FreightWaves

FreightWaves

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Freight, logistics, trucking and supply chains.

Borderlands Mexico: Tariff Pressure Shows up in Customs Data Across North America
NewsApr 5, 2026

Borderlands Mexico: Tariff Pressure Shows up in Customs Data Across North America

Customs data for February shows tariffs reshaping North‑American trade flows rather than curbing them. Mexico’s customs revenue fell 13% YoY to about $11.5 billion, with VAT on imports down 22.6%, while the peso’s 15% gain reduced the dollar value of shipments....

By FreightWaves
APM Terminals Wraps up $73M Rail Expansion at Port of Los Angeles
NewsApr 3, 2026

APM Terminals Wraps up $73M Rail Expansion at Port of Los Angeles

APM Terminals finished a $73 million upgrade of its Pier 400 terminal at the Port of Los Angeles, adding 31,000 linear feet of new rail track and more than doubling its rail capacity. Weekly rail lifts jumped from roughly 5,000 to 11,000, a 104 percent...

By FreightWaves
Fleet Buying Stays Hot as Class 8 Recovery Gains Momentum
NewsApr 3, 2026

Fleet Buying Stays Hot as Class 8 Recovery Gains Momentum

Class 8 truck orders in North America reached 38,200 units in March, a 19% month‑over‑month dip but a 137% year‑over‑year surge, according to FTR and ACT Research. The slowdown follows February’s record‑breaking month, yet analysts see the underlying demand as...

By FreightWaves
When the Safety Net Becomes the Risk
NewsApr 3, 2026

When the Safety Net Becomes the Risk

A new investigation uncovers how risk‑retention groups (RRGs) dominate insurance for small trucking carriers, operating with minimal regulatory oversight and no state guaranty fund backstop. Cross‑referencing FMCSA safety data with UCC filings shows 37% of 4,561 carriers score "CRITICAL," exposing...

By FreightWaves
Two Solid ‘Yes’ Votes for Echo Global’s Acquisition: Moody’s and S&P
NewsApr 2, 2026

Two Solid ‘Yes’ Votes for Echo Global’s Acquisition: Moody’s and S&P

Echo Global Logistics’ acquisition of ITS Logistics has earned solid endorsements from Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings. Both agencies kept Echo’s B‑/B3 rating unchanged but upgraded the outlook to positive, signaling potential future rating improvements. The combined entity is projected...

By FreightWaves
Staten Island Showdown: NLRB Orders Amazon to Bargain with Union
NewsApr 2, 2026

Staten Island Showdown: NLRB Orders Amazon to Bargain with Union

The National Labor Relations Board, now operating with a full three‑member quorum, ordered Amazon to recognize and bargain with the union at its JFK8 warehouse on Staten Island. The board affirmed the union’s certification as the exclusive bargaining representative, despite...

By FreightWaves
Canada Logistics Market Heats up with New DCs, Acquisition, Drayage Launch
NewsApr 2, 2026

Canada Logistics Market Heats up with New DCs, Acquisition, Drayage Launch

Logistics providers are scaling in Canada: GXO opened a Mississauga distribution center for Pandora, Arvato acquired Think Logistics, IMC Logistics will launch a Toronto marine drayage operation in Q2 2026, and DP World opened a Montreal freight‑forwarding office. These moves reflect...

By FreightWaves
FAA Fines Companies $430K for Sending Unsafe Hazmat Shipments to Airlines
NewsApr 1, 2026

FAA Fines Companies $430K for Sending Unsafe Hazmat Shipments to Airlines

The Federal Aviation Administration announced civil penalties totaling nearly $430,000 against three shippers for violating hazardous‑material rules on air cargo. Verizon faces a $70,500 fine for shipping lithium‑ion batteries to FedEx without proper classification, packaging, labeling, or emergency‑response data. World...

By FreightWaves
Intermodal Rail Edges Ahead of Carloads in Flat Week
NewsApr 1, 2026

Intermodal Rail Edges Ahead of Carloads in Flat Week

Intermodal traffic edged ahead in a flat week for U.S. railroads, with total weekly volume reaching 515,921 units, a 0.5% year‑over‑year increase. While carload freight slipped 0.8% to 233,833 units, intermodal containers and trailers rose 1.6% to 282,088. Petroleum shipments...

By FreightWaves
A Moldovan Broker, Romanian Carrier, Temporary CDL Driver and Another Fatal Truck Crash
NewsApr 1, 2026

A Moldovan Broker, Romanian Carrier, Temporary CDL Driver and Another Fatal Truck Crash

ArcherHub, a Colorado‑incorporated digital freight broker run from a 200‑person office in Chisinau, Moldova, dispatched a Gold Coast Logistics truck that crashed in Beaumont, Texas, killing driver Brandon Rogers. The carrier, operating under DOT 2190975, had a history of 150...

By FreightWaves
White Paper: State of the Industry – April 2026
NewsApr 1, 2026

White Paper: State of the Industry – April 2026

The April 2026 State of the Industry Report, produced with Ryder, details current trends across trucking, maritime and intermodal sectors. Diesel prices spiked by more than $1 per gallon in early March, tightening carrier margins, especially on contract freight. Tender...

By FreightWaves
Tariff Turmoil: Refunds, Lawsuits and New Duties Ahead
NewsMar 31, 2026

Tariff Turmoil: Refunds, Lawsuits and New Duties Ahead

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not give the president authority to impose tariffs, invalidating duties on imports from China, Canada, Mexico and dozens of other nations. The decision opens roughly $166 billion in...

By FreightWaves
The DEF Rules Changed This Week. Here Is What the Guidance Actually Says — and What It Does Not.
NewsMar 30, 2026

The DEF Rules Changed This Week. Here Is What the Guidance Actually Says — and What It Does Not.

The EPA’s March 27, 2026 guidance eliminates the urea‑quality sensor requirement but leaves the DEF fluid, SCR catalyst and emissions standards untouched. The Department of Justice’s January 21, 2026 memo stops criminal prosecutions for emissions‑tampering while preserving civil penalties up to $45,268 per vehicle....

By FreightWaves
The Market Maybe Telling You to Grow. Here Is Why the Smartest Carriers Are Waiting 90 More Days Before They...
NewsMar 30, 2026

The Market Maybe Telling You to Grow. Here Is Why the Smartest Carriers Are Waiting 90 More Days Before They...

After three years of a deep freight downturn, spot van rates have risen for seven straight months and load‑to‑truck ratios are at multi‑year highs, signaling a market transition. Carrier exits are accelerating, tightening supply while tender volumes remain 6‑7% below...

By FreightWaves
DHL Express, Parcel Workers’ Union Reach Deal on 4-Year Contract
NewsMar 30, 2026

DHL Express, Parcel Workers’ Union Reach Deal on 4-Year Contract

Negotiators for DHL Express and the Teamsters reached a tentative four‑year labor agreement two days before a strike deadline, averting a potential disruption to U.S. parcel shipments. The contract delivers a 20% wage increase, enhanced health and welfare benefits, and...

By FreightWaves
Does the Price of Diesel Drive Truckload Rates?
NewsMar 29, 2026

Does the Price of Diesel Drive Truckload Rates?

Diesel prices have surged 41% since March 2, while dry‑van spot rates rose 7.5%, yielding a 0.7 correlation. Historically, the relationship flips—March 2022 showed a –0.8 correlation—showing diesel isn’t a consistent driver. Fuel now accounts for roughly 30% of a truck’s operating...

By FreightWaves
How Qargo Plans to Disrupt the US TMS Market
NewsMar 27, 2026

How Qargo Plans to Disrupt the US TMS Market

Qargo, a UK‑based transportation‑management‑system provider, has raised $33 million in Series B funding to launch its AI‑enabled platform in the United States. After five years of product refinement and scaling its European customer base to 600 fleets, the company now employs 170...

By FreightWaves
Warehouses Face $100K-Hour Downtime Risk as Cloud Outages Mount
NewsMar 26, 2026

Warehouses Face $100K-Hour Downtime Risk as Cloud Outages Mount

Cloud‑based warehouse management systems have become essential, but outages are proving costly. Synergy Logistics reports that 84 % of warehouses experienced a significant cloud disruption in the past two years, with downtime costing $5,000 to $100,000 per hour. The study highlights...

By FreightWaves
New UPS Distribution Center in Taiwan Doubles Capacity, Productivity
NewsMar 26, 2026

New UPS Distribution Center in Taiwan Doubles Capacity, Productivity

UPS unveiled its largest Asia‑Pacific logistics hub, a $100 million, 872,000‑sq‑ft automated distribution center in Taiwan. The facility, located three miles from Taoyuan International Airport, more than doubles UPS’s warehouse footprint in the country and serves high‑value sectors such as semiconductors...

By FreightWaves
Cold Storage Trough in Sight as Vacancies Hit 20-Year High
NewsMar 26, 2026

Cold Storage Trough in Sight as Vacancies Hit 20-Year High

U.S. cold‑storage vacancy rates have surged to a 20‑year high as pandemic‑driven overbuilding meets slowing consumer spending. Despite the excess supply, the sector logged about 3.5 million sq ft of net absorption in 2025, indicating resilient demand. Newmark reports the development pipeline has...

By FreightWaves
Echo Global Logistics Expands Platform with ITS Acquisition
NewsMar 25, 2026

Echo Global Logistics Expands Platform with ITS Acquisition

Echo Global Logistics completed its acquisition of ITS Logistics, forming an AI-enabled third-party logistics provider with about $5.2 billion in combined annual revenue. The merger blends Echo’s machine-learning platform with ITS’s drop-trailer, intermodal and container-management services, expanding the company’s North American...

By FreightWaves
Transload Provider Bringing New Life to Dormant Maine Rail Lines
NewsMar 25, 2026

Transload Provider Bringing New Life to Dormant Maine Rail Lines

TransloadX, a New England transload and logistics firm, filed with the Surface Transportation Board to lease two dormant CSX branch lines in Maine—a roughly 18‑mile Bangor‑Bucksport route and the Waterville‑Augusta spur. The Bangor‑Bucksport line has sat idle since a paper...

By FreightWaves
Cutting-Edge Sensor Tech Targets Cargo Theft as Losses Hit $725M
NewsMar 25, 2026

Cutting-Edge Sensor Tech Targets Cargo Theft as Losses Hit $725M

Supply chain losses from cargo theft jumped to about $725 million in 2025, driven by organized crime targeting high‑value freight. Wiliot, an Israeli‑San Diego IoT firm, offers battery‑free, paper‑thin Bluetooth tags that give each product a digital identity and real‑time visibility...

By FreightWaves
Not All Maintenance Violations Are the Same
NewsMar 23, 2026

Not All Maintenance Violations Are the Same

The piece separates vehicle‑maintenance violations into two distinct buckets—driver‑detectable issues found during pre‑trip checks and systemic maintenance failures that only a proper preventive‑maintenance program can catch. Driver‑detectable problems such as burnt‑out lights, low tire pressure, or missing mirrors demand better...

By FreightWaves
National Trucking Capacity Is About to Tighten Significantly
NewsMar 22, 2026

National Trucking Capacity Is About to Tighten Significantly

National dry‑van spot rates surged to $2.89 per mile, the highest level since 2022, after a $0.12 weekly jump. The rise reflects a 20‑25% year‑over‑year recovery on key lanes and volumes at multi‑year highs. Carrier attrition, driver regulations and tender...

