FreightCasts

Malcolm Harris takes the wheel solo and delivers a packed show covering some of the biggest trends shaping freight, warehousing, and supply chain technology today. In this episode: The latest transportation headlines, including legal challenges surrounding CDL compliance in New York and California Echo Global Logistics’ expansion into Mexico’s domestic transportation market and what it signals for nearshoring and cross-border supply chains The growing impact of automation, labor shortages, and operational efficiency across logistics networks Plus, Greg Braun, Chief Revenue Officer at C3 Solutions, joins the show to break down findings from the company’s latest State of Dock and Yard Management Report, including: Why many facilities still rely on overtime and temporary labor instead of technology The biggest gaps in dock scheduling, yard visibility, and warehouse operations Common misconceptions around automation adoption How AI and real-time system integration are reshaping yard and dock management Later, Steve Shebuski of MCA Connect dives into the rise of Agentic AI and what it means for the future of supply chain operations. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Visit our sponsor - KOONER FLEET MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining a major advancement in commercial vehicle safety technology that's targeting mass production across the Class 8 market. Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems has officially selected Aeva to integrate 4D LiDAR sensors and perception software into its next-generation collision mitigation systems for Class 8 trucks. With roughly 300,000 new Class 8 trucks entering the North American market annually, this program is targeting mass production of one of the first LiDAR-based L2+ driver assistance solutions for commercial vehicles, marking a strategic shift toward using advanced perception technology in active safety systems rather than just higher levels of autonomy. Next, we shift to cross-border logistics, where Echo Global Logistics is making an aggressive play to dominate the entire U.S.-Mexico freight corridor. The Chicago-based third-party logistics provider has formally unveiled a new suite of intra-Mexico domestic transportation services, giving shippers a fully integrated supply chain solution spanning both sides of the border. The expansion includes city-to-city freight transportation, port drayage, domestic intermodal services, and managed transportation solutions across Mexico, all integrated with Echo's existing cross-border operations and allowing the company to capture growing freight movements tied to nearshoring trends. Finally, we explore how autonomous technology is officially moving beyond pilot programs and into full-scale daily operations at a major logistics hub. DHL has transitioned autonomous vehicles from its Fast Forward Challenge into live daily operations at its Singapore facility, partnering with Zelostech to operate fully electric, driverless vehicles for point-to-point transfers between logistics facilities on campus. Each vehicle averages 40 trips and covers 28 kilometers daily, delivering consistent performance at roughly half the operating cost of diesel trucks while cutting emissions to support customers' sustainability goals. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trucking companies and freight brokers often face payment delays due to complex invoice audits. Upwell's CEO Charley Dehoney discusses how their AI-powered platform automates pre-invoice auditing, solving a critical 'missing link' in the supply chain. Discover how this partnership with Kleinschmidt aims to reduce invoice disputes and accelerate cash flow for carriers nationwide. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After being acquired by Shell USA, Multi-Service Fuel Card CEO Aaron Decker reveals how he and his management team executed a bold management buyout to regain control. Discover the fascinating journey of this pioneering fuel card provider, established in 1978, and how they help trucking companies navigate volatile fuel markets, maximize efficiency, and combat fraud. Aaron also shares his outlook on diesel prices and how fleets can protect their bottom line. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Factoring might be the most argued-about topic in small carrier Facebook groups. Half the comments say it saved their business. The other half say it nearly destroyed it. And everybody's got a story about a contract they didn't read closely enough, a reserve they couldn't get back, or a fee they didn't see coming until it was too late. The frustration is real. And it's earned. But here's the part that doesn't get talked about honestly — a lot of carriers who hate factoring don't hate factoring. They hate the decision they made around it. The company they chose. The contract they signed without understanding. The moment they confused having cash in their account with actually being ahead. Ivan Martinez and George McWilliams have spent years on the other side of that conversation. Between them they've worked with owner-operators and small fleets across every kind of market condition — the freight boom, the recession, the recovery happening right now. George grew up around trucking. This industry isn't abstract to him. Ivan has watched carriers use factoring to grow and watched others use it as a band-aid over a cash flow problem that was bigger than any factoring arrangement could fix. Today we're not here to sell anything. We're here to have the conversation most people avoid — what factoring actually is, where the industry went wrong, what the legitimate criticisms are, and what every small carrier needs to understand before they sign anything. ⁠Follow The Long Haul Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When illness or injury forces a truck driver off the road, the financial fallout can be immediate and devastating. The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund steps in as a vital safety net, offering financial aid for essential needs like rent, insurance, and vehicle payments. Beyond crisis support, they provide crucial wellness programs, from smoking cessation to cancer screenings, helping America's highway heroes stay healthy and on the job. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Strait of Hormuz has introduced a permanent risk premium into the global oil market, fundamentally altering price dynamics for crude and diesel. Despite some recent drops from March highs, experts like John Kingston warn that supply won't snap back quickly. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The freight market is gearing up for a dynamic second half of the year, driven by capacity constraints rather than pure volume increases. Get ready for tighter conditions and potentially higher costs as industrial and retail sectors recover. Craig Fuller breaks down the latest SONAR data, Cass Freight Index, and container flows from China to reveal what's truly shaping the market. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live from FreightWaves' Domestic Supply Chain Summit, Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent bring you a special edition of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? featuring three conversations focused on the future of supply chain operations, freight technology, carrier compliance, and risk management. First, Tom Hurwitch, Founder and Principal of Basis Solutions, explains why the next evolution of logistics isn't simply exchanging data—it's operationalizing it. Learn how leading shippers are leveraging AI, automation, and integrated supply chain visibility to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and move toward autonomous decision-making. Next, Andrew Wimer of Descartes joins the show to break down the industry-shaking Montgomery ruling and what it means for freight brokers. The discussion covers carrier vetting, documentation requirements, compliance best practices, insurance implications, and how technology can help brokers demonstrate reasonable care in an increasingly scrutinized environment. Plus, the team previews an upcoming conversation with Verify Carrier's Andrey Drotenko on why the pickup point remains one of the most vulnerable moments in the supply chain. ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠ ⁠Visit our sponsor - KOONER FLEET MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS⁠ ⁠Subscribe to the WTT newsletter⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠More FreightWaves Podcasts⁠ #WHATTHETRUCK #FreightNews #supplychain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The logistics world is seeing average tariff rates jump by 10x! Curtis Spencer of IMS Worldwide breaks down how Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs) are no longer just a good idea, they're essential for cutting costs and building resilient supply chains. Learn about duty deferral, re-export benefits, and merchandise processing fee caps that can save your business millions. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are your fleets investing in the wrong AI dashcam technology? Nuclear verdicts and climbing insurance costs mean you can't afford to treat dashcams like commodity hardware. Dr. Stefan Heck, CEO of Nauto, explains the critical difference between reactive and predictive AI, highlighting how advanced systems can prevent collisions and save lives. Learn why accuracy, speed of detection, and real-time driver coaching are crucial for true safety. Follow the FreightWaves Today Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining a brutal new wave of financial distress hitting the transportation and logistics sector. Over the past ten days, trucking companies, truck dealers, and logistics providers have filed for bankruptcy protection while hundreds of workers faced layoffs nationwide. Notable filings include Laredo-based Triple RRR Carriers, a cross-border trucking company that operated a fleet of 177 power units, and Dallas-area logistics provider Alan Ritchey Inc., which will lay off 232 employees beginning in September. Next, we shift to the truckload sector where a strategic acquisition is poised to expand growth opportunities across the Southeast. Chattanooga-based F2F Transport announced that it has been acquired by LRT Group, a Fort Payne, Alabama-based transportation holding company focused on building transportation-based businesses. The move is expected to create new opportunities for growth and expanded service offerings, including increased access to dedicated freight opportunities for F2F's network of owner-operators. Finally, we explore a closely watched freight index that is signaling a positive inflection point may finally be on the horizon. According to a Monday report from Cass Information Systems, a positive inflection in freight shipments now appears likely after 40 months of year-over-year declines. The multimodal shipments component of the Cass Freight Index dipped just 1.2% year over year in May, the smallest decline in 18 months. Assuming historical seasonal trends, the index is projected to log a 1.8% year-over-year increase in the back half of 2026. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The freight market is in a regulatory-driven bull cycle unlike any we've seen. Seth Holm, CEO of West Brow Capital, breaks down the shocking truth about trucking capacity, revealing that potentially only a fraction of carriers meet minimum safety requirements. ⁠Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast⁠ ⁠Other FreightWaves Shows⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices