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
SpaceX Marks 600th Rocket Landing on Falcon 9 During Starlink Launch
SpaceX achieved its 600th successful orbital-class booster landing when a Falcon 9 first stage touched down on the droneship "Of Course I Still Love You" during a Starlink launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The mission deployed 25 new satellites, pushing the Starlink constellation past 10,275 units and highlighting the cost advantages of reusable launch technology.
Hobart to Ditch Hire E-Scooters and Bring in 'Safer' E-Bikes Instead
The City of Hobart announced it will remove its shared e‑scooter fleet and replace it with a dedicated e‑bike program. Council cited ongoing safety, regulatory and parking issues as the primary drivers of the change. The e‑bike initiative builds on...
Digital Logistics Unveils SaaS‑Enabled Supply Chain Suite 2512
Siemens' Digital Logistics division rolled out Supply Chain Suite 2512, a SaaS‑focused upgrade that adds integrated tour and load optimization, AI/ML forecasting, PostgreSQL support and a modernized subscription licensing model, signaling a push toward more flexible, cloud‑native logistics software.
If Labor Cares About Fairness, It Will Cut EV Subsidies
Australian electric vehicle sales surged in March, reaching a record 15,839 units – a 42% jump from February – and EVs made up 14.6% of all new car sales in February. The primary catalyst has been the Fringe Benefits Tax...
Canada March/Q1 2026: Ford Motor (+14.4%), Stellantis (+14.6%) Shine, Sales Down -4.4%
Canada's new light‑vehicle market contracted 8.2% YoY in March, with Q1 volume falling 4.4% to 406,000 units, the lowest SAAR since September 2025. Despite the downturn, Ford Motor posted a 14.4% gain, selling 70,541 units and leading the OEM ranking,...
Demand Trends Under US Airline Scrutiny Amid Uncertainty in the Middle East - the Delta Perspective
Delta Air Lines disclosed its first‑quarter 2026 demand snapshot, noting that passenger volumes remain robust despite the ongoing Middle East conflict. U.S. carriers have largely avoided drastic capacity cuts, opting instead to monitor volatility while preserving growth potential. To counter...
Saildrone Joins Growing Competition for Navy's Medium-Sized Drone Vessel
San Francisco‑based Saildrone entered the Navy's Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) competition with its Spectre design, a 250‑tonne craft capable of 27 knots and a 25‑tonne payload. The vessel features optional sail‑driven, near‑silent propulsion for anti‑submarine warfare and can be reconfigured...
5 Things You Could Do On An A Cruise Ship Years Ago But Can't Anymore
The cruise industry has evolved from a niche transport mode into a multi‑billion‑dollar leisure sector, with over 300 ships and an estimated 21.7 million American passengers slated for 2026. Early cruises featured quirky onboard pastimes such as skeet shooting, midnight buffets,...
Vodafone Romania Merges Evotracking, iSYS Units to Boost Fleet Management, IoT Offering
Vodafone Romania has merged its Evotracking and iSYS Professional subsidiaries into a single company operating as EvoGPS powered by iTrack. The consolidation makes Vodafone Romania the sole shareholder of the new entity. This move aligns with Vodafone's broader strategy to...
Princess Cruises Rolls Out Largest‑Ever Japan Summer 2028 Season and Expanded Southeast Asia Program
Princess Cruises announced a 96‑departure, 61‑itinerary Asian program that includes a record‑size Japan summer 2028 season with two ships home‑ported in Tokyo and an expanded Southeast Asia lineup for 2027‑28. The move adds 55 destinations in nine countries, promising deeper...
Grimaldi Launches Its Tenth Ammonia‑fuel Car Carrier, the 9,241‑CEU Grande Tokyo
Grimaldi Group has christened the Grande Tokyo, its tenth ammonia‑ready car carrier, adding a 9,241‑CEU vessel to its fleet. The launch underscores the shipping line’s commitment to decarbonisation and marks a milestone for ammonia‑propulsion adoption in the industry.
