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March Freight Industry Update: Flat Shipments and Tariff Challenges

global trade freight

March Freight Industry Update: Flat Shipments and Tariff Challenges

The freight industry experienced a steady yet unremarkable March, as freight shipments remained flat sequentially and dipped by 2.1% when seasonally adjusted, according to Cass Information Systems. This marks the fourth consecutive month of mid-single-digit year-over-year declines, with volumes down 5.3% compared to the previous year.

Read also: U.S. Container Imports Surge Amid Tariff Concerns

Despite a temporary boost in February due to inventory pull-forward and recovery from January’s severe weather, the freight industry faces challenges ahead. A recent 90-day pause on many tariffs may prompt pre-tariff shipping in the second quarter, but escalating tariffs with China could counterbalance this effect. The long-term repercussions of the trade war are expected to negatively impact freight demand, with a forecasted 4% year-over-year decline in freight volumes for April.

Freight expenditures, which include fuel costs, rose 2.8% from February (up 1.5% seasonally adjusted) but were down just 2% year-over-year, marking the smallest decline since early 2023. This suggests that inferred freight rates were approximately 3% higher year-over-year in March, with the pricing environment showing modest increases since September.

The Cass Truckload Linehaul Index, which excludes fuel and surcharges, saw a slight 0.1% dip from February, ending a six-month streak of increases. However, the index was still 1.5% higher year-over-year. The freight sector is expected to see continued demand for pre-tariff goods in the coming months, but a tariff adjustment period may lead to reduced demand as prices rise.

Data from Cass, a payment management solutions provider processing $36 billion in freight payables annually, indicates that while the trade war continues to affect the industry, a recovery could be on the horizon after 39 months of year-over-year declines.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform  

global trade trucking industry

Amazon Freight Partner Program Eases Entry Into the Trucking Industry

The Amazon Freight Partner (AFP) program is revolutionizing the trucking industry by lowering barriers for aspiring entrepreneurs, allowing them to create their own successful businesses. A recent article on Yahoo Finance details how the program offers low start-up costs and a comprehensive training regimen to prepare partners for long-term success.

Read also: Trucking and Intermodal Industry: Navigating Demand and Capacity Challenges

According to data from the IndexBox platform, the U.S. trucking industry is a multifaceted and dynamically growing sector. The AFP program capitalizes on this growth by supporting new business owners with essential tools to thrive in the market. Participants of the program receive a dedicated business coach and access to ongoing training to ensure both individual and collective success within the industry.

Dorcas Williams, principal marketing manager for the AFP program, emphasized the program’s inclusivity, stating that no previous trucking experience is required. This opens opportunities for leaders from diverse backgrounds to enter the lucrative transportation field. In her interview on FreightWaves Radio’s Drive Time, Williams highlighted the appeal of stable revenue and consistent weekly work as critical benefits for partners.

By structuring jobs as W-2 employee positions and providing benefits, the AFP program aims to uplift commercial license drivers, offering them security and stability often lacking in the industry. This initiative not only benefits drivers but also assists partners in building robust teams and supportive work environments.

The Amazon Freight Partner program continues to seek motivated individuals ready to harness their leadership skills in a growing industry, with resources and training provided by Amazon, ensuring a thriving and sustainable business venture.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform  

global trade fraud report

TIA Report Reveals Escalating Fraud Crisis in Freight Industry

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) has released its 2024 State of Fraud in the Industry report, shedding light on the growing threat of fraud in the transportation and logistics sectors. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the financial toll and highlights the urgent need for stronger protective measures as fraud continues to surge across the supply chain.

Read also: Safeguarding Supply Chains: Navigating the Surge in Fraud and Cargo Theft

“We are an industry under siege, and we’re not receiving enough support from authorities to combat this crisis,” said Anne Reinke, TIA President and CEO. “Fraud in the supply chain doesn’t just impact businesses—it affects consumers and the overall economy. It’s a multimillion-dollar issue that demands immediate action.”

The report, based on responses from 200 TIA members, details the most common types of fraud, regional hotspots, and the commodities most targeted. It also underscores the heavy financial burden fraud places on businesses and consumers alike.

Key Findings

Truckload Freight as Primary Target: 98% of respondents reported that truckload freight is the most vulnerable to fraud, signaling where companies should concentrate their defense strategies.

Diverse Fraud Tactics: Fraudsters are using a range of schemes, including spoofing, unlawful brokerage scams, phishing, and fictitious pickups. The report identifies eight main types of fraud that plague the industry, illustrating the multifaceted nature of the threat.

Financial Impact: Businesses reported an average gross cost of fraud at $402,344.47, with an approximate per-load loss of $40,760.17. This not only increases operating costs but also drives up the cost of goods for consumers.

Fraud Prevention Efforts: Nearly 20% of respondents dedicate an entire day per quarter to combating fraud, while 16% spend over 4 hours daily on prevention. This significant time investment diverts resources away from core business activities, hampering productivity.

High-Risk Regions: States such as California, Texas, Illinois, Georgia, and Florida are identified as high-risk zones, where the frequency of fraud incidents is notably higher due to the concentration of logistics hubs.

Targeted Commodities: High-value items like electronics, solar panels, and household goods are the most commonly stolen due to their easy resale potential.

