🎣 What Do You Think?

TGIF. Reagan believed tariffs would wreck the economy. Trump says they’ll save it. Markets are swinging, opinions are clashing, and where does freight stand in the crossfire? We're covering all this and more in today's feature story.

Plus:

• 🚛 Trump EPA Rolls Back Truck Emission Rules
• 🚢 U.S. Container Imports Steady... For Now
• 📉 51-Year-Old Trucking Company Shutters
• & More...

TOP LANE MOVERS POWERED BY GREENSCREENS.AI

🐔 WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN FREIGHT

📉 Trump EPA Overturns Biden-Era Truck Emission Rules. The Trump administration has scrapped 2027 heavy-duty truck emissions regulations, eliminating an expected prebuy surge and reducing costs for small trucking operators. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called the rollback the “greatest deregulation in U.S. history,” aligning with Trump’s pro-fossil fuel agenda. Industry leaders, including the ATA, praised the move, arguing that previous rules were costly and unrealistic. The EPA also plans to review greenhouse gas regulations and the Biden-Harris “EV mandate,” citing $700 billion in compliance costs. Zeldin stated, “The American auto industry has been hamstrung by the crushing regulatory regime of the last administration. As we reconsider nearly one trillion dollars of regulatory costs, we will abide by the rule of law to protect consumer choice and the environment.”

🚢 U.S. Container Imports Hold Strong...For Now. U.S. container imports remained high through early 2025 despite trade tensions, though a February dip saw volumes fall 10% from January while rising 4.7% year-over-year. Imports from China declined 12.5% month-over-month due to seasonal factors and new tariffs, but annual growth remained positive. Tariffs doubled to 20% in March, prompting retailers to accelerate shipments ahead of further increases. Proposed U.S. port tolls on Chinese vessels and geopolitical instability add further volatility. While major ports brace for a summer slowdown, shifting trade patterns could strain supply chains, impacting both consumer prices and economic stability. Furthermore, “Tariffs are taxes on imports ultimately paid by consumers, not foreign countries, and American families will pay more as long as they are in place,” per the words of Jonathan Gold, NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy.

📉 Equity Transportation Shutting Down. Equity Transportation Co. Inc., a 51-year-old trucking company based in Walker, Michigan, has ceased operations, laying off all drivers. Reports indicate some employees are awaiting final wages, with bounced checks adding to concerns. The company, flagged for financial distress, faced operational challenges, including regulatory violations and accidents. Broader industry pressures—overcapacity, declining rates, and economic uncertainty—have contributed to a wave of trucking bankruptcies. Equity’s shutdown is another tragic story within the ongoing freight recession, where even long-established carriers struggle to survive in a volatile market. The company, as of today, has not issued a statement. And so, this developing story continues.

Brought to You By TextLocate

TextLocate makes it easy for brokers to communicate directly with drivers via SMS-based text messaging—no app to download—without having to use personal communication devices.

Features like 2-way text chat, one-time location updates, and image capture (think BOLs and PODs) all inside a simple dashboard give brokers the quick updates they need to make better decisions about freight.

Instead of wasting time calling drivers, brokers simply automate the process through TextLocate and save hours at very little cost investment.

Tariffs, Trade Wars & Freight: A Deepening Divide

The tariff saga just won’t quit.

Trump’s latest trade salvos—including threats of 200% tariffs on European wines and a now-paused 50% tax on Canadian metals—are sending shockwaves through markets, freight rates, and political circles.

While some see tariffs as a necessary move to protect American jobs, others argue they’re a surefire way to disrupt global supply chains.

Here’s where things stand:

FreightCaviar Poll: What Does the Industry Think?

We asked our 65,935 LinkedIn followers if tariffs are good for freight. Here’s what they said:

• 16%: Yes, tariffs boost domestic freight.
• 36%: No, they hurt trade & volume.
• 31%: Mixed impact.
• 16%: Not sure yet.

The results highlight a divided industry, with more respondents seeing tariffs as a net negative for freight movement.

"Tariffs are not just about protecting American jobs. They’re about protecting the soul of our country." – Trump

"You see, at first, when someone says, 'Let's impose tariffs on foreign imports,' it looks like they're doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs. And sometimes, for a short while, it works—but only for a short time." – Ronald Reagan (1987)

• Click here to watch President Reagan share his thoughts on tariffs.

Markets in a Spiral

Tariff turmoil isn’t just hitting freight—it’s hitting Wall Street hard.

Yesterday:

🔴 Dow: -1.6%
🔴 S&P 500: -1.6%
🔴 Nasdaq: -2.2%
🔴 Russell 2000: -1.8%

"The question for markets is whether good news on inflation can make itself heard above the noise of the ever-changing tariff story." – E-Trade

Expert Take: Can This Trade War Cool Off?

