Topic
freight
Logistics Iran Blacklist Threatens Hormuz Shuttle Tanker Lifeline for Gulf Crude
Iran's blacklisting of 12 VLCCs at the core of the Hormuz shuttle trade threatens a workaround moving roughly one-third of Middle East Gulf crude exports. Three Indian refiners and a global energy major plan to stop using the vessels, and Braemar warns remaining Hormuz tonnage will command higher premiums.
Logistics Reefer Rejections Hold at 20% as Intermodal Savings Index Hits 33%
Reefer tender rejections remain stuck at 20%–20.5% even as van and flatbed rates ease, driven by summer heat and the structural inability of reefers to shift to intermodal, according to FreightWaves SONAR data. Meanwhile, the intermodal contract savings index has hit 33% above over-the-road trucking—a three-year high—pulling record volumes onto rail, while flatbed capacity loosens and cross-border rail data is watched for tariff signals.
Logistics Autonomous Trucks Are Here: Einride Posts 27% Revenue Jump and 500-Truck Tesla Semi Order
Einride posted a 27% revenue increase in the first half of 2025 after its June IPO, with autonomous driverless hours up about 60%. The company ordered 500 Tesla Semi trucks for its U.S. platform and is deploying 75 electric trucks for Amazon's middle-mile network. CEO Roozbeh Charli expects the growth rate to roughly double in the second half, according to FreightWaves.
Logistics Middle East risk permanently repriced, Paratus CEO tells Splash Singapore
Paratus founder and group CEO Gus Majed told Splash247 that Middle East risk has been permanently repriced, with war-risk premiums, crew terms, charter clauses and alternative routes through Fujairah and Sohar now embedded in the market. Singapore's bunker sales rose to 28.2m tonnes in H1 2026 despite Hormuz disruption. Majed will chair the tanker session at Splash Singapore in September.
Logistics Norfolk Southern, Wabtec Convert 33 Locomotives to AC Traction in Modernization Program
Norfolk Southern and Wabtec Corp. announced a modernization program converting 33 ES44DC locomotives to AC-traction ES44ACMs. The work, performed in Fort Worth and Erie, aims to improve reliability, efficiency and locomotive life, with the first unit shipped this month.
Logistics Midwest Carrier Behnke Acquires AG Freight, Gains Southeast Outpost Near Inland Port Greer
Michigan-based Behnke Dedicated & Logistics has acquired AG Freight for an undisclosed sum, gaining a Southeast outpost near South Carolina's Inland Port Greer. The deal, with Calder Capital advising Behnke, combines AG Freight's TL, LTL, expedited and drayage services with Behnke's Midwest dedicated trucking and warehousing operation.
Finance BMO's Trucking Loan Sale Ends Rare Public Credit Data as Diesel Prices Spike
BMO's sale of its transportation finance unit to Stonepeak will almost certainly end quarterly disclosure of truck loan credit metrics, a rare transparency window tracked by FreightWaves. Meanwhile, the DOE EIA's weekly retail diesel price hit approximately $5.643 per gallon, the highest since Middle East military action began, adding cost pressure to carriers.
Logistics Tabi Pricing Pressure Index Rises 7 Points, Signaling Broker Power Erosion
Tabi's Pricing Pressure Index rose 7 points to 36 over the past month, signaling a measurable softening in spot freight conditions while brokers and carriers still hold the upper hand, according to FreightWaves. The index draws on more than 1.5 million spot loads monthly. Shippers typically feel the market shift three to four months after brokers.
Logistics Gatik Raises $200M to Scale Driverless Freight to Thousands
Gatik raised $200 million in a Series D round led by Qatar Investment Authority and Koch Disruptive Technologies to expand its driverless freight operations from dozens to thousands of trucks. The company reports 85,000 fully driverless orders, 99% on-time delivery, and more than $600 million in contracted revenue across Texas, Arizona, Arkansas and Canada.
Logistics Rail mega-merger revives proposal for new, expanded Atlanta passenger services — and there's a trucking angle
FreightWaves reports that the proposed $85 billion Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, now before the Surface Transportation Board, has revived a plan to divert freight trains around Atlanta and expand passenger rail. The bypass, backed by Mark Hitchcock of Jacobs Engineering, could improve trucking fluidity in the city and shift commuters off the road.
