FreightWaves Classics

Top 10 Tracks Through Time episodes of 2023

FreightWaves Classics is sponsored by Old Dominion Freight Line — Helping the World Keep Promises. Learn more here.

As 2023 comes to a close, so does the inaugural year of the Tracks Through Time podcast.

The podcast is an audiovisual version of the history-focused FreightWaves Classics column, spotlighting interesting and lesser-known stories in history. We’ve had so much fun bringing you these stories all year and can’t wait to share more in 2024! 

To close out the year, we’ve compiled a list of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/top-10-tracks-through-time-episodes-of-2023

Looking back to when digital processes started taking hold in shipping

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FreightWaves Classics is sponsored by Old Dominion Freight Line — Helping the World Keep Promises....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/looking-back-to-when-digital-processes-started-taking-hold-in-shipping

The first aircraft mechanic

By Richard Scarbrough

This story originally appeared on flyingmag.com.

The Wright brothers flew into history on Dec. 17, 1903, achieving the once-unheard-of feat of powered flight. Although debated, the accomplishment is globally accepted as the first flight of its kind. While the Wrights earned a place in the spotlight as daring aviators, one key figure is often overlooked: mechanician Charles Taylor.

An introduction

There is a fantastic book, “Charles E. Taylor: 1868-1956 The Wright Brothers...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-first-aircraft-mechanic

How persistent fraud led to a pitched battle over workers’ compensation

FreightWaves Classics is sponsored by Old Dominion Freight Line — Helping the World Keep Promises. Learn more here.

FreightWaves explores the archives of American Shipper’s nearly 70-year-old collection of shipping and maritime publications to showcase interesting freight stories of long ago.

In this week’s edition from the August 1981 issue, a heated debate over growing cases of fraud in workers’ compensation almost led to a revision in the act.

Workmen’s comp fraud

Longshore and shipyard union...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-persistent-fraud-almost-led-to-a-pitched-battle-over-workers-compensation

Early 20th century mail delivery took unusual forms

vintage photo delivering mail UPSPS 1885

In almost 250 years of service, the U.S. Postal Service has tried out scores of vehicles and methods of delivery. Some of the most unusual ones were experiments and inventions of the late 1800s through the mid-1900s.

In digging through the archives of the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum, we found interesting photos of these inventions.

Check out some of the unusual ways the United States delivered mail back in the day.

In 1885, letter carriers in cities used handcarts to collect and deliver...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/early-20th-century-mail-delivery-took-unusual-forms

Shocking insurance claims from 1970s shipping scene

FreightWaves Classics is sponsored by Old Dominion Freight Line — Helping the World Keep Promises. Learn more here.

FreightWaves explores the archives of American Shipper’s nearly 70-year-old collection of shipping and maritime publications to showcase interesting freight stories of long ago.

In this week’s edition from the November 1980 issue, FreightWaves looks at shocking anecdotes from an insurance underwriter in the maritime industry.

Bizarre claims

Hitchhiking corpses; crushed legs; missing,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/shocking-insurance-claims-from-1970s-shipping-scene

How Benjamin Franklin changed the Postal Service

Benjamin Franklin’s importance in American history is undisputed, but his lesser-known work as postmaster general may have laid the foundations for his later accomplishments.

In fact, it is very likely that his broader renown could be thanks to his time with the Postal Service.

In 1737, Franklin became the postmaster of Philadelphia, appointed by Deputy Postmaster General of America Alexander Spotswood. Control of the Postal Service remained under the British crown, since this was still almost...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-benjamin-franklin-changed-the-postal-service

How Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade logistics has worked for almost 100 years

The logistics of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a massive undertaking and takes all year long. Interested in learning how it works? In this week’s episode of Tracks Through Time, Deputy Editor Brielle Jaekel and 3PL expert Mary O’Connell explain it all and also reveal some really interesting...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-logistics-has-worked-for-almost-100-years

How the Port of Portland saved itself from Mount St. Helens eruption

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FreightWaves Classics is sponsored by Old Dominion Freight Line — Helping the World Keep Promises....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-the-port-of-portland-saved-itself-from-mount-st-helens-eruption

Photo collection depicts logistics operations during wartime

World War I Christmas mail delivery Bruvans, France

FreightWaves Classics is sponsored by Old Dominion Freight Line — Helping the World Keep Promises. Learn more here.

In honor of Veterans Day on Saturday, we’ve compiled a collection of photographs from the National Archives and the U.S. Army Center of Military History. While logistics jobs may not be the first thought of in times of war, they are vital to any war campaign.

Check out some of the most interesting photos of wartime logistics below and thank our veterans for their service.

World War...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/photo-collection-depicts-logistics-operations-during-wartime

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