Today's Transportation Pulse
Hormuz minesweeping could delay oil flow for weeks
A preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz includes a minesweeping phase that may take 40‑50 days, using conventional minesweepers and advanced underwater drones to locate up to 1,000 Iranian naval mines. The delay could hold tens of millions of barrels of oil, while daily vessel traffic remains at 12‑15 ships.
Also developing:
Beijing - Pyongyang Passenger Services Resume
Direct passenger rail service between Beijing and Pyongyang resumed on March 12, ending a six‑year hiatus caused by the Covid‑19 pandemic. The two‑coach addition to the K27/K28 overnight trains departs Beijing four days a week, transfers at Dandong, and continues to Pyongyang after passport checks in Sinujiu. Tickets are only available at designated Chinese ticket counters, while daily Beijing‑Dandong services and a high‑speed route remain in operation. The revival follows the earlier reinstatement of the Pyongyang‑Moscow link in 2025, signalling broader transport normalization.
☕ Morning Briefing — Thursday, March 12, 2026
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck the Thai‑flagged cargo vessel Mayuree Naree in the Strait of Hormuz, killing three crew members and igniting fears over neutral shipping in a key oil chokepoint. In response to the resulting price surge, President...
On-Demand: How a 3PL Automated to Meet New Productivity Needs for a Global CPG Leader
Howard Tenens Group partnered with Ocado Intelligent Automation to automate a global consumer‑packaged‑goods (CPG) client’s operations within a shared 3PL warehouse. The selective automation deployment was rolled out while other tenants continued unchanged, leveraging software‑driven insights to boost productivity and...
Frankfurt Sees Healthy Cargo Traffic in February
Frankfurt Airport handled 159,362 tonnes of cargo in February, a 4.8% year‑on‑year increase. The month followed January’s 177,270 tonnes, up 1.7% YoY, while total 2025 cargo reached 1.99 million tonnes, a 2% rise. The airport noted that after a stagnant first...
Traffic Fatalities Are Going Down. What Happens Next Matters.
The National Safety Council estimates traffic fatalities fell 12% in 2025, leaving roughly 37,810 deaths or 1.14 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. Major cities mirrored the trend: San Francisco reported a 42% year‑over‑year drop, New York City recorded its lowest death count...
323. AI, Government, and the Future of Urban Mobility
In this episode, host Grayson Brulte talks with Gabe Klein, a former U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation executive and co‑founder of Adapt Impact and CityFi, about the shifting landscape of electric vehicle (EV) and autonomous vehicle development as...
Flatbed Rates Surge Nationwide After Regional Spike
Flatbed rates continue to firm across the US. A few weeks ago, we saw the rate pops concentrated to the rust belt and Texas. Now we are seeing sharp flatbed rate increases take over most of the country. Map: shows...
Dnata on Track with New Handling Facility at Zurich
Air services provider dnata announced that construction of its new Cargo Centre at Zurich Airport is well advanced and remains on track for an early‑2027 opening. The facility will raise dnata’s freight handling capacity in Zurich by 50%, from 60,000...
Zambia Railways Signs Locomotive Upgrade Contract
Zambia Railways (ZRL) has signed a $20 million contract with Worldwide Rail and Mining Solutions to overhaul six GT‑type 2.68 MW diesel freight locomotives, boosting fuel efficiency, reliability and extending service life. The vendor‑financed, deferred‑payment structure ties repayment to revenue generated by...
Box Ship Hit in Gulf as Fuel and Surcharges Spike Costs
The containership Source Blessing was hit by shrapnel 35 nautical miles north of Jebel Ali, igniting a small fire but leaving the crew unharmed. The incident marks a widening of attacks beyond the Strait of Hormuz, prompting carriers to suspend...
Introducing the Reimagined CLEAR App: Win the Day of Travel From Home to Gate
CLEAR (NYSE:YOU) unveiled a reimagined mobile app designed to streamline the entire travel journey from home to gate. The flagship "Know When to Leave" feature uses personal preferences, airport patterns, and traffic data to advise the optimal departure time. Integrated...