Logistics Diana Shipping rolls panamax bulker Leto into stronger Cargill fixture at $18,000 per day
Diana Shipping secured a 41% rate increase for the panamax Leto, fixing the 81,297 dwt bulker to Cargill at $18,000 per day from September 10. The charter runs until at least September 1, 2027, and a minimum extension will generate about $6.34m in gross revenue.
Logistics Thom Albrecht Says Freight Supply Cycle Could Stretch Through Q1 2028
According to FreightWaves, Thom Albrecht of Reliance Partners says supply constraints — not demand — are driving trucking's current cycle, with regulatory enforcement and proposed rules likely to extend it through next year or into Q1 2028. Demand indicators have improved, including rail volumes at their second-highest level since 2008.
Logistics FR8 Solutions settles RICO case over alleged $7,000 trucking rate gap
FR8 Solutions and 22 independent drivers reached a settlement in a federal civil RICO lawsuit over allegedly altered rate sheets and hidden revenue. A Florida court dismissed the case with prejudice on July 28, with financial terms undisclosed. The dispute centered on promises to pay drivers 88% of each load's linehaul rate.
Logistics Freight Distress Report: More than 7,000 Jobs Cut in New Wave of Closures
FreightWaves' latest Freight Distress Report tallies roughly 7,058 confirmed job cuts across 21 companies in 15+ U.S. states, led by Tyson Foods' closure of beef plants in Illinois and Utah and Essendant's potential liquidation. FedEx, Ryder, CJ Logistics America, Daimler Truck, and others are also shuttering facilities, forcing shippers to reroute freight and find alternative capacity.
Logistics Sinokor's $6bn Tanker Bet Pays Off as Hormuz Crisis Fuels VLCC Buying Spree
Sinokor Maritime has acquired 73 secondhand tankers for $5.925bn in 2026, matching the combined spend of the next eight largest buyers. With MSC taking 50% joint control and Hormuz disruptions pushing VLCC earnings toward $510,000 a day, the buying spree has lifted asset prices to 2008 levels.
Logistics 167 Logistics and Transportation Companies Make 2026 Inc. 5000; Here Are the Fastest-Growing Freight Firms
A total of 167 logistics and transportation companies made the 2026 Inc. 5000, with a 114% median three-year growth rate, $23.1 billion in combined revenue, and 115,631 employees. Grip led all freight names at 29,398% growth, followed by Mountainy and Jet Freight Services.
Logistics Shared Truckload Cuts Costs 30-40% as 2026 Truckload Rates Rise, Flock Freight CEO Says
According to FreightWaves, rising 2026 truckload rates are pushing shippers toward shared truckload, which Flock Freight CEO Pat Dillon says can cut costs 30-40% versus full truckload. The model combines two shippers' loads on one trailer, targets 10-40 linear feet, and pays carriers more per combined load.
Logistics Trucking Market Enters Multi-Year Recovery as 20–25% of Capacity Exits
According to a FreightWaves interview, RXO Chief Strategy Officer Jared Weisfeld says 20-25% of for-hire truckload capacity is likely to exit amid government enforcement and rising costs, signaling a multi-year recovery. Spot rates are already up 30-50% year over year, tender rejections remain at multi-year highs, and shippers are consolidating freight with fewer brokers. Weisfeld advises locking in capacity partnerships now as the market tightens through September.
Logistics BNSF expands intermodal rail service between Phoenix and North Texas for shippers
BNSF Railway has expanded intermodal rail service between the Phoenix metro area and North Texas, now running six days a week with transit of just over three days. The move is aimed at converting truck freight to rail ahead of the domestic peak shipping season. BNSF is also building Logistics Park Phoenix, with its first phase slated to open in early 2027, according to FreightWaves.
6 arrested as UK police target cargo theft costing $88M a year
Read the full story for in-depth analysis.
Logistics A.P. Moller Capital agrees to acquire majority stake in Moroccan logistics group Globex
A.P. Moller Capital has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Moroccan logistics group Globex Investissement, deploying capital from its newly established Morocco-focused fund. The Casablanca-based company operates express, road freight, forwarding, customs and warehousing services across Morocco, Senegal and Cameroon. Completion awaits clearance from Morocco's Competition Council.
Logistics Marine Solver CEO: Undiscovered Voyage Alternatives Are Shipping's Hidden Cost
Marine Solver CEO Natalia Liashenko argues that the biggest cost in commercial fleet planning is the voyage alternative that is never calculated. She identifies four hidden cost types — undiscovered opportunity cost, time-to-decision cost, path-dependency cost and the optimisation ceiling — and explains how decision optimisation technology can surface better options before market conditions change.
Logistics Data Center Construction Drives Truckload Freight Demand Beyond Headline Metrics, Analysts Say
Dr. Jason Miller and Ken Adamo argue that data center construction is generating significant freight volume that traditional metrics undercount. Air freight imports are up 17% year over year, while heavy equipment makers Caterpillar, Eaton, and Cummins report higher volumes. Capacity remains tight, with tender rejections around 13% and no major carrier entry expected until mid-2027.
Manufacturing Tesla Semi Demo Projects $0.65 Per-Mile Savings; Charging Gaps Linger
FreightWaves reports that Intracoastal Trucking's two-week Tesla Semi demo projects $0.65 per mile in fuel and maintenance savings. The carrier plans five trucks for 2027 if economics hold. However, charging infrastructure and real-world range remain challenges.
Logistics Freight Volumes Drop to Slowest Monday of Year as Contract Repricing Reshapes Truckload Market
Freight volumes collapsed to their lowest Monday of the year, according to FreightWaves, as rapid contract repricing routed freight from the spot market back to routing guides. Intermodal volumes hit records on eastern corridors with contract rates 34% below truckload. Capacity is growing on paper, but flat transportation employment and driver shortages leave the market imbalanced.
Logistics Empty Containers Pile Up as Global Trade Growth Widens East-West Imbalance
Global trade is outperforming expectations in 2026, but a surge of empty containers driven by China's export strength and east-west trade imbalance is adding landside pressure and schedule disruptions. Maersk said terminal throughput burden is rising at 7-8% versus 4% loaded-container market growth, while Rotterdam empties jumped 60% in the first six months versus 2020.
Logistics Korean Air installing automated cargo equipment at Incheon, JFK terminals
Korean Air is automating cargo handling at its Incheon and JFK terminals, adding driverless vehicles and expanding cold storage for pharma and perishables. The Incheon project is expected to boost annual cargo capacity by 25% by September, while JFK upgrades target 2027. The carrier also reported Q2 cargo revenue up 46% year over year, driven by AI equipment and K-beauty exports.
Logistics Cass Report: Truckload Linehaul Rates Rip Higher in July Despite Soft Volumes
Truckload linehaul rates rose 8.6% year over year in July, the 19th consecutive annual gain and the largest in four years, according to Cass Information Systems. Shipments fell 4.8% y/y as capacity declined and rail intermodal gained share. Werner and Schneider reported strong contract-rate gains.
Logistics Police Recover $258K Copper Load From Stolen J.B. Hunt Trailer in North Carolina
Kenly, North Carolina police recovered approximately $258,000 in copper wire from a stolen 53-foot J.B. Hunt trailer and arrested 41-year-old Florida man Jarrel Lamont Nightingale. The investigation spanned multiple jurisdictions, and Nightingale faces felony charges including possession of stolen goods, stolen motor vehicle, and carrying a concealed gun. Copper has led all metals in cargo theft for two consecutive years, according to FreightWaves.
Logistics Maritime rates back on the rise as supply-side pressures lift China-U.S. spot freight rates
Spot rates for containers from China to U.S. East and West Coasts are climbing again, up $1,328 on the West Coast and roughly $413 on the East Coast since late July. FreightWaves reports the rise is supply-driven, with China-to-U.S. bookings down 4% year over year, while storms and congestion hit Shanghai, Ningbo and Shenzhen. The Panama Canal Authority has issued draft restrictions into September as El Niño brings drought-like conditions.
