Industry News

News from the world of Trucking

• Trade deficit widens to biggest in more than a year    (2026-07-07)
  The gap in goods and services trade grew 42.2% from April to $77.6 billion, Commerce Department data showed July 7.
• 2 tankers hit in latest attacks in the Strait of Hormuz    (2026-07-07)
  Tehran, which has repeatedly declared that only its approved route through the strait is safe, is suspected of attacking other ships that have used another route close to the Omani shore.
• Walmart cuts prices as Trump claims credit    (2026-07-07)
  Walmart has benefited in part from higher inflation under Trump, as consumers have turned to its stores and website in search of lower prices.
• Forced-labor hearing paves way for more Trump tariffs    (2026-07-07)
  White House officials have made it clear that they plan to use the investigations to restore import taxes to levels in place under Trump’s emergency tariffs.
• Service sector expanded at slower pace in June    (2026-07-07)
  Fourteen industries reported growth in the June ISM report, including transportation and warehousing. Four industries, including agriculture, contracted.
• Toyota to shift some Tacoma output to Texas from Mexico    (2026-07-06)
  Toyota is moving some of the production of its popular Tacoma midsize truck from a plant in Mexico to San Antonio as part of a $3.6 billion investment in the facility.
• Delta pilot reports firework hit plane above Chicago    (2026-07-06)
   A Delta Air Lines flight and a high-flying firework reportedly came into contact in the sky above Chicago as the city celebrated the Fourth of July holiday.
• Trump floats Sept. 24 date for Xi visit    (2026-07-06)
  President Trump said he expected to meet with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping around Sept. 24, which would coincide with the UN General Assembly in New York.
• SMBs optimistic for rest of 2026 in boon for trucking    (2026-07-06)
  Owners and decision-makers at SMBs are also optimistic about the prospects for the rest of 2026, a stance likely to extend the ongoing freight market recovery.
• USPS overhauls logistics network as financial pressures mount    (2026-07-06)
  The Postal Service is revamping its logistics and transportation network to speed up service and cut costs, but the postmaster general says more funds are needed.
• Samsara’s AI strategy focuses on proactive driver coaching to prevent collisions    (2026-07-06)
  Artificial intelligence continues to be at the center Samsara’s approach to fleet safety. However, it is not just because AI it can just detect more risky driving events, but because […]
• Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd signal Red Sea route return    (2026-07-06)
  Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd signaled confidence about resuming passage through the Red Sea, sending the container carriers’ shares down July 6.
• Ocado CEO Tim Steiner to step down at start of fiscal 2028    (2026-07-06)
  Ocado Group CEO Tim Steiner will exit at the start of its 2028 fiscal year after a boardroom tussle at the British online grocery delivery firm.
• Evergreen Marine searched in insider trading probe    (2026-07-06)
  Evergreen Marine confirmed authorities had searched its premises, adding that the company was fully cooperating with the investigation.
• Montgomery lawsuit likely headed back to Illinois district court    (2026-07-06)
  The groundbreaking Montgomery case will head back to the federal district court where it began. The post Montgomery lawsuit likely headed back to Illinois district court appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Cummins updates DEF calibrations to reduce unnecessary truck downtime    (2026-07-06)
  Cummins is rolling out updated engine calibrations that give truck operators more time to address diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) system issues before engine derates occur, following revised guidance from the […]
• Mexico’s new customs rules could expose bad supply-chain data, CrimsonLogic warns    (2026-07-06)
  CrimsonLogic urges importers to fix data inconsistencies before Mexico begins enforcing electronic customs value declarations beginning Aug. 1. The post Mexico’s new customs rules could expose bad supply-chain data, CrimsonLogic warns appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Descartes adds last-mile tech in latest deal    (2026-07-06)
  Descartes announced Monday that it has acquired Santiago, Chile-based last-mile solutions provider Drivin for $30 million. The post Descartes adds last-mile tech in latest deal appeared first on FreightWaves.
• A peace deal in the Persian Gulf could signal a return of global shipping to the Suez Canal    (2026-07-06)
  A shift by a major carrier partnership could signal a wholesale return of global shipping to the Suez Canal. The post A peace deal in the Persian Gulf could signal a return of global shipping to the Suez Canal appeared first on FreightWaves.
• The prosecution and the pardon that ended the diesel wars    (2026-07-06)
  On July 3, 2026, President Trump pardoned early a dozen people who were convicted under the Clean Air Act for tampering with diesel emissions, months after the Justice Department stopped prosecuting diesel cases entirely. The technology is still bolted to every truck on the road, and nobody in Washington wants to discuss the "what now" of who pays for it. The post The prosecution and the pardon that ended the diesel wars appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Large logistics firms launch dedicated cargo flights to Chicago area    (2026-07-06)
  Three major freight forwarding companies — Ceva, DSV and Kuehne+Nagel — have recently entered transport agreements with large cargo airlines to operate dedicated international flights to Chicago for customers. The post Large logistics firms launch dedicated cargo flights to Chicago area appeared first on FreightWaves.
• A Truck Driver Made One Phone Call and Saved a Life. There Is an Award for That, and Nominations Close August 15.    (2026-07-06)
  A driver rounds a curve on a dark rural road and sees a woman standing near the fog line, head shaved, wearing nothing but a beach towel, no other car or person anywhere in sight. Something is wrong. He acts. That woman turns out to be a human trafficking victim, and because a truck driver […] The post A Truck Driver Made One Phone Call and Saved a Life. There Is an Award for That, and Nominations Close August 15. appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Former Austin Freight Systems controller pleads guilty in $3.2M embezzlement scheme    (2026-07-06)
  A former Austin Freight Systems controller pleaded guilty to federal charges after prosecutors accused him of embezzling more than $3.2 million from the freight brokerage. The FBI investigated the case, and company officials say they have strengthened financial processes while continuing normal operations. The post Former Austin Freight Systems controller pleads guilty in $3.2M embezzlement scheme appeared first on FreightWaves.
• FMCSA pauses deactivations as it works on Motus issues    (2026-07-05)
  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has temporarily suspended the inactivation of USDOT numbers for entities that have not completed the required biennial update since June 1. “Registrants will receive […]
• Borderlands Mexico: Cargo theft falls, but attacks on truckers turn deadlier    (2026-07-05)
  This week in Borderlands Mexico: Cargo theft falls, but attacks on truckers turn deadlier; Clarios opens $147M battery distribution center; and Craters & Freighters Austin opens new logistics facility. The post Borderlands Mexico: Cargo theft falls, but attacks on truckers turn deadlier appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Continental completes transformation into pure-play tire maker with ContiTech sale    (2026-07-04)
  Continental has agreed to sell its ContiTech industrial business to investment firm Lone Star Funds for US$4.7 billion, completing a multiyear restructuring that will leave the German manufacturer focused exclusively […]
• Routine paperwork errors remain top hazmat compliance risk, study shows    (2026-07-03)
  Preventable human errors in documentation and labeling are the leading causes of non-compliance in the hazmat transportation, along with training complexity and process gaps. This is according to a new survey, […]
• Underwriters look beyond loss runs to measure fleet risk    (2026-07-03)
  Commercial auto insurers are now looking beyond fleets’ five-year loss histories when the time comes for renewals, expecting to see how fleets use telematics data to improve driver behavior, coach […]
• R+L Carriers service center expands capacity in Kentucky    (2026-07-03)
  R+L Carriers has opened a new service center in Georgetown, Ky., relocating operations from its previous Lexington facility about 13 miles (21 km) to the north. Located at 425 Cherry […]
• Highway, post-Montgomery, requiring ELD hookups for all carriers    (2026-07-02)
  Montgomery has spurred a new policy at Highway. The post Highway, post-Montgomery, requiring ELD hookups for all carriers appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Port truckers still struggling in harsh market    (2026-07-02)
  The trucking companies serving the nation’s largest seaports are still struggling against harsh market conditions even as port volumes increased in May.
• Genuine Parts draws O’Reilly cash bid for auto unit Napa    (2026-07-02)
  Genuine Parts Co. has attracted a cash bid for its auto parts arm from O’Reilly Automotive as it seeks to refocus on its industrials business, according to sources.
• Former FMC chief Sola to lead Thorn Run LatAm business team    (2026-07-02)
  Government relations firm Thorn Run Partners announced that a former FMC Chair would lead its new Latin America business unit. The post Former FMC chief Sola to lead Thorn Run LatAm business team appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Natural gas closes in on oil’s top energy perch    (2026-07-02)
  For 75 years, petroleum has been the energy source that has powered the U.S. more than any other. That’s about to change.
• Idaho closes its doors to non-domiciled CDL drivers     (2026-07-02)
  Idaho has become the latest U.S. state to eliminate non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses. The post Idaho closes its doors to non-domiciled CDL drivers  appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Here is where AI can help with maintenance, according to Loblaw, Sobeys    (2026-07-02)
  Wayne Scott thought he had a pretty good handle on Samsara’s maintenance capabilities. Then he sat through the company’s Beyond keynote. When the presentation reached the part about predictive fault […]
• EPA expands right to repair access for vehicle owners    (2026-07-02)
  The Environmental Protection Agency has issued updated guidelines requiring manufacturers to provide everyone with access to the same service and repair information that they make available to their own branded […]
• Ceva Logistics poised to acquire European final-mile courier Paack    (2026-07-02)
  Colis Privé, a subsidiary of Ceva Logistics, has reached a tentative agreement to acquire major units of Paack, allowing it to enter the delivery market in Spain and Portugal. The post Ceva Logistics poised to acquire European final-mile courier Paack appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Former Army contractor convicted in $1.1 million Fort Bliss MRE theft    (2026-07-02)
  A federal jury convicted a former Army civilian contractor of stealing more than 200 pallets of Meals-Ready-to-Eat from Fort Bliss. Prosecutors said the operation relied on false paperwork, rental trucks and an El Paso warehouse to move and sell approximately $1.12 million in government property. The post Former Army contractor convicted in $1.1 million Fort Bliss MRE theft appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Tenney Group: Transportation M&A to see ‘record-breaking’ 2027    (2026-07-02)
  Advisory firm Tenney Group said transportation M&A activity is heating up and that next year could set a record for deal flow. The post Tenney Group: Transportation M&A to see ‘record-breaking’ 2027 appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Hormuz in the rearview as Asia-US ocean container rates soar past $7,900    (2026-07-02)
  Ocean shipping rates continue their upward climb as peak-season demand, and not crude oil, are driving higher prices. The post Hormuz in the rearview as Asia-US ocean container rates soar past $7,900 appeared first on FreightWaves.
• ATA backs Sonderling for DOL, urges swift Senate action    (2026-07-02)
  ATA has urged the Senate to confirm acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, praising his record on the independent contractor rule and workforce policy.
• Job growth in truck transportation remains muted    (2026-07-02)
  Truck transportation job growth has eked out a small gain this year, but is way below a year ago. The post Job growth in truck transportation remains muted appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Oil drops below prewar prices on Saudi supply rebound    (2026-07-02)
  A U.S. official estimates that oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz choke point has now reached more than 10 million barrels a day.
• CATL says mining is now the battery supply bottleneck    (2026-07-02)
  China has a stranglehold on refining battery minerals, but customers such as Ford have warned that processing is a bigger constraint than mining.
• Mother Trucker Yoga aims to help drivers navigate wellness    (2026-07-02)
  Hope Zvara helps truck drivers incorporate healthier habits that fit into their life on the road.
• Tesla beats forecasts with 480,126 Q2 deliveries    (2026-07-02)
  Deliveries rose 25% from a year earlier, when Tesla faced widespread consumer backlash against CEO Elon Musk’s polarizing work for the Trump administration.
• Freight Factoring Requirements: What Trucking Companies Need to Qualify    (2026-07-02)
  You can run loads consistently, work with solid brokers, and still feel pressure every week because most invoices take 30, 45, or even 60+ days to get paid. That delay is exactly why freight factoring has become one of the most widely used financial tools for owner-operators and small fleets. It’s the fastest way to […] The post Freight Factoring Requirements: What Trucking Companies Need to Qualify appeared first on FreightWaves.
• China and U.S. seek tariff rollback on farm products    (2026-07-02)
  The two have agreed in principle to include agricultural products in a reciprocal tariff reduction framework following talks, China’s Ministry of Commerce said.
• Rivian deliveries top estimates as R2 SUV sales start    (2026-07-02)
  Rivian said it saw strong quarter-over-quarter growth for its commercial van and R1 electric vehicles as it began sales of the new R2 electric SUV.
• U.S. hiring slows sharply in June    (2026-07-02)
  Nonfarm payrolls increased 57,000 last month after downward revisions to the prior two months, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released July 2.
• CORCA heads to Senate amid cargo theft debate    (2026-07-02)
  The bipartisan CORCA bill passed the House with overwhelming support, but a growing debate over cargo theft data has followed it to the Senate. Critics question whether documented losses justify a larger federal response, while supporters argue the current reporting system misses much of the problem. The post CORCA heads to Senate amid cargo theft debate appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Triumph debuts freight RFP management tool    (2026-07-02)
  RFP cycles have shrunk from 18 months to just 30 days. Triumph's new tool replaces spreadsheets with data-backed freight RFP management The post Triumph debuts freight RFP management tool appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Ghost carriers expose weak spots in broker vetting systems    (2026-07-01)
  Ghost carriers are emerging as a major threat, using acquired motor carrier numbers and digital identities to infiltrate freight transactions.