French Aviators Might Have Beat Lindbergh Across Atlantic
Two weeks before Lindbergh, two French aviators may have already crossed the Atlantic. In Part 2 of my Miles Ahead series, we follow eyewitness reports in Newfoundland that suggest the lost aircraft L’Oiseau Blanc may have reached North America. Listen now. #WhiteBird #AviationHistory...
Joby Starts Flight Tests of Its FAA-Conforming Aircraft
Joby Aviation announced the first flight of its FAA‑conforming eVTOL, N547JX, to begin Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) testing. The aircraft, built to FAA‑approved designs, will later host FAA pilots at Joby’s Marina, California facility for rigorous certification flights. The launch...
Early Work Begins on Lower Thames Crossing in Preparation for Tunnelling in 2028
Pre‑construction activity for the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) has begun, with archaeologists, ecologists and engineers preparing sites in Essex and Kent ahead of the 2028 tunnel drive. About 1,000 ha of new wetland and scrub habitat will be established to support...
Hydrogen Ship Fuel Requires Design-Based Safety Measures, DNV Study Finds
DNV’s multi‑year study commissioned by EMSA finds hydrogen‑fuelled ships require a design‑based safety framework, emphasizing secondary enclosures for every hydrogen‑carrying component, even those on open decks. The report highlights that tiny leaks can quickly form ignitable clouds, and hydrogen’s low...
Q4 2025 Major Trucking Earnings Roundup
Q4 2025 earnings reveal a deepening freight recession, with most major truckload carriers posting net losses or sharply reduced profits. Regulatory enforcement of stricter CDL and language standards is accelerating capacity exits, tightening the spot market and offering a potential rate...
SA Recorded Less than 17K E-Vehicle Sales in 2025
South Africa recorded about 16,700 new‑energy‑vehicle sales in 2025, representing roughly 4 % of the 422,103 passenger cars sold that year. Hybrids dominated the segment, accounting for nearly three‑quarters of NEV registrations, while fully electric models remained a niche for higher‑income...
Riyadh Air Reveals 15 New Global Routes: See All Flights Now
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s flagship carrier aligned with Vision 2030, has submitted an initial network for the 2026 summer season, outlining 15 prospective routes across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The airline already operates daily non‑revenue flights to London...
Supply Chain Layoffs Spread Across Warehouses, Factories and Rail Terminals
A wave of supply‑chain layoffs has swept across the United States, affecting roughly 4,000 workers in recent weeks. The biggest cuts came from SK Battery America, which shed 958 jobs (about 37% of its staff) and First Brands Group, which...
New Private Passenger Operator Set to Enter Romania’s Rail Market This Month
Ferotrafic TFI, an Iași‑based freight firm, will launch a private passenger service between Suceava and Bucharest by the end of March. The daily round‑trip will use two refurbished electric multiple units offering 320 seats and a five‑hour‑forty‑minute journey. The operator...
Transportation Department Launches ‘Freedom Moves You’ Campaign Ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy unveiled the “Freedom Moves You” campaign, a free storytelling program that places historic American imagery in airports, train stations, bus stops and highways. The initiative, powered by images from the Heritage Foundation, will appear...
EXMAR Deploys Inmarsat's NexusWave Connectivity Service Across Fleet
Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, is deploying its NexusWave connectivity service across EXMAR’s global gas carrier fleet. The managed solution bonds GX Ka‑band, LEO, LTE and L‑band underlays to ensure uninterrupted ship‑to‑shore communications and crew internet. EXMAR reports faster collaboration,...
Steamboat Announces Paid Parking in Major Lots Next Season
Steamboat Resort will introduce a paid‑parking structure for the 2026‑27 season, charging $15 per day in the Meadows Lot on Fridays, weekends and peak periods and $25 in the Upper Knoll Lot during the same times. Weekday parking remains free at...
