Plus: Automation scales from highways to rail, brokers face heat over illegal CDLs, ATA rethinks the “driver shortage,” and more in today’s newsletter.
Good morning. The numbers don’t lie. Freight’s biggest problem isn’t tech or regulation, it’s the economy. From $140M tariff hits to 48K layoffs, the pressure’s everywhere. We break it down in today's feature.
Plus:
Freight Automation Levels Up
Brokers Caught in CDL Crossfire
ATA's Driver Shortage Pivot
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🌄 Waabi–Volvo and Glīd Pushing Automation Forward. Autonomous trucking and intermodal tech are converging fast. Waabi and Volvo Autonomous Solutions unveiled the Volvo VNL Autonomous, fully integrated with the Waabi Driver, marking a major Level 4 autonomy milestone. Meanwhile, Glīd Technologies, a TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 finalist, is tackling the road-to-rail bottleneck. Its GliderM hybrid-electric mover and Rāden platform automate first-mile container transfers, cutting costs from $2.27 to $0.08 per ton-mile.
🔊 Illegal CDL Debate Puts Brokers Under Fire. Mike Kucharski, VP of JKC Trucking, says the freight recession is being worsened by non-domiciled CDL drivers underbidding loads and driving small carriers out of business. He called the licensing loophole “disturbing and jaw-dropping,” urging Secretary Duffy to tighten oversight after his plan to withhold $160 million from California over illegal CDLs. Plus, Adam Wingfield warns some brokers may be knowingly using cheaper, non-domiciled drivers to save $400–$500 per load, risking liability and reputational damage. Wingfield says this could be a “what-you-don’t-check-can-destroy-you” moment for freight.
👨💼 New ATA Chair, New Tune on the ‘Driver Shortage’. Greg Hodgen, CEO of Groendyke Transport, has been elected the 81st chairman of the American Trucking Associations, pledging to champion the “noble profession” of trucking and focus on restoring trust and stability across the driver workforce. His leadership begins as ATA's Chris Spears makes comments that seem to suggest a turn on the "driver shortage" issue. Craig Fuller of FreightWaves noted that many large fleet executives are frustrated with ATA policies that fueled instability, including non-domiciled CDLs and self-certified driver training, measures once justified by a supposed shortage.
ATRI’s 2025 Critical Issues in the Trucking Industryreport just confirmed what most brokers, carriers, and shippers already know: the economy is still freight’s biggest headache.
For the third year in a row, economic conditions topped the list, beating out lawsuit reform, insurance costs, and driver pay. And this week’s headlines show why that anxiety isn’t going anywhere.
What's Happening
Falling exports are an early red flag for the U.S. economy. Less global demand means fewer goods moving through ports, factories, and freight networks, and slower growth ahead. Image Source: Richard Baldwin/LinkedIn
Tariffs, layoffs, and trade disruptions are squeezing the freight economy from all sides.
McCormick & Co.raised its expected tariff hit for 2025 from $90M to $140M, blaming new levies and rising raw material prices.
And while logistics M&A hit $138.5B this year (a record), deal counts dropped, proof that investors are being cautious, not bullish.
The number of deals has declined, but the dollar amount has increased significantly. Image Source: Axios
The Economic Chill
The “no hire, no fire” job market is officially over.
Amazonto cut 14,000 jobs and UPS will eliminate 48,000, both citing automation, tariffs, and slowing e-commerce demand.
A U.S. government shutdown now in its third week has 700,000 federal workers furloughed and $800M in daily contract freezes. Economists say the drag could shave 0.2 percentage points off GDP each week the shutdown continues.
More Top Concerns
ATRI’s top 10 also reveals new pain points:
English proficiency, emissions, training, and AI enter the list for the first time.
“Driver compensation” and “lawsuit abuse reform” remain top-tier frustrations.
Together, they show an industry balancing workforce tension, regulatory fatigue, and economic headwinds.
The Takeaway
Even with record deal values and tech buzz, freight’s biggest issue is still survival in an unpredictable economy.
Efficiency is the new growth. The winners in 2026 won’t expand the fastest; they’ll adapt the smartest when the math stops working.
🐒 Monkey On The Run. A truck hauling rhesus monkeys overturned near mile marker 117 on Interstate 59 in Jasper County, Mississippi; authorities say the monkeys were described as “aggressive” and allegedly carrying COVID-19, hepatitis C, and herpes...one remains on the loose.
📍 Motive's News. Motive is opening an 11,000 sq-ft office in Austin, TX to deepen U.S. operations and regional talent development, while rolling out its “AI Answers” conversational tool to give fleet teams immediate insights into safety, fuel, and maintenance.
📊 DAT Execs Outline. Leadership from DAT Solutions detailed at two industry forums how recent acquisitions are enabling the company to pivot beyond load boards and reshape end-to-end freight-chain services.
🚨 Semi-Truck Scam Alert. Law enforcement in Garden City, Idaho, issued a warning this week about a fraudulent sales scheme offering “$10,000 semi-trucks.”Authorities say the company solicited deposits for rigs that were never delivered.
🥜 Pistachio Warning. California’s 1.5 billion-pound pistachio harvest coincides with an uptick in organized cargo fraud: fake carriers, bogus insurance certificates, and stolen identities are feeding a billion-dollar “blind spot” in freight security.
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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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