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Transportation

Walmart to take drone delivery nationwide as Zipline raises $1.5B

Walmart will significantly scale up its drone delivery network in partnership with Zipline, which will operate the small unmanned aerial vehicles from 300 new store locations and has raised $1.5 billion in new funding to build out a nationwide drone delivery capacity, the companies announced on Thursday. Zipline, the world’s largest drone delivery provider by miles flown, said it will use the capital to expand its U.S. manufacturing facilities and ramp hiring to meet demand for ultra-fast delivery by air. Big retailers like Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) and Amazon are racing to build out same-day and one-hour store-to-delivery networks of their own to meet growing customer expectations for speed and convenience, which is viewed as important to converting online shoppers to buyers. Drone delivery supplements last-mile ground delivery provided by gig-based drivers using digital delivery platforms for assignments. At Walmart, U.S., e-commerce sales grew 24% during the second quarter, with deliveries fulfilled from local stores up 43%. Amazon recently said it plans to offer Prime Air drone delivery to nearly 500 U.S. communities by year’s end, covering about 30 million people, up from a dozen locations. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1', [[300, 100], [320, 50], [728, 90], [468, 60]], 'div-gpt-ad-1709668545404-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1709668545404-0'); }); Walmart currently has 21 sites with Zipline and also uses Alphabet’s Wing drone delivery service. In July, Wing and Walmart launched drone delivery at five locations in Central Florida. Walmart previously launched drone delivery in Houston, Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth. The partners are working to offer drone delivery from more than 270 locations in nearly 20 metro areas, including Seattle and Denver in 2027. Walmart and Wing are poised to begin drone delivery in West Memphis, Arkansas, any day now, according to DroneXL.co. Wing also recently applied with the city of Manchester, Missouri, to launch delivery service from the local Walmart store, said KMOV TV. Wing also provides drone delivery for companies like DoorDash and Lowe’s. Walmart says it has completed more than 2 million drone deliveries since it started with Zipline in 2021. The service is designed to deliver everyday essentials in as little as 30 minutes. The company does not have a timeline or list of areas for the Zipline expansion, spokeswoman Lindsey Coulter said. “We see customers try drone delivery for the novelty and then continue to come back to it for the convenience when they need something in minutes,” said Greg Cathey, senior vice president, e-commerce fulfillment transformation at Walmart, in a news release. “Walmart’s stores put us close to the communities we serve. With Zipline, we can build on that proximity and bring this fast delivery option to even more customers across the country.” The retail giant has thousands of stores and says 90% of the U.S. population is within 10 miles of a store. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot3', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0'); }); Zipline growth Zipline is one of a handful of drone operators with Part 135 air carrier permissions and authorized for operations beyond the visual line of sight of the pilot. The company promotes that it minimizes neighborhood noise by having drones hover at about 330 feet above the ground during delivery while a pod containing the order descends on a tether. Customers see drone delivery as an option when they use the Walmart app or Walmart.com if the address associated with their account is within the delivery range. Customers can then add items to their cart just like any other delivery order, place their order, and then track their items as they fly to their home. Orders are delivered to the customer’s home in the front yard, backyard or driveway, according to Walmart. Zipline said the $1.5 billion investment in the company puts the company’s value at $21.5 billion. It was led by Paradigm, WCM Investment Management and Layer Global, with other participation by Tiger Global, Uber, J.P. Morgan and others. Zipline says hundreds of businesses use its service. Last month, the company began offering unmanned aerial delivery in Austin, Texas. Data from long-tenured restaurant users shows Zipline’s share of delivery revenue tripled to 35% in the past six months, but the increase didn’t decrease demand from other platforms. Uber is targeting one million deliveries a day with Zipline by 2029. Offering automated aerial deliveries expands the number of customers businesses can reach, says Zipline, because delivery orders are usually limited to destinations within two or three miles of a store for reasons such as fuel cost and food freshness. Restaurant holding company Wonder is actually building new storefronts and kitchens that are optimized specifically for Zipline delivery to seize the market opportunity for fast delivery, according to Zipline. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot4', [[300, 100], [320, 50], [728, 90], [468, 60]], 'div-gpt-ad-1709668086344-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1709668086344-0'); }); “Zipline has already brought the future of delivery to the communities it serves. Now, the opportunity is to reach millions more,” said Anton Levy, founder and managing partner of Layer Global. “With partners like Uber and Walmart and a repeatable model for entering new markets, Zipline is well positioned to make drone delivery a mainstream part of everyday life.” Since its founding 10 years ago, Zipline has also built an international logistics network that serves more than 5,000 hospitals. Last summer, Zipline launched its first U.S. healthcare home delivery service with Cleveland Clinic, beginning in a Cleveland suburb. Eligible patients can opt-in to receive certain prescription deliveries at home at no additional cost. Over time, the program will expand to include deliveries of lab samples, medically tailored meals, medical and surgical supplies, and hospital-at-home materials between Cleveland Clinic facilities. It also partners with the Mayo Clinic. Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves.com. RELATED STORIES: DoorDash launches retail returns service, self-designed drones window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot5', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767778941-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1665767778941-0'); }); Lowe’s test drives drone delivery Amazon drone delivery expansion targets 500 cities by year’s end The post Walmart to take drone delivery nationwide as Zipline raises $1.5B appeared first on FreightWaves.

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Transportation

SNCF’s fifth generation of TGV enters passenger service

The first Alstom Avelia Horizon trainsets — now branded TGV Nouvelle Génération by national operator SNCF Voyageurs — began carrying passengers on November 6. Jérémie Anne reports from onboard the first service from Paris to Marseille. The passenger launch of the 320 km/h trainsets took place in the presence of Minister for Transport Philippe Tabarot, SNCF Group Chairman & CEO Jean Castex and Alstom Chairman & CEO Martin Sion. An initial six trainsets have entered revenue service, operating between Paris Lyon and Marseille St-Charles. A Paris – Nice return service will be added at the end of November, and services to the Alps are to follow in 2027. TGV of the future Alstom said the Avelia Horizon represents the most significant evolution in its very high speed train architecture since the TGV Duplex which entered service in 1996. The TGV of the future project to design a fifth generation of French high speed train was launched in 2016, when Alstom entered into an innovation partnership with SNCF Voyageurs. Alstom’s focus was offering higher capacity within existing train length and width, along with lower energy consumption, optimised maintenance costs and the flexibility to tailor the technical configuration, capacity, interior layout and passenger facilities to the operational, regulatory and market requirements of different customers. The project was developed by SNCF as TGV M, with the operator saying the M stood for the French words for modernity, mobility, modularity, management, better and partnership. It subsequently became TGV Inoui, and now TGV Nouvelle Génération. Speaking at the launch, David Goérès, TGV M project manager at SNCF Voyageurs, said 2 000 staff from Alstom and SNCF Voyageurs are working on the project, with 11 Alstom industrial sites in France involved in manufacturing, including Belfort and La Rochelle. Nearly 400 innovations in a 10-year project Avelia Horizon features nearly 400 innovations for which patent applications have been filed. The reduced weight, improved aerodynamics and more efficient traction systems have contributed to an overall 20% reduction in energy consumption, and a 32% reduction in energy consumption per passenger-km at maximum capacity. Energy storage units behind the power cars can keep safety and passenger comfort systems running if the power supply is lost in an emergency, and provide enough traction power to reach a station to avoid leaving passengers stranded in the countryside. SNCF Voyageurs is spending €300m to adapt its maintenance facilities for the new fleet, in particular the Technicentre Sud-Est Européen where the first trainsets are maintained. The trainsets for French domestic services have nine articulated aluminium double-deck coaches and two power cars equipped for 1.5 kV DC and 25 kV 50 Hz electrification systems. The power cars are shorter than those of the Euroduplex, creating room for an additional passenger coach within the same train length, and the cab has been completely redesigned, with a European driver’s desk and a single combined traction/brake controller. The trainsets are fitted with Hitachi dual ERTMS/TVM signalling systems as well as KVB. The trainsets are 202 m long with 573 seats in first and standard classes. A high-density configuration proposed for Ouigo services could carry 740 passengers. Every seat has USB and mains power sockets, an individual reading light and wi-fi. There are passenger information screens on the doors and in each saloon. Luggage areas and toilets have been redesigned, and there are cycle spaces. Coach 3 has a mobile platform to enable wheelchair users to reach the lower deck independently. Predictive maintenance systems, a reduction in the number of components and improved access aim to increase fleet availability and reduce maintenance costs by more than 30% compared with the previous generation of high speed train, with a scalable digital architecture designed to allow new technologies to be integrated throughout its operating life. SNCF Voyageurs orders In 2018 SNCF Voyageurs placed a €2.7bn order for an initial 100 trainsets for use on French domestic services from Paris Lyon. Entry into services had originally been envisaged for 2023-24, ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games. In 2022 a €590m order was placed for a further 15 sets for the Paris – Milano route to Italy and planned Italian domestic services on the Torino – Napoli and Torino – Venezia routes, with entry into service expected in 2028. A €1.4bn order for a further 30 trainsets for use by Eurostar was placed in October 2025, and these sets, branded Celestia, are due to enter service in May 2031. A further 15 quad-voltage trainsets were ordered by SNCF Voyageurs in January 2026 for France – Brussels services, with entry into service expected in 2029. All 160 trainsets are being financed from SNCF Voyageurs’ own funds, representing an investment of €4bn. Similar trainsets have been ordered by Morocco’s national railway ONCF, and 12 have been ordered by French open access start-up Velvet. By relying on a train design already selected by SNCF, Proxima hopes to avoid the testing and certification complexity of bespoke rolling stock programmes. ‘The entry into service of the new-generation TGV is a new demonstration of Alstom’s global leadership in high speed rail’, Alstom CEO Martin Sion said . ‘As the first train to enter service based on our Avelia Horizon platform, it builds on 45 years of experience and operational knowledge gained around the world. It is also the result of many years of close co-operation with SNCF and of the contribution of thousands of people across Alstom, our partners and our wider industrial ecosystem.’ See also SNCF confirms TGV of the Future order Rolling stock: Olympic deadline governs TGV M rollout SNCF unveils TGV-M livery Brakes and HVAC ordered for next-generation TGV First TGV M unveiled by Alstom and SNCF

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Transportation

Conlio raises €6.4M to automate freight document checks

Berlin-based Conlio announced a €6.4 million ($7.1 million) funding round on Tuesday for software that verifies road freight documents before forwarders pay carriers and invoice customers. Piton Capital led the round. Conlio calls that check one of logistics’ most manual processes and says it slows payments and ties up working capital for forwarders and the carriers they hire. The round comes as weakness in European freight markets led Trimble this week to lower its full-year growth forecast. Haufe Group Ventures joined the round, along with WaVe-X, WALTER GROUP’s venture arm, and F-LOG Ventures, FIEGE’s venture fund. Existing investors System.One, Puzzle Ventures, Booom Ventures, and Yellow also took part. Conlio works with midsize and enterprise road freight forwarders in Germany, the U.K., Spain, and Denmark. Founder and CEO Claudio Consul said context is what has made the check hard to automate. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1', [[300, 100], [320, 50], [728, 90], [468, 60]], 'div-gpt-ad-1709668545404-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1709668545404-0'); }); “Freight is one of the world’s largest industries, and digitalization has transformed large parts of it. But the industry is full of edge cases and decisions that depend on context, which has made true end-to-end automation difficult with traditional software. AI changes that,” Consul said in the release. How forwarders check freight paperwork European road freight runs on the CMR consignment note. Under the 1956 CMR Convention, the note confirms the contract of carriage and is made out in three original copies signed by the sender and the carrier. Before a forwarder pays a carrier or bills a customer, it checks that the CMR, the proof of delivery, and the carrier’s invoice are complete and correct, according to Conlio. Those documents arrive in different formats and languages, often carry handwritten notes, and are checked against rules that vary by customer, route, and geography. A single CMR can carry up to four dates, recording when it was issued, when the goods were collected, when they were delivered, and other events in transit. Conlio’s software works out which event each date refers to, then checks it against that shipment’s requirements. What Conlio claims for forwarders Conlio says it can automate more than 90% of freight document checks. By the company’s estimate, the software can raise a forwarder’s EBIT by up to 30%, or more than €1 million a year for a forwarder with €100 million in revenue. But the release does not name customers, disclose revenue, or say how those figures were measured. It also cites a €430 billion European road freight market, a 2025 forecast from Transport Intelligence. The firm’s European Road Freight Transport 2026 report puts the 2025 figure at €440.4 billion and projects 1.6% growth this year. What drew Piton and WaVe-X Piton Capital investor Michael Macklin pointed to the team’s grasp of the problem. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot3', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0'); }); “What we liked most about Conlio and Claudio was that they know the problem inside out, from the perspective of their customers, while also having the technologist’s insight on how it can be done differently,” Macklin said. Consul was previously senior vice president of product at sennder, a Berlin digital freight forwarder valued at more than $1 billion in 2021. The company said he helped build sennder’s product organization as it grew from 200 to more than 1,000 employees. Thomas Muscher, managing director at WaVe-X, said AI “is moving from pilot projects into the core processes of freight forwarding,” and that the finance back office is one of the areas “where the impact is most immediate.” Conlio plans to use the money to build out its logistics technology team and expand across Europe. “Our long-term ambition is to change how money moves across supply chains, and verified freight documents are where this begins,” Consul said. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot4', [[300, 100], [320, 50], [728, 90], [468, 60]], 'div-gpt-ad-1709668086344-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1709668086344-0'); }); Why it matters: Two logistics groups’ venture arms now back the idea that forwarders can hand most document checks to software and invoice customers faster. Until forwarders using it report results, the 90% automation rate and the EBIT gains are Conlio’s own estimates. The post Conlio raises €6.4M to automate freight document checks appeared first on FreightWaves.

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Transportation

October truck transportation jobs = September truck transportation jobs

The number of workers employed in truck transportation in October was unchanged from September. That end result in the October report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released Friday, came from two developments. First, the BLS revised downward its initial figure on truck transportation jobs in September to 1,471,300 from 1,473,100. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1', [[300, 100], [320, 50], [728, 90], [468, 60]], 'div-gpt-ad-1709668545404-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1709668545404-0'); }); And then the BLS’s estimate of truck transportation jobs for October came in at the same number as the revised September figure. In the last 10 years of data provided by the BLS, it’s the first time in that span that truck transportation jobs were unchanged month-to-month after revisions. Given that the September figure can be revised one more time before the broader full-year revisions released with the January report, and October can be revised two more times, the parity between the two months might not hold. Data for August had its final revision for 2026. The BLS dropped the estimate for truck transportation jobs in August by 100. With the latest revisions, the notable development that occured last month, where truck transportation jobs were more than they were a year earlier, is no longer in place. Last month was the first time since early 2023 that truck transportation jobs were up year-on-year. But October 2026 jobs are 1,600 jobs less than they were a year ago. Warehouse was quiet too window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot3', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0'); }); The lack of big movement in logistics jobs could also be seen in warehouse employment. Those figures are often subject to more volatile movement than truck transportation jobs. But in October, they were only down 300 jobs from September. Where the volatility reared its head again was in the revisions. The initial report for September put warehouse jobs at 1,831,800 jobs. But the latest revision significantly increased that number, putting it at 1,839,700 jobs. With an almost 4,000 job upward revision for August figures, warehouse jobs in October were essentially unchanged over the prior 12 months. The figure for October 2025 was 1,839,900 jobs, just 700 jobs more than where they came in for October 2026. No big shift in subsectors window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot4', [[300, 100], [320, 50], [728, 90], [468, 60]], 'div-gpt-ad-1709668086344-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1709668086344-0'); }); In truck transportation, the subsectors also did not move much. Data for specific subcategories within truck transportation showed little change. They are published on a one-month lag. According to the BLS, truckload jobs fell 500 jobs in September from August, coming in at 502,800 jobs. They have been on a small month-to-month climb since March, but that comes after declines in late 2025 and early 2026. The end result is that the 502,800 jobs in September were just 1,500 jobs more than they were a year ago. LTL jobs followed a similar pattern but with more growth. The 249,500 LTL jobs reported by the BLS for September were 2,200 jobs more than they were a year ago, but were a significant gain over the recent cyclical low of 243,600 jobs reported in February. Long-term, the data provided by BLS goes back 10 years. And it shows that in September 2016, LTL jobs were 247,400 jobs, which means the industry has added just 2,100 jobs in ten years. Capacity not coming back window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot5', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767778941-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1665767778941-0'); }); Jason Miller, a professor of supply chain management, saw in those relatively flat numbers for truckload an indication that “any rebound in capacity is very slow at best.” However, looking to the report that will be issued in February with the full year revisions, Miller said in an email to FreightWaves that he thinks changes in the basic model will result in figures on truckload employment to be revised downward, “based on the more comprehensive administrative records.” “With this said, the data suggest that amongst establishments that are responding to the BLS survey, we aren’t seeing further declines in capacity,” Miller added. The broader numbers with their flat month-to-month figure, Miller said, carries a message that “capacity amongst reporting establishments has likewise halted the downward slide and is effectively moving sideways, neither expanding nor contracting.” window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot6', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767872042-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); setInterval(function() { if (!document.hidden) { googletag.pubads().refresh([gptSlot]); } }, 60000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1665767872042-0'); }); Mazan Danaf, the principal economist at Uber Freight said he expects the annual revisions to be “substantial.” “Although the BLS data is directionally meaningful, we continue to advise caution due to upcoming annual benchmarking against )thje Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages) data, which will likely result in substantial revisions,” he said in an email to FreightWaves. “We expect the updated figures to reflect a sharp drop in Q1 2026 employment driven by regulations, followed by a recovery across Q2 and Q3.” More articles by John Kingston Teamsters say they’ve organized Amazon employees in Indiana; company demurs TFI chief Bedard rips into its US LTL operations, promises change Transportation committee in House set for overhaul post-election The post October truck transportation jobs = September truck transportation jobs appeared first on FreightWaves.

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Transportation

Mexico widens US trade lead with record $96.3B September

Mexico remained the United States’ largest trading partner in September, with two-way commerce surging 34.2% year over year to a record $96.34 billion. According to the latest trade data analyzed by WorldCity, Canada ranked second with $64.78 billion in two-way trade, followed by China at $41.1 billion. Mexico accounted for 17.15% of total U.S. international trade during September. U.S. imports from Mexico totaled $62.24 billion, up 39.6% from $44.58 billion a year earlier. American exports to Mexico increased 25.4% to $34.09 billion, compared with $27.2 billion in September 2025. The figures reflect a sharp acceleration in cross-border commerce, particularly for manufactured goods, electronics and transportation equipment. Mexico’s trade growth also outpaced the broader U.S. international trade market, which increased 21.8% year over year to $561.82 billion in September. The U.S. merchandise trade deficit with Mexico reached approximately $28.15 billion for the month, based on the difference between reported imports and exports. September 2026: Top US trading partners Laredo reclaims top US trade gateway ranking Laredo, Texas, regained its position as the nation’s busiest international trade gateway in September, handling $38.87 billion in two-way commerce, a 31.2% increase from $29.63 billion a year earlier, WorldCity reported. The South Texas border crossing overtook Chicago O’Hare International Airport, which fell to second place with $36.08 billion in trade, down 17.9% year over year. The Port of Los Angeles ranked third at $28.31 billion, followed by the Port of Houston at $22.72 billion and Los Angeles International Airport at $22.53 billion. Laredo accounted for 6.92% of all U.S. international merchandise trade in September. Imports through Laredo totaled $26.87 billion, a 40.8% increase from the same month last year. Exports through the crossing rose 13.8% to $12 billion. Mexico accounted for $38.05 billion, or approximately 98%, of Laredo’s total international trade during the month. The September figures marked the highest trade value for Laredo for that month since at least 2013, according to WorldCity’s historical data. Texas border crossings post strong gains Other U.S.-Mexico border crossings also reported significant trade growth in September. The Ysleta-Zaragoza International Bridge in El Paso, Texas, handled $16.23 billion in total international trade, an increase of 53.5% year over year. The Santa Teresa border crossing in New Mexico recorded $7.54 billion in trade, a nearly 248.5% increase from September 2025. Trade through the Otay Mesa crossing in California reached $6.02 billion, up 5.9%, while Eagle Pass, Texas, handled $3.97 billion, a 5.8% increase. The Pharr International Bridge in South Texas recorded $3.91 billion in commerce, up 7% year over year. Why it matters: Mexico’s expanding share of U.S. trade reinforces its role in North American manufacturing and logistics as companies navigate shifting trade policies and supply chain strategies. The post Mexico widens US trade lead with record $96.3B September appeared first on FreightWaves.

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Transportation

North America container imports rise 9% as as freight pricing pressures mount

Global container volumes reached 17.35 million TEUs in September 2026, up 8% from a year earlier, as trade remained resilient despite mounting disruption and rising freight prices. Monthly liftings fell 1.4% from August, although the decline followed the highest monthly volume recorded in the Container Trade Statistics database. Year-to-date volumes remained 5% above the same period in 2025, maintaining the growth rate seen since June. North American imports increased 9% year-on-year, driven primarily by cargo originating in Asia and Europe. That marked an acceleration from the 7% annual growth recorded in the second quarter, extending the region’s recovery following weaker performance earlier in the year. For the third quarter, global container volumes totaled 52.2 million TEUs, an increase of 2.4% from the second quarter. The gains came as the industry continued to face geopolitical disruption, capacity constraints and higher operating costs. The Global Price Index rose to 123 points in September, up 5.1% from August and 62% above its September 2025 level. The increase pointed to pressure on container shipping even as cargo volumes continued to expand. Disruption to major shipping routes, constrained capacity and higher operating costs continued to influence pricing. The ongoing Persian Gulf crisis, constraints surrounding the Panama Canal and pressure on shipping capacity added to the difficult operating environment. Port congestion and high terminal utilization also threatened to limit the industry’s ability to clear backlogs and keep cargo moving efficiently, CTS said. Every region recorded higher imports in the third quarter than in the same period of 2025. The Indian sub-continent/Middle East also returned to quarterly year-on-year import growth following disruption earlier in 2026. Although the increase amounted to only about 6,600 TEUs, it represented an improvement from the second quarter, when imports fell 12%. Export performance was less uniform. The Indian sub-continent/MidEast and North America were the only regions to record year-on-year declines in the third quarter, with volumes falling 7% and 1%, respectively. Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa posted the strongest percentage growth, each recording an 8% increase. Strong cargo flows between the two regions contributed to their respective gains. European exports rose 3% from the third quarter of 2025, supported by increased shipments to most destination regions. However, the gap between the region’s inbound and outbound trade persisted. Europe imported approximately 1.5 containers for every container exported over the year to date. Why it matters: Container trade remains strong, but freight prices are up 62% year on year as disruption and capacity constraints put continued growth under pressure. Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here. Read more: Maersk raises profit outlook as earnings surge, but shares slide on expectations miss Asia-US container rates hold as carriers seek $3,000 November rate hikes ONE lifts profit forecast to $2 billion as earnings surge Successful quarter at Expeditors boosted by hyperscaler business New survey finds AI rush isn’t boosting ports earnings The post North America container imports rise 9% as as freight pricing pressures mount appeared first on FreightWaves.

