A practical look at how freight AI is evolving from simple automation to operational decision support, and what it means for broker productivity, tribal knowledge capture, and more.
Harish Abbott, CEO of Augment, shares why the future of freight is already here and how to adapt to it.
The Supreme Court ruled Trump's tariffs illegal. Plus: an Illinois official took $300K and handed out illegal CDLs, cartel violence may affect your Mexico freight, 550 CDL schools just got shut down, and more.
Nikola, the EV semi-truck maker once worth more than Ford, is now running out of cash. Can it survive?
In 2020, Nikola Corporation was the hottest name in electric trucking.
Founded by Trevor Milton, the company promised to revolutionize freight with its hydrogen and battery-powered semi-trucks.
Investors bought in. Big-name partnerships, including General Motors, followed. At one point, Nikola's market value soared past $30 billion—more than Ford at the time.
But hype has a shelf life. And Nikola’s ran out quickly.
Nikola pitched itself as the future of zero-emission trucking.
It aimed to disrupt the industry with its Nikola One and Nikola Tre models, promising long-range, hydrogen-powered freight solutions.
The company even planned to build a nationwide hydrogen fueling infrastructure to support its ambitious vision. But while the promises were grand, the execution was anything but.
“We have never seen this level of deception at a public company, especially of this size,” Hindenburg stated in its report, titled How to Parlay An Ocean of Lies Into a Partnership With the Largest Auto OEM in America.
Hindenburg revealed how Nikola staged a promotional video called Nikola One in Motion, showing a truck supposedly cruising under its own power. In reality, it was towed to the top of a hill and simply rolled down.
Timothy B. Lee
This wasn’t the only lie. Nikola falsely claimed to have proprietary battery and hydrogen technology, all while outsourcing key components and concealing the truth from investors.
The fallout was swift. Milton stepped down. The SEC and DOJ launched investigations. By 2022, he was convicted of fraud and sentenced to prison. Nikola’s stock, once flying high, crashed back to reality.
Adriana Pulley
Brought to You By TrueNorth
Frustrated with outdated load booking methods that look too much like Craigslist-for-freight? TrueNorth offers brokers a modern solution:
Even without Milton, Nikola pushed forward.
It delivered some electric trucks, including the Nikola Tre battery-electric model.
Major fleets like Covenant Transport placed orders, but deliveries were slow, and reliability issues plagued the trucks.
Nikola also acquired battery-maker Romeo Power in 2022, hoping to secure its own battery supply, but the deal failed to solve its cash problems.
The company made efforts to establish hydrogen fueling stations, securing partnerships with energy firms to develop infrastructure. Yet, the high costs and logistical challenges of hydrogen production remained a massive hurdle. Nikola struggled to make the business model work.
Despite these efforts, the bad news kept coming—recalls, fires, and mounting financial losses.
In 2023, the company recalled over 200 battery-electric trucks due to fire risks.
By 2024, Nikola’s financial health had deteriorated. It struggled with supply chain disruptions, production delays, and a lack of investor confidence.
Fast forward to 2025, and Nikola is on the brink.
Stock prices have plummeted 95% in the last year. Reports indicate the company is exploring selling parts—or the entirety—of its business. With only enough cash to last through Q1, it’s a race against time.
A source close to the company told Bloomberg, “At this point, every option is on the table. They need a lifeline.”
Meanwhile, Trevor Milton has been released from prison and has returned to social media, defending himself and Nikola’s legacy. In a recent post, he wrote:
“It’s hard to believe at one point people doubted Nikola trucks were even real. Seeing Nikola trucks still on the road today is a testament to the truth. Makes you wonder how far we could’ve gone if there weren’t so many bumps along the way.”
Milton continues to insist that Nikola was unfairly targeted by short-sellers and the government. In another post, he claimed:
“The shortsellers and government were able to change the story and rewrite the truth because the company refused to stand up and tell the truth.”
Despite his public statements, the numbers tell a different story. Nikola’s cash reserves are dwindling, and without a major turnaround, its future remains uncertain.
Hype is not a business model. At its peak, Nikola was a story investors wanted to believe. But the market eventually wakes up.
Tesla, Rivian, and other EV companies still have their challenges. But Nikola’s story serves as a stark reminder: In business, reality always wins.
Let’s see what happens next.
Brought to You By TAB LLC
TAB-LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Artur Express Inc. Our asset-backed model allows our agents to explore opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable.
At TAB, we provide agents with unmatched support, leading technology, staffing options, and unlimited potential to meet their financial goals and keep the wheels turning.
What we offer:
And much, much more.
FREIGHT MEME OF THE DAY
The Supreme Court ruled Trump's tariffs illegal. Plus: an Illinois official took $300K and handed out illegal CDLs, cartel violence may affect your Mexico freight, 550 CDL schools just got shut down, and more.
Here are the Top 500 fleets of 2026. Plus: Sierra snow shuts down I-80, rail targets truckload freight, and ocean rates fall.
Here’s what’s trending across freight and logistics on X, LinkedIn, Reddit, and YouTube.
Freight rates could climb faster than anyone expects. Plus: Illinois CDL crackdown, 2026 top freight bottlenecks, LA Port slows, and more.
Join over 14K+ subscribers to get the latest freight news and entertainment directly in your inbox for free. Subscribe & be sure to check your inbox to confirm (and your spam folder just in case).
