Gary Frantz

Transportation companies face new carbon-reporting mandates as well as increased scrutiny from investors, shippers, and consumers concerned about their eco-impact. What’s a transportation provider to do?

Faced with slumping demand, parcel carriers are casting their nets wide for new sources of revenue. Some of their strategies—like expanding their returns services and going after new e-commerce players—look promising; others—such as imposing new surcharges and accessorial fees—not so much.

Sudan-Native Lual Akoon Finds His American Dream as an Independent Driver and Industry Ambassador Lual Akoon, pictured with Minnesota Rep.

Image Trailer manufacturers like Carrier Transicold are moving toward improvements that meet sustainability and performance goals. (Carrier Transicold)

As business ramps up, maritime industry players are adjusting as global conflicts, the specter of an East Coast labor disruption, and other market and economic issues reroute freight and impact capacity. Are container rates headed back to record territory?

Even at a time when for-hire truck capacity is readily available at competitive rates, many shippers have continued to invest in their own private fleets rather than taking full advantage of freight market conditions that have favored them for the past two years.

A post-pandemic hangover of excess capacity coupled with tepid industrial production is dampening demand and short-circuiting a return to growth for truckers. A bright spot: Inflation is moderating, and consumers keep spending. And maybe the Fed will finally cut interest rates.

Logistics market players close out 2024 dealing with flat business volumes, rising costs, increasing competition, excess truck capacity, and shippers demanding more value for the logistics dollar. Will 2025 provide a much-needed spark?

Retailers and delivery providers adjust and adapt as consumers increasingly demand a seamless “Uber-like” delivery experience, with real-time tracking and the option to make changes on the fly.

The impact of a three-year freight recession, along with consistently rising costs, is providing both opportunity and challenge for truck parts remanufacturers in the dubbed “reman” market.