The UP-NS pitch to regulators is that the combined network would pull 2.1 million truckloads off highways annually. Plus: USPS signs a $10B+ deal with DHL, 20+ carriers go under in May, and Hub Group's CFO and COO are out.
The freight tech aisle has gone full AI. The ops floor has not. Here's what's actually moving the needle in 2026.
A viral X thread by @supertrucker exposed the concentration of trucking companies in California.
A book by a former FBI agent links truckers to 850 murders.
Happy Hump Day. Today's feature story highlights three wild truck driver stories currently in the news: arson, murder, and tax evasion.
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🐔 WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN FREIGHT
🚚 Top Trucker Corridors. Trucker Path released the most driver-friendly freight corridors: I-90 (Seattle-Boston), I-5 (West Coast), and I-44 (Texas-St. Louis) - scoring in the 90s for parking, amenities, and fuel prices. These overlap major DOT-mapped truck/rail arteries like I-5 and I-90, making sense as busier routes cater better to driver needs. While challenges remain industry-wide, these highways stand out.
🤖 Artur Express & Kodiak Partner Up. Artur Express teams up with Kodiak Robotics to integrate self-driving trucks into its fleet. This partnership aims to enhance safety, efficiency, and driver well-being. Artur Express sees this collaboration as a step towards a safer and more efficient future. Meanwhile, legislative hurdles in Delaware and New York could impact the rollout of autonomous trucks, requiring human drivers in these vehicles.
📈 China-Mexico-Laredo. FreightWaves has reported a 127% increase over the last five years (24% year-over-year) in China-to-Mexico shipments routed through Laredo, Texas. This route allows China to circumvent U.S. The surge in shipments is significantly impacting imports of electric vehicles (EVs), semiconductors, solar cells, and more. Additionally, the U.S. has expanded its list of companies barred from importing due to allegations of using forced Uyghur labor. The newly barred companies span various industries, including footwear, aluminum, and seafood.
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The trucking industry has its share of dark tales, from arson to reckless driving and even murder. We're outlining some recent and unsettling stories here.
A Michigan truck driver, Viorel Pricop, received a 10-year prison sentence for setting Swift Transportation trailers on fire. His campaign of revenge spanned eight states, putting lives at risk.
Authorities linked Pricop to the fires using cell tower data and search warrants. He faces additional charges in New Mexico and Arizona.
While stories of fraud and retaliation are shocking, that pales to the details of 850 long-haul trucker murders. A new book by former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi, "Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers," reveals a chilling connection between long-haul truckers and hundreds of highway murders.
Figliuzzi's book, which has gathered significant media attention, was released at the end of May.
Juller Perez Salcedo, a New Jersey trucking company owner, was sentenced for his involvement in a kickback conspiracy and tax evasion scheme, defrauding a bedding company and the IRS.
Perez Salcedo's fraudulent activities led to significant financial losses for the bedding company and evasion of substantial taxes.
Sources: FreightWaves | CDL Life | Independent
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🌎 AROUND THE FREIGHT WEB
👮♀️ Broker Accountability for Freight Fraud. Owner of Paragon Logistics says brokers shoulder blame for freight fraud by failing due diligence, enabling bad actors to impersonate carriers and steal loads.
🚛 Truck Driver Held on Reckless Driving Charges. A truck driver in Morgan County, Alabama, faces multiple charges and is held on a $900 bond after a Sunday night arrest for reckless driving and related offenses.
🤖 10 Ways to Leverage AI in Freight Today. Check out this guest-written FreightCaviar article from Anthony Sundström on the practical ways you can use AI today.
💰 Descartes Acquires BoxTop for $13M. Descartes, owner of MacroPoint, continues acquisitions, purchasing England's BoxTop Technologies for $13 million to enhance its network for small and mid-sized logistics firms.
🇨🇦 Canadian Border Agents Strike Averted. Canadian border agents and the government reach a tentative labor agreement, preventing a strike.
🔒 Highway Integrates with REPOWR for Carrier Vetting. REPOWR's trailer-sharing platform now leverages Highway's carrier compliance insights to securely share assets with vetted partners after integration.
🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR PODCAST
In this week’s episode, we sat down with Andrey Drotenko, President of Strategic Relations at Verified Carrier, a vetting platform. Andrey goes behind the scenes of fraud detection. He explains the role of Verified Carrier in preventing fraud, how scammers manipulate current systems, emphasizes the importance of inspections for freight brokers.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.
FREIGHT MEME OF THE DAY
Also, check out:
The UP-NS pitch to regulators is that the combined network would pull 2.1 million truckloads off highways annually. Plus: USPS signs a $10B+ deal with DHL, 20+ carriers go under in May, and Hub Group's CFO and COO are out.
A viral X thread by @supertrucker exposed the concentration of trucking companies in California.
Echo Global Logistics is heading back to court after the Supreme Court stripped brokers of their legal shield. Plus: insurance premiums aren't stopping, AGX Freight sues R&R and Huntington, Walmart just closed the door on inbound LTL, and more.
Thomas Mella breaks down his thoughts on this week's FreightCaviar Podcast.
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