FreightCasts

The freight market is shifting as carriers, brokers and shippers head toward Q4. On this episode of FreightWaves Today, we break down the latest trucking industry news, freight rates, insurance risks, fuel prices, capacity trends and the outlook for the 2026 peak season.

In this episode:

$7 DIESEL? FMCSA CRACKDOWN. WHAT’S NEXT?

This may be one of the biggest Brake Check conversations we've put together.

Two problems are hitting American trucking at the same damn time:

The cost of running is exploding...

The rules for running are getting tighter....

And instead of asking somebody on social media what they THINK about it, we're going straight to the people who actually know.

FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs joins Charles Gracey to talk about what’s happening inside the agency right now ... the recent Safety Innovation Expo...

In this episode, we kick things off by examining a major legal development in the controversial Super Ego trucking network case. A federal judge has ⁠dismissed several counts against Aleksandar Mimic in a lawsuit filed by drivers⁠, though drivers' claims against Super Ego Holding and nine affiliated defendants remain fully intact. Court records reveal that an all-day settlement conference made significant progress toward resolving the case, even as the judge's dismissal reshapes the litigation.

Next, we explore a coordinated cargo theft operation as Florida's task force ⁠recovered two stolen tractor-trailers hauling tires and batteries⁠ along Interstate 95. Troopers arrested...

The freight market is shifting, cargo theft is getting more sophisticated, diesel prices are under pressure, and artificial intelligence is raising new questions for freight brokers and carriers. On this episode of FreightWaves Today, we break down the biggest stories shaping trucking, logistics, supply chains and transportation.

We’re also heading to Green Bay this week, and Ben Schill, Chief Corporate Development Officer at Paper Transport, joins the show to discuss the company’s long-running logistics partnership with the Green Bay Packers, including how Paper Transport moves the team’s equipment for away games. He also discusses trucki...

In this episode, we kick things off by examining the latest developments in broker liability law and how they're unexpectedly reshaping the role of technology in freight brokerage. Industry experts now argue that ⁠the Supreme Court's Montgomery decision will actually make human brokers more valuable⁠ rather than less, as firms face tough questions about whether AI-driven carrier selection will hold up under courtroom scrutiny following fatal crashes. This shift could force brokerages to invest heavily in human oversight and robust compliance systems instead of relying purely on automated platforms.

Next, we explore a brazen cargo security breach that...

The transcontinental mega-railroad debate takes center stage as Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern push for a historic merger. In this episode of Freight Expectations, hosts Matt Leffler and Craig Fuller break down the major regulatory, economic, and legal shifts rocking the freight industry. They dive into the heated opposition from BNSF, the resurfacing fight over 371.3 broker transparency in federal courts, rising diesel prices, and how upcoming midterms could impact critical freight legislation like the CORCA Act and Delilah's Law.

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In this episode, Craig Fuller and Julie discuss how GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are changing consumer behavior — and why those changes could have a measurable impact on freight volumes. The conversation explores declining food and beverage consumption, shifting demand for snacks, soda, alcohol and restaurant meals, and what those trends could mean for trucking and the broader freight economy.

The show also covers the latest FreightTech 100, FreightWaves’ annual list recognizing innovative companies across freight and supply chain technology. This year’s list reflects the growing influence of artificial intelligence, automation and autonomous trucking.

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What happens when predictive AI, cross-border trucking disruptions, cargo theft and hidden supply-chain taxes collide? We’re breaking it all down on this Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent cover the biggest stories impacting trucking, freight and logistics, including a sudden disruption at the U.S.-Mexico border, a bizarre cargo theft case in Nebraska, and the technology changing fleet safety.

On this episode:

Empiric Earth brings Nexar and Netradyne technology togetherZach Greenberger and Dr. Stefan Heck join the show to discuss the new company and how massive am...

In this episode of Brake Check on FreightWaves TV, host Charles Gracey is joined by Lewie Pugh (Executive Vice President of OOIDA) & Dan Lindsey of the Broker Carrier Summit, to tackle the growing issue of "Chameleon Carriers" in the trucking industry.

They dive deep into how bad actors exploit systemic loopholes—changing DOT numbers and carrier identities for a nominal fee to dodge regulatory oversight, enforcement, and safety accountability—and what this means for highway safety, honest truck drivers, and industry standards.

Key topics discussed include:

In this episode, we kick things off by examining Tesla's ambitious push into the European freight market as the electric vehicle giant ⁠targets late-2027 customer deliveries for the Semi⁠ after demonstrations begin in the first half of that year. The first European trucks will roll off the Reno, Nevada production line, which is designed for fifty thousand units annually, and will feature a 342-mile usable range with the ability to recover more than sixty percent of range in just thirty minutes using Tesla's new Megacharger network of over one hundred stalls across Europe.

Shifting gears to the rail...

Discussion on what the Fed hike means economically and to freight and also what to make of the still hot import market. 

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FreightWaves Today dives into the latest forces reshaping freight markets, from rising carrier costs and cross-border trade tensions to stronger-than-expected import volumes and signs of tightening truckload capacity.

Hosts Julie Van de Kamp and Zach Strickland break down J.B. Hunt’s warning that higher diesel and driver costs are outpacing pricing gains, as well as the growing challenges around recruiting, retaining and developing qualified drivers. They also examine rising rail dwell at the Los Angeles–Long Beach port complex and what the divergence between rail and truck dwell times means for intermodal reliability.

Peacock Tari...

Every load you've ever picked up from a warehouse got there somehow. Somebody moved it from a ship. Or from a rail yard. Or from a port depot. On a chassis. In a container. In a city like Chicago where the rail network is one of the most complex in the country and the congestion, the chassis shortages, and the steamship line politics can turn a straightforward pickup into an all-day event.

That's drayage. And most truckers have never thought about it once. Sergio Manzo has been in it his entire career. Eight years as a driver...

100% owner-operators. Turnover around 30%. In an industry where some fleets live with turnover north of 90%…HOW?

That’s what we came to Mercer Transportation in Louisville, Kentucky to find out.

For Day 1 of Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Brake Check is LIVE from Mercer Town ... but we’re not here for another corporate speech about how much drivers are “appreciated.”

We want to know what appreciation looks like when it actually shows up in the numbers.

Charles sits down with Chasity Hebner, Director of Recruiting, to talk recruiting, retention, why Mercer continues pushing to improve...

FreightWaves Today digs into the latest signals from across the freight and transportation markets — from weakening freight demand and rail volumes to record diesel prices, supply chain disruptions and the evolving role of technology in trucking and procurement.

The team breaks down J.B. Hunt’s latest commentary, softer consumer demand, tight capacity and what current tender rejection and truckload volume data are saying about the fall freight market.

Energy advisor Tom Kloza examines the forces driving diesel and crude markets, the impact of disruptions in the Middle East and Russia, refining capacity, renewable diesel and...

Malcolm and The Dude kick off another packed Wednesday show! From crazy cargo thefts to major supply chain insights, they dive into the biggest stories hitting the freight and logistics industry.

Episode Breakdown:

FreightWaves Today takes a deep look at where the freight market is headed, from tightening capacity and rising rates to regulation, industrial demand, global trade and the forces reshaping supply chains.

Tom Albrecht of Reliance Partners joins the show to discuss the current freight cycle, drawing on decades of experience covering both trucking and rail. The conversation examines improving industrial demand, strong rail volumes, capacity constraints and the regulatory changes that could determine how long the current freight recovery lasts.

Jason Miller weighs in on the demand side of...

Autonomous trucking is moving from the drawing board to real-world operations — and the implications for the freight industry could be enormous. In this special edition of FreightWaves Today, we take an in-depth look at the future of automation with leaders across autonomous trucking, freight marketplaces, artificial intelligence and autonomous delivery. The episode explores how purpose-built autonomous vehicles could reshape the way freight moves, including the potential decline of traditional drop-trailer models and the rise of on-demand, dock-to-dock transportation. Industry leaders also discuss whether autonomous trucking will accelerate consolidation among carriers and brokers, and which companies could be best positioned fo...

Join Julie Van de Kamp and Malcolm Harris on FreightWaves Today as they break down major freight news, market trends, and industry insights. In this episode, industry leaders discuss small carrier financial discipline, fleet repair innovations, and regional market volatility.

In our Morning Minute: Teamsters President Sean O’Brien warns UPS of potential 2028 strike risks, Delaware breaks ground on a $669M container terminal project, and a cargo ship fire in China leaves 25 dead.

Then, Dave Gilbert, Founder and CEO of National Funding, discusses why a full order book doesn’t always signal expansion readiness, navigating high...

This Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Malclolm and Michael Vincent kick off the show with some banter before diving into major freight industry headlines and expert interviews.

Key Industry Headlines

In this episode, we kick things off with a stark warning from the Teamsters union as ⁠President Sean O'Brien puts UPS on notice for a potential strike in 2028⁠, two full years before contract negotiations typically turn contentious. Among the key demands are protections against benefit rollbacks, restrictions on autonomous trucks, and a highly unusual provision allowing regional unions to strike mid-contract over unresolved grievances.

Next, we explore major maritime infrastructure developments as ⁠construction officially begins on Delaware's massive $669 million container terminal along the Delaware River⁠. The Delaware Container Terminal will feature a 45-foot berth depth capable of handling...

What’s driving freight costs higher — fuel, tight capacity, inflation, or all of the above?

On this episode of Freightonomics, Zach Strickland and economist D.J. Donahue break down the latest economic data and what it means for transportation, consumers and the broader freight economy.

Producer prices are rising, with energy playing a major role. Diesel prices have surged, putting additional pressure on trucking and transportation costs, while elevated tender rejection rates point to a freight market that remains tight. The show also examines consumer credit, historically high credit card rates and what slowing credit grow...

The freight market is heading into peak season with plenty of uncertainty. On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Malcolm Harris and Zach Strickland break down the latest data shaping trucking, logistics and the broader economy.

First, Eric Lemus of The Fulfillment Lab joins the show to discuss new Commerce Signal data showing operator margin cushions nearly disappearing as shipping costs rise faster than revenue. With parcel costs up sharply and peak-season surcharges approaching, retailers and 3PLs face growing pressure to control transportation spend while managing lean inventories. Lemus also explains why diversifying carrier strategies could deliver significant...

Josh Lovan has seen how trucking companies die. Not slowly, from rates. Fast, from one crash.

Before he became an advisor at J. J. Keller, Josh was Director of Safety and Security for a major carrier — the man in the room when the accident call came in, when OSHA showed up, when the lawyers started prepping for trial. He's sat in the depositions. He's watched a single wreck, with shared fault and complicated facts, turn into a verdict big enough to erase a company. And before trucking, he was a law enforcement detective running undercover operations — which is e...

The rate confirmation looks legit. The authority checks out. The email looks right. The money looks good.

Then the freight disappears .... or you deliver it and nobody pays you.

Freight fraud isn't just getting bigger. It's getting smarter. Stolen identities, fake carriers, double brokering, strategic theft and criminals who increasingly know exactly how to look legitimate long enough to get your truck .... or your customer's freight.

On this episode of Brake Check, we're putting BOTH sides of the transaction in the same room.

Jason Schaftlein, General Manager of McLeod Express, breaks...

In this episode, we kick things off by examining a massive milestone in cross-border commerce as US-Mexico trade smashed the monthly record at nearly $95 billion in July. Two-way trade surged 27.5% year over year, with Mexico now firmly holding its position as America's number one trading partner ahead of Canada and China. Laredo, Texas, retained its crown as the nation's busiest international trade gateway, handling nearly $37 billion in commerce while experiencing tight trucking capacity.
Meanwhile, federal regulators are giving carriers some breathing room during a major technology transition. We discuss how FMCSA suspended enforcement of biennial update requirements and...

On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Malcolm Harris and Julie Van de Kamp break down the latest developments shaping freight, transportation and global supply chains.

The show leads with escalating trade tensions as Canada imposes retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on nearly $20 billion of U.S. goods, while President Donald Trump raises the possibility of further changes to trade with Mexico, Canada and the European Union. The hosts examine what the uncertainty could mean for cross-border freight, manufacturers, shippers and transportation costs.

Then, Jason Murray, CEO and co-founder of Shipium, and Penny Allen, SVP of...

Malcolm and The Dude dissect recent CargoNet reports regarding Labor Day cargo theft spikes, questioning the data manipulation versus real-world risk. They also dive into former President Donald Trump’s comments on trade deficits and cross-border supply chains with Mexico and Canada.

Keith Miao (CEO of Birdstop) and Carl Rundell (President & CEO of Truck Specialized Parking Services) discuss how autonomous drone technology and node networks are being deployed across major freight corridors. They explain how real-time aerial data is helping solve the nationwide truck parking crisis—starting with critical trade routes between Detroit and Windsor, Canada.

Gu...

In this episode, we kick things off by examining the massive trade escalation adding serious costs and uncertainty across North American supply chains. Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs of up to fifty percent on nearly ⁠twenty billion dollars worth of U.S. goods following the collapse of bilateral trade negotiations⁠ in August. These duties target hundreds of American products, from steel and aluminum to dairy, clothing, furniture, and industrial equipment, impacting one of the world's largest bilateral trading relationships.

Meanwhile, investigators are piecing together critical details from Sunday's deadly cargo jet crash at Miami International Airport. National Transportation Safe...

On this episode of FreightWaves Today, the team breaks down the latest freight market developments as the industry heads into fall peak season. Topics include the deadly cargo plane accident at Miami International Airport, rising truckload tender rejections, spot and contract rate trends, strong intermodal demand and what the latest SONAR data signals for the weeks ahead.

The episode also explores record-high diesel prices and their impact on carriers and brokers, along with the evolving legal and regulatory landscape facing the trucking industry. Plus, the team looks at autonomous trucking, automation and the potential for consolidation across...

Trucking is spending a fortune on AI and automation. But what if fleets are automating the WRONG damn thing?
AI can quote freight, process tenders, move data, predict maintenance problems and eliminate hours of back-office work. What it CAN'T do is lead your people.
On this episode of Brake Check, Charles puts both sides of trucking's technology revolution in the hot seat. Grace Sharkey of Orderful has lived freight from nearly every angle .... brokerage executive, FreightWaves journalist and now freight-tech insider. We break down AI in trucking, freight automation, EDI, back-office technology, carrier productivity and how small...

In this episode, we kick things off with a tragic cargo jet accident that has crippled half of Miami International Airport's operations. An Amazon Air Boeing 767 freighter operated by 21 Air overran a runway during landing, struck multiple vehicles on a nearby road, and caught fire, leaving five people dead and five seriously injured. Listen in to learn how two of Miami's four runways remain closed following the deadly Amazon cargo jet accident, causing massive flight disruptions while the National Transportation Safety Board investigates the runway excursion that occurred at one hundred thirty miles per hour.

Shifting gears...

FreightWaves Today takes a look back at some of the biggest conversations shaping freight and transportation in this special edition featuring a collection of standout interviews from the summer.

Malcolm Harris and the FreightWaves team dig into the real-world performance of the Tesla Semi with Inter-coastal Trucking’s Bob Lewis, including driver feedback, range, charging infrastructure, maintenance savings and where electric trucks make the most sense in a fleet.

The show also explores the state of the rail freight market with Telegraph’s David Correll, including rail volume forecasts, coal exports, tank car availability, AI data...

On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Malcolm Harris and Zach Strickland break down the latest developments shaping freight, logistics and the broader economy. The show opens with the latest headlines, including an EPA proposal that could change how diesel exhaust fluid warnings work, a series of commercial vehicle safety enforcement blitzes and rising Pacific container rates amid strong peak-season demand and port congestion. Then, Ainsley Williams, VP of Automation and Innovation at Kenco, joins the show to discuss the expansion of Kenco’s Innovation Lab in Chattanooga from 10,000 to 30,000 square feet. She explains how the larger facility will allow Ke...

Dr. Zac Rogers comes on to discuss the latest LMI results from August.  

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Who the hell gave them a CDL .... and why did it take a family paying the price before Washington started listening?
This episode of Brake Check isn't an attack on professional truck drivers. It's an investigation into the systems, safeguards, bad actors and policymakers that are supposed to keep unqualified drivers from ever getting behind the wheel of a commercial truck.
Professional truck driver and father Marcus Coleman joins Charles  after taking his family's story to Congress. His daughter Dalilah suffered catastrophic injuries in a crash, and Marcus is now fighting for Dalilah's Law and stronger accountability t...

There's a pitch aimed at truckers on every platform right now. Brokers are eating your margin. Cut out the middleman. Get your own authority. It's not hard — you just need a mentor. And there's always a mentor selling.

Trent Tulloh is one of them. He runs Forever Freight Broker, a Tampa training company that teaches drivers and dispatchers to become freight brokers. His reason is personal — his father was an owner-operator who lost his business to bad brokers, and Trent built his company to make sure truckers stop getting the bad end of the stick.

I re...

In this episode, we kick things off in Washington, where the public comment period has just closed on a major Environmental Protection Agency proposal that could fundamentally reshape how diesel engine systems operate. Listen in to learn how the EPA's controversial plan to replace engine deratement with warning signals has drawn nearly two hundred submissions spanning industry praise and sharp environmental criticism, while the proposal also includes nonconformance penalties allowing manufacturers to pay fines and continue selling current products.

Next, we explore the results of a sweeping series of state enforcement blitzes where inspectors uncovered thousands of...

AI is transforming freight operations, but how far can automation go — and what happens when location intelligence, rail networks and energy markets collide?

On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Malcolm Harris and Julie Van de Kamp break down the biggest stories and trends shaping transportation and logistics.

The show opens with three major headlines: an alleged Texas grain theft ring involving more than 170 loads, a federal crackdown on 110 commercial driver training schools, and the latest developments in Yellow Corp.’s bankruptcy and pension settlements.

Then, EAIGLE CEO and founder Amir Hoss joins the show...

Malcolm and Michael kick off September with a jam-packed Wednesday episode celebrating driver appreciation and cutting-edge freight tech

Rusty Kirby, VP of Transportation and Logistics at Pilot Flying J, breaks down the 2026 Road Warrior contest featuring a custom Kenworth truck built by the Diesel Brothers plus $50,000 in cash! Rusty also discusses Pilot’s elite driver rewards program and the crucial role truck drivers play in everyday life.

Nate Veeh, AVP of Business Development at Altitudes, shares surprising vehicle data analyzed across 104 World Cup matches in 16 cities. Learn how post-match exits spike traffic congestion and harsh br...