Freight Morning! 🚚 We’re starting the week with a viral video, originally shared on TikTok and posted on Reddit, shows a truck driver changing the name on his truck—an act linked to chameleon carriers. More ahead 👇

💬 More in Freight:

⚫️ March Freight Brokerage Trends

⚫️ Tarriffs Paused, Again

⚫️ $20 Billion U.S. Port Investment

⚫️ Rail Freight Theft Cost More Than $100 Million In 2024

Active Freight Brokerage Trends 📈📉

Freight brokerages may be seeing a turnaround in 2025. In February, the number of active brokerages decreased by just 52, a sharp contrast to the 3,104 brokerages that exited the market last year.

This marks the second consecutive month of smaller, double-digit declines in active MCs, signaling potential market stabilization. New brokerages are starting to enter, and the pace of closures is slowing.

Although the year-over-year decline remains at -9.5%, it’s an improvement from the -11.8% drop in October 2024. Long-term growth rates still face challenges, with declines of -13.3% over two years and -17.8% over three years.

Cross-Border Trade Barrier 🇲🇽

An international trade expert acknowledged Mexico's promising economic plans but emphasized that organized crime remains a significant barrier.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's Plan Mexico, a $277 billion initiative to boost exports and cut investment approval times, overlooks cartel issues, according to Jorge Gonzalez Henrichsen of The Nearshore Co. He stressed that addressing cartels is crucial for Mexico’s economic success.

Recent U.S.-Mexico efforts, like the Mérida Initiative, have aimed to curb drug trafficking, but Henrichsen argued that Mexico must do more to address cartels for long-term growth.

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What Else is Moving 🚚

Chameleon Carriers 🦎

Chameleon carriers are trucking companies that repeatedly change their identities to avoid detection and regulation. By swapping out company names, DOT numbers, and MC numbers.

A recent viral video posted on Reddit, originally shared on TikTok, highlighted this issue. In the video, a truck driver is seen parked, changing the name on his truck—an act commonly associated with chameleon carriers. This deceptive behavior allows these carriers to avoid accountability for their safety records, double brokering, and other shady activity.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has recognized the problem and is pushing for tighter regulations to prevent carriers from using multiple identities to escape the consequences of unsafe operations. One such proposal involves assigning a permanent USDOT number to every company, making it more difficult for businesses to evade oversight.

FREIGHT SNIPPETS ✂️

💰 Reshaping Logistics | Venture capital firm 8VC has launched Fund VI, raising $998 million to focus on investments in the supply chain and logistics sectors. The fund comes as the venture capital market saw increased activity in Q4 2024, particularly in supply chain tech. 8VC’s unique approach includes partnering with industry leaders like Prologis and Ryder, while leveraging its network of advisers. Through its 8VC Build program, the firm creates supply chain-focused companies like Baton and Terminal. The new fund positions 8VC to shape the future of supply chain innovation driven by AI, automation, and data analytics. Read more.

⏸️ Tariffs Paused | President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is delaying the 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico until April 2. Initially, the tariff exemption applied only to Mexico, but the latest amendment extends this to Canada as well. For at least the next 30 days, imports from Canada and Mexico that comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will not be subject to the new tariffs. Read more.

🏗️ U.S. Port Investment | CMA CGM Group has revealed plans to invest $20 billion in the U.S. over the next four years to enhance shipping, logistics, and supply chain infrastructure. The investment will focus on expanding the company’s fleet of U.S.-flagged vessels, upgrading key ports, launching new warehouses, and establishing a major air cargo hub in Chicago. Read more.

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🏛️ Chassis Producers Seek Tariffs | U.S. manufacturers of intermodal chassis, led by Stoughton Trailers and Cheetah Chassis Corp., are challenging overseas producers over alleged unfair trade practices. The coalition filed a petition with the Department of Commerce and U.S. International Trade Commission, accusing chassis makers in Mexico, Thailand, and Vietnam of selling products below fair value and receiving government subsidies. Read more.

🚛 Wrapped Up | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility made a significant drug bust, discovering 470.68 pounds (213.5 kg) of cocaine hidden inside a shipment of plastic rolls. The drugs, valued at approximately $6.2 million, were found during a routine inspection using nonintrusive equipment and a canine team. Read more.

🤖 Network 2.0 Consolidation | FedEx is intensifying its network streamlining efforts as part of its Network 2.0 initiative. The company confirmed the closure of six more ship centers and staff reductions at facilities in Tennessee, Illinois, Virginia, and West Virginia, with changes scheduled between March and June. Read more.

Pallets of News 🚛

Truck Transportation Employment February Trends 📊

The February truck transportation employment report shows a continued decline, with 15,400 fewer jobs compared to February 2024. Since the August 2023 Yellow closure, truck transportation employment has been steadily decreasing, now standing at 1,515,100 jobs, the lowest since October 2023.

Revised January data also revealed a lower job count than previously reported, contributing to the overall downward trend. However, much of the decline stems from the annual BLS model update, and employment has generally stabilized since mid-2024, with totals ranging from 1,514,500 to 1,517,800 since July.

Rail Freight Theft Cost More Than $100 Million 💰

Cargo theft cost U.S. Class I railroads over $100 million in 2024, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR), which is calling for increased federal action and more effective prosecution of offenders.

The AAR’s recent report highlighted a rise in thefts, with organized criminal groups targeting freight operations. The number of thefts in 2024 is estimated to exceed 65,000, a 40% increase from previous years. The report also notes that suspects are increasingly armed, heightening the danger during arrests.

The AAR revealed that fewer than one in ten theft attempts result in an arrest, and many of those arrested are repeat offenders. One railroad reported arresting the same individual 17 times. The organization is advocating for harsher penalties, more efficient prosecutions, and federal funding for prosecutors focused on cargo theft.

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