Talking Transports

Emerging technologies like AI and machine learning could become essential tools for freight brokers to fight fraud, boost productivity and enhance customer service — key steps toward easing margin pressure in a market weighed down by stagnant rates and soft demand. In this episode of Talking Transports, Armstrong Transport Group CEO Cameron Ramsdell joins Bloomberg Intelligence’s senio...

Uncertainty and inflationary pressures tied to the Trump administration’s tariff policies may delay the trucking market’s recovery until next year. In this episode of the Talking Transports podcast, Dr. Jason Miller, a professor in supply chain management at Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation...

The US’ shifting trade policies are creating challenges for shippers and contributing to a volatile freight environment. Freight forwarders that lean into technologies like artificial intelligence or machine learning can help shippers reduce costs and improve efficiency. In this episode of the Talking Transports podcast, Ryan Petersen, the founder and CEO of Flexport, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloo...

The trucking industry is facing rising costs due to a growing number of jury awards exceeding $10 million, commonly known as nuclear verdicts. Plaintiff attorneys are seeing greater success by using more aggressive tactics, leveraging jurors’ emotions, expanding advertising and applying best practices learned from prior trials — all of which are contributing to the rise in nuclear verd...

Short-line railroads are a critical and sometimes underappreciated part of local, national and global supply chains. They provide first-mile and last-mile services to connect shippers and extend the reach of Class I rails. In this Talking Transports podcast, Michael Miller, the CEO of Genesee & Wyoming, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to s...

Geopolitical risks like the crisis in the Red Sea or more protectionist trade policies are increasing inefficiencies in global shipping, which will require more ships to move the same amount of freight. In this Talking Transports podcast, Jan Rindbo, CEO of D/S Norden, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share insights about how its dry-bulk an...

Earnings growth for transportation and logistics providers will be driven by when the freight cycle will finally turn. The uncertain economic backdrop has made calling the cycle increasingly difficult for market participants. In this Talking Transports podcast, Ravi Shanker, managing director and lead North American freight transportation and airlines analyst at Morgan Stanley, joins Lee Klaskow,...

E-commerce’s ease and convenience for consumers will fuel its growth, with Bloomberg Intelligence forecasting it will reach $2.9 trillion in US sales by 2030, making up 34% of retail vs. 25% last year. That growth doesn’t come without challenges for shippers and their transportation partners. In this Talking Transports podcast, Chris Guggenheim, founder and CEO of ClearJet, joins Lee K...

Ever-changing US tariff policies are creating uncertainty in supply chains and prolonging a tepid tone in freight demand. Leveraging technology will be critical for third-party logistics providers to remain nimble in this challenging environment. In this episode of the Talking Transports podcast, David Bozeman president and CEO of C.H. Robinson, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence’s se...

Regulatory, tariff and economic uncertainty continues to paralyze the North American heavy-truck market as a collapse in orders has reduced build rate expectations this year. Visibility should begin to improve in the coming months as we get better clarity on a 2026 recovery. In this episode of the Talking Transports podcast, Tim Denoyer, vice president and senior analyst at ACT Research, joins Lee...

The more protectionist policies out of Washington are creating a more uncertain backdrop for North American railroads and the broader freight markets. Yet the industry should be agile and resilient enough to navigate the volume volatility that has come with the ever-changing US tariff policies. In this Talking Transports podcast, Tony Hatch, founder and president of ABH Consulting, joins Lee Klask...

Finding a safe place to park is just one of the many challenges facing truck drivers. There’s just one space for every 11 trucks, according to the American Trucking Associations, which estimates drivers spend 56 minutes looking for available parking, amounting to about $5,500 in lost compensation. In this episode of Talking Transports, Evan Shelley, co-founder and CEO of Truck Parking Club,...

Intermodal demand will likely remain volatile from the start-and-stop trade policy coming out of Washington. International demand may get a boost following the US and China lowering their tariffs on one another as part of the announced 90-day truce. Shippers may start to rush to fill warehouses at lower duties. This will help mitigate the drag on domestic intermodal demand created by lower diesel...

Tensions between the US and its trading partners are weighing on dry-bulk demand as economic-growth expectations recede. The global economy could expand 2.6%, based on consensus, down 40 bps from the start of the year and 70 bps below 2024. The US accounts for about 10% of the dry-bulk market, making the sector less tied to protectionist policies out of Washington. Agriculture and metallurgical co...

Geopolitical tensions, shifting trade routes and evolving carrier alliances are redefining the global containerliner landscape. Though demand remains uncertain, a level setting of tariffs could create a surge in demand and lead to renewed congestion and rate volatility. In this Talking Transports podcast, Steve Ferreira, founder and CEO of Ocean Audit, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence sen...

The uncertainty created by more protectionist policies out of Washington make supply-chain professional jobs increasingly more stressful and unpredictable. Shippers need to be nimble, patient and not overly reactive to headlines out of the White House. In this episode of the Talking Transports podcast, John Janson, vice president of global logistics at SanMar, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intellig...

Machine learning, generative AI and other technology innovations have the ability to drive safer and more efficient supply chains. Freight-transportation markets are in the early stages of leveraging AI’s capabilities which will be transformational in the years to come. In this Talking Transports podcast, Dr. Yossi Sheffi, director of the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, joins...

Fraud in the trucking industry has become a major issue for carriers, brokers and shippers alike. The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) estimates that freight fraud costs supply chains over $1 billion annually in the US. The pandemic, market-participant anonymity and ease have helped spark a new wave of cargo theft. In this Talking Transports podcast, Michael Caney, chief commercial...

The global container-liner industry is facing increased uncertainty stemming from the protectionist measures coming out of Washington. Trade between Asia and North America accounts for about 13% of global container trade, with the majority from China to the US. In this Talking Transports podcast, Thomas Lister, CEO of Global Ship Lease, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportati...

Fighting fraud and improving visibility is paramount for freight brokers, carriers and shippers. GenLogs’ nationwide network of sensors collects 50,000 images of trucks every five minutes. This data and its artificial intelligence-powered platform can help brokers better vet carriers by visibly inspecting them and their equipment. In this Talking Transports podcast, GenLogs’ co-founder...

Railroads and trucking companies are facing headwinds to 1Q earnings from the impact of severe weather on volume and costs, coupled with higher fuel prices. In this Talking Transports podcast, Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, previews what could be in store for the truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL) and railroad industries during 1Q earnings season...

The chassis market is a critical part of supply chains and many times can be overlooked. Freight markets could come to a halt without access to safe, reliable chassis, for which prices have almost doubled since tariffs were implemented in 2021. In this Talking Transports podcast, Daniel Walsh, president and CEO of TRAC Intermodal, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior transporta...

North American heavy-truck and engine producers face an increasingly uncertain regulatory, trade and economic backdrop in 2025. With the EPA planning to reconsider several heavy-truck regulations, there are growing risks to expectations of higher build rates in 2H and 2026. In this Talking Transports podcast, Brett Merritt, president of Cummins’ Engine Business, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg...

Saia’s expansion plans are helping it mitigate weak less-than-truckload (LTL) demand, but that also comes with higher costs and margin pressures as new facilities build density. The company added 21 new facilities with plans to open up to six in 2025. Tonnage has increased 12-13% during the first two months of the year, while its competitors are experiencing mid- to high-single-digit decline...

Dry-bulk rates are well below their pandemic peaks and are now hovering around operating costs for many fleets. The outlook will be challenging this year as supply growth is expected to outpace demand by 230 bps, based on a forecast by Clarksons. In this Talking Transports episode, Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill Ocean Transportation, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportat...