Supply Chain Social Media and Updates

Flatbed Rates Surge, Contradicting Miller’s Flat Forecast
SocialMar 28, 2026

Flatbed Rates Surge, Contradicting Miller’s Flat Forecast

Can someone explain this why Jason Miller believes that flatbed spot rates are flat or down slightly in March? Is DAT's flatbed data that far off from Truckstop and SONAR (two completely independent data sources)? Even if you use Miller's...

By Craig Fuller
Markets Underestimate Long-Term Impact of Europe's Gas Surge
SocialMar 28, 2026

Markets Underestimate Long-Term Impact of Europe's Gas Surge

Gas prices in Europe are running 50-70% above normal, and the Qatar LNG facility attack hit infrastructure will take decades to rebuild. @8eanmurray from @fuseenergy says markets are pricing this as a blip. He thinks they're wrong. @Steven_Ehrlich @bitsandbips https://t.co/DwMsHVSFmY

By Laura Shin
Next‑Gen Robots Transform Smart Warehouse Operations
SocialMar 28, 2026

Next‑Gen Robots Transform Smart Warehouse Operations

How Next-Generation #Robots Are Redefining Smart #Warehouses by @lukas_m_ziegler #AI #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood #Technology https://t.co/VvolzaqpF3

By Ron van Loon
Trump Tariffs Are Strangling US‑China Trade, Data Shows
SocialMar 27, 2026

Trump Tariffs Are Strangling US‑China Trade, Data Shows

WSJ: How Trump’s Tariffs Are Choking U.S.-China Trade (with AMAZING charts) by @hannahmiao_ & @CloudberryRoque 🤓 👉🏻 https://t.co/vNeIUWWiqm https://t.co/GB3I7d35ly

By Chad P. Bown
U.S. Seizing Hormuz Islands Leads to Exhaustion, Not Victory
SocialMar 27, 2026

U.S. Seizing Hormuz Islands Leads to Exhaustion, Not Victory

The U.S. could take the Hormuz islands—but not control the outcome says @MahmoudianArman It would be a casualty-heavy scenario It ends in exhaustion, not victory. #IranWar #Geopolitics #AsymmetricWarfare #Oil

By Art Berman Blog
Rubio Says Strait of Hormuz Is Global, Not U.S. Issue
SocialMar 27, 2026

Rubio Says Strait of Hormuz Is Global, Not U.S. Issue

Opening the Strait of Hormuz is not America's problem, says Marco Rubio "The countries that are most impacted by that should be willing to do something about it." "We'll help you." "We're impacted by it a little bit, but the rest of the...

By Art Berman Blog
Gulf Aluminum Plants Supply 9% Globally, Tightening Markets
SocialMar 27, 2026

Gulf Aluminum Plants Supply 9% Globally, Tightening Markets

The facilities in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman account for roughly 9% of global primary aluminum. This is going to tighten supply for many key global industries like construction, vehicles, and aerospace. #aluminum #iranwar #geopolitics https://t.co/qO2ERCGHMN

By Peter Zeihan
SBA Launches Huge Financing for Specialized Truckers
SocialMar 27, 2026

SBA Launches Huge Financing for Specialized Truckers

Reefer, hazmat, and flatbed truckers and logistics service providers were just given a massive financing vehicle by the SBA.

By Craig Fuller
Houthis Warn Red Sea Escalation Amid Iran War
SocialMar 27, 2026

Houthis Warn Red Sea Escalation Amid Iran War

Houthis Threaten Red Sea Escalation as Iran War Risks Spreading to Second Shipping Chokepoint https://t.co/9Nypu2iQHO

By Tom Craig
Still Waiting on SAVE and SHIPs Act Passage
SocialMar 27, 2026

Still Waiting on SAVE and SHIPs Act Passage

I’ve been a little busy… Did we pass the SAVE Act yet? How about the SHIPs Act?

By John Konrad
Iran War Threatens Global Fertilizer Supply, Endangers Food Security
SocialMar 27, 2026

Iran War Threatens Global Fertilizer Supply, Endangers Food Security

The Iran war has crippled Middle East production/shipments of fertilitizer and upstream inputs, threatening global food supplies. That could be bad for rich countries - and disastrous for poor ones. https://t.co/YLuPd0NrWM https://t.co/FPLfLjAOYy

By Scott Lincicome
China Launches Probes Into US Section 301 Investigations
SocialMar 27, 2026

China Launches Probes Into US Section 301 Investigations

Beijing’s commerce ministry said on Friday it was initiating two probes of its own looking into the US Section 301 investigations into China.  by @leahyjoseph, Tina Hu & @AsiaLens   https://t.co/LI97xXyn8V

