Today's Transportation Pulse
Uber expands robotaxi rollout to Houston, targeting mid‑2027 launch
Uber, Nuro and Lucid have chosen Houston as the second city for their robotaxi service after the San Francisco Bay Area debut later this year. The fleet will consist of Lucid Gravity electric SUVs equipped with Nuro’s Level‑4 autonomous driving platform and will be accessed via the Uber app. Uber has secured a 50,000‑square‑foot depot in Houston for charging and maintenance.
Also developing:
By the numbers: US IDFC partners with Chubb on $20B maritime reinsurance plan
Mercedes-Benz EQS Set for Second Overhaul with Steer-by-Wire and Ultra-Fast Charging
Mercedes-Benz is planning a second major refresh of its flagship EQS electric limousine, adding next‑generation steer‑by‑wire technology with a yoke‑style wheel and an 800‑volt ultra‑fast charging system. The new steering system eliminates the mechanical link, offering a 170‑degree lock‑to‑lock turn and dual‑signal safety redundancy. An upgraded battery pack aims to push WLTP range beyond 900 km and enable a 10‑80% charge in roughly 16 minutes. In Australia the EQS starts at about AU$219,900 (≈US$145,000).
New Teterboro Lounge Built For Canine Passengers
Fly Alliance is launching the Jet Paw Lounge, a dedicated canine terminal at Teterboro Airport, slated to open in mid‑April. The lounge reconfigures the traditional FBO into a low‑stress environment with separate lounges and pet suites sorted by size and...
BWI Partners With Assistive Technology Firm
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) announced a partnership with Towson‑based ReBokeh Vision Technologies to offer free, unlimited navigation assistance for blind and low‑vision passengers. ReBokeh’s AI‑driven mobile app uses the phone’s camera and custom filters to guide travelers through...
FTL or LTL? How to Choose the Right Shipping Mode
Choosing between Full Truckload (FTL) and Less‑Than‑Truckload (LTL) hinges on shipment size, delivery speed, and product sensitivity. FTL becomes cost‑effective when a load fills most of a trailer—typically 10 to 12 pallets—or when handling oversized or high‑value items that require...
Iran Conflict and Tariffs Push U.S. Import Volumes Down While Fuel Costs Rise, Reports Port Tracker
U.S. container imports dropped 7.5% in February to 1.95 million TEU, reflecting the combined impact of higher fuel costs tied to the Iran‑Hormuz conflict and a series of new tariffs. The NRF and Hackett Associates report projects modest recovery in May‑June...
Shipping Stalls in Hormuz Until Iran Halts Attacks
The last plot is through 9:43 AM ET today (April 8th). It is on track to be the highest of the last month. Again, this has to go to zero for shipping to start moving through the Strait. Note that the uptick...
Taking the Jobs Humans Don’t Want: The Ironic Promise of the Humanoid Robot
Humanoid robots, such as Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, are moving from labs to auto factories, with Hyundai showcasing a $250,000 unit that can work two shifts and plans to build 30,000 units per year by 2028. Proponents argue the machines will...
Palmetto Railways Advances Camp Hall Industrial Project
Palmetto Railways, a South Carolina Department of Commerce short‑line, is nearing completion of a 23‑mile industrial rail corridor serving the 6,800‑acre Camp Hall Commerce Park. The $190 million project, 75% finished, will link Volvo Cars’ facility and other tenants to CSX...
America's Fastest Highway Could Become A Hotbed For Driverless Semis
Texas State Highway 130, the nation’s fastest 85‑mph corridor, is becoming a testing ground for driverless semi‑trucks. Companies including Einride, Aurora Innovation and Waymo aim to begin trials by late 2026, leveraging the road’s low traffic and high speed. The SH 130...
VW Is Mulling a New Flagship SUV for a More Affluent Crowd
Volkswagen is exploring a new flagship electric SUV to fill the gap left by the Touareg after its 24‑year run. Board member Martin Sander said the model would target affluent customers who want premium engineering without the Audi or Porsche...
