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Inside the evolving infrastructure of Laredo, the No 1. port in the U.S.

Nov 14, 2023
With tens of thousands of trucks passing through Laredo each day, bridges and roads are critical to this center of North American trade.
About 10,000 northbound trucks pass through the Port of Laredo each day, a number expected to grow as trade between the U.S. and Mexico increases.
Elizabeth Trovall/Marketplace

Former Yellow drivers have trouble finding jobs in right-to-work Tennessee

Oct 3, 2023
Nashville's Yellow Freight — one of the only union shops in trucking — shut down operations in August, leaving 30,000 people without work.
In the months before Yellow’s closure, the company's relationship with the Teamsters union had already soured, a former Yellow driver says.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Big rig trucking needs to go green to meet climate goals, but charging is a challenge

Aug 28, 2023
Long-haul trucking is a huge part of the economy and has a big carbon footprint. But the vehicles can be costly and the infrastructure sparse.
Richard Summers, a veteran long-haul trucker, tanks up. Many drivers don't think the pieces are yet in place for a transition to electric.
Will Walkey/The Mountain West News Bureau

Why Yellow's trucking terminals are attracting billion dollar bids

Aug 24, 2023
As Yellow is sold for parts in bankruptcy court, one group of assets is getting all the attention: Its terminals.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images

In the freight business, it feels like a recession

Aug 1, 2023
Rates truckers are paid have plummeted by more than half since 2021, accounting for inflation. Meanwhile, costs have only risen.
This week, trucking company Yellow shut down operations. Its downfall is indicative of tough times for freight shipping.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Truckers aren't too enthused about an AI revolution

Dec 28, 2022
Autonomous vehicle tech has advanced quite a bit, but we're nowhere close to replacing truck drivers with AI yet ― and we probably don't want to.
AI technology isn't so much being integrated into trucks as it is invading cabs, says Karen Levy.
Photo by Joe Raedle/Newsmakers

The trucking industry is coming down from its pandemic boom

Jul 5, 2022
Many independent drivers are starting to see lower rates and increased fuel costs, says Lewie Pugh, executive vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association.
Many independent truck drivers are starting to see lower rates and increased fuel costs, says Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President of the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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More supply chain woes likely when China eases its COVID lockdowns

Apr 18, 2022
Goods sitting idle in warehouses or containers will head to the U.S., though many companies have adapted to shortages.
China's most recent lockdowns have reduced shipments and eased the stress on tight supply chains, but sooner or later, high volumes of goods will flow again.
Dale De La Rey/AFP via Getty Images

There's more free capacity on trucks. That means supply chains may be loosening.

Apr 15, 2022
Fewer goods coming from China during its lockdown and more trucking companies have helped.
China's recent lockdowns of ports and manufacturing hubs have slowed imports to the U.S., giving the supply chain a chance to catch up.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

What might Canada's vaccine border mandate mean for the economy?

Jan 10, 2022
Some in the trucking industry say the mandate may exacerbate its current worker shortage.
A new vaccine requirement for drivers to cross the U.S.-Canada border could compound labor shortages among long-haul truckers and worsen other supply chain issues.
George Frey via Getty Images