By Chad P. Bown
Chemicals Firms Hike Prices Amid War-Driven Inflation Shock
SocialMar 27, 2026

Chemicals Firms Hike Prices Amid War-Driven Inflation Shock

"Chemicals companies on the front lines of the inflationary shock are aggressively raising prices on disruptions from the four-week-old war... The price increases are already kicking off a chain reaction." https://t.co/E16JDzEqwM https://t.co/Ttbur0ru2f

By Scott Lincicome
US China Trade Gap Narrows, Overall Deficit Hits Record
SocialMar 27, 2026

US China Trade Gap Narrows, Overall Deficit Hits Record

"The U.S. goods trade deficit with China shrank 32% to $202 billion last year..., the narrowest since 2005. Yet the overall U.S. goods trade deficit grew 2.1% to a record $1.24 trillion because U.S. importers shifted rapidly to other markets"...

By Scott Lincicome
Iran's $2M Ship Fee Fuels Export Surge Amid US Presence
SocialMar 27, 2026

Iran's $2M Ship Fee Fuels Export Surge Amid US Presence

Iran is processing ships at the Imam Khomeini port, located in Khuzestan at the northernmost extreme of the Gulf, near Kharg Island. So, for ships seeking passage approval from Iran, they have to sail all the way to the northern end...

By Peter Zeihan
FreightWaves Launches Top‑Rated Daily Freight Market Show
SocialMar 27, 2026

FreightWaves Launches Top‑Rated Daily Freight Market Show

FreightWaves Today, our daily freight market show coming in May, is now the most successful ad-supported show we've ever launched at FreightWaves. I will be the host alongside Julie, featuring Zach, Malcolm, Charles, and our team of market experts. Each...

By Craig Fuller
H100 GPUs Skyrocket in Price, Supply Remains Scarce
SocialMar 27, 2026

H100 GPUs Skyrocket in Price, Supply Remains Scarce

Lots of SKUs of H100 commanding much higher prices. Inference has moved to N-2,3 etc compute hardware. And we don’t have nearly enough.

By Ben Bajarin
Procurement Misses 10‑25% Savings Without This Tool
SocialMar 27, 2026

Procurement Misses 10‑25% Savings Without This Tool

I've spent two decades in supply chain and procurement. And in that time, I've watched the same pattern play out repeatedly. The procurement team works hard. They run RFQs, manage suppliers, and negotiate contracts. They do everything right. And yet — they...

By Dr. Muddassir Ahmed
Inevitable Conflict Drives Need for Self‑Sufficient Supply Chains
SocialMar 27, 2026

Inevitable Conflict Drives Need for Self‑Sufficient Supply Chains

We’ve never been good at fixing things we blew up and we are the world’s best at blowing things up. It was never a matter of if we’d get into a kinetic conflict with Iran, but when. All the more...

By Craig Fuller
China’s Decade-Long Push for Energy Self‑Sufficiency as Defense
SocialMar 27, 2026

China’s Decade-Long Push for Energy Self‑Sufficiency as Defense

China has been planning for over a decade to be cut off from global energy resources. Sustainable Energy is National Defense

By Nathan Strang
Zero‑Carbon Policies Spark Australia’s Fuel Shortage Crisis
SocialMar 27, 2026

Zero‑Carbon Policies Spark Australia’s Fuel Shortage Crisis

Australia faces a massive gasoline and diesel shortage, which is a travesty of its own making. NIMBYism and zero carbon policies are killing first world economies https://t.co/zOWEhNZ4qm

By Craig Fuller
Decades of Navy‑Merchant Marine Split Now Costing Hormuz
SocialMar 27, 2026

Decades of Navy‑Merchant Marine Split Now Costing Hormuz

"The United States has spent seven decades severing every operational link between the Navy and the Merchant Marine, and the Hormuz crisis is the bill coming due." 🎯NAILED IT 🎯 https://t.co/l9z9PP9W7P

By John Konrad
Trump Says No Immediate Iran Ground Invasion Despite Troop Buildup
SocialMar 27, 2026

Trump Says No Immediate Iran Ground Invasion Despite Troop Buildup

EXCLUSIVE: The Trump administration is signaling to allies that it has no immediate plans for a ground invasion of Iran, even as it deploys thousands of troops to the Middle East, people familiar with the matter said. @nwadhams https://t.co/YZRj1gwl2H

By Eric Martin
Kill Data Debt with Perfion PIM for 10k SKUs
SocialMar 27, 2026

Kill Data Debt with Perfion PIM for 10k SKUs

Managing 10,000+ SKUs shouldn't be a horror story. Kill "Data Debt" with Perfion PIM and ditch messy spreadsheets. 📈 #PIM #Perfion #Distribution #SupplyChain #DataManagement #ERP Schedule a meeting with me: https://t.co/ZsEwnG4p2n https://t.co/tRldYvC7rO

By David Strausser
Strait Reopening Prevents Catastrophic Fallout
SocialMar 27, 2026

Strait Reopening Prevents Catastrophic Fallout

"but the catastrophic consequences of the Strait remaining closed won't happen if the Strait reopens" https://t.co/iULTzt6N2d

By Rory Johnston
India's Export Bans Could Sway Global Rice, Sugar Prices
SocialMar 27, 2026

India's Export Bans Could Sway Global Rice, Sugar Prices

Decent odds we see some export bans for key commodities where India can move global prices (eg rice, sugar)

By Skanda Amarnath
European Car Makers Shift to Defense to Save Jobs
SocialMar 27, 2026

European Car Makers Shift to Defense to Save Jobs

Europe’s beleaguered automakers & their parts suppliers are turning to defense production for viable alternative sources of income. “Without a new revenue stream, they face factory closures and job cuts.” Via ⁦@Jordyn_Dahl⁩ @Politico https://t.co/Ub0CxTDJYj

By Sigi Osagie
Trump’s Tariffs Were Symbolic, Global Trade Endured
SocialMar 27, 2026

Trump’s Tariffs Were Symbolic, Global Trade Endured

Factful Friday is up! After a book-writing hiatus, it's back (and based on snippets from my forthcoming eBook, World War Trade). 👉Why didn’t Donald Trump’s tariffs melt down the world trade system? This Factful Friday, based on snippets from my...

By Richard Baldwin
Rubio Says No Ground Troops Needed, but Preserves Trump’s Options
SocialMar 27, 2026

Rubio Says No Ground Troops Needed, but Preserves Trump’s Options

NEW: Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells me at the airport before leaving France that the US does NOT need to deploy ground troops to accomplish its objectives in the #IranWar‌. But part of the cabinet's job is to always give...

By Eric Martin
Truckers Praise Sec. Duffy as First Supportive DOT Leader
SocialMar 27, 2026

Truckers Praise Sec. Duffy as First Supportive DOT Leader

@SecDuffy is a rockstar among truckers who feel that he is the first DOT Secretary that has their back...

By Craig Fuller
Truckstops Exploit Tax-Driven Diesel Price Gaps; West Coast Policies Blamed
SocialMar 27, 2026

Truckstops Exploit Tax-Driven Diesel Price Gaps; West Coast Policies Blamed

The major truckstops already do this arb. They will move their diesel purchases between PADs to take advantage of price deltas at the rack. But a good portion of the diesel cost delta is actually tax and transportation related. The...

By Craig Fuller
US Apathy Sparks Panic, May Force Strait Reopening
SocialMar 27, 2026

US Apathy Sparks Panic, May Force Strait Reopening

Over the past 24 hours, I’ve talked to a number of leading shipping and energy sources in Europe and Asia. Overall mood: panic. Talked to dozens of key people in the USA. Overall mood: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Allied navies might have to reopen the strait...

By John Konrad
Empires Rose on Ships and Salt; Britain Now Lacks Both
SocialMar 27, 2026

Empires Rose on Ships and Salt; Britain Now Lacks Both

If you study the rise and fall of empires the two most important things are ships and salt. Now the UK barely has either.

By John Konrad
Port of LA Volumes Surge 3% in Two Hours
SocialMar 27, 2026

Port of LA Volumes Surge 3% in Two Hours

Sharing some charts from the Port of LA's Port Optimizer Signal platform. Volumes into the port are rising in the two weeks ahead (notably that week 14 number literally rose 3% from 9 am ET this morning to when I...

By Eric Johnson
New Map Shows Diesel Cost Per Mile by Location
SocialMar 27, 2026

New Map Shows Diesel Cost Per Mile by Location

We've created a new map, which tracks the estimated cost per mile for buying diesel, depending on where you purchase fuel. https://t.co/JKDNneabWc

By Craig Fuller
UK Faces First Ever Net Salt Imports
SocialMar 27, 2026

UK Faces First Ever Net Salt Imports

For the first time in history, the UK could become a net importer of salt. https://t.co/LebKeoPpE6 https://t.co/SJkfWqLqVr

By Joe Weisenthal
U.S. Pivots to Western Hemisphere Energy, Partnering with Venezuela
SocialMar 27, 2026

U.S. Pivots to Western Hemisphere Energy, Partnering with Venezuela

My view in the @EpochTimes on the US reducing reliance on Middle Eastern oil: “There is a strategic shift toward a more resilient Western Hemisphere energy bloc... through tighter integration of supply chains ... with Venezuela." https://t.co/DLlkE38yYS

By Steve Hanke
Address Chronic Shortfall in Domestic Weapon Procurement
SocialMar 27, 2026

Address Chronic Shortfall in Domestic Weapon Procurement

We should get back to the topic of chronically insufficient procurement of weapons that we can produce and could have been easily contracted.

