Flexport’s Latest Tech Rollout Comes Amid–And Alongside–Global Freight Chaos
Flexport launched its winter technology suite amid a Supreme Court decision that nullified Trump‑era tariffs and a sudden Middle East conflict that disrupted shipping lanes. The free Atlas portal now offers real‑time visibility into port congestion, while a tariff simulator was updated within days of the court ruling. Additional AI‑driven tools include a digital routing guide, natural‑language search, live translation in six languages, and a TikTok seller integration. Together, these features aim to help shippers navigate tariff uncertainty and geopolitical freight chaos.
Supply Chain Layoffs Spread Across Warehouses, Factories and Rail Terminals
A wave of supply‑chain layoffs has swept across the United States, affecting roughly 4,000 workers in recent weeks. The biggest cuts came from SK Battery America, which shed 958 jobs (about 37% of its staff) and First Brands Group, which...
Ten Maersk Ships ‘Trapped’ in Persian Gulf
Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said ten of the carrier’s vessels are trapped in the Persian Gulf after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz. The ships have been grouped offshore for safety, with one under a U.S. Military Sealift Command contract....
Descartes Reports Record Quarter; Announces Acquisition
Descartes Systems Group posted a record fiscal fourth quarter, delivering $193 million in revenue, a 15% year‑over‑year increase, and adjusted EBITDA of $89 million, up 18% YoY with a 46% margin. Earnings per share rose to 52 cents, 9 cents above the...
Lufthansa Cargo Minimizes Delays During Pilot Strike
Lufthansa Cargo will operate more than 80% of its scheduled all‑cargo flights on Thursday and Friday despite a 48‑hour pilot strike over pension and pay demands. The carrier expects to maintain over 50% of its overall flight schedule, with long‑haul...
Eight Days to a CDL
A driver from Hawaii flew to New Jersey, completed an eight‑day training program, passed the skills test, and returned home with a full commercial driver’s license—entirely within legal bounds. The ELDT rule, effective 2022, requires only demonstrated proficiency and imposes...
UPS Navigates Amazon Draw Down in Hard Pivot to Premium Services
UPS is executing its largest network consolidation while deliberately shedding about 50% of its Amazon volume by mid‑2026. The carrier has cut 30,000 jobs, closed 24 parcel‑sort facilities and is automating remaining sites to boost profitability. CFO Brian Dykes said...
Amazon Defrauded: Guilty Plea in $3M+ Fraud Involving Trailers
A Connecticut‑based freight operator, Ameer Nasir, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for submitting more than $3 million in false invoices to Amazon Logistics. Between December 2019 and February 2021, he created 23 phantom trucking companies and used a manual override in...
Congress Wants to Put Driverless 80,000-Pound Trucks on the Road – Should Small Carriers Be Worried
The SELF DRIVE Act (H.R. 7390) would create a federal framework allowing fully autonomous 80,000‑pound trucks to operate commercially while under testing permits, expanding NHTSA authority and preempting state rules. The bill requires manufacturers to submit a safety case but...
How Moving Mission-Critical Tech Requires a Different Approach to Freight Logistics
Freight carriers are now moving mission‑critical AI and semiconductor hardware, not just consumer electronics, turning each trailer into a multi‑million‑dollar asset. The dense, delicate nature of this cargo demands real‑time, sensor‑driven visibility that goes beyond standard GPS location data. Werner’s...
Freight Broker Fura Announces 5th Acquisition
Freight broker Fura announced its fifth acquisition, buying Texas‑based Barton Logistics. The deal adds full‑truckload, LTL, expedited and intermodal capabilities, along with long‑standing shipper partnerships, to Fura’s AI‑driven platform. Fura now serves over 550 customers and 16,000 carriers, executing more...
MATS Is Three Weeks Away – Here Is Why Small Carriers Can’t Afford to Skip It
Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) returns to Louisville March 26‑28, 2026, drawing over 70,000 professionals and 1,000 exhibitors. The article argues that small carriers cannot afford to skip the event because the relationships forged there replace the extensive infrastructure of larger...
The Real Barrier to Driverless Trucks Is No Longer Software
A new Telemetry report argues that driverless trucking has outgrown software development and now faces a manufacturing bottleneck. Retro‑fitted autonomous trucks, while quick to prototype, suffer from inconsistent quality, high costs, and limited after‑sales support. The report recommends factory‑built Level 4...
Texas Carrier Serna’s Trucking Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Serna’s Trucking LLC, a San Marcos‑based carrier founded in 2006, filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition in the Western District of Texas. The filing lists debts under $3.4 million, qualifying it for a small‑business restructuring, and assets of roughly $545 k, dominated...
Kelly: U.S. Maritime ‘Critical’ to National, Economic Security
Senator Mark Kelly is championing the bipartisan SHIPS for America Act, a 300‑page proposal aimed at overhauling the United States’ maritime strategy, rebuilding shipbuilding capacity, and creating a skilled workforce. The legislation highlights that more than 80% of U.S. imports...
They’re Selling You a Feeling – What the Trucking Industry’s Marketing Machine Doesn’t Want You to Know
John Landrum, VP of Marketing at OTR Solutions, warns that small trucking carriers are bombarded with aggressive outreach the moment they apply for a DOT number, creating a false sense of urgency. He argues that many early‑stage decisions—such as choosing...
The Recovery Was Finally Within Reach – Rising Fuel Costs May Have Just Pushed It Back Out
After three years of a freight recession, the trucking industry saw a tentative recovery in early 2026 as spot rates rose and excess capacity fell, prompting optimism among carriers. However, a sharp surge in crude oil to over $100 per...
Borderlands Mexico: Authorities Move to Cancel Permits for 350 Mexican Steel Importers
Mexican authorities have suspended import activities and begun canceling permits for 350 steel‑importing firms as part of Operation Clean‑Up, a coordinated crackdown on smuggling and misuse of trade programs. The Ministry of Economy flagged these companies among 750 firms suspected...
White Paper: 7 Reasons Security Guards Aren’t Enough Protection
The white paper highlights that relying solely on security guards leaves critical blind spots in trucking yards and terminals, exposing cargo to theft. It identifies seven specific gaps, supported by industry statistics that show rising risk across logistics sites. The...
Trucking Jobs Post Slight Decline in Unexpected Total Payroll Drop
The February nonfarm payroll report showed an unexpected 92,000‑job decline, with truck transportation employment slipping by 500 to 1,462,500 positions. This marks a 22,100‑job shortfall compared with a year earlier and a net loss of 4,700 jobs since December. Warehouse...
The Rise of ‘Vibe Coding’ and What that Means for FreightTech
The logistics sector is entering a "vibe coding" era where elegant software is easy to build, shifting competitive advantage from pure code to technology‑native business models. Floating Point Advisors, led by former Oscar Health founder John Loser, is backing early‑stage...
Redwood Logistics Acquires Laredo Customs Broker EELCO
Redwood Logistics has acquired Laredo‑based customs broker and warehousing provider EELCO, adding licensed customs brokerage, foreign‑trade‑zone (FTZ) warehousing and a 250,000‑sq‑ft facility to its cross‑border unit Redwood Mexico. EELCO contributes more than three decades of U.S.–Mexico customs expertise and handled...
Intermodal Lags Carloads in Latest U.S. Rail Freight Data
U.S. rail carriers posted a modest 1.6% rise in total traffic for the week ending Feb. 28, reaching 516,729 carloads and intermodal units. Carloads jumped 6.9% driven by a 20% surge in grain shipments, while petroleum, chemicals and metallic ores also...
Panel’s Message: In Order to Survive Tough Trucking Market, Don’t Overlook Data
At the TCA annual convention, mid‑size carrier executives emphasized that data and benchmarking are essential to survive the current freight recession. They praised the TCA Profitability Program (TPP) for delivering granular cost insights, from lumper payments to driver‑level profit statements....
SONAR Launches New Geopolitical Alert and Fuel Dashboards to Help Supply Chains Navigate Iran Conflict Volatility
SONAR introduced two platform enhancements—a Geopolitical Alert on its Executive Dashboard and a Fuel Dashboard within Truckload Insights—to give logistics professionals real‑time visibility into Iran‑related conflict risks and energy price swings. The Geopolitical Alert supplies immediate context, curated resources, and...
54% of Distributors Seek Demand Forecasting Overhaul in 2026, Report Finds
A new Phocas Software report shows 54% of wholesale distributors will overhaul demand forecasting in 2026, seeking more precise, data‑driven inventory control. Nearly half (45%) plan to increase data and warehouse automation, while one‑third aim to deepen product and customer...
Fleet Buying Spree Signals Trucking Down-Cycle May Be Turning
North American fleets placed 47,200 Class 8 truck orders in February, a 159% year‑over‑year jump and the strongest monthly total since September 2022. The surge, driven by both on‑highway and vocational demand, marks the third consecutive month of double‑digit YoY growth. Analysts...
Wabash Launches Cargo Assurance Solution to Help Prevent Theft Before It Occurs
Wabash unveiled a cargo‑assurance platform at Manifest 2026 that turns the trailer into a secure, connected system, leveraging its 2025 TrailerHawk.AI acquisition. The solution combines a physical lock, a mobile app digital seal, and multi‑factor driver, tractor, carrier and insurance...
Why an Obscure Rail Tax Credit Should Matter to Truckers
Railroads gathered on Capitol Hill to push a modernized 45G tax credit, which reimburses 40% of rail infrastructure spending up to $3,500 per mile. The industry cites more than $8 billion in investments and a 50% reduction in derailments since the...
Target Begins Roll Out of Next-Day Delivery to 20 More Cities
Target Corp. announced it will extend its next‑day delivery service to 20 additional metropolitan areas, pushing the total number of cities offering the option to more than 50 and covering roughly 60% of the U.S. population. The rollout is part...
Fraud First: Why ‘Broker Transparency’ Misses the Mark
The article contends that the FMCSA’s push to tighten broker transparency under 49 CFR 371.3 misses the larger problem of freight fraud, which has generated over 80,000 complaints. It traces the rule’s origins to a 1949 ICC mandate and its...
Old Dominion ‘Encouraged’ as Declines Moderate in February
Old Dominion Freight Line reported a 3.3% year‑over‑year decline in revenue per day for February, an improvement over the 6.8% drop in January. Tonnage fell 6.8% YoY and daily shipments slipped 7%, while weight per shipment rose 0.2% and yield...
DHL Express Workers Threaten Strike if No Contract by March 31
Teamsters members at DHL Express voted 96% to authorize a strike if the national master agreement isn’t renewed by March 31, 2026. The contract, covering thousands of drivers and warehouse workers across 16 states, is set to expire and the union is...
Torc Robotics Takes Autonomous Trucks Into Michigan’s Snow and Ice
Torc Robotics is extending its autonomous‑truck program to Michigan, testing the latest Freightliner Cascadia‑based chassis on snow, ice and rain‑slicked roads. The initiative marks a strategic shift from the Sun Belt corridors that dominate the industry, allowing Torc to validate...
Next Step in a Peaceful 10-Hour Truck Driver Rest Period: Lithium Batteries
Dragonfly Energy showcased its lithium‑iron‑phosphate battery‑powered auxiliary power unit (APU) at the Truckload Carriers Association meeting, targeting the 10‑hour mandatory rest period for drivers. The battery, charged by the truck’s alternator, can run the sleeper‑cab’s heating, cooling and electricity without...
Laredo Secures $58M Rail Grant to Speed up Texas Border Freight
Texas Transportation Commission awarded $160.4 million from the new Off‑System Rail Grade Separation State Fund, with Laredo receiving the largest share of $58.51 million for a CPKC grade‑separation project on Santa Maria Boulevard. The grant will eliminate at‑grade crossings in one of...
Florida’s Fields Are Hurting – What That Means for Reefer Freight Right Now
Florida experienced an unprecedented freeze from late December 2025 through early February 2026, inflicting over $3 billion in agricultural losses. Key commodities such as tomatoes, squash, and bell peppers saw up to 50% crop loss, while strawberries, blueberries, and citrus also...
Borderlands Mexico: Canada, Mexico Draw Record Foreign Investment in 2025
Canada and Mexico posted record foreign direct investment in 2025, underscoring North America’s growing role as a manufacturing hub. Canada received $96.8 billion, the strongest inflow in 18 years, while Mexico attracted a historic $40.87 billion, a 10.8% year‑over‑year rise. U.S. investors...
Why Is the Midwest the Most Volatile Region in the U.S.?
The Midwest has become the most volatile U.S. trucking region over the past six months, with tender rejection rates consistently 4‑5 percentage points higher than any other area. A disproportionate share of refrigerated shipments—30% to 35% of all outbound reefer—tightens...
FMCSA Spotlights Trucking’s Multi-Million Dollar Insurance Gap
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 2026 report warns that the trucking industry faces a massive insurance gap. While the number of active interstate carriers fell to 456,227, the median "nuclear" verdict for crashes jumped to $51 million, far exceeding the...
Matson Q4 Ocean Profit Stable
Matson reported marginally weaker fourth‑quarter results as container volumes slipped 2.3% year‑over‑year, driven by a 7.2% drop in China shipments amid ongoing trade‑war pressures. Ocean operating income dipped to $136 million on revenue of $704.2 million, but the company was partially offset...
Maersk Pulls U.S., Other Sailings From Red Sea
Maersk announced it will reroute several U.S. and other services from the Red Sea to the Cape of Good Hope, citing unforeseen security constraints in the region. The changes affect both ME11 and MECL routes, with one westbound and two...
Feds Renew Wilson Logistics Waiver, Launch Training Data Inquiry
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has renewed Wilson Logistics' exemption allowing commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders to serve as team drivers without a front‑seat trainer, extending the waiver through February 2031. The renewal adds a 30‑day limit on...
Project44 Launches AI Agent to Automate Freight Procurement
Project44 has introduced an AI Freight Procurement Agent within its Intelligent Transportation Management System to automate carrier selection, rate benchmarking, and negotiations across multiple modes. The agent replaces periodic bid cycles with continuous, AI‑driven sourcing using live market data, and...
Cass, Caspian Partner to Tackle Tariff Costs
Cass Information Systems announced a partnership with AI‑enabled tariff specialist Caspian to embed advanced customs audit and refund capabilities into its freight‑payment platform. The integration adds AI‑driven HTS modeling, detailed audit functions, and support for post‑summary corrections, protests, and duty‑drawback...
Samsara Releases Latest-Generation Asset Tag and New Asset Tag XS
Samsara unveiled a next‑generation Bluetooth asset tag and a smaller Asset Tag XS, expanding its IoT tracking portfolio for fleet equipment managers. The tags run on an enhanced Samsara Network that now incorporates Hubble’s 90 million‑device consumer smartphone mesh, boosting indoor...
From Sharpies to Vinyl: The Professionalization of Truck Identity in Cargo Theft
Cargo thieves are moving from hand‑written signs to quickly produced vinyl decals that give trucks a convincing, temporary identity. These disposable decals can be applied and removed within hours, allowing fraudsters to look legitimate long enough to steal freight and...
Cold Storage Market Working Off Oversupply
Lineage reported flat Q4 revenue of $1.34 billion and a modest $6 million net profit as the cold‑storage market works through a 10% oversupply. New refrigerated space expanded 14.5% from 2021‑2025, while demand rose only 5%, creating a capacity gap that is...
After 2019 Flood, Arkansas Port Gets $8M for Rebuild
The Arkansas River port, devastated by the 2019 flood, secured an $8.1 million federal grant to modernize its facilities and expand rail capacity. Operator Five Rivers Distribution will construct three 30,000‑square‑foot warehouses to handle freight arriving by rail. The city’s port...
BMO’s Quarterly Earnings Suggest Truck Credit Might Be Improving
BMO’s first‑quarter 2026 earnings show a modest reversal in trucking‑related credit stress, with gross impaired loans falling to C$563 million and provisions dropping to $39 million. At the same time, allowances for credit losses rose to $77 million and the net transportation loan...
