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
Subaru’s Forgotten BRAT Might Be the Answer to America’s Truck Problem
Subaru’s 1978‑87 BRAT, a quirky compact pickup, sold about 100,000 units in North America and used rear‑facing jump seats to avoid the 25% “Chicken Tax.” The compact pickup segment is booming, with Ford’s Maverick hitting a record 155,051 sales in 2025 and rivals like Hyundai’s Santa Cruz gaining traction. Toyota, which owns roughly 20% of Subaru, could supply a shared unibody platform, allowing a modern hybrid or electric BRAT to launch in the $30,000‑$40,000 price band. Reviving the BRAT would give consumers an affordable, fuel‑efficient alternative to costly full‑size trucks.
U.S.-Iran War Is Stranding Sailors In The Strait Of Hormuz
The U.S.-Iran conflict has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, stranding roughly 2,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers in the Persian Gulf. The United Nations notes this is unprecedented in modern maritime history, as 19 attacks on civilian ships have already...
Apple Maps Needs Extensions for Bike Locker Data
If only Apple Maps supports extensions for providing programmatic map layer data like bike lockers availability…
Charleston Looking for Retailer Shippers to Revive Port’s Growth
The Port of Charleston is launching an aggressive campaign to attract retail goods shippers and is open to co‑investing with them to revive stagnant container volumes. For the first eight months of the 2026 fiscal year, the port’s throughput sits...
Shape Up or Be Shipped Out: The New Broker and Freight Forwarder Financial Responsibility Final Rule Puts Delinquent Brokers on...
The FMCSA’s Broker and Freight Forwarder Financial Responsibility Rule is now fully active, requiring every broker and freight forwarder to maintain at least $75,000 in a surety bond or trust fund. If the security falls below that level, the carrier...
Gopuff to Work with NextNRG on Delivering Groceries Alongside Gas
Gopuff is partnering with NextNRG to launch EzShop, a service that adds grocery and household item delivery to the company’s mobile‑fueling app. The integration, set to roll out in select markets in Q2 2026, will offer more than 5,000 SKUs using...
Infiniti Is Building a ‘High-Horsepower’ Manual Sports Sedan
Infiniti announced at the 2026 New York auto show that it will launch a high‑horsepower sports sedan equipped with a manual transmission, reviving the brand’s performance sedan lineage. The model is expected to share the new Nissan Z platform and...
Truck Rollover Brings Busy Melbourne Motorway to a Standstill
A heavy truck overturned on Melbourne's M80 Ring Road early Thursday, spilling gravel and mud across the carriageway. The accident forced an immediate shutdown of the northbound lanes, halting traffic for several hours while emergency crews worked to clear the...
Michael Graham Named NTSB Vice Chairman
President Donald Trump appointed Michael Graham as vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board for a three‑year term. Graham, a former director of flight operations safety at Textron Aviation and a certified airline transport pilot with over 10,000 flight...
Hankook Truck Tire Production Line to Begin Rolling in July
South Korean tire maker Hankook will begin producing truck and bus radial (TBR) tires at its Clarksville, Tennessee plant in early July 2026, marking the first U.S.-based manufacturing of its truck tires. The Phase 3 expansion, part of a $1.6 billion investment,...
XCharge NA + JOJO Launch EV Fast Chargers in Illinois – First Sites Live
XCharge North America and JOJO Superfast have begun deploying an EV fast‑charging network across Illinois, launching nine sites with two already operational. Each location will feature four 200 kW C6 Smart DC chargers, primarily installed at Menards home‑improvement stores to capture...
Granite Scoops up $114M Job Segment on California’s Highway 101
Granite Construction secured a $114 million contract to rebuild Segment 4E North of California’s Highway 101 between Hermosillo Road and Salinas Street. The scope adds a new peak‑period carpool lane in each direction, replaces left‑hand ramps with right‑hand ramps, and installs a teardrop roundabout...
