FreightCasts

In this episode of the FreightWaves Morning Minute, we discuss how activist investor Ancora carves out a niche in the transportation sector by forcing shakeups at major companies like C.H. Robinson and CSX. Ancora director Conor Sweeney highlights the firm’s strategy to drive returns by replacing leadership and restructuring boards at underperforming logistics giants. We also analyze recent trade statistics showing that while global demand grew, U.S. container traffic fell in November due to ongoing trade tensions. Import volumes in North America dropped nearly 4% for the eighth consecutive month, sharply contrasting with double-digit growth seen in regions like sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, the show covers the latest employment figures as truck transportation jobs remained flat in December, hitting their lowest point in four and a half years. This stagnation in the trucking sector is accompanied by a significant drop in warehouse jobs, which have plummeted by over 150,000 from their peak in 2022. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to #WithSONAR! This week, we’re diving into Batch Rate Intelligence, SONAR’s multi-lane pricing tool designed to support short-term pricing decisions and RFP strategy with downloadable, market-aligned rate intelligence. In this session, you’ll learn how to: -Access Batch Rate Intelligence within SONAR applications -Upload lanes using the downloadable template or work directly in the UI -View real-time broker-to-carrier spot rates updated daily -Compare spot and contract rates (where available) to evaluate margin and spread -Understand lane scores to gauge capacity difficulty and pricing leverage -Monitor daily rejection rates to anticipate spot rate pressure -Export full datasets for Excel-based RFP analysis and customization Batch Rate Intelligence is an add-on within SONAR and is especially valuable as we head into RFP season, helping ensure your pricing reflects real-time market conditions. 📩 Have questions? Reach out to [email protected] or your Account Manager. 💡 Subscribe for more quick SONAR insights every week! #freighttech #freighttech #gosonar #sonar #softwareasaservice #logistics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we dive into the world of freshness and shelf-lives. Our guest, Karl McDermott, General Manager, UBQ Network and Chief Saas Officer at DeltaTrak, breaks down DeltaTraks’s Freshness Index and how getting days back into shelf life is possible. For more information, subscribe to Running on Ice the newsletter or podcast. Follow the Running on Ice Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Friday edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?, host Malcolm Harris breaks down the biggest stories shaping freight right now — from layoffs and carrier consolidation to aggressive DOT enforcement and tightening compliance standards — before diving into two powerhouse conversations that deliver a true blueprint for brokerage success. First up: Malcolm is joined by Trent Tulloh, CEO & Founder of Forever Freight Broker, for a no-nonsense discussion on: Why relationships (not AI) are the future of brokerage How to build trust with carriers and shippers Training brokers the right way Why paying carriers fairly drives long-term growth What new brokers are getting wrong — and how to fix it Then Malcolm sits down in-studio with Seth Shaver, EVP of Sales at Steam Logistics, for a candid conversation on: Grit, resilience, and longevity in freight sales Building winning teams and culture in tough markets Leadership lessons from scaling through multiple market cycles What young brokers must understand to survive and thrive This episode is packed with real talk, practical insight, and hard-earned lessons from leaders who’ve lived the freight grind — not just talked about it. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for a deep dive into the "SELF DRIVE Act" of 2026, a bipartisan bill aiming to dismantle state-level regulatory patchworks for autonomous trucking. This legislation promises legal certainty for cab-less truck designs and establishes a national safety data repository to replace fragmented reporting mandates. We also analyze the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's plan to restore the 30-day automatic emergency relief window for hours-of-service rules. This reversal addresses the uncertainty and delays caused by the previous 14-day limit during recent disasters like the Key Bridge collapse and regional hurricanes. The conversation shifts to a critical compliance failure in North Carolina, where a DOT audit revealed that over half of commercial licenses issued to foreign drivers were illegal. The state now faces a potential $50 million funding loss and decertification of its CDL program if immediate corrective actions aren't taken. On the business front, we cover the acquisition of Dart Transit by Avkha Equity Holdings, marking the end of nine decades of family ownership for the Minnesota-based carrier. Additionally, we look at the revolving door at the Federal Maritime Commission as longtime Chief of Staff Mary Thien Hoang departs for a partner role at a D.C. lobbying firm. Finally, we explore why analysts have upgraded American Airlines and Sun Country, citing a robust recovery in air travel and resilient cargo operations. Sun Country’s hybrid model and partnership with Amazon are highlighted as key drivers for substantial free cash flow projections. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices