FreightCasts

Fleet operations are moving faster than ever — and legacy systems can’t keep up. In this interview from the Trimble Insights Conference, Trimble CEO Rob Painter explains how cloud-based TMS platforms, agentic AI, and connected workflows are helping fleets cut hours of manual work down to minutes. The conversation covers real operational pain points like roadside breakdowns, tender processing, cybersecurity threats, and why AI should quietly solve problems instead of becoming another buzzword. If you run or support trucking operations, this is a must-watch. ⁠Follow the Loaded and Rolling Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Daily, we dive into how the Red Sea crisis and early Lunar New Year demand are driving a 20% spike in ocean rates while carriers strategically manage capacity. We also explore the infrastructure collapse at Venezuela's largest container port, where operational delays have stretched from hours to days following political turmoil. Closer to home, we analyze why cross-border freight from Mexico serves as a vital stabilizer for the industry, even as U.S. carriers face a brutal squeeze between low spot rates and high operating costs. Experts warn that pending regulatory restrictions on non-domiciled CDLs could further disrupt the supply and demand balance in 2026. The episode also covers a wave of major consolidation, highlighted by QXO securing a massive $1.2 billion capital injection to roll up the building products sector. We discuss how specialized acquisitions by companies like Stord and Trinity Logistics are reshaping the competitive landscape, making scenario planning essential for shippers. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday’s FreightWaves Morning Minute, we cover the news that⁠ Jacobs’ QXO gets big investment from group led by Apollo⁠, securing $1.2 billion to consolidate the building product supply chain. This fresh capital empowers the logistics venture to manage a growing asset base within a fragmented ecosystem. Next, we discuss how⁠ Stord buys e-commerce specialist Shipwire from Ceva Logistics⁠ as part of a strategy to rapidly scale its operations. The acquisition provides Stord with 12 new fulfillment centers and access to a global network of 1,000 warehouses. We also report that⁠ Trump delays furniture, cabinet tariffs; scales back duties on pasta⁠, pushing planned hikes on furniture imports back to at least 2027,. The administration simultaneously reduced proposed duties on Italian pasta while keeping the existing 25% duty on furniture in place. Finally, be sure to tune in to FreightWaves TV today for new episodes of ⁠Check Call⁠ and ⁠Loaded and Rolling⁠. These programs will air at 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively. ⁠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 highlighting SONAR’s new Truckload Datasets—an enhancement to the same tender data you already know and trust. In this session, we’ll walk through the four new dataset categories: Volumes (STVI): Expanded market, trailer type, and length-of-haul intelligence—still indexed to 10k from 4/1/2019, but with far greater depth than legacy OTVI Rejections (STRI): A leading indicator for spot rate movement, showing carrier sentiment and capacity tightness at a granular market level Market Share (STMS): Identifies which markets drive the most truckload activity and where network imbalances may create opportunity Tender Lead Time (STLT): Reveals shipper sentiment and capacity expectations, helping you identify markets where support—and opportunity—is emerging These datasets are available today within your Custom Dashboards with your SONAR login. 📩 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

Welcome to the first episode of 2026 on WHAT THE TRUCK?!?. Host Malcolm Harris kicks off the new year with an in-depth, no-nonsense conversation with Charles Gracey, often referred to as the “Dr. Phil of trucking,” to break down the biggest issues shaping the freight and trucking industry right now. This episode covers major developments that will impact drivers, carriers, brokers, and industry leaders in 2026, including the federal appeals court ruling against Amazon and what joint-employer accountability could mean for last-mile delivery models. Malcolm and Charles discuss whether this ruling signals a broader shift in labor law, risk allocation, and long-term sustainability for delivery service partners. They dive into why large carrier mergers and acquisitions largely stalled in 2025, exploring indecision, market uncertainty, valuations, and leadership hesitation, and what that means for consolidation in 2026. The conversation also examines leverage in today’s freight market, capacity pressures, driver pay, and why the power balance still isn’t in drivers’ favor. Autonomous trucking takes center stage as California moves closer to allowing testing and deployment of heavy-duty driverless trucks. The discussion addresses safety, cybersecurity, liability, regulatory gaps, and the often-ignored human cost of automation, including what happens to drivers if jobs are displaced. Other key topics include:- Peak season performance and why “best in recent memory” may not mean much- Sudden carrier shutdowns during the holidays and what they reveal about leadership, diversification, and planning- The lack of meaningful protections for drivers when companies collapse- Why 2026 may become a relationship-driven year for freight rather than a transactional one- Barriers to entry, industry integrity, and the need for higher standards without killing opportunity- How executives can avoid being disconnected from day-to-day operations- Why innovation fails when drivers and frontline workers aren’t truly involved This episode is a candid, wide-ranging look at where trucking has been, where it’s heading, and what needs to change for the industry to rebuild trust, stability, and integrity in 2026. ⁠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