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
Port of Gioia Tauro Secures Funding for 5G Network Development
The Port Authority of the Southern Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas secured roughly €2 million (about $2.2 million) from Italy’s Fund for Technological Innovation and Digitalization to build a private 5G network at the Port of Gioia Tauro. The project, which earned a top‑score of 94 points, will deploy a standalone 3.7 GHz small‑cell architecture designed for the metal‑rich, container‑dense port environment. The network will initially support security, logistics and staff communications, while also laying the groundwork for smart‑logistics, autonomous vehicles and augmented‑reality services. Port President Paolo Piacenza said the funding places Gioia Tauro at the forefront of Italian port digitalisation.
Source Logistics Selects IFS Softeon WMS, Supported by Alpine Supply Chain Solutions, to Accelerate Rapid Nationwide Expansion
Source Logistics, a fast‑growing 3PL with 25 warehouses and over 5.8 million square feet of FDA‑ and SQF‑compliant space, has selected IFS Softeon’s warehouse management system to power its nationwide expansion. The Softeon platform offers multi‑tenant architecture, strong API integration and...
Sea Cloud Cruises Unveils 2027–2028 Sailings with Savings and European Itineraries
Sea Cloud Cruises announced its 2027‑2028 sailing season, featuring luxury small‑ship voyages on the tall vessels Sea Cloud Spirit and Sea Cloud II. The lineup emphasizes European itineraries, including Irish, Scottish, French Atlantic, and Mediterranean routes. Guests who book by...
Cathay Expands European Trucking Operations with Wallenborn Agreement
Cathay Cargo announced a strategic partnership with Wallenborn Transport to broaden its European trucking footprint. The agreement adds live shipment tracking and real‑time temperature monitoring, giving shippers greater visibility and control. Wallenborn operates 17 bases across 13 countries, linking more...
Port Commissioner Sam Cho Shares SEATAC Updates on Reddit
I love that the Port Comissionner Sam Cho in charge of SEATAC airport gives regular detailed updates through Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/Seattle/s/UJoV69qBAf
Genesis Launches in the Netherlands
Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis has entered the Netherlands, offering three fully electric models – the GV60 compact SUV, the Electrified GV70 SUV, and the Electrified G80 sedan. Pricing begins at €49,900 ($54,400) for the GV60, €65,400 ($71,300) for the GV70,...
Tesla Patent Reveals Dual-Battery System for Trailer-Mounted Range Extender
Tesla filed patent US 2026/0048683 A1 describing a dual‑battery architecture that pairs an 800 V primary pack with a 400 V auxiliary pack, operating in three modes—SOE balancing, OCV matching, and parallel fast‑charging. The design offers two mounting options, including a trailer‑mounted auxiliary pack...
Ship Traffic Pivots From Suez, Hormuz to Cape
This has to be my favorite chart from the Week 12 JMIC Dashboard report on weekly ship transits. Suez down from 497 in 2023 to 248⬇️ Cape of Good Hope up from 348 to 710 ⬆️ Bab el-Mandeb 🍻 down from...
Your Car Door Sticker Decoded: What All That Info Actually Means
The safety compliance label on a vehicle’s door jamb consolidates critical specifications such as recommended cold tire pressure, gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), gross axle weight rating (GAWR), tire size, manufacturing date, and VIN. These details are mandated by safety...
TSA Pay Lapse Threatens to Disrupt U.S. Air Travel As Funding Fight Drags On
A federal funding lapse has left Transportation Security Administration officers working without pay, driving daily absenteeism to about 10%—five times the normal rate—and spiking to 25‑38% at major hubs such as JFK, Atlanta, and Houston. The staffing shortfall threatens checkpoint...
Aircraft Laser Strikes Drop, Second Year In a Row
Pilots logged 10,994 laser strikes in 2025, a 14 percent drop from 2024, marking the second consecutive year of decline. Since 2010 the FAA has recorded 337 pilot injuries linked to laser incidents. The agency attributes the improvement to robust reporting...
