Insights

The domestic truckload market gets rattled by a series of winter weather systems.

t: After President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, his body toured the United States in a funeral procession by train as the country mourned the loss.

The concept of “people insights” can optimize a logistics operation through a true understanding of how and where employees work best.

The benchmark diesel price used for most fuel surcharges rose for only the fourth time in the past 17 weeks.

Flatbed and refrigerated truckload data suggests their markets may have floored for these two trailer types.

The sustained imbalance between supply and demand has yet to be corrected, such that only an unprecedented tidal wave of demand could satisfy the current amount of capacity in the national freight economy.

In 1986, the Federal Maritime Commission put a stop to a six-month legal case against a Singaporean shipping line after it decided there was nothing to the case.

The New Year could see potential rate increases due to several factors. Here are some strategies you need to keep in mind.

After World War I, veterans took up farming and provided food supplies and wheat to Western Australia. But when emus began to threaten that supply chain, another war broke out. The emus won.

The benchmark used for most diesel surcharges was down for the 13th time in 16 weeks.

Cummins Inc. will spend $580 million to upgrade a North Carolina plant to make fuel-agnostic small engines.

Spot rates did eventually see a boost at the start of the new year, albeit one that was unable to meet our prior forecasts.

After a year in which crude and diesel prices fell, new refineries and the supply and demand balance appear to be bearish in ’24.

Increasing biofuel consumption will be a key way for Norfolk Southern to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to its inaugural climate transition plan.

This article from American Shipper’s archives gives a detailed look at “the business of disaster” in maritime in the 1980s, including marine salvage and issues surrounding liability.

After an increase last week, the benchmark diesel price used for most fuel surcharges declined in its first posting of 2024.

With the year coming to an end, columnist Bart De Muynck reflects on 2023 and the new year ahead.

American Shipper magazine has an extensive history of monthly printed issues. We’ve compiled a gallery of our favorite covers from the 1990s.

The Shipping Act of 1984 changed the game for shippers and carriers.

Shipping stocks are under pressure as some ocean carriers show faith in military protection from Red Sea attacks.

The benchmark diesel price used for most fuel surcharges rose Tuesday, the first increase since the end of October.

In the closing edition of Drilling Deep for 2023, P. Sean Garney of Scopelitis looks at the regulatory landscape for the new year.

The next year could be fraught with disruption but investment in logistics technology is likely to continue.

In the age of social media, rumors are rampant in the shipping industry. But this article from the archives of American Shipper examines how rumors also plagued logistics in the 1980s, pre-social media.

Amelia Earhart’s achievements go beyond aviation, and the pilot has done much more than she is given credit for. This museum gives insight into her impressive career and contributions to the industry and beyond.

The benchmark diesel price used for most fuel surcharges was down Monday, but its long decline is threatened by Red Sea strife.

It is unclear whether the reduction in emissions is a result of a genuine effort to mitigate environmental impact or a consequence of market dynamics.

On this week’s Drilling Deep, we talk truck parking and weakening oil demand. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

UPS’ ground delivery surcharge increase comes amid a continued decline in diesel pump prices.

Tender volumes began to outpace 2020 earlier this week and are now marching toward favorable comparisons with 2021.

Cummins’ aggressive scaling of electrolyzers will need other players to meet expected midcentury hydrogen demand.

A look at how the key to success in the supply chain industry is picking the right partner.

Find out how more than 100 patriots pulled off dumping so much tea into Boston Harbor in this week’s episode of Tracks Through Time.

Alleged thefts of chicken and chicken-adjacent foods on both sides of the Atlantic have me feeling fricasseed.

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is trying to help shippers with tools to track the diesel emissions of their trucking vendors.

FreightWaves Classics aims to highlight the most interesting and sometimes unique stories throughout the history of transportation and freight. This year we found so many compelling stories; here are some of the most read from 2023.

The basis for most fuel surcharges declined for the eighth time in 10 weeks.

UPS’ levies drop to 15% from 15.25%.

Volumes are leveling out at the start of December, delaying the seasonal dip that ordinarily occurs at this time of the year.

Tracks Through Time spent all year sharing some of the most captivating stories in the history of logistics. See the favorites from the year here.

Big and bulky items sold online need more finance in logistics. Luckily today, there’s a growing number of new technologies to help.

TriumphPay’s chief partnership officer, Josh Bouk, predicts a 12-month time frame for a substantial rebound.

The U.S. and Canada plan to form a joint task force aimed at developing and integrating zero-emissions technologies for locomotives at a wider and accelerated scale.

The shipper container was one of the biggest game changers for the ocean freight industry, and its origins come from a true inventor.

Filing documents electronically is the norm for businesses today. A 1982 article from American Shipper recalls when the industry first embraced this technology.

Yard automation will bring about significant improvements in how companies manage their transportation hubs, leading to streamlined operations, reduced costs and enhanced visibility.

The benchmark price used for most fuel surcharges dropped for the ninth time in 11 weeks.

Attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Houthis militants could impact global trade.

Shippers are reverting to pre-pandemic shipping patterns, which may exacerbate the next freight market shift.

Choosing the perfect holiday tree for Rockefeller Plaza isn’t easy, but it’s a lot easier than getting it there.

Tender volumes were outpacing 2022 levels before the holiday and came within spitting distance of 2020 — freight demand’s second-best year on record.

The White House’s new Supply Chain Resilience Council is meant to strengthen the supply chain, but supply chain stakeholders are not included.

With China knocked off its pedestal of reliable, cheap products, other countries have jumped in and seized on the weakness.