By FreightWaves
Borderlands Mexico: Court Ruling on Tariffs Sets Off Refund Scramble, Legal Uncertainty
NewsMar 22, 2026

Borderlands Mexico: Court Ruling on Tariffs Sets Off Refund Scramble, Legal Uncertainty

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, overturning a key tool used to target imports linked to fentanyl, migration and other concerns. The decision opens the door to potentially $166 billion in refunds...

By FreightWaves
Fullbay’s 2026 Report: Heavy-Duty Shops Face Structural Technician Shortage
NewsMar 20, 2026

Fullbay’s 2026 Report: Heavy-Duty Shops Face Structural Technician Shortage

Fullbay’s 2026 State of Heavy‑Duty Repair report reveals record revenue growth, with $5.04 billion in service orders and a 68 % net new revenue increase since 2023, despite rising labor costs. The industry faces a structural technician shortage as wages jump 14 %...

By FreightWaves
DEF Pump Prices, so Far, Hold Steady Despite Middle East Turmoil
NewsMar 20, 2026

DEF Pump Prices, so Far, Hold Steady Despite Middle East Turmoil

Diesel retail prices jumped to $5.18 per gallon, up sharply from $3.81, while the cost of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) has remained flat around $4.30‑$4.60 per gallon. The raw material for DEF—urea—saw its benchmark price surge from $482.50 to $712.50...

By FreightWaves
$6,535 for Parking in the Wrong Spot? This Receipt Is Going Viral and It Could Have Been Your Truck.
NewsMar 20, 2026

$6,535 for Parking in the Wrong Spot? This Receipt Is Going Viral and It Could Have Been Your Truck.

A 2017 Freightliner Cascadia was impounded in Charlotte, North Carolina after being parked illegally at a Bojangles lot, generating a $6,535 tow and storage invoice. The truck was towed at 5:03 AM, held for thirteen hours, and returned without keys and...

By FreightWaves
1 in 85: The Cocaine-Positive Truck Driver Turned Pretend SAP Cleared 1,000 Drug Violations
NewsMar 20, 2026

1 in 85: The Cocaine-Positive Truck Driver Turned Pretend SAP Cleared 1,000 Drug Violations

A North Carolina truck driver, Brandon Blackburn, posed as a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) and fraudulently cleared roughly 1,000 CDL drivers with drug violations in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. He charged $100‑$350 per driver via Zelle and Facebook...

By FreightWaves
The Non-Domiciled CDL Crackdown Is Law. Fleets Have 4 Problems.
NewsMar 20, 2026

The Non-Domiciled CDL Crackdown Is Law. Fleets Have 4 Problems.

On March 6 California revoked 13,000 CDLs and on March 16 the FMCSA enacted a rule limiting CDL eligibility to H‑2A, H‑2B and E‑2 visas, stripping DACA, asylum and refugee holders of eligibility. Up to 200,000 drivers—about five percent of the U.S....

By FreightWaves
FedEx to Shutter 9 New York Parcel Centers
NewsMar 18, 2026

FedEx to Shutter 9 New York Parcel Centers

FedEx announced the closure of nine parcel centers in New York and one in Pennsylvania as the final phase of its Network 2.0 integration. The program consolidates legacy express and ground operations into a single surface network, aiming to cut excess...

By FreightWaves
J.B. Hunt Says Fuel Spike Not yet Driving Intermodal Conversion
NewsMar 18, 2026

J.B. Hunt Says Fuel Spike Not yet Driving Intermodal Conversion

J.B. Hunt’s intermodal division reported strong margin improvement despite a 30% surge in diesel prices since the Iran conflict, yet shippers have not begun shifting freight from truckload to rail. Intermodal still delivers roughly 22.8% cost savings versus truckload, well...

By FreightWaves
Rail Outlook up on Firmer Economic Factors: AAR
NewsMar 18, 2026

Rail Outlook up on Firmer Economic Factors: AAR

The Association of American Railroads reported February freight volumes rising, with carloads up 6.5% year‑over‑year and intermodal shipments reaching a record weekly average. Coal remained the largest non‑intermodal commodity, accounting for 26.6% of volume, while grain, chemicals and petroleum also...

By FreightWaves
There Are 292,000 Shippers in America and 9 Out  of 10 Carriers Have 10 Trucks or Less — The...
NewsMar 17, 2026

There Are 292,000 Shippers in America and 9 Out of 10 Carriers Have 10 Trucks or Less — The...

The article reveals that roughly 292,000 U.S. manufacturers—mostly small operations—generate a massive pool of direct shipping opportunities, while 97% of carriers run ten trucks or fewer, leaving most freight routed through brokers. Brokers capture about $17.5 billion annually, but small carriers...

By FreightWaves
US Postal Service on Brink of Financial Collapse, Chief Tells Congress
NewsMar 17, 2026

US Postal Service on Brink of Financial Collapse, Chief Tells Congress

The U.S. Postal Service warned Congress it will run out of cash and be unable to deliver mail within 12 months unless its $15 billion statutory borrowing limit is lifted and key regulatory constraints are eased. A 20‑year decline in mail...

By FreightWaves
Longtime Memphis Port Chief Richardson Retires
NewsMar 17, 2026

Longtime Memphis Port Chief Richardson Retires

Longtime Executive Director Randy Richardson will retire from the Memphis & Shelby County Port Commission on Dec. 31, 2026 after joining the port in 1993 and leading it since 2010. During his tenure the port solidified its status as the fifth‑largest U.S....

By FreightWaves
Wisconsin-Based Carrier Files for Chapter 11 Protection
NewsMar 17, 2026

Wisconsin-Based Carrier Files for Chapter 11 Protection

Family‑owned Sparhawk Trucking, a Wisconsin‑based carrier with 178 power units per FMCSA data, has entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The filing reveals assets of less than $50,000 against liabilities estimated between $10 million and $50 million. Four related entities—Sparhawk Truck and Trailer, Sparhawk...

By FreightWaves
The Gold Coast Death Wake that Led to Mar-a-Lago
NewsMar 16, 2026

The Gold Coast Death Wake that Led to Mar-a-Lago

Dragos Sprinceana, a Romanian immigrant, built GoldCoast Logistics into a 350‑truck carrier that amassed $889,630 in FMCSA fines, faced two major enforcement actions, and accumulated 150 crashes resulting in ten fatalities. The company operated through a maze of shell entities,...

By FreightWaves
A Florida Trucking Company Raised $158 Million From 2,000 Investors by Promising 200% Monthly Returns – Here Is Exactly How...
NewsMar 15, 2026

A Florida Trucking Company Raised $158 Million From 2,000 Investors by Promising 200% Monthly Returns – Here Is Exactly How...

Florida‑based Royal Bengal Logistics, founded by Sanjay Singh, raised $158 million from roughly 2,000 investors by selling four investment programs that promised up to 200% monthly returns. The company’s trucks were largely old, high‑mileage vehicles owned by independent contractors, and the...

By FreightWaves
The Police Can Seize Your Cash During a Traffic Stop and Keep It Without Charging You With Anything – Every...
NewsMar 15, 2026

The Police Can Seize Your Cash During a Traffic Stop and Keep It Without Charging You With Anything – Every...

A Texas sheriff seized $42,300 in cash from truck driver Ameal Woods during a routine traffic stop, invoking civil asset forfeiture despite no drug evidence or criminal charge. The civil case, filed against the money itself, forced Woods to prove...

By FreightWaves
Dalilah’s Law Is Moving Through Congress – Here Is Everything That Is Actually In It, Everything That Was Promised But...
NewsMar 15, 2026

Dalilah’s Law Is Moving Through Congress – Here Is Everything That Is Actually In It, Everything That Was Promised But...

Dalilah’s Law, introduced in the Senate and House, would tie federal transportation funding to strict CDL eligibility, revoking licenses from non‑citizens, non‑permanent residents, and holders of only three specific work visas. The bill mandates English‑only testing and forces a universal...

By FreightWaves
STB Won’t Open New Probe of CPKC Rail Service on West Coast-Southeast Intermodal Shortcut
NewsMar 15, 2026

STB Won’t Open New Probe of CPKC Rail Service on West Coast-Southeast Intermodal Shortcut

Federal regulators at the Surface Transportation Board (STB) denied Norfolk Southern’s and Union Pacific’s petitions to open a probe into Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s (CPKC) handling of interline intermodal trains on the Meridian Speedway, a 320‑mile West Coast‑Southeast shortcut. The...

By FreightWaves
The Person Running DHS Has Changed – Here Is What That Means for the Immigration Enforcement That Has Been Reshaping...
NewsMar 15, 2026

The Person Running DHS Has Changed – Here Is What That Means for the Immigration Enforcement That Has Been Reshaping...

Over the past year, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security have jointly tightened the commercial driver pool through non‑domiciled CDL restrictions and immigration raids, eliminating thousands of drivers and CDL schools. President Trump announced the removal...

By FreightWaves
Borderlands Mexico: GM, Stellantis Drive Auto Exports to US in February
NewsMar 15, 2026

Borderlands Mexico: GM, Stellantis Drive Auto Exports to US in February

Mexico’s automotive sector produced 311,457 light vehicles in February, a 1.8% year‑over‑year decline, while exports slipped 4.4% to 247,945 units. General Motors and Stellantis remained the top exporters, with GM producing 69,652 vehicles and shipping 57,473, and Stellantis producing 40,865...

By FreightWaves
FMCSA Just Issued a Bulletin Warning Carriers Not to Buy or Sell DOT Numbers – Here Is Why That Warning...
NewsMar 14, 2026

FMCSA Just Issued a Bulletin Warning Carriers Not to Buy or Sell DOT Numbers – Here Is Why That Warning...

The FMCSA issued an emergency bulletin prohibiting the sale, purchase, or lease of USDOT and MC numbers, labeling such transactions as fraud that will trigger revocation of operating authority. The agency clarified that DOT numbers are permanent, non‑transferable identifiers tied...

By FreightWaves
After Trump Photo Op, CMA CGM Will Re-Flag 30 Ships in France
NewsMar 13, 2026

After Trump Photo Op, CMA CGM Will Re-Flag 30 Ships in France

CMA CGM announced it will re‑flag ten 24,000‑TEU vessels under the French flag starting in 2026, boosting its home‑registered fleet by 30% to 40 ships. The decision follows CEO Rodolphe Saade’s 2025 Oval Office appearance with President Trump, where a...

By FreightWaves
RyderVentures Bets on ‘Physical AI’ to Break Warehouse Automation’s Biggest Barriers
NewsMar 13, 2026

RyderVentures Bets on ‘Physical AI’ to Break Warehouse Automation’s Biggest Barriers

RyderVentures is championing "physical AI," a blend of artificial‑intelligence models with warehouse hardware that lets equipment perform multiple tasks instead of a single, fixed function. The approach tackles the biggest hurdle to warehouse automation—high upfront capital outlays and the risk...

By FreightWaves
Dragon No Longer in the Cab: Senator Cotton and Rep. Stefanik Quietly Move to Eject China From American Trucking
NewsMar 13, 2026

Dragon No Longer in the Cab: Senator Cotton and Rep. Stefanik Quietly Move to Eject China From American Trucking

Rep. Elise Stefanik introduced the Trucking Security and CCP Disclosure Act of 2026, mandating that every carrier in the Department of Defense freight chain certify it has no ownership or control ties to Chinese military‑linked entities. The bill creates a...

By FreightWaves