By Michael Kofman
Flatbed Load Rejections Hit 50% This Weekend
SocialMar 27, 2026

Flatbed Load Rejections Hit 50% This Weekend

Flatbed rejections remain extremely elevated as we head into the weekend. Half of all flatbed loads are being turned down by operators. https://t.co/RMKQZhvvwh

By Craig Fuller
Let SAP Business One Agents Automate Your ERP Tasks
SocialMar 27, 2026

Let SAP Business One Agents Automate Your ERP Tasks

2026: the year your ERP starts doing the work. Stop staring at dashboards: let SAP Business One agents handle the heavy lifting 🤖 $SAP #SAPBusinessOne #ERP #AI #Automation #Wholesale #Distribution Schedule a meeting with me: https://info.quaintbusiness. https://t.co/s1WiQMkWva

By David Strausser
Iran War Cripples Hormuz, Triggers Unprecedented Oil Shock
SocialMar 27, 2026

Iran War Cripples Hormuz, Triggers Unprecedented Oil Shock

"The biggest supply disruption in history." The war in Iran has closed the straight of Hormuz, damaged energy infrastructure across the region, and sent shockwaves across the global oil & gas industry. It's so big, it's hard to get your...

By Jesse D. Jenkins
Iran Redirects COSCO Vessels, Signaling Hormuz Tension
SocialMar 27, 2026

Iran Redirects COSCO Vessels, Signaling Hormuz Tension

Looks like all is not well between Iran and China/COSCO as two of their ships were turned around at the toll gate. "COSCO’s ships are a new gauge for Hormuz crisis" https://t.co/i9oWIPHi5V https://t.co/266IvJBUES

By Sal Mercogliano
Cosco Avoids Hormuz Route Despite China‑Iran Ties
SocialMar 27, 2026

Cosco Avoids Hormuz Route Despite China‑Iran Ties

Cosco. Chinese container line. Does not sail in the Strait of Hormuz. Why not with China being an oil customer and ally to Iran? What is the back story?

By Tom Craig
Trump Claims US Oil Independence, Dismisses Hormuz Strait
SocialMar 27, 2026

Trump Claims US Oil Independence, Dismisses Hormuz Strait

President Trump says that “we don’t need the Hormuz Strait. We have so much oil, our country is not affected by this.” TRUMP = CLEARLY UNHINGED = HAS LOST TOUCH WITH REALITY. https://t.co/VFVUQDKzXd

By Steve Hanke
EU Faces Trade Turbulence From US and China
SocialMar 27, 2026

EU Faces Trade Turbulence From US and China

From Liberation to other trade threats is the US with the EU. Now here comes China to the EU. Trade upheaval? Maritime? What lies ahead?

By Tom Craig
Helium Shortage Threatens Semiconductor Production, Says CEO
SocialMar 27, 2026

Helium Shortage Threatens Semiconductor Production, Says CEO

NEW ODD LOTSL The helium shortage @tracyalloway and I talk to Nicholas Snyder, CEO of North Americah Helium about a commodity with a surprising number of industrial applications, including and especially the semiconductor industry https://t.co/QjwqFhMsdO

By Joe Weisenthal
Iran’s Gas Attacks Threaten Persian Gulf Aluminum Production
SocialMar 27, 2026

Iran’s Gas Attacks Threaten Persian Gulf Aluminum Production

Aluminum production in the Persian Gulf is going bye-bye. As Iran ramps up strikes on gas fields, pipelines, and power plants, the countries that depend upon cheap natural gas will no longer be able to run their smelters. Full Newsletter: https://t.co/HA7AqLgHqP...

By Peter Zeihan
Supply Chains Must Reprice Diesel and Diversify Before Q3 2026
SocialMar 27, 2026

Supply Chains Must Reprice Diesel and Diversify Before Q3 2026

𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗢𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗤𝟯 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 The compounding crises of March 2026 are not temporary noise. They are permanent signals. Here's what the data says about where supply chains must evolve — and how fast. 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲...

By Dr. Muddassir Ahmed
America Must Secure Supply Chains by Reshoring Production
SocialMar 27, 2026

America Must Secure Supply Chains by Reshoring Production

This is the primary reason that I am adamant about moving production back to the Americas. It’s more expensive, but without it, we are incredibly vulnerable. If kinetic war breaks out in Asia, our supply chains are at substantial risk....

By Craig Fuller