Editor’s Picks

Yellow limits pickups nationwide, leaked memo says

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Yellow appears to be halting pickups in some areas of the Northeast, as well as Ohio, California and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/yellow-halts-pickups-in-some-states-sales-executives-say

Trucking could — maybe — become less volatile

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The trucking industry is known for its volatility. In the first quarter of 2023 alone, nearly 9,000...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-could-maybe-get-less-volatile

Federal law designed to make trucking safer may have aggravated worst issues

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This is the first story in a FreightWaves series on the electronic logging device mandate. Federal...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/federal-law-designed-to-make-trucking-safer-may-have-aggravated-worst-issues

Produce season likely to be weak — and it’s bad news for truckers

Historic rainfall in California will alter the typical harvesting schedule this year. Some crops will be gathered later than expected and some yields will be unusually weak. 

Massive flooding is preventing workers from harvesting lettuce, strawberries and other plants right now, particularly in central California. Workers have also been unable to plant crops like tomatoes, one expert from the University of California’s farming extension center told FreightWaves. 

That’s bad news for the trucking...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/produce-season-likely-to-be-weak-and-its-bad-news-for-truckers

Analysis reveals how trillions in pandemic aid led to freight volume explosion

A FreightWaves analysis of the monthly Personal Income and Outlays report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) indicates that extraordinary federal government programs boosted personal income by an estimated $2.3 trillion from March 2020 to December 2022. The BEA identifies these as “federal pandemic response programs.”

It’s worth examining the timing of the support. Of the $2.3 trillion of explicitly listed support, 31% came through April to July 2020 and another 33% came through...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/analysis-reveals-how-trillions-in-pandemic-aid-led-to-freight-volume-explosion

There are no federal regulations on key rail sensors

The Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which caused no deaths, has sparked a national conversation over rail safety — particularly as profits soar at major rail carriers. 

One sticking point has been the use of the wayside hot-box detectors. These are used to detect the temperature of wheel bearings on passing rail cars. There were about 6,000 of these detectors placed along U.S. rail tracks as of 2015, according to a study by the Association of American Railroads...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/there-are-no-federal-regulations-on-key-rail-sensors

A new deal will make Lunchables more powerful than ever

One of Kraft Heinz’s most profitable brands, Lunchables, is signing a deal with grades K-12 schools across the country — potentially launching Big Cheese, Ham, and Crackers into unknown heights.

Carlos Abrams-Rivera, Kraft Heinz executive vice president, announced the deal at the annual Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) meeting on Feb. 21. Two types of Lunchables with “improved nutrition” will be served in grades K-12 schools as soon as this fall.

A Kraft-Heinz spokesperson declined to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/a-new-deal-will-make-lunchables-more-powerful-than-ever

Norfolk Southern eliminated key maintenance role in derailment region, union says

One union of rail workers has questioned declining maintenance standards following the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which forced the evacuation of the 5,000-person town earlier this month. 

A device that can play a role in preventing derailments is the wayside hot-box detector. It uses infrared sensors to detect bearings, axles or other components of a rail car that are overheating, then uses radio signals to flag rail crews of any overheated components. 

The rail...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/norfolk-southern-eliminated-key-maintenance-role-in-derailment-region-union-says

Wall Street says Norfolk Southern profits won’t suffer from derailment 

Two Wall Street analysts said Norfolk Southern won’t see a major hit to its bottom line following a major derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, a village roughly 50 miles from Pittsburgh.

Bank of America and Cowen published reports on Tuesday concerning the Feb. 3 derailment of some 50 cars, several of which were hauling hazardous chemicals. The accident has sparked international media attention. 

The 150-car Norfolk Southern train derailed on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. In the days after,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/wall-street-says-norfolk-southern-profits-wont-suffer-from-derailment

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