Episodios

  • Bring It Home | The Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern Merger Explained

    Bring It Home | The Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern Merger Explained
    Dec 18 2025
    What happens if Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern merge into a true transcontinental railroad? On this episode of Bring It Home, JP Hampstead sits down with SONAR’s Mike Baudendistel to unpack why shareholders overwhelmingly support the merger, why some shipper groups are opposed, and the impact it could have on U.S. and North American reindustrialization. ⁠Follow the Bring It Home Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 m
  • The Daily | December 18, 2025

    The Daily | December 18, 2025
    Dec 18 2025
    In this episode of The Daily, we explore the historic downturn in the trucking market where compliant carriers are struggling against rates that have fallen well below operating costs. We examine claims that labor arbitrage and CDL fraud are tilting the playing field by allowing non-compliant fleets to undercut the market. We also investigate a potential regulatory ticking time bomb as the administration considers rescheduling marijuana, a move that could inadvertently strip the DOT of its authority to test drivers. With marijuana accounting for nearly 60% of positive drug tests, the industry is urgently pushing for a safety carve-out to prevent liability risks. Global operations are facing their own chaos, illustrated by FedEx struggling to manage pilot accommodations after grounding its MD-11 fleet during peak season. On the ocean side, carriers like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are dropping Baltimore from key services, citing the risks associated with the long transit up the Chesapeake Bay. Geopolitical tensions are also rising as a massive sale of global port assets has stalled because China is demanding a controlling interest in Panama Canal facilities. This move highlights the growing struggle for control over critical trade choke points in the global supply chain. Finally, we look at how technology is stepping in to help fleets build resilience, from Nirvana Insurance raising $100M to create an AI-driven operating system for risk management. We also discuss a new partnership between OTR Solutions and SONAR that embeds real-time rate intelligence directly into carrier workflows to help them negotiate with confidence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    6 m
  • Morning Minute | December 18, 2025

    Morning Minute | December 18, 2025
    Dec 18 2025
    This episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute breaks down how OTR Solutions partners with SONAR to bring data-driven rate intelligence directly to carriers. The integration empowers fleets to benchmark their performance against market conditions and negotiate with greater confidence. In the M&A sector, the podcast highlights that RPM Freight acquires Dealers Choice Auto Transport to expand its finished vehicle logistics capabilities. This strategic move adds white-glove service for luxury vehicles to RPM's network while opening new OEM opportunities for Dealers Choice. Finally, the briefing examines the legislative landscape as trucking, retail pressure lawmakers to pass anti-theft bill amid a surge in sophisticated cargo theft. Industry leaders argue that a unified federal response is essential to tackle the complex, transnational criminal networks targeting the supply chain today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    3 m
  • The Long Haul | Diesel Laptops for Small Carriers – The Diagnostic Edge That Protects Your Profit

    The Long Haul | Diesel Laptops for Small Carriers – The Diagnostic Edge That Protects Your Profit
    Dec 18 2025
    When you’re running a small fleet, a single breakdown can crush your margins and throw your week off track. In this episode of The Long Haul, we sit down with Tyler Robertson, founder and CEO of Diesel Laptops, to talk about why every small carrier needs diagnostic tools in their own hands—not locked behind a shop’s schedule or inflated repair fees. We dig into: What makes Diesel Laptops different from other diagnostic tools How owner-ops and small fleets can cut downtime, negotiate smarter, and stay in control Real-world examples of small carriers using diagnostics to protect their bottom line Why shops and dealers don’t want you to have this tech (but you should anyway) If you’ve ever been stranded with a blinking check engine light and no answers, this is the episode that might just save you thousands. ⁠Follow The Long Haul Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 m
  • WHAT THE TRUCK?!? | Fraud, Funds and Freight

    WHAT THE TRUCK?!? | Fraud, Funds and Freight
    Dec 17 2025
    Welcome back to WHAT THE TRUCK?!?. Host Malcolm Harris returns for a year-end episode packed with critical insights on freight fraud, cargo theft, trucking finance, and what the industry needs to watch heading into 2026. This episode features four powerhouse guests tackling the biggest risks and opportunities facing trucking and logistics today: DZ Patterson, Director of Investigative Services at Travelers, breaks down the realities of modern cargo theft, including strategic theft, GPS spoofing, fake breakdown scams, and how shippers, brokers, and carriers can harden their supply chains through better communication, layered security, and smarter verification. Andrey Chabanov and Trevor Hoffman from Wellspring introduce a high-yield savings platform built specifically for truck drivers and working Americans. Drawing from real-world trucking experience, they explain how drivers can protect their cash from inflation, improve liquidity, and build smarter emergency and business savings without lockups or minimums. Dale Prax, Strategic Fraud Advisor at Truckstop and Founder of FreightValidate, delivers a deep dive into freight fraud, carrier identity verification, FMCSA enforcement, and the real-world scams impacting brokers and owner-operators. He outlines where fraud is headed next, why collaboration and transparency matter, and what practical steps carriers can take today to protect themselves. The episode also covers key industry headlines, including supply chain reform efforts in Washington, ongoing layoffs impacting freight demand, and why cash discipline and operational efficiency remain critical in the current market. If you’re a driver, broker, shipper, or logistics professional, this is a must-watch conversation to close out the year informed and prepared for what’s next. Watch on YouTube Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 m
  • The Daily | December 17, 2025

    The Daily | December 17, 2025
    Dec 17 2025
    In this episode, we break down the bifurcation in global logistics, where carriers look to higher rates, fewer sailings on key Asia-US route while demand on Asia-Europe lanes strengthens. Domestically, a strange market paradox is emerging as the Cass TL Linehaul Index extends a positive run, with rates rising due to tight capacity even as shipment volumes decline. Structural changes are hitting the workforce hard, evidenced by reports that from factories to fulfillment centers, more layoffs hit U.S. supply chains, including major cuts at Ford and Kroger. These strategic pivots are happening alongside regulatory updates, such as when a new bipartisan caucus targets trucking reform to address CDL integrity and aging infrastructure. Safety concerns are also driving legislative action, as new legislation tackles truck-bridge crashes caused by inaccurate GPS routing in states like New York. Meanwhile, friction is building in the rail sector as rail unions oppose historic transcontinental rail merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. Finally, to navigate this volatility, the industry is shifting toward predictive technology, exemplified by Inside Cleo’s vision for an AI-native supply chain that thinks ahead. We discuss how these context-aware tools are becoming essential for maintaining service levels amidst permanent labor and capacity shifts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    6 m
  • Morning Minute | December 17, 2025

    Morning Minute | December 17, 2025
    Dec 17 2025
    In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we break down the conflicting economic signals heading into 2026 as plummeting operational costs collide with tightening capacity. ⁠Benchmark diesel falls again as oil market selloff picks up steam⁠, with crude futures dipping below $60 per barrel even as retail pump prices struggle to catch up to the drop. Capacity pressures are intensifying from factories to fulfillment centers, ⁠as more layoffs hit U.S. supply chain⁠, including over 4,200 recent job cuts at major companies like Ford and Great Dane. These structural reductions highlight a market realignment that goes beyond typical seasonal dips, creating significant capacity constraints across the sector. New government data reveals that ⁠truck transportation jobs last month were the lowest in years⁠, dropping to levels not seen since June 2021. Despite this decline in employment, the capacity squeeze has pushed the average hourly wage for non-supervisory trucking employees to a record high of $31.40. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    3 m
  • The Daily | December 16, 2025

    The Daily | December 16, 2025
    Dec 16 2025
    In this episode, we examine major structural shifts in the supply chain, starting with how Wagner Logistics has acquired the contract logistics business of Dawson Logistics to expand its national footprint and industrial capabilities. We also discuss Amazon Air Cargo's new money-back guarantee, a move that offers refunds of up to $10,000 for service failures as the retailer commercializes its internal network. The conversation turns to the southern border, where Uber Freight predicts a freight rebound driven by nearshoring and Mexico's growing role as a top trading partner. We also analyze the political momentum behind the proposed Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern rail merger, which has recently gained bipartisan support from lawmakers in Mississippi and Louisiana. Finally, we highlight the financial risks of operational negligence, focusing on a $44.1 million nuclear verdict against New Prime stemming from a fatal crash involving a driver with inadequate winter training. This is contrasted with industry-wide reliability, as major parcel carriers achieved a 98% on-time delivery rate during the early holiday peak season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    6 m