The Green Mile — Where Small Carriers Actually Win

Malcolm and Julie start with headlines on liability risks from AI dash cams, Hapag-Lloyd’s jump in third-quarter profit and how the midterm election results could affect trade policy. Eyal Cohen, founder and CEO of Humble Robotics, explains how the company’s $51 million raise will move its cabless, autonomous electric Hauler into customer pilots, and why short-haul moves between ports, rail terminals and warehouses are a strong fit for automation. Andy Kuchar, President of Centerline Insurance Company, discusses trailer liability exposures, per-shipment cargo coverage for freight moving to and from Mexico, and how the Montgomery ruling has changed the way companies think about coverage. Julie’s SONAR update looks at rising rates, tight flatbed and reefer capacity, early peak season activity and the pressure on small carriers as truck counts fall. To close the show, Matt Leffler, the Armchair Attorney and co-host of Freight Expectations, breaks down where the racketeering case against C.H. Robinson and TQL stands, what AI dash cam footage means for discovery, the legal fallout from the leadership shake-up at Nvidia, and whether a safety waiver for autonomous trucks could someday apply to human drivers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining a troubling blind spot in fleet safety technology that's creating new courtroom risks for trucking companies. Speaking at the American Trucking Associations' Management Conference and Exhibition in Charlotte, defense attorneys warned that AI-only dash cams are recording dangerous driving behavior that the artificial intelligence never flags for review, with analysis showing up to thirty percent of AI-triggered videos held other risks the system missed. The panel came just days after a Dallas County judge upheld a massive six hundred four million dollar jury verdict, underscoring that fleets will be held responsible for any footage they hold regardless of whether the AI flagged it. Next, we shift over to the water as German container carrier Hapag-Lloyd rides a wave of robust spot freight rates to sharply higher earnings. The shipping giant reported third-quarter group profit of nine hundred ninety-nine million dollars, nearly six times higher than a year earlier, driven primarily by freight rates that jumped to one thousand eight hundred eight dollars per twenty-foot equivalent unit. Based on continued strength in spot rates, Hapag-Lloyd raised its full-year earnings outlook to four point six billion to five point zero billion dollars, up from its previous forecast of three point nine billion to four point four billion dollars. Finally, we explore how fresh political uncertainty is complicating the trade landscape as container imports cool after an unusually long peak season. The Democratic sweep of both houses of Congress in last week's U.S. midterm elections has introduced new uncertainty for trade and logistics, leaving the Trump administration facing competing pressures between voter concerns over affordability and the potential to use trade policy as an area for executive action. Trans-Pacific ocean rates fell slightly this past week as carriers' planned general rate increases failed to take hold, but remained around peak-season levels at eight thousand two hundred dollars per forty-foot equivalent unit to the U.S. West Coast. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A cyber gang called White Armor is demanding millions from J.B. Hunt, Ryder, and Echo Global Logistics, while the Logistics Managers’ Index shows inventories at their highest growth since 2022. FreightWaves Today for November 12, 2026 covers both, plus the freight market and the economy. In this episode, hosts Malcolm Harris and Zach Strickland break down the week’s top freight headlines. We also talk with Project 61 about driver health, look at the LMI with Dr. Zac Rogers, and get the latest SONAR market data and an economic update on inflation, diesel, and the Fed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Zac Rogers comes on to discuss the last minute ordering that hit the LMI in October. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

$6 diesel, Slow-paying brokers, Factoring contracts with more fine print than a mortgage. Everybody wants a piece of your trucking business...but who’s leaving anything for the people actually hauling the freight? On this episode of Brake Check on FreightWaves, Charles follows the money from the fuel pump to the paycheck, exposing the hidden costs, expensive mistakes, and financial traps squeezing American truckers and small carriers. First, Mike Roeth, Executive Director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE), breaks down what fuel efficiency is REALLY worth when diesel prices explode. We’re talking real-world MPG, cost per mile, driver habits, maintenance, and how carriers can stop burning profits with every mile. Then, Brett Schroeder, Chief Sales Officer at Apex Capital, takes us inside the financial side of trucking. Factoring contracts, broker credit risk, slow payments, fuel advances, and the fine print that could cost carriers thousands. We’re asking the questions every trucker and fleet owner should be asking: How much money is one extra MPG actually worth? Are you losing profits without even knowing it? When does factoring help, and when does it hurt? What happens when a broker goes broke owing you money? Are you hauling profitable freight or just financing everybody else’s business? No corporate fluff. No financial fairy tales. Just real conversations about keeping American trucking profitable. Because hauling the freight is only half the battle….Keeping the money? That’s where things get interesting. Drop a comment: What’s hurting your bottom line more — fuel costs, freight rates, or getting paid? Subscribe to FreightWaves for more Brake Check with Charles #BrakeCheck #FreightWaves #Trucking #OwnerOperator #DieselPrices #FreightRates #TruckingBusiness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining a massive cybersecurity crisis affecting some of the logistics industry's biggest players. A relatively new criminal gang called Whitearmor has launched targeted attacks since late October, and J.B. Hunt, Ryder System, and Echo Global Logistics have all been hit with multimillion-dollar ransom demands. The gang claims to hold vast amounts of employee records, carrier contacts, and invoices, and all three companies now face federal lawsuits from employees alleging they failed to protect personal information. Meanwhile, federal authorities are cracking down hard on labor violations along the southern border. A Laredo-based trucking company owner has been indicted on federal charges after prosecutors allege his firm employed fifty-seven unauthorized foreign drivers on B-1 visas to haul domestic freight across the United States. By allegedly paying these drivers between twenty-five and fifty cents per mile compared to the seventy cents paid to authorized drivers, the company reportedly saved nearly three hundred thousand dollars in labor costs while violating federal immigration law. Finally, we explore the ongoing financial struggles at the nation's mail carrier as the U.S. Postal Service reduced its annual operating loss by twelve point seven percent to six point five billion dollars in fiscal year twenty twenty-six. Despite growth in Ground Advantage parcel services and marketing mail, Postmaster General David Steiner and CFO Luke Grossman are calling on Congress and regulators for urgent reforms, warning that the Postal Service could face insolvency by twenty thirty-one when its retiree health benefit fund is exhausted. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Malcolm Harris and Michael Vincent kick off the new format with a packed headline block. CBP finds more than 1,000 pounds of meth hidden in a load of leeks at the Texas border. Highway’s Q3 Freight Fraud Index shows hijacked email accounts behind 40% of stolen loads. Nvidia hardware goes missing somewhere between Oakland and Fort Worth. The RICO suit against C.H. Robinson and TQL gets a jury date of 2028. And two Georgia men are charged in a $760,000 fuel card scheme that ran for five months before anyone noticed. Then four guests take the hot seat: Steve Shebuski, VP of pre-sales at MCA Connect, gives a reality check on autonomous trucking. Driverless trucks are already running in Texas, so what happens when one shows up at a warehouse that isn’t staffed or connected to receive it? Sarah Abernethy, director of marketing communications at Kenworth, explains the logistics of hauling the 2026 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. It’s a 76-foot spruce from Idaho’s Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest traveling more than 2,000 miles to Washington, D.C. This is Kenworth’s 13th straight year hauling the People’s Tree. Jack Holmes, CEO of STG Logistics, talks about going from UPS package handler to leading STG out of bankruptcy. He covers why owning intermodal assets is cool again and his plan to unify six businesses around fanatical service. Mitchell Ward, chairman and CEO of MW Logistics, explains why data is worthless if nobody acts on it. He also discusses keeping the human touch in an AI world and how 53% of MW’s business came to run on dedicated electric vehicles. Happy Veterans Day to all who served. This episode is presented by Chevron. If your business has fleets to fuel, go to the source. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Truckload spot rates are up 52% year over year, October set an all-time intermodal record, and AI agents are now booking more than 40% of one broker’s loads. FreightWaves Today for November 11, 2026 covers the full freight market. In this episode, we cover the $760,000 fuel card fraud case, Wing’s $125 million drone factory, and Uber Freight’s restructuring. We also have the weekly SONAR freight market update, the new SONAR MCP connector for AI tools, rail traffic from Trains magazine, and interviews on AI in freight brokerage and fleet compliance. What’s in this episode: 📰 Top freight headlines Fuel card fraud: Two Georgia men face federal charges in a $760K scheme that used a Michigan carrier’s stolen identity to get Pacific Pride fuel cards, with charges across 23 states. Drone delivery: Wing will invest $125 million in a Fort Worth, Texas manufacturing facility and expand with Walmart to nearly 20 U.S. markets, ahead of the FAA’s beyond visual line of sight rule. Uber Freight: About 80 roles are cut while 290 positions are open, and managed transportation volume is up 2.5x year over year. 🤖 AI freight brokerage and M&A (Fura) Jeff Dangelo, CEO, discusses the acquisition of Road Dog Logistics (about $30M in revenue). He also covers the AI agent “Donna,” which now handles 40%+ of bookings with a goal of 90%, plus plans for 6–12 more acquisitions next year. We also cover how small brokers are handling the spot-versus-contract squeeze and what the Montgomery ruling on broker liability means for them. 