Freight Monday! 👋 We’re starting the week with a shocking theft. A fake trucking company managed to steal 80,000 pounds of beef, worth $350,000, from Southeastern Provisions in Bean Station, TN.

The stolen shipment was subcontracted to a company with unverified details, and the drivers' identities were never confirmed. More details ahead 👇

💬 More in Freight:

⚫️ Mexico Exports Drop

⚫️ Frontloading Helps Port of Los Angeles

⚫️ States That Import The Most From China

Wabash Judgement Slashed ✂️

A Missouri court reduced punitive damages against Wabash National from $450 million to $108 million, but rejected most of the company’s other requests in a high-profile lawsuit.

Judge Christopher McGraugh found the original punitive damages excessive and reduced them, but did not alter the $12 million in compensatory damages. Wabash’s request for a new trial, based on excluding key evidence like the victims’ blood alcohol content and lobbying details, was denied.

Frontloading Helps Port of LA 📈

The Port of Los Angeles had its second-best February on record, driven by cargo frontloading as a hedge against tariffs, Executive Director Gene Seroka said on March 19. While the port saw strong volumes early in the year, Seroka expects a potential 10% drop in the second half, particularly in larger imports like furniture and appliances.

Frontloading has been used to manage logistics challenges, including tariff uncertainty, port labor issues, and the Red Sea crisis. Seroka noted that shipments from China have dropped from 57% of the port's traffic to 43% due to recent tariffs, with some shippers diversifying to other Asian locations.

Despite concerns about tariff impacts, Seroka remains optimistic, citing the port's ability to track cargo 40 days in advance using the Port Optimizer system.

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What Else Is Moving 🚚

Fake Trucking Company: Stolen Beef 🥩🥷

A fake trucking company stole 80,000 pounds of beef, valued at $350,000, from Southeastern Provisions in Bean Station, TN, on Thursday, March 27.

Officers were called to the meatpacking plant, where the shipping manager reported that two shipments had not reached their intended destinations. Upon investigation, Southeastern Provisions discovered the shipments had been subcontracted to "List Trucking Sales."

WBIR10 reports that the company received no response from the trucking company. The dispatcher, "Ahmed Wengy," who had been in communication with Southeastern Provisions, stopped responding to emails.

The police report reveals that the identification of the drivers from "List Trucking Sales" was not verified when the meat was loaded. The trucking company’s information was deemed “false and unverified.” The stolen loads were destined for Kentucky and Michigan. No arrests have been made so far.

FREIGHT SNIPPETS ✂️

📉 Mexico Exports Drop | Mexico’s exports to the U.S. dropped 2.9% year-over-year in February, primarily due to declines in shipments of cars, light trucks, agricultural products, and oil, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Manufacturing exports from Mexico totaled $44.24 billion in February, marking a 1.8% decrease from the previous year. Foreign sales of automotive goods fell 15.2%, agricultural exports dropped 6%, and oil exports decreased by 24%. Read more.

⚖️ Increased Weight Limits Debated | The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and the Truckload Carriers Association oppose increasing truck size and weight, while the Shippers Coalition and American Farm Bureau Federation support it. During a hearing on the new highway bill, OOIDA’s Lewie Pugh warned that raising the weight limit from 80,000 to 91,000 pounds would harm truckers and safety. Teamsters' Cole Scandaglia also expressed concerns about safety risks and potential damage to roads and bridges. Read more.

🏗️ Inland Port Upgrades | Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves unveiled a $12.85 million plan on March 26 to upgrade the Yellow Creek State Inland Port in northeastern Iuka. The initiative aims to enhance multimodal freight and strengthen the state’s economy. Located near the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Tombigbee Waterway, the public port provides a cost-effective shipping gateway to the Gulf. Read more.

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🏛️ Michigan Transportation Funding | A $3.1 billion transportation funding plan in Michigan, approved by the Republican-led House, aims to address long-standing funding issues. It proposes eliminating the 6% sales tax on fuel and replacing it with a 31-cent excise tax, ensuring all fuel tax revenue goes to transportation. Fuel tax rates would increase to 51 cents per gallon starting October 1, with annual inflation adjustments. Read more.

🚛 Removing Semi Excise Tax? | A bill reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this week aims to remove the 12% federal excise tax (FET) on heavy-duty trucks. The Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act of 2025, introduced on March 27 by Reps. LaMalfa, Pappas, LaHood, Carbajal, and Miller, seeks to repeal the tax, which was originally implemented in 1917 to fund World War I. Rep. LaMalfa criticized the FET for adding $15,000 to $30,000 to the cost of new trucks, encouraging the purchase of used trucks instead. Read more.

💰 Manufacturing Investments | Johnson & Johnson is committing over $55 billion to the U.S. over the next four years, a 25% increase from its previous spending. The investment will fund new manufacturing facilities, expanded research initiatives, and technology upgrades, with the goal of creating high-paying jobs and accelerating drug development. Read more.

Pallets of News 🚛

States That Import The Most From China 🇨🇳

In 2024, the U.S. imported $438.9 billion worth of goods from China, accounting for 13.4% of all U.S. imports. Nevada had the highest reliance on Chinese imports, with 26% of its total imports coming from China, primarily driven by electrical machinery and parts. California, home to two of the country’s largest ports, imported $122.8 billion in goods, the highest among all states.

More than a quarter of imports in Nevada and California came from China, with Washington DC and New Mexico closely following. In contrast, Montana was the least reliant on Chinese imports, with just 1% of its goods coming from China.

Cocaine Stashed In Tractor-Trailer 🚨

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry seized over $472,000 in cocaine hidden in a tractor-trailer. CBP officers at the Camino Real International Bridge cargo facility inspected a commercial tractor-trailer transporting ceramic bricks. 

After selecting the vehicle for secondary inspection, they used nonintrusive equipment and a canine team. A physical inspection revealed 16 packages containing a total of 35.4 pounds (16.05 kg) of cocaine, valued at $472,742.

The driver was removed from the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program, and the truck and narcotics were seized.

MEME OF THE DAY 😂

📍 Upcoming events: Catch up with us at TIA: Capital Ideas Conference in San Antonio on April 9-12 and at the Broker Carrier Summit in Indianapolis on April 28-May 2. Let us know if you’ll be there – we'd love to connect!