India in Talks with Global Partners for Safe Passage for Vessels Carrying Essential Commodities via Strait of Hormuz: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Parliament that India is actively negotiating with global partners to guarantee safe passage for vessels carrying oil, gas, fertilizers and other essential commodities through the Strait of Hormuz. The government is expanding its strategic petroleum...
Supertanker’s Signals Show It Crossed Hormuz From Iraq
A Bloomberg‑tracked oil supertanker, the Omega Trader, has successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first observed movement of Iraqi crude through the waterway since it was effectively closed at the start of the war. Managed by Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines,...
Picture of the Day: March 23, 2026
AVweb’s Picture of the Day for March 23, 2026 features a Waco RNF soaring over El Capitan Reservoir in San Diego County, with the image credited to photographer Dave Leedom. The post highlights the enduring appeal of vintage aircraft among recreational pilots. It also notes...
FAA Wants Feedback on UAS Airport and Droneport Integration
The Federal Aviation Administration has opened a public comment period, ending April 22, to gather input on how unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) should be incorporated into existing airports and emerging droneports. The request targets airports, operators, and other stakeholders to...
United 737 Tries To Take Off On Runway Edge, Pilots Pretend Nothing Happened
United Airlines flight UA1394, a Boeing 737‑700, attempted a midfield takeoff from Chicago O’Hare’s runway 10L on March 19, 2026, but the crew aligned the aircraft with the left‑hand edge lights instead of the centerline. The takeoff was aborted at...
Explainer: Why Lamu Port Steps Into the Void
Kenya’s deep‑water Lamu port is rapidly becoming a fallback hub as cargo is diverted from the near‑shut Strait of Hormuz and the fractured Red Sea. The three‑berth facility is now handling volumes far beyond its original design, testing its operational...
Weight of Freight: Guinea’s Grip on the Capesize Market
In this episode, Richard Stevenson of Pendle Commodity Investments explains why capesize freight rates surged in early 2026, highlighting the unexpected boost from Guinea’s bauxite shipments and elevated bunker costs due to Middle‑East tensions. He outlines the political risk of...
HV-MELA-BAT Showcases Megawatt Charging System
The HV‑MELA‑BAT consortium, led by Fraunhofer ISE, unveiled a megawatt‑scale charging system that combines a high‑efficiency DC/DC converter with a novel contact system. The isolating converter reaches a record‑breaking 99.26% efficiency and a volumetric power density of 9 kW per liter....
LA Metro D Line Section 3 Under Construction, Final Phase
These 2 slides show the extent of section 3 of the LA Metro D line subway extension. The section begins after Century City station and is the last planned extension at this time. The section is currently under construction. A...
Carrier's Market Persists: Shippers Who Refuse Concessions Lose Trucks
This is a carrier's market. There are zero signs that things are cooling, in fact, in recent days the market has firmed significantly. Many traffic managers at shippers have not seen a carrier's market and are unprepared. If they have...
Greece International Air Arrivals Rise 5.9% in 2025, Driven by Market Diversity and Off-Season Growth
Greece recorded 31.0 million international air arrivals in 2025, a 5.9% rise from 2024. Athens International Airport handled 12 million passengers, up 9%, while Thessaloniki saw a 10.2% increase. The growth stemmed from a broader market mix—no single source exceeded 17.4%—and a...
ENSCO Taps Gregory Grissom To Lead Inspection & Asset Management Services
Gregory T. Grissom, P.E., has been appointed Division Manager of Rail Inspection & Asset Management Services at ENSCO, Inc., bringing more than 25 years of railway engineering and leadership experience. Previously president of Loram Technologies, Grissom oversaw the integration of...
Live Updates on LaGuardia Airport Incident
What Has Happened at LaGuardia Airport? Join me live over on Mentour Pilot YT as the story develops. (Link in story) #BreakingNews #AviationNews #aviation #airplane #mentourpilot
African Bunkering Hubs Gain as Ships Reroute Around the Cape
War in the Middle East and Houthi attacks have forced carriers to avoid the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, prompting a surge of vessels rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope. This shift has dramatically increased demand for ship‑refuelling...
Guatemala: Connecting The Oceans
Guatemala is advancing a $7 billion private "dry canal" called the Guatemalan Interoceanic Corridor (GIC), a 372‑kilometer land route linking a new Pacific port at San Luis with the Caribbean port of San Jorge. The project, backed by the Guatemalan Interoceanic...
First Low‑Carbon Copper Anodes Shipped via Lobito Railway
The first batch of 99.7%-pure copper anodes produced by our new smelter at Kamoa-Kakula was recently delivered to the Atlantic port of Lobito in Angola. This shipment of anodes was the first to be transported along the Lobito Railway Corridor....
Real ID Requirement Makes Illegal Flyer Claim Contradictory
I don’t understand this, if you’re flying…you need Real Id or a passport. You can t fly with any other ID. Someone here illegally cannot obtain that. So how can anyone who flies be illegal. Makes no sense .
Tesla Launches Amazing New Feature for Shared Vehicles
Tesla’s 2026.8 over‑the‑air update introduces real‑time driver‑profile visibility in the mobile app, showing the active or last driver for any model, including legacy Model S and Model X. The feature pulls the driver’s name from the car’s key‑pairing system and displays it...
Markets Accept Persistent Middle East Conflict If Hormuz Flows
A new geopolitical equilibrium could emerge in the Middle East that includes almost constant kinetic action and YET markets could be OK with that. The 1980 Iran-Iraq war is a good example of that. All that matters is whether ships...
2026 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Delivers Luxury Features, Saves Money
A fully loaded 2026 @Hyundai Sonata Hybrid easily rivals many luxury cars in terms of features, but it has way more long term savings. Now I'm really perfecting the art of masking with my photos. 📸 #hyundai #hyundaisonata #hybrid #hybridcar...
Vietnam: VinBus Deploys 169 Electric Buses in Ho Chi Minh City
VinBus, Vietnam’s public‑transport arm of Vingroup, has introduced 169 electric buses into Ho Chi Minh City, sourced from its sister firm VinFast. The new fleet operates across nine routes, replacing conventional diesel units with the compact EB 6 and larger EB 8 models. Both...
ASEAN LV Market Set to Decline in 2026 Despite Strong January Sales
ASEAN light‑vehicle (LV) sales are projected to dip 1% YoY to 3.20 million units in 2026, despite a 31% surge in January driven by strong performance in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. The Philippines remains the outlier, with LV demand weakening as...
EKA Mobility Bags Order for 915 E-Buses in Hyderabad
EKA Mobility, a Pune‑based EV firm, received a Letter of Award to supply and deploy 915 electric buses in Hyderabad. The fleet will consist of 100 nine‑metre and 815 twelve‑metre non‑AC buses, delivered through a consortium with GreenCell Mobility. The...
Strait Closure Triggers Universal Refined‑petroleum Supply Shock
I spoke with @GaryBohm5 'Metals and Miners' about the closure of the Strait: "It will affect everything that's produced by refined petroleum: the chemical and plastics industry, fertilizer. This supply shock will ripple through everything. There's nothing that isn't touched." https://t.co/SPZ9A1UMhy
Volvo FH Autonomous Truck Fleet Now Hauling All Production for Brønnøy Kalk
Volvo Autonomous Solutions has expanded its Autona/earth platform at Norway's Brønnøy Kalk limestone mine to run three shifts, allowing a fleet of nine Volvo FH autonomous trucks to handle the entire five‑kilometre haul route around the clock. The trucks, equipped...
Parcelhero Launches Market-Leading Live Tracking and Streamlined Booking Features
Parcelhero, the UK’s leading courier comparison platform, has rolled out the first phase of a major technology upgrade featuring AI‑powered live tracking and what it claims is the industry’s fastest booking interface. The new system automatically flags customs issues, pre‑fills...
NorthStandard Backs Crew Nudges to Cut Ship Emissions
NorthStandard has teamed with Signol to roll out a behavioural‑science‑driven nudging platform that encourages seafarers to adopt fuel‑saving actions. The insurer will subsidise Signol’s SaaS subscription for its members, while Signol covers onboarding costs. By delivering weekly, personalised prompts and...
Ceva Logistics to Offer Maritime Transport for End-of-Life Batteries
Ceva Logistics, a French logistics firm within the CMA CGM Group, has launched a maritime service to ship used lithium‑ion EV batteries from island regions to continental Europe. The solution uses five specially adapted containers with a combined capacity of 30 tonnes,...
The Airport Gambit
In this episode of Eyes on Intel, host [Name] examines how recent federal enforcement policies have turned U.S. airports into de‑facto border checkpoints, using the deaths of Alex Pretty, Renee Nickelgood, and Ruben Ray Martinez as case studies of the human cost...
Not All Maintenance Violations Are the Same
The piece separates vehicle‑maintenance violations into two distinct buckets—driver‑detectable issues found during pre‑trip checks and systemic maintenance failures that only a proper preventive‑maintenance program can catch. Driver‑detectable problems such as burnt‑out lights, low tire pressure, or missing mirrors demand better...
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Logistics: What It Means and How Businesses Use It
Logistics is the systematic coordination of acquiring, storing, and transporting resources to their final destination, a practice that originated in the military and now underpins modern supply chains. Efficient logistics reduces costs, accelerates delivery, and creates a competitive edge, especially...
Chevy's Corvette Boss Says Tremec's Manual Gearbox Isn't Coming to the C8
Chevrolet’s chief engineers Tony Roma and Josh Holder announced at the 12 Hours of Sebring that the C8 Corvette will never receive a manual transmission, dismissing Tremec’s six‑speed prototype as non‑production. They emphasized that the existing 8‑speed dual‑clutch gearbox delivers...
Damen Delivers ASD Tug En Avant 19 to Muller Dordrecht
Damen Shipyards delivered the ASD Tug 2811, named En Avant 19, to Dutch operator Muller Dordrecht. Built in Vietnam and shipped to Rotterdam, the 28.57‑meter vessel offers 65 tonnes of bollard pull and can operate both offshore and inland. It features...
De Havilland Canada Delivers 1,000th Twin Otter
De Havilland Canada has delivered its 1,000th DHC‑6 Twin Otter, handing the aircraft to Colombian regional carrier SATENA. The milestone underscores a production run that began in 1965 and highlights the model’s enduring appeal in remote‑operating markets. SATENA now operates...
Taiwan Expands High-Speed Fleet Depot
Taiwan High Speed Rail is building a 24,000 m² maintenance hall at the Zuoying depot in Kaohsiung, slated for completion in December 2027. The new hall will house six tracks and accommodate the upcoming fleet of twelve 300 km/h N700ST trains sourced...
CORP Launches Oregon Transload Facility
G&W's Choice Terminals announced the opening of the Dillard transload facility for its Central Oregon and Pacific (CORP) railroad. The site can handle five railcars at once, features a 20‑car storage track and a small warehouse for just‑in‑time truck deliveries,...
Cebu Pacific Scales Back Int’l Flights as MidEast War Lifts Fuel Costs
Cebu Pacific announced a temporary scaling back of its international network as the Middle East conflict drives jet‑fuel prices to more than double 2025 levels. The airline will suspend Davao‑Bangkok, Iloilo‑Bangkok, Iloilo‑Singapore and Clark‑Hanoi routes through October and trim frequencies...
Booking SAS Awards Using Delta SkyMiles: Routes, Availability, and What It Costs to Fly
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) left Star Alliance for SkyTeam, enabling Delta SkyMiles members to redeem awards on SAS flights. The 2025 codeshare expansion broadened route availability, now covering intra‑European sectors and select long‑haul legs from European hubs to the U.S., Asia,...
Air Cargo Rates Surge Amid Middle East Conflict as Capacity Tightens and Fuel Costs Rise
Air cargo spot rates jumped 10% week‑on‑week to $2.67 per kilo as the Middle East conflict squeezes capacity and lifts jet‑fuel costs. Rates from the Middle East and South Asia surged 22% to $4.37 per kilo, outpacing a 12% global...