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
Qantas Frequent Flyer Program Changes Announced For 2026
Qantas announced its 2026 Frequent Flyer overhaul, adding up to 140 Status Credits from non‑flight activities and allowing members to roll over half of excess credits. The program eliminates lower re‑qualification thresholds, retires Points Club and Green Tier, and introduces a single Status Credit target per tier. Lifetime Gold members gain a clearer path to Platinum, while Silver flyers receive an extra lounge invitation each year. A new digital seat‑search tool aims to streamline reward bookings.
CMB.TECH Seals Five-Year Capesize Charters
Belgian shipowner CMB.TECH has secured five five‑year charters for its capesize bulkers, adding $304 million in revenue and lifting its contract backlog to roughly $3.05 billion. The deals, which start in the coming months, include vessels built between 2014 and 2018 and...
Hartman Seatrade Adds Two Liebherr LS 250 Ship Cranes
Hartman Seatrade is equipping its newest vessels with two Liebherr LS 250 ship cranes, each capable of lifting 250 tonnes and reaching 36 metres. In tandem mode the pair can handle lifts up to 500 tonnes, expanding the fleet’s heavy‑lift and project‑cargo capabilities. The...
Are Roundabouts Just For Rich People?
A new UNC‑Chapel Hill study finds that roundabouts—road designs that reduce injury crashes by roughly 80%—are disproportionately installed in affluent, predominantly white neighborhoods across North Carolina. Low‑income and Black communities receive far fewer of these safety upgrades, a pattern the...
Thursday’s Headlines Need Alternatives
The United States has spent seven decades trying to lower automobile costs, but experts argue that true savings lie in expanding transportation alternatives beyond cars. Recent developments include Uber’s new autonomous‑vehicle division, electric‑bus innovations in Wisconsin, and growing interest in...
How Recreational Cycling Can Lead to Safe Streets For All
Cities across the United States are leveraging recreational cycling to build safer streets, using shared enthusiasm to generate political support. Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness has produced $8.3 million in annual spending and aims to double output, Atlanta’s Beltline serves 2 million users and...
AI Boom Fuels Data Demand for Small Innovators
SONAR is having the best quarter in years. One of my board members asked if I were concerned about the rise of AI and if it would be a drain our data business. I told her that we are seeing...
EU Registrations Dip, BEVs Hit 19% with French, German Surge
🚗In January 2026, new EU car registrations fell by 3.9% compared to January last year. In January 2026, 154,230 new battery-electric cars were registered, capturing 19.3% of the EU market share. The four largest markets in the EU, which together...
Michel Bechtel Appointed as New Port Commissioner for Port Houston
Michel Bechtel, former mayor of Morgan’s Point, has been appointed to the Port of Houston Authority Commission, succeeding Stephen H. DonCarlos after a 12‑year tenure. He joins the board with a portfolio that spans energy, coastal protection, and maritime governance....
Dar Ports Become Bargaining Chip Against Mombasa for EA Traders
South Sudan is redirecting most of its import‑export cargo from Kenya’s congested Mombasa port to Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam and Tanga terminals after a bilateral agreement. The shift follows persistent delays, a $5,000 security levy per container, and higher handling...
Against Land Value Capture
The article argues that land‑value capture (LVC) is a flawed way to fund transit projects, citing its opacity and tendency to favor high‑value real‑estate developments. It points to New York’s tax‑increment financing for the 7 line and Hong Kong’s MTR...
World First Non-Stop Flights Between Australia and Las Vegas Set For Take Off in December 2026
Qantas will inaugurate the world’s first non‑stop scheduled service between Sydney and Las Vegas, launching on 29 December 2026 and operating through 12 March 2027. The seasonal route targets peak events such as the Consumer Electronics Show and leverages the...
Proposed Law Threatens Trucking Capacity by Revoking Non‑Citizen CDLs
This law, if passed, would immediately revoke CDLs for non citizens or those that don’t have lawful permanent residency or work permits. It wills be far more impactful to trucking capacity than any other action, largely because it is immediate and...
USNS Mercy Heads Toward Panama Canal, Not Greenland
Hospital Ship Update: Latest AIS data shows USNS Mercy making a steady south-southeast run across the central Gulf towards the Yucatán Channel — pointing to the Panama Canal, not Greenland. https://t.co/LOKjvzQxcI
Indian Register of Shipping Earns USCG Similarly Qualified Organization Status
Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) has been granted the U.S. Coast Guard’s Similarly Qualified Organization status under Title 46, placing it among only three classification societies authorized to serve the U.S. commercial fishing sector. The designation follows a four‑year technical review...
Trucking Fleets Peaked June 2023, Now on Decline
The number of trucking fleets increased over the past 20 years, without slowing down. That all changed in June 2023, when the number of fleets peaked and has dropped ever since. We expect that number to continue to shrink over...
Compliance Crackdown Reshapes US Carrier Market, Says RXO CEO
RXO CEO: the compliance crack down is the biggest structural change to the U.S. carrier market since industry deregulation https://t.co/72I5GCAt7d
Manila Mobility Project in Line for Top Urban Award
Manila’s Move As One Coalition has been named a finalist for the World Resources Institute’s 2025‑2026 Ross Center Prize for Cities. The coalition, comprising 140 organisations, has mobilised nearly $1 billion for public‑transport upgrades, secured better wages and protections for tens...
Dalilah Law Could Double Trucking Rates, Cut Drivers
Trucking rates could enter a super cycle if The Dalilah Law passes in Congress. A doubling of trucking spot rates would be possible and the effects felt almost immediately with approx 20% of the truck driver population being...
Global Air Cargo to Expand for Second Successive Year; What Makes for a Winning Cargo-Only Airport?
Air cargo is set to grow for a second consecutive year in 2026, despite lingering global economic uncertainty. While it moves only 1% of world trade by volume, it represents more than 35% of trade value, underscoring its strategic importance....
U.S. Air Force C-146 Wolfhound Damaged During Exercise in the Philippines
A U.S. Air Force C‑146A Wolfhound collided with a concrete barrier while attempting a road take‑off during a joint training exercise in Laoac, Pangasinan, injuring all five crew members. The drill, conducted with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, was...
International Seaways Inc (INSW) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
International Seaways reported Q3 2025 net income of $71 million ($1.42 per share) and adjusted EBITDA of $108 million, while generating roughly $63 million of free cash flow. The company ended the quarter with $985 million of total liquidity, a cash balance of $413 million...
Cars.com Inc (CARS) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Carvana reported a record 596,006 retail units sold in 2025, a 43% increase year‑over‑year, and Q4 revenue of $5.6 billion, up 58%. Adjusted EBITDA hit a new quarterly high of $511 million, while net income surged to $951 million, largely due to a...
Hertz Global Holdings Inc (HTZ) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Hertz Global Holdings reported $2.5 billion in Q4 2025 revenue and a $190 million adjusted corporate EBITDA, marking a $350 million year‑over‑year improvement and the first positive EPS in two years. Fleet utilization reached 84%, the highest since 2018, despite a 2% recall rate...
Carrier‑engineered Congestion Fuels Blank Sailings, Dropping Rates
Carriers engineering congestion. Blank sailings. Empty ships and soft supply chain demand. To lesson rate drop.
NCC Croatia Brings CFD and HPC to Superyacht Engineering Workflows
NCC Croatia partnered with Lürssen Design Centre Kvarner to embed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and high‑performance computing (HPC) into superyacht ventilation design. Engineers received hands‑on training and used OpenFOAM on NCC’s supercomputer to model a real‑world duct network. The simulations...
Thai AirAsia Pins Growth Hopes on China, Long-Haul Markets
Thai AirAsia is targeting 6‑9% year‑on‑year revenue growth in 2026, driven by an expected 23.5 million passengers and an 85% load factor. The carrier will add five Airbus A320s to launch new China‑Chiang Mai services and expand fifth‑freedom routes. It is also...
Press Release: Delta Supports New Georgia Tech Aero Engineering Building
The Delta Air Lines Foundation has pledged $5 million to support the construction of Georgia Tech’s new Aerospace Engineering Building. The state‑of‑the‑art facility will expand research in advanced aircraft design, propulsion, materials, cybersecurity, autonomy, hydrogen and eVTOL technologies. Georgia Tech’s Daniel...
HX Expeditions Finalizes 2026 Alaska Season with New Inside Passage Sailings
HX Expeditions has announced its 2026 Alaska season, adding two new Inside Passage itineraries aboard the MS Roald Amundsen, the world’s first hybrid, battery‑powered cruise ship. The 9‑night Fjords of the Great Land sails from Vancouver to Whittier, while the...
Virgin Voyages Promo: Get 80% Off Second Guest, Free Drinks, & Free Onboard Credit
Virgin Voyages announced a limited‑time promotion that slashes the price of a second cabin guest by 80%, adds up to $350 in complimentary drinks, and provides up to $300 in onboard credit on select Caribbean sailings. The deal is available...
FAA Mandates Fix for Boeing 737 Overheating Circuit Breaker
FAA issues directive to address Boeing 737 circuit breaker issue that could cause excessively high temperatures in flight deck and cabin https://t.co/N9GmxmYtLu
Trump EPA Withdraws Funding for Electric School Buses
Trump’s EPA is yanking support for electric school buses #energysky -- via Canary Media: https://t.co/wWCGInkszK
Delta Flash Sale Offers 15–20% Off SkyMiles Awards To Warm-Weather Destinations
Delta Air Lines announced a limited‑time SkyMiles flash sale offering 15‑20% off award tickets to select Caribbean and Central American destinations. The promotion runs from February 24‑26, with travel windows in March and early April for flights departing New York City and...