Listen to the RF Podcast #8: ‘Battery/Electric Locos Are the Way to Go’
At RailTech Europe 2026, Nexrail’s Chief Business Development Officer Mark Remie discussed a hybrid battery‑electric locomotive strategy on RF Podcast #8. The approach combines on‑board batteries with grid electricity to capture regenerative braking energy and reduce fuel consumption by up...
Transportation Department Hosts Nationwide Events to Connect Small Businesses With Infrastructure Contracts
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced a series of Small Business Matchmaking Summits across the country, beginning with a kickoff in Phoenix on March 11. Over 300 small firms have already registered to meet federal decision‑makers and learn how to...
ICAO Invites Applicants for TAB 2026 Assessment Cycle and Stricter LOA Requirements to Affect CORSIA Phase 2 Supply
ICAO’s Technical Advisory Body (TAB) has opened applications for its 2026 assessment cycle, introducing substantially stricter host‑party attestation (Letter of Authorization) requirements and tighter integrity criteria. The TAB will no longer consider first‑phase programs for new eligibility, though successful 2026...
Wales Urged to Overhaul Transport Network with Third Menai Bridge and Rail Reopenings
Centre Think Tank’s report calls for a sweeping overhaul of Wales’s transport network, highlighting the need for a £400 million third Menai Strait crossing, rail line reopenings and electrification, and relief road upgrades. It urges devolving rail infrastructure and bus policy...
Exotec and Komar Launch ‘Next-Generation’ Automated Fulfilment Centre in Savannah
Exotec is deploying its Skypod robotic system at Komar Distribution Services' 760,000‑square‑foot Savannah fulfillment centre. The modular solution promises up to 50% higher throughput and 30% greater storage density while handling both case and single‑item picking. Full automation is slated...
The Panama Canal Power Struggle
Panama's Supreme Court declared CK Hutchison's concessions for the Balboa and Cristóbal ports unconstitutional, prompting the government to cancel the contracts and seize control. The move disrupts a previously announced $23 billion deal that would have transferred the terminals to BlackRock...
Middle East VLCC Indexes Hold, Atlantic Rates Plunge
Middle East VLCC indexes are still near peak but Atlantic rates are sinking ▶️Baltic Exchange’s Middle East Gulf indexes are down only 5%-7% vs wartime peak, while Atlantic basin indexes are down 35%-39% ▶️VLCC owner stocks reached multi-decade or all-time highs on...
Strait of Hormuz Blockade Halts Global Shipping
Good point. There s no viable workaround for the Strait of Hormuz. Ships and supply chains are at a standstill.
IST and Airbus Team up for Training
iGA Istanbul Airport has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Airbus, becoming the aircraft maker’s first direct training partner among airport operators. The deal creates the iGA Academy, a dedicated training and development centre that will deliver regional programmes blending...
Iran Claims Tanker Attack, Shipping Risks Surge Globally
Iran says it hit an American tanker. If true…. Iraq has spent the last few days upping the danger for ships. The global risk keeps increasing for ships, crew, and cargo. The Strait of Hormuz and no safe movement...
Flatbed Rates Surge While Reefer Cools, Van Stays Steady
Spot rate momentum is currently mode-specific: Reefer (slight cooling) - seasonality factors Van- stable Flatbed - very strong https://t.co/1SCZy23TF9
Himalaya Shipping Lands Premium Index-Linked Charter
Himalaya Shipping has secured a 12‑ to 14‑month charter for its 210,000 dwt newcastlemax bulk carrier Mount Matterhorn, tied to the Baltic Exchange Capesize 5TC Index and offering a premium over the benchmark. The vessel will begin the new contract in...
Denver Airport Asks Travelers to Tip TSA Amid Shutdown
Amid a partial government shutdown, Denver Airport is asking passengers to bring grocery store and gas station gift cards for TSA agents. While well intentioned, what a sad state of affairs... https://t.co/387QJl1j5T
True Supply Chain Strategy Unites Sourcing, Logistics, Technology
Think you have a supply chain strategy? Many firms really have disconnected decisions across sourcing, logistics and technology. That’s not strategy. Here’s how to fix it: https://t.co/fUqesUBg4h #SupplyChainStrategy #Logistics https://t.co/AAJT7UeiiX
Serve Robotics and White Castle Launch Autonomous Delivery via Uber Eats
Serve Robotics and White Castle have teamed up to ship the chain’s sliders and other menu items using autonomous sidewalk robots through Uber Eats. The rollout adds Serve’s third‑generation delivery bots to the existing Uber Eats network, which already operates in major...
