Plus: a Wyoming pipeline blast snarls a key freight corridor, brokers double down on U.S.–Mexico, truckload hauls shrink to record lows, and more in today’s newsletter.
FreightWaves data shows truckload haul lengths hit an all-time low of 522 miles in August. With shorter hauls, EV adoption becomes more practical, adding a new dynamic for freight brokers.
C.H. Robinson and Uber Freight are expanding cross-border LTL services as U.S.–Mexico trade surges.
A Wyoming pipeline explosion damaged Union Pacific train cars and forced emergency response along I-80.
A natural gas pipeline ruptured and burst into flames early Sunday near Interstate 80 west of Cheyenne, Wyoming, sending a glow visible as far south as Colorado. The blaze charred several Union Pacific freight cars and came within 40 feet of hazardous materials rail cars before crews brought it under control. No injuries were reported, but the event disrupted one of the busiest freight corridors in the region.
Emergency crews responded shortly after 1 a.m., following reports of explosions along I-80, according to Laramie County Fire District #10. The ruptured Kinder Morgan pipeline ignited close to the Union Pacific train, forcing firefighters to contain the blaze through the morning.
Union Pacific confirmed that no cars derailed, though several were blackened by flames. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the cause of the rupture, with federal officials on site as of Monday.
The fire occurred along a major east–west corridor where truck and rail traffic are heavily intertwined. Even without derailments, inspections and potential track repairs may still create localized slowdowns or diversions.
The incident also raises questions about risk exposure when energy pipelines and freight routes run in such close proximity. For brokers moving time-sensitive or hazmat freight, the event serves as a reminder of the importance of contingency planning and carrier vetting.
The rupture points to larger systemic vulnerabilities facing the freight sector. From bridge collapses to derailments and energy system failures, disruptions in adjacent infrastructure can directly affect logistics operations and capacity.
As federal investigators assess what led to the rupture on Monday, the Wyoming fire serves as a timely reminder that freight planning must account not only for market volatility but also for the resilience of the infrastructure on which supply chains depend.
Source: ABC News
FMCSA is launching its first fatal truck crash causation study in nearly two decades, aiming to pinpoint driver, vehicle, and environmental factors shaping deadly crashes and future safety policy.
Subscriber reports suggest brokers and shippers are tightening driver verification after the Florida crash, with some requiring CDL uploads and even U.S. citizenship checks before booking loads.
The fatal Florida truck crash has triggered a federal probe into CDL licensing failures.
A Florida truck driver faces vehicular homicide charges after an illegal U-turn crash left three dead
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