Supply Chain Data Center Freight Thefts Hit $110.6M as Bump-and-Run Tactic Emerges
Cargo thieves have stolen $110.6 million in data center equipment and high-value technology freight since June 3, according to FreightWaves. The losses highlight a concentrated theft pattern and a new 'bump-and-run' tactic targeting security escorts, enabled by carrier verification failures.
Logistics Freight Market Rejection Index: Is the Softness Misleading? SONAR Update
FreightWaves' SONAR update shows the freight market is stronger than it looks: the national tender rejection index at ~13.5% exceeded every 2024 reading, and intermodal contract rates are 34% below truckload rates. Spot rates are $3.34 per mile, 21% above last year. Shippers should consider mode conversion to rail before peak-season tightening begins in mid-October.
Logistics DHL Express triples Shenzhen air cargo capacity with $204M terminal expansion
DHL Express completed a $204 million expansion of its super gateway at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, tripling daily cargo capacity to 992 tons and enabling more direct flights. Once fully built out, annual throughput is expected to exceed 286,000 tons, about 10 times the previous gateway's volume, according to China Daily News via FreightWaves.
Logistics Five Arrested in Southern California Rail-Cargo Theft Probe After Shots Fired From Moving BNSF Train
Five men were arrested in connection with a rail-cargo theft crew that fired on a BNSF officer from a moving freight train in Southern California. Angel Castro, 21, faces attempted murder; four others face cargo-theft charges. The arrest followed a two-day investigation that began with gunfire near Devore.
Logistics Pantheon Tankers Returns to MR Newbuilds With Two-Vessel China Order at COSCO Guangdong
Pantheon Tankers, led by Anna Angelicoussis, has returned to the MR newbuilding market with a two-vessel order at COSCO Guangdong Shipyard in China, according to Splash247. The 50,000 dwt newbuilds are the company's first purpose-built MR programme since a six-ship series from STX Offshore & Shipbuilding in 2019. The deal extends a fleet renewal drive increasingly centered on Chinese yards, spanning LR2/aframax, LNG dual-fuel suezmax, and VLCC newbuilds.
Logistics Four-Year-Old Capesize Fetches $78m in Rare Doun Kisen Sale
Doun Kisen has sold the 2022-built capesize bulk carrier Princess Eternity for around $78m, marking its first capesize sale in a year. The deal comes as average capesize spot earnings jumped just under 40% week on week to about $46,000 per day, according to Splash247.
Logistics Shipbrokers lose bulk cargo business to containers amid opaque quoting, charterer warns
An open letter published by Splash247 claims shipbrokers' closed networks and generic per-ton quotes push charterers to move bulk cargo by container. The author demands digital KYC forms, a response-time commitment, and dismissal of LinkedIn-focused staff.
Logistics Yang Ming's First-Half Rebound Sets Up Volatile Second Half
Yang Ming Marine Transport reported consolidated revenue of US$2.62 billion for the first half of 2026, with Q2 outperforming both Q1 and the prior-year period on tariff-driven front-loading, an early peak season and firmer freight rates. The carrier cautioned that trade-policy uncertainty, Middle East and Red Sea geopolitics, and a looming newbuild delivery wave could make the second half volatile.
Logistics Spot Rates Split as Tender Rejections Hold Above 13%
Truckload tender rejections are holding at 13.5%, more than double the balanced-market range, while demand erodes faster than seasonal norms. Long-haul truckload volumes rose just 2% year over year against an 8% gain for domestic intermodal, and Midwest refrigerated rates are spiking early in protein and grain corridors. Zach Strickland's SONAR update details a three-way spot rate split across flatbed, reefer and dry van.
Supply Chain AI Agents Can Find the Load; MapUp FuelGuru MCP Determines Its Profitability
MapUp launched FuelGuru MCP, the first production Model Context Protocol server for fleet fuel purchasing, tolls and commercial truck routing. It lets AI dispatch agents calculate real trip profitability under a fleet's own rules. A sample $1,800 load leaves between $908.91 and $1,052.45 before driver pay, depending on routing.
Technology Uber Freight Confirms Cyber Incident After Hackers Claim Nearly 1 Million Files
Hacker group Helix claimed it stole nearly one million Uber Freight files, and Uber Freight confirmed that someone accessed part of its systems without permission. The company says it contained and remediated the incident, but has not verified the files or disclosed what data was involved. Google Threat Intelligence Group links Helix to the UNC6671 extortion cluster targeting transportation firms.
Logistics Inside Univar Solutions' Carrier Kickoff: Relationships, Not Rates, Win Freight
Univar Solutions hosted its annual Carrier Kickoff in Chattanooga, gathering roughly 100 transportation providers and more than 200 attendees. As tender rejections climb and insurance costs spiral, shippers that invested in carrier relationships during the downturn are securing capacity first. The event highlighted how niche liquid bulk hazmat freight depends on familiarity, with Saia reporting its best tonnage quarter on record as truckload freight shifts to LTL.
Logistics Maersk raises 2026 outlook again as earnings surge, Q2 revenue climbs 20%
A.P. Moller-Maersk raised its 2026 guidance again after Q2 revenue jumped 20% to $15.8 billion on strong Far East exports, higher spot rates and port congestion. Ocean EBIT more than quadrupled, and the company lifted its full-year EBITDA forecast to $10.5–12.5 billion. Maersk also announced terminal investments in Brazil and Vietnam.
Logistics Chrome Ore Emerges as Dry Bulk's Biggest Grower in 2026
Chrome ore has become dry bulk's fastest-growing trade in 2026, with seaborne volumes up 44% in the first half as South Africa's ferrochrome smelters shut down. China's imports rose 41.5% to 14.05m tonnes, while inventories exceeded 5m tonnes, signalling oversupply.
Logistics Pricing Maritime Emissions Could Accelerate Cleaner Shipping Without Consumer Shock, CTI Consultancy Argues
Andy Lane of CTI Consultancy argues that putting a meaningful price on maritime emissions could accelerate the switch to lower-GHG fuels without triggering consumer shock. The Splash247 analysis cites record ocean temperatures, shipping's 11% share of transport emissions, and 26 years of IMO measures as context for the debate over EEXI enforcement and decarbonisation costs.
Trade Mexico tops US trade rankings in June as Laredo handles $36.5B in freight
Mexico remained the largest U.S. trading partner in June with $89.2 billion in two-way commerce, ahead of Canada and China, according to Census Bureau data. Laredo, Texas, led all U.S. gateways with $36.5 billion in cross-border trade, while the Laredo outbound tender rejection index jumped to 15.19%.
Logistics Freight Rail Index Hits Near Decade High as Rail Traffic Outpaces GDP Growth
The Freight Rail Index has climbed to its highest level since 2008 after four consecutive months of gains, with North American rail traffic up 3.6% in Week 31. U.S. carloads excluding coal rose 4.7% in Week 31 and intermodal set a July record, driving a modal shift away from trucks. A U.S. District Court upheld the FRA's two-person crew rule, while Amtrak faces Midwest locomotive availability issues.
Logistics Fura Acquires Highrise in Seventh AI-Driven Freight Brokerage Roll-Up
Fura acquired Washington state-based freight brokerage Highrise, its seventh roll-up target. CEO Jeff Dangelo says the company onboards acquisitions in about a week using AI, which now sources nearly 40% of booked carriers. Fura's revenue grew from $10M to over $100M, with SG&A costs far below industry norms.
Logistics U.S. Rail Freight Stretches Lead Over 2025 With 2.4% Weekly Volume Gain
U.S. railroads reported 526,410 carloads and intermodal units in the week ending Aug. 1, up 2.4% year-over-year, with intermodal volume climbing 4.8% to 293,239 units. Year-to-date combined traffic through 30 weeks reached 15,229,711 units, up 3.3%. Metallic ores and metals led commodity gains at 9.1%, while coal fell 7.7%.
Logistics J.B. Hunt's 'Summer of Many Minibids': Driver Shortage Reshapes Intermodal Pricing
J.B. Hunt executives said the freight industry is in the 'early innings of supply correction,' with driver recruitment needs at their highest level since 2022. Regulatory crackdowns are removing bottom-tier capacity, while record intermodal volumes and 'the summer of many minibids' point to a road-to-rail conversion opportunity.
Logistics 7 State AGs warn Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger could drive up shipping costs
A coalition of seven Republican state attorneys general is urging the Surface Transportation Board to reject Union Pacific's proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern, arguing the merger could raise shipping costs and weaken rail competition. The letter, entered Aug. 11, targets the Committed Gateway Pricing arrangement, which the states say preserves only 0.9% of rail traffic and may push rates above current levels.
Logistics U.S. container imports surge 4.5% in July as China peak season momentum builds
U.S. containerized imports increased 4.5% month over month in July to 2,508,310 TEU, driven by a 7.2% jump in China-origin cargo, according to Descartes Systems Group. Volumes remain 4.3% below July 2025 levels amid trade-policy uncertainty and last year's frontloading. Gulf Coast gateways also posted gains, continuing a shift in U.S. freight flows.
Logistics Trimble sees freight 'green shoots' as transportation revenue rises 5%
Trimble's transportation and logistics revenue rose 5% organically to $141 million in Q2, while annualized recurring revenue climbed 7% to $533 million. CEO Rob Painter says the freight market is showing green shoots after four years of recession, and Trimble launched a strategic review after receiving unsolicited interest in the unit.
Supply Chain Violent Cargo Thefts Target AI Hardware: 'Worst I've Ever Seen', Experts Say
According to WIRED, cargo thieves are using coordinated, violent tactics to steal AI data center hardware, immobilizing private security escorts on two Silicon Valley-to-Southern California runs. Investigators describe the situation as the worst they have seen, and escort firms are beefing up security in response.
Logistics Baltic Exchange appoints Marcura executive Sigrid Teig as deputy CEO
The Baltic Exchange has appointed Sigrid Teig, formerly of Marcura and Western Bulk, as deputy chief executive. The move comes during a leadership transition at the SGX-owned freight market benchmark provider, with CEO Mark Jackson taking on a broader strategic remit.
Logistics AXSMarine CEO: AI Anchored to Trusted Shipping Data, Not Blockchain, Will Change Decisions
AXSMarine CEO Jacques Goudchaux says AI anchored to trustworthy maritime data will change shipping decision-making, while blockchain has been the industry's most overhyped technology. Following Signal Ocean's January acquisition of AXSMarine, he sees the biggest returns coming from port intelligence, voyage optimisation and better data quality — not from collecting more data.
Logistics Werner unfazed by July trucking slowdown as supply-driven recovery holds
Werner Enterprises executives remain confident despite the July truckload spot market slowdown, citing a supply-led recovery driven by regulatory enforcement. Q2 one-way TL metrics improved sharply, and the company expects rate per mile to rise 10%-13% in Q3. Peak season is expected to bring significantly higher rates.
Logistics Trucking M&A: 3 Reasons Private Equity Struggles With Assets
Private equity firms are returning to trucking M&A as freight rates recover, but asset-based deals still suffer from overleveraged balance sheets, misread freight cycles and underestimated operational complexity, according to FreightWaves. Craig Decker of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company and a commentator named Strickland explain why these failures persist and where PE can still win.
Logistics RXO's $100M Excess Liability Coverage and 42% Spot Mix Reshape Broker Competition
RXO is leveraging excess liability coverage exceeding $100 million and a truckload spot mix of 42% to win enterprise freight as shippers tighten vetting after the Montgomery ruling. CEO Drew Wilkerson told FreightWaves that only two of the top five to ten brokers can match that coverage, making financial stability a decisive sales advantage.
Logistics How Overroute's AI Is Reshaping Asset-Side Trucking Operations at JB Hunt
Overroute, incubated through JB Hunt's UpLabs program, has deployed its AI platform across hundreds of JB Hunt users in intermodal, over-the-road, and dedicated operations, according to FreightWaves. CEO Alex Reed details a three-tier automation approach that starts with low-risk tasks and moves toward frontline asset decisions. The carrier-native strategy aims to prove ROI at the individual user level before expanding to riskier use cases.