The FAA has mandated flight reductions—ramping up toward a 10% cut at 40 of the busiest domestic hubs due to air traffic controller shortages—which severely restricts domestic "belly cargo" capacity for high-value shipments but largely spares all-cargo carriers like FedEx and UPS.
The ground market is defined by a financial squeeze hitting 3PLs like RXO, who are struggling as locked-in, lower contractual sales rates are undercut by suddenly spiking buy rates for trucks, evidenced by the National Truckload Index climbing from $1.68 per mile to $1.80 more recently. RXO's CEO calls this structural capacity exit—driven by tighter regulations and spiking insurance costs forcing smaller carriers out—one of the largest structural changes since deregulation, prompting the company to execute $165 million in total cost cuts and rely heavily on technology to achieve a 19% boost in broker productivity.
We pivot to the ocean sector, where Maersk upgraded its full-year EBITDA guidance ($9.0-$9.5 billion) despite facing a jaw-dropping 30.7% year-over-year decline in Q3 freight rates, a success attributed to superior operational execution, 7% container volume growth, and an integrated network that provides a "better moat" against spot volatility. Finally, we track localized labor pressure, including over 900 supply chain layoffs in Texas across diverse sectors like crude oil transport, and monitor the rigorous, impartial review promised by Surface Transportation Board nominees for the massive proposed $85 billion Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger.
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Truck Tech | Sleeper Test & Proving Ground Thrills: Driving the New Volvo VNL
Join Thomas Wasson on this special episode of Truck Tech as he travels to the Michelin Proving Ground to put the all-new Volvo VNL to the ultimate test!We explore every angle of this cutting-edge tractor, from its revolutionary aerodynamic design (including that slick, wedge-shaped nose!) to the advanced safety and driver-assist technologies.What's in the Video:
Track Test Drive: Thomas takes the VNL out on two different tracks to experience the smooth ride and test the performance of the Volvo 13-speed transmission while pulling a heavy load.
Adaptive Cruise Control Demo: Watch as we test the smart, Level 2 safety features, including the camera-radar fusion system and the incredible stop-and-go functionality in a simulated traffic scenario.
Deep Dive on Fuel Efficiency: We interview Volvo team members about the design philosophy and the impact of features like the 6x2 configuration with a liftable axle, which can save up to 3% in fuel costs!
Real-World Driver Review: Get insights from Joel Morrow of Alpha Drivers Trucking, a long-time Volvo customer who is hitting 12+ MPG in his custom "Purple Haze II" VNL.
The Ultimate Sleeper Review: Thomas spends the night in the premium cab, giving a full tour of the spacious living environment, including the mini-fridge, microwave, storage nooks, and testing the quiet, battery-powered AC unit.
This is a must-watch for fleet managers, owner-operators, and anyone interested in the future of trucking technology!Don't forget to like and subscribe for more Truck Tech!#VolvoVNL #TruckReview #SemiTruck #FuelEfficiency #AdaptiveCruiseControl #TruckTech #MichelinProvingGround #SleeperCab #TruckingLife
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Freightonomics | Shutdowns and showdowns
Dr. Zac Rogers and Zach Strickland discuss the October LMI readings and how businesses are being impacted by the government shutdown and the looming tariff ruling.
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The Daily | November 6, 2025
We begin with the tragic UPS cargo jet crash near Worldport in Louisville, UPS's critical global hub, which resulted in at least nine confirmed fatalities and exposed the fragility of single-point logistics assets.
This immediate physical disruption led UPS to cancel initial express and deferred operations and suspend the money-back guarantee for all US packages, even as the NTSB worked quickly to recover the flight recorders. Following the accident, night sort operations at Worldport partially resumed to enable next-day air deliveries, though delivery commitments were relaxed for Thursday.
Wall Street severely reacted to 3PL RXO’s Q3 earnings report, sending the stock plummeting over 14% pre-market after the company reported adjusted net income of just $2 million compared to $7 million last year and missed analyst estimates on EPS. RXO’s CEO cited a "deadly combination" of rising truckload capacity costs alongside persistently weak demand, forcing the company to launch aggressive new cost initiatives targeting over $30 million in savings.
Broader market data confirms this complex landscape, revealing a persistent trucking paradox where Q3 national shipment volumes fell 2.9% but shipper spending paradoxically increased 2% quarter-over-quarter, suggesting that capacity is leaving the market faster than demand is declining. This divergence grants remaining carriers unexpected pricing power, while regional differences were severe, including a massive 15.7% volume drop in the Southwest amplified by stricter DOT English language proficiency rules.
Further underscoring the market weakness, recent CarrierSource data shows shipper search activity for trucking capacity fell to its lowest point in over a month, driven by macroeconomic uncertainty and production slowdowns. In response to this volatility, global terminal operator DP World is focusing on resilient supply chains by leveraging its vast network across 78 countries and strategically investing in technology, particularly AI and predictive tools.
DP World is offering adaptive solutions such as deploying "pop-up warehouses" for temporary surge capacity in locations like Olive Branch, Mississippi, and Miami, and strategically using alternative gateways like Prince Rupert and Vancouver for fast rail access into the US Midwest and Northeast. These strategies emphasize building options and flexibility into the network to navigate volatility, whether it stems from physical crashes or financial squeezes.
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Ship Happens | Building a Resilient Supply Chain with Tim Jed of DPR Construction
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Ship Happens! SONAR's
Chief Marketing and Operations Officer, Julie Van de Kamp, is joined by Tim Jed, Supply Chain Leader at DPR Construction, to tackle the (frankly chaotic) world of construction logistics.They dive into the unique challenges of managing a project-by-project supply chain, navigating market volatility caused by shifting tariffs, and using data to bring order to the chaos. Tim shares his perspective on the current freight environment and explains why, in an unstable market, true collaboration with partners is the most critical tool for when... ship happens.
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A full trailer load of freight podcasts from FreightWaves. Enjoy shows like the award-winning WHAT THE TRUCK?!? podcast, Put That Coffee Down, Freightonomics, Fuller Speed Ahead, Great Quarter, Gals and more with one click of the subscribe button. One freight feed to rule them all!
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