• Why Trucking Companies Should Hire an Insurance Agent—Not Just Buy Insurance    (2026-07-01)
  Why Choosing the Right Insurance Agent Can Make or Break a Trucking Company Most trucking companies think about insurance only when the bill comes due or after an accident. But according to Jessica Howington of United Commercial Insurance, that way of thinking can cost carriers far more than money. “The biggest mistake people make is […] The post Why Trucking Companies Should Hire an Insurance Agent—Not Just Buy Insurance appeared first on FreightWaves.
• TQL case on broker transparency heads to oral arguments    (2026-07-01)
  The TQL-Pink Cheetah broker transparency case will hear oral arguments in September. The post TQL case on broker transparency heads to oral arguments appeared first on FreightWaves.
• CMA CGM hires FedEx executive Moebel to lead Ceva Logistics    (2026-07-01)
  Patrick Moebel, who spent years running FedEx Logistics and Geodis’s North American business, was named CEO of Ceva Logistics on Wednesday. The post CMA CGM hires FedEx executive Moebel to lead Ceva Logistics appeared first on FreightWaves.
• July 4th Heat: What It Means for Reefer Capacity and Spot Rates    (2026-07-01)
  SummaryView Transcript Extreme heat is scorching the Eastern US, from the Gulf Coast to Canada, with heat index values hitting 114 degrees. This isn’t just a weather story; it’s a critical freight market update for temperature-controlled freight. We’re seeing reefer spot rates and tender rejections near all-time highs. Companies are shifting from dry van to […] The post July 4th Heat: What It Means for Reefer Capacity and Spot Rates appeared first on FreightWaves.
• The C.H. Robinson “U-Turn” Case: What It Means for Broker Liability    (2026-07-01)
  SummaryView Transcript A shocking ‘U-turn’ lawsuit against C.H. Robinson highlights growing tensions around freight broker liability. We discuss why this “ridiculous” case, despite the broker having no involvement in the load, raises critical questions about negligent hiring, tort reform, and the future of broker risk in the trucking industry. Plaintiff attorney Ted Bassett offers his […] The post The C.H. Robinson “U-Turn” Case: What It Means for Broker Liability appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Fuel Prices: Why They Soar Up Like a Rocket, Fall Like a Feather | Supply Chain Economics    (2026-07-01)
  SummaryView Transcript Ever wonder why fuel prices seem to skyrocket overnight but trickle down like a feather? Breakthrough’s Chief Economist, Matthew Muenster, breaks down the operational and market dynamics behind this frustrating reality. Learn how inventory strategies, competitor pricing, and global events dictate fuel costs, impacting everything from trucking to air freight. Discover how informed […] The post Fuel Prices: Why They Soar Up Like a Rocket, Fall Like a Feather | Supply Chain Economics appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Rail Freight Boom: US Intermodal Volume Up, But Speeds Crash [Shocking Data]    (2026-07-01)
  SummaryView Transcript US intermodal rail volume saw a robust 10% increase last week, continuing a strong growth streak. However, this surge is causing significant network slowdowns across major railroads, with some experiencing 10-20 month lows in train speeds. Meanwhile, Canadian intermodal volumes are declining, creating a stark contrast in North American rail performance. Bill Stephens […] The post Rail Freight Boom: US Intermodal Volume Up, But Speeds Crash [Shocking Data] appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Kroger plans to buy Giant Eagle in $1.65 billion deal    (2026-07-01)
  Kroger said July 1 it plans to buy regional grocer and pharmacy retailer Giant Eagle in a deal valued at $1.65 billion.
• Liability in Trucking: How Bad Legislation Drives Up Costs    (2026-07-01)
  SummaryView Transcript The trucking insurance market is in turmoil, but the real issue goes beyond ‘nuclear verdicts.’ Cover Whale’s CRO, Myles Oppenheimer, explains how legislative environments and a lack of underwriting discipline are creating a ‘self-inflicted wound’ that traditional insurers can’t handle. We dive into the massive implications for freight brokers and carriers, especially after […] The post Liability in Trucking: How Bad Legislation Drives Up Costs appeared first on FreightWaves.
• White Paper: State of the Industry – July 2026    (2026-07-01)
  The July 2026 “State of the Industry Report” — presented in affiliation with Ryder — shares an in-depth overview across the trucking, maritime and intermodal markets, as well as what to expect in the coming weeks. The data contained within the report provides breakdowns of capacity, volumes and rates. In this report, you will find: […] The post White Paper: State of the Industry – July 2026 appeared first on FreightWaves.
• Ruan expands cross-border capabilities with customs brokerage offering    (2026-07-01)
  Ruan announced it has rolled out an end-to-end customs brokerage service. The post Ruan expands cross-border capabilities with customs brokerage offering appeared first on FreightWaves.