Samuel Norman

SONAR is our freight market intelligence platform providing near real-time data for trucking, rail, ocean, & air freight.

Empowering data-driven operations

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

DP World is reportedly shutting down SeaRates, the digital freight booking and marketplace platform it acquired in 2020 as part of a push into end-to-end logistics. The platform's founder has publicly acknowledged the discontinuation, and companies that used its services are already looking for alternatives.

https://t.co/WgT1PBVR87

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

3PL provider Kenco has deployed six DeepFabric AI agents into live production across its commercial, transport, and client services operations in just three months. The implementation yielded a 45% reduction in audit spend and a 30% cut in proposal response times without customer disruption, defying Gartner predictions that over 40% of agentic AI projects will fail by 2027.

At the northern border, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers seized 385 kilograms (849 pounds) of suspected cocaine valued at $35.5 million from a commercial truck at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, Ontario. The driver was arrested and charged under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act following a secondary inspection, adding to over 4,500 kilograms of cocaine seized by CBSA in fiscal 2025–2026.

Meanwhile, ocean carriers face a massive capacity surge as the global container ship orderbook reaches 13.1 million TEUs—nearly 40% of the active 33.8 million TEU fleet. With 2026 fleet growth running at 4.2% against expected container trade growth of 3% to 4%, and large mainline vessels comprising over 55% of new orders, analysts warn of downward rate pressure once Red Sea vessel diversions normalize.

As agentic AI streamlines 3PL operations, border security tightens on commercial trucks, and ocean carriers face a 40% orderbook surge, how is your team recalibrating its technology investments and freight rate strategy?

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

SONAR high-frequency data shows spot rates hit a low point on August 22nd before jumping 7% in just a few days. As families wrap up summer vacations, kids head back to school, and shippers prepare for early holiday inventory pushes, spot rates are bouncing right back!

[SONAR @SONAR_FW]

Really important for everyone to understand this. most news coverage is on the Iran conflict. but it isn't he biggest driver of diesel costs.
With so much focus on the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz, the impact on diesel from Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s refining infrastructure–which is heavily engineered to produce a strong diesel. Exports have nearly halved and domestic shortages in Russia have led to a temporary ban on exports. https://t.co/rAmmwUIVik

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

Could you spot a fake driver’s license at the gate?

On What The Truck?!? Greg Haber, President of Babaco Fulfillment and Alarms Systems, explains to Malcolm & The Dude how sophisticated fake IDs can include scannable barcodes and holograms convincing enough to fool even trained law enforcement. His verification technology can run a license through multiple checks and flag a fake in less than 30 seconds.

[Craig Fuller 🛩🚛🚂⚓️ @FreightAlley]

Dolly dominates TFP’s coverage. She was both a local and national hero, married just a few minutes from downtown Chattanooga

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

The freight market is stabilizing, with tender rejections at 13.57%. But don't let this "healthy" period fool you; volatility is on the horizon. @SONAR_FW

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

Diesel prices are soaring, but spot rates continue to fall, creating a significant disconnect in the trucking market. This @SONAR_FW Update dives deep into the factors driving this divergence, from global conflicts impacting refinery output to shifts in intermodal rail and changing length of haul for truckload freight.

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

Intermodal freight is delivering massive savings in today's volatile market. As truckload spot and contract rates stabilize, intermodal options provide a crucial cost-saving advantage, especially on key lanes.

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

After a severe drop in heavy truck sales between late 2025 and early 2026, BEA data shows sales rebounding back to ~450,000 annualized units. Coupled with a slight uptick in net operating authorities and strong new truck orders, capacity is gradually rebuilding across the sector.

Dr. Jason Miller, Professor of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University, analyzes whether freight demand will outpace this incoming wave of equipment capacity heading into Q4 and 2027.

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

FreightWaves Today | August 18 https://t.co/CMLEkZjDwI

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

Julie Van de Kamp dives into the surge of new trucking authorities and whether this capacity is sustainable. With tender rejections flat and demand picking up, we explore the risks brokers face with new MC numbers and no safety ratings. Plus, is mode conversion to rail a real solution to truckload capacity constraints? @SONAR_FW

[Craig Fuller 🛩🚛🚂⚓️ @FreightAlley]

The industrial renaissance is real and the railroads prove it.

The freight rail index at its 2nd highest level since 2008.

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

Full Episode: https://t.co/YigtNKwazK

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

Ripple CEO Adrian Smith highlights that maintaining a model-agnostic, modular technical framework allows enterprise platforms to restrict AI invocation strictly to necessary tasks.

Restricting AI query execution to purpose-built, agentic workflows minimizes token costs, reduces underlying data center energy usage, and delivers efficient compliance tools without compromising corporate ESG targets.

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

Trucking companies spend massive amounts of money recruiting drivers, but what happens when those drivers are gone within a few months?

On Brake Check, Charles Gracey and Dan Ronan challenge the industry’s obsession with recruiting while driver turnover remains high as 80%–90%.

Why are carriers continuing to pay to refill the same revolving door?

[SONAR @SONAR_FW]

Be sure to register for our upcoming webinar with @fleetworksai, The Network Effect: Stop Posting , Start Covering.
https://t.co/Uj2AwdDaLI

[SONAR @SONAR_FW]

Have you checked out SONAR's self-serve Quick Rates offering? Its just a great entry point into getting SONAR Market Intelligence with lane level rates and capacity data quickly and easily available for a low monthly subscriptions price. Check it out at https://t.co/mF7eTexyhB

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

Trucking volumes are down, but it's not a slowing economy. Discover how a significant modal shift to intermodal rail, driven by inventory rebuilding and a substantial cost advantage, is reshaping the freight market.

We dive deep into @SONAR_FW data to explain exactly what's happening and why railroads are winning share from long-haul trucks.

[FreightWaves @FreightWaves]

Are We in a Freight Super Cycle? | Brake Check https://t.co/fLhKGu8F33