Effective Monday, UPS’ surcharge levels for domestic ground parcel and SurePost services will rise by 50 basis points.

The transportation sector is actively looking for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This has created increased demand for cleaner, more innovative fuel sources, like renewable diesel.

The Wright brothers are famous for their contributions to the aviation industry, but one man is responsible for the engine that powered them.

In 1981, longshore and shipyard union members had to fight to keep the Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act intact, after rampant abuse of an amendment.

The DOE/EIA diesel price declined for the eighth time in the past 10 weeks.

The White House recently publicized Flexport for facilitating purchases of sustainable aviation fuel because of the California connection to Asia-Pacific trade and sustainability, although the program isn’t particularly novel.

Here are a few compelling reasons why retailers should make supply chain visibility a top priority, especially during the holiday peak season.

The U.S. Postal Service has been in action for centuries. Throughout the years, it has adopted all kinds of methods of transportation to deliver the mail.

A flashback article from the archives of American Shipper highlights unique insurance claims.

The price used for most fuel surcharges dropped again, with prices now down more than $1 compared to last Thanksgiving. 

The Logistics Managers’ Index has done a great job of explaining freight market capacity shifts over the past several years. The last few months are painting a picture of a market that is racing toward a correction.

Benjamin Franklin became the first postmaster general in 1775 and changed the United States Postal Service forever.

While bankruptcies and layoffs have abounded in the logistics industry in 2023, there has been much more to the year than meets the eye.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has gotten bigger and bigger every year since 1924, but how can such a big logistics program be pulled off year after year? Brielle Jaekel and Mary O’Connell dive into how it has worked throughout the years.

Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980 and caused serious damage to the Pacific Northwest. But one dredge in particular made quick work of clearing the debris in the channel because of its unique history with the port.

The benchmark diesel price for most fuel surcharges was down, though other numbers are suddenly pointing higher.

CMA CGM, like many other carriers, is reporting serious revenue loss. The North America president and CEO goes into detail with American Shipper and explains why the company is investing in more physical infrastructure.

There’s no debate that the freight industry is hurting right now, but it’s not because volume is low. We have an oversupply of trucks.

After a relatively easy year for shipping and rightsizing inventories, shippers may have set up a holiday season in which expedited shipments become more prevalent.

Some of the most important jobs in the military are handling logistics, as shown in photographs compiled in honor of Veterans Day.

FreightWaves’ F3: Future of Freight Festival was full of lively discussions of new technology in freight but also a movement to get back to the basics.

This week, freight markets underwent a surprising rally that saw a wave of volumes sweep across the country.

In 1980, maritime workers became enraged by the maritime omnibus bill, resulting in the Boilermakers’ international president threatening to stop building ships in the United States.

In a keynote address to the F3 conference, Alex Epstein laid out the case for continued fossil fuel use.

The state of Georgia has suspended diesel and gasoline taxes for the third time since early summer.

The benchmark diesel price used for most fuel surcharges has declined for the fourth time in five weeks.

Trucking bloodbath expands to lenders as industry experiences one of the sharpest downturns in history.

The overall freight transportation market may be soft but the natural imbalance in the flow of freight is still able to create pockets of tightness.

Domestic manufacturers fail to inspire optimism, since they foresee major headwinds on output in the first half of 2024.

In 1979, South Korea — officially the Republic of Korea — imposed a law reserving 100% of cargo in the country for Korean-only vessels. The decree sparked protests organized by U.S. shippers nervous that the monopoly would raise freight rates.

Innovation in freight goes beyond technology. While many major FreightTech companies have gone bankrupt, it does not mean that innovation is lacking or that every tech company is doomed to fail.

Mail delivery by airplane started in 1918, if you can believe it. It was dangerous work but cut down delivery time by a day.

Last-mile delivery is complicated. Technology can make it more efficient, but the key is successfully integrating multiple systems.

Take a look at some of the daring and interesting ways mail was delivered by air in the early 20th century.

Oil prices, including the benchmark used for most fuel surcharges, are below or close to Oct. 7 levels.

Rail electrification and locomotives powered by green hydrogen are two goals that the rail industry and federal and state leaders should adopt, according to the Sierra Club’s revised statement on how to encourage clean transportation for the railroads.

Natural gas has long been a bit player in a diesel-driven engine world. That may change with Cummins’ beefier 15-liter offering.

The return of intermodal shipping could accelerate truckload capacity’s exodus.

American Shipper magazine has an extensive history of monthly printed issues, each with interesting cover designs. We’ve compiled a gallery of our favorite covers from the 1980s.

In a conversation with American Shipper, CarGurus’ director of industry insights and analytics shows that some model inventories will be impacted by the strike and some will be fine.

The upcoming months are littered with major holidays during which carriers can leverage seasonal constraints on capacity for higher spot rates.

A slowdown will be the pause that refreshes the industrial development segment.

High velocity in a supply chain means reduced lead times, lower cycle times, better inventory and flexibility. This could be the key to answering quick changes in demand.

Twelve people died and 42 were injured in 1990 after a sudden fog enveloped a section of Interstate 75 in Tennessee.

An article from the archives of American Shipper in 1979 details the climax of a long-awaited signature from President Jimmy Carter to help tamp down rampant rebating in the maritime shipping industry, which was vehemently condemned by the FMC.

Yard management needs a technology overhaul, with more automation to drive efficiency. Right now, manual processes slow down operations.

Convoy’s story, while tragic for investors and insiders, should prove cautionary for other founders.