🎣 Trump Sides with Dockworkers

Happy Friday the 13th. In today’s feature story, we break down Trump’s bold stance against port automation and what it means for the supply chain.

Plus:

• ❄️ NM Tops Winter Crash Stats

• ⚖️ Freight Essentials RICO Lawsuit

• 🤝 C.H. Robinson x Highway Collab

• & more...

💡

Question of the Day:

According to HappyRobot, what percentage of the time do carriers actually call back after saying they need to check with their driver?

Find the answer in HappyRobot’s ad text below.

Correction: In yesterday’s newsletter on Chairman & CEO Brad Jacobs, we misstated a few dates and figures. The article has been updated to reflect accurate information.

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🐔 WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN FREIGHT

❄️ Dangerous Roads. A recent study by J & Y Law reveals New Mexico as the most dangerous state for truck drivers in winter, with 122.1 crashes per 100,000 drivers, more than double the national average. Oklahoma and Montana follow with rates of 112.1 and 99.4, highlighting the perils of icy roads and poor visibility that disrupt supply chains during the holiday season. Take into consideration Michigan’s Metro Detroit area, where they experienced 86 crashes in 24 hours Thursday due to snow squalls and black ice, with hazardous conditions expected to persist until a weekend thaw. Authorities are stressing patience and caution for all drivers this upcoming winter season.

⚖ Freight Essentials vs. WWEX. Freight Essentials has filed a RICO lawsuit against WWEX Group—comprising Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz, and Unishippers—alleging hidden fees tied to fuel costs and cargo insurance. The suit, filed in Texas, claims these fees defrauded small businesses and development companies, costing them rightful commissions. Freight Essentials, a top GlobalTranz partner, uncovered the alleged scheme and faced alleged retaliation, including contract termination and customer sabotage. The lawsuit also accuses Worldwide Express of “corporate espionage.” WWEX, the fourth-largest US logistics brokerage with $4.9 billion annual revenue, has not responded. Freight Essentials seeks damages, declaring the case a "David versus Goliath" battle, according to their attorney Rogge Dunn.

🤝 CHRW Partners with Highway. C.H. Robinson has partnered with Highway. Utilizing Highway's advanced Carrier Identity Engine, this collaboration enhances real-time identity verification, aligns freight opportunities with carriers' capabilities, and safeguards networks against fraud and theft. C.H. Robinson’s VP Cody Griggs praised the partnership as a commitment to security and opportunity, while Highway’s CEO Jordan Graft emphasized its role in creating safer, more efficient freight transactions. We at FreightCaviar are happy to have Highway as a sponsor and look forward to seeing what they do next. Congratulations Highway!

TOGETHER WITH HAPPYROBOT

According to our data, carriers only call back 13% of the time after saying they need to check with their driver. Reps waste time fielding calls like these where carriers aren’t vetted, aren’t interested, or aren’t a good fit.HappyRobot’s AI workers vet carriers, confirm load details, negotiate a rate, and then pass qualified carriers to reps to close the deal.

HappyRobot is AI communication–built for logistics. 

Trump Sides with Dockworkers: Is Automation at U.S. Ports on Hold?

President-elect Donald Trump is taking a clear stance against port automation, aligning with the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) ahead of a potential East and Gulf Coast strike on January 15.

In a recent meeting with ILA leaders Harold and Dennis Daggett, Trump doubled down on his opposition to port automation, stating:

He criticized foreign-based terminal operators and ocean carriers for pursuing cost-saving technologies instead of investing in American workers.

What Trump Said

Trump’s message? Keep the machines out and the workers in. Here’s what he’s pushing for:

• Ditch the Cranes, Keep the Jobs: Trump argues that automation’s savings don’t outweigh the harm to American workers.

• Foreign Companies Should Pay Up: If you want access to U.S. ports, invest profits into hiring dockworkers—not machinery.

• Support the U.S. Economy: Trump calls out “record profits” being sent overseas and wants that cash reinvested here.

• Layoffs? Not on His Watch: Trump’s bottom line: Ports should prioritize people, not automation that will “constantly have to be replaced.”

The Employer Perspective:

The United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), representing port employers, pushed back, defending automation as a way to improve worker safety, port efficiency, and overall capacity. In a statement, the group said:

However, FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller pointed out a deeper reasoning behind Trump’s stance:

Meanwhile, Dr. Jason Miller, a supply chain expert, weighed in on the likely ripple effects of a strike:

Automation Backlash: Social Media Weighs In

The reaction online was mostly negative:

• Many consider Trump’s stance “a step backwards,” with users pointing out that ports like Shanghai and Rotterdam are highly automated and far more efficient.

• A few applauded the move, arguing that automation doesn’t address the true bottlenecks at U.S. ports or protect American jobs.

Impact on the Supply Chain: With the January 15 deadline looming and talks at an impasse, shippers are already front-loading imports to prepare for potential disruptions. If the ILA strikes, billions in trade could come to a standstill, echoing the chaos seen in previous port disruptions.

Trump’s Other Takes

Trump’s port stance comes alongside other freight-related positions.

• Rising tariff concerns: Even C.H. Robinson’s CEO Dave Bozeman has flagged the potential disruptions Trump’s tariff policies may bring to freight markets, saying, “Tariffs are a double-edged sword for the logistics industry. While they may boost domestic manufacturing, they can disrupt global supply chains and inflate costs for shippers and consumers alike.”

• Removing EV Tax Credits: Trump’s push to scrap EV tax credits puts GOP lawmakers in a bind—19 of 25 major EV plants are in Republican districts, risking billions in investments and thousands of jobs.

As the January 15 strike deadline approaches, Trump’s anti-automation stance adds fuel to an already heated labor showdown. With tariffs and EV policies also on the table, freight markets are bracing for ripple effects in 2025.

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🌎 AROUND THE FREIGHT WEB

📊 48% Say Theft Tops 2024. Nearly half of brokers name cargo theft as 2024's top issue—watch Highway’s Michael Caney on What The Truck?! to explore trends and 2025 projections here.

📉 12% Time Drain. Freight brokers spend 12% of their time fixing back-office issues, including POD headaches, invoice disputes, and phishing risks—learn how automation can simplify workflows and reduce errors here.

🙏 Greenscreens.ai & Convoy Collaboration. Greenscreens.ai is partnering with Convoy to optimize price intelligence within freight logistics.

⚖️ Forwarder Facing Charges. Natalya Mazulina, a New York freight forwarder, was indicted on 12 counts of conspiracy to illegally export goods to Russia without a license, money laundering, and other violations in connection with current US Sanctions.

🚨 PACCAR Truck Recall. PACCAR is recalling over 220,000 Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks for an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) issue. The faulty ECU issue could be a crash risk due to faulty steering mechanisms.

🚒 Gatik's First Response. Autonomous trucking company Gatik is collaborating with first responders and local officials to integrate driverless tech safely. Their 100% safety record highlights fixed-route reliability across 600K+ deliveries.

🤖 Volvo & DHL's Autonomous Trucks. Volvo and DHL are debuting autonomous trucking on Dallas-to-El Paso routes.

🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR CORNER

• Conferences: Join 350+ top speakers across 150+ sessions and start planning your ultimate Manifest experience - the future of supply chain & logistics is waiting! Save $200 on the current registration rate ($600 off on-site) here.

• Podcast: Our interview with HappyRobot is live! Don’t miss it—we explore how AI is transforming carrier sales. Catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.

• Find Shippers Fast: Looking for customers? Check out Shipper CRM, the world's largest shipper database, and apply for access here.

FREIGHT MEME OF THE DAY