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Total Freight Costs Continue to Decline in June August 27th, 2025
Results published today by the Canadian General Freight Index (CGFI) indicate that the Total Cost of ground transportation for Canadian Shippers decreased by 1.13% in June from May costs. The Base Rate Index, which excludes the impact of Accessorial Charges assessed by carriers, decreased by 0.62% in June. Average Fuel Surcharges assessed by Carriers decreased in June. Fuel was 22.76% of Base Rates in June versus 23.63% in May. Last year in June, the Average Fuel Surcharge was 24.37%.“Total Freight Costs decreased 1.13% in June. Domestic Truckload increased again in June while all other segments decreased. Year over year, Total Domestic LTL and Total Domestic TL segments remain above the same period last of year costs, while Cross Border LTL Cross Border TL and continues to be below last year costs,” said Doug Payne, President & COO, Nulogx.
Current Tariff News for Canada, June 04th, 2025
US President Donald Trump has signed an order doubling tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from 25% to 50%.The move hikes import taxes on the metals, which are used in everything from cars to canned food, for the second time since March. Trump has said the measures, which came into effect on Wednesday, are intended to secure the future of the American steel industry. However, critics say the protections could wreak havoc on steel producers outside the US, spark retaliation from trade partners, and come at a punishing cost for American users of the metals.Hours before he hiked the duties, many firms directly affected could hardly believe the plan was moving forward, hoping it would turn out to be temporary or some kind of negotiating ploy. Even as Trump signed the orders, the UK was granted a carve out from the measures, leaving duties on its steel and aluminium at 25%, a move Trump said reflected its ongoing trade discussions with the US."Always the question with Mr. Trump is, is this a tactic or is this a long-term plan?" said Rick Huether, chief executive of Independent Can Co, a Maryland-based business, which brings in steel from Europe and turns it into decorative cookie tins, popcorn boxes, and other products.
Transport Canada and Alberta Introduce HoS Relief for Wildfire Response Efforts
Transport Canada, and the Province of Alberta have made available an optional hours of service exemption for extra-provincial truck undertakings to assist in the emergency response to wildfires. This is in addition to efforts addressed for British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba late last week. Termed, the “Targeted Transport Exemption to Support the Emergency Response to Wildfires in Alberta.”, the exemption applies to extra-provincial motor carrier undertakings and their drivers, who are employed or otherwise engaged in the transport of essential supplies, equipment and the transportation of people, in direct assistance to the emergency relief efforts in response to the wildfires in Alberta. The exemption comes for temporary relief from the scheduling provisions in sections 12 to 29 and 37 to 54 of the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations. There are several detailed conditions associated with the exemption that carriers are strongly encouraged to review, some of which include but are not limited to:
That the carrier must notify in writing the hours-of-service director in their base jurisdiction that they want to utilize the exemption, prior to commencement;
That the carrier must list all drivers and vehicles to participate under the exemption and provide that to the hours-of-service director prior to commencement;
That a copy of the exemption must be carried in every vehicle operating under the exemption;
That the driver must indicate in the remarks section of their daily log if they are operating under the exemption on that day— Tracking Number – ASF-2025-02E
That a carrier cannot have a “conditional” or “unsatisfactory” safety rating;
That the driver or vehicle cannot be subject to an out-of-service declaration.
Canadian bulk hauler Trimac announced Friday it has acquired flatbed carrier Watt & Stewart for an undisclosed sum. Watt&Stewart is a 38-year-old specialized carrier with a fleet of 124 tractors and 205 trailers operating out of locations in Claresholm, Alberta; Lexington, South Carolina; and San Angelo, Texas. The company primarily serves the mining, forestry and manufacturing industries.It will continue to operate under its current banner and management team as part of the Trimac brands.
A San Diego-area owner-operator was arraigned on Tuesday in an 18-count indictment charging him with bank fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft. Hasan Korkmaz, who owns San Diego Logistics Group Inc. based in Santee, California, carried out a credit card “bust-out” scam in which seemingly legitimate credit card accounts are established and then are “busted out” by maxing out the credit line with no intention of paying the balance, according to the U.S. attorney’s office representing the Southern District of California. Prosecutors allege that Korkmaz obtained names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and other personal information linked to real people and used the information to apply for numerous credit card accounts. After opening the fraudulent accounts, he allegedly used the cards to charge various businesses, including his own trucking company, with some charges as high as $18,500 for a single transaction. Korkmaz is also alleged to have laundered the bank fraud proceeds, including by transferring them to a Turkish bank account he controlled, causing two banks to lose $2.1 million.
United Ststes News
Transportation pricing grows faster than capacity again in May
Transportation metrics saw little change in May as capacity, utilization and pricing remained in expansion territory, according to a monthly survey of supply chain professionals.The Logistics Managers’ Index – a diffusion index in which a reading above 50 indicates expansion while one below 50 signals contraction – had a 54.7 reading for transportation capacity during May, which was roughly in line with April.The Tuesday report classified capacity as “tight, but not too tight” while growth in transportation utilization remained largely anemic at 52.6 – the lowest reading for the subindex since November 2023.Capacity was reported to be tighter for upstream companies like manufacturers and wholesalers, which returned a neutral reading of 50 compared to downstream retailers, which said capacity notably expanded (65.3).
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With Trump’s new tariffs set for 2025, global container shipping market braces for upheaval. As the global shipping and trade landscape prepares for potential upheaval, several key points emerge:
Trump’s tariff strategy, if implemented, could significantly reduce U.S.-China trade and reshape global trade patterns.
While overall trade volumes may decrease, certain markets like intra-Asia shipping could see increased activity.
The unpredictability of policy implementation and potential congressional pushback add layers of uncertainty to the market outlook.
Companies in the shipping and logistics sector must prepare for a range of scenarios, from drastic trade flow shifts to prolonged short-term surges in demand.
The ongoing trade war between the United States and China is beginning to show significant impacts on the American economy, particularly in the transportation and logistics sectors. Industry experts are warning of substantial job losses and economic disruption as the effects of reduced trade volumes begin to materialize. The immediate effects are already visible in the transportation sector, with major companies announcing significant workforce reductions. UPS has revealed plans to cut 20,000 jobs across its U.S. network, while Penske Logistics will eliminate over 300 positions in Missouri. US Xpress in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has also announced 56 job cuts. These layoffs represent companies’ attempts to manage costs in the face of declining trade volumes. According to industry analysis, the U.S. trucking and domestic transportation sector is expected to lose 5% to 6% of its volume due to the collapse in imports. While the slowdown has been gradual since Valentine’s Day, experts predict the situation will deteriorate further. The impact of reduced Chinese imports is particularly striking, with a reported 65% drop in volumes from China to the United States. Gene Seroka, director of the Port of Los Angeles, estimates a year-over-year volume loss of 35% in container traffic. This decline is expected to reverberate throughout the entire logistics ecosystem, which employs 9 million people across the United States.
Daimler Truck North America is recalling 21,560 Western Star trucks due to a fire risk, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration database. A potential short circuit issue involves certain 2021-2026 model 47X trucks and 2020-2026 model 49X vehicles due to an incorrectly installed battery connection, according to a NHTSA letter. A positive junction point stud may have been installed incorrectly, the OEM said in a recall report. Truckers may be able to detect potential problems ahead of an incident. “Drivers may experience a slow or no crank when starting their vehicle,” the report noted. “Driver may visually observe corrosion present around the stud and/or cable lug.” No deaths or injuries have occurred, but dozens of vehicles had problems that could be covered by warranty. Several trucks being used had fires and melted or burnt studs this year, Daimler said.
Total Quality Logistics (TQL), the nation’s second-largest freight broker, is under fire in a new federal lawsuit filed on Feb. 25 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Pink Cheetah Express LLC, a small Kissimmee, Florida-based motor carrier, alleges that TQL has flouted a 2023 Department of Transportation order mandating compliance with federal broker transparency rules. The suit, which seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, reignites a long-simmering debate over rate transparency in the trucking industry – just as freight markets brace for new tariffs.
Congress revokes Advanced Clean Trucks waiver, creating ambiguity for refuse fleets
Federal legislators approved three Congressional Review Act resolutions last week that roll back California’s strict truck emissions policies. The moves tee up the U.S. EPA to nix the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which would have required 75% of Class 8 trucks sold in the state to be zero-emissions vehicles by 2035. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin hailed the actions, noting Congressional Review Act rules mean that California can’t seek substantially similar rules again in the future through an EPA waiver.
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