Cut Freight Planning From 30 Hours to 1
30 hours. Every week. Gone. A national electrical supplier was spending 30 hours a week manually planning their freight: dedicated drivers across 8 facilities, local carriers, third-party loads. After implementing EVOS Smarttools powered by BlueGrace Logistics, that same work takes one hour. In my latest episode I break down how they did it — and why the results go way beyond time savings: ✅ 15,000 orders/month optimized automatically ✅ Dedicated drivers running full trailers with backhauls ✅ 24% reduction in carbon emissions — just from smarter planning If your team is still routing freight manually, this is a 90-second listen you won't regret. https://t.co/2oKWB2vNu0 If you run a distribution or logistics operation and want to know if this applies to your business, drop a comment or send me a message. Happy to have a 15-minute conversation.
Chinese‑crewed Marshall Islands Bulker Repeats Red Sea Pattern
The Marshal Islands-bulker KSL Laiyang is running the Strait. She is broadcasting on AIS "China Owners & Crew". This is EXACTLY what we saw happen in the Red Sea against the Houthis. Expect to see more of this. https://t.co/LSCESnEDKI
Japan Sets NdPr Price Floor, Investors Remain Unmoved
Japan becomes the second country to lock in a NdPr price floor. Countries seem to recognise the issue with rare earths but equity investors seem not to... https://t.co/5GI3bRV7K3
DHL CEO Cautions Against AI as Universal Fix
A good DHL quote about AI from its Q4 earnings transcript: "I think for us, what's important we don't have the approach to think that putting a AI sauce source over everything creates great benefit." Tobias Meyer, CEO
Caine's Escort Plans Reveal Lack of Pre‑existing Strategy
General Caine was asked about escorting and his comment was, "on the potential, if tasked to escort, we'll look at the range of options." 1⃣Has @CENTCOM @US5thFleet not have these options already planned out and war gamed? 2⃣So, there is...
India Redirects LPG to Homes Amid Gas Shortage
INDIA GAS SHORTAGE 🇮🇳 ⚠️ India invoked emergency powers to redirect LPG away from industrial users to households LNG supplies to petrochemical and power plants are being curbed The crisis in the Middle East is throttling India’s LPG and LNG supply https://t.co/ujn00XTSnf
China's Jan‑Feb Soy Imports Hit 7‑year Low
🇨🇳China imported 12.55 million metric tons of soybeans in Jan-Feb, the smallest volume for the period in 7 years. The Brazilian harvest was slower, U.S. cargoes were still en route and customs clearing times were extended. Expectations for March are...
Market Easing on Trump Prolongs Strait of Hormuz Crisis
This isn’t over and the current market reaction, by reducing pressure on Trump, is only elongating the duration of the crisis and the physical disruption through the Strait of Hormuz. https://t.co/bMeee4CJjz
24,000 Tons Adrift, Urgent Need for Alternative Ports
As a member of the UAE’s Financial Advisory Council (2008–2014), I made many friends. Here’s some intel one just texted me: "We have some 24,000 tons of material floating on water and need to find alternative ports on the Arabian Sea...
Liege Airport Hosts Dedicated Horse Logistics Hub
TIL there's a hub for horse logistics at Liege Airport in Belgium. SMH for not including this in AEROTROPOLIS. https://t.co/BaUSxHjnBr
Industrial Capacity, Not Politics, Drives EV and Security Future
@ctindale is spot on. Political will cannot summon industrial reality. EVs & electrification demand a massive new material order: mines, refineries, grids, copper at scale, that takes decades to build, spanning across election cycles. Intention without capacity is illusion. The...
MSC Halts Gulf Voyages, Adds $800 Surcharge Amid Iran Conflict
Iran war leads largest shipping line to terminate Mideast Gulf voyages, levy $800 charge: MSC diverting shipments to safe ports https://t.co/pnC0RAgj2Y
Procurement's Shift: Speed and Partnerships Drive Innovation
For decades, procurement meant cutting costs. Negotiate a few cents off the unit price and move on. But in today’s procurement renaissance, speed and supplier relationships determine innovation and competitive advantage. Here’s why: https://t.co/7zkEo6RJ6H #supplychain https://t.co/VuiasOxP6U
Trump Vows ‘Death, Fire, Fury’ over Hormuz Closure
Trump threatens ‘Death, Fire and Fury’ if Iran closes Strait of Hormuz The US President claims the war on Iran is "very complete" but also hasn’t ruled out taking over the Strait https://t.co/xy4DfQoYYm
New Risk Factor Makes Strait of Hormuz Too Costly.
"There's another big reason why shipping companies and insurers aren't willing to risk the Strait of Hormuz" https://t.co/vQRVNaMtNL https://t.co/xPjkCzHB0U
Higher Shipping Costs Prompt Longer Delivery Incentives, Works
With shipping costs on the rise, e-commerce companies like Amazon and Gap are incentivizing consumers to wait longer for packages. It’s working. https://t.co/wjlNTZ282g via @WSJ
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
Singapore Logistics Costs May Jump 50% Amid Middle East Tensions
Singapore logistics firms could face 50% cost surge as Middle East cargo stalls amid tensions https://t.co/lsmWGoECEs
US Retail Container Imports Set to Decline Amid Tariff Uncertainty
U.S.-bound retail container import volumes are expected to see annual declines over the first half of the year, due to ongoing tariff-driven uncertainty & potentially the Iran conflict according to the latest Global Port Tracker report. https://t.co/hASNRjFabC
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
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
Hormuz Closure Could Push Oil Past $200
HOW OIL COULD SURGE TO $200 AND BEYOND @tracyalloway and I talk with @Rory_Johnston -- typically one of the least-alarmist people in oil -- about how the longer the Straight of Hormuz is shut, the greater the likelihood of an...
