Freight Transportation

Warehouse construction is rebounding, robot imports are restricted, and freight costs keep climbing: the operational signals shaping mid-2026

Three converging pressures, rising truck costs, tighter robot sourcing rules, and a nascent warehouse building recovery, are forcing supply chain leaders to recal

Brent crude at $94 and record diesel output signal a new cost floor for freight operators

Iran conflict pushes Brent crude to $94/barrel while U.S. refiners hit a record July diesel output, a dual pressure point every fleet operator needs to model n

Aurora's second-generation driverless trucks signal a new phase for autonomous freight, as Amtrak and eVTOL deals reshape the broader mobility stack

Aurora launches gen-2 driverless trucks, Amtrak marks ADA progress, and Vertical Aerospace signs an eVTOL deal, three signals that enterprise mobility is enter

Canadian National Railway raises its 2026 volume outlook on firmer freight demand

CN Rail lifted its full-year 2026 volume guidance after posting higher Q2 profit and revenue, signaling a freight market recovery that procurement and supply-ch

Freight demand is recovering, but rising oil prices and new tariffs are already pressuring the rebound

Rail carriers post stronger Q2 results as freight demand firms, while $100 oil and Section 301 tariff shifts create new cost headwinds for logistics operators.

Canadian National Railway raises its 2026 volume outlook as freight demand firms

CN Rail boosted its full-year 2026 outlook after posting higher Q2 profit and revenue, signaling improving freight conditions for supply chain operators.

Canadian National Railway raises its 2026 volume outlook as freight demand firms

CN Rail lifted its full-year volume forecast after posting higher Q2 profit and revenue, signaling a broader freight recovery that matters to every supply chain

Transport Topics' 2025 rankings reveal a split logistics market: freight giants hold, ocean shifts east

Transport Topics' 2025 Top 100 Logistics and ocean freight rankings show sluggish North American 3PL growth alongside Asia-dominated container forwarding.

BTS freight dashboard update tracks rail, port, and trucking conditions in real time

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics refreshed its interagency freight indicators dashboard July 7, adding CPKC rail data and live port, truck, and labor met

FedEx's supply chain sale, eVTOL milestones, and freight margin pressure signal a sector in motion

Three developments reshaping logistics operations this week: FedEx's $4.15B debt tender, BETA Technologies' first eIPP flights, and the carrier profitability sq

North America's largest logistics firms stall on revenue as freight market drags into 2026

Transport Topics' 2025 Top 100 Logistics rankings show a freight market still grinding through recovery, with trade uncertainty weighing on 3PL growth.

Ocean shipping recovery, Section 232 documentation, and freight market signals: what operators need to know now

Hormuz disruption recovery, new Section 232 doc rules, and shifting freight signals are creating immediate compliance and sourcing decisions for supply chain te

BTS freight dashboard flags rail, truck, and port metrics operators need to watch now

The BTS interagency freight dashboard tracks port throughput, rail dwell, truck speeds, and spot rates across U.S. corridors in near-real time.

BTS freight dashboard expands CPKC rail data as agencies track live supply chain stress points

The BTS supply chain dashboard now integrates CPKC rail metrics weekly, giving ops teams a unified view of post-merger rail performance alongside port, truck, a

SBA Global tracks Hormuz recovery, Baltimore rail milestone, and digital visibility shift in latest freight update

SBA Global's June 25 freight update covers Hormuz traffic recovery, a Baltimore double-stack rail first, and digital visibility reshaping freight networks.

BTS freight dashboard tracks rail, port, and truck conditions as of June 30, 2026

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics' live freight indicator dashboard covers port throughput, rail speed, truck bottlenecks, spot rates, and labor metrics.

CMA CGM buys FedEx Supply Chain for $1.4B, reshaping North American 3PL market

CMA CGM's $1.4B acquisition of FedEx Supply Chain nearly triples CEVA Logistics' North American footprint and pairs with a $3.5B freight partnership.

ITS Logistics flags record freight costs, capacity crunch, and fraud risk in mid-2026 market reports

ITS Logistics releases a cluster of market reports and company news pointing to rising transportation costs, drayage pressure, and a 2026 Fraud Fighter Award wi

ITS Logistics June freight index warns drayage and intermodal markets face downstream price surges

Trucking capacity hits a 28.4% LMI reading, spot rates reach $3.83/mile all-time highs, and import volumes jump 6.6% as peak season pressure builds.

Truckload spot rates hit all-time record $3.83 per mile as freight market surges

Spot rates reached $3.83/mile in early June 2026, tender rejections hit 17.55%, and Union Pacific imposed a peak season surcharge as freight pressure migrates t

Truckload spot rates hit all-time record $3.83 per mile as freight market surges

Spot rates reached $3.83/mile in early June, tender rejections climbed to 17.55%, and Union Pacific slapped a $500 surcharge on intermodal shippers.

Inside the Next Era of Trucking: Volvo’s Vision for Autonomous Tech, Driver Experience, and Global Logistics

Supply chains are under pressure like never before—fuel prices are volatile, driver shortages persist, and new technologies are rewriting the rules in real time. In fact, at major U.S. truckload carriers, driver turnover has historically exceeded 90% annually—highlighting just how urgent it is to improve both efficiency and the driver experience. Trucking isn’t just…

Inside the Spot Freight Shift: How Manifold Is Simplifying a Fragmented Logistics Market

The freight market is in the midst of a notable shift. With national tender rejection rates approaching 14% by the end of Q1, freight conditions have shifted back in carriers’ favor, often coinciding with increased activity in the spot market. At the same time, logistics teams are juggling an increasingly fragmented ecosystem of portals, emails,…

Autonomous Trucking Can Shrink Coast-to-Coast Delivery Times and Increase Fleet Productivity

The idea of a self-driving 80,000-pound truck barreling down the interstate once felt like science fiction. Now, it’s operating on real freight lanes in Texas. After years of hype and recalibration, autonomous trucking is entering its proving ground. Persistent driver shortages and rising freight demand have forced the industry to look beyond incremental improvements. The…

Transportation Management Systems Don’t Compete With Carriers, Brokers, or Shippers — They Align Them

Transportation management systems are undergoing a quiet but consequential shift. Once viewed primarily as tools for tracking loads and storing paperwork, modern TMS platforms are increasingly expected to function as the operational backbone of logistics organizations. As freight volumes continue to fluctuate, margins remain tight, and supply chains rely on a growing mix of…

W2 or Agent Model: What Freight Brokers Need to Know Before Making the Jump

The freight logistics industry is undergoing a quiet transformation. With financial instability affecting brokerages and shifting commission structures prompting sales talent to explore new paths, the “agent model” — a 1099 contractor framework for freight brokers — is seeing renewed attention. As more logistics professionals seek greater flexibility, ownership, and earnings potential, understanding the…

Driving the Future at ACT Expo: Windrose Showcases Its Purpose-Built Electric Class 8 Trucks

At the ACT Expo, Hammer Down host Mike Bush dives deeper into the future of freight with a hands-on look at Windrose Technology’s electric Class 8 trucks. Joined by Joseph Jaramillo, Driver Supervisor at Talon Logistics, Mike takes a test drive to experience the smooth ride, dual digital displays, and unique features—like advanced regen modes and a…

Supply Chain Leaders Must Abandon Outdated Routing and Embrace Last Mile Optimization Through Modeling and AI

As geopolitical tensions disrupt global shipping and tariffs create fresh uncertainty in international trade, companies are being forced to reexamine their most vulnerable supply chain segment—the last mile . While upstream operations get the spotlight during crises, the final leg of delivery remains a persistent blind spot. That oversight has consequences: empty trucks, fragmented delivery…

China Plus One Strategy Puts Dimerco at the Center of Supply Chain Diversification

Freight forwarders are capitalizing on the urgent need to diversify supply chains away from single-source dependencies

Can a Single FreightGuard Review End Your Trucking Company? Sadly, Yes

One negative online review has the power to collapse an entire trucking operation in today's hyperconnected freight industry