Episodes
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The freight market outlook is set to improve next year following two challenging years for surface-transportation providers. In this Talking Transports podcast, Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, shares his 2025 outlook for the truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL) and railroads industries. Mid-single digit contractual rate growth, low-single-digit volume gains and improving utilization rates, could fuel a 67% jump in EPS for BI’s truckload peer group. LTL earnings growth may rebound as well, on the heels of continued pricing power and improved demand. Volume, revenue and earnings growth are poised to accelerate for North American railroads in 2025. Despite the more optimistic outlook, risks abound, especially from the incoming Trump administration’s tariff and immigration threats.
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Refocusing Roadrunner into an asset-light less-than-truckload (LTL) provider over the past four years may have been key to turning the company around. In this Talking Transports podcast, Chris Jamroz, Roadrunner’s executive chairman and chief executive officer, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights about the strategic steps the company took to bring it back from the brink. A focus on expedited LTL movements in the largest freight markets has helped it improved operations, which has elevated service and could drive share gains. Jamroz also discusses how autonomous trucks may be a perfect fit for Roadrunner, looking at M&A for growth, technology as a tool and his dream to return to kite surfing
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The ability to optimize logistics networks that can react to weather or human disruptions can be the differentiator between success and failure for many organizations. In this Talking Transports podcast, retired General Paul Selva, DEFCON AI’s co-founder and chief strategy officer, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights about how technology and artificial intelligence are creating more resilient supply chains. The retired vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also provided his insights into the challenges and complexities facing the military in moving people, equipment and supplies around the world. Selva discusses some of his experiences leading the US Transportation Command and how his retirement from the military lead to a 3,000 mile long stroll.
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The health-care logistics market is growing at a faster pace than the general freight market and has become an attractive vertical for providers of freight transportation services. The inherently complex nature of these supply chains due to cargo temperature requirements and safety concerns can warrant higher margins relative to other end markets. In this Talking Transports podcast, Joel Wayment, vice president of 3PL services at Cardinal Health, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights about the challenges and opportunities facing health-care supply chains. Wayment also provided his insights into technology innovations, regulations, fraud prevention and how the winner of the Super Bowl could affect the flow of critical goods.
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Uber Freight is leveraging generative AI to take out supply-chain inefficiencies, lower costs, reduce fraud and drive better customer experiences. The company cut empty miles in half for carriers on its network, and last year saved customers $1.5 billion. Technology has been the cornerstone. In this Talking Transports podcast, Lior Ron, Uber Freight’s founder and CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights about how technology will be transforming supply chains. Technology advances will also play a big part in the pace of autonomous-trucking development and commercialization. Ron also discusses growth in Mexico, fighting fraud, rate expectations, reinvesting in the business and how he found he way to transportation from big tech.
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Norfolk Southern is entering a new chapter in its history as it moves past a devastating derailment, activist activity and leadership changes. The railroad is focused on attracting volume onto its network by providing a more consistent service centered around safety. In this Talking Transports podcast, Ed Elkins, Norfolk Southern’s chief marketing officer, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights about how the company is making progress toward its long-term goals of generating a sub-60 operating ratio. Norfolk has made inroads to this target this year. Elkins also discusses growth opportunities, peak season, precision scheduled railroading, coal demand and how his father nudged him into a career in transportation over three decades ago.
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A hybrid approach might be a winning strategy for logistics providers in the current challenging freight backdrop. In this Talking Transports podcast, Scott Pruneau, ITS Logistics’ CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights about how the company’s hybrid approach has helped it organically gain market share. While the company leans into technology, it never loses sight of how relationships are key to expanding a freight-brokerage business. The company’s fleet of 3,000 trailers as well as its warehousing and delivering capabilities provides ITS with value-added offerings that go beyond non-asset players. Pruneau also discusses peak season and rate expectations, the freight cycle, fraud, and how a career in transportation found him over 30 years ago.
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The recovery of the truckload market may be around the corner, but the pace will likely be slow and steady in the months ahead as slack capacity gradually exits. This should help drive a better freight-rate environment next year. In this Talking Transports podcast, Harman Cheema, Cheema Freightlines’ CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share insights about the state of trucking market from his perspective as a midsize carrier operating in the western US. Cheema Freightlines is the 38th-largest truckload carrier, according to Transport Topics, and has both asset-based and non-asset operations. Cheema also discusses fraud, the additional costs that come with greener equipment and his early beginning in the trucking industry as a teenager working for his father.
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FreightVana’s trailers and technological approach differentiate it from other emerging freight brokers, providing shippers with more flexibility and carriers with access to previously out-of-reach markets. The company seeks to increase its fleet of trailing equipment to 10,000 from 700 in the long term. In this Talking Transports episode, Shannon Breen, co-CEO and founder of FreightVana, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insight into how drop trailers can be a game changer for the truckload broker. Breen also offers his thoughts on peak season, 2025 rates, the pros and cons of entrepreneurship and how football led him to the industry.
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The brokerage industry continues to leverage technology to improve processes, productivity and profitability. It will also help drive costs per load down, which can help brokers win share on price without sacrificing margins, and that could help consolidate the top end of the market. In this Talking Transports podcast, Matt Pyatt, CEO and founder of Arrive Logistics, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights into how technology coupled with the company’s sales culture has helped fueled its explosive organic growth over the past decade. Pyatt expects a similar brokerage market next year to one seen this year, but with slightly better margins. He also discusses his entrepreneurial spirit, leading a data-centric company, fighting fraud and how a date at a BBQ joint landed the woman of his dreams.
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Lackluster trucking conditions and a slow recovery in spot truckload rates may limit carriers’ ability to deliver upside surprises when reporting 3Q earnings, and could put 4Q expectations at risk, according to Chris Wetherbee, Wells Fargo managing director and lead analyst on airfreight, surface and marine transportation. In this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s Talking Transports podcast, Wetherbee joins Lee Klaskow, BI senior transportation and logistics analyst, to discuss what investors should be thinking about ahead of 3Q results for the truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL) and railroad companies. J.B. Hunt is the first to report results on Oct. 15. Wetherbee also discusses his Canadian National upgrade, how mix has weighed on parcel carriers’ margins and a potential FedEx LTL spinoff. Wetherbee also provides some insight about the day in the life of a sell-side analyst.
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Operating a privately held debt-free less-than-truckload (LTL) operator provides Estes Express Lines the flexibility to make growth investments and keep its commitments to customers and employees through the freight cycle, Webb Estes, president and chief operating officer, tells Bloomberg Intelligence. This approach has allowed the company to opportunistically acquire facilities and equipment against a challenging freight environment as well as keeping workers’ morale high, he says. In this Talking Transports podcast, Estes joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights about LTL rates and demand, which saw a pick up in growth in September. Estes also discusses sustainability, maintaining high service levels, technology investments and doing most jobs working his way up the organizations.
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Trucking and railroad demand appears hard pressed to come out of its malaise anytime soon. Trucking markets have been slowly improving, while pockets of weakness are mitigating some stronger end-markets. This backdrop may drive low-single digit volume growth for these freight modes next year. In this Talking Transports podcast, Jonathan Starks, FTR’s chief executive officer and chief intelligence officer joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation & logistics analyst, to share his insights about the state of the freight railroad and trucking markets and what the demand outlook may have in store for these freight markets. Starks also talks about peak-season expectations, regulatory pressures on trucking equipment, need for better visibility for rail shipments and how burning CDs lead to a fulfilling career.
