Truck Capacity Is a Commodity; Drivers Are the Bottleneck
A decade ago, a CFO of a mega fleet told me I knew nothing about the industry because I called trucking a commodity. Commodities are priced based on supply and demand and truckload services are fungible between motor carriers - I.e. an orange truck provides the same service as a red one. It meets the classic definition. I think the root cause of the ATA’s campaign to a promote a truck driver shortage is a failure to understand the basics of our industry: Capacity is a commodity and truck drivers are the only constraint. If you run a large operator, you want less competition, not more. The ATA should have been advocating for higher barriers to entry, not less.
Truck Driver Glut Persists, Not Shortage, Says Industry
I am looking forward to the day when the ATA publishes a new report showing how many excess truck drivers the industry has. We have a glut, not a shortage.
SIA KrisFlyer Sale Slashes Award Ticket Prices 20%
Singapore Airlines' KrisFlyer program has a global award sale, offering 20% off economy and premium economy mileage tickets in many markets. Is this offer worth it? https://t.co/ZJtYp5OSen
Better EVs Will Make Gas Cars Obsolete
As I was saying…it’s not that Americans didn’t want EVs, it’s just that us car makers were producing sh*t EVs. Once you have a good EV, you will never want to go back to a gas car. (See next tweet in thread...
Attendants Trade Job Security for Pay, Fuel United’s Regional Expansion
United Flight Attendants May Trade Away Job Protection For Higher Pay — So United Can Own A Regional Airline - View from the Wing https://t.co/yX50ewa63m
Trucking's Sweet Spot: Strong Demand, Limited Overcapacity
Trucking is in a great spot right now. We don’t know what the escalation in Iran or surging oil markets will do to the momentum, but for now, this is a trucker’s market. In some ways, slower momentum may be better in...
Modern EVs: 300+ Miles, 10‑minute Top‑up
Saying "two hours to charge" on a road trip shows instantly you don't know diddly about today's EVs. My EV: ✅ can be driven 300+ plus miles ✅doesn't take 2 hrs to charge (more like 10-15 min to get enough charge to drive...
Autonomous Cars Will Turn 40% Parking Into City Parks
40% of urban real estate is dedicated to parking. This will soon change with the introduction of autonomous cars. Cities will be reimagined and redeveloped. New open spaces with downtown parks, playgrounds, shopping, and living will replace the majority of parking...
Strait Closure Sparks 360% Surge in Freight Diversions
I missed this project44 press release from earlier this week - Strait of Hormuz Closure Triggers 360% Surge in Ocean Freight Diversions https://t.co/u3NrIui3y3 project 44 Insights - https://t.co/fZoIuMEoDt
Iranian Tankers Resume Loading at Kharg Despite US Strikes
Iranian tankers back to loading at Kharg this morning despite yesterday’s US strikes on the island, which currently stages the vast majority of Iranian exports.
Aramco Loads Five Crude Tankers Simultaneously—Historic First
Saudi Aramco is loading simultaneously 5 crude oil tankers in Yanbu and Al Mujjaiz terminals on the Red Sea coast. I don’t think that’s happened ever before.
Spirit Airlines Files Second Chapter 11, Aims Reorganization by 2026
Spirit Airlines is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in a little over a year. While many assumed the airline would liquidate, the company insists it has a plan to reorganize, which will be completed by early summer...
Western Tankers Barred, Iranian Vessels Still Flow Freely
It's absurd that Western tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is shut down, while Iran's tankers continue to run through the Strait unhindered. Iran is a gas station masquerading as an Islamic Republic. Kharg is about shutting down the...
Worried Airlines Will Lose My Special Luggage Again
Special luggage. Where am I going and what for? Also will Swiss and Air Canada manage to loose my gear again? https://t.co/m6kebMBAcD
LPG Tankers Cross Hormuz After Tehran‑Delhi Talks
One-off or sign of easing? Two tankers transporting LPG (think the butane canisters) have crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the last few hours on the way to India. The crossing happened after gov-to-gov talks between Tehran and New Delhi....
