Freight Morning! 👋 We’re starting the day with an interesting update about freight AI from brokerage giant C.H. Robinson. The company’s proprietary generative AI agents have now successfully handled over 3 million shipping tasks, significantly boosting efficiency.

Since rolling out its first AI agent in 2023, C.H. Robinson has automated key processes such as price quotes, order management, and load tracking. More ahead 👇

💬 More in Freight:

⚫️ Another Broker Liability Case Hits Court of Appeals

⚫️ Dupre Logistics Acquired By Investment Firm

⚫️ Windrose Launches Electric Truck With JoyRide Logistics

⚫️ Amazon Considers $15B Expansion

Broker Liability Hits Court of Appeals 🏛️

A case concerning broker liability is now before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit after the family of Greta Cox, killed in a 2019 crash, appealed a federal district court's decision. The case, Cox v. TQL, could potentially clarify whether brokers like TQL are liable for accidents involving carriers they hire.

In 2024, the court sided with TQL, which argued its role as a broker was preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (F4A), which limits state actions on motor carriers' prices, routes, and services. The lawsuit claims TQL’s designation as a motor carrier should make it liable under the "safety exception" of F4A, which allows states to regulate certain safety aspects of motor vehicles.

The case follows a pattern of split decisions in various U.S. circuit courts on broker liability. The 6th Circuit's decision could contribute to these legal divisions, which may eventually prompt the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and clarify broker responsibility.

The crash occurred when a truck hired by TQL collided with Cox’s vehicle, killing her. The truck was operated by Golden Transit, which was also part of the litigation but settled out of court. TQL maintains its actions are protected by F4A and does not qualify as a motor carrier, echoing arguments from other brokers in past cases.

Investment Firm Acquires Dupre Logistics 🤝

Stonepeak has acquired Dupre Logistics, a Louisiana-based energy transportation and logistics company. Dupre, with over 700 trucks and 1,000 drivers, specializes in bulk liquid products and operates across the U.S., managing a network of 16,000+ carrier partners.

The financial terms were not disclosed. Chris Sower, a 25-year industry veteran, has been named Dupre's new CEO, replacing Mike Weindel. Dupre's founder, Reggie Dupre, will remain involved as a board member with an ownership stake.

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Let Talento be the partner that helps build a dream team and scale smarter, faster, and limitless.

What Else Is Moving 🚚

C.H. Robinson AI 🤖

C.H. Robinson announced that its proprietary generative AI agents have successfully handled over 3 million shipping tasks, significantly enhancing efficiency in global supply chains.

The company, which has been integrating AI for over a decade, began using its first generative AI agent in 2023 and rolled out features in 2024. These AI agents have processed over 1 million price quotes and 1 million orders, automating appointment scheduling, load monitoring, and tracking updates.

Particularly in less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping, Robinson's AI-driven quoting system has seen a 30% increase in quote volumes. LTL orders are now processed in under 90 seconds, greatly improving efficiency for small and medium businesses. The company also launched an AI agent to process inbound carrier emails, which increased truck uploads by tenfold within a month.

Robinson's focus on AI aligns with its long-term digital strategy amid a “prolonged freight recession.” The company’s fourth-quarter 2024 earnings showed profitability growth but a 6.6% revenue decline, reflecting cautious market conditions. Despite this, AI has automated nearly 10,000 transactions daily, underscoring its operational transformation efforts.

FREIGHT SNIPPETS ✂️

💰 $150M Port of Entry Grant | The Department of Transportation (DOT) is moving forward with a $150 million grant to improve freight connectivity and security along the U.S.-Mexico border. The project, focusing on the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, will build a new toll road (State Route 11) and port facility near Tijuana, Mexico, to relieve congestion at existing entry points. The new port will accommodate 3,600 trucks per day, benefiting distribution centers and logistics hubs in Southern California. Read more.

🛑 Chayote Shipment Stopped | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility intercepted a shipment containing $8.9 million worth of alleged methamphetamine, hidden within a load of chayote, a pear-shaped squash from Mexico. On April 13, CBP officers stopped a tractor-trailer entering from Mexico for inspection. Using nonintrusive inspection tools and a canine team, officers discovered 3,770 packages of suspected methamphetamine weighing 1,002 pounds. Read more.

📈 March Retail Sales | U.S. shoppers ramped up spending in March, particularly on big-ticket items like cars, ahead of President Trump's new tariffs. However, analysts caution that the surge in retail sales reflects economic uncertainty, with consumers rushing to purchase before prices rise further. Retail sales rose 1.4% in March, following a 0.2% increase in February, marking the largest gain since January 2023. Excluding motor vehicles and parts, sales rose 0.5% month-over-month. Read more.

❌ Reshoring Boom Unlikely | The Trump administration has touted tariffs as a way to encourage reshoring and spur U.S. manufacturing, but a recent survey by CNBC reveals that most companies believe high costs will prevent them from bringing production back to the U.S. According to the survey, 57% of companies cited cost as the primary reason they wouldn't reshore, followed by difficulty finding skilled labor (21%).  Read more.

📊 Driver Wages | Truck driver wages saw a 16% increase in the first quarter of 2025, according to a recent study by resume platform Resume Now and talent-matching service Talroo. The study, which analyzed data from January 1 to March 31, 2025, found that truck drivers are earning more compared to the same period in 2024. The average hourly wage for truck drivers rose from $22.05 to $25.49, a significant increase compared to the national wage growth of 3.8% for the same period. Warehousing jobs also saw a 15% wage increase. Read more.

🥶 Largest Cold Storage Warehouses | The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) has released its 2025 Global Top 25 list, highlighting the world’s largest temperature-controlled warehouse operators. GCCA members now manage 8.16 billion cubic feet of refrigerated space, a 10% increase from last year. Growth in cold storage, especially in North America, is driven by expansion and mergers. Despite a slowdown in acquisitions, capacity expansion continues, with optimism about future demand in the sector. Read more.

Pallets of News 🚛

Windrose Launches Electric Truck 🔋

Windrose Technology has launched the first all-electric long-haul sleeper truck in the U.S., offering a 420-mile range for commercial use. The truck is part of a partnership with JoyRide Logistics, the first U.S. regional carrier to operate electric sleeper trucks. The rollout starts in Arizona, California, and Nevada, with plans for national expansion.

The trucks, powered by EO Charging, have undergone extensive testing globally, including a 2,800-mile U.S. trip. With fast-charging capabilities and a 700kWh battery, the truck maintains Class 8 performance standards.

JoyRide, operating over 250 trucks, is leading the shift to electric freight in the U.S. “Partnering with Windrose allows us to stay ahead in sustainability and performance,” said Adis Danan, President of JoyRide.

Amazon Considers $15B Expansion 🚧

Amazon is considering a $15 billion warehouse expansion that could add approximately 80 new logistics facilities across U.S. cities and rural areas, according to Bloomberg sources.

The proposed facilities would mainly serve as delivery hubs, with some potentially featuring large, automated fulfillment centers. The company is actively seeking proposals from capital partners and is open to long-term leases of 15 to 25 years, with select locations possibly receiving direct investment from Amazon.

MEME OF THE DAY 😂

📍 Upcoming events: Catch up with us at the Broker Carrier Summit in Indianapolis on April 28-May 2 and Home Delivery World in Nashville on May 21-22. Let us know if you’ll be there – we'd love to connect!