UPS, Teamsters Reach Nationwide Agreement on Driver Choice Program, Following Disputes
UPS and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have reached a nationwide agreement on the company’s Driver Choice Program, a voluntary buyout offering $150,000 severance to eligible drivers. The deal caps the total number of severance packages at 7,500 and applies to long‑haul feeder and regular package drivers based on seniority. UPS also agreed not to introduce any new severance programs under the current National Master Agreement, which runs through July 2028. The settlement resolves earlier grievances filed in the Central Region, which spans 13 states.
One Year After ‘Liberation Day,’ Tariffs Reshape Global Trade Landscape
April 2, 2025 marked "Liberation Day," when the U.S. invoked the International Economic Emergency Powers Act to impose sweeping tariffs on most trading partners. The tariffs aimed to shrink the trade deficit, curb fentanyl inflows, and boost domestic manufacturing, but...
Q&A: Jett McCandless, Founder and CEO, Project44
Project44’s CEO Jett McCandless highlighted that multi‑year agreements now represent 73% of the company’s annual recurring revenue, reflecting heightened market confidence in its platform. He detailed the Decision Intelligence Platform, which layers AI‑driven visibility, predictive analytics, and automated execution across...
Truckload Rates Climb for Fourth Straight Month Despite Weak Volumes, Notes U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index-Rates Edition
The U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index‑Rates Edition shows truckload pricing climbing for a fourth consecutive month. February spot rates rose 3.6% from January while contract rates edged up only 0.1%, pushing spot linehaul to $2.01 per mile, up from $1.65 in...
Retail Sales See Gains, Reports Commerce
United States retail sales in February rose 0.6% month‑over‑month to $738.4 billion, marking a 3.7% increase year‑over‑year. Non‑store retailers, led by e‑commerce, posted a 7.5% annual gain while food services rose 5.2%. The National Retail Federation (NRF) now forecasts 2026 retail...
Top 50 Trucking Companies: Strategy Separates the Leaders
Logistics Management’s 2025 Top 50 trucking list highlights carriers that combine long‑term strategy, strong culture, and disciplined execution to thrive in a $1 trillion U.S. freight network. The report separates the 25 largest truckload firms from the 25 leading less‑than‑truckload (LTL) operators,...
Notes From the Field: Building a Smarter Ocean Transportation Strategy
Companies importing to the U.S. often treat ocean freight as a simple spot‑market expense, missing opportunities for cost control and service improvement. A structured ocean transportation strategy begins with accurate TEU volume forecasts, enabling volume‑based rate negotiations and balanced use...
Global Logistics: Europe Recalibrates in a Volatile Trade Landscape
A 10% global tariff announced by President Trump, with a possible rise to 15%, has stalled EU‑US trade agreement ratification and created legal uncertainty for European shippers. In response, the EU accelerated trade pacts with Mercosur and India, promising up...
Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern Merger: Reshaping the Rail Industry
Union Pacific has filed to acquire Norfolk Southern, creating the nation’s first true transcontinental railroad with over 50,000 miles of track across 43 states. The combined entity would control roughly 40% of U.S. rail freight, matching BNSF’s current market share....
Viewpoint: As the Stakes Rise, so Does the Value of Logistics Managers
Logistics managers have shifted from behind‑the‑scenes operators to strategic C‑suite partners, a change highlighted by the 2026 Salary & Compensation Study. Average base pay rose to $126,400, with nearly a third earning $150,000‑$250,000, and responsibilities have expanded across risk, technology,...
Amazon Freight Increases Dry Van Trailer Count to 80,000
Amazon Freight announced its North American dry‑van fleet has reached 80,000 trailers, up from 70,000 less than a year ago. The expansion adds 10,000 units to its over‑the‑road capacity, complementing an existing inventory of more than 24,000 intermodal containers. Amazon...
Outpost Invests in Growth and Electrification with New Terminals and EV Realty Partnership
Outpost announced five new truck terminals in Newark, Miami, Stockton, Livermore and Torrance, expanding its network into the Northeast, South Florida and California’s high‑volume freight corridors. The rollout is part of a $1 billion investment to anchor sites near major ports,...
POLA and POLB Report Annual February Volume Gains
The Port of Los Angeles posted 824,323 TEU in February, a 3% year‑over‑year increase and the second‑highest February on record, with imports up 5% and exports up 7%. The Port of Long Beach recorded a modest 0.3% annual gain to...
Trucking Hails Move by Trump Administration to Remove ‘Destructive’ Rule Regarding Independent Contractors
The Trump administration has proposed a rule that overturns the Biden-era definition of independent contractors affecting roughly 350,000 truck drivers. The new regulation restores the 2021 definition used under the first Trump administration, emphasizing the economic realities test focused on...
