FreightCasts

Join host Craig Fuller and "The Armchair Attorney" Matthew Leffler for this edition of Freight Expectations, where they dive into the major regulatory, legal, and operational forces shaping the freight and logistics industry.

In this episode, Craig and Matt examine:

The Future of Intermodal: How rising diesel costs and global market uncertainty are driving shippers toward rail, and whether autonomous truck technology poses a real long-term threat to Class 1 railroad growth.

The "Lawyer vs. Attorney" Debate: Matt clears the air on legal credentials, bar exam requirements, ethics, and the duty of candor following recent public controversies surrounding legal titles.

Freight Liability & M&A: A look at how escalating highway liabilities and nuclear verdicts continue to propel massive freight mergers and acquisitions.

Public Cameras & Surveillance (Flock vs. GenLogs): The legal boundaries of expectation of privacy on public roads, and how AI-powered camera networks are being deployed for ELD compliance and law enforcement tracking.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special Friday edition of FreightWaves Today, host Craig Fuller broadcasts live from Southlake, Texas, to analyze the kickoff of Q3 earnings season and what J.B. Hunt’s latest financial results mean for the broader freight market. Serving as a key bellwether for the intermodal, dedicated, and logistics sectors, J.B. Hunt reported revenue of $3.68 billion—beating consensus estimates—and earnings per share of $1.82.

Highlights from today’s episode include:

Top News & Headlines: A breakdown of the financial disclosures surrounding the shutdown of the Pittsburgh-based R&R Family of Companies, along with details on a $9.4 million fraudulent misrepresentation verdict against Wyoming-based Oak Sourcing and Logistics.

J.B. Hunt Q3 Analysis: FreightWaves Finance Editor Todd Maiden joins the show to examine J.B. Hunt’s intermodal growth, dedicated fleet pipeline, driver recruiting challenges, and transitory cost headwinds like rising fuel prices and medical claims.

SONAR Market Update: A look at current tender rejections, linehaul spot rates, and overall freight volume trends heading into a muted peak season.

Legal & Compliance Update: Guest Matt Leffler weighs in on regulatory compliance, legal liability in transportation, public camera visibility (Flock vs. GenLogs), and the ongoing debate surrounding legal credentials in the news.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to What The Truck! In today's jam-packed Friday episode, hosts Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent dive into currency fluctuations, cutting-edge AI technology, and the evolving landscape of fleet telematics with three expert guests:

Juan Perez, Senior Director of Trading at Monex USA: Juan breaks down why recent central bank rate hikes aren't automatically strengthening currencies and explains how foreign exchange swings quietly eat away at freight and shipper margins. He shares why companies shouldn't attempt to predict central bank moves, what FX hedging actually accomplishes, and the essential steps CFOs must take to manage currency risks.

Alex Pugachov, VP of Growth and Communication at OVN LLC: Alex introduces Verilane—the AI-powered carrier qualification system developed in-house by OVN for its fleet of over 1,300 cargo vans. He details how the system verifies insurance directly with providers, reads entire driver files, and maintains continuous qualification. Plus, he covers how cutting onboarding time in half creates a better experience for owner-operators.

Steve Schwindt, Vice President of Product Management at SambaSafety: Steve breaks down key takeaways from SambaSafety's 2026 Telematics Report. He addresses why so many fleets are drowning in data, how to bridge the gap between collecting data and using it for driver coaching, how telematics integrates with CSA compliance, and where AI fits into predicting risk before incidents occur.

Plus, the hosts break down the latest news headlines, including comments on English proficiency rules, J.B. Hunt's Q3 earnings, and a major fraud verdict out of Wyoming.

⁠Watch on YouTube⁠

⁠Visit our sponsor - TRUCKSTOP.COM⁠

⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠

⁠Apple Podcasts⁠

⁠Spotify⁠

⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠

#WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining the stunning personal finances of a trucking CEO whose company shut down earlier this year. Federal bankruptcy court documents reveal that⁠ Richard Francis disclosed nearly $12.7 million in personal assets⁠, including an $8.5 million Florida waterfront residence at Marco Island. The filings offer the most detailed accounting yet of Francis' wealth following the January collapse of the Pittsburgh-based R&R Family of Companies, which left hundreds of employees without jobs and prompted numerous lawsuits from lenders and creditors.

Meanwhile, we explore a massive courtroom victory for a medical supply distributor defrauded during the COVID-19 pandemic. A California jury⁠ awarded nearly $9.4 million to Ashtel Studios Inc. against Wyoming-based Oak Sourcing & Logistics⁠ after finding the broker made fraudulent representations about its financial resources and customer contracts. The dispute centered on false claims involving an alleged $800 million PPE contract that persuaded Ashtel to enter into $14.7 million worth of medical glove transactions, only to see Oak Sourcing fail to complete payment on a massive second order.

Finally, we break down the latest quarterly results from one of the nation's largest transportation providers as⁠ J.B. Hunt delivered better-than-expected Q3 earnings⁠ with revenue of $3.68 billion and earnings per share of $1.82. The company's intermodal segment posted a strong twenty percent year-over-year revenue increase, marking a fifth consecutive quarter of improvement in operating income and earnings per share, though management flagged near-term cost pressures from diesel prices, driver expenses, and elevated cargo claims that exceeded $50 million in impact.

⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠

⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the latest episode of FreightWaves Today, hosts Malcolm Harris and Zach Strickland deliver a comprehensive look at the market trends, legal developments, and technological innovations shaping the freight industry. The show kicks off with the Morning Minute segment, spotlighting Volvo Trucks North America’s aggressive move to capture 15% of the heavy truck market by targeting vocational trucks with its new VNX platform. The hosts also cover a $51 million lawsuit filed by Edge Logistics against FreightTech Management Group over alleged kickback schemes and customer diversion, as well as pushback from the Sikh Coalition regarding the FMCSA’s proposed English language proficiency rules over concerns of enforcement bias during roadside inspections.

Shifting to technology, Brendan O'Driscoll, VP of Platform AI at Samsara, joins the show to discuss Samsara's newly launched Agent Studio. O'Driscoll details how their no-code builder allows fleet operators to easily deploy voice and chat AI agents, which serve as hands-free assistants for drivers on the road. He highlights how these proactive voice agents can predict Hours of Service (HOS) violations up to three hours in advance, help re-route drivers safely, and significantly reduce crash rates across fleets.

The conversation then turns to risk management with Andy Kuchar, President of Centerline Insurance Company. Kuchar breaks down the hidden liability risks freight brokers face when leasing or offering trailer pools to carriers. He warns that relying on contingent insurance or carrier policies often leaves brokers unprotected due to strict policy exclusions, emphasizing the importance of dedicated coverage and documented trailer maintenance schedules to mitigate major legal exposure.

Finally, Zach Strickland transitions into the Freightonomics segment to break down current market data. He analyzes the unusually flat tender rejection rate holding steady around 14%, contrasting it with record-shattering container throughput at the Port of Los Angeles and persistent inflation pressures impacting long-term planning across the supply chain.

⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠

⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices