management noted that cost management drove the Q4 beat at J.B. Hunt amid signs that the truckload market began tightening late last year. In transaction news, Canada’s Titanium is going private with a 40%+ bump in stock price, offeri...

In this episode, we explore strategic capacity management as Abilene Motor Express being absorbed into Swift signals Knight-Swift's focus on long-term efficiency over brand diversity. We also analyze market resilience as the LTL pricing index hits new high in Q4, contrasting strong LTL yields against a truckload sector that is only showing tentative signs of recovery. Legal risks take center stage...

The debate over non-domiciled CDLs has become one of the most heated and misunderstood conversations in trucking. Court filings, enforcement changes, and political rhetoric dominate the headlines — but rarely do we hear from the drivers whose lives are directly affected. In this episode of The Long Haul, Adam sits down with Jorge Rivera Lujan, an owner-operator with more than a decade in trucking...

The Department of Transportation is deploying artificial intelligence to enforce regulations against companies hiring illegal foreign drivers. This new initiative aims to identify fraud regarding non-domiciled CDLs that officials warn are driving down wages for American truckers, as detailed in DOT to use AI to go after illegal truckers. Southeastern Freight Lines is expanding its reach south of t...