The Supreme Court just heard arguments in the broker liability case weāve been tracking. Plus: oil shipping costs explode, trucking insurance is stuck in 1980, regulators brace for a carrier crackdown, and more.
Optimize freight broker operations by fixing payment workflows in Q1. Streamline carrier pay before capacity shifts compress your margins.
Tucker Carlsonās nicotine brand loses 378,000 tins in a cargo theft. Plus: produce rates reset, diesel climbs, and a bill that could pull hundreds of thousands of drivers off the road.
Plus, DAT outage frustrates customers, Forward Air's stock is up 192% since May 23rd, and more.
Good morning. With Trump winning the 2025 election, logistics execs are already bracing for potential impacts on freight, from tariffs to energy policies. Hereās a quick look at what his policies might mean for the industry.
Plus: DAT outage frustrates customers, Forward Air's stock is up 192% since May 23rd, and more.
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š WHATāS COOKINā IN FREIGHT
š Forward Air's Stock Up 192% Since May 23rd. Forward Airās revenue jumped to $655.9 million in Q3, up 92% thanks to the Omni Logistics acquisition, though integration costs led to a $34.2 million net loss. CEO Shawn Stewart confirmed Omniās integration is nearly complete, allowing Forward Air to focus on expanding its global freight services. The company is streamlining IT and operations, with a new Miami hub supporting Latin American routes. Since May 23rd, Forward Airās stock has surged 192%, climbing from $12.50 to $36.50.
š Landstar Expects Owner-Operator Decline. Landstar System reported a 12% YoY drop in owner-operator trucks in Q3, with a 1% decline from Q2. High repair costs, lengthy delays, and prolonged low rates are driving the decrease, CEO Frank Lonegro noted. The company anticipates further reductions in Q4 due to challenging conditions for independent drivers. Lonegro suggest owner-operators may return slowly, unlike during the pandemic boom, due to persistent high costs and uncertain rate stability. Landstar isnāt expecting typical holiday demand surges but believes rate increases could encourage a gradual return if sustained.
š Overcapacity Fears Eased By Expectation of Strong Peak Season. Despite trucking overcapacity, peak season demand is maintaining trucking employment, with only 100 jobs lost in Octoberāa minor decline given six months of losses in 2024. Revised data shows a stronger-than-expected transportation job market, with September and August adjustments revealing higher job retention. The sector gained nearly 98,000 jobs YoY, though other transport areas like warehousing saw job losses. Average earnings in transportation rose, yet wage gains were uneven across roles. Although broader employment fell short of expectations due to strikes and hurricanes, peak season is offering stability, though a full recovery remains distant.
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Sources have called it. The President-Elect is Donald J. Trump.
In the late hours of Wednesday, as more states turned red, there was a buzz about what Trump's policies could mean for U.S. freight.
Hereās a breakdown of key areas to watch:
Trump's proposed tariffs on Chinese imports, potentially up to 60%, aim to boost American manufacturing. While this could drive demand for U.S. transport of locally made goods, it may also raise prices on imports.
"Tariffs are the greatest thing ever invented," Trump said last month.
FreightWaves' Craig Fuller discussed tariffs in their State of Freight: 2024 Election Special and noted these tariffs might force Chinese exporters to reduce prices.
Fuller is optimistic, tweeting that Trump's policiesālike import prestocking to dodge tariffs and lower income taxes to spur consumptionācould fuel a trucking bull market.
This balance between protectionism and potential cost hikes remains a hot topic.
Trumpās $1.5 trillion infrastructure vision includes state-led, decentralized projects, promising faster road and bridge improvements.
However, the heavy reliance on public-private partnerships leaves questions about consistent funding.
His past recognition of truckers as essential workers suggests ongoing regulatory support for drivers.
Trumpās energy policies historically support fossil fuels and deregulation, often contrasting with current electrification initiatives.
A return to these policies could slow the momentum for electric truck adoption by reducing incentives for clean energy in trucking.
Adriana Pulley
While this could mean lower fuel costs and fewer regulatory hurdles in the short term, it may pose challenges to long-term goals in emissions reduction and fleet electrification.
Trump supports advancing U.S. manufacturing through tech innovation.
His policies may encourage investments in automation for supply chains, though recent labor strikes reveal tension between automation and job security.
Adriana Pulley
The ILA's strike, which was suspended until January 15, centered on demands for higher wages and a ban on all automation at ports, reflecting broader concerns about AI and automation in the workforce.
Still, others in the industry have questions on industry-specific issues that require more targeted answers from government agencies under the new administration.
As Trump prepares to take office, we will continue to monitor these policy shifts closely and keep you updated on how they may impact the future growth and operations of the freight industry.
Note: The information provided is based on current reports and may evolve as new details emerge.
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Instead of wasting time calling drivers, brokers simply automate the process through TextLocate and save hours at very little cost investment.
š AROUND THE FREIGHT WEB
š¤ DAT Outage Frustrates Customers. DAT experienced a downtime yesterday for several hours, leading to significant frustration and anger among its users.
š Cybersecurity Protection. At the three-day National Motor Freight Traffic Association conference, speakers shared experiences with cyberattacks and strategies to prevent costly breaches and implement safeguards against multimillion-dollar vulnerabilities.
š„ Executive Changes. J.B. Hunt announced executive team changes, with Nick Hobbs remaining as COO and assuming roles as President of Highway Services and the Final-Mile segment.
š Tech-Driven Growth. Arrive Logisticsā CEO Matt Pyatt credits their custom homegrown tech adaptations for helping the company āflex upā and grow 15% this year.
šØ Fraud Charges. Stephen Gurba is facing charges for allegedly using his deceased business partner's information to secure PPP loans on behalf of his trucking companies.
š£ THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER
FREIGHT MEME OF THE DAY
The Supreme Court just heard arguments in the broker liability case weāve been tracking. Plus: oil shipping costs explode, trucking insurance is stuck in 1980, regulators brace for a carrier crackdown, and more.
Tucker Carlsonās nicotine brand loses 378,000 tins in a cargo theft. Plus: produce rates reset, diesel climbs, and a bill that could pull hundreds of thousands of drivers off the road.
The Middle East crisis is already hitting carriers. Plus: Florida lost $3B in crops, flatbed rates posted a fifth straight weekly increase, a $5B brokerage was just acquired, and more.
Plus: autonomous trucking just raised $113M, California is fighting to keep 20,000 drivers, Arrive's 2026 truckload freight forecast, and more.
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