Plus: A major broker liability case climbs higher, FedEx hits pause on LTL rule enforcement, tariff deadlines tighten the squeeze on small ports, and more in today’s newsletter.
Happy Hump Day. DSV just broke ground on a 900,000-square-foot mega-facility in Laredo. In today’s feature, we break down why this monster investment matters, how it’s changing the U.S.-Mexico trade lane, and what it signals for the future.
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🍳 WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN FREIGHT
🚢 Tariff Deadline Pressures Small Ports and Importer Cash Flow. As the August tariff hikes loom, shippers are shifting cargo to major U.S. ports, hurting smaller gateways like Oakland, Seattle, and New Orleans, which saw volume drops of over 30%. “This is not a seasonal dip, but a market recalibration,” said Oakland Port Director Bryan Brandes. To manage cash, importers are also ramping up supply chain financing and off-book inventory strategies, especially in automotive, retail, and healthcare sectors. Wells Fargo’s Jeremy Jansen noted growing pressure to extend payment terms. With sourcing shifting to Vietnam and India, smaller ports and domestic carriers may face longer-term strain.
⚖️ Fifth Circuit Takes Up Penske Broker Case, Raising Stakes for Supreme Court Review. A new case, Crane vs. Liberty Lane, is before the Fifth Circuit, challenging whether Penske’s brokerage entities can be held liable for a fatal 2018 crash involving an unauthorized subcontractor. Though Penske was dismissed at the district level, plaintiffs are appealing, citing the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act’s (F4A) safety exception. If the Fifth Circuit sides with plaintiffs, it could tip the national circuit split to 3–2, increasing pressure on the Supreme Court to rule. With Caribe vs. Montgomery and Cox vs. TQL also in the pipeline, legal clarity on broker liability may soon take center stage.
📦 FedEx Freight Delays LTL Rule Enforcement, Creating Market Confusion. FedEx Freight will delay enforcing the new density-based LTL classification rules until December 1, offering shippers breathing room amid a complex industry shift. The NMFTA's changes, which took effect July 20, align freight pricing more closely with handling costs based on shipment density rather than commodity type. While other carriers press forward, FedEx’s pause could lead to temporary shipper preference shifts, inconsistent rule enforcement, and added complexity for 3PLs. “This delay is meant to ensure a smooth transition,” FedEx said. But with inspection surcharges looming post-December, shippers must still prepare now to avoid costly missteps.
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On Tuesday, logistics giant DSV broke ground on a 900,000-square-foot facility in Laredo, Texas. It's one of the most significant physical bets yet on nearshoring.
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Mexico has held the title of the top U.S. trade partner for all of 2024 and early 2025, accounting for over 16% of total bilateral goods trade and outpacing China and Canada.
Now we’re truly entering the build-out era, where brick and mortar is backing that nearshoring promise.
A Border Boom with Freight Broker Opportunity Written All Over It
DSV’s move is about claiming dominance in what’s quickly becoming the most valuable trade lane in North America. The company is building a high-tech cross-border facility to handle warehousing, transloading, and freight flows between Mexico and the U.S.
This is a major capital investment from one of the largest players in the logistics world. That alone should make everyone's ears perk up.
Why it matters:
DSV isn’t guessing. They’re building this to support real freight from real manufacturers already expanding production in Mexico.
Laredo is ground zero for the nearshoring boom. The new freight frontier has arrived.
Brokers who act now can position themselves as the go-to partner for high-volume, high-friction loads moving through this corridor.
As the Supply Chain Dive recently pointed out, cross-border operations are under strain. Visa restrictions, limited drayage capacity, and customs chokepoints have made transloading at the border a nightmare.
DSV’s new hub is designed to be the fix:
Close proximity to the World Trade Bridge
Integrated warehouse and transportation operations
Designed to speed up transloading and reduce dead time for carriers
This means a wave of shippers looking for partners who understand the new model and the region’s nuances.
This Is a Sales Script in Disguise
Don’t overlook the real takeaway here: this groundbreaking is your client conversation starter.
“Hey, saw the news about DSV’s massive investment in Laredo. That facility’s going to be handling a ton of new cross-border freight. Are you set up to take advantage of this?”
Whether you’re offering carrier sourcing, last-mile domestic coverage, or just trying to get your foot in the door, this story is a soft pitch goldmine.
Laredo: The Next Long Beach?
Big investments like this don’t happen in isolation. They reshape regions. As DSV plants a flag in Laredo, it’s clear that the industry is turning the page on Asia-to-West-Coast as the dominant model.
Instead, it’s shifting to something more regional:
Mexico-origin freight surging through Texas
Cross-dock networks expanding from Laredo to Chicago and beyond
Shippers looking for resilience, not just cost savings
Even with trade tensions heating up, like the end of the tomato agreement and potential retaliatory tariffs, investments like this show that the U.S.–Mexico trade lane is built for the long haul.
Follow the Freight, Follow the Opportunity
DSV’s Laredo facility is more than a building. It signals that North American logistics is entering a new phase.
As nearshoring accelerates and trade lanes shift, the entire industry (from shippers to carriers to tech providers) will need to adapt to new infrastructure, cross-border complexities, and evolving demand patterns.
Laredo is becoming the heartbeat of that change. If you haven’t been paying attention, now’s the time.
🔥 IndyCar Hauler Fire. Last Sunday, a truck transporting IndyCar Series race cars caught fire on I-75 in Colona, IL. No injuries were reported. Hazmat units were able to contain the fire and the on-board fuel containers were not damaged, preventing further escalation.
😔 Ruan Job Cuts. Ruan Transport will lay off 144 workers in Arizona after losing a key customer contract. The company has filed a WARN notice with the state, citing operational changes.
🛢️ Diesel Stocks Plunge. U.S. diesel inventories have dropped to their lowest level since 1996. Some are worried about supply constraints and potential price volatility heading into peak shipping season.
🚍 CDL Test Waiver Approved. FMCSA will allow transit agencies to skip the “under-the-hood” portion of the CDL skills test, aiming to ease hiring amid driver shortages in public transportation.
❄ Cold Storage Expansion. PermaCold Logistics will invest $60 million in a new temperature-controlled facility in Georgia to meet rising cold chain demand. “Their decision to invest here will deliver more cold chain service options for port customers,” said Flavio Batista, CCO of Georgia Ports.
🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER
FreightCaviar Podcast: In this week's podcast, we interview Anes Balic, Director of Sales and Business Development at Balic Transport Inc. Anes shares how they built a trucking company out of one of the toughest outbound markets in the U.S. Catch it on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
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FreightJobs.co: HaulPay is looking for a remote Business Development Specialist. You can apply directly from our freight job board.
Freight Broker Group Chat: Lost a load to a ghost MC? Just discovered a 15-layer carrier spoof ring? Come swap war stories, drop memes, and ask the stuff no one wants to post on LinkedIn. Join us on forum.freightcaviar.com
I’m Adriana, a writer and editor at FreightCaviar. I’ve covered everything from freight tech to industry lawsuits and market shifts, helping scale us to almost 14K subscribers. My goal: to make logistics stories digestible, clear, and fun to read.
Hello! I'm Jerome FreightCaviar! I’m into the politics of freight and the impact it will have worldwide. I'm always eager to learn more. Follow me on X @JeromeFreightC
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Adriana Pulley
Jerome Washington