Saturn Once Made An SC Turbo, But Not For You
In 2001 Saturn entered a one‑off, turbo‑charged SC2 in the Car and Driver One Lap of America, boosting the 1.9‑liter engine to 224 hp. The team added a Garrett T6 turbo, increased displacement to 2.1 L, and shed 110 lb, delivering 0‑60 in...
Mercedes-Benz and BMW Halt Level 3 Deployments in Europe Over Cost and Demand Concerns
Mercedes-Benz and BMW announced they will not roll out their Level 3 Drive Pilot and Personal Pilot systems on new European S‑Class and 7 Series models, blaming steep development costs and tepid demand. The OEMs are redirecting resources to advanced Level 2 Plus...
Spirit Airlines Requests Hundreds of Millions in Bailout as Jet Fuel Prices Surge 95%
Spirit Airlines has asked the Trump administration for a emergency bailout worth hundreds of millions of dollars after jet fuel prices jumped nearly 95% following the Iran conflict, jeopardizing its restructuring plan and raising the risk of liquidation. The carrier,...
Wear Your Belongings to Avoid Baggage Fees and Mishandled Luggage?
Airlines have raised checked‑baggage fees as fuel costs spiked following the Middle East conflict, prompting travelers to seek alternatives. Wearable luggage, championed by SCOTTeVEST, embeds pockets in clothing to eliminate the need for checked bags. The concept sparked controversy when...
WindEurope 2026: Stillstrom Launches Offshore Charging Systems
Stillstrom unveiled two standalone offshore charging systems—the Power Hub and Power Tower—at WindEurope 2026. Both solutions can be installed without tying into existing turbine infrastructure, allowing flexible deployment across current and future offshore wind farms. The Power Hub is a...
Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL)
The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (MoTI) has issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) to appoint a Project Implementation Oversight Consultant (PIOC) for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL). The project, financed by the World Bank...
United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
United Airlines reported Q1 2026 revenue of $15.4 billion, a 4.8% year‑over‑year increase driven by a 6.5% rise in capacity. Premium cabin revenue surged 12% while main‑cabin revenue grew only 1% despite higher seat supply. Quarterly EPS hit $3.10 and full‑year...
Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL)
The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (MoTI) has issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) for Project Management Consulting (PMC) services on the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL). The project, financed by the World Bank alongside ADB,...
US LNG Growth with First Export at Golden Pass and Tug Order for Woodside
Golden Pass LNG, a QatarEnergy‑ExxonMobil joint venture in Texas, docked its first LNG tanker, the Al Qaiyyah, signaling the start of commercial shipments. The facility is currently producing about 400 million cubic feet per day, roughly half of its intended capacity,...
Port of Gothenburg Signs €18M Dredging Contract for Major Fairway Project
The Port of Gothenburg has awarded Boskalis Sweden AB an approximately $19 million contract to perform blasting and dredging for the Skandia Gateway project. The work will deepen the port’s fairway from 13.5 metres to 17.5 metres, allowing larger, deeper‑draught vessels to call...
Air Service Liberalisation and Carbon Dioxide Emissions
A new CEPII working paper finds that air service agreements (ASAs) significantly increase international passenger traffic—by 12.7% between 2012 and 2019—while reshaping routes toward more direct flights. These changes cut average flight distance by 1.4% and reduce the number of...
Fewer Flights, Higher Fares This Summer
Jet fuel prices have doubled since the Iran‑Israel conflict and the seven‑week closure of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Canadian airlines to add $18‑$44 (USD) fuel surcharges, raise the first‑bag fee to about $33 USD, and suspend several summer routes....
Golden Pass Texas Facility Ready for Inaugural LNG Export
Golden Pass LNG in Texas received its first export cargo as the Al Qaiyyah tanker, owned by QatarEnergy, docked on Monday. The plant, which began production earlier this year after years of delays and cost overruns, processed 400 million cubic feet of...
Why Freight Rates Are Finally Heating Up
Mike Hosted, VP of ATBS, reports that 2026 spot‑market freight rates are finally rising after a four‑year flatline. Data from over 15,000 owner‑operators shows a sharp correction as excess capacity from the 2021 boom exits the market. Federal actions—tightening driver‑license...
Singapore, Los Angeles and Long Beach Renew Green Corridor Agreement
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, together with the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, has renewed its three‑year memorandum of understanding to advance a green and digital shipping corridor across the trans‑Pacific trade lane. Since the corridor’s...
Everllence Ammonia Engine Passes Factory Acceptance Test
Everllence announced the successful factory acceptance test of its first dual‑fuel ammonia‑burning engine, the B&W 6G60ME‑LGIA, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries' licensee in South Korea. The engine will power a vessel for Singapore‑based Eastern Pacific Shipping, slated for delivery in October 2026,...
Rio Tinto Charters Two Methanol-Capable Newcastlemax Bulk Carriers
Rio Tinto has signed a charter agreement with Japanese shipowner NS United Kaiun Kaisha to lease two dual‑fuel Newcastlemax bulk carriers equipped for methanol operation, with deliveries slated for 2028 onward. The contract is part of Rio Tinto’s broader strategy...
5 Of The Best Folding E-Bikes, According To Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports has identified the five best folding electric bikes, highlighting the Velotric Fold 1 as the top‑rated model. The rankings span a price spectrum from $1,078 for the Lectric XP 4 to $1,899 for the Blix Vika+ Flex, and all five excel...
EVs Are Driving Cleaner Automotive Supply Chains — Here’s How
The new Lead the Charge Auto Supply Chain Leaderboard shows that EV manufacturers are outpacing gasoline‑car makers in battery recycling, low‑carbon steel and aluminium use, and responsible mineral sourcing. Tesla disclosed detailed emissions hotspots in its battery chain, while Mercedes,...
China Puts Fully-Electric, Intelligent Containership in Service
China’s state shipbuilder has placed the first of two fully‑electric, intelligent containerships into service. The 128‑metre Ning Yuan Dian Kun can carry 740 TEU and is powered by ten container‑sized batteries providing about 19,600 kWh to drive two 875 kW propulsion motors,...
Chile to US Fruit Trade Down
Cool Carriers, the world’s largest reefer vessel operator, posted strong results for the 2025/26 summer season despite a sharp decline in Chilean fruit export demand to the United States. The subsidiary moved 260,000 pallets of cherries, blueberries, grapes and stone...
Shipping Industry Reaffirms Support for IMO-Led GHG Pathway
Leading maritime trade groups—including BIMCO, CLIA, and INTERTANKO—issued a joint statement backing the International Maritime Organization’s greenhouse‑gas (GHG) pathway ahead of the MEPC 84 meeting. The associations reaffirm commitment to the 2023 IMO strategy, citing billions of dollars already spent on...
Jet Fuel Shipments Tank; Global Supply In-Transit Plunges 60%
Global jet and kerosene fuel volumes in transit by tanker have fallen 60% since March 1, 2026, with European‑bound shipments plunging 80%, according to Kpler data. The drop reflects tighter refinery output and shifting demand patterns. Industries that rely on just‑in‑time delivery...
Iran War Highlights the Value of Unmanned Aircraft
The U.S. Air Force deployed MQ‑9 Reaper drones early in Operation Epic Fury over Iran, using their 24‑hour endurance to locate and strike mobile missile and drone launchers. Despite being vulnerable to sophisticated air defenses, several Reapers were lost, yet...
AMC Head Looks to Pair B-21 With ‘Capable, Modern Tanker’
Lt. Gen. Rebecca Sonkiss, acting head of Air Mobility Command, announced an Analysis of Alternatives study to determine the Air Force’s next‑generation aerial refueling system (NGAS) slated for fielding in the mid‑2030s. The study weighs expanding KC‑46 Pegasus purchases, adding...
RECARO and Air India Launch Economy and Premium Economy Retrofit Program on 787-8 Fleet
Air India and RECARO Aircraft Seating have begun a retrofit program for the carrier’s 26 Boeing 787‑8 jets, installing roughly 6,000 new seats. The upgrade introduces RECARO’s PL3530 model in Premium Economy and the CL3710 in Economy, both tailored to...
Tesla Autopilot Turns Lunch Run Into Seamless Experience
It hit me yesterday when I was going to pick up lunch. I pre-cooled the Tesla Model 3 from my phone, and set the destination to the restaurant. Then I hit start self-driving. Mad Max mode, park in the parking lot....
Government Delivery Isn’t a Public Service, Needs Profit‑driven Optimization
It’s not a public service. There are private competitors that manage to not lose money. I’ll take an argument that it’s an employment scheme run by the government but that doesn’t absolve it from running based on optimization, like all...
FRA: Applications Welcome for Partnership-NEC Grants
The Federal Railroad Administration has opened a $4.75 billion grant window for the FY 2025‑26 Partnership‑NEC program, aimed at revitalizing the Northeast Corridor’s intercity passenger rail network. By earmarking funds for capital projects that address the backlog of deferred maintenance, improve service...
David Moss Effortlessly Locates the Robotaxi
I think @DavidMoss seems to be able to find the @robotaxi just fine, but ok.
Arctic Cold Proves 2025 Tundra Rally’s Rugged Capability
Arctic weather, meet the 2025 @Toyota Tundra SR5 TRD Rally 4x4! Last week's miserable weather was really the perfect week for me to have this vehicle loaner, as I explain in my latest vehicle review: https://t.co/bJ7QTzEkZn #toyota #tundra #trucks #auto https://t.co/c8BveyUjER
Major US Airline Says Bankruptcy Not On The Cards
JetBlue Airways told employees that bankruptcy is not under consideration, aiming to quell mounting speculation about its financial health. The carrier highlighted a $500 million aircraft‑backed financing commitment and an optional $250 million tranche, underscoring its liquidity cushion. Despite a $3 billion debt...
C.H. Robinson, Super Ego Chalk up 'Chameleon Carrier' Outrage to a Big Misunderstanding
A CBS 60 Minutes investigation accused Super Ego and freight broker C.H. Robinson of operating a “chameleon carrier” network that allegedly tampered with electronic logging devices, underpaid drivers, and sidestepped safety rules. Both firms rejected the claims, with Super Ego insisting it is merely an...
China’s Auto Export Surge Defies EU Tariffs
The second China shock isn't going to go away on its own, or with half measures -- China's auto exports to Europe, for example, have clearly reaccelerated (even with the narrowly targeted CVDs against battery electric imports) 1/ https://t.co/pdaadEXUrD
Mexico's Leader Flies Economy, Ex‑president Sold VIP Jet
Mexico’s President Flew Economy To Europe — Her Predecessor Sold The VIP Jet - View from the Wing https://t.co/H4f2Kshukg
Asfasd
Rising diesel prices are squeezing U.S. fleet margins, but under‑inflated tires are a hidden cost driver. A tire 10 psi low can raise fuel consumption by 2‑3%, and 20‑30 psi low can add an 8‑10% penalty, translating into hundreds of thousands of...
Cockpit Air Quality Impacts Pilot Maneuver Success
Our study of airplane pilots showed that the air quality in the cockpit was associated with whether or not pilots passed or failed advanced maneuvers, including midair traffic collision avoidance. #HealthyAir #HealthyAirplanes #IAQ #HealthyBuildings
Americans Wading Deeper Into Auto Loan Debt as Car Price Rise
Nearly one‑third of U.S. consumers who traded in a vehicle in Q1 2026 were underwater on their loans, the highest level in five years. The average negative‑equity balance was $7,183, 42% higher than in 2021, pushing monthly payments up to...
AI and Robots Poised to Replace Warehouse Workers
A case for the displacement of human labor in warehouses and distribution centers with AI and robotics. https://t.co/5EJcBi3giT #robotics #warehouse #distributioncenter #robotsreplacinghumans #AI #AIrobots https://t.co/luuMseZ330