USPS

United Airlines settles fraud case over Postal Service contract for $49M

Blue tail fin of a United jet against a gray sky.

United Airlines (NYSE: UAL) has agreed to pay more than $49 million to resolve criminal charges and civil claims alleging it defrauded the U.S. Postal Service for transport of international mail, the Department of Justice said Friday.

The world’s third-largest airline falsified bar code scans of mail bins delivered to foreign postal services or military bases between 2012 and 2015 to make it appear it was performing to contract specifications and ensure full payment, which was conditioned on...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/united-airlines-settles-fraud-case-over-postal-service-contract-for-$49m

The Daily Dash: Hair testing for drugs faces hurdles; Mississippi mulls parking solution

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, a proposal to use hair testing for drug detection may not see the light of day under the Biden administration. Plus, Mississippi is considering a plan to increase truck parking in the state, and the Postal Service sets a path toward profitability.

Failed testing strategy?

Proposed federal guidelines to use hair testing as a means for identifying potential drug users may not go into effect under the...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/the-daily-dash:-hair-testing-for-drugs-faces-hurdles;-mississippi-mulls-parking-solution

The Daily Dash: Activist investor pushes change at Forward Air; LTL off to strong start

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, an activist investor is seeking changes to the board makeup at Forward Air. Plus, less-than-truckload carriers are reporting a strong start to 2021, and more manufacturers are looking at reshoring their source materials.

Activist intervention

In an open letter to shareholders on Wednesday, activist investor Ancora Advisors said it is looking for changes to the Forward Air (NASDAQ: FWRD) board.

Todd...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-activist-investor-pushes-change-at-forward-air-ltl-off-to-strong-start

The Daily Dash: Diesel prices rising; Postal Service revamp

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, fuel prices are on the rise as cold weather drives up the cost of all fuels. Plus, a restructuring for the U.S. Postal Service could be on the horizon; Forward Air’s CIO talks about the cyberattack that hit the company in December; and TFI discusses the UPS Freight acquisition.

Going up: Fuel prices on the rise

Cold weather across the country is boosting the price of heating oil, and there is now a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-diesel-prices-rising-postal-service-revamp

E-commerce delivery startup Pandion looks in eyes of giants

There would seem to be easier ways to build an empire than to launch an end-to-end e-commerce delivery company to compete with FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX), UPS Inc. (NYSE:UPS), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and, to a degree, the U.S. Postal Service. But Scott Ruffin is ready to give it a try.

Working in Ruffin’s favor is massive e-commerce fulfillment and delivery growth that might bake a big enough pie for multiple folks to get fat from. Also on his side is significant delivery industry chops:...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/e-commerce-delivery-startup-pandion-looks-in-eyes-of-giants

The Daily Dash: DOT unveils autonomous plan; LTL volumes still strong

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, the U.S. Department of Transportation has laid out its strategic plan for safely deploying autonomous trucks and passenger vehicles. Plus, less-than-truckload volumes stayed strong in December and XPO has identified who will lead its logistics spinoff.

DOT lays out an autonomous plan

The U.S. Department of Transportation has released a long-awaited strategy for deploying autonomous vehicles on...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/he-daily-dash-dot-unveils-autonomous-plan-ltl-volumes-still-strong

Maximizing trailer utilization: Why is it so hard?

Empty trailers

Earlier this month, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that the Postal Service spent an average of $472,744 per month from January 2019 through March 2020 on idle trailers.

“Management needs to improve its monitoring of leased trailer utilization to ensure underutilized trailers are returned or relocated,” according to the OIG’s audit.

The watchdog found the Postal Service leases 76.7% of its trailers and owns the remaining 23.3%. Under Postal Service policy, any...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/maximizing-trailer-utilization-why-is-it-so-hard

Postal Service gets favorable borrowing terms in stimulus bill

The combined COVID-19 stimulus and government funding bill passed by Congress Monday night effectively forgives a $10 billion loan made to the United States Postal Service under the CARES Act signed into law in late March, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Lawmakers agreed to language in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 that would convert the loan from the Treasury Department to a grant. This means the Postal Service would not need to repay the loan and still keep the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/postal-service-gets-favorable-borrowing-terms-in-stimulus-bill

The Daily Dash: Celadon, one year later; COVID lawsuits pile up

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, FreightWaves writer Clarissa Hawes talks to former Celadon drivers one year after the company’s collapse. Plus, Estes has been hit with a COVID-related lawsuit and Covenant is bumping up driver pay.

One year later, it still hurts

It’s been one year since truckload carrier Celadon suddenly shut down, and former truck drivers remain bitter about the closure.

Clarissa Hawes talks to former Celadon...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-celadon-one-year-later-covid-lawsuits-pile-up

The Daily Dash: Earnings insight; Hyliion declines revenue for its early products

Schneider truck on highway

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, Todd Fowler, lead transportation analyst at KeyBanc, talks third-quarter earnings. Plus, Hyliion is not recording any revenue from its propulsion system and Wall Street is OK with that, and carriers continue to dominate as retail peak hits.

Inside the numbers

Third-quarter earnings are in, and the trucking sector performed quite well. Todd Fowler, lead transportation analyst at KeyBanc, shares some...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/the-daily-dash-earnings-insight-hyliion-declines-revenue-for-its-early-products

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