📊 SONAR freight market update Outbound Tender Rejections are at 12.88%, roughly double last November. Tender volumes are up 12% year over year. Truckload spot rates are $3.56/mile, up 52%, and contract rates are $2.88/mile, up 25%. Diesel is $6.13/gallon. Road-to-rail cost savings are at 30.2%. Intermodal volumes are at 2026 highs, while inbound ocean bookings have cooled since July. We also introduce the SONAR MCP connector, which lets you query SONAR data in plain language inside Claude, Copilot, or other AI tools. 🔧 AI for fleet compliance (Fleet Worthy) Michael Precia, President and CRO, explains Radar, Fleet Worthy’s new AI tool for tolling, safety, and compliance data. He also covers toll leakage, the Hall acquisition, and what fleets want as enforcement tightens. 🚂 Rail and intermodal (Trains magazine) Bill Stephens breaks down week 44 rail traffic (U.S. intermodal +11%) and the AAR’s October report, with a third straight record month for U.S. intermodal. He also covers Genesee & Wyoming’s plan to split into three holding companies and BNSF earnings. 🎖️ Happy Veterans Day to the veterans who keep freight moving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we kick things off by examining a massive federal fraud case that highlights how vulnerable fuel providers can be to identity impersonation schemes. Two Georgia men face federal charges in a $760,000 fuel-card fraud operation that exploited a legitimate Michigan trucking company's identity. The elaborate scheme involved altered documents, unauthorized credit applications, and eight Pacific Pride fuel cards that generated unpaid purchases across twenty-three states before prosecutors charged both defendants with wire fraud, mail fraud, and unauthorized access device crimes. Next, we explore Alphabet's Wing and its aggressive bet on the future of ultra-fast drone delivery as the company invests $125 million to build a major manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The fifteen-thousand-square-foot plant will produce tens of thousands of unmanned aircraft annually to support Wing's massive expansion through its Walmart partnership, which aims to bring drone delivery to nearly twenty U.S. markets and over forty million people next year. Finally, we cover Uber Freight's strategic workforce realignment that cuts eighty jobs while simultaneously hiring nearly three hundred employees in a growth push concentrated on its rapidly expanding managed transportation business. CEO Rebecca Tinucci emphasized that the restructuring is designed to simplify operations and eliminate overlapping responsibilities, positioning the company for future growth as managed transportation deal volume has surged two and a half times year over year. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is peak season real? Truckload tender rejections hold near 12.9%, about double last year, and the Nvidia chip cargo theft shows how exposed freight is to fraud. FreightWaves Today for November 10, 2026 covers it. In this episode, we break down the freight market with data from FreightWaves SONAR. We cover truckload rejections, volumes, reefer capacity, diesel prices, air cargo, drone delivery, and the AI agents now booking freight. What’s in this episode: 📉 Truckload market and peak season outlook: Outbound Tender Rejections are flat at about 12.5–12.9%, roughly twice last year’s level. Tender volumes are up 12% year over year and 3% from October. We also look at whether rate relief before Thanksgiving will be limited this year. ❄️ Reefer market: Refrigerated tender rejections are near 21%, up from 12.6% a year ago. We also cover the strong El Niño’s potential impact on winter weather and protect-from-freeze capacity. 🚛 Spot rates by mode: We compare reefer, flatbed, and dry van spot rates. We also cover the Pacific Northwest seasonal surge and why flatbed demand tied to AI data center buildout remains strong. 📰 Top freight headlines: The RICO lawsuit against C.H. Robinson and TQL: jury selection isn’t expected until April 2028, and TQL is pushing for dismissal. COSCO Shipping Holdings reports an 81% jump in Q3 profit, with Trans-Pacific revenue up 61%. Six pallets of Nvidia hardware worth $11.4 million vanish on an Oakland-to-Fort Worth shipment, part of a wave of data center freight thefts. 🔐 Cargo theft and freight fraud: Why high-value freight needs stricter carrier vetting, security protocols, and counterparty checks. 🤖 AI agents in logistics: Joel Clum (Chief Commercial Officer) and Nick Ciubotariu(CTO) of ShipStation Global discuss the 250+ AI agents behind their platform, from email-to-quote-to-booking automation to sales tools. We also cover how small and mid-sized shippers can use AI to compete with enterprise shippers. ✈️ Air cargo and drone delivery: Eric Kulisch on why Air cargo rates are up about 30% year over year, with volumes up about 6%, driven by AI equipment shipments. Wing plans a $125 million Texas drone factory and expanded Walmart delivery, while Zipline raises new funding ahead of the FAA’s long-awaited drone rules. ⛽ Diesel prices and energy: John Kingston on the DOE average diesel price falling 16.5 cents, post-election moves in crude futures, Iran conflict risk, and the Strait of Hormuz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices