The March LMI reads like 2022 with prices at a 4-year high. Plus: warehouse arson in California, Mexico's trucker strike enters day three, and broker margins are still underwater.
Deployment expands the GoodShip platform beyond shippers to support carriers, brokers, and other logistics service providers
If you're based in the Chattanooga metro area, we invite you to come to the launch of our print magazine & 'Freight Alley' film launch party.
Plus, storms and flooding impact freight corridors, California seeks international tariff immunity, automakers halt productions, and more.
Happy Monday. A 2023 ice cream haul turned legal fight may redefine broker-carrier rights. TQL wants it dismissed. Pink Cheetah isnāt backing down. We cover the details in today's feature.
Plus:
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š WHATāS COOKINā IN FREIGHT
š§ Relentless Storms Hit the Midwest and South, Triggering Floods and Fatal Crashes. A powerful storm system sweeping across the Midwest and South has caused over 400 crashes in Minnesotaāincluding a fatal semi-truck collisionāand unleashed historic flooding in states like Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas. In Minnesota, one man died after losing control of his pickup and hitting a semi, while dozens more were injured on icy roads. Meanwhile, torrential rains have pushed rivers, including the Ohio and Kentucky Rivers, past flood stage, submerging homes and prompting evacuations. Notably, this marks only the second time in 28 years that the Ohio River flood stage has reached 60 feet. At least 18 deaths have been reported due to storm-related incidents. With more rain expected, emergency crews remain on high alert, and road closures are likely to impact freight routes across affected regions.
š« California Pushes Back as Tariffs Threaten Trade and Ports. Governor Gavin Newsom is seeking tariff exemptions and initiating informal trade talks with allies to shield California from economic fallout amid Trumpās proposed import levies. As the worldās fifth-largest economy, California faces heightened risks, especially in agriculture and manufacturing. Newsom aims to reassure trade partners that the state remains a stable and reliable player. Meanwhile, Port of Los Angeles Director Gene Seroka warns of a 10% drop in container volume due to frontloaded inventories and rising prices from tariffs. āItās my view that the second half of this year, beginning July 1 through the end of the year, weāre going to start to see a drop in cargo [year over year],ā said Seroka. Importers now face tough choices: shifting sourcing, cutting costs, or passing expenses to consumers, further straining Californiaās supply chains and global competitiveness.
š Automakers React Swiftly to Tariff Shock with Cuts and Discounts. Nissan has halted U.S. orders for its Mexican-made vehicles following President Trumpās 25% car import tariff while preserving Rogue production in Tennessee. The move is part of a broader crisis response amid slumping profits, leadership changes, and a failed Honda alliance. āWe are reviewing our production and supply chain operations to identify optimal solutions for efficiency and sustainability,ā Nissan said. āThe company currently has ample inventory at our U.S. retailers that is unaffected by the new tariffs.ā Meanwhile, Stellantis, Hyundai, and Ford are rolling out major discounts and price freezes to ease consumer anxiety and prevent sales drops. Automakers are bracing for supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and potential impacts on freight demand for cross-border parts and finished vehicles.
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Feature Story
A small Florida-based carrier is taking on one of the biggest names in freight brokerage, and everyone should be watching.
Pink Cheetah Express v. Total Quality Logistics (TQL) was filed in federal court in D.C. in February. Pink Cheetah alleges that TQL refused to comply with federal broker transparency rules, even after a direct order from FMCSA.
Adriana Pulley
This David-and-Goliath legal battle, spotlighted by attorney Matthew Leffler, centers around Section 371.3 of the Code of Federal Regulations, a rule that gives carriers the right to see what brokers charge shippers for loads they haul.
āThis is among the most important lawsuits in freight brokerage and could impact tens of thousands of brokers in the U.S.ā ā Matthew Leffler, The Armchair Attorney
In January 2023, Pink Cheetah hauled a load of ice cream from Indiana to Ohio. They were paid $1,500, including layover, but wanted to see what TQL charged the shipper.
TQL refused, citing a 2019 broker-carrier agreement in which Pink Cheetah allegedly waived their right to access transaction records. But that waiver directly conflicted with federal law, so Pink Cheetah pushed back.
An FMCSA investigation followed. In November 2023, the agency ordered TQL to comply and ditch waiver clauses in future contracts. TQL eventually handed over the ice cream records, revealing it kept 44% of the shipperās paymentāfar above the industry average broker margin of 14%-16%.
Pink Cheetah is now suing to:
TQL wants the case thrown out and filed a motion for dismissal on April 4th. Leffler outlines their arguments:
Broker rate transparency has been back in the spotlight and this case lands right as the industry awaits FMCSA's next move.
Just two weeks ago, the comment period closed on the FMCSAās proposed rulemaking that could reshape how brokers share transaction records. The proposal includes:
Now, Pink Cheetahās lawsuit becomes a real-world test case for what happens when FMCSA rules clash with private contracts. If the court sides with Pink Cheetah, thousands of brokers could be forced to strip transparency waivers from their contracts and rethink how they handle carrier record requests.
How Highway Saved Sethmar from a $130K Load Being Stolen
Sethmar Transportation, a Kansas City-based 3PL, takes carrier vetting seriously to protect its customers and partners. By implementing Highwayās load-level monitoring solution, Load Lock, they stopped a $130,000 theft in minutes by detecting and removing a fraudulent carrier before pickup.
š AROUND THE FREIGHT WEB
š Markets in Meltdown. Global stock markets are plunging following Trumpās sweeping tariff announcement last week. From Hong Kong (-13.6%) to Germany (-6.8%), investor panic is rippling across continents.
š Tesla Semi Delayed. The Tesla Semi Electric Truck Program has been hit with delays and a steep price increase. The previously priced $180,000 500-mile version is now estimated to cost nearly $400,000. Additionally, the original 42 planned units for 2025 have been reduced to just 16.
ā” First Customer. ReVoltās extended-range electric semi-trucks have landed their first customer. The hybrid electric semi promises 40% better fuel economy while delivering twice the torque of a traditional diesel-powered semi.
š„ Egg Heroes. Turkey and Mexico played pivotal roles in easing the U.S. egg crisis. Import data from February 2025 shows a combined $6 million worth of eggs were imported from the two countries.
š Delta Expanding. Taiwan-based Delta Electronics is investing $115 million in a new factory in Plano. The plans include a three-story manufacturing facility and a four-story office building, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
š Fashion Woes. Various sectors of the fashion industry are taking steps to soften the blow of impending tariffs. āWhile tariffs can be a useful tool in addressing unfair trade practices, they disproportionately impact the fashion industry,ā the United States Fashion Industry Association said in a statement.
š£ THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER
FREIGHT HUMOR
The March LMI reads like 2022 with prices at a 4-year high. Plus: warehouse arson in California, Mexico's trucker strike enters day three, and broker margins are still underwater.
āI used to hate a freight broker. All they're trying to do is take my money. That was the attitudeā¦ until you realize that if there's a load of freight, whether itās intermodal, brokerage, or assets, the load is going to go the way itās supposed to go. You can fight it, but youāll go broke.ā
The contract cushion brokers relied on is nearly gone. Here's what that means for your margins. Plus: FMCSA is pulling ELDs fast, Hormuz cracks open - barely, $821k ghost load scheme, and more.
Plus: Brokers return, Hormuz spikes rates, LTL stays stuck in a tough year, and more.
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