Today's Transportation Pulse
Hormuz minesweeping could delay oil flow for weeks
A preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz includes a minesweeping phase that may take 40‑50 days, using conventional minesweepers and advanced underwater drones to locate up to 1,000 Iranian naval mines. The delay could hold tens of millions of barrels of oil, while daily vessel traffic remains at 12‑15 ships.
Also developing:
CMA CGM Announces FAK Rate Increase From Asia to Mediterranean Routes
CMA CGM announced a temporary increase in its Freight All Kinds (FAK) rates for shipments from major Asian ports to the Mediterranean, effective May 15‑31, 2026. The new pricing sets 20‑foot container rates at $3,300‑$3,500 across most Mediterranean sub‑regions, with Algeria commanding the highest fees at $5,100 for 20‑foot units. Rates for 40‑foot and high‑cube containers rise proportionally, reaching $7,200 for Algeria. The carrier says the hike supports service reliability and operational efficiency across its network.
Singapore: Building a Smart, Connected Maritime Ecosystem
Singapore has launched the PIER71 Smart Port Challenge 2026, reinforcing its push to become a global maritime innovation hub. Since 2017, the program has attracted over $111 million in venture capital for more than 170 startups, with 26 firms presenting this year...
Digital Traffic Brings Brightly and AppyWay Together
Brightly Software has teamed up with digital‑traffic specialist AppyWay to embed AppyWay’s Traffic Suite into Brightly’s Confirm asset‑management system. The combined platform lets English highway authorities create, publish and manage digital traffic regulation orders (D‑TROs) and kerbside infrastructure through a...
T-Mobile Begins DoorDashing 5G Internet to Customers for Same-Day Deliveries
Starting in April, T‑Mobile now delivers its 5G home‑internet gateway through DoorDash, allowing customers to receive the equipment within hours and track the shipment like a food order. The service is free of charge, but users must install the gateway...
Amtrak’s New Routes Thrive—Expand Them Further
Sort of funny that every time that Amtrak operates new rail service, it’s actually very successful? Maybe we should do a lot more of it.
Hormuz Standoff the 'Largest Supply Shock' Ever Experienced, Says Global Energy Expert
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has virtually stopped after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, cutting off roughly 20% of the world’s petrochemical flow. Karen Young of Columbia University estimates that about 600 million barrels of oil have been stranded...
Here's When It Makes Sense To Rent A Car (Even If You Already Own One)
Even car owners can benefit from rentals when a vehicle’s size, capability, or convenience outweighs personal use. Common scenarios include moving bulky items, accommodating larger groups for holidays or events, and accessing specialty or off‑road models for travel. Rentals also...
American Airlines Explored A Merger With Alaska — Now Working On Revenue-Sharing Deal
American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, long‑time West Coast Alliance partners, have shifted from exploring a full merger to negotiating a revenue‑sharing arrangement. The talks follow a brief period when the carriers nearly ended their partnership, highlighting complementary market strengths: AA’s...
Elon Musk Admits Millions of Tesla Owners Need Upgrades for True ‘Full Self-Driving’
Elon Musk announced that Tesla’s current Hardware 3 vehicles will require a new computer and upgraded cameras to run future Full Self‑Driving (FSD) software that operates without driver supervision. The upgrade could be costly and logistically complex, prompting Tesla to consider...
WEF Warns Port Cyber Risk Now Ecosystem-Wide
The World Economic Forum warns that rapid digitisation has turned port cyber risk into a systemic, ecosystem‑wide threat. Maritime cyber incidents surged 103% in 2025 as attackers move laterally across terminals, logistics partners, and inland transport networks. The forum cites...
Duffy Demands Transparency Before Risking Taxpayer Funds
More from @SecDuffy on @SpiritAirlines from our interview yesterday: ""We also have to be good stewards of the tax dollar, and we can't make dumb investments. We can't put taxpayer money that is going to be lost or just forestall...
Can The Police Really Crack Down On Montana License Plates?
California police are unlikely to launch a broad crackdown on vehicles bearing Montana license plates. Records from the California Highway Patrol show only 91 out‑of‑state plate investigations last year, none resulting in citations. Recent policy changes in Los Angeles and...
Ethiopian Airlines Is Plotting a 100-Jet Fleet Expansion Even as It Weathers Oil Shock
Ethiopian Airlines is preparing to order more than 100 new jets, targeting a fleet size roughly double its current level by 2040. Deliveries are slated to begin after 2032, with the next order wave expected within the next two years....
Elon Predicts Cybercab Dominance, Dampening Minivan Hopes
Question on the call related to future $TSLA vehicles. Elon says most of production in the future will be Cybercab because 90% of miles are with two or fewer people in the car. He mentions the new Roadster is coming next...
Build Antifragile Supply Chains with the 4Rs Framework
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of spending an evening with @SupplyChainProf (Professor), one of the world's foremost authorities on supply chain risk and resilience. And given everything happening right now with the Strait of Hormuz, tariff...
Thai EV Sales Set to Be Boosted by Trade-In Incentive
Thailand’s government is poised to introduce a car trade‑in incentive that mandates new vehicles be manufactured locally, a move aimed at accelerating the shift from internal‑combustion engines to electric and hybrid models. Omoda & Jaecoo, a Chery subsidiary, says the policy...
Elon Musk Pushes Unsupervised FSD for Consumer Teslas — Again
Tesla confirmed on its Q1 2026 earnings call that unsupervised Full‑Self‑Driving (FSD) for consumer cars will not be available until at least Q4 2026, pushing the deadline further after multiple missed targets. The company said it still needs roughly 10 billion miles of...
CSX Says More Businesses Are Shipping via Rail to Avoid Surging Fuel Cost...
CSX Corp. lifted its full‑year sales outlook after reporting a surge in rail shipments as companies shift from trucking to rail to dodge soaring fuel prices triggered by the Iran‑Ukraine conflict. The carrier highlighted robust growth in plastics freight and...
Jetstar Selects Viasat AMARA for 787 Fleet Connectivity Upgrade
Jetstar Airways has chosen Viasat’s next‑generation AMARA inflight connectivity to outfit 11 of its Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliners. The rollout, part of a broader cabin modernization effort, began this month and is slated for completion by mid‑2027. Powered by Viasat’s Ka‑band...
This Toyota SUV Is Quietly Beating BMW, Mercedes, and Audi
Toyota’s 2026 Crown Signia SUV blends a 2.5‑liter hybrid powertrain with premium interior appointments, delivering 240 hp and an EPA‑rated 38 mpg combined. Priced at $44,490, it undercuts the BMW X3, Mercedes‑Benz GLC and Audi Q5 by $6‑7 k while offering more cargo space...
Jet Fuel Import Flows Collapse
The onset of the Middle East war and the near‑shutdown of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz have slashed global jet fuel exports by roughly half. Persian Gulf shipments, traditionally the largest source, have virtually stopped, while China’s de‑facto ban...
Southwest Air Drops as US Airlines Contend with Soaring Fuel
Southwest Airlines posted fourth‑quarter adjusted earnings of 45 cents per share and revenue of $7.25 billion, both slightly below Wall Street forecasts. The carrier left its full‑year profit guidance unchanged, warning that lower fuel prices and stronger revenue are needed to...
Zumwalt's $10B Flaws Exposed by Shipyard Fire
Really the dumbest boondoggle of them all. It will never end with these things and nobody is willing to cut them loose. We are at like $10B per ship all in. Absolutely insane. Cool ships yes, of course. But the...
Transit Briefs: KC Streetcar, SEPTA, Metrolinx, BART
Kansas City’s $62 million Riverfront Extension of its streetcar system will open on May 18, adding 0.7 miles and a new northern terminus at the Riverfront Station. SEPTA reported a 30% drop in serious crimes year‑over‑year, installed full‑height fare gates at ten stations...
Tesla Seems to Say Robotaxi Launch Will Be Pushed Back in 5 US Cities
Tesla’s latest earnings release shows the company pulling back its robotaxi rollout in five of the eight U.S. cities it had promised for the first half of 2026. The investor letter now labels those markets as "preparations underway" instead of...
Tesla (TSLA) Pulled Questionable Levers to Make Q1 2026 Financials Look Good
Tesla’s Q1 2026 earnings looked strong, with a 21.1% gross margin and 136% operating‑income growth, but the boost came largely from one‑time accounting items. The company released warranty reserves, booked estimated tariff refunds of roughly $250 million, and stretched supplier payments, inflating...
Landlocked Nations Need Diverse Links, Not Single-Partner Dependence
I'm afraid you can build a highway from Kyrgyzstan to western China but not from Kyrgyzstan to California. So if you're a landlocked economy, you do build infrastructure links to contiguous countries like China, especially when they have been growing,...
Tesla Plaid Owner Learns The Hard Way It Can't Keep Up With A Corvette
A viral YouTube drag‑strip showdown at Texas Motorplex pitted three Tesla Model S Plaid sedans against a stock Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X. The Corvette dominated, completing the quarter‑mile in 8.92 seconds at 154 mph, while the Plaids posted 9.65 seconds and a top...
Southwest Holds Off on Changing Profit Outlook, Says It ‘Would Not Be Productive’
Southwest Airlines announced it will not revise its 2026 adjusted earnings per share guidance of $4, despite a sharp rise in fuel costs and lingering macroeconomic uncertainty. The carrier points to a 20% cost advantage over legacy rivals and cites...
![[$500 Million ‘Rescue Package’] Spirit Airlines To Liquidate As Early As This Week According To Sources](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://www.doctorofcredit.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/spirit-airlines-1.png)
[$500 Million ‘Rescue Package’] Spirit Airlines To Liquidate As Early As This Week According To Sources
The Trump administration is close to approving a $500 million rescue package for Spirit Airlines, granting the government warrants for a potential equity stake. The aid arrives as Spirit faces imminent liquidation, with sources saying the airline could cease operations as...
It Sure Looks Like Hyundai Is Testing A Weapon To Surpass The Civic Type R
Hyundai is secretly testing a larger‑displacement engine for the next Elantra N, as revealed in an Instagram teaser showing a V‑band downpipe and a valve cover matching the brand’s 2.5‑liter G4KP unit. The 2.5‑liter turbo, already used in the Sonata...
Ford CEO: Tesla Is No Longer The EV Benchmark
Ford CEO Jim Farley announced that Tesla is no longer the benchmark for electric vehicles, pointing to the lack of a recent model refresh. Instead, Ford will gauge its EV progress against Chinese rivals BYD and Xiaomi, which he says...
Tesla’s Delivery Outlook Remains Vague, Limited Growth Expected
What about $TSLA deliveries for this year? The comment in the shareholder deck on delivery outlook was not helpful. I'm not expecting much from the call. Here's what the outlook on volume reads: "We are focused on maximum capacity utilization...
MODEX 2026: Fives Intralogistics Corp. Reinforces Global Automation Leadership with Caja by Fives GTP Robotic Solution
Fives Intralogistics Corp showcased its new Caja Goods‑To‑Person (GTP) robotic solution at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, marking a strategic push into warehouse and retail distribution automation. The software‑first system pairs an AI‑driven Warehouse Control System with a dual‑robot fleet—ground‑level and...
FSD Miles Surge 93% Quarter‑over‑Quarter, Subscribers Driving More
FSD subs grew 16% q/q (reported). FSD miles driven grew 93% q/q (looking at the chart in the deck). My take: Hard to believe. Looking for confirmation on the call that FSD miles driven grew that much quarter over quarter. If...
Iran Again Tightens Its Grip on Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran renewed its campaign in the Strait of Hormuz, striking two cargo vessels on Wednesday after traffic fell to a single ship on Tuesday—the lowest level since the conflict began eight weeks ago. The attacks effectively halted most shipping through...
Expedia Report Shows U.S. Travelers Favor Emerging European and Asian Destinations in 2026
Expedia's 2026 Air Hacks Report, based on millions of bookings and searches from Dec. 2024‑Nov. 2025, shows U.S. travelers gravitating toward emerging European and Asian cities while still favoring traditional domestic hubs. The data signals a diversification of American travel preferences as...
Saudia to Relocate to JFK's $19 B New Terminal One, Boosting US‑Saudi Air Links
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) will move from Terminal 1 to the newly built New Terminal One at New York’s JFK Airport when it opens in 2026. The relocation is part of the Port Authority’s $19 billion airport transformation and will bring expanded...
Competitors Accelerate to Undermine China’s EV Battery Supply Chain Lead
Chinese companies continue to dominate the electric‑vehicle battery supply chain and are expanding production beyond China, while rivals scramble to adopt alternative chemistries and new sites to close the gap.
Alaska Air CCO Andrew Harrison Drives Premium Sales Push as Q1 Revenue Climbs 5%
Alaska Air reported $3.3 billion in first‑quarter revenue, a 5% rise on 1.7% capacity growth, as Chief Commercial Officer Andrew R. Harrison detailed a sales strategy centered on premium seats and network expansion. The airline posted a GAAP loss of $193 million,...
FAA Opens Probe After Near‑Miss Between Republic Airways and Air Canada Jets at JFK
The Federal Aviation Administration has opened an investigation into a close‑call at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, where Republic Airways Flight 4464 and Air Canada Express Flight 8554 came within 350 feet during their approach. Both crews executed go‑arounds after receiving collision warnings,...
LEGO Volvo Concept Could Be The Future Of Construction
Volvo and LEGO Technic’s LX03 concept, originally a scale model from 2016, has been expanded into a full‑size, fully electric, autonomous wheel loader. Weighing 11,000 lb with an 8,800 lb tipping capacity, it can run four to eight hours on a charge....
European EV Sales Jump 51 Pct in March as Fuel Prices Surge Due to Gulf War
European electric‑vehicle registrations surged 51% in March 2026, reaching 224,000 units and representing 22% of all new car sales across 15 key markets. The jump lifted first‑quarter EV registrations to 500,000, a 33.5% year‑on‑year increase. The growth coincides with sharply higher...
Ships Use Territorial Waters to Bypass US Blockade
How can dozens of ships defeat the US Blockade, as the FT repost below says is happening? The map shows how a tanker can travel from Kharg Island to Mumbai while remaining within the territorial waters of Pakistan and India. The US...
United May Raise Fares up to 20% Due to Fuel Surge
United Airlines says fares may need to rise up to 20% to offset fuel surge https://t.co/iu9q0t5385
The US Government’s $500 Million Airbus Problem
The Trump administration is close to a $500 million rescue for Spirit Airlines, structured as a loan that could convert into warrants for up to 90 % of the post‑bankruptcy carrier. The deal was prompted by a sharp rise in jet fuel...
Airlines Pledge Starlink to Fix Chronic Wi‑Fi Outages
Third flight in the last week (two on United, one on BA) where the airline has apologized in advance for the lack of WiFi and promised that Starlink will soon "transform the quality and speed of connectivity" https://t.co/WcO89ZPqJy
Robotaxi Miles Surge Ninefold in Six Months
Paid Robotaxi miles basically doubled from December to March. $TSLA Looking at the chart in the deck: Sep 25: ~125k Dec 25: ~525k Mar 26: ~1.1m
Travel Roundup: TSA Funding, Touchless IDs, Fare Spikes
12 Things in Travel Today: — US Warns TSA Funding Will Run Out Soon — American Expands Touchless TSA ID To Hubs — Hawaiian Airlines Joins Oneworld Alliance — World Cup Train Fare Jumps To $150 — Southwest Planes Avoid Near Collision In...
Pre‑flight Drinks Skipped Due to Catering and Boarding Delays
Passengers usually don’t get a pre departure beverage due to delayed / late catering or boarding when we don’t have enough time to set up for the service on the ground and priority is on an on time departure