The latest collaborative industry analysis from FreightWaves and Ryder details shifting dynamics in trucking, maritime, and intermodal sectors, offering a data-driven forecast for the pivotal first quarter of 2026.
A sharp post-holiday inventory drawdown is reshaping freight dynamics, with falling ocean container rates foreshadowing tighter truck capacity, higher rejection rates, and rising costs for shippers in the months ahead.
Norfolk Southern has inaugurated its new 'East Edge' double-stack corridor, a decades-in-the-making infrastructure project linking Chicago to New England. The move is set to bolster intermodal capacity in the Northeast and could sharpen the railroad's competitive edge and investor appeal.
Schneider National's Q4 2025 earnings fell short of expectations, pressured by a sharp late-year drop in freight demand and severe weather. While acknowledging near-term challenges, executives pointed to early signs of market normalization and detailed strategic cost actions aimed at positioning the carrier for an eventual upcycle.
As cargo theft evolves from petty crime to sophisticated, high-value scams, logistics firms like Echo Global Logistics are deploying advanced AI and human vigilance in a high-stakes battle for security. Senior VP Jeff Starr details the new frontline in freight fraud.
ArcBest (ARCB) presents a complex valuation picture, with a discounted cash flow model suggesting deep undervaluation while its P/E ratio signals potential overpricing. As the stock hovers around $90, investors weigh conflicting signals against a backdrop of shifting freight demand and industry consolidation.
The unraveling of the R&R Family of Companies is sending shockwaves through the freight industry, with a new lawsuit from Vantage Carrier alleging over $1.3 million in unpaid invoices. The case adds to a growing pile of legal claims and exposes the precarious financial exposure of carriers and small operators caught in the wake.
Covenant Logistics Group struck a cautiously optimistic note in its Q4 2025 earnings call, citing improving freight fundamentals and rising bid activity, even as margin compression across key segments weighed on profits. The company is navigating the shift through fleet optimization, a reduced capex plan, and the integration of a new brokerage unit.
The global container shipping giant Ocean Network Express reported a net loss for its third fiscal quarter, citing soft demand and declining freight rates, particularly on key Asia-U.S. and Asia-Europe routes. The carrier anticipates a gradual recovery in the coming months.
Canadian National Railway reported improved revenue and operating income for the fourth quarter of 2025, citing productivity gains and recovery from prior-year port disruptions. However, the company issued a cautious outlook for 2026, forecasting 'flattish' freight volumes as U.S.-Canada trade tensions and a major regulatory review loom.
Despite a challenging freight market, ArcBest reports resilient fourth-quarter performance, highlighting strategic cost controls, a turnaround in its asset-light segment, and significant investments in AI and automation to drive future efficiency.
Despite a prolonged freight recession, ArcBest reports resilient fourth-quarter performance, driven by strategic cost controls, AI integration, and growth in managed logistics solutions, while outlining a cautious outlook for 2026.
Maersk Air Cargo is ending its trans-Pacific Boeing 767 operations and partnership with Amerijet International, opting for larger Boeing 777 freighters. The move will result in pilot furloughs at Amerijet and signals a strategic pivot towards more efficient long-haul air cargo networks.
Facing a tough freight environment, Schneider National's leadership outlines a strategy centered on cost discipline, tech investment, and strategic positioning in intermodal and dedicated services to steer toward future profitability.
Despite posting a Q4 net loss, ArcBest is streamlining operations and investing in technology, positioning for a market rebound while the broader LTL sector continues its slow climb from a prolonged slump.
A second major winter storm in as many weeks has crippled logistics across the Southeast, leading to massive service suspensions, a deadly 100-car pileup, and worsening a freight backlog that saw volumes plummet over 55%.
After years of aggressive rate hikes blamed for stifling manufacturing and squeezing truckers, the nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve suggests a pivotal policy shift. This analysis examines the toll of recent monetary policy on the freight sector and what a Warsh-led Fed might mean for its recovery.
Union Pacific is preparing a revised application for its proposed $85 billion merger with Norfolk Southern after regulators rejected the initial filing over competition and information concerns. The deal, which would create the first coast-to-coast freight railroad in the U.S., faces intense scrutiny over its potential impact on shipping costs, labor, and market competition.
FreightTech innovator GenLogs has closed a $60 million Series B round led by Battery Ventures. The startup, founded by a former CIA officer, leverages a vast sensor network and AI to bring unprecedented visibility and security to the fragmented trucking industry.
While carrier capacity and reliability show signs of recovery, a new FreightWaves white paper reveals a more complex and unforgiving cost environment emerging for 2026. Shippers must navigate a labyrinth of rules, fees, and contract nuances that are quietly driving up expenses.