As tariff tensions escalate, some experts are urging a course correction. Jason Miller, a Supply Chain Professor at Michigan State University, has outlined key steps that he believes could de-escalate the trade war and prevent further economic fallout.

His proposed strategy includes:

• Rolling back the latest steel and aluminum tariffs to avoid retaliation from Europe and mitigate rising costs for U.S. manufacturers.
• Dropping tariffs on Mexico and Canada to create space for renegotiating the USMCA, rather than letting tensions spiral into further trade barriers.
• Easing tariffs on Chinese intermediate goods, which are critical to U.S. manufacturing competitiveness—arguing that these restrictions only drive costs higher for American businesses.
• Exploring a return to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which could open new trade avenues while stabilizing existing partnerships.

Cross-Border Freight Feeling the Pinch

Canadian and Mexican imports are in limbo, causing spot market volatility.

According to DAT, cross-border dry van rates with Canada are in free fall, and brokers are hesitant to commit to long-term pricing with the policy shifts.

Steel and aluminum tariffs remain a sticking point, with Trump pushing for a protectionist stance while Ontario’s government retaliates with surcharges on U.S. electricity exports.

Reagan vs. Trump: A GOP Trade Divide

Trump’s hardline stance on tariffs has some business leaders looking to the past for guidance—and they’ve found it in Ronald Reagan’s free-trade philosophy.

A 1987 Reagan speech denouncing tariffs has gone viral in corporate circles, with CEOs like JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon reportedly sharing it internally as a counterpoint to Trump’s trade war.

From the past, Regan offers strong counterpoints to leveraging tariff policies:

"Throughout the world, there's a growing realization that the way to prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition."

"High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars. The result is more and more tariffs, higher and higher trade barriers, and less and less competition."

"Markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down, and millions of people lose their jobs."

This signals a major ideological shift within the GOP, as Trump reshapes the party’s stance on global trade.

What’s Next?

• April 2 Tariff Deadline: New duties on foreign cars and agricultural products could be coming.
• Business Backlash: More CEOs may publicly push back against protectionism.
• Freight Rate Watch: Keep an eye on Canadian and Mexican cross-border volumes.

As tariff drama unfolds, FreightCaviar will be watching closely. How do you think tariffs will impact your business? Send us a reply to this newsletter and vote in our LinkedIn poll.

Brought to You By FreightClaims.com

Take control, centralize your claims process for:

✅ Faster resolutions
✅ Automated tracking & updates
✅ Simplified carrier communication

🌎 AROUND THE FREIGHT WEB

🚨 Thief WARNING. The Bannon Report posted on its LinkedIn about MC954343 stealing freight with multiple sources to support these claims. Aman Pannu (Ohio CDL) and Michael Rock (Pennsylvania CDL) are drivers to look out for and stay away from. Chances are they have switched MCs.

🐍 Python-Assisted Robbery. In Tennessee, a group of men used pythons to intimidate and rob truck stop employees out of $400 of products. There was intent to steal more, but with too many people in the shop, the thieves opted to run away.

⚓ Labor Agreement. ILA and USMX have officially signed a landmark six-year contract, covering U.S. East and Gulf ports. The deal gives union members a 62% raise over the course of the contract and job protections linked to automation technologies.

📦 KAL Freight Update. KAL Freight will remain under Chapter 11 bankruptcy after some creditors feared it would fall under Chapter 7. KAT will be sold eventually, but what assets will remain is still unclear.

🤖 Nirvana's Funding. AI-powered trucking insurance startup Nirvana raised $80M at an $830M valuation. This new funding will be used to build more services for fleets and individual drivers.

🏭 GE Aerospace's Plans. GE Aerospace plans to invest nearly $1 billion in its U.S. manufacturing and supply chain this year to bolster factory capabilities and adopt new technologies. In addition to this, the plan is to also hire 5,000 workers in the U.S.

🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER

• The FreightCaviar Podcast: We sat down with Aleksander Frelas, Founding Member of Velite.io, a cybersecurity services company. He discusses what sparked his passion for the industry, shares tips on preventing corporate hacks, and more. Catch the episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.
• Women in Freight. March 8th was International Women's Day, and today, we're showcasing seven female freight Founders/CEOs and the lessons and experiences that have shaped their journeys. Read the article here.
• TIA Capital Ideas Conference: FreightCaviar will be in attendance at this year's conference, held April 9-12 in San Antonio. We hope to see you there at the biggest event for brokers. Register now.
• ‼️ Now Hiring: Chicago-based freight brokerage and technology company Batch Freight is seeking a full-time Customer Sales Rep—learn more and apply here.

FREIGHT HUMOR