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
DOT Releases Final P3 Guidance
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued final guidance on value‑for‑money (VfM) analysis for public‑private partnership (P3) projects under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The rule applies to projects exceeding $750 million that receive federal credit assistance and to any P3 over $500 million, requiring a VfM study before procurement and a second one before signing the concession agreement. It standardizes methodology, adds independent audit and public‑disclosure requirements, and forces clearer risk‑allocation language. Industry observers say it codifies existing best practices but raises compliance costs for private partners.
Tesla's App Buying Eliminates Car‑sale Hassle
The last car we bought was a @Tesla Model Y. Painless purchase process. No salespeople, no showroom, no upsells, no games, no haggling, no pressure. Just a personal choice on my own time, and a simple few-minute process handled entirely...
Windracers Sets New Safety Benchmark with World-First BARS Status for Heavy-Lift Drones
Windracers, a British dual‑use heavy‑lift drone firm, has become the first heavy‑lift operator worldwide to earn Basic Aviation Risk Standard (BARS) Green status, confirming compliance with the Flight Safety Foundation’s rigorous safety criteria. The certification covers its flagship ULTRA platform,...
CATL Net Profit Rises 42.3% in FY25 on EV Battery Demand
Chinese battery giant CATL posted a 42.3% jump in FY25 net profit, reaching 72.2 bn yuan ($10.44 bn). Operating revenue rose 17% to 423.7 bn yuan, driven by a 25.1% increase in EV‑battery sales, which now represent 74.7% of total revenue. The company...
Traditional Automakers Missed Autonomous Future; Nvidia Leads
The funny thing is that Volkswagen sponsored the Stanford University department and building where @waymo started. Yet didn't invest in building an autonomous vehicle itself. Just like all the other traditional automakers. It's like Eastman Kodak, which invented the digital camera,...
Truck Makers Debut Exterior Safety Camera Expansions
Truck manufacturers are expanding exterior camera offerings as construction season peaks in North America. Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) has begun factory‑installing a three‑view camera system—left, right and forward—on Freightliner and Western Star medium‑duty and vocational models, integrated with an...
Amtrak Spring Sale: Affordable Fares for Your Next Adventure
Amtrak announced a 25% discount on Acela Business and Coach tickets for the Boston‑to‑Virginia corridor as part of its Big City Sale. The promotion applies to travel between April 13 and June 5, 2026, with bookings due by March 13,...
What If the Iran War Ended Today? How Long Before Oil Is Normal?
An analyst cited by the Wall Street Journal estimates that if the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran ended today, shipping traffic in the Persian Gulf would normalize in about two weeks and oil production would return to pre‑war levels within two...
China, Japan and South Korea Tourism Surges as Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas Debuts From Tianjin Cruise Port: All...
Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas launched seasonal sailings from Tianjin International Cruise Home Port in 2026, marking the first mega‑ship deployment in northern China. The port, capable of handling 220,000‑ton vessels, targets 500,000 passengers annually and already processes over...
Nissan E-Power Review: Hybrid Power Set to Amp up 2027 Rogue
Nissan showcased its third‑generation e‑Power hybrid in the European‑spec Qashqai, a system that runs a gasoline engine solely as a generator for an electric motor. The same architecture will debut in the U.S. 2027 Rogue, using a compact 2.1 kWh battery...
US Naval Embargo Uncertainty Exposes Presidential Rhetoric Gap
what is happening to this oil after it leaves the Persian Gulf? Are US ships going to stop embargo it or will they let it go? If they don't capture the ship then there's a series disconnect between what the President...
China, India Warn Carriers on Higher Pricing Tied to Middle East Conflict
Chinese and Indian transport ministries have publicly warned major container carriers, including Maersk and MSC, against imposing excessive surcharges linked to the Middle East war. The regulators highlighted concerns over service suspensions to the region and fee hikes running into...
Walmart+ Benefit: Free Tire Puncture Repair
Walmart+ now offers members free tire puncture repairs at its Auto Centers, a service that normally costs $15 to $25 per fix. The benefit, though not new, is often overlooked by subscribers. In addition to core shopping perks, Walmart+ includes...
Opinion: Waiving the Jones Act Won’t Lower Gas Prices—Tanker Markets Prove It
The op‑ed argues that waiving the Jones Act would not reduce U.S. gasoline prices because foreign‑flagged tankers are more expensive to charter than domestic Jones Act vessels. Using Worldscale data, the author shows a Houston‑to‑New York freight rate of WS410 equals...
Boeing Says Wiring Issue Will Delay Some 737 Max Deliveries
Boeing announced that a wiring problem discovered on several 737 Max jets will delay deliveries in the first quarter of 2026. The issue, traced to small scratches caused by a machining error, can be repaired within days and does not affect...
Cut Freight Planning From 30 Hours to 1
30 hours. Every week. Gone. A national electrical supplier was spending 30 hours a week manually planning their freight: dedicated drivers across 8 facilities, local carriers, third-party loads. After implementing EVOS Smarttools powered by BlueGrace Logistics, that same work takes one hour. In...
Infiniti May Dust Off 'Red Sport' Badge for Hotter QX80 to Battle Cadillac Escalade-V
Infiniti is fast‑tracking a performance‑focused QX80 Red Sport SUV, slated for U.S. dealer delivery by next spring with roughly 600 horsepower. The limited‑run model will carry a 10 percent price premium and an annual production target of 600 units, reviving the...
IATA Presses the Case for Three Priorities for Airfreight
At the IATA World Cargo Symposium in Lima, global cargo head Brendan Sullivan outlined three strategic priorities for the air‑freight sector: accelerating digitalisation, strengthening global standards, and enhancing safety and security. He highlighted the industry’s fragmented data landscape and promoted...
Europe Remains Top Destination for U.S. LNG Cargoes Despite Asian Supply Squeeze Amid Middle East War
Europe continues to dominate U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, absorbing the majority of cargoes despite a tightening Asian market. The recent Middle East conflict has slashed regional energy exports, reducing the incentive for U.S. producers to divert LNG to...
San Francisco Bay Area Residents Weigh Possibility of BART Reductions
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) faces a funding crisis as ridership remains under half of pre‑pandemic levels, prompting officials to seek a new sales‑tax measure on the November ballot. Without the tax, the board warned it could implement drastic service...
Ford Recalls over 4.3M Trucks, SUVs over Trailer Module Defect
Ford is recalling over 4.3 million 2021‑2026 trucks, SUVs and vans due to a software fault in the integrated trailer module that can lose communication, disabling trailer brake and lighting functions. The defect affects models including the F‑150, Super Duty, Maverick,...
ICE Is 'Hiding' Millions Of Dollars In New Trucks And SUVs As Agents Refuse To Drive Them
In late 2025, ICE deputy director Madison Sheahan ordered roughly 2,500 pickup trucks and SUVs emblazoned with the agency’s “Defend The Homeland” slogan, costing millions of taxpayer dollars. The vehicles, many bearing the presidential seal, have largely sat idle as...
London Tube Strikes Spring 2026: Full List of Dates and Train Services Impacted by RMT Train Strikes in March, April...
The RMT union has scheduled six 24‑hour London Underground strikes across March, April and May 2026, beginning on March 24. The action follows a vote against a proposed compressed four‑day working week for tube drivers, citing fatigue and safety concerns. Strikes...
India’s Light Vehicle Market Opens 2026 with Record January Sales
India’s light‑vehicle market opened 2026 with a record‑breaking 522,000 units sold in January, a 13% month‑on‑month and 14% year‑on‑year rise. Passenger‑vehicle sales climbed 13% YoY to 448,000 units while light‑commercial volumes surged 19% YoY to 74,000 units. The surge was...
