FreightCasts

On this episode of Loaded and Rolling, recorded live at Trimble Insight 2026 in San Diego, California, host Thomas Wasson sits down with Michael Kornhauser, Sector VP of Transportation at Trimble. They dive into Trimble's latest innovations in enterprise trucking technology, including:

AI & Product Development: How Trimble leverages AI internally and across its product offerings, including the new Trimble Arc Agent, to boost productivity and customer support.

Next-Gen Mapping & PC*MILER: Innovations in routing, mapping, and CoPilot navigation to eliminate wasted mileage and streamline driver execution.

Appian Fleet Optimization: Enhancing multi-stop routing and fleet planning through the fusion of human expertise and AI execution.

Data Ownership & Integration: Empowering carriers and private fleets with democratized, secure data sharing and modular TMS solutions.

Tune in to discover how Trimble is shaping the future of transportation and logistics technology.

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Diesel prices are climbing, operating costs are squeezing carrier profits, and a major nuclear verdict against C.H. Robinson could have far-reaching implications for freight brokers. On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Malcolm Harris and Julie Van de Kamp break down the latest freight market data, explore the growth of autonomous trucking, and examine the legal and economic pressures shaping the transportation industry.

In this episode:

Autonomous Trucking Moves Toward Scale: Brett Suma, president and COO of Bot Auto, joins the show to discuss the company's rapid growth and its strategy for scaling driverless freight operations. Learn how Bot Auto plans to reduce autonomous driving hardware costs to approximately $50,000 per truck, why capital efficiency matters, and how AI-powered software, redundant safety systems, and real-world customer commitments are helping advance autonomous trucking.

SONAR Freight Market Update: Julie examines the latest truckload trends as freight volumes soften while carrier capacity remains tight. With overall tender rejections holding around 13.9% and refrigerated tender rejections at approximately 21.4%, carriers continue to have leverage in selecting loads. The update also explores seasonal refrigerated freight demand, harvest activity, and why reefer spot rates are rising faster than contract rates.

Diesel Prices and Carrier Cost Pressures: FreightWaves Editor-at-Large John Kingston breaks down the latest diesel price movements amid global supply disruptions and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. The discussion looks at depleted inventories, the outlook for fuel prices heading into winter, and why diesel remains a major concern for trucking companies despite fuel surcharges.

C.H. Robinson's $700 Million Verdict: Kingston explains the Texas judge's decision to uphold a roughly $603 million jury verdict against C.H. Robinson, with accrued interest pushing the total to approximately $700 million at the time of the discussion. The team examines the potential implications for broker liability, negligent carrier selection, insurance requirements, and the broader freight brokerage industry as the case moves toward the next stage of legal proceedings.

Werner Enterprises and Trucking Earnings: The team breaks down Werner's third-quarter profit warning, including the impact of elevated diesel prices, driver recruitment and retention expenses, and insurance claims. With earnings reports rolling in across transportation, the discussion explores why rising rates may not be enough to offset mounting operating costs.

Drug Seizure at the U.S.-Mexico Border: Authorities discovered approximately $30.4 million worth of suspected methamphetamine concealed in a commercial salt shipment at the Laredo World Trade Bridge. The hosts discuss the risks facing trucking operations along the border and the importance of investigations into illicit cargo moving through commercial freight networks.

What Is Keeping Trucking Executives and Drivers Up at Night? The show examines findings from the American Transportation Research Institute's annual critical issues survey. Fuel prices have returned as a leading industry concern, alongside lawsuit abuse reform, driver shortages, insurance costs, and truck parking—highlighting the different pressures facing drivers and motor carriers.

From driverless trucks and freight market dynamics to diesel volatility and broker liability, this episode delivers essential insights into the forces shaping trucking and the supply chain.

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In this episode, we kick things off by examining the brutal cost pressures hitting carriers in the early stages of the industry's recovery. Werner Enterprises just issued ⁠adjusted earnings guidance that fell significantly below Wall Street expectations⁠, flagging eighteen cents in cumulative headwinds from elevated diesel prices, higher driver recruitment costs, and an insurance reserve adjustment. While truckload carriers have been raising rates for the first time after a nearly four-year downturn, profitability is still being heavily squeezed by early-upcycle cost inflation.

Next, we explore the dark side of cross-border logistics as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers uncovered a massive narcotics operation concealed inside what appeared to be a routine commercial freight shipment. On October twelfth, CBP discovered ⁠nearly thirty point four million dollars in suspected methamphetamine hidden inside a commercial salt load⁠ at Laredo's World Trade Bridge. Officers recovered over three thousand pounds of suspected methamphetamine from seventy-six bags inside a trailer manifested as salt, underscoring the ongoing security challenges at the nation's busiest commercial land port.