Google Planning an Open-Source Platform for Android Auto
Google unveiled Android Automotive OS for Software‑Defined Vehicles (AAOS SDV), an open‑source platform extending Android Auto beyond infotainment. The new OS will handle seat actuators, climate control, lighting, cameras, mirrors, and vehicle telemetry while providing a unified software architecture for automakers....
Swan Hellenic Rolls Out 67 Antarctic Cruises for 2026‑2028, Targeting 11,200 Guests
Swan Hellenic announced a multi‑year Antarctic cruise program featuring 67 departures and an anticipated 11,200 guests across 2026‑2028. The schedule, already 65% sold for 2026‑27, underscores rapid growth in high‑latitude expedition tourism.
Ford Targets 50,000‑truck Inventory Boost After Novelis Fire Disruptions
Ford announced a 2026 plan to add 50,000 F‑Series trucks to its U.S. inventory after fires at aluminum supplier Novelis slashed production. The initiative adds new shifts, hires 100 workers and skips summer plant shutdowns to raise the current 55‑day...
NTSB Launches Probe Into Ford BlueCruise After Two Fatal Crashes
The National Transportation Safety Board opened a formal investigation into Ford Motor’s BlueCruise hands‑free system after two 2024 highway collisions killed three people. The board cited driver overreliance, distraction and excessive speed, and called for tighter federal performance standards and...
FMC Again Rejects Maersk Petition to Waive Notice Period for Emergency Fuel Surcharge
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has again denied Maersk’s petition to waive the statutory 30‑day notice required before imposing an emergency bunker fuel surcharge on U.S. trades. The carrier’s request, filed on March 11, was unanimously rejected, meaning Maersk cannot apply...
Podcast: EV Deliveries From Tesla, Rivian, Toyota Electric Pickup Truck, and More
The Electrek Podcast highlighted several key EV developments this week, including Tesla’s Q1 2026 deliveries of 358,000 units—missing expectations and leaving a 50,000‑vehicle inventory surplus. Tesla also announced the end of Model S and Model X production, with only about 600 units remaining,...
Simulators Poised to Play Key Role in Air Taxi Pilot Training
The air‑taxi sector is turning to advanced flight simulators to address the looming pilot shortage and high training costs. Joby Aviation’s Academy uses a $60,000 per‑pilot simulator program, targeting 250 new pilots annually, while CAE supplies similar units to Eve...
The 9 Best Portable Tire Inflators for Peace of Mind on Your Next Road Trip
Popular Mechanics’ 2025 Gear of the Year Awards crowned the Milwaukee M18 Portable Tire Inflator as the top portable inflator, thanks to its record‑fast inflation, four memory presets, and a five‑year warranty. The guide also highlights the Etenwolf Vortex S6 for...
New Economy Prime Service Set for TAP Long-Haul Flights
TAP Air Portugal will roll out Economy Prime, a new premium‑economy cabin for long‑haul flights, starting June 1, 2026. The product sits between standard Economy and Business Class on the airline’s A330 and A321LR aircraft, featuring 12 seats in a...
Trump Proposes TSA Privatization Following Long Airport Lines
The White House’s 2027 budget proposal calls for privatizing the Transportation Security Administration by expanding the Screening Partnership Program to small airports. The plan would cut $52 million from TSA spending and shift passenger screening to private contractors at participating facilities....
LIVE at 3p ET
Frank Figliuzzi’s Substack posted a live‑stream announcement for his 3 p.m. ET show on April 3, 2026. The episode teases coverage of a recent downed jet incident, the high‑profile Bondi v. Blanche lawsuit, and the chaotic Hegseth Madness saga, among other topics. The post...
Why Tire Rotations Are Non-Negotiable, and What Happens If You Skip Them
Tire rotation is a simple maintenance task that extends tread life and preserves vehicle handling, especially for front‑wheel‑drive cars where the front tires bear the most stress. Mechanics recommend rotating every 5,000‑7,500 miles, roughly every six months, often timed with...
Passenger Ignored Safety Call, Slaps Flight Attendant
Flight Attendant Got Slapped on Tigerair Taiwan Flight from Fukushima Tigerair IT753 from Fukushima to Taoyuan... Captain had been broadcasting multiple times during descent... fasten seatbelts, stay seated, no moving around. One lady stood up anyway, probably to put her shoes...
2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Feels Like an Iron Man Suit
Almost forgot to share this one. The 2026 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Wagon feels like I'm inside and Iron Man suit. This PHEV has a 3D driver's display that's unlike anything I've seen before. 👏 @MercedesAMG @MercedesBenzUSA https://t.co/uY0G3vl33p
Lectric April Showers E-Bike Sale Offers up to $720 Savings, EcoFlow + Anker SOLIX Flash Sales with up to 67%...
Lectric launched its “April Showers” e‑bike promotion, slashing prices by as much as $720, with the XP Lite2 JW model now $1,099 plus $405 in free accessories. At the same time, EcoFlow’s 72‑hour Easter flash sale cuts power stations up...
Delta Sky Clubs Look More Like Playrooms Than Lounges
Toys On The Floor, Shoes Off, Blankets Everywhere — Delta Sky Clubs Are Not Playrooms - View from the Wing https://t.co/enQ53WQ3fs
Autonomous Cars Could Slash Global Driving Deaths
When Uber entered Houston, a JAMA study showed a 24% reduction in drunk-driving incidents on weekends. Imagine what it would be like when we introduce autonomous vehicles at scale globally? Driving deaths could plummet.
Colorado’s New Speed Camera System Makes Waze Nearly Useless
Colorado has expanded its automated vehicle identification system (AVIS) to issue speeding tickets when a driver’s average speed exceeds the limit by ten miles per hour. The law, passed in 2023, allows citations to be sent directly to the vehicle’s...
Capacity Glut Neutralizes Hormuz Shock, Rates Stall
Container Rates Stall as Capacity Glut Offsets Hormuz Shock. War. Geopolitics. Supply chains. Fill the ship with lower rates pricing game. https://t.co/Qli3djw5g9
China Leverages Ports and Logistics for Supply Chain Dominance
China. Want supply chain control. Do it with logistics. Look at Cosco shipping. Buying ports. Belt & road. And more.
USGlobal Airways: A 29-Year Airline that Never Flew
USGlobal Airways, originally launched as Baltia Air Lines in 1994, spent nearly three decades as a fully capitalized airline without ever operating a commercial flight. Founder Igor Dmitrowsky secured investor funding and acquired several Boeing 747s, yet the company never...
United Hikes Bag Fee $10, Doubts Future Cuts
United Airlines. Raises checked bag fee by $10. Any wager this fee does not drop $10 even if fuel cost drops? The friendly skies.
Control of Hormuz Determines Iran’s Energy Leverage
The war isn’t about nukes anymore. It’s about Hormuz. If Iran controls the strait, it controls the leverage—energy flows, revenue, and deterrence. Lose that, and it loses everything. https://t.co/E8y4o6BWN6 #Iran #Hormuz #Oil #Geopolitics
APM Terminals Wraps up $73M Rail Expansion at Port of Los Angeles
APM Terminals finished a $73 million upgrade of its Pier 400 terminal at the Port of Los Angeles, adding 31,000 linear feet of new rail track and more than doubling its rail capacity. Weekly rail lifts jumped from roughly 5,000 to 11,000, a 104 percent...
French-Owned Ship Passes Through Strait of Hormuz
A Malta‑flagged container ship owned by French carrier CMA CGM became the first major Western European vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz since the US‑Israeli war with Iran halted traffic. Iran has said “non‑hostile” ships may use the waterway, but...
ASTA Leads Industry Effort Amid DHS Shutdown
The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has launched a dedicated resource hub to guide travel professionals through the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown. ASTA is coordinating with the U.S. Travel Association and other partners to pressure Congress for...
Senators Urge Trump to Bar Chinese Automakers From Building Cars in US
Three Democratic senators—Tammy Baldwin, Elissa Slotkin and Chuck Schumer—urged President Donald Trump to bar Chinese automakers from building vehicles in the United States and from importing cars assembled in Mexico or Canada. They cite national‑security risks and an unfair competitive...
Fierce Defender: 2025 Land Rover Defender Octa Test
Car and Driver’s test of the 2025 Land Rover Defender Octa shows the first Defender engineered for outright speed, powered by a BMW‑sourced 4.4‑liter twin‑turbo V8 delivering 626 hp and 590 lb‑ft of torque. The Octa adds hydraulic suspension, wider fender flares,...
Truckers Face $6K Rise From Carbon Tax Hike
Dear @SenatorWallin, you should learn what is covered by the industrial carbon tax. I challenge you to show a calculation that the April 1 increase in the industrial carbon tax increases costs to truckers by $6k. Please show how those...
Volkswagen 'Won't Rule Out' A Pickup Truck, Says CEO
Volkswagen’s North American CEO Kjell Gruner told reporters the company has not ruled out building a pickup truck for the U.S. market, citing the segment’s size and growth potential. He highlighted interest in both B‑ and C‑segment models that could...
State Dealer Laws Add up to $5K to a New Vehicle’s Price, Think Tank Finds
A new issue brief from the International Center for Law & Economics estimates that state dealer‑franchise laws add roughly $3,934 to $4,992 to the price of a new car. The analysis, built on an updated Goldman Sachs framework, attributes the...
You Can Use Google Meet with CarPlay Now: How to Join Meetings Safely in Your Car
Google has rolled out Google Meet integration for Apple CarPlay, allowing users to join meetings directly from their car’s dashboard. The new functionality is audio‑only, offering mute, unmute and end‑call controls but omitting video, chat, and other collaboration features. The...
#360: Doordash W/VP of Autonomy Ashu Rege
In this episode, DoorDash VP of Autonomy Ashu Rege discusses the company’s shift from traditional robot‑taxi concepts to a focused delivery robot strategy, highlighting the “Goldilocks” approach of using lightweight, sidewalk‑compatible bots that balance speed, mass, and safety. He explains...
EV Charging – The Importance of Affordable, Convenient Access
Chinese automaker BYD unveiled its Flash Charging technology paired with the second‑generation Blade Battery, claiming a 60 % charge in five minutes. While the breakthrough highlights EV maturity, the article argues that ultra‑fast charging is not the primary solution for everyday...
Route 66 Turns 100—And Oklahoma Is Marking the Moment on the Road
Oklahoma’s Department of Transportation is rolling out 100 new Route 66 pavement markings at 50 sites to celebrate the highway’s 100th anniversary. The $341,000 project, with $91,000 funded by ODOT, aims to improve road visibility ahead of a projected tourism surge....
Photo of the Week: Med-Trans MOH Helicopter Livery
A Med‑Trans helicopter painted with a Medal of Honor livery touched down at AMR’s NextFleet facility in Mineral Wells, Texas, during a training visit by EMS instructors. The aircraft, unveiled in 2022, was co‑designed by Global Medical Response, the Dallas...
Freight Leads, Payrolls Follow: Industrial Recovery Confirmed
Freight signals move first with payrolls to follow, confirming that the industrial recovery is real The freight charts are showing COVID like strength, all thanks to manufacturing
Thousands of California Immigrant Drivers Face Delays After DMV License Revocations
The California DMV revoked about 13,000 commercial driver’s licenses on March 6 after discovering a clerical error that mismatched license expiration dates with work authorizations. A state judge has taken direct oversight, ordering the agency to reissue corrected licenses while it...