AECOM Wins 3 Contracts on $1B Seattle Light-Rail Work Package
AECOM secured three multiple‑award task order contracts from Sound Transit as part of a $1 billion engineering services package for Seattle’s light‑rail expansion. The five‑year awards cover construction management, civil and structural design, and planning and environmental services. While the contract...
Back From The Supposed Dead: Electric Porsche Cayman And Boxster Are Apparently Still Coming
Porsche’s electric 718 Cayman and Boxster remain in development, contrary to earlier reports that they had been cancelled. Porsche Australia CEO Daniel Schmollinger said he has driven a prototype on a track and described it as “amazing,” confirming the program...
Archer Prepares for eVTOL Passenger Flights as War Looms over UAE Plan
Archer Aviation has been selected for the U.S. DOT and FAA Advanced Air Mobility Integration Pilot Program, positioning it to launch passenger‑carrying eVTOL flights in Florida, New York and Texas later this year. The company continues to push a 2026...
Ford CEO Farley: They'll Have to Rip the Mustang's Stick Shift 'Out of Our Cold, Dead Hands'
Ford CEO Jim Farley declared at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix that the company will not abandon the manual transmission in the Mustang, echoing the iconic “cold, dead hands” phrase. While the EcoBoost variant already shed its manual option due...
Getting to Ireland by Ferry
Travelers between Great Britain and Ireland can choose from three major ferry operators—Stena Line, Irish Ferries, and P&O Ferries—each offering regular services across multiple ports. In July, Stena Line operated 98 weekly sailings, Irish Ferries 51, and P&O Ferries 63,...
PPG Completes 200th Drydocking Using Electrostatic Coating Application
PPG has finished its 200th vessel drydocking using electrostatic marine‑coating technology, applying its silicone‑based Sigmaglide 2390 fouling‑release paint to Stena Line’s Stena Britannica at the EDR Antwerp shipyard. The electrostatic spray method directs charged particles onto grounded hulls, delivering uniform coverage...
New S9 PHEV Due in UK This Summer as MG's Biggest Car Yet
Chinese automaker MG will introduce the S9 plug‑in hybrid SUV in the UK this summer, marking the brand’s largest model for the market. The seven‑seat vehicle pairs a 1.5‑litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor to produce 201 bhp and...
State Audit Finds No 'Egregious Wrongdoing' By Oklahoma Turnpike Authority
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) underwent a state‑ordered audit that concluded there was no egregious wrongdoing or statutory non‑compliance, but it highlighted weaknesses in contracting practices and suggested tighter legislative guardrails. The audit examined OTA’s $8.2 billion ACCESS toll‑road expansion, which...
Toyota’s $15,000 Electric SUV Surpasses 80,000 Deliveries in China in Its First Year
Toyota’s bZ3X electric SUV has delivered more than 80,000 units in its first year, becoming the best‑selling joint‑venture EV in China for five consecutive months. Priced at roughly $15,000, the model undercuts many domestic rivals while offering two battery options...
Bentley Is Drawing a Younger Customer and Pursuing Automotive Enthusiasts
Bentley unveiled a limited‑edition Continental GTC convertible, co‑designed with musicians Anna Lapwood, Tina Guo and Sister Bliss, to mark International Women’s Day. The bespoke project, executed by Mulliner, showcases satin Peacock paint, Imperial Blue interior and bespoke stitching, underscoring Bentley’s...
Alpine's New A110 Replacement Could Offer a Gas Engine After All
Alpine is preparing a next‑generation A110 on its new Alpine Performance Platform, which features an 800‑volt aluminum architecture and a split‑battery layout for optimal weight distribution. While the company has touted an all‑electric version, CEO Philippe Krief confirmed the platform...
US EV Demand Surge Could Boost Lithium Stocks
In recent Rock Stock videos I’ve suggested the extremely negative US EV narrative is likely already “priced in” to #lithium equities — leaving room for an upside surprise. Today TD Cowen published a 60+ page note making a similar contrarian case....
Largest California Utility Could Have 3,800 Electric Fleet Vehicles By 2030
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), California’s largest utility, announced a plan to electrify 3,800 of its roughly 9,700 on‑road vehicles by 2030, covering 100% of light‑duty, 50% of medium‑duty, and 20% of heavy‑duty fleets. The utility currently operates 821 EV...
Hey Paddlers, The U.S. Coast Guard Wants To Hear From You
The U.S. Coast Guard is launching the 2026 National Recreational Boating Safety Survey (NRBSS), the first since 2018, to capture updated data on all types of watercraft, including unregistered paddlecraft. The survey will sample over 50,000 households nationwide, aiming to...
Airline Mishandles Fragile Bag, Offers Token ₹500 Compensation
A Bengaluru man travelled from Delhi to Bengaluru by flight received his luggage bag in damaged condition. The airline offered him ₹500 as compensation. He complained to the airline about it, mainly regarding the trolley bag having a fragile tag. Despite having a...
Unverified Mine Rumors Force Shipowners to Demand Escorts
Shipowners at CMA tell me there’s evidence of MINES in the Strait of Hormuz. They admitted the rumor is unconfirmed. Problem is, from their perspective, it doesn’t matter. Perception is reality and the risk is too high. They won’t sail without...
U.S. Safety Agency Seeks Comments on Zoox Petition to Deploy Steering Wheel-Less Robotaxis
U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a public comment period on Amazon‑owned Zoox’s petition to operate up to 2,500 steering‑wheel‑free robotaxis. Zoox seeks exemptions from eight federal vehicle‑safety standards designed for human‑driven cars, arguing its purpose‑built autonomous...
Oil and LNG Traffic Through Hormuz Appears Minimal
Doesn't seem like there's a lot of Oil/LNG moving through the Strait of Hormuz at all https://t.co/5QrGSihDEA
Unverified Tanker Claim Lacks Details and Proof
Big IF True... "a large oil tanker went through 36 hours ago" but doesn't specify the tanker then says "Navy successfully escorted" but doesn't provide proof. #Hormuz #Iran https://t.co/WKay8jJ3hD
Clarifying: US Navy Warship or Aviation Escort in Hormuz?
Did the US Navy send a warship through the Strait of Hormuz? Or was this an aviation escort?
Maritime Industry Battling Unprecedented Black Swan Disruptions
“Over the past few years, we have experienced disruptions few people imagined… it sometimes feels like the entire maritime industry is under attack by a flock of black swans,” Steve Carmel, US maritime Administrator and Commandant of the US Merchant...
Navy Escort Through Hormuz Eases Supply Fears, Oil Falls
This Bloomberg headline crossing now may explain the new downturn in crude oil prices (repost) --- *US NAVY ESCORTED AN OIL TANKER THROUGH THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
Kirkuk Pipeline Offers Iraq's Sole Hormuz Bypass
Oil production around Kirkuk, in Iraqi Kurdistan, is connected to global markets via a pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan This is Iraq’s only crude supply that can bypass the currently-closed Strait of Hormuz Shut-ins in the Basra area by the...
Chinese‑crewed Marshall Islands Bulker Repeats Red Sea Pattern
The Marshal Islands-bulker KSL Laiyang is running the Strait. She is broadcasting on AIS "China Owners & Crew". This is EXACTLY what we saw happen in the Red Sea against the Houthis. Expect to see more of this. https://t.co/LSCESnEDKI
Archer on Track for US Passenger Flights, Eyes UAE Launch
Archer is “on track” to begin carrying passengers above select US cities later this year, as part of a government pilot program, and remains focused on “rapidly progressing” its plan to launch flights in the UAE — despite war-related uncertainty...
EVs Leap Forward: 777km Range, 12‑Minute Charge
Re-reading the excellent Energy A Human History by Richard Rhodes and I'm struck by how much has changed re: EVs since it was published in 2018. BYD just announced a 777km range battery that charges in 12 minutes. Car's fast...