Key Takeaways From RAeS Commercial Aviation Summit 2026
New on the @AeroSociety YouTube channel -'Highlights from the RAeS Commercial Aviation Summit 2026' #avgeek https://t.co/KpdnfYbYlA
Iran Leverages Hormuz Attacks to Force US Concessions
The Strait of Hormuz remains essentially closed to ship traffic because of Iran's attacks. Every Iranian attack is a negotiation. Iran knows it has leverage and is trying to end this war on favorable terms. Only way out is for...
SunExpress Unveils Crystal Palace ‘Eagle’ Livery Aircraft at London Gatwick
SunExpress unveiled a Crystal Palace‑themed Boeing 737 MAX 8, dubbed “The Eagle,” at London Gatwick, with the livery selected by 87 percent of fan votes. The aircraft joins SunExpress’s network as the airline prepares to operate from twelve UK and Irish airports by...
Gulf of Aden Swarms with VLCCs, No Houthi Attacks Yet
There are so many VLCCs oil tankers in the Gulf of Aden right now that one could walk from Djibouti to Socrota island wihtout getting their feet wet. (... and no, contrary to some social media posts, the Houthis have...
Uber Launches Global Robotaxi Platform for Street Deployment
Uber Technologies Launches Uber #Autonomous Solutions to Scale Global Robotaxi Services from Lab to Street by @IntEngineering #SelfDrivingCars #AutonomousVehicles #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Automation #Automotive #Transport https://t.co/4uUQgbfSGz
Smarter Heavy-Duty Towing for Fleets
Fleet managers are adopting structured processes to locate, dispatch, and monitor heavy‑duty towing providers, cutting response times and operational friction. By using digital tools to identify nearby, qualified vendors and confirm rates up front, fleets gain tighter cost control. Real‑time...
Reduce Pressure on Fleet Safety Teams
ISAAC Instruments unveiled ISAAC InView, an AI‑powered video safety system that pairs dash‑cam footage with telematics to deliver fewer, more relevant alerts for heavy‑duty fleets. By integrating AI event detection, a rugged DVR, and contextual vehicle data on a single...
The Pros And Cons Of Switching To E85 Flex Fuel
E85 flex‑fuel blends up to 85% ethanol and can be used in certified flex‑fuel vehicles or retrofitted cars. It typically sells cheaper than regular gasoline, offers higher octane for increased power, and is domestically produced, reducing reliance on imported oil....
SBB Cargo Continues to Bleed
Swiss rail freight arm SBB Cargo posted a 122 million CHF loss for 2025, a 60 % increase from the prior year, driven largely by asset depreciation. Both domestic and international tonnage continued to fall, with Swiss‑only volumes slipping below five billion net tonne‑kilometres...
Russia Pushes Icebreakers to 270 Days at Sea as Sanctions Slow Arctic Fleet Renewal
Russia will push its nuclear‑powered icebreakers to sea for up to 270 days a year, up from the previous 240‑day target. The move reflects pressure from an aging fleet, sanctions‑induced maintenance delays, and unpredictable ice conditions on the Northern Sea...
Transit Time and Cost Factors in Auto Transport
Shipping a vehicle involves multiple variables that shape both transit time and price. Distance and chosen route are primary drivers, with longer, indirect paths increasing mileage and delays. Service type—open versus enclosed—creates a trade‑off between cost and speed, while seasonal...
Make 'No Wi-Fi' An Airline Sales Pitch
Air India launched domestic in‑flight Wi‑Fi in January 2025, positioning itself as a tech‑forward carrier. A year later, the article questions whether the service truly adds value for business travelers. It argues that the enforced disconnection of a flight provides a...