FreightCasts

On this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris breaks down the biggest stories shaping freight as we head toward the end of 2025. Malcolm covers major industry headlines including the pending Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern rail merger, long-term investment at the Port of New York and New Jersey, consolidation in auto transport logistics, and a high-profile cargo theft case that undersco...

Is your freight being run by the Sinaloa cartel? In this high-voltage second episode of Freight Expectations, Craig Fuller and Matt Leffler explore why cargo theft has exploded into a $30 billion industry - making it a larger “mode” of traffic than the entire U.S. barge market. The hosts go scorched-earth on the “driver shortage” propaganda, explain why local police won’t help you find your stolen...

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...

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...

Join FreightWaves for our December State of Freight webinar as we wrap up a volatile year and project the key drivers for the transportation market in 2026. Hosted by Julia Becker, VP of Media Operations, this session features deep-dive analysis from strategic experts Zach Strickland (Head of Freight Market Intelligence) and JP Hampstead (Strategic Analyst). The team explores the surprising "peaki...

What happens if Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merge into a true transcontinental railroad? On this episode of Bring It Home, JP Hampstead sits down with SONAR’s Mike Baudendistel to unpack why shareholders overwhelmingly support the merger, why some shipper groups are opposed, and the impact it could have on U.S. and North American reindustrialization. ⁠Follow the Bring It Home Podcast⁠ ⁠Othe...

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 adminis...

This episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute breaks down how OTR Solutions partners with SONAR to bring data-driven rate intelligence directly to carriers. The integration empowers fleets to benchmark their performance against market conditions and negotiate with greater confidence. In the M&A sector, the podcast highlights that RPM Freight acquires Dealers Choice Auto Transport to expand its f...

When you’re running a small fleet, a single breakdown can crush your margins and throw your week off track. In this episode of The Long Haul, we sit down with Tyler Robertson, founder and CEO of Diesel Laptops, to talk about why every small carrier needs diagnostic tools in their own hands—not locked behind a shop’s schedule or inflated repair fees. We dig into: What makes Diesel Laptops different...

Welcome back to WHAT THE TRUCK?!?. Host Malcolm Harris returns for a year-end episode packed with critical insights on freight fraud, cargo theft, trucking finance, and what the industry needs to watch heading into 2026. This episode features four powerhouse guests tackling the biggest risks and opportunities facing trucking and logistics today: DZ Patterson, Director of Investigative Services at...

In this episode, we break down the bifurcation in global logistics, where carriers look to higher rates, fewer sailings on key Asia-US route while demand on Asia-Europe lanes strengthens. Domestically, a strange market paradox is emerging as the Cass TL Linehaul Index extends a positive run, with rates rising due to tight capacity even as shipment volumes decline. Structural changes are hitting th...

In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we break down the conflicting economic signals heading into 2026 as plummeting operational costs collide with tightening capacity. ⁠Benchmark diesel falls again as oil market selloff picks up steam⁠, with crude futures dipping below $60 per barrel even as retail pump prices struggle to catch up to the drop. Capacity pressures are intensifying fro...

In this episode, we examine major structural shifts in the supply chain, starting with how Wagner Logistics has acquired the contract logistics business of Dawson Logistics to expand its national footprint and industrial capabilities. We also discuss Amazon Air Cargo's new money-back guarantee, a move that offers refunds of up to $10,000 for service failures as the retailer commercializes its inte...

In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we discuss the major leadership shuffle as Brad Jacobs steps down as chairman of XPO and GXO to dedicate his full attention to his newest venture. He aims to grow QXO into a $50 billion revenue giant in the building products sector through a strategy of aggressive consolidation and organic growth. Union Pacific has appointed Tony Will, the retiri...

In this episode of The Daily, we unpack a confusing market signal where domestic trucking capacity is tightening due to carrier attrition despite soft demand. Meanwhile, oversupply in the ocean freight market is causing carriers to lose pricing power as vessels return to the Suez Canal. We also explore how upcoming 2026 customs reforms in Mexico aim to crack down on duty evasion but will drastical...

In this episode, we discuss how the House approval of digital financial disclosures would impact USPS mail by eliminating the requirement for hardcopy delivery of investor documents. This legislation could further reduce mail volume and revenue for the financially struggling Postal Service, which recently reported a $2.8 billion operating loss. Next, we cover the news that Maersk tabs new CFO, Nor...

Welcome to Freight Expectations! In this explosive premiere, Craig Fuller and Matt Leffler pull no punches as they dive into the dark reality of the trucking industry. Find out why Craig believes he “totally screwed up” on a massive news story , how self-certified ELDs are fueling a safety crisis , and why the industry is stuck in a “hellscape” of fraud and cargo theft. The hosts reveal the shocki...

The freight market has seen unprecedented changes in the last year, Davis Spencer, vice president of market intelligence at Arrive Logistics joins FreightWaves’ Mary O’Connell to break down some of the biggest trends in 2025 and what key indicators to look for in 2026 that could indicate a market change. Keep up with Live FreightWaves Events Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choice...

Michael Caney, Chief Commercial Officer at Highway, talks to JP Hampstead, strategic analyst at FreightWaves, about the nature of freight fraud in 2025, the technological, policy, and market responses to the fraud, and the second-order impacts to the freight market these responses are having. Keep up with Live FreightWaves Events Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we break down PACCAR’s strategic push into zero-emission vehicles with new medium-duty models from Peterbilt and Kenworth. The parent company is doubling down on scalability by building out the necessary charging infrastructure to support these electric fleets. Next, we discuss a historic labor victory as Teamsters locals in Northern California a...

In this fireside chat, Todd Waldron, Vice President of Carrier Experience at Truckstop, joins us to dive into the impacts of the Thanksgiving holiday on capacity and rates, how seasonal demand met seasonal truckload capacity changes, what's ahead for the next year, and a recap of Truckstop's recent moves like buying Denim and how their technology is evolving to meet carrier needs in this changing...

FreightWaves’ Noi Mahoney and Troy Ryley, president of Echo Mexico, discuss how U.S.-Mexico trade stands to gain significantly from the global shift toward regionalized supply chains. Keep up with Live FreightWaves Events Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The LTL freight market has seen significant changes over the past few years. With the final dissolution of Yellow, new classifications from the NMFTA, all the way to increasing accessorials, President of Shipolify, North Winship breaks down the LTL market changes with FreightWaves’ Mary O’Connell. Keep up with Live FreightWaves Events Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

Dr. Zac Rogers comes on to discuss the supply chain themes that moved the market in 2025 and the ones that will carry into 2026. ⁠Follow the Freightonomics Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Baudendistel interviews Rick LaGore, CEO, InTek Logistics, Inc., on the current rail intermodal market dynamics and outlook for the domestic intermodal industry. Keep up with Live FreightWaves Events Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices