Trucking Firms Self‑recover Stolen Loads; Police Ineffective
Large trucking companies often run their own processes to recover stolen truckloads. The authorities are almost useless in recovering stolen cargo.
War Historically Boosts Freight Demand, Not Economic Collapse
There are a large number of accounts here that have an issue with the war and want the economy to crash because of it. We have yet to find an American war that didn’t drive more freight demand. I don’t make the...
Strangers Secure Million-Dollar Deals; Friends Struggle with $5k
This is absolutely insane. It’s easier to book a million dollar truckload with someone you don’t know than it is to wire 5000 to someone you do.
Freight Data Signals Ongoing Industrial Rally Amid War Recovery
Industrial production up. The high frequency freight data suggests this rally will continue and it appears to be shaking off the Iran war and high fuel prices
Truck Driver Shortage Myth Used to Push Deregulation
There never was a truck driver shortage. This was a narrative told to Congress to lower the barriers to entry and to fund tax-paid driving schools. It’s always been a lie.
Truckers Will Keep Jobs without Long‑haul Driving
Good point, they aren’t going to be out of work, even if they don’t drive long haul
Rising Fuel Costs Boost Big Carriers, Not Hurt Them
Wall Street investors have concluded that spiking oil prices will hurt truckers. It’s not that simple. In fact, the big carriers and brokers often make more money during periods of high fuel prices.
Flatbed Surge Predates Iran Conflict, Tied to Rust‑belt Demand
The surge in flatbeds predated the Iran conflict. I spoke about this at length in early February. The locations of the surge match up to the rust belt, auto, and heavy machinery. No one is moving oil field equipment off of...
Immigrant CDL Holders Get 5‑Year Grace Before Citizenship Requirement
This article is misleading. Non-domiciled Immigrants that have current active licenses are given either a 5-year grace period or expiration date of their current CDL (which ever comes first). In that time, if an immigrant wants to continue truck driving,...
Freight Market Stable, Contract Rates Rising, Panic Unfounded
Trucking spot rates are incredibly stable right now. Contract freight rates are still moving up. Tender volumes moving up. Tender rejections stable. The doomsday folks selling panic in freight markets are not looking at the data. https://t.co/R8VVxcYhOv
30% of AI Model Power Still Fossil‑fuel Driven
Wait until he finds out that 30% of the energy that drives his models are fed by fossil fuels
Trucking Volumes Rise, Showing Oil Spikes Aren’t Slowing Economy
No sign that oil spikes are hurting the domestic economy. Trucking volumes continue to accelerate. +8% YoY and has now cleared 2024 comps. Despite the noise, the signal coming from freight is that activity in the domestic goods economy is...
Midwest Tight, West Coast Weak: Carriers Stay Put
Carriers should stay in the Midwest, where the conditions are extremely tight, while the West Coast remains weak
Self‑Certification of Truck Schools Is a Government Failure
“Wipe the whole thing and start all over.” In reference to the self-certification of truck driver schools. It’s one of the most ludicrous things that the government has ever done in trucking and that is saying a lot.
Truck Capacity Is a Commodity; Drivers Are the Bottleneck
A decade ago, a CFO of a mega fleet told me I knew nothing about the industry because I called trucking a commodity. Commodities are priced based on supply and demand and truckload services are fungible between motor carriers - I.e....
Truck Driver Glut Persists, Not Shortage, Says Industry
I am looking forward to the day when the ATA publishes a new report showing how many excess truck drivers the industry has. We have a glut, not a shortage.
Trucking's Sweet Spot: Strong Demand, Limited Overcapacity
Trucking is in a great spot right now. We don’t know what the escalation in Iran or surging oil markets will do to the momentum, but for now, this is a trucker’s market. In some ways, slower momentum may be better in...
Autonomous Cars Will Turn 40% Parking Into City Parks
40% of urban real estate is dedicated to parking. This will soon change with the introduction of autonomous cars. Cities will be reimagined and redeveloped. New open spaces with downtown parks, playgrounds, shopping, and living will replace the majority of parking...
Exposing Freight Fraud: Real Stories of Theft
Newest FW show: Fraud Watch We will cover the crazy stories of theft and fraud that have become so pervasive in freight
Discussing the State of Freight on NewsNation
Will be on NewsNation - the Hill on 15 minutes to talk about the State of Freight
Low Inventory, High Turn Boost Freight Demand Outlook
The LMI is signaling low inventory, high turn retail supply chains. This bodes extremely well for freight carriers, as it means that we will either see: more inventory build in supply chains with slower turns (good for carriers) or a...
Future of Rail: C‑Suite Leaders Shape Next Decade
Trains is hosting its first in-person B2B event about the Future of Rail: The next decade in Chattanooga on July 28, 2026. We are working on an unbelievable lineup of C-suite speakers and senior leaders to discuss the future of...
Oil Price Spike Won’t Slash Consumer Goods Volume
We've been looking at scenarios on the total volume of goods pumped through the economy, based on current geopolitical developments: Our general view is that the impact of high oil prices isn't as dramatic as one would initially fear in...
Higher Fuel Costs Crush Carrier Margins, Boost Brokers
I agree with this analysis. The gross spot rate that brokers are paying is stable, but the calculated net minus fuel (i.e. carrier margins) is getting crushed due to the surge of fuel prices. Paradoxically, higher fuel costs are...
Flatbed Rates Surge While Reefer Cools, Van Stays Steady
Spot rate momentum is currently mode-specific: Reefer (slight cooling) - seasonality factors Van- stable Flatbed - very strong https://t.co/1SCZy23TF9
Flatbed Rates Surge Nationwide After Regional Spike
Flatbed rates continue to firm across the US. A few weeks ago, we saw the rate pops concentrated to the rust belt and Texas. Now we are seeing sharp flatbed rate increases take over most of the country. Map: shows...
US Navy Limits Signal Global Trade’s Fragile Future
We are witnessing the end of globalization If the US military with the massive armada assembled within 500 miles can’t protect ships in this region, we stand little chance of protecting our container shipments from Asia in the event of a...
Crackdown Clears Riff‑Raff, Qualified Truckers Return
Nature is healing. Qualified and compliant truck driver applicants are starting to increase substantially as the government crackdown happens. Proof that if you get rid of the riff-raff, the good guys will come back.
Shipping Execs Unprepared for Upcoming Carrier Market Revenge
This is true. A lot of the shipping and procurement execs have never lived through a carrier's market and are unprepared for Carrier Revenge.
West Coast Port Volume Set to Rebound Late March
The West Coast isn’t participating in the tight trucking market, as Chinese New Years was a few weeks later this year. Last year, we had pull forward of imports. We are roughly where we were in 2024. We should do a return of...
Choosing a Second Option Adds $800 per Load
It’s always good to get a second options Especially when you can make +$800 more on a load
Flatbed Spot Rates Surge; Reefer, Van Stabilize Near Peaks
Flatbed spot rates continue to surge with no sign of slowing, while reefer and van catch their breath near cycle highs https://t.co/NAcnZUr2rv
Diesel Prices Jump yet Remain Below COVID Highs
Diesel prices have surged, but still far lower than the peaks set during COVID https://t.co/WJoutp3QcO
Angry Ambulance Chaser Called Out as Societal Leech
Ambulance chaser getting angry because I called them out for being what they are: leaches to society
Flatbed Rejection Hits Record 48.74%, Boosting Industry
Flatbed rejection rates go hyperbolic, at 48.74%, a new all time high. This is a sign of further strengthening of the industrial economy. https://t.co/PTalyYhFiO
11-Day Non‑Stop Flight Beats 19‑Hour Marathon
I thought Singapore airlines from Newark to Singapore in 19 hrs was exhausting. This guy flew for 11 days non-stop
Tender Rejections Hit 2022 Highs as Freight Market Soars
Tender rejection levels are now at the highest levels since March 20, 2022. The freight market is incredibly strong. https://t.co/udktseSaGk
Freight Brokers’ Cash Fuels Lucrative Trucking Lawsuits, Hurting All
The freight brokers have money, which will make trucking litigation more lucrative. This will create more lawyers and everyone will be worse off
Lawyers Will Blame Brokers for Not Vetting Drivers
If you’ve ever been in a lawsuit, it’s not what you did or didn’t do that matters, it’s what a lawyer can convince a jury that you should have done. The problem for brokers - it will be incredibly easy to...
SCOTUS Broker Liability Case Signals Major Shift for Trucking
If you aren’t familiar with how insane nuclear lawsuits are - listen to Matt break it down for you. This is why the SCOTUS broker liability case is a much watch for anyone in trucking.
Supreme Court Ruling Could Obliterate 90% of Freight Brokers
If the Supreme Court rules that brokers can be held liable for accidents, it will be a doomsday event for most brokers. We could see 90% of freight brokers wiped out due to nuclear lawsuits, which they are significantly underinsured to...
Lawyers' Lawsuit Threats Keep Brokers Blind to Truckers' Credentials
Because of lawyers and threat of nuclear lawsuits, the brokers don’t want knowledge of a trucker’s qualifications. It’s wrong, but it’s the ambulance chasing lawyers’ fault.
Military Production’s Nationwide Spread Fuels Trucking Demand
Due to the way that the military industrial complex works, manufacturing is a trucker's dream. Unlike other major manufacturing supply chains, like automotive, military production is highly distributed across the country. Suppliers are literally in all 50 states - so...
Oil Surge Boosts JBHT, HUBG and TFII
If you are looking for the best trucking play for the oil price surge, there are two primary beneficiaries: - Intermodal operators $JBHT and Hub Group $HUBG. Intermodal fuel surcharge is far below trucking fuel surcharges, so the intermodal carriers...
Higher Diesel Costs Outpaced by Rising Spot Rates
Diesel prices are up $1/gallon or $.14/mile versus a year ago. That is significant for truckers that operate in the spot market, but it is far from catastrophic. Trucking spot rates are up $.51/mile in that same period. Even with the...
Small Truckers May Idle Rigs Amid Fuel Price Volatility
If past oil surges are a guide, we could see small trucking operators park their rigs, waiting for fuel prices to stabilize.
SFO Leads Diesel Prices at $5.96/gal Nationwide Map
Map of average diesel prices by market (updated each morning). SFO has the highest at $5.96/gallon https://t.co/DgH7FMrsx0
Rising Diesel Costs Threaten Spot Market Carriers
Diesel prices have surged, but still below 2022 and 2008 levels. With the recent run up in spot rates, most carriers can absorb the current surges, but if it continues to surge, it could be detrimental for carriers operating in...
Tech, Not Troops, Drives Modern Military Dominance
America’s military success has never been a function of numbers of troops, it’s all about the use of advanced tech and an almost endless military supply chain
Diesel Surge Boosts Broker Margins via Fuel Surcharges
The diesel surge is welcome news for freight brokers that have contracted freight. Fuel surcharges will provide a lot of relief, as the diesel surge is moving much quicker than trucking spot rates. Brokers will make a couple of percent on fuel...
