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
Electric Propulsion Innovator Arc Raises $50M in New Funding
Arc, a Los Angeles‑based electric boat and powertrain firm, closed a $50 million Series C round led by investors such as a16z, Menlo Ventures, and Eclipse. The capital will be used to accelerate production of electric tugboat powertrains and to expand the company’s portfolio into ferries and defense vessels. Arc’s first electric tug is slated for delivery this year, with a second already under construction and further deployments planned nationwide. The company highlights its vertically integrated hardware‑software model as a catalyst for performance, reliability, and reduced maintenance.
Do Dirt Roads Even Have Speed Limits?
U.S. states all impose a default speed limit on dirt, gravel or sand roads that lack posted signs, with limits ranging from 20 mph in New Jersey to 55 mph in Pennsylvania and Wyoming. Municipalities can modify these defaults after conducting speed studies,...
Amazon Sees India as High-Growth Market, Expands Seller Incentives and Logistics Network: Report
Amazon is treating India as a long‑term growth market, expanding its zero‑referral‑fee program to cover roughly 125 million products. The company announced an additional $35 billion investment in India by 2030, on top of the $40 billion already spent. A new air...
Chevy LT1 V8s: A Comparison Of Three Small Blocks
Chevrolet has applied the LT1 badge to three distinct small‑block V8s, each reflecting its era’s engineering priorities. The 1970 LT‑1 produced up to 370 hp with a solid‑lifter cam and high compression, becoming a collector’s holy grail. The 1992‑1997 LT1 introduced...
Trump’s Airport Security Threat Sparks Debate as India Lifts Domestic Airfare Caps
President Donald Trump has floated the idea of deploying ICE agents to U.S. airport security checkpoints, prompting sharp criticism. At the same time, India’s civil aviation ministry lifted temporary caps on domestic airfares imposed after IndiGo’s December service disruptions.
Cavotec Secures €3M Shore Power Order for Southern Italy Ports
Cavotec has won a €3 million contract to install its PowerFeed, PowerReach and PowerMove shore‑power systems across several Southern Italy ports. The equipment will let cruise, container and RoRo vessels draw electricity from the grid while docked, eliminating the need for...
Flighty / 23 Learnings on Community / Keep the Meter Running
The newsletter spotlights a suite of niche tools and ideas: Flighty’s iOS app delivers real‑time flight tracking and proactive alerts for travelers; Patricia Mou’s essay distills 23 community‑building principles; the Keep the Meter Running TikTok series captures authentic New York...
Volkswagen Reveals More Details About Its New Small SUV
Volkswagen unveiled more details on its upcoming ID. Cross, a subcompact electric SUV set to launch in Europe in fall 2026. The model sits on the new MEB+ platform, offering front‑wheel‑drive and three motor outputs ranging from 114 hp to 208 hp. It will...
Domestic Flight Prices Soaring to $800‑$1500 for Short Trips
Have flight prices gone up a lot lately? I have a few domestic trips I’m taking over the next few months and wanted to book flights yesterday and most flights were $800-$1500 for short, non-stop flights. It seems a little...
Over 1,200 New EV Charging Stalls Deployed By EVgo In 2025
EVgo announced it installed more than 1,200 new fast‑charging stalls in 2025, expanding its U.S. network to 5,100 stalls across 47 states. The company recorded a 366 GWh public‑network throughput, surpassed 1.6 million customer accounts, and generated $384 million in revenue, a 50%...
The '80s Car Feature That Would Fit Perfectly In The AI Hellscape Of Today
Chrysler’s 1983 Electronic Voice Alert (EVA) was an early in‑car voice system that announced door, seatbelt and fuel status with pre‑recorded messages. Today’s AI‑driven Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) echo that concept, delivering real‑time alerts that many drivers find intrusive....
INTERVIEW: Armir Harris, Founder & CEO, CharterUP
CharterUP, the largest group‑transportation marketplace in North America, has teamed up with autonomous‑technology firm Holon to embed self‑driving shuttles into its AI‑enabled platform. The partnership will roll out Holon’s integrated autonomous mobility solution across campuses, airports, transit agencies and private...
Iran Says Hormuz Open To All But ‘Enemy-Linked’ Ships
Iran’s UN maritime representative Ali Mousavi announced that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all vessels except those linked to “Iran’s enemies.” The statement follows a U.S. warning that Tehran’s power plants could be targeted if the strait is...
VinFast Hasn’t Given Up On Its US Ambitions — Despite Delays, Betting On Long-Term Strategy
VinFast announced it will resume construction of its North Carolina EV factory in April 2026, shifting the project to a phased, lower‑cost model. The plant’s footprint and workforce have been cut to roughly 780,000 square feet and 1,400 employees, with...
BAE Partners Brazil Firm on Vehicle Components
BAE Systems Hägglunds has launched a pilot partnership with Brazil’s Knightec Group to develop military vehicle components in Resende, Rio de Janeiro. The collaboration will initially produce conceptual designs for gear housings for the BvS10 all‑terrain vehicle, targeting lower costs...
I Rode the Xiaomi Electric Scooter 6 Ultra, and It Gives Segway and Apollo a Run for Their Money
Xiaomi unveiled its sixth‑generation scooter line at MWC, featuring five models, with the flagship Scooter 6 Ultra positioned as an off‑road, high‑performance option. The Ultra packs a 500 W motor, 1,200 W peak output, 12‑inch all‑terrain tyres, dual swing‑arm suspension, and a 585 Wh battery...
Silver Lining: Honda’s EV Retreat Proves Trump’s Bully Pulpit Has Become Irrelevant
Honda announced a $15.8 billion withdrawal from three U.S. electric‑vehicle programs, directly blaming recent tariff hikes and the rollback of federal EV tax credits. The company’s CEO and top executives accepted significant pay cuts to share the financial pain. Honda’s blunt...
Poland Marks First Flights of ZEUS Unmanned Aircraft
Poland’s Ekolot Aerospace & Defense completed the inaugural test flights of its ZEUS unmanned aircraft, demonstrating stable, autonomous operation in conventional take‑off and landing (CTOL) mode. The modular platform, developed with Spain’s UAV Navigation‑Grupo Oesía, can be reconfigured for VTOL...
One Overheated Circuit Board Grounded 5 D.C.-Area Airports — After FAA Dropped Maintenance On Old Systems
On March 13 the FAA halted flights at Washington National, Dulles, Baltimore, Andrews and Richmond for about two and a half hours after a strong chemical odor forced the evacuation of the Potomac TRACON. The smell originated from an overheating circuit...
Lloyd’s Register Partners with Echo Marine Group to Deliver Electric Ferry Fleet
Lloyd’s Register has entered a partnership with Echo Marine Group to certify the design and construction of five battery‑electric passenger ferries for Perth’s Swan River, creating Western Australia’s first fully electric ferry fleet. The vessels are part of the METRONET...
When Your Toyota GR86 Engine Blows After 17,000 Miles of Hard Use, You Swap in Something Else
A 2023 Toyota GR86 spent 17,000 miles exclusively on the track before its Subaru‑sourced FA24 engine failed due to a broken harmonic balancer. The owner replaced the damaged unit with a Honda K24A2 inline‑four using a KPower kit, boosting output...
Babcock Wins MOD Vehicle Fleet Contract
Babcock has secured a five‑year, £60 million contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to manage its white fleet of non‑combat vehicles. Named Phoenix 3, the deal continues the work begun under Phoenix 2 and includes options to extend for another five years....
Fast Flop: Stupid Fast Audi RS E-Tron GT Gets over $50,000 in Discounts
Audi’s 2025 RS e‑tron GT, a 1,000‑horsepower electric sedan that sprints from 0‑60 mph in 2.4 seconds, is now being offered with a $54,005 discount at Audi Las Vegas. The price drop brings the $178,595 sticker down to under $125,000 after...
Guangdong University Starts Recruiting Drive for Advanced Air Mobility Market and Legal Students
On March 20, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, the Guangzhou Baiyun District Government and eVTOL pioneer EHang launched a joint talent training base on the university campus. The initiative shifts focus from pure engineering to market and legal expertise needed...
California's Anti‑refinery Stance Threatens Pacific Military Fuel Security
I’ve been accused of being too soft on @SecWar. Fine. Problem is his performance has been exceptional. But here’s where I’m livid: no serious DoW pressure on Newsom and the California Coastal Commission which are both getting massive support from China. Oil...
Kazakhstan’s Alatau New City “Preparing for Joby and AutoFlight Air Taxi Services”
Kazakhstan’s Alatau new city is building a low‑altitude economy and will become the first location outside China to test long‑range electric air taxis above 120 metres. Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev announced signed agreements with U.S.‑based Joby Aero and China’s...
GXO and Hasbro Inaugurate Distribution Centre in Georgia
GXO Logistics and Hasbro have opened a 600,000‑square‑foot flagship distribution centre in Midway, Georgia, expanding Hasbro’s omni‑channel capabilities across North America. The hub supports both brick‑and‑mortar retail partners and the Hasbro Pulse direct‑to‑consumer platform, creating up to 70 permanent and...
MODEX 2026 Preview: AI, Robotics & Supply Chain Innovation Take Center Stage
MODEX 2026, scheduled for April 13‑16 at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center, will host over 1,000 exhibitors and more than 200 free educational sessions focused on AI, robotics, and supply‑chain digital transformation. The agenda features high‑profile keynote speakers such as...
Borderlands Mexico: Court Ruling on Tariffs Sets Off Refund Scramble, Legal Uncertainty
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, overturning a key tool used to target imports linked to fentanyl, migration and other concerns. The decision opens the door to potentially $166 billion in refunds...
Camera‑only Vision Outperforms LiDAR in Night Driving
This is how a CEO loses credibility with me. Cofounder of @NuroAi_Official A is making an AI that can drive vehicles, was winning me over through demonstrations of his more flexible AI than Tesla has demonstrated. Drove in left-hand Japan with...
Canada’s
Is the Royal Canadian “navy” going to send three staff officers to help with paperwork like they did to reopen the Red Sea? Or can they not even manage that anymore?
Why Not Seize Iranian Tankers and Sell Their Oil?
Ok but I still have to ask… why don’t we just seize the Iranian tankers and sell the oil ourselves?
SF Paratransit Bus Illegally Removes Stop Sign, Endangers Riders
This is priceless. SF Paratransit bus that probably makes less than one pickup a day (a jobs program, not a service for the electorate) is illegally daylighting a stop sign in hopes of creating some more paraplegics to not bus...
Imm
FFS CNN, don't just swallow their BS. They are being deployed as intimidation and political blackmail. Immigration agents deploying to airports under border czar as TSA staffing falls short https://t.co/GLyiaot5nW
Unprepared Shippers Face Exploding Transportation Budgets
Shippers that didn’t prepare for higher transportation costs this year are about to have their budgets blown out.
Pilots Spend Most of Flight on Radio Check‑ins
Sad but true. Most of what a pilot does mid flight is to check in and let ATC know they are still in radio contact or changing frequencies.
Skip TSA Chaos with PreCheck and CLEAR
Public Service Announcement: The hack to getting around this TSA madness is TSA PreCheck + CLEAR.
Tourism Surge Threatened by Imminent Jet Fuel Shortage
This’ll do wonders for tourism. But we’re gonna start running out of jet fuel real soon anyway, so… https://t.co/Llcayc1dDX
200,000 U.S. Truckers Face CDL Loss Under New Rules
"Up to 200,000 drivers, approximately 5% of the entire U.S. truck driver workforce, could lose CDL eligibility as licenses expire under the new framework. The press covered it as an immigration story. That is the least interesting part of it"...
Satellite Shows Iran Exporting Oil with US Backing
Iran’s Kharg Island as seen **today** by the @CopernicusEU Sentinel-2 satellite. Iran is loading multiple tankers, exporting oil and making $$$ — now, with the help of the White House. The idea that Trump admin is using Iranian oil barrels...
Neglected FAA Maintenance Grounds Five D.C. Airports
One Overheated Circuit Board Grounded 5 D.C.-Area Airports — After FAA Dropped Maintenance On Old Systems - View from the Wing https://t.co/pDNl8gYFgu
FlightPath3D Now Standard on Every Textron Citation
FlightPath3D’s strategic expansion into business aviation is paying off. Less than 12 months ago, the aviation map-maker hit the 2,500-#BizAv tail mark. Now it reveals it has been linefit "for years" on every Textron Citation that comes out of the...
California's Gas Supply Depends on Asian Petroleum Imports
What if Asia gets worried and stops sending petroleum to California. (Where did you think Californians get their gas since @GavinNewsom started closing oil refineries?)
Naval Ship Shortage Roots Predate Trump, Not Just His Fault
“Yes we have fewer ships. Well we also have fewer horses and bayonets.” Everyone’s blaming Trump for not having enough Navy ships available to escort supertankers. But ask the real question: did this hull shortage start with Trump?
Even in Long TSA Lines, Civility Prevails
Seeing lots of videos circulating about long TSA lines. What strikes me is how civil everyone is.
Progress MS-33 Antenna Failure Forces Manual TORU Docking
One of the rendezvous antennas aboard Progress MS-33 failed to deploy, likely prompting the use of the TORU manual-control by the ISS crew to guide the cargo ship to docking... https://t.co/snqlHtWeDl
Trucking Spot Rates Surge Amid Tight Capacity
New day, new cycle high. National trucking spot rates up to $2.89/mile. +$.11/mile in the past week. Spiking demand + tightening capacity will keep new entrants from ruining the party. https://t.co/By2VKHcsO8
Self‑Driving Cars Lead Physical AI’s First Mass Adoption
Buckle up. The first wave of physical AI mass adoption will be self-driving cars. The evidence: Tesla’s FSD is making major gains, and Waymo is going from 6 cities at the end of 2025 to likely 25 by the end...
United Installs, Then Locks Doors on New Suites
United Added Doors To Its New Business Class Suites — Then Locked Them Shut [Roundup] - View from the Wing https://t.co/yOXGBXhsGE
Tanker Rarity Anchors Amid US‑Israeli‑Iran Tensions
The tanker RARITY sits at anchor as lightning flashes in the distance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, off Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, Oman, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas https://t.co/NOCb6qvWgC