The TIA’s report paints a stark picture of an industry struggling to manage rising fraud and calls for more robust intervention from both government and law enforcement agencies. Without such support, businesses will continue to face significant operational and financial hurdles in an already challenging market.

tranfix

Transfix Unveils Transfix Shield: A Revolutionary Fraud Prevention Suite for the Freight Industry

Transfix Inc. has made a significant stride in fortifying the freight industry against fraud with the introduction of Transfix Shield, an exclusive suite of fraud-prevention tools tailored for shippers, carriers, and brokers. This groundbreaking launch includes RateCon Shield and Facility Shield, two innovative products poised to address longstanding fraud challenges within the logistics sector.

Jonathan Salama, CEO and Co-founder of Transfix, emphasized the importance of industry collaboration in combating fraud, stating, “Fraud is a persistent challenge that demands collective action from all stakeholders in the industry. Our initial rollout of these tools has generated significant interest and enthusiasm among our brokerage partners and longstanding clients.”

RateCon Shield, introduced last summer in a pilot program, targets the alarming trend of bad actors impersonating legitimate freight brokers. These fraudulent entities assume the identity of reputable brokers, offering loads to carriers and then disappearing before payment, leaving carriers unpaid and legitimate brokers tarnished. RateCon Shield combats this by automating the addition of a unique QR code to rate confirmation documents. This empowers carriers to authenticate loads and brokers, bolstering security and credibility across brokerage operations and carrier transactions.

Dan O’Sullivan, CEO of United States of Freight, praised RateCon Shield as a game-changer, remarking, “RateCon Shield sets us apart in the industry, demonstrating our commitment to safeguarding both our shippers’ freight and our carriers’ livelihoods. Partnering with Transfix, an organization deeply invested in combating fraud, reinforces our commitment to a secure freight ecosystem.”

Facility Shield, currently in beta testing and soon to be available to shippers, extends fraud prevention measures to the facility level. This tool equips shippers with proprietary validation systems and processes to verify carriers before they enter a facility, mitigating the risk of theft and unauthorized access.

Both RateCon Shield and Facility Shield offer seamless integration via API connection, ensuring a flexible and expedited onboarding process for users without the need for additional applications.

In an industry characterized by fierce competition among brokers, Transfix is leading the charge in fostering collaboration against fraudulent actors. With Transfix Shield, the freight industry takes a significant step towards a more secure and resilient future.

Read more about the Transfix Shield Suite and sign up here, transfix.io/transfixshield.

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Freight Industry must Resist the Tidal Wave of Drug Smuggling

In response to the exponential growth in contraband drugs entering Europe via ports on the Atlantic seaboard, specialist freight insurer TT Club is increasing its efforts to promote industry awareness of both trends in criminal activity and methods of combatting its success.

In the past two months, since the beginning of April, yet more examples of criminal gangs utilizing the complexity of European import trades to smuggle in drugs have continued to emerge.  Reports include cocaine in containers of fruit through the port of Antwerp; in Rotterdam narcotics were discovered in reefer containers carrying melons from Panama; ecstasy with a value of €1.5 million in a truck at Calais and Le Havre emerging as a hotspot for cocaine imports; 133 kilos of marijuana and hashish at the Port of Motril in southern Spain brought in from North Africa, and news of smuggling gangs with links to Brazil operating in Lisbon and Oporto.

To open the industry’s eyes to the dangers yet further, TT is committing significant resource to collating detailed reporting, including that of their partner BSI Screen, to create greater awareness of the sophisticated methods that criminals employ, the extent of their geographical reach and the diverse gateways they are using to supply the vast European market for illicit drugs.

With the potentially enormous profits to be made within the drugs trade, funds to bribe port employees and others working in the transport infrastructure are readily available.  Customs officials and police officers are not beyond corruption and the current levels of inflation and high living costs are further incentivizing those that were perhaps beyond reproach in the past.  In addition to corruption, the criminal syndicates are able to discover key contacts at the ports (often online and through social media) and threaten them and their families with harm to ensure their compliance and silence.

Ports offer an attractive transfer point for drugs from sea going vessels and containers to trucks.  These trucks leaving for the hinterland can contain contraband, often without the driver’s knowledge, and are hijacked, increasingly by heavily armed and brutal gangs.  Also becoming more extensive is computer hacking, either to directly obtain information of a specific containers whereabouts or intended destinations, or to plant tracking software that facilitates raids at pinpointed locations.

Much more vigilance across European port communities is clearly required.  TT’s Yarwood outlines one strategy, “Employee vetting and training both in terms of motivating them to be vigilant and loyal but also in terms of maintaining secure processes of documentation and online communication.  Identifying the more common origin points of contraband cargo, such as South America and North Africa, and ‘rogue’ consignees and unexpected delivery points will help,” he advises.

Security at the established targeted ports has naturally been increased with, for example a new seventy-strong security corps established in Antwerp, increased CCTV surveillance and the use of drones in Rotterdam, and a specialist anti-drug trafficking police unit in the Netherlands.  However, the crime groups are well entrenched, having established long tentacles throughout supply chains and are sophisticated in their expertise and knowledge of how trade works.

About TT Club

TT Club is the established market-leading independent provider of mutual insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. TT Club’s primary objective is to help make the industry safer and more secure. Founded in 1968, the Club has more than 1100 Members, spanning container owners and operators, ports and terminals, and logistics companies, working across maritime, road, rail, and air. TT Club is renowned for its high-quality service, in-depth industry knowledge and enduring Member loyalty. It retains more than 97% of its Members with a third of its entire membership having chosen to insure with the Club for 20 years or more.

https://www.ttclub.com