FreightCasts

In today’s episode of FreightWaves Today, Julie and Zach dive into the biggest stories across the supply chain, from record-breaking electric fleet orders to shifting contract rates and Q3 earnings.

First, Cristiano Façanha from the Smart Freight Center joins the show to discuss the Zero Emission Truck Shipper-Carrier Alliance Leading Electrification (ZET-SCALE) program’s massive order of 2,500 Class 8 electric trucks, led by Tesla Semis. He breaks down how demand aggregation is bringing down high vehicle costs, why Tesla stood out, and how regional freight hubs are making widespread truck electrification economically viable.

Then, Zach breaks down his SONAR "Chart of the Week," analyzing 25 years of Cass freight data to explain why predicting the current freight cycle is a fool’s errand, how the market remains historically volatile, and what today's 12.7% tender rejection rate tells us about market tightness heading into the holidays.

Finally, FreightWaves Finance Editor Todd Maiden joins for a deep dive into Q3 earnings. They unpack why LTL carriers like Old Dominion are outpacing margin expectations despite rising diesel prices, how truckload giants like Knight-Swift are capitalizing on spot exposure, and why major carriers expect double-digit contract rate increases in 2027.

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In this episode, we kick things off by examining how artificial intelligence is dramatically reshaping freight forwarding economics. Listen in to learn how ⁠Flexport's freight volumes surged 40% while headcount grew only 5%⁠, driven by AI tools deployed across customs, routing, and engineering. The company's ocean peak started early this year, fueled partly by massive tariff refunds following a Supreme Court ruling, while data center cargo now accounts for around 8% of global air freight capacity and is projected to triple next year.

Next, we explore a sobering look at freight market history that reveals why ⁠each freight cycle over the past 25 years has differed dramatically from the last⁠, making it nearly impossible to forecast when cycles begin and end. The post-Great Recession period set many expectations of what "normal" looks like, but COVID was the freight market's second black-swan event in just three years. Remarkably, rates were up 10% in September while volumes rose only 2%, which is hard to reconcile with weak demand.

Finally, we cover a major truckload carrier's aggressive forecast as ⁠Covenant Logistics CEO David Parker expects double-digit contract rate hikes in 2027⁠, driven by rising operating expenses, tightening driver capacity, and continued federal safety enforcement. Shippers resetting contracts in recent months are paying about 12.8% more than the rates they replaced, up from 4.1% during the same period last year. Parker also predicts regulators will eventually require third-party ELD certification, noting that 30% of trucks may be operating with manipulated hours-of-service records.

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The freight market is showing signs of a shift, and this episode of FreightWaves Today breaks down what the latest carrier earnings reveal about the direction of the industry.

Craig and Julie examine third-quarter earnings from Werner, Landstar, Old Dominion, Saia, Schneider and C.H. Robinson, highlighting improving spot market conditions, stronger truckload pricing and continued strength in the LTL sector.

The show also features an in-depth conversation with executives from Schneider and Norfolk Southern about their expanded intermodal partnership. They discuss the strategy behind the move, opportunities to convert truck freight to rail, investments in network capacity, and what the partnership could mean for customers as intermodal demand continues to grow.

Plus, Premier Trailer Leasing CFO Craig Barth joins the show to explain why trailer utilization is reaching record levels, what's driving demand for newer equipment, and why fleets are increasingly turning to leasing. He also shares an important warning about fraudulent trailer rental listings and how trucking companies can protect themselves from scams.
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In this episode, we kick things off by examining the freight brokerage sector's remarkable turnaround as RXO delivers adjusted EBITDA of $51 million in Q3, crushing its own forecast and marking the second consecutive quarter of profitability after years of spotty net income performance. The Charlotte-based broker's truckload segment shifted heavily toward the spot market, which accounted for 59% of volume in the quarter, as the company prepares for its acquisition by C.H. Robinson.

Next, we explore how the e-commerce giant is navigating a challenging logistics environment as Amazon's third-quarter shipping costs jumped 11% year over year, driven by fuel inflation and higher linehaul rates pressuring its massive delivery network. Despite these headwinds, the Seattle-based company achieved record operating income of $28.1 billion and a remarkable 13.9% operating margin through better inventory placement, shorter shipping distances, and package consolidation across its one-million-robot fulfillment network.

Finally, we break down how a Tennessee-based carrier's strategic pivot toward contracted freight is paying off as Covenant Logistics posted a 68% surge in its Managed Freight segment revenue and delivered net income of $10.7 million in Q3. Despite shrinking its average tractor fleet by nearly 9%, the Chattanooga carrier reported freight revenue per total mile climbed nearly 20% to $3.03, with approximately 80% of its asset-based fleet now operating under long-term contracts.

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Brake Check hits the ground at F3: Future of Freight Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for an inside look at the technology, trends, and relationships shaping the future of freight. Charles Gracie sits down with ⁠Truckstop.com⁠ to discuss AI-powered pricing, rate transparency, and why human oversight still matters as freight companies embrace new technology. Then, trucker and industry advocate Larry Cothran shares his perspective on the innovations, connections, and opportunities drivers need to know about to stay ahead of the curve. From AI and smarter workflows to next-gen trucking technology, this episode explores what it takes to turn industry innovation into real-world results. Because the future of freight isn't just about the technology—it's about the people who put it to work.

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