The Middle East crisis is already hitting carriers. Plus: Florida lost $3B in crops, flatbed rates posted a fifth straight weekly increase, a $5B brokerage was just acquired, and more.
Plus: autonomous trucking just raised $113M, California is fighting to keep 20,000 drivers, Arrive's 2026 truckload freight forecast, and more.
Two bills just dropped in the Senate that could reshape trucking faster than anything since deregulation. Plus: Russian hackers targeted your load board, flatbed rejection rates just hit 40%, and a robot is taking the Houston-Dallas overnight run.
The FMCSA has stepped in to get the egg supply moving. Plus: Mexico set a record as the top US trade partner in 2024, US ports are seeing high import volumes as retailers rush shipments ahead of tariffs, and carriers are clashing over Convoy’s $75,000 bond payout after its collapse.
Happy Hump Day. Today, we're covering the topic everyone is talking about: What's going on with the price of eggs? As eggs become a luxury item, thefts are up and the FMCSA has stepped in to get the egg supply moving.
Plus:
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🐔 WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN FREIGHT
🚛 Carriers Clash Over Convoy Collapse Fallout. Hundreds of motor carriers are vying for a share of a $75,000 bond after the 2023 collapse of Convoy, a $3.8 billion digital freight broker. With $2.6 million in claims, Swiss Re, Convoy’s bonding company, filed an interpleader case to determine payouts. Small carriers argue the bond is inadequate, leaving them repaying factoring companies and pushing for higher bond requirements. However, Mladen Prisic pointed out in a recent LinkedIn post that raising the bond could harm small brokers and carriers, proposing a risk-based approach instead. This is yet another highly debated topic that exposes the tension between protecting carriers and sustaining smaller brokers in a market increasingly dominated by big players. Whose side are you on?
📈 Port Cargo Volumes Stay High Despite Tariff Concerns. US container ports are expecting high import volumes as retailers accelerate shipments to bypass rising tariffs on Chinese goods and other trade uncertainties, reports the Global Port Tracker. Retailers are frontloading goods to mitigate cost impacts, though this strains supply chains with warehousing challenges. December 2024 saw record-breaking activity, with 25.5 million TEUs handled for the year, up 14.8% from 2023. Forecasts indicate continued growth through mid-2025 despite uncertainty surrounding tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Ben Hackett, founder of Hackett Associates, warns that extended tariffs could raise consumer costs and disrupt port cargo, potentially slowing economic activity. For now, the situation remains fluid, pending tariff policy adjustments.
🇲🇽 Mexico Sets Record as Top US Trade Partner in 2024. In 2024, Mexico became the United States' leading trade partner for the second consecutive year, setting a historic record of $840 billion in trade, the highest ever between the US and any nation, according to trade analyst Ken Roberts. Mexico’s exports to the US reached $506 billion, while US exports to Mexico totaled $334 billion. Port Laredo, Texas, emerged as the top US trade gateway, handling $339 billion in two-way trade. Canada ranked second in US trade at $761 billion, followed by China at $582 billion. The top traded goods included auto parts, passenger vehicles, gasoline, and computers.
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Egg prices are cracking under pressure. A nationwide shortage, fueled by bird flu wiping out millions of hens, has left shelves bare and prices soaring. And just when you thought things couldn’t get weirder, thieves are making off with truckloads of eggs.
Last weekend, a truck carrying 100,000 organic eggs—worth $40,000—was stolen from a Pennsylvania farm. It’s the latest in a series of egg thefts, as shortages send black-market demand through the roof. In Seattle, thieves snatched 540 eggs from a restaurant (maybe they were just meal prepping?).
With prices up 160% since 2019, some folks are taking “Eggflation” into their own hands, whether that’s backyard chickens or late-night supply chain "diversions."
With egg supplies in crisis mode, the FMCSA has issued an emergency waiver to ease trucking regulations for haulers transporting live chickens away from highly impacted areas.
The avian flu has already led to the slaughter of 104 million egg-laying birds since 2022, and regulators are scrambling to help.
This temporary exemption allows haulers to drive longer hours to move flocks before they get infected, a move aimed at keeping the egg supply stable.
But it comes with restrictions:
With egg prices forecasted to jump another 20% this year, it’s clear that this crisis isn’t over yet. The FMCSA hopes its waiver will keep more eggs flowing before the shortages get worse.
With supply chain disruptions continuing, consumers may see even more price fluctuations. For now, grocery stores are limiting purchases, truckers are getting regulatory relief, and diners are paying a little extra for their morning omelets.
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🌎 AROUND THE FREIGHT WEB
🙁 Trucking Closures Continue. Yesterday, we ran a poll on our Instagram page, and out of 672 respondents, 54% (365 people) say they are hearing the same.
📦 High-Tech Forklifts. ArcBest is introducing freight-dimensioning forklifts that can scan and measure cargo in seconds. Currently, the technology is in a pilot phase, with plans to expand it to other industries.
🇪🇺 EU-US Trade Spat. The EU plans retaliatory tariffs on US exports like bourbon and motorcycles in response to US steel and aluminum tariffs, escalating trade tensions.
⛽ Hydrogen Fuel Stations. HydroFleet announced plans to build a new fueling station for hydrogen-powered trucks near the Port of Savannah. The facility will initially refuel 7-14 trucks a day, with plans to scale up to 50 trucks daily.
💡 Freight Hero Launch. Freight Hero, emerging from stealth mode with backing from Dynamo and AI Fund, automates tasks wherever possible.
🚨 Wheeler Thieves Arrested. Three individuals have been arrested for their role in thefts targeting parked 18-wheelers. Chambers County Sheriffs recovered multiple stolen items, and the investigation is ongoing.
🤖 Warehousing with AI. CJ Logistics America is enhancing warehouse operations through its partnership with OneTrack's AI and computer vision technology.
🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER
FREIGHT HUMOR
The Middle East crisis is already hitting carriers. Plus: Florida lost $3B in crops, flatbed rates posted a fifth straight weekly increase, a $5B brokerage was just acquired, and more.
Plus: autonomous trucking just raised $113M, California is fighting to keep 20,000 drivers, Arrive's 2026 truckload freight forecast, and more.
Two bills just dropped in the Senate that could reshape trucking faster than anything since deregulation. Plus: Russian hackers targeted your load board, flatbed rejection rates just hit 40%, and a robot is taking the Houston-Dallas overnight run.
This week: The Dalilah Law, a trucking bankruptcy that wiped out thousands overnight, a FreightGuard civil war on Reddit, and the payroll data that's predicting Q4 capacity.
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