FreightCasts

Six motor carriers are suing TQL and C.H. Robinson under the federal RICO statute, alleging that the brokers used unsafe or unauthorized capacity to gain a competitive advantage and take freight business. On this episode of Freight Expectations, Craig Fuller and attorney Matt Leffler break down the unusual lawsuit, what a civil RICO claim actually requires, and why the case could hinge on who qualifies as the legally injured party.

They dig into treble damages, fee shifting, the enormous cost of complex litigation, the role of regulators, and a 2006 Supreme Court case involving steel companies that could have major implications for the plaintiffs' claims. The conversation also explores the broader fight over broker vetting, carrier safety, freight pricing and the increasingly contentious relationship between motor carriers and third-party logistics companies.

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Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp sit down with Triumph Financial CEO Aaron Graft to discuss the latest Mile Marker data, the shift toward “defensible capacity,” changing broker margins and why new carrier formation remains unusually low.

The episode also looks at the growing connection between ocean and domestic freight. Matt Anderson of WiseTech Global explains the company’s new Ocean Freight Risk Outlook, why reliability is becoming more important than rates on some trade lanes, and what shippers should consider heading into peak season.

Plus, the show covers major freight headlines including the Savannah port expansion, CMA CGM’s acquisition of FedEx Supply Chain and a major cocaine seizure at the U.S.-Canada border.

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In this episode, we kick things off by examining a massive infrastructure milestone at the Georgia Ports Authority where the $1.6 billion redevelopment of Ocean Terminal has officially surpassed the 60% completion mark. The sprawling expansion will drastically transform Ocean Terminal's annual capacity from 200,000 twenty-foot equivalent units to a staggering 1.75 million TEUs, forming a central component of Georgia Ports' broader ten-year master plan calling for approximately $5 billion in capacity investments across the state.

Meanwhile, we explore a stark reminder of why border enforcement remains critical in both directions as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers uncovered approximately 450 pounds of cocaine hidden beneath the floor of an empty semi-trailer headed toward Canada at Lewiston Bridge in New York. The narcotics carried an estimated street value of about $6 million, and investigators ultimately uncovered 174 vacuum-sealed packages inside the modified trailer structure after a CBP canine alerted during initial inspection.

Finally, we break down how France-based shipping conglomerate CMA CGM Group has officially completed its $1.4 billion acquisition of FedEx Supply Chain, the contract logistics arm of FedEx Corp. The blockbuster purchase significantly expands Ceva Logistics's contract logistics operations in North America, tripling the warehouse footprint by adding about 34 million square feet and 130 customers, while the combined business now operates approximately 150 warehouses across more than 240 North American locations.

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Freight rates continue to feel pressure from fuel and capacity shortfalls while the economy continues to sustain despite ongoing inflation concerns.

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FreightWaves Today kicks off the fourth quarter with a packed episode covering autonomous trucking, freight market conditions, driver appreciation and the latest issues shaping transportation.

Malcolm Harris and Zach Strickland break down the morning’s biggest freight headlines, including new commercial trucking and cross-border enforcement legislation, a bizarre autonomous-trailer theft involving Plus AI, and growing challenges around cross-border freight between the U.S. and Mexico.

Then, Kodiak’s Daniel Goff and PrePass CTO Chas Worcester join the show to discuss Kodiak’s partnership with IKEA as a driverless launch shipper and its work with PrePass to connect autonomous trucks with roadside inspection systems. They explain how autonomous vehicles are being tested for safety, how enhanced inspections work and what the path toward nationwide deployment could look like.

Zach Strickland delivers a SONAR market update, examining tender rejection rates, truckload capacity, spot rates, early-October freight demand and the continued growth of domestic intermodal.

The episode also features a conversation with Samsara’s Kelly Soderlund about the company’s first Driver Appreciation Month and its new Driver Perks program, including discounts and benefits designed for professional drivers.

Later, Zach and Thomas Watson dig deeper into the fourth-quarter freight outlook, economic indicators and the impact of elevated diesel prices on carriers and transportation costs.

Plus, get the latest details on the upcoming F3: Future of Freight Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee, taking place October 27–28.

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