Finally, we break down a new industry survey revealing that ⁠fuel prices have roared back to become trucking's single biggest concern⁠ after not even making the top ten list the past two years. The American Transportation Research Institute's annual study shows fuel prices ranked number one among drivers and number two for carriers, finishing in the top slot overall. The carriers' rating is particularly notable because it undercuts the idea that fuel surcharges effectively shift diesel costs onto shippers with little impact on the carrier's bottom line.

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Diesel prices are surging, freight costs are climbing, and the trucking industry is facing mounting pressure. On this episode of FreightWaves Today, Julie Van de Kamp and Zach Strickland break down the latest freight market data, examine the impact of geopolitical tensions on fuel prices, and explore what rising costs mean for carriers, shippers, and the broader supply chain.

In this episode:

Diesel Prices and Carrier Profitability: John Tirado, founder and president of Summa Energy, joins the show to discuss global fuel supply disruptions, the outlook for diesel prices, and why small and midsize fleets need to prepare for prolonged volatility. The conversation explores fuel surcharges, cash flow challenges, and how fuel hedging can help carriers manage costs.

SONAR Freight Market Update: Zach Strickland analyzes accepted tender volumes, rising tender rejection rates, spot market pricing, and the latest diesel data. Despite weakening accepted volumes, capacity remains tight, suggesting the freight market may not follow the traditional recovery pattern many expected.

Global Supply Chain Disruptions: Escalating attacks near the Strait of Hormuz are raising concerns about maritime security, shipping traffic, energy supplies, and the ripple effects of geopolitical conflict across transportation and the global economy.

Freight Fraud and Cargo Theft: The team examines a cocaine trafficking investigation involving commercial trucking operations in Florida and a California trucking company owner's guilty plea in a multimillion-dollar identity theft and bank fraud scheme. The discussion highlights the ongoing risks fraud poses to carriers and brokers.

Tracking Assets Beyond the Truck: Steve Logue, general manager of the Americas at Sensolus, explains how cellular-connected tracking technology helps manufacturers and logistics operators monitor pallets, crates, totes, and other non-powered assets. Learn how improved visibility can reduce lost assets, prevent production delays, and improve operational efficiency.

Freight Earnings and Rising Costs: Julie and Zach discuss J.B. Hunt's latest earnings and what higher operating expenses, driver pay, insurance, and maintenance costs reveal about the challenges facing transportation companies—even as freight revenues improve.

From fuel market volatility to freight fraud and emerging asset-tracking technology, this episode delivers the data, insights, and industry perspectives you need to understand what's shaping freight right now.

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This episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? covers major freight headlines, trucking fraud, court rulings, and industry insights featuring three featured guests:

• Headlines & Industry News:

• Nuclear Verdict Upheld: Discussion on the Dallas County Court affirming a $604 million verdict against C.H. Robinson (now totaling $711 million with accrued interest) following a fatal 2021 crash involving a carrier hired for Arizona Beverages.

• Identity Theft & Credit Fraud Scheme: A California trucking company owner, Hassan Korkmaz, pleaded guilty to an 18-count federal indictment involving a $2.1 million bank fraud and identity theft scheme.

• Interstate Drug Ring Bust: Details on "Operation Ice Breaker," which intercepted 45.5 kilograms of cocaine transported from California to Florida on a commercial trailer without the carrier's knowledge.

• Operation Sideswipe Update: Attorney Danny Keating was sentenced to 32 months in federal prison for his role in the staged-accident insurance fraud scheme in Louisiana.

• Guest Interviews:

• Steve McGarry (CEO, Iron Meadow): Discusses the relaunch of Load Work, a platform designed for underserved carriers (cargo vans, box trucks, sprinters, and hotshots) expanding into open deck and heavy freight, utilizing conversational AI integrations to simplify load posting and carrier matching.

• Jim Arthurs (President, J.D. Arthurs & Associates): Explains the launch of the HPDI 3.0 high-pressure direct injection natural gas system in partnership with Volvo, highlighting its fuel efficiency advantages, environmental impact, and economic case for large fleet operations.

• Mike Branch (VP of Data & Analytics, Geotab): Analyzes Geotab’s inaugural Health of the US Supply Chain Report, using data from over 6 million connected vehicles to highlight a nearly 4% increase in regional freight travel, port-to-rail shifts, and early economic indicators.

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