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
Atlas Air Breaks Boeing‑Only Tradition with Landmark 20‑Airbus A350F Order
On March 16, 2026 in Toulouse, France, Atlas Air Worldwide CEO Michael Steen signed a firm order for 20 Airbus A350F freighters, the largest single‑operator order for the type. Deliveries will start in 2029 and run through 2034, marking the first time the U.S. military‑focused carrier will operate an aircraft not built by Boeing.
Captain Hill Accused of Being Driven Out by Houthis
Paging @ChowdahHill Will Captain Hill please report to bridge. Someone here claims you got “chased away” from the Red Sea by Houthis. 💀
2025 Ford Expedition Proves Massive Power and Space
The 2025 @Ford Expedition is enormous, but that makes is both spacious and capable of towing even the heaviest boats or trailers. Here's my drive experience after a week traveling around Colorado: https://t.co/ur6Py74FE9 #cars #auto #ford #expedition https://t.co/5W5NTSufNY
Turkey Emerges as Revived Route for Iraqi Oil Amid Hormuz Crisis
Iraq announced the rapid revival of the 600‑mile Kirkuk‑Ceyhan pipeline, aiming to resume crude shipments to Turkey and bypass the Hormuz bottleneck caused by the Iran‑US‑Israel conflict. The oil ministry expects the line to be operational within a week, targeting...
Iran Hints at Post‑War Strait of Hormuz Deal
Iranian FM Araghchi is talking of a new "post-war arrangement" for the Strait of Hormuz. Would be interesting to see what other details emerge. Right now, the markets are more focused on what kind of "war arrangement" might fall into place, if...
The Airport Leader’s Report 2026: Leading Through the Digital Age
The International Airport Review’s 2026 eReport compiles strategic insights from the International Airport Summit, roundtables, and its Advisory Board. It offers airport executives a framework to decouple growth from capital intensity, adopt AI‑driven operational intelligence, and build digital foundations that...
Prime Members Pay Half for Ultra‑fast Delivery
"Amazon Prime members get even more value with discounted delivery fees of $9.99 for 1-hour delivery and $4.99 for 3-hour delivery [in select cities]. Customers without a Prime membership pay $19.99 for 1-hour delivery and $14.99 for 3-hour delivery."
Business Travel in 2026: Resilient Demand Meets Risk, Cost and Strategic Reset
Business travel in 2026 is rebounding, with corporate buyers expecting spending to stay flat or grow, and global budgets projected to rise about 5 %. The recovery is occurring in a tighter environment marked by cost constraints, geopolitical volatility, and heightened...
EVs Saved 2.3 M Barrels Daily, Could Double by 2030
EVs helped avoid the use of 2.3 million barrels of oil daily last year. By 2030, that number could more than double to 5.25 million barrels https://t.co/ipPiTXbIvV
Navy's Carrier Fleet Stumbles: Fires, Extensions, Delays
Navy Juggles Its Aircraft Carrier Plans To Stay Afloat One carrier was already tired before it had a fire, another saw its service life extended for the second time, while the delivery of a third is delayed. https://t.co/0wcOTKMdzP
Five Chevy Engines You Should Steer Clear Of
Chevrolet’s engine portfolio includes five powerplants that have repeatedly proven unreliable: the 1971‑77 Vega 2.3 L I4, the 2007‑14 5.3 L AFM Vortec, the 2019‑24 6.2 L L87 EcoTec3, the 1978‑85 Oldsmobile 5.7 L diesel (LF9) used in Chevrolets, and the 2004‑11 3.6 L LY7...
New 2027 Kia Telluride Shines Amid
To The Cosmos and Beyond This week, Sam is a bit under the weather, but he talks about driving the Mazda CX-30 S Aire Edition while Nicole had the Toyota Tundra Platinum Off-Road and Robbie got to try out the Everrati...
Global Trade Flows Stay Resilient Despite War, Tariff, Geopolitical Tensions
The DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026 shows globalization holding steady at a 25% index in 2025, matching the 2022 peak. Global trade grew faster than any year since 2017, driven largely by a surge in AI‑related product shipments that accounted...
Sky‑high Fuel Prices Slow Singapore Traffic, Curb Overtaking
I like how cars are going slow at traffic lights and on the roads now because of sky high petrol price in Singapore. Much lesser drivers zooming past and over taking me the last few days. I was puzzled when no...
MDW Gate Chaos Amplifies Delays, Frustrating Travelers
These concourse-end gate horseshoe clusterf*cks at MDW are quite annoying, especially when everything is delayed.
U.S. Customs Tightens Importer of Record Rules
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that, effective March 20, 2026, it will begin canceling Importer of Record (IOR) numbers for declarations submitted after 12:01 a.m. ET. Importers must now provide an updated CBP 5106 form, government‑issued photo ID, EIN verification...
Sea-Intelligence: Gemini Ceding Capacity Market Share
Sea‑Intelligence’s latest Sunday Spotlight reveals Gemini’s capacity market share slipping across three major trade lanes. The rolling eight‑week average fell from 15 % to 13 % on the Asia‑North America West Coast route, from 20 % to 17 % on the East Coast, and...
There Are 292,000 Shippers in America and 9 Out of 10 Carriers Have 10 Trucks or Less — The...
The article reveals that roughly 292,000 U.S. manufacturers—mostly small operations—generate a massive pool of direct shipping opportunities, while 97% of carriers run ten trucks or fewer, leaving most freight routed through brokers. Brokers capture about $17.5 billion annually, but small carriers...
Majority of Owner-Ops Victims of Freight Fraud, Broker Tricks: Survey
A recent Overdrive survey of owner‑operators reveals that nearly half have fallen victim to freight fraud, with double‑brokering the most common scam. About 28% of those scammed incurred losses of $10,000 or more, and 23% were completely stiffed by brokers....
Bentley Nears $3B in Annual Sales, Growth Slows
Bentley reported near‑$3 billion in annual revenue, marking a modest 2 percent increase over the prior year. Despite the headline figure, the growth rate slowed sharply, with sales expanding only about 1 percent versus the 5‑percent surge recorded in 2022. The slowdown reflects...
Frontier Airlines Adds Four New Routes Launching This Spring
Frontier Airlines announced four new routes launching between May and June, adding service to seven major U.S. airports. The network expansion includes daily DFW‑EWR and FLL‑IAD flights, plus four‑weekly DFW‑SNA and LAS‑BNA services. These routes target high‑traffic corridors and aim...
One Tech Company Is Surging on a Promise of Lower Gas Prices
GasBuddy, the crowdsourced gasoline‑price app, recorded a sharp surge in activity as U.S. pump prices climbed to $3.79 per gallon. On March 8, daily downloads jumped to 11,800, far above the February average of 2,500. Active daily users nearly doubled, reaching...
DH Shipbuilding Closes in on Annual Target with New Suezmax Order
DH Shipbuilding landed a 130 billion KRW (~$98 million) contract for a new Suezmax crude oil tanker from an Oceania shipping firm, pushing the yard to 82% of its 2026 order target within the first quarter. The deal marks the ninth order the...
American Airlines’ Creative Systemwide Upgrade Promotion Could Be Lucrative
American Airlines is running a limited‑time promotion that guarantees systemwide upgrades to business class for passengers who purchase premium‑economy tickets on eligible international flights departing in August 2026. The upgrade is confirmed within hours as long as business‑class seats remain...
As E-Buses Grow in Indonesia, Workforce Opportunities Must Grow Too
Indonesia is accelerating the deployment of electric buses to modernize urban transit and cut emissions, but the rollout is constrained by a sparse charging network and high vehicle costs. The shift to electric fleets creates a demand for workers skilled...
Consumer Reports Just Named the Safest Cars of 2025. Here's the Full List
Consumer Reports released its 2025 safest cars list, naming nine models that excel in crash avoidance, occupant protection, and pedestrian safety. The lineup includes a mix of luxury SUVs, hybrids, and electric vehicles, with the BMW X5 taking the top...
SUN ’N FUN 2026 Airshow Schedule, NOTAM Released
The SUN ’n FUN Aerospace Expo released its 2026 airshow schedule and the FAA’s accompanying NOTAM. The event runs April 14‑19 at Lakeland Linder International Airport, showcasing military demonstration teams such as the Thunderbirds, an F‑22 Raptor demo, and the Navy’s...
Infiniti Preps for 2027 QX65 Fastback SUV’s March 26 Reveal
Infiniti will unveil its 2027 QX65 fastback SUV on March 26 at 7 p.m. EDT, marking the brand’s first all‑new model since 2021. The two‑row, coupe‑style SUV slots between the midsize QX60 and full‑size QX80, both of which received recent updates....
American Airlines Improves but Still Hides Delay Reasons
@americanair finally fixed one of the most annoying parts of flying, but only halfway… It’s a good start, but American should let everyone see delay and cancellation reasons. Right now, the only “hack” is to enroll in text alerts for every flight...
This May Be The Worst Way To Break In A New Engine
The article warns that using cruise control to maintain a constant speed during a new engine's break‑in period can cause uneven piston‑ring seating and premature cylinder‑wall wear. It explains that varying engine RPM between 500 and 1,000 miles allows rings...
House Transport Committee Head Calls for EV Owners to Pay Annual Road Repair Fee
House Transportation Committee Chair Sam Graves announced a proposal to levy an annual fee on electric and hybrid vehicles, aiming to generate up to $550 billion for highways and bridges. The plan mirrors a failed $250‑for‑EV, $100‑for‑hybrid fee from last year’s...
The IBR Boondoggle Blunders Ahead
The Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) has released a new cost estimate of $13.5‑$15.2 billion, more than double the original $6 billion projection. Phase I, advertised at $7.5 billion, is backed by only $5 billion in identified revenue, leaving a shortfall of over $10 billion. The estimate...
2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Is A PHEV Goldilocks Between Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-90
Mitsubishi’s 2026 Outlander PHEV adds a larger 22.7 kWh battery, delivering a 45‑mile electric‑only range that outpaces most three‑row plug‑in hybrids. The SUV now produces 297 hp and maintains three rows of seating while its fuel tank shrinks to 14 gallons. Pricing starts...
The Newt Solution
Newt Gingrich floated a plan to blast a new shipping channel through the United Arab Emirates and Oman using a dozen thermonuclear detonations, aiming to bypass the Strait of Hormuz bottleneck. Experts estimate a 10‑to‑20‑year timeline, massive radioactive fallout, and...
Gas Car Drivers Hit 5 Times Harder By Iran Oil Shock Than EV Owners
A Transport & Environment study finds that a sustained oil price above $100 per barrel would make gasoline drivers in Europe pay roughly five times more per 100 km than electric‑vehicle owners. The analysis, based on the 2022 Russia‑Ukraine shock,...
Five-Year RAF Deal Extends Backcountry Airstrip Collaboration
The Recreational Aviation Foundation and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management have signed a renewed five‑year memorandum of understanding to coordinate aviation activities on BLM‑managed lands. The MOU emphasizes preservation, maintenance and improvement of existing backcountry airstrips and ensures RAF...
New Hybrid TRUs Highlight Utility and Cargobull Partnership
Utility Trailer Manufacturing introduced hybrid transport refrigeration units on March 16, leveraging Schmitz Cargobull’s advanced TRU and telematics technology. The 625+ Mono‑Temp Hybrid and 655MT+ Multi‑Temp Hybrid models feature micro‑channel condensers, two‑stage hermetic compressors, and a Body Control Unit for real‑time fleet...
Georgia Leaders Ignore Traffic, Should Fund MARTA
Downtown Atlanta's afternoon commute. Many Georgia leaders drive through this, to and from the Capitol. Is their bias against public transit (and cities) so harsh that they never think: "man, this stinks; maybe we should start providing state funds to MARTA"...
US May Abandon Hormuz, Destroy Iran’s Oil Infrastructure
Here is what I think will happen if USA can't keep strait of Hormuz open - I do think that USA will have a very low threshold for pain in the Gulf because Trump is elected on avoiding 'forever wars'....
US Postal Service on Brink of Financial Collapse, Chief Tells Congress
The U.S. Postal Service warned Congress it will run out of cash and be unable to deliver mail within 12 months unless its $15 billion statutory borrowing limit is lifted and key regulatory constraints are eased. A 20‑year decline in mail...
E-2D Hawkeye Deploys to Counter Iranian Drone Threats
Navy E-2D Hawkeye Radar Planes Appear To Be Rushing To The Middle East The E-2D is America's most capable platform for spotting drones and other low-flying Iranian threats that are wreaking havoc on Gulf Arab States. https://t.co/0X8hOJvdao
New Airship Generation Revives Lighter‑Than‑Air Aviation
"There is a real sense of optimism that... a new generation of airships will return lighter-than-air flight to the heart of the wider aviation industry" #avgeek #aviation https://t.co/1KHaTWqAbF https://t.co/3dmKYCQIjJ
Russian Shadow Fleet Set to Vanish, Shipping Shortage Looms
There's a good chance that the entire Russian shadow fleet could be dismantled within months. Beyond the impacts on Russian, Iranian, and other oil supplies, global shipping could be shifting towards a shortage as the vessels are retired. #crude #crudeoil #geopolitics...
AAdvantage Upgrade-Now Promotion: Worth the Immediate Confirmation?
American AAdvantage has a rare and potentially lucrative promotion for those with systemwide upgrades, whereby upgrades can be confirmed at the time of booking. Is it worth it? https://t.co/A2jZxsG0Vz
Houston‑Austin Bus: Expect Endless Delays, Plan Ahead
How awful would a bus from Houston to Austin be? Scheming after annoying close-call delays in my last trip.
JetBlue Expands Domestic First Class to 12‑16 Seats per Plane
In the coming months, JetBlue will be rolling out its new domestic first class product. The airline will be making this cabin even bigger than initially planned, with 12-16 of these seats per plane. https://t.co/8xA2mFoSUh
American Airlines Offers Widespread Business Upgrades—Book by Wednesday
American Is Confirming Business Class Upgrades On Almost Every Flight — Must Book By Wednesday Night - View from the Wing https://t.co/s9CrXu07xk
East-West Line Underdelivers; Fujairah Adds Almost Nothing
2 main re-routing avenues available to Gulf oil producers are: 1. Saudi East-West line 2. UAE's pipe to Fujairah As of yet, we're seeing ~half of what we hope will be the 4-5 MMbpd of East-West flow. And virtually nothing extra from Fujairah. Theoretical vs...
Even with 55% TSA Strikes, 7 Security HacksEven with 55% TSA Strikes, 7 Security Hacks
Up To 55% Of TSA Screeners Are Calling Out — Here’s 7 Ways To Still Get Through Airport Security - View from the Wing https://t.co/gmCiMiwTTo
Detailed Insights Shared In
As I laid out with great detail in my hour and a half long video last night….