FreightCasts

The freight market is heating up—and this week's episode breaks down why.

We kick off the show with a look at record-setting trucking spot rates, why the July 4 holiday is the freight industry's "Super Bowl," and what tightening capacity means for carriers, brokers, and shippers heading into the second half of the year.

Then we dive into the day's biggest logistics headlines, including:

A $1.3 million cargo theft recovery near Chicago

Boeing's major freighter deal with China Southern Airlines

A growing biometric privacy class-action lawsuit impacting the trucking industry

Our featured guests include:


Steve Lockington, President & CEO of Geotab Vitality, on how behavioral science, telematics, and positive incentives are improving driver safety, retention, and fleet performance.


Burak Cendek, Managing Director at AutoTech Ventures, discussing the venture capital landscape and where transportation technology is headed next.


Michael Farkas, Founder & CEO of NextNRG, on AI, energy infrastructure, remote fueling, and the impact of lower oil prices on freight.


Gabe Ribeiro, Head of Partnerships & Marketing at Hey Bubba, on building community and innovation in trucking.

Plus, Craig Fuller delivers a SONAR market deep dive covering:

All-time high trucking spot rates

Tender rejection trends

Blue-to-Blue freight markets

Fuel prices vs. freight pricing

What carriers and brokers should expect in the weeks ahead

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The final Monday of June is packed with freight news, industry insights, and plenty of laughs on this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!?

Hosts Malcolm Harrison and Michael Vincent kick things off by catching up on weekend adventures—from bourbon tasting and disc golf to a look at what's ahead for the freight industry this summer.

In this episode:

The Port of Brownsville completes its $295 million ship channel expansion and what it means for trade, LNG exports, and cross-border freight.

A $500,000 bourbon shipment disappears after thieves pose as a legitimate trucking carrier. How cargo theft scams continue to evolve.

FMCSA announces major enforcement actions, shutting down fraudulent CDL schools, removing non-compliant ELDs, and increasing investigations. Are these meaningful reforms or simply fixing long-standing problems?

Tommy Slaymaker, Director of Fleet Services at The Pete Store, joins the show to discuss fleet maintenance, fuel costs, equipment lifecycle planning, and why proper truck specifications can save fleets thousands over the life of a vehicle.

Plus, Grace Sharkey joins later in the show with more insights on the biggest stories shaping transportation and supply chain.

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In this episode, we kick things off by examining a massive cargo theft recovery near Chicago that reveals the sophisticated nature of organized freight crime. The Cook County Sheriff's Office recovered two stolen trailers containing over $1.3 million in copper wire and data center equipment at a truck yard in Elk Grove Township. Both trailers had been equipped with stolen license plates and were linked to the same unidentified driver, though no arrests have been announced yet.

Next, we shift over to the air cargo sector where a state-owned Chinese carrier is making a landmark move that signals a major thaw in trade relations. China Southern Airlines placed an order with Boeing for seven freighter aircraft, including five of the all-new 777-8F models expected to hit the market in 2028. This represents the first purchase of the 777-8 freighter by a mainland China carrier and comes after China reopened its market to Boeing during President Trump's May visit to Beijing.

Finally, we explore how a biometric privacy lawsuit filed in 2021 by an Illinois truck driver has just expanded into a potentially costly class action. A federal judge granted class status to the case against Universal Intermodal Services over fingerprint scanners used at its Harvey, Illinois facility. The broader class definition brings in workers from a Universal Logistics subsidiary and third-party staffing agencies, significantly expanding the scope of potential damages under Illinois' stringent Biometric Privacy Act.

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In this episode of Freight Expectations, Craig Fuller, Matt Leffler, and Max Fuller dive into one of the biggest shifts the trucking industry has ever faced. From the controversial driver shortage debate to federal regulations, fleet adoption, maintenance challenges, and the future of autonomous trucking, this conversation explores what's coming next for freight.

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In this packed episode of FreightWaves Today, Craig Fuller, Malcolm Wilson, and the FreightWaves team break down one of the most important weeks of the year for trucking: the lead-up to the July 4th freight surge — often called trucking’s “Super Bowl.”

They discuss tightening capacity, rising spot rates, driver shortages, and why many large carriers believe the freight market has officially turned. The conversation also explores the future of autonomous trucks, AI in logistics, and how brokers and shippers are preparing for a potentially volatile peak season.

This episode features insights from industry leaders and experts, including:

Ken Adamo, Chief of Analytics at Ease Logistics and former DAT executive

Dr. Jason Miller, supply chain economist and professor at Michigan State University

Max Fuller, transportation industry veteran and founder of U.S. Xpress

Fabrizio Alvear, Co-Founder and President of ePost Global

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