Supply Chain Intelligence Brief

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TRUCKING

Freight shipments fall faster in August

Freight Waves Todd Maiden September 17, 2025

Cass data shows LTL volume erosion, TL shipments step higher

Freight shipments fell at an accelerated pace in August, according to a monthly update from Cass Information Systems.

Cass Transportation Index Report August 2025

Cass Information Systems September 17, 2025

The flattish results of the past two months were a combination of lower shipment volumes and higher rates. We infer that rates (or more specifically, the average cost of a shipment) rose 9.8% y/y, largely due to the mix shift from LTL to truckload, similar to the past several months.

For-Hire Carriers Gain Record Share of Private Fleet Freight

Transport Topics Keiron Greenhalgh September 17, 2025

At a 19% share of the outbound freight of firms that operate their own fleet, for-hire carriers took their largest portion of business in the history of the National Private Truck Council survey after a 3-percentage-point year-over-year increase, the data show.

Outpost doubles terminal network capacity to $1 billion

Freight Waves Thomas Wasson September 17, 2025

Cameron noted there was an opportunity for synergy, telling FreightWaves “There’s a real overlap between our customer networks and our networks, and the ability to use technology to tie it all together is critical. We really want our customers to see Outpost the same way that they see their own terminals or extensions thereof and utilize them.”

Link: Outpost Press Release Outpost and GreenPoint Double Truck Terminal Network Capacity to $1 Billion

Yellow Corp. loses pension claims appeal

Freight Waves Todd Maiden September 17, 2025

An effort from defunct Yellow Corp. and its majority shareholder MFN Partners to overturn a ruling requiring it to pay pension withdrawal liabilities was shot down in a federal appeals court on Tuesday.

Parcel carrier Veho launches coverage in Southern California

Supply Chain Dive Max Garland September 17, 2025

The fast-growing delivery provider has begun operating in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County and the Inland Empire ahead of a wider state expansion.

INDUSTRY

Surge of Imports Into Southern California Ends

The Wall Street Journal Paul Berger September 17, 2025 $Subscription Based

Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, said he expects cargo volumes to fall further in September and October because retailers have brought in most of their year-end merchandise to get ahead of tariffs.

Related: Freight Waves LA port sees 10% import drop through year-end

How More Rail Could Take Trucks Off the Road

The New York Times Peter Eavis September 18, 2025 $Subscription Based

Now, much larger railroads want to make similar gains across the United States. Their leaders are trying to win back business lost over the years to trucking, their main rival, and they are making some big moves to do so.

Outlook Remains Difficult for Intermodal Logistics

Transport Topics Seth Clevenger September 17, 2025

Uncertainty surrounding shifting trade policies combined with a prolonged freight market downturn continue to create a challenging and unpredictable business environment for intermodal logistics.

Cosco says no changes to US services as new port fees approach

Journal of Commerce Michael Angell September 17, 2025 $Subscription Based

Cosco Shipping has informed its US customers to expect little change in its services and rates as the carrier starts paying new service fees for US port calls in October, becoming the latest container line to signal it will absorb the Trump administration’s penalties against China’s maritime industry.

Trailer Demand to Sag Further on Tariff Uncertainty

Transport Topics Keiron Greenhalgh September 17, 2025

So far in 2025, production is down 23% year over year while backlogs were down 10% year over year. The backlog-to-build ratio is currently 5.1 months, Moyer told conference attendees. Typically, the ratio is between five and seven months.

TECHNOLOGY

Global AI spending to approach $1.5 trillion this year: Gartner

CIO Dive Matt Ashare September 17, 2025

The AI market will grow almost 50% year over year to nearly $1.5 trillion in 2025, fueled by an ongoing cloud data center building boom and escalating enterprise investments in the technology, according to a Gartner report published Wednesday.

Charted: How People Actually Use ChatGPT, According to New Research

Visual Capitalist September 16, 2025

The findings, summarized in a helpful visualization by Made Visual Daily, show that ChatGPT’s core appeal is utility: helping users solve real-world problems, write better, and find information fast.

SUSTAINABILITY / SAFETY / SECURITY

Clean Truck group asks truck and engine OEMs to drop lawsuit

CCJ Jason Cannon September 17, 2025

A collection of global environmental groups on Thursday sent a letter to North America’s leading truck manufacturers, urging them to abide by the terms of the Clean Truck Partnership (CTP) signed in 2023 – the same agreement Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), Paccar, International Motors and Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) filed suit against last month, seeking to have it tossed.

The Sustainability Paradox: High Stakes, Low Spend

APQC September 15, 2025

Sustainability seems to be both a strategic imperative and a budgetary footnote, essential and neglected at the same time. After highlighting the disconnect we found, we recommend two actions you can take to ensure that your commitments to sustainability are backed up with the right resources.

Orange EV and OptiGrid launch the ‘Orange Juicer’ battery-integrated DC fast charger

Clean Trucking Jay Traugott September 17, 2025

This perfectly named modular charging solution slashes infrastructure costs, shortens deployment timelines, and delivers high-performance power for electric fleets.

FMCSA to Pilot 14-Hour Clock Pause, Split Sleeper Options for Truck Drivers

Heavy Duty Trucking Deborah Lockridge September 17, 2025

The agency wants to see if giving commercial drivers greater control over their own schedules will reduce fatigue and improve safety.  

“Truck drivers are the backbone of our economy, and we owe it to them to explore smarter, data-driven policies that make their jobs safer and more enjoyable,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a news release.

BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY

Housing starts plummet 8.5% in August: Builder confidence wanes amid market challenges

Housing Wire Broklee Han September 17, 2025

Building permits hit their lowest level since May 2020 at 1.312 million, far below the 2 million needed to meet demand, signaling potential economic concerns.

Link: U.S. Department of Housing Monthly New Residential Construction

While recent White House executive order removes some trade uncertainty, many questions remain

Logistics Management Jeff Berman September 17, 2025

In an interview, Jonathan Todd, Partner and Vice-Chair, Transportation & Logistics, at Benesch, explained that in looking at the state of global trade, everyone has been using the word, “uncertainty,” throughout 2025—and for obvious reasons. But that comes with a few caveats, he noted.

“I think that people who say uncertainty now really mean to communicate that they don’t like the current state of affairs,” he said.

PwC survey says the next industrial revolution is near. Are companies ready for it?

Manufacturing Dive Nathan Owens September 17, 2025

A survey of more than 500 manufacturing executives found that 93% believe the world is on the brink of the next industrial revolution and must reinvent how their companies operate in order to survive, according to PwC’s new Future of Industrials report.

Link: PWC The future of energy and manufacturing: Is America ready to lead the next industrial revolution?

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