China’s Early‑year Exports Jump 22%, EU and SE Asia Lead
China’s exports increased 21.8% year on year in dollar terms in January and February mainly due to shipments to south-east Asia, which increased 29.4%, and to the EU, up 27.8%. Exports to the US fell 11% while imports from the...
Nine Vessels Reroute Bauxite, Alumina, Iron Ore Shipments
More vessels are re-routing from the strait carrying bauxite, alumina and iron ore for the region's aluminium and steel industries. We count at least nine with @Kpler data
USPS Package Zigzags Across States, Highlighting Systemic Chaos
The USPS is a total disaster. A package from Nashville to Cleveland has taken the following route over the past two weeks : Nashville > Horse Cave, KY Horse Cave > West Harrison Indiana West Harrison > a dozen other facilities A dozen...
China Refrains From Detaining Ships Amid US‑Iran Clash
“China could have held these vessels at port, imposed an administrative delay, invented a customs hold – any number of bureaucratic tools, but didn’t,” he said, calling the decision notable at a time when the United States and Iran are engaged...
Scale × Duration Determines Energy Disruption Impact
“Scale x Duration” the formula you need to understand any energy supply disruption. In the case of Hormuz Scale: the scale is large, 16-20 million barrels per day of crude oil. Duration: ~10 days and counting?
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
Certain States Build Economies Resilient to Supply Shocks
It's almost as if some states designed their economies to be more resilient to supply disruptions.
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.
Repealing Jones Act Would Instantly Boost U.S. Oil Transport
"On the other hand, repealing the Jones Act, which would allow non-U.S. tankers to transport oil between U.S. ports, would immediately have salutary effects" 🔥 https://t.co/mIuRPyAKFY https://t.co/Rcxft259fv
Oil Surge Prompts Trump to Reevaluate Jones Act
"Oil Prices: Crude's Wild Day Has Trump Rethinking the Jones Act" https://t.co/YKhaomLkrd For the record, it's technically not "trutherism" if it's - you know - the actual Truth. https://t.co/7CZuzc3gja
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.
Maritime Dominance Requires More than Shipyards: Chokepoints, Navies, Finance
President Trump’s push for “America’s Maritime Dominance” aims to break China’s grip on global shipbuilding. But shipyards are only one piece of maritime power. Th real contest runs through chokepoints, naval force, commercial fleets, and the insurance and financial systems...
Premium Delivery Drives Loyalty; Poor Service Breaks Trust
Final mile = customer experience. Lisa Anderson is quoted in Kase’s white glove delivery article on why “premium” is about service depth (appointments, careful handling, install/placement) - and how poor delivery can damage brand loyalty. https://t.co/Nr9pu8LHqM #FinalMile
Tariffs Incrementally Push Retail Prices Higher in 2025
"The Slow Climb: How Tariffs Gradually Raised Retail Prices in 2025" via @federalreserve https://t.co/HJiDIY3j8v "consumers are in fact paying higher retail prices because of tariffs" 😮 https://t.co/SbgM6kbcPA
Pentagon Brands Anthropic with Supply-Chain Risk Label
The Pentagon’s supply-chain risk label — previously used only for foreign firms that present national security threats, like Chinese tech firm Huawei Technologies — is a “scarlet letter designation for Anthropic,” Wedbush Dan Ives wrote in a note https://t.co/gHeLolQfwf @nypost
Iran Strikes Container Ship and Assisting Tug in Hormuz
A tug boat was assisting a container ship that Iran attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran then attacked the tug boat. https://t.co/Fb17MPTaD7
No Jones Act Discussions Allowed on This Platform
Just a quick reminder that I don’t discuss the Jones Act online. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
EU Think Tank Warns Market Weaponization Needed to Counter China
Weaponise EU market against China or face manufacturing collapse: official think tank EUISS study urges bloc to “preserve and create technological chokepoints”, diversify markets away from China – in both instances mirroring long-term moves made by Beijing – to give it...
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...
Whole Battery Supply Chain Now Critical for Defense
Defense supply chains have changed and bettery manufacturers need to pay attention The entire supply chain matters now matters for defense systems, not just where battery cell are made *BIG* change that will reshape global supply chains #CriticalMinerals #Defense #USA https://t.co/cF3zGkKEtn
Putin Warns Iran War Could Shut Hormuz Oil Flow
MOSCOW, March 9 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that the Iran war had triggered a global energy crisis and cautioned that oil production dependent on transport through the Strait of Hormuz could soon come to a...
LNG Glut Vanishes, Raising Deficit Shock Concerns
And as the forecasted 2026 LNG supply glut disappeared, I couldn’t help but wonder… was I too one supply shock away from flipping into a deficit? https://t.co/gGw2ZO9NRr
Trump Urges Ships to Show Courage Amid Rising Deaths
How about no? Trump Tells Ships to ‘Show Some Guts’ in Hormuz as Seafarer Death Toll Rises https://t.co/jVzMgCqdbF
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...