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The current trucking market appears to have the trappings of a more normal cycle, similar to the one in 2013-2017. This would mean that spot rates should continue to slowly move higher from here and could fuel contract rates to inflect positively for most of next year. In this Talking Transports podcast, Ken Adamo, vice president of strategy and business development and chief of analytics at DAT Freight & Analytics, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights about the state of the trucking market and what might be around the bend for the industry. Adamo also talks about the use cases for electric and autonomous trucks, challenges created by pending regulations and his love for being at the crossroads of transportation and data.
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Dislocations created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, low water levels in the Panama Canal and the crisis in the Red Sea have increased the demand for LNG tankers and has been a boost for time-charter rates and earnings for ship owners. Earning power will remain strong, even as they normalize lower from 2021’s peaks as rates remain well above breakeven levels for LNG tanker fleets. In this Talking Transports podcast, Oystein Kalleklev, CEO of Flex LNG and Avance Gas joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation & logistics analyst, to share his insights into the LNG tanker industry. Kelleklev also talks about the orderbook of these $260 million assets, demand trends, lowering emissions and the LNG tanker market becoming more dynamic following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
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The next catalyst for truck dealers might be a rush to order vehicles late next year ahead of the US EPA’s 2027 emissions rules, which could increase the costs of trucks by about $30,000 over traditional diesel engines. Buyers are already facing higher costs from inflationary pressure that pushed up prices for new over-the-road trucks by 20-25% over pre-pandemic levels. In this Talking Transports podcast, Brian Fyda, vice president of Fyda Freightliner, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights into how truck dealers are navigating these challenges. Fyda also talks about inventories, the used-equipment market, the CDA cyberattack, electric truck demand and what it’s like to work in a family business.
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Less-than-truckload carriers are facing a challenging freight backdrop and more difficult comparisons as the industry anniversary of the bankruptcy of a major competitor approaches. In this Talking Transports podcast, Mario Harik, XPO’s chief executive officer joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence senior transportation & logistics analyst, to share how the company is buffering these difficulties with a number of self-help initiatives called its LTL 2.0 strategy. This is yielding a more efficient and profitable network, as well as fueling better service metrics, such as on casualty claims and on-time performance. These productivity improvements and recent capacity additions should position XPO well for when the freight market turns. Harik also talks about electric trucks, operating driving schools and leveraging technology.
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In this Talking Transports podcast, Ben McLean, Ruan Transportation Management Systems’ CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior transportation and logistics analyst, to talk about the state of the dedicated trucking market and what the future has in store. Dedicated trucking services offer shippers capacity free of the risks and expenses of owning and managing a fleet, letting them focus on their core businesses. For carriers this provides less earnings volatility than is associated with the over-the-road truckload market. McLean also discussed the challenges for the industry to lower emissions, given prevailing technologies, and tapping the FMCSA’s Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot to find safe, qualified drivers.
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Freight brokers’ increased penetration of the trucking market and a surge in small-business loans during the pandemic have contributed to the stubbornly slow pace of capacity exiting the market and are keeping spot rates from moving meaningfully higher. Truckload margins have been under pressure from rising costs and depressed rates. In this Talking Transports podcast, Craig Fuller, FreightWaves founder and chief executive officer, joins Lee Klaskow, Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior transportation and logistics analyst, to share his insights about the state of the North American trucking market and the future of the industry. Fuller also speaks about the feasibility of electric and autonomous trucks technologies as well as his love for cab-over designs.
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Increased penetration of online retail sales and global economic growth set up a strong backdrop for long-term volume growth for DHL’s eCommerce division, which provides domestic parcel-delivery services. In this episode of Bloomberg Intelligence’s Talking Transports podcast, Pablo Ciano, DHL Group’s board member and the eCommerce’s division CEO, joins Lee Klaskow, BI senior transportation and logistics analyst, to talk about how his organization will outpace global growth by 100-200 bps and its plans to improve operating margins back toward 5-7%. Ciano also discusses the upcoming peak season, consumer sentiment, M&A and how technology investments are fueling productivity gains. The eCommerce division accounts for about 8% of DHL Group’s revenue and 5% of Ebit.
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