Today's Transportation Pulse
Logistics costs dip to $2.4 trillion as volatility becomes the new normal
The 2026 State of Logistics Report finds U.S. logistics expenses fell to $2.4 trillion, or 7.8% of GDP, down from $2.6 trillion in 2025. The study declares supply‑chain volatility a permanent condition driven by uneven global growth, tighter finance, geoeconomic shifts, labor constraints and energy price swings.
Also developing:
By the numbers: US IDFC partners with Chubb on $20B maritime reinsurance plan
Pause Without Peace: Trump Halts ‘Project Freedom’ While the Strait Stays Locked.
President Donald Trump announced a pause to the administration’s “Project Freedom,” a covert initiative aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian forces seized several tankers. The decision comes as the strategic waterway remains blocked, disrupting a key conduit for roughly 20% of global oil shipments. Officials cited heightened diplomatic risk and the need for clearer multilateral support before proceeding. The halt leaves oil markets and regional allies uncertain about the timeline for restoring free navigation.
Expeditors’ Air Volumes Rise in Q1 as It Eyes Unpredictable Market
Expeditors International reported a strong Q1, with air‑services revenue up 14.3% YoY to about $1 billion and gross profit rising 3.2% to $261.4 million. Air freight tonnage grew 5% year‑over‑year, driven by robust demand from technology customers and a less constrained capacity...
UAE's Fujairah Bunker Sales Rebound in April
Marine fuel sales at Fujairah, the world’s fourth‑largest bunkering hub, rebounded in April, climbing to 57,000 t (910 t/d) from a March low of 29,000 t (460 t/d). Very‑low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) volumes rose to 37,000 t, while high‑sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) increased to...
DNV’s Insight: 38 New Orders for Alternative-Fueled Vessels in April
DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight reported 38 new orders for alternative‑fueled vessels in April 2026, bringing the year‑to‑date total to 83. LNG remained dominant with 20 orders spanning car carriers, container ships, crude tankers and cruise vessels, while LPG/ethane carriers secured...
Gasoline Costs 50% More Than It Did Before the Iran War
U.S. regular gasoline surged to an average $4.48 per gallon on May 5, a 50% increase since the Iran war began. The spike follows a 31‑cent weekly rise driven by crude oil climbing to $112 a barrel as the Strait of...
Geoforce Launches GT1c with AT&T Business, Transforming Industrial Markers with Affordable Rugged Cellular Asset Tracking
Geoforce unveiled the GT1c, a rugged cellular asset‑tracking device built on AT&T Business’s IoT‑optimized network. The tracker delivers up to a 10‑year battery life, intrinsic safety certification and a low total‑cost‑of‑ownership design for non‑powered equipment. A pilot with Black Diamond...
Kongsberg to Supply Propulsion Systems for US Coast Guard Cutter Fleet
Kongsberg Maritime secured a contract with Austal USA to provide its Promas propulsion system for the next four vessels of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter Heritage Class. The delivery includes steering gear, rudders, fin stabilizers and tunnel thrusters,...
Market Shifting as More Containers Are Shipped Back to China
European ports are experiencing prolonged congestion, prompting equipment owners to ship containers back to China. Sogese’s latest report highlights a clear directional shift as container prices rise on the back‑haul, reflecting strengthening demand at the origin. The repositioning effort is...
Tesla Secures 60-Truck Order From California Port Drayage Fleets
Tesla has landed a combined order for 60 Semi trucks from two California port drayage operators through Forum Mobility. The deal, worth roughly $15‑$18 million, marks the largest single commitment to the Semi from the drayage sector and highlights the growing...
Jaguar to Announce Type 00 Production Name Next Week
Jaguar will announce the production name of its upcoming electric grand tourer, currently known as Type 00, next week. The vehicle, built on the new Jaguar Electric Architecture, is set to debut in September and will feature a tri‑motor layout delivering...
JetBlue Bankruptcy Filing Rumors Are Swirling — They’re Fake, But The Problems Are Real
Spirit Airlines' shutdown creates a market opening that benefits Frontier and JetBlue. JetBlue, after six consecutive years of losses, carries roughly $9 billion of debt and has been downgraded by Fitch to a CCC+ rating, while fuel price volatility adds pressure....
FAA Releases Long-Awaited NPRM for Drone Restrictions Around Critical Infrastructure
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to create a petition‑based framework for restricting unmanned aircraft around critical infrastructure. The 181‑page proposal adds a new 14 CFR Part 74, introducing Standard and Special Unmanned Aircraft Flight Restrictions (UAFRs) with...
New 12-Hour US Flights: LOT Polish Makes History With Major Route Launch
On May 6, LOT Polish Airlines inaugurated a nonstop Warsaw‑San Francisco service, marking its first direct link to the Bay Area and expanding its North‑American network to a record 69 weekly departures. The airline will operate four weekly flights during the summer...
Panama Container Terminal Bidding Stacked Against U.S. Companies: Source
Panama’s Supreme Court voided CK Hutchison’s terminal concessions, seizing control of the Balboa and Cristóbal ports. The government appointed Maersk’s APM Terminals as interim operator while a new concessions process is prepared. A global roster of bidders, including DP World...
Avoid Cheap Spot Rates as Liner Capacity Tightens, Shippers Warned
Ocean freight spot rates have fallen for a third consecutive week, yet liner capacity is tightening as carriers issue blank sailings amid Strait of Hormuz disruptions. Forwarders in China have rolled shipments into later departures, further squeezing available space for...
Renault 5 E-Tech Electric Tops UK EV Sales in April 2026
Renault’s 5 E‑Tech electric topped UK EV registrations in April 2026, capturing more than 49% of the brand’s passenger‑car sales. The model’s on‑road price starts at £21,495 (≈$27,300) and qualifies for the UK electric‑car grant, making it one of the most...
Indonesian Captain Among Crew Held as Somali Pirates Strike Again in Horn of Africa
Indonesian captain Ashari Samadikun was hijacked while commanding the Palau‑flagged MT Honour 25 fuel tanker off Puntland, Somalia. The vessel, carrying fuel from Oman to Somalia, was seized by heavily armed Somali pirates who forced the multinational crew onto the bridge....
Fuel Costs Reshape Europe’s Road Freight as Contract-Spot Split Widens
European road freight is entering a cost‑driven phase as diesel prices jumped 26% to €1.96 per litre (about $2.14/L) after oil breached $100 a barrel. Contract rates rose to 140.1 index points, up 8.9% year‑on‑year, while spot rates slipped to...
Slovakia Secures EU Funding for BEMU Fleet Order
Slovak state rail operator ZSSK secured €144 million (≈$157 million) in EU funding to purchase 16 battery‑electric multiple units (BEMUs) from Škoda Transportation and ŽOS Trnava. The deal, backed by the Slovak Cohesion Fund and Recovery and Resilience Facility, locks in a...
‘Anchorage a Mess’: Airlines Look Elsewhere as Canada Pitches Transpac Role
Anchorage International Airport is losing its edge as the primary transpacific cargo hub, with taxi‑times exceeding an hour and stand capacity stretched to the high teens. April data shows arrivals steady at 60‑70 flights daily, but a third of eastbound...
MAN’s Barbaros Oktay Takes over Chairmanship of ACEA Bus and Coach Division
Barbaros Oktay, head of MAN Truck & Bus’s bus division, has been appointed chairman of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) Bus and Coach Division for a one‑year term, succeeding Daimler Buses’ Till Oberwörder. MAN reported selling over 7,000 buses in...
Taiwan Cops Say Student's Radio Kit Brought Bullet Trains to a Standstill
A 23‑year‑old Taiwanese university student was arrested for allegedly hijacking the TETRA radio system used by Taiwan High Speed Rail, causing a 48‑minute shutdown of three trains on April 5. Investigators say the student cloned a General Alarm signal with a...
Savback Helicopters, Dufour Aerospace to Pioneer Long-Range Tiltrotor Drone Cargo Network in Sweden
Swedish operator Savback Helicopters and Swiss tiltwing pioneer Dufour Aerospace have signed an MOU to launch a long‑range drone logistics network in Sweden. The deal calls for an initial fleet of three Aero‑200 hybrid‑electric tiltwing aircraft, each capable of carrying...
Bunker Surcharges Driving Intra-Asia Rates up, Even as Demand Falls
Intra‑Asia container freight rates have risen again in early May, with the Korea Ocean Business Corporation’s Container Composite Index showing a Busan‑South‑East Asia price of $1,097 per 40‑ft unit, a $12 fortnightly increase and a 16% jump from March’s $933...
US Push to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Tests Iran Ceasefire, Risks Oil Flow
The United States opened an "enhanced security area" in the Strait of Hormuz, allowing two American‑flagged merchant vessels to transit while Iran launched missiles, drones and small boats in retaliation. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf called the move a...
Nuro Secures California Permit to Test Driverless Uber‑Backed Lucid Gravity Robotaxis
Nuro has been granted a California DMV permit to test its driverless Lucid Gravity robotaxis without a safety driver, allowing operations up to 45 mph in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. The approval clears a major regulatory hurdle for Uber’s...
Your Car Is a Data‑Collecting Spy on Wheels
In the digital world, it’s not only walls that have ears – cars do too. A modern car is a computer on wheels with a wide range of sensors: it stores/transmits GPS routes, telemetry, and keeps tabs on a connected...
JetBlue Bankruptcy Rumors False, yet Real Challenges Remain
JetBlue Bankruptcy Filing Rumors Are Swirling — They’re Fake, But The Problems Are Real - View from the Wing https://t.co/0i1XuRkWS8
Ford to Sell Part of Valencia Plant to Geely to Build New Crossover - Report
Ford is negotiating to sell the Body 3 assembly hall of its Valencia plant to China’s Geely, allowing the Chinese automaker to produce its first Europe‑built crossover. The Valencia facility, capable of 300,000 units annually, currently only builds the Kuga, leaving...
SoCal Port Surge
SoCal port demand is driving recent Tesla Semi orders WattEV made a big bet a couple years ago on Nikola that didn’t pan out but now they’re taking a ride with Tesla https://t.co/8RrbvAGlIE
Tesla and BKW Unveil New French Charging Lounge in Dardilly
Tesla and @bkworldofficial have already launched 5 charging lounges in France, and a few elsewhere. Lot more incoming. Latest comes to the 28 Supercharging stalls in Dardilly, near Lyon. Peek inside with EVwire: https://t.co/G1JhhYRfT6
LNG Shipping Tightens as Europe Storage Deficit and Price Risk Drive Positioning
LNG shipping capacity is tightening as Europe enters summer with a sizable storage deficit and heightened price risk ahead of the winter heating season. Traders are securing modern, flexible vessels for multimonth contracts, turning shipping into a strategic hedge rather...
WattEV Expands Fleet with 370 New Tesla Semis
WattEV was one of the first customers for the Tesla Semi and has been running two in their operations already last year. Now, they've ordered 370 Tesla Semis. Read on EVwire: https://t.co/SUOS5BhB8j
Whine Wednesdays: Overcrowded Korean Air Prestige Lounge At Incheon Airport T2
Following the merger of Asiana and Korean Air, Incheon Airport’s Terminal 2 now funnels all premium‑class and elite‑status travelers from both carriers into just two Korean Air Business Lounges. The lounges, built for a single airline’s clientele, are overwhelmed, with queues...
Silk Way West Airlines Celebrates 10 Years of Operations to Japan
Silk Way West Airlines marked a decade of service to Japan, celebrating its first flight in 2016 and expanding to Kansai and Narita airports. Over ten years the carrier logged roughly 1,300 flights and moved more than 145,000 tons of...
Swissport Expands Cargo and Ground Handling Partnership with China Eastern in Melbourne
Swissport has launched comprehensive ground handling and cargo services for China Eastern Airlines at Melbourne International Airport, extending their Asia‑Pacific partnership. The deal covers passenger services, ramp handling, cargo operations, aircraft cleaning and specialised cold‑chain facilities. China Eastern operates up...
Montreal’s Airport REM Station Will Have Signature ‘Iceberg’ Motif
Montreal’s new REM station at Trudeau International Airport, a $600 million (≈ $438 M USD) deep‑rock project, is slated to open in November 2027. The 40‑metre‑deep platform will feature a striking iceberg motif that rises 30 metres and is illuminated by skylights. Construction, overseen by Aéroports...
Global Maritime Forum Refreshes Board with ING, Navigator Executives
The Global Maritime Forum has overhauled its board, appointing Stephen Fewster of ING Bank and Navigator Holdings CEO Mads Peter Zacho as new members. Long‑standing directors Michael Parker, Randy Chen and Øivind Lorentzen III stepped down after reaching term limits, moving...
Seafarer Happiness Deteriorates During Hormuz Crisis
The Seafarers Happiness Index Q1 2026 shows a rapid decline in crew wellbeing after the US‑Israeli attacks on Iran sparked a Hormuz crisis. Overall happiness fell from 7.35 to 7.01, a 4.6% drop, as vessels were trapped, supplies dwindled, and crews...
Lufthansa CEO Reveals 'Plan B' If Boeing 777X Is Delayed Again
German carrier Lufthansa, the launch customer for Boeing’s 777X, disclosed its long‑haul fleet strategy during its Q1 results briefing. The airline will receive 27 new long‑haul aircraft this year, while retaining its A340‑300s and temporarily grounding two to four 747‑400s...
MBTA North Station Draw One Bridge Replacement $1 Billion Design-Build Contract Signed with Skanska
Skanska USA Civil has secured a $1 billion design‑build contract to replace the MBTA’s North Station Draw One bridge, a 1930s bascule structure deemed beyond repair. The new vertical‑lift bridge will increase track capacity from four to six and incorporate a...
Adnoc Appears to Export Second LNG Shipment Through Hormuz
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) appears to have exported a second LNG cargo through the Strait of Hormuz, using the Mraweh tanker bound for Japan. The vessel likely loaded the gas at the Das Island export plant, the same...
Air China Cargo to Order More A350 Freighters
Air China Cargo announced it will exercise options for four additional Airbus A350 freighters, bringing its total A350F commitment to ten aircraft. The extra jets, valued at roughly $1.86 billion at list price, are scheduled for delivery in 2032‑33, with further...
LTO Suspends, Eyes More Penalties vs Drivers in Calamba Road Rage
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) placed the drivers of a Yamaha Mio motorcycle and an L300 van under a 90‑day preventive suspension after a viral road‑rage fistfight in Calamba, Laguna, issuing show‑cause orders and requiring license surrender. Simultaneously, the Tourism...
The Chinese EV Standard Winning Globally Is Banned in the U.S.
On March 17 the United States prohibited any vehicle with Chinese‑developed software from being sold domestically, a rule that takes effect for new models arriving in July 2025. Chinese EV makers, led by BYD, dominate global markets by integrating batteries, chips...
This Common Travel Habit Is Now Banned on American Airlines Flights
American Airlines will restrict passengers to a maximum of two portable chargers, each capped at 100 watt‑hours, and require them to remain visible throughout the flight. The rule, effective May 1, bans storing lithium‑battery devices in overhead bins after the FAA...
Skanska and Walsh Team Land $1.29bn Hudson River Tunnel Contract
A joint venture of Skanska, Walsh Construction and Traylor Bros. secured a $1.29 billion contract to build Package 1C of New York’s Hudson Tunnel Project, the first award since the $16 billion megaproject was stalled by a federal funding freeze. The work involves...
Dicksons Expands Into Leasing with CARZAR Launch
Independent multi‑franchise dealer Dicksons has launched CARZAR Leasing, a new service aimed at corporate customers across the Scottish Highlands. The division, led by Pamela Walker—formerly with Jaguar and Land Rover—will provide a broader vehicle selection and flexible funding options. By...
Kempower Leverages Tesla Semi Renders for MCS Announcements
Kempower, one of the world's largest fast charging manufacturers, is using Tesla Semi renders in their MCS product announcements (of course): https://t.co/SKHGtSWPDi
Inside VinFast’s Hanoi Ecosystem, Where VinBus Operates 600 E-Buses (Out of 2,000 Running in Vietnam)
VinFast now runs about 2,000 electric buses across Vietnam, with its sister firm VinBus operating roughly 600 of them in Hanoi and three other cities. The Hanoi Ocean Park depot can accommodate 100 buses and features 40 fast chargers capable...