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Transportation

Lucid teases its cheaper sub-$50,000 Cosmos EV in new video and images

Lucid has released a new teaser video of what looks like the Cosmos, its upcoming sub-$50,000 midsize electric SUV and the car that’s supposed to turn Lucid into a volume automaker. The clip gives us the clearest look yet at the Cosmos’ lighting, front and rear, after months of camouflaged prototype sightings. But the car itself is still about a year away. more…

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Transportation

Maersk eyes trade in deals for more than 50 terminals

A.P. Moller Capital is expanding its international ports portfolio through agreements to buy Singapore-based Portek International and a majority stake in Euroports, adding exposure to container terminals and the infrastructure that moves Europe’s industrial and agricultural commodities. The infrastructure investment manager and sister company to the Danish liner operator agreed on October 15 to acquire 100% of Portek from Japan’s Mitsui & Co. through its Emerging Markets Infrastructure Fund II. The announcement came less than three weeks after its September 28 agreement to acquire control of Euroports through a separately managed investment vehicle. Financial terms were not disclosed. Both transactions remain subject to closing conditions and approvals. The acquisitions extend A.P. Moller Capital’s strategy of investing in essential trade infrastructure, broadening its exposure to the terminals and logistics networks that move industrial and agricultural commodities as well as containers. Euroports strengthens its European bulk and breakbulk presence, while Portek adds a geographically dispersed terminal network across Africa, Asia and Europe. The agreements follow A.P. Moller Capital’s investment in Spanish port and logistics operator Berge, extending a portfolio assembled through stakes in established operating companies. Portek has interests in seven terminals across Africa, Asia and Europe, giving A.P. Moller Capital additional exposure to container, vehicle and multipurpose cargo operations. Its portfolio spans Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Latvia, Malta and Vietnam, alongside port engineering and maintenance services. “Portek is a strong fit with our investment strategy and active owner philosophy,” Semih Gokmen, a partner at A.P. Moller Capital, said in the acquisition announcement. “It is an established business with a diversified portfolio of port operations serving important trade flows across three continents, supported by experienced local operating teams.” The Euroports transaction would bring majority ownership of a network of more than 50 deep-sea and inland terminals across 10 European countries and China. The business handles more than 70 million metric tons annually, in the bulk and breakbulk supply chains serving agriculture, manufacturing and other industries. Its network includes operations in Belgium’s Antwerp-Bruges, Rostock, Germany; Venice, Italy, and Port-la-Nouvelle in France. The A.P. Moller group’s main U.S. port interests are through Maersk’s APM Terminals, whose network includes four operating container terminals in Los Angeles, Elizabeth, N.J., Mobile, Ala.,, and Miami. APM Terminals also announced an initial $500 million investment commitment for the development at Louisiana Gateway Port. Belgian investment institutions SFPIM and PMV will remain shareholders in Euroports. The incoming ownership group plans to support management’s expansion of the company’s activities, geographic footprint and customer base while retaining its existing governance framework and strategic direction. “In a changing world, resilient supply chains and secure trade flows are increasingly essential to economic stability and growth,” A.P. Moller Capital chief executive Kim Fejfer said when announcing the Euroports agreement. He described the company’s infrastructure as underpinning European industry, food systems and manufacturing. Why it matters: The deals would put an extensive network of trade infrastructure under Moller investment management, representing a substantial expansion in the footprint behind global trade. Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here. Read more: Maersk raises profit outlook as earnings surge, but shares slide on expectations miss Asia-US container rates hold as carriers seek $3,000 November rate hikes ONE lifts profit forecast to $2 billion as earnings surge Successful quarter at Expeditors boosted by hyperscaler business The post Maersk eyes trade in deals for more than 50 terminals appeared first on FreightWaves.

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