Ceasefire Changes Little for Shipping in Strait of Hormuz, Experts Say
A two‑week conditional cease‑fire between the United States and Iran includes a provision to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran announced it will allow safe passage only for vessels that obtain explicit permission, warning that unauthorized ships will be...
Pen Aviation, Nandina REM Pave the Way for rCF in Flight in UAV/UAS Platforms
Pen Aviation and Singapore‑based Nandina REM are accelerating the use of recycled carbon fiber (rCF) in UAV and UAS platforms. By leveraging risk‑proportionate certification frameworks such as SORA, Pen can integrate rCF without the full data set required for type‑certified...
X-Bow Secures RATO Kits Contract for AEVEX Disruptor Drone
X‑Bow Systems has secured a $12.2 million contract with defence firm AEVEX to supply rocket‑assisted take‑off (RATO) kits for the Disruptor drone. The agreement calls for hundreds of kits and thousands of solid‑rocket motors to be delivered between March and August...
What’s Behind Tehran’s Tollbooth?
Iran briefly shut the Strait of Hormuz and began levying steep fees on transiting tankers, effectively turning the waterway into a tollbooth. Although a ceasefire has been brokered, the fee‑collection mechanism remains active, targeting vessels that are not subject to...
VinFast Rolls Out EV Rental Program For Drivers In Indonesia & The Philippines
VinFast launched an electric‑vehicle rental program for ride‑hailing and transport drivers in Indonesia and the Philippines, complementing its existing purchase options. The scheme offers low‑deposit, long‑term contracts with daily rates of about $21 (IDR 312,500) in Indonesia and $18 (PHP 1,000) in...
Bitcoin Enters the War as Iran Wants Ships to Pay in BTC to Get Through Hormuz
Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union announced a $1‑per‑barrel toll payable in Bitcoin for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Vessels must email cargo details, receive an assessment and settle the fee within seconds using Bitcoin before being...
No Big Trucks for Little Roads: American OEMs Say EU Is Blocking Imports
The European Union is tightening its Individual Vehicle Approval rules, which could prevent U.S. full‑size pickups such as the Ford F‑150 from being sold in Europe. American automakers argue the move creates a non‑tariff barrier that conflicts with the US‑EU...
Ocean Carriers Wait for Clarity on Safe Hormuz Passage After US-Iran Ceasefire
Ocean carriers are awaiting concrete guidance from the United States and Iran on safely navigating the Strait of Hormuz after a two‑week cease‑fire was brokered between Washington and Tehran. Iran pledged to permit shipping but has yet to release the...
Loss Sparks Innovation: Southwest's 10‑minute Turnarounds
This is one of my favorite examples that didn’t make it into the final version of Inside the Box. Link in bio if you would like to pre-order. In 1972, Southwest was almost out of money and had to sell one...
A Mercedes-AMG CLE63 With a V-8 Is Coming 'Sooner Than You Think,' U.S. CEO Says
Mercedes‑Benz USA chief Adam Chamberlain announced that a new AMG‑badged CLE63 equipped with a flat‑plane 4.0‑liter twin‑turbo V‑8 will arrive in the United States sooner than expected, with a target launch around 2027. The powerplant, already used in refreshed S‑Class,...
Truckie Boss Says ‘People Are Getting Desperate’ as Siphoned Diesel Seen as Sign of ‘Dire’ Crisis
Truck owner Madilyn Lostroh in Queensland discovered diesel siphoned from a truck, highlighting growing desperation as fuel prices soar. Wholesale diesel hit a record 320 Australian cents per litre (≈ $2.10 USD), with retail around 319 cents. While police data show only...
From Kitty Hawk to Space, America Showcases Milestones in Aviation Innovation
The Wall Street Journal feature chronicles America’s aviation journey from the Wright brothers’ 1903 Kitty Hawk flight to today’s cutting‑edge platforms such as the F‑35 Lightning II and NASA’s robotic Mars explorers. It highlights how early experimentation evolved into a robust...
Purem by Eberspächer Hits 100,000-Unit China Production for Steel EV Battery Housing, Targets Europe
Purem by Eberspächer has begun series production of high‑strength steel EV battery housings in China, surpassing 100,000 units per year from the second half of 2026. The steel enclosures are marketed as lighter and cheaper than traditional aluminum packs, while...
Porsche Patents Disappearing Racing Stripes, So You Can Trick Everyone Into Thinking You Have Multiple Porsches
Porsche has filed a patent for an electronically controlled film that can be applied to a vehicle’s body panels and change color when voltage is applied. The technology would allow racing stripes to appear on demand in sport or race...
Kroger Colluded with Trucking Companies via No-Hire Agreements, Lawsuit Alleges
A lawsuit filed Thursday alleges that Kroger instructed major trucking firms—Swift Transportation, U.S. Xpress and Werner Trucking—to enforce a no‑hire agreement that barred former Quickway drivers from employment. The complaint describes the arrangement as a “gentlemen’s agreement” aimed at suppressing wages...
Decision Latency: The Hidden Cost in Modern Supply Chains
Decision latency— the lag between recognizing a supply‑chain change and acting— is emerging as a hidden cost that can outweigh the original disruption. Companies invest heavily in visibility tools, yet fragmented data, unclear ownership, and slow escalation keep decisions sluggish....
Tanker Silences AIS at Iran, Wins Navigator's Balls
Today's Biggest Navigator's Balls Award goes to Curacao-flagged 105k ton crude oil tanker Star Line owned by a Panama company, blasting its AIS while pier side at Iran's Kharg Island. P.S. Navigator's Balls refer to the compensating spheres mounted...
China's AI Robot Patrols Airports, Eliminates Bird Hazards
China Deploys Smart #Robot to Keep Airports Bird-Free 24/7 by @PDChina #Robotics #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood #Technology https://t.co/PEPqJYeOhR
Emobi and DIMO Deliver Customized Plug & Charge-Enabled EV Charging for Fleets
Emobi and DIMO have introduced a Plug & Charge‑enabled device that lets electric‑vehicle fleets use ISO 15118 digital certificates without automaker‑issued credentials. The solution, built on Emobi’s JustPlug platform and DIMO’s aftermarket bridge device, issues fleet‑level certificates directly to vehicles, bypassing firmware updates...
Gulf Shipping Recovery Delayed 6‑8 Weeks, Costs Rise
Hapag-Lloyd Sees Slow Return to Gulf Shipping After U.S.-Iran Ceasefire, Warns of Rising Disruption Costs. Even after stabilization, it will take 6-8 weeks to normalize. https://t.co/emk6r5HOsP
Hormuz Still Blocked; Shippers Await Post‑ceasefire Safety
The Strait of Hormuz appeared to remain largely blocked on Wednesday, as shipowners try to understand if they can safely transit the vital waterway following a ceasefire between the US and Iran that was announced overnight https://t.co/zdoetY8L6Y
SWTCH Energy’s New EV Charging System Works with One Tap—Even Offline
SWTCH Energy introduced the SWTCH Tap feature on its Cortex intelligent charging platform, enabling drivers to start a session with a single NFC tap even when cellular service is unavailable. The system uses local authentication, caching user IDs on the...
US Avocado Imports Surge to Record 2.6B Pounds
Resiliency: "US Avocado Imports Hit Record 2.6 Billion Pounds on Sports, Cinco de Mayo" https://t.co/X40efQuehA https://t.co/JhBuKnse35
Tested: The Fashion-Forward 1987 Volvo 780
Volvo unveiled the 780, a two‑door luxury sedan developed with Italy’s Carrozzeria Bertone, marking the Swedish brand’s first foray into the prestige market. Built on the 740/760 platform, the 780 features a redesigned 2.8‑liter V‑6 delivering 145 hp, a four‑speed automatic,...
2025 Snapshot
The American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association’s 2025 Snapshot shows short‑line carload volumes were essentially flat compared with 2024, staying within a 5% range. A modest net loss was driven by a dip in bridged movements, while originations and...
What the US-Iran Ceasefire Means for Travel in the Middle East
The United States and Iran have agreed to a two‑week cease‑fire after six weeks of hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz but leaving much regional airspace closed. Major carriers such as Emirates, Etihad and Qatar are still operating at 70%,...
Maryland Gov. Moore Unveils Baltimore Region TOD Strategy
Maryland Governor Wes Moore unveiled a Baltimore Region Transit‑Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy aimed at spurring economic growth and lowering housing costs. The plan accompanies a $1.4 billion light‑rail modernization effort and a $400 million federal investment for 78 new metro cars. Officials...
USDOT Awards More than $54 Million in Rural and Tribal Transportation Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau awarded more than $54.2 million through the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program to 49 projects in rural and tribal communities. The funding, which requires no local match, supports pre‑construction planning such as...
New Camaro? GM to Build New Sports Car Based on Next-Gen CT5
General Motors is developing a seventh‑generation Chevrolet Camaro that will sit on the same rear‑wheel‑drive platform as the upcoming Cadillac CT5. Production of both models, along with a new Buick sedan built on the shared architecture, is scheduled to begin...
SDOT Releases 2025 Seattle Transportation Levy Annual Report
Seattle’s Department of Transportation released its 2025 Transportation Levy Annual Report, showing that the city is on track to meet the eight‑year, $1.55 billion levy approved by voters in 2024. In 2025 the agency completed the North 130th Street safety corridor, added...
Shipowners Refuse Payments to Iran; Verify Sources
Interesting that the shipowners are not paying // not considering paying 🇮🇷 Important to follow people with good sourcing
Prediction Markets Now Track Hormuz Traffic, Not Ceasefire
The prediction markets have shifted from assessing when the US-Iran will reach their ceasefire to 'When will traffic at the Strait of Hormuz return to normal': https://t.co/86UZblCs7z
Hapag-Lloyd Sees Slow Return to Gulf Shipping After U.S.-Iran Ceasefire, Warns of Rising Disruption Costs
Hapag‑Lloyd warned that even after the U.S.–Iran ceasefire, a full return to normal Gulf shipping could take six to eight weeks. The carrier may start limited bookings to the upper Gulf in the coming days, but it needs security assurances...
2027 Cadillac Optiq
The 2027 Cadillac Optiq, Cadillac’s smallest electric SUV, arrives in three powertrain options ranging from a 315‑hp rear‑wheel‑drive to a 519‑hp dual‑motor Optiq‑V. Prices start around $53,000 and can reach $70,000 for the top‑spec V model, with EPA ranges of...
Regulation: DSA02 DFSR Defence: Aerodrome Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) Regulations
The Ministry of Defence’s Defence Safety Authority has refreshed the DSA02 DFSR Defence Aerodrome Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) Regulations, the first edition released in 2019 and most recently amended by Regulatory Notice 2026‑01 on 8 April 2026. The update consolidates guidance, adds...
New California E-Bike Bill Makes It Illegal to Bring a Friend
California Assembly Bill 1614 seeks to tighten passenger rules on bicycles and e‑bikes by mandating that riders sit on a proper seat and that any passenger must ride on a separate, attached seat. The bill’s wording threatens long bench‑style seats...
India Plans $1.5B Reinsurance Cover for Ships in Conflict Zones
India’s government has announced a $1.5 billion reinsurance program to protect commercial vessels operating in high‑risk conflict zones such as the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Black Sea. The scheme will be underwritten by a mix of domestic insurers and...
2026 State of Heavy-Duty Repair
Fullbay’s 2025 State of Heavy‑Duty Repair report delivers fresh benchmarks for shops and fleet managers grappling with rising costs and a tightening labor market. Technician wages rose 9.4% year‑over‑year, while the median shop labor rate climbed to $149 per hour,...
Commercial Drone Alliance Calls for Whole-of-Government Approach to Build Domestic Industry
In December 2025 the FCC placed all foreign‑made drones and critical components on its Covered List, restricting new imports while allowing existing inventory to remain on shelves. The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) responded with a white paper urging a whole‑of‑government...
Autodesk Upbeat About New Vehicle Design Dynamics, Bets Big on India
Autodesk is betting heavily on India as a growth engine for its automotive design software, highlighting AI‑driven simulation tools that shrink design cycles from weeks to seconds. The company recently integrated Berlin‑based Navasto to boost AI capabilities and offers free...