🎣 Freight vs. Tariffs

Happy Friday. Tariffs dominated freight this week—from lawsuits and booking collapses to China’s retaliation. We break down the facts, fallout, and a couple of bright spots. Catch the roundup below.

Plus: 

• 😔 Two Legacy Carriers Shut Down

• 🛑 Harassment Claims Surface at TIA

• 📊 19.5% Drop in Spot Loads

• and more...

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🐔 WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN FREIGHT

😔 End of the Road: Two Legacy Trucking Firms Shut Down. Family-run carriers Davis Express (FL) and Wes Olson Trucking (ID) are ceasing operations after decades in business, citing mounting costs, legal pressures, insurance spikes, and a shrinking pool of skilled drivers. With 160 trucks, Davis Express will lay off 146 employees by June 15, after nearly 50 years in refrigerated freight. Wes Olson Trucking, known for ice road hauling and timber transport, ended operations in March. Both owners emphasized how driver shortages and regulatory burdens have made it impossible to remain viable, with Jim Olsen saying, "Good drivers are a dying breed. They’re just not out there.”

🛑 Addressing Harassment in Freight Conferences. At the recent TIA conference, Carrier Assure CEO Cassandra Gaines revealed that two young female associates were harassed—subjected to unwanted comments and physical contact. The troubling incidents are not isolated, highlighting a broader issue of misconduct at industry events. Leaders like Will Jenkins and Jennifer Morris are calling for accountability, urging men to speak up and organizations to take real action. While some male allies did step in, fear of backlash still silences many women. The message is clear: the freight industry must protect and empower women, not just invite them into the room.

📊 Spot Market Shifts as Load Volumes Dip. Posted spot loads on DAT One dropped 19.3% to 2.1 million, yet load movements hit a Week 15 record, signaling active market churn. Truck posts rose 2.8%, reflecting ongoing volatility. Despite the dip, van load posts remained historically high, and van rates held above pre-pandemic levels. Reefer volumes fell 27.3% following a recent surge, and flatbed activity softened, particularly in Texas, where oil-related freight is slowing. Meanwhile, a spike in container ship traffic to Southern California suggests a looming surge in imports, possibly the last before a projected 27% plunge due to U.S.-China trade tensions.

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Tariff Week in Review: Shocks, Shutdowns & Supply Chain Curveballs

It’s Friday. Which means it’s time to take a breath, reload your email, and try to make sense of this week's tariff whirlwind.

From rare earth retaliation and legal blowback to booking collapses and warehouse demand surges, here’s how the week unfolded—the good, the bad, and the "wait, what now?"

China’s Rare Earth Retaliation: Freight’s Quiet Crisis

China has moved to curb exports of rare earth metals, a quiet but massive blow to U.S. supply chains that depend on these critical materials for everything from semiconductors to defense systems.

The country controls roughly 70% of global rare earth production, and its latest restrictions are seen as a direct counterstrike to Trump’s April 2 tariff blitz.

California Pushes Back: “Our Ports Are Not Pawns”

The economic pain is hitting home fast. This week, California became the first state to sue the Trump administration over the new tariffs, filing a federal complaint on grounds that the policy bypasses congressional authority and harms the state’s economy.

California's ports take in 40% of imports to the U.S. Check out yesterday's newsletter for more details on their performance.

The lawsuit reflects growing concerns among state governments that the tariff rollout is doing more harm than good and making U.S. ports collateral damage.

Trump: “I’m in No Rush”

Despite industry backlash, President Trump remained steadfast, doubling down during a televised segment on Thursday:

The administration sees tariffs as a tool to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., but logistics professionals and shippers say it’s causing more chaos than clarity.

A Ray of Light: U.S.–Japan Trade Talks Move Forward

Amid the tension, there’s one positive note. The U.S. and Japan announced a second round of trade talks to smooth over friction in key sectors like autos and semiconductors.

Japan is one of the few top trading partners to avoid steep tariff hikes, possibly offering a model for how trade diplomacy might still function.

Collapse in Ocean Bookings: “Tariff Shockwave”

The real-time impact is being felt at sea. As reported by FreightWaves, ocean container bookings from China to the U.S. have “fallen off a cliff” since the tariffs took effect.

Some shipping lines have blanked sailings, while others are rerouting vessels away from U.S. lanes entirely. Spot rates are whiplashing, and forward visibility is evaporating.

Prologis Spins Gold from Chaos

One firm seeing opportunity? Prologis, the logistics real estate giant. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, they framed the tariff fallout as a catalyst for demand:

The surge in domestic warehousing signals that while imports may slump, internal repositioning is gaining steam.

Final Thought: Trade Policy Is the New Freight Forecast

This week proved that trade headlines can reshape freight flows overnight. From canceled bookings to warehouse booms, the logistics industry is adapting in real time.

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🌎 AROUND THE FREIGHT WEB

⌚ Congestion at Bensenville. Ari Ashe reports that CPKC's Bensenville terminal experienced delays due to a gate outage and an unexpected surge in container arrivals. The situation seems to be ongoing currently, but the past reasons may not be the same today.

🤖 C.H. Robinson’s AI Rollout Expands. With over 3 million tasks now automated, CHRW’s generative AI is streamlining quoting and LTL operations.

⚡ Windrose Debuts Electric Sleeper Cab. Windrose’s 420-mile range Class 8 truck is now rolling out in the U.S. with JoyRide Logistics, making it the first fleet to run all-electric sleeper trucks.

🏗️ Amazon’s $15B Logistics Push. Amazon may add 80 new U.S. logistics sites, from urban hubs to rural towns. Some will include robotic fulfillment centers, part of a major warehouse expansion.

📚 Speak English? A truck driver shared what he experienced at a weigh station checkpoint, where he was asked about his place of birth and his English skills due to the recently passed Arkansas English-proficiency bill. He also gives his advice on what to do and say.

🌄 Life of a Driver. A truck driver shared a piece of his driving stories, ranging from dropping off a shipment in a sketchy location and taking “ice baths” to picking up multiple Amazon loads, one after the other.

🚨 Drug Bust. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted over $14.6 million worth of meth concealed in a shipment of cucumbers and fresh bell peppers at the Pharr International Bridge.

🎣 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.

• Central Asians Dominate. We visited CABXPO and met impressive carriers like Sultan Trans, UGL Holding, and more, showcasing the scale and deep community roots of Central Asian immigrants in U.S. trucking. Read about it 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. MAV, Inc. is seeking a Senior Freight Broker to join their team in a fully-remote position. Learn more about the role and apply here.

FREIGHT HUMOR