Boeing Tested In‑Flight Wi‑Fi Using 20,000 Pounds of Potatoes
#DidYouKnow? Boeing once filled an aircraft with 20,000 pounds of potatoes to test in-flight Wi-Fi performance. (Unbox Factory) https://t.co/7hLcb8Cxjz
MythBusters Unveil Breakthrough for More Efficient Cars
The popular science television show MythBusters may have discovered an innovative way of making cars run more efficiently in the future. (Mechanical Mind) #NewMaterials #Innovation #AutoIndustry https://t.co/CyUEXAdyVj
Iran Shifts Oil Payments to Yuan, Undermining Dollar Dominance
Iran has stated it will allow tankers through the Strait of Hormuz - but only for shipments paid for in Chinese yuan rather than US dollars. The dollar is THE standard currency of the fossil fuel trade. Iran didn’t just announce...
Middle East Crisis Threatens Global Heavy‑Industry Supply Chains
"The Narrowing Straits: Why the Middle East Crisis is a Fault Line for Global Industry" - my own expert comentary on a recent interview with Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc, and the impact on key heavy industries and supply chains they...
Beijing‑Pyongyang 24‑Hour Train Resumes, Easing Ties
The 24-Hour Train Between Beijing and Pyongyang Is Back on Track—The resumption of railway travel restores some normalcy to a rocky relationship between North Korea and China @timothywmartin @chuqin_jiang https://t.co/A8nPnkjONl https://t.co/A8nPnkjONl
US LNG Demand Soars, Venture Global Expands Plant
MORE US LNG EXPORTS 🇺🇸 🚢 Venture Global will move forward with an $8.6 billion expansion of its third LNG plant in Louisiana Global demand for US LNG is surging as the war in the Middle East cuts off shipments from...
E195‑E2 Eliminates Middle Seats with Roomy 2‑2 Layout
No middle seats on this aircraft. The Embraer E195-E2 gives you either a window or an aisle — that’s it. No middle seat drama. With a comfortable 2-2 layout, PW1900G geared turbofan engines and up to 5,500km range, this “small” jet quietly...
Exposing Freight Fraud: Real Stories of Theft
Newest FW show: Fraud Watch We will cover the crazy stories of theft and fraud that have become so pervasive in freight
U.S. Airline Capacity Up 32% Yet Fuel Use Stagnates
This is the first in a series of data visualization projects we're rolling out from @theaircurrent. Amazing to chart the increase in efficiency in U.S. (and see the shocks) while capacity has increased 32% and airlines are burning nearly the...
DC Area Flights Diverted to RDU, PHL, JFK
Looks like all incoming planes into DCA IAD BWI and RIC being diverted to RDU, PHL, and a few to JFK. Others returning to departure airports based on Flightradar. Gonna be a long night
Doc Shoemaker's First XB-1 Taxi Test Delivers Golden Audio
Back when “Doc” Shoemaker had fun doing XB-1’s first (baby) taxi test. The audio is gold. https://t.co/BgoVqX0zOd
US Maritime Crisis Spurs Bipartisan Push for Lean Dual‑Use Ships
1/ The US maritime base is in crisis A new Whitehouse Maritime Action Plan (MAP) highlights a rare bipartisan truth: rebuilding shipbuilding capacity is natsec priority. the core debate? expensive battleships vs. lean fast dual-use vessels https://t.co/ornn1pqNVC
Minute-Long Fast Charging Powers Autonomous Bus Revolution
Fast charging electric buses in a few minutes is the future of autonomous transformation, including robotaxis. 🔋🚕 https://t.co/dAG4ua58op
Real Oil Tanker Explosions Make Hollywood Stunts Look Fake
I always thought Hollywood explosions were super fake over the top exaggerations until this week when I saw actual oil tankers getting blown up. https://t.co/db4pOheLSX
Littering in Waymo? Deserve a Spot in Hell
There is a special place in hell for people who leave trash in a Waymo.
New Maritime Routes May Persist Post‑War as Backup Services
Ocean carriers and new ways to serve the Middle East with the Strait closed. How much of the new approaches will be maintained at war’s end? At the minimum as viable secondary services to keep them functioning.
Airport Security Line: Don't Let Late Passengers Cut
If a passenger is running late and asks to cut you at airport security, should you let them cut you? What's the correct etiquette there? Here's my take... https://t.co/CkBcAehyDe
Gemini Powers Google Maps with AI-Driven Personalized Routing
We’ve reimagined the way our Gemini models power @GoogleMaps. Here are some use cases you can try (and the advancements that make them possible): “Find a well-lit pickleball court that’s usually less busy on Tuesday nights” ➡️ Maps performs multi-step reasoning across...
