🎣 Broken Roads

Happy Hump Day. America's roads just got graded, and it’s not pretty. A new report shows deteriorating conditions that impact the freight industry.

Plus: 

• 📊 Cass Freight Index: March a Mixed Bag

• 🇨🇳 China Freezes Rare Earth Exports

• 💪 TransLoop Climbs Broker Rankings

• and more...

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🐔 WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN FREIGHT

📊 Cass Freight Index Reveals Uneven March Trends. The Cass Freight Index reported mixed results for March, reflecting flat month-to-month shipment volume and a 3.5% year-over-year decline. Seasonally adjusted, shipments dropped 2.1% from February and 8.7% over two years. Despite a 2.8% monthly rise, freight expenditures fell 2.0% annually, tied to lower volumes and a 3.5% rise in inferred rates. Tim Denoyer, ACT Research Vice President and Senior Analyst, expects short-term volume boosts from pre-tariff activity, though ongoing trade tensions and tariff impacts may prolong the “for-hire freight recession.” Denoyer attributed the yearly decrease to reduced shipment volumes—evident in the 3.5% drop in annual shipments—as well as a 3.5% annual rise in inferred rates in March.

🇨🇳 China Freezes Rare Earth Exports. China just hit back at Trump’s new tariffs by cutting off exports of rare earth minerals and magnets—stuff that’s essential for EVs, drones, semiconductors, and military gear. These materials mostly come from China, and now they won’t ship without a special license. Problem is, there’s no real system in place yet to get those licenses. So ports are frozen, supply chains are scrambling, and U.S. factories (especially auto and defense) might be in trouble soon. It’s a clear sign: China’s not afraid to use its grip on critical materials to push back.

💪 TransLoop Rising Up The Ranks. TransLoop, a Chicago based freight brokerage, has jumped nine spots to #86 on Transport Topics’ 2025 Top 100 Freight Brokerage Firms list. Amid high-profile stumbles from peers like Convoy’s shutdown and Uber Freight’s ongoing profitability woes, TransLoop’s 51.5% sales growth and 36.1% shipment increase in Q1 magnify its momentum. Founded in 2019, the company emphasizes tech-driven transparency and strong partnerships, growing its team by 44% this year alone. CEO Nicholas Reasoner credits their rapid ascent to focused execution and a long-term vision: to become the #1 freight brokerage in the U.S.

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America’s Roads Get a D+

The 2025 Infrastructure Report Card is in: the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) upgraded the U.S. road system from a D to a D+.

39% of Roads Are Still in Bad Shape

Even after billions in federal infrastructure funding, 39% of major U.S. roads remain in poor or mediocre condition, costing logistics billions a year​.

Roads Drag While Ports Get the Spotlight

America’s ports earned a B, up from a B– in 2021, thanks to targeted funding and improved throughput. But the inland journey? Still rough.

Better port capacity doesn’t always mean smoother freight flows—not when the inland infrastructure connecting those ports to warehouses, rail hubs, and final destinations is still lagging.

A container may leave the Port of Los Angeles efficiently, but still face hours of delay in the Central Valley due to road closures, congestion, or infrastructure issues that force detours.

• Freight moved by truck is projected to grow 91% by value by 2050

• $3.1B in annual truck-related road repair costs are tied to poor road conditions

• 47% of roadway fatalities occur in rural areas

ASCE notes that “more than 207,000 miles of roads have been improved” since the 2021 infrastructure law passed. But a $1.242 trillion investment gap remains, and much of the improvement has yet to touch the truckload corridors brokers depend on.

Rail Grade High, But Bottlenecks Persist

Rail also held a strong B grade on the 2025 Report Card.

• The U.S. freight rail system moves 40% of long-distance freight volume

• Class I railroads invested $250B over the past decade in infrastructure and tech

• Yet key constraints persist at intermodal terminals, where congestion slows transfers between truck and rail

Even with robust investment and modernization, coordination between modes remains a sticking point.

What's Next?

Since stepping into the role, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has made it clear: the focus is on traditional infrastructure and getting things built faster, particularly roads, bridges, and highways.

Duffy's infrastructure priorities include:

• Accelerating Project Timelines: Reducing red tape to get federal dollars moving faster

• Clearing the Grant Backlog: Addressing over 3,200 projects awaiting DOT approval

• Refocusing on Roads: Prioritizing highway and bridge improvements that “move people and commerce”

• Empowering States: Giving states more autonomy to manage and expedite local infrastructure builds

At the end of the day, supply chains move at the speed of infrastructure. You can have the best tech and fastest network—but if the roads suck, so does your ETA.

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🌎 AROUND THE FREIGHT WEB

🤝 Making Moves. Kodiak Robotics is going public through a $2.5 billion merger with Ares Acquisition Corp II, accelerating its go-to-market strategy with aim of being a publicly traded autonomous truck company soon.

🧾 Bookkeeper Stole $4M from NJ Trucking Company. A New Jersey bookkeeper admitted to stealing $4 million from West End Express over six years to fund a gambling habit.

🚫 Truck Parking Crackdown. San Antonio will limit legal truck parking in response to 311 complaints. Areas that were once legal are now banned for trucks based on residents' complaints to the city.

🍅 Tomato Tariffs. The White House is enforcing a 21% tariff on tomatoes from Mexico, starting July 14. The Commerce Department said, “This action will allow U.S. tomato growers to compete fairly in the marketplace.”

🛢️ Diesel Prices Dip. National diesel prices fell by 6 cents to $3.579 per gallon. A gallon of fuel now costs 43.6 cents less than it did around this time last year.

💰 Tariffs Boost Financing Talk. New tariffs could drive more businesses to explore financing options in supply chains, as businesses work to create capital while being faced with increasing costs, according to a Wells Fargo executive.

🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER

• After months in the making, we've launched the FreightCaviar Forum, a space built for brokers, carriers, dispatchers, and freight tech to connect, share, and learn from one another. Sign up now here.

• The FreightCaviar Podcast: In this week’s episode of the FreightCaviar Podcast, we sat down with Sarah Ruffcorn, President at Trinity Logistics. Catch it on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

• Freight Jobs. We've got another job opportunity over on FreigthJobs.co. Good Way Trucking Inc is looking for an experienced Dry Van Dispatcher in Willowbrook, IL. Apply here.

FREIGHT HUMOR