Thoma Bravo Strikes Deal for WWEX Group, Plans Merger with Auctane to Expand AI-Driven Shipping and Logistics
Thoma Bravo has signed a definitive agreement to acquire WWEX Group, a leading 3PL provider, and will merge it with Auctane, its existing portfolio company. The combined entity will blend WWEX's parcel and freight brokerage network with Auctane's cloud‑based shipping...
Freight Economy Sees Familiar Uncertainty as New Pressures Emerge
The freight economy faces renewed uncertainty driven by three new pressures: a Supreme Court ruling that struck down the White House’s IEEPA tariffs and introduced a 10‑15% Section 122 duty, the United States and Israel’s joint military operation against Iran,...
American Chemistry Council Backs STB Reciprocal Switching Reform
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has filed comments supporting the Surface Transportation Board's (STB) proposal to repeal 49 CFR Part 1144 and revive reciprocal switching reforms. The ACC argues that outdated rules and the consolidation of railroads into six major...
“Dalilah’s Law” Legislation Focused on Tightening Loopholes on Foreign CDL Holders
Senator Jim Banks introduced “Dalilah’s Law,” requiring all CDL holders to be recertified by their state within six months and prohibiting licenses for non‑citizens, permanent residents, or certain visa holders. The bill links compliance to federal highway and bridge funding,...
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index Hits Highest Reading in More than Four Years
FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index jumped to 9.3 in January 2026, the strongest reading since February 2022, signalling a markedly optimistic trucking environment. The surge reflects sharply higher freight rates, volumes and utilization, which together have created what FTR calls "robust...
February Logistics Manager’s Index Heads up to 61.5 as Lean Inventories Tighten Transportation Capacity and Push up Freight Rates
The Logistics Manager’s Index rose to 61.5 in February, the strongest reading since February 2025 and above the long‑term average of 61.3. Inventory levels slipped to 53.8 while inventory cost pressure eased, yet warehousing utilization accelerated and transportation prices jumped...
Tariff Roundtable Looks at What Happens Next for Supply Chains
A week after the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, industry leaders report little immediate impact on sourcing, freight bookings, or trade volumes. Companies are adopting a cautious stance, reviewing inventory and carrier commitments while holding existing network configurations. The ruling provides...
White House Executive Order Focuses on Restoring U.S. Maritime Dominance, Launch Maritime Action Plan
President Trump signed an Executive Order in April 2025 to restore U.S. maritime dominance by launching a Maritime Action Plan (MAP). The MAP directs the Defense Department to leverage the Defense Production Act, imposes new fees on foreign vessels, and...
Dedicated Trucking Comes of Age
Dedicated, or contract, trucking is maturing into a $100‑150 billion market within the broader $541 billion private‑dedicated segment. Major carriers such as Werner and A. Duie Pyle rely on dedicated contracts for 5 % and 18 % of revenue respectively, highlighting the model’s profitability. E‑commerce growth...
The Supply Chain Control Tower: Myth & Reality (Part I)
The article traces the evolution of supply‑chain control towers from early 1990s pilots to today’s AI‑enhanced platforms. It highlights how the internet enabled multi‑tenant cloud solutions, yet true end‑to‑end visibility still requires stitching together disparate systems. The pandemic acted as...
New Legislation Addresses Various Supply Chain Issues Impacting U.S. Freight and Highways
Senator Todd Young introduced the Securing American Freight, Enforcement, and Reliability (SAFER) Transport Act to tackle freight fraud, theft, and safety on U.S. highways. The bill mandates a freight fraud advisory committee, eliminates MC numbers in favor of a single...
MHI Names 2026 Innovation Award Finalists in Advance of MODEX
MHI announced the finalists for its 2026 Innovation Awards ahead of MODEX, after receiving 220 product submissions. Eight industry judges narrowed the field to three finalists in each of four categories: Best New Innovation, Best Robotics Innovation, Best IT Innovation,...
Intermodal Volumes See 5.9% Annual January Decline, Reports IANA
Intermodal Association of North America reported January 2026 intermodal volumes dropped 5.9% year‑over‑year to 1.47 million units, with trailers down 7.2% and ISO containers down 8.9%. The decline follows a series of monthly drops after a modest 2.4% gain in September...
DAT January Truckload Volume Index Shows Mixed Volume and Spot Market Rates Readings
The DAT Truckload Volume Index for January 2026 showed mixed results, with dry‑van and refrigerated volumes falling while flatbed volumes rose slightly. Spot market rates increased across all three modes despite the softer load counts. Winter Storm Fern disrupted transport...
