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
3 Foreign Auto Stocks Poised to Benefit From Strength in Key Markets
The Zacks Automotive‑Foreign industry is gaining traction as China’s new‑energy vehicle (NEV) market surges, Japan’s auto demand steadies, and Europe shows signs of weakness. Analysts highlight Nissan, NIO and Toyota as the three stocks best positioned to capture growth across these divergent markets. The sector holds a Zacks Industry Rank of #79, placing it in the top 32% of roughly 250 industries, and trades at a 10.77× EV/EBITDA multiple, well below the S&P 500 average. Consensus forecasts project robust sales and earnings gains for the highlighted companies through 2027.
M/V Marne B Repowered with Mitsubishi Tier 3 Engines
Industry Terminal & Salvage’s inland towboat M/V Marne B has been repowered with twin Mitsubishi S12R Tier 3 engines, each delivering 1,350 hp at 1,600 rpm, replacing its older Caterpillar 3512 units. The conversion, performed by Laborde Products, marks its second such R‑series...
Just Right – American Airlines Premium Economy (DFW-OGG) Highlights
A family of four flew American Airlines Premium Economy on a Dallas‑Fort Worth to Maui 787‑8, noting that the seats felt comparable to narrow‑body first class and included in‑flight entertainment. The airline’s chef‑inspired meals were hit‑or‑miss, with one passenger receiving...
US Transportation Secretary Touts ‘Wildly Successful’ Program Recruiting Gamers for Air Traffic Controllers
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a recruitment campaign aimed at video‑game players to help fill a growing shortage of air traffic controllers. The initiative, launched with a promotional video, generated 6,000 applications within hours and closed the portal after...
WEX’s New Payment Solution Manages At-Home Charging for EV Fleet Drivers
WEX has launched EV At‑Home with Vehicle Fraud Protection, an upgrade to its EV At‑Home payment platform. The new feature automatically validates home‑charging sessions by cross‑checking vehicle, charger, and utility data, ensuring fleets reimburse only legitimate usage. By removing manual claim processes...
Germany: New Electric Car Incentive Clears Key Hurdle
Germany's Bundestag approved the Act on Promoting Climate‑Neutral Mobility, creating a legal framework for a new electric‑vehicle grant that will apply retroactively to cars first registered after 1 January 2026. The scheme offers up to €6,000 (about $6,540) for battery‑electric models and...
PSP Taps Carpenter For Interim Executive Director
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) has appointed Victoria Carpenter, the current assistant director of aviation, as interim executive director, succeeding Harry Barrett who is leaving to become assistant director at the Sacramento County Department of Airports. Carpenter previously served as...
These Chevy Crossovers Have The Same AWD Issue - What's GM Doing About It?
General Motors has identified an all‑wheel‑drive (AWD) fault affecting 2024‑2026 Chevrolet Traverse, 2024‑2026 GMC Acadia and 2025‑2026 Buick Enclave models. The issue triggers “Service AWD/4WD” warnings and the U3000 Sym 92 error code, and GM’s March 2026 service bulletin recommends a dealer‑performed reset...
Angola's TAAG Targets "Financial Sustainability" By 2029
Angola’s flag carrier TAAG announced a strategic roadmap to achieve financial sustainability by 2029. The plan hinges on a $186 million bond issuance, a slated privatisation in 2026, and operational reforms such as new route development and an in‑house MRO centre....
Lufthansa Slashes A340 And 747 Fleet, Outsources Flying As Labor Fight Intensifies
Lufthansa announced the retirement of its remaining four A340‑600s by October 2026, the grounding of two 747‑400s this winter with final retirement in 2027, and the transfer of nine A350‑900s to its low‑cost long‑haul subsidiary Discover. At the same time, the...
Cebu Pacific, Jettainer Extend Long-Term Partnership
Philippines’ leading carrier Cebu Pacific has renewed and expanded its long‑term partnership with ULD specialist Jettainer. The early renewal extends comprehensive unit‑load‑device management and adds Jettainer’s new IoT tracking solution that uses LoRa, BLE and cellular mesh technology. The agreement...
Porsche 944 Renaissance: Why Neglected ’80s Icons Are Now £15K Bargains that Beat Modern Sports Cars
The Porsche 944, launched in 1982, offers a balanced front‑engine, rear‑transaxle layout that rivals modern sports cars at a fraction of the cost. Clean, dry‑stored examples now trade between $12,000 and $22,000, while Turbo variants can reach $31,000, up from...
How to Buy and Sell a Trucking MC Number
The FMCSA has reaffirmed that MC numbers and USDOT authorities cannot be bought, sold, or traded as standalone assets, and violations can lead to deactivation. To acquire an MC number legally, buyers must structure the deal as a business acquisition—typically...
J.B. Hunt CEO Touts First-Quarter Performance
J.B. Hunt Transport Services reported a strong first‑quarter, posting net earnings of $141.6 million ($1.49 EPS), up roughly 20% year‑over‑year, and total operating revenue of $3.06 billion, a 5% increase. CEO Shelley Simpson highlighted a tighter truckload market driven by stricter safety...
Spiking FedEx, UPS Fuel Fees Are Grabbing Shippers’ Attention
FedEx and UPS have driven a record‑high quarter for ground delivery costs as fuel surcharges surged. The TD Cowen/AFS Freight Index shows Q1 per‑package rates were 39.3% above the January 2018 baseline and are projected to reach 42% in Q2. Fuel surcharges...
Midwest States Reel From Severe Storms
Record rainfall and severe thunderstorms hammered the Midwest on April 15, 2026, flooding streets in Milwaukee and prompting Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers to declare a state of emergency. At least three tornadoes touched down, while wind gusts up to 70 mph...
Montana National Guard Returns World War II Soldier Home, Honoring Nation’s Promise
On April 15, airmen from the Montana Air National Guard’s 120th Airlift Wing flew a C‑130H transport mission to return the remains of World War II Pvt. Harry David Bordner to his hometown of Butte, Montana. The solemn ceremony, overseen by the Montana...
Canada Post Takes Steps to Stop Home Mail Delivery
Canada Post announced the first phase of a five‑year plan to replace home delivery for roughly 4 million Canadian addresses with community mailboxes. The pilot involves 13 municipalities and will convert about 136,000 doors, a process that can take six to...
Logistics Layoffs Top 800 as Contracts Unwind Across Trucking, Warehousing
Over the past three weeks, U.S. logistics firms announced 829 layoffs as contract freight dries up. Warehouse operators Saddle Creek and Ryder cut 321 jobs after customers pulled services in‑house or failed to renew agreements. Trucking carriers, including Day &...
MODEX 2026: Kardex Launches PortScale for Enhanced AutoStore Inventory Accuracy
At MODEX 2026, Kardex unveiled PortScale, a weight‑sensor add‑on for AutoStore ports that provides real‑time verification of picking and putaway operations. The solution integrates with Kardex’s Intuitive Picking Assistant, barcode scanning and computer‑vision tools to instantly detect errors, support cycle...
⛽ Iran’s Smartest Move Yet Wasn’t Closing Hormuz — It Was Reopening It. Let Me Explain.
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz immediately after a temporary cease‑fire between Israel and Lebanon, linking the maritime opening directly to the cease‑fire terms. The narrow waterway carries roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil and LNG, making its status a...
Overwhelming Public Support for Restoration of Key Scottish Rail Links
A poll of 1,303 adults in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire shows strong public backing for reinstating rail services to Ellon, Peterhead and Fraserburgh, with 78% supporting the Ellon‑Peterhead line and 76% favoring Fraserburgh. The survey, commissioned by the Aberdeen & Grampian...
Iran and US Say the Strait of Hormuz Is Completely Open
Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open for commercial traffic, directing vessels to a new coordinated route around Larak Island. The United States, while acknowledging the declaration, kept a naval blockade in place against Iranian ports and...