South Korea Partnership Boosts U.S. Shipbuilding Capacity
“Working with South Korea brings industrial capacity to the US and will allow America to press fast forward on shipbuilding,” Alex Wong, Hanwha https://t.co/BIwicYBkDb
US, South Korea, Greece Unveil Major Shipbuilding Partnership
At DOT with Ambassador Guilfoyl, Alex Wong and US Merchant Marine Commandant Steve Carmel for a big shipbuilding announcement between the US, South Korea and Greece. Stay tuned to @gCaptain for details coming soon. https://t.co/TkMB2MwgEI
Toyota Confirms Compact Pickup for US Market
Toyota North America confirmed it will launch a compact pickup for the 2027 model year, positioned below the Tacoma and aimed at rivals like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz. The truck is expected to use a unibody TNGA...
Mercy Hospital Ship Heading Toward Panama Canal, Not Greenland
I hate to break it to you, folks… Mercy's AIS Track Points to Panama Canal—Not Greenland—as Hospital Ship Steams South https://t.co/EJNcVSIlSm
Beyond Visibility: AI Redefines Logistics
The recent SupplyChainBrain webinar highlighted how generative AI is moving logistics beyond static visibility toward proactive orchestration. Speakers explained that intelligent agents can monitor, decide, and act, turning dashboards into autonomous execution engines. They presented a framework for selecting GenAI...
Who’s Watching for Human Trafficking in Aviation?
Former FAA rotorcraft director David Downey has petitioned the agency to amend Parts 121 and 135 so that airline and charter employees receive mandatory human‑trafficking recognition and response training, a requirement he says Congress already mandated but the FAA has not codified....
Miami-Dade County Mayor and American Airlines Unveil Plans for MIA’s Concourse D Expansion
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and American Airlines CEO Robert Isom announced a $1 billion expansion of Concourse D’s Gate D60 at Miami International Airport. The three‑level project will convert the existing area into 17 new contact gates, upgraded boarding lounges, retail,...
NTSB Warns First Responders of Ballistic Parachute Hazards
The National Transportation Safety Board issued safety alert SA‑102 warning that ballistic parachute recovery systems can remain active after a crash, posing a danger to first responders. These rocket‑powered devices, like Cirrus CAPS, may deploy unexpectedly if activation cables stay...
PHL Surpasses 30 Million Passengers for Second Consecutive Year
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) handled 30.1 million passengers in 2025, marking the first consecutive 30‑million‑plus years since 2018‑19. International traffic rose 7.5% to over 4.1 million passengers, driven by new routes from Aeroméxico, American Airlines and Frontier. Cargo volumes increased 7.4% to...
Spot Market Overtakes Contracts, Signaling Freight Recession End
The spot market is finally crossing over and passing the contract market. Why does this matter? Because it provides the best data we've seen yet that the Great Freight Recession is ending. Is this a blip or a permanent shift? Is @rxoinc...
Seasonal Flights Between Blue Grass Airport and Minneapolis Return
Delta Air Lines will resume seasonal nonstop service between Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport and Minneapolis‑Saint Paul International Airport, operating Saturdays from May 9 to August 8, 2026. The route, previously discontinued in 2021, will be flown on a 76‑seat CRJ‑900, offering travelers a...
Shipper Purchase Orders Hold Steady Despite Tariff Uncertainty
Shippers continue to place purchase orders with Asian factories despite ongoing tariff uncertainty, according to Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. January TEU volumes fell about 12% year‑over‑year, with imports down 13% and exports down 8%, while empty...
Boulder Airport Sets Timeline For Phasing Out Leaded Avgas
Boulder Municipal Airport aims to start offering unleaded aviation fuel by late 2026, ahead of Colorado’s 2030 statewide leaded‑avgas phase‑out. The draft transition plan, due by Jan. 1, 2026, outlines annual reviews but omits specifics on fuel type, infrastructure, and financing. To...
Sustainable Mobility and Real Estate: Opportunities for Creating Lasting Development Value
The Urban Land Institute’s new report highlights sustainable mobility as a core driver of real‑estate value, showing how transit‑oriented development and mobility amenities can lift asset performance and resilience. Case studies such as Miami’s Underline illustrate how integrating bike lanes,...
A220 Quietly Becomes an Airbus Star — CS300 Revenge
The Airbus A220 has emerged as a top‑performing narrow‑body within Airbus’s portfolio, outpacing expectations and delivering strong order growth. Its efficient Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan (GTF) engine has contributed to superior fuel burn and operating economics. The aircraft’s market...
Moody’s: Port Import Gains From Supreme Court Tariff Ruling May Prove Fleeting
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, potentially unlocking refunds on more than $90 billion of duties and lowering landed costs for importers. Moody’s expects a short‑term surge in cargo volumes at major...
GEESE and ATM: Wake Energy Retrieval Collaboration Achieves New Milestones
Airbus and a coalition of airlines completed the GEESE wake‑energy retrieval trials, demonstrating that two A350s can rendez‑vous over the North Atlantic while maintaining vertical separation. The Pairing Assistance Tool coordinated flight paths in real time, achieving a 75% success...