Airport Pickup Backs Out over Rising Gas Costs
My Monday airport pickup service in Charleston just called to say they can’t honor the rate we agreed to because of the jump in gas prices. Here we go.
United Flight Delays Repeat: 2+ Hour Wait Again
Once again, a 2 hour 22 minute delay on a @United flight that was supposed to last less than 6 hours. We had to deplane, now waiting for re-boarding. The second time in less than three months 🤦🏻♂️ https://t.co/7xQZ4foxTl
Middle East Conflict Eases Container Overcapacity Concerns
Middle East Conflict Dampens Fears of Container Sector Overcapacity. Reshaping of maritime and supply chains. https://t.co/RTI4NDrVRx
Shipping Adopts Airline Hub-and-Spoke to Cut Cargo Handling
Container line shipping and transshipment hubs. Like the airlines’ hub and spoke. For the carriers vs multiple handlings of cargo.
Concern Grows Over Strategic Strait of Hormuz Tensions
I am sorry @SecWar, but there are some of us are worried about the Strait of Hormuz.
Seized Trump Oil Tankers Drain U.S. Treasury, Sale Blocked
Um... "The seizures have put the U.S. government in a financial bind. The ships are highly expensive to maintain. And the Trump administration cannot legally sell their oil without a judge’s permission." https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/13/us/politics/trump-seized-oil-tankers-cost.html
Even in the Wrong Sea, Ships Get Escorted
At least someone is escorting a commercial ship. Wrong sea, but I will take it.
Secure Strait of Hormuz to Ensure Stable Oil Prices
Energy, especially oil, is the backbone of every economy. As I said, a stable oil price, $55 to $70, keeps the global economy running smoothly. But it’s about more than price, it’s about keeping the two-mile stretch of the Strait...
Zim's Q4 Loss Raises Questions on Hapag‑Lloyd Acquisition
Zim. Q4 loss. What does that mean to buying them? If the union calms down, what is Hapag-Lloyd getting? A smart move? Or a mistake?
Iran's Real Power: Controlling the Strait of Hormuz
My take on Iran's biggest advantage in the war: "The US & Israel are making mincemeat out of Iran, but Iranians still hold their key card: the Strait of Hormuz, which remains shut down. A great friend in Dubai said he...
Chemical Shortage Hits Asia as Naphtha Supply Dries Up
More than “Five Asian petrochemical plants have declared force majeure in the past ten days because their naphtha supply was cut off at the Strait of Hormuz. The emergency reserves are crude oil. The shortage is chemicals.”
Emirates, Qatar Flights Fly Empty, First-Class Solo
Emirates And Qatar Flights Are Empty — Passengers Have Whole First Or Business Class Cabins To Themselves - View from the Wing https://t.co/WyPl6Tmz9c
Auto Industry Sees Surge in Freight Fraud and Cargo Theft
The auto industry people are noticing the massive uptick in freight fraud and cargo theft
UAE Rail Shifts 459k Tons in Nine Days
With the Strait of Hormuz closed, the UAE has turned to its rail network. Etihad Rail Freight has transported 459,000 tons of cargo and 7,900 containers in only 9 days. UAE’S INFRASTRUCTURE MITIGATES THE WAR’S COLLATERAL DAMAGE. https://t.co/cRyWRv4gvD
Simple Time Question Outsmarts Freight Fraud Scammers
Asking freight fraud scammers what time it is where they are trips them up so much more frequently than you’d think
Real‑time Hormuz Strait Vessel Traffic Data Updated Every 30 Minutes
Data for Hormuz Strait vessel traffic, updated every 30 minutes To monitor Hormuz Strait vessel traffic updated every 30 minutes, 24-hour rolling, type TRHBTKCD Index and WSL SHIPPING in Bloomberg. (via Torsten Slok of Apollo) https://t.co/FEU44SH6R5
Navy’s Capability Outpaces Capacity, Leaving Few Ready Ships
Hegseth says the Navy is performing better than expected. He says the Navy had a comprehensive plan for the Strait of Hormuz. He says we have the best warships in the world. He says we have enough munitions. All of that can be true. And...