Zeekr Expands Hybrid Lineup with 8X Launch Starting at $48,370
Zeekr, Geely’s premium EV brand, launched the 8X plug‑in hybrid SUV at a limited‑time price of ¥329,800 (≈$48,370), a 12.5% cut from its pre‑sale level. The midsize SUV offers a pure‑electric range of up to 410 km and a combined range...
Busy Start to the Year for Liege Airport’s Cargo Business
Liege Airport reported a solid start to 2026, with cargo volumes climbing 15.6% year‑on‑year to 342,845 tonnes and aircraft movements rising 7% to 7,247 flights in the first quarter. Export freight surged 20% YoY, propelled by e‑commerce, perishables and international...
RATP and Karsan Wrap up Autonomous Bus Trial in Paris
RATP and Turkish vehicle maker Karsan completed a six‑month autonomous electric bus pilot on Paris’s busy line 393, covering roughly 3,000 km of mixed‑traffic operation. The Karsan e‑ATAK, equipped with Adastec’s lidar, radar and infrared suite, ran five hours daily with a...
Pasadena Approves Plan for 710 Stub but Tables Restorative Justice Elements
Pasadena’s city council voted to adopt most of the Reconnecting Pasadena vision, a redevelopment blueprint for the 50‑acre “710 stub” that was seized by Caltrans in the 1970s for a never‑built freeway extension. The approved elements include a California Environmental...
Hyundai Serves Up Fresh Batch Of N Performance Parts
Hyundai announced a new line of N Performance Parts for its Elantra N and Ioniq 5 N models, now available at select U.S. dealers. The catalog includes cosmetic upgrades such as floor mats and decals, as well as performance‑oriented items like an Alcantara‑covered...
Russia’s Main Black Sea Port Resumes Loading Crude at Key Berth
Russia’s largest Black Sea port, Novorossiysk, resumed crude loading at berth 1 of the Sheskharis oil terminal on April 17, 2026. The Samos crude tanker, a Suezmax‑class vessel, moored at the berth and began loading later that afternoon. The berth is specifically designed...
Iran Opens Strait of Hormuz, but Few Box Ship Transits Predicted
Iran’s foreign minister announced that the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open" following a 10‑day Israel‑Lebanon cease‑fire, but industry insiders remain doubtful about actual container traffic. The United States continues its naval blockade and has warned it will pursue Iranian...
Air Canada Yanks All New York JFK Flights This Summer
Air Canada announced it will suspend all flights to and from New York JFK from June 2 to October 23, 2026, ending its modest schedule of one daily Montreal‑YUL and three daily Toronto‑YYZ services. The airline cited persistent congestion, limited...
Skunk Works Is Looking for a U-2 Pilot
Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division posted a full‑time U‑2 test‑pilot role in Palmdale, offering a salary between $156,400 and $311,650 depending on location. The position focuses on engineering flight tests, production‑acceptance flights, and demonstration missions, requiring recent U‑2S qualification, a...
Strait of Hormuz Reopens—Durability and Ship Commitment Key
The reported reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran is undoubtedly a welcome relief for the global economy. Needless to say, its true impact depends on the durability of this reopening, which will require sustained confidence-building measures from all three...
Op-Ed: Why Data Is Becoming Shipping’s Most Valuable Asset
Shipping’s traditional cyclical model is giving way to structural uncertainty, forcing owners to prioritize data‑driven decision making. A survey of 225 maritime leaders shows over two‑thirds struggle with unpredictability, 42% wrestle with investment‑return balances, and 32% demand AI and automation....
Empty LNG Tankers Attempt Hormuz Crossing Into Persian Gulf
Two liquefied natural gas tankers, Al Hamra and Mraweh, owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., were spotted heading toward the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz. Their movement marks the first attempt by LNG vessels to enter the...
How Audi’s Electromechanical Progressive Steering Works
Audi’s ninth‑generation A6 arrives with a 6‑cylinder, 362‑hp engine, a 14.5‑inch OLED screen and a standard 4K dashcam. The highlight is its electromechanical progressive steering, which changes the steering ratio through variable tooth spacing in the rack. Coupled with standard...
Strait of Hormuz Reopening for Commercial Traffic, Trump and Iran Say
Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is fully open for commercial vessels, aligning the move with a 10‑day cease‑fire between Israel and Lebanon brokered by President Trump. The reopening follows a week‑long U.S. blockade that aimed to pressure Iran over...
US Alcohol Importers Managing Shifting Consumption Habits
U.S. alcohol importers are grappling with a volatile market as containerized shipments of wine, beer and distilled spirits fell 4.9% in 2025 and plunged another 16.1% in the first quarter of 2026. Shifting consumer tastes toward alternative products and purchasing...
Bangladesh’s Gig Workers Are Stuck in Gas Lines as Iran-U.S. War Strains Fuel Supply
Bangladesh’s reliance on imported fuel has been hit by the Israel‑U.S. war with Iran, triggering severe shortages in Dhaka. Ride‑hailing and delivery drivers are forced to queue for hours, buying rationed diesel worth about $4 per motorcycle. Earnings have slashed...
Home Depot Eyes Same-Day, Next-Day Delivery Site in New York
Home Depot has filed an application to build a 414,000‑square‑foot distribution center in Yaphank, New York, designed for same‑day and next‑day delivery of bulky building materials. The project would cost about $157 million to construct, with an additional $11 million for site improvements,...
Iran’s Foreign Minister Declares Strait of Hormuz Fully Open to All Commercial Vessels Until April 21
Iran’s foreign minister announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain fully open to all commercial vessels for the remainder of the cease‑fire with the United States, which ends on April 21. The declaration prompted a rapid drop in global...
Tested: 2026 Ford F-250 Super Duty Makes a Strong Argument for Gas Power
Ford’s 2026 F‑250 Super Duty Lariat can be equipped with a newly revived 7.3‑liter V8 that costs $1,500 more than the standard 6.8‑liter engine, delivering 430 hp and 485 lb‑ft of torque. The gasoline model accelerates to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds and completes...
Don’t Spend $3k on a Broken Premium Flight
Beware before you drop $3k on a ticket. This is the sad, depressing state of @americanair’s fanciest plane that exclusively flies the most premium domestic routes. Broken tray table and remote. Scratches everywhere. Soon, it’ll be reconfigured into a standard domestic layout...
Iran's “Open” Hormuz Route Fails to Reassure Shippers
"The Iranian foreign minister’s announcement on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open” for ships that use an Iranian-prescribed route doesn’t give the shipping industry assurances to resume traffic through the strait" https://t.co/9MdBedoMmR
Maharashtra Partners With NLDSL to Digitise State Logistics Through ULIP Platform
The Government of Maharashtra signed an MoU with NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd (NLDSL) to deploy the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) across state agencies. ULIP already integrates 45 government systems through 137 APIs, powering more than 240 applications and...
400 Oil Tankers Resume Transit After Hormuz Reopens
POV: The 400 oil tankers stuck in the Gulf transiting the waters now that Strait of Hormuz is back open. https://t.co/jmhUZYYjld
Coordinated Maritime Route Announced by Islamic Republic Ports
So, what has changed? “ the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep.” https://t.co/Gh30StN8up
ONE Updates LUX Service Rotation
Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced a permanent revision to its Latin East Coast Europe Express (LUX) service, removing Felixstowe from the rotation and ending southbound calls at Paranaguá. The new schedule, effective with the Navios Vermilion’s arrival in Rotterdam on...
World’s First Global Shipping Carbon Price Talks Back at UN’s Bargaining Table
The International Maritime Organization’s Net‑Zero Framework, which pairs a global carbon price with fuel‑standard mandates, is back on the UN agenda after a narrow 2023 vote blocked its adoption. The United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia and other petro‑states oppose the...
ITS Logistics Releases April Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index
ITS Logistics released its April Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index, warning that all U.S. port and rail regions face heightened cost pressure. The index cites the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis, four years of trucking capacity exits, and elevated diesel prices...