Transportation

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Railcar Market: Fleet Shrinks as Demand Rises (2026 Outlook)

#fwtv_D7EfEs84Cng .fwtv-panel{border:1px solid #d0d0d0;padding:18px;border-radius:6px;line-height:1.6}#fwtv_D7EfEs84Cng .fwtv-panel p{margin:0 0 12px}#fwtv_D7EfEs84Cng .fwtv-note{font-style:italic;color:#666;margin-top:16px;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #e0e0e0}The North American railcar market faces growing uncertainty, with fleets shrinking despite healthy carload volumes. Eric Marchetto, EVP & CFO of Trinity Industries, breaks down why current build rates are below replacement levels, leading to a tighter market. Learn how tariffs, interest rates, and a surprising trade complaint are impacting fleet planning decisions and what this means for future rail service consistency.The North American railcar fleet is contracting at a time when freight demand is strengthening, a combination that Eric Marchetto, executive vice president and CFO of Trinity Industries, says could soon force shippers and lessors into new builds at elevated prices. Association of American Railroads data released this week showed total North American carloads up 1.6% in week 39 year over year, while intermodal volume surged 6.9%, lifting combined traffic 4.4% above the same week in 2024. Marchetto, who has been at Trinity since 1995, said the industry is on pace to build roughly 25,000 railcars this year while scrapping more than 35,000, leaving the fleet in a net deficit. “We see cars in storage coming out, but we really haven’t seen anybody change their fleet planning yet,” he said, noting that slower train speeds and longer dwell times compound the tightening. The intermodal car segment is already at a six- to seven-year low in storage levels, adding further strain. “I feel like if the pace of railcar loadings picks up, something’s got to give, and it’s going to be people are going to have to add to their fleet, and there’s not a lot of slack in the existing fleet to add to,” Marchetto said. Tariff uncertainty is the primary reason fleet decisions have stalled. Marchetto noted that tariff policies have changed, on average, every week in some form, making capital expenditure planning nearly impossible for industrial shippers. “When you say it could be X, or it could be X plus ten, or it could be X plus twenty-five, and we don’t know, then people tend to wait,” he said. He added that waiting is unlikely to improve economics, as steel costs, interest rates, and lease rates are all trending higher heading into 2026. The trade complaint filed by Union Tank Car — a Berkshire subsidiary and the largest tank car owner in the world — against Mexican-built tank cars adds another layer of pressure. Trinity has manufactured railcars in Mexico since 1998, and Marchetto called the complaint “frustrating,” warning it could raise car prices, push lease rates higher, and intensify inflationary pressures on industrial shippers. Trinity is also investing in expanding its Longview, Texas, facility. Section 232 steel tariffs have already driven up the cost of hot-rolled coil and steel plate, both critical inputs for tank car production. On the traffic side, U.S. carload volume was up 2.4% for week 39 and intermodal was up 7.4%, bringing overall U.S. volume up 5.1% versus the prior year. Chemicals — the largest sector for Trinity’s rail business — were essentially flat at negative 0.1%, a persistent concern for Marchetto. Coal posted a rare weekly gain, though it remains down 3.3% for the year; the uptick likely reflects utilities rebuilding winter stockpiles amid rising natural gas prices, which make coal more competitive. Looking ahead to 2026, Marchetto said he is watching for a broader industrial recovery beyond data-center-driven demand. While data center construction has boosted aggregate and cement shipments, that tailwind fades once facilities are built. Chemical traffic and broad-based manufacturing growth — particularly from onshoring — are the metrics he is most focused on. Surface Transportation Board data showing manifest on-time performance above 85% for Class 1 railroads in late September offered one encouraging signal, though Marchetto stressed that service predictability, not raw speed, is what ultimately drives shippers to choose rail over truck.Trinity Industries projects the industry will build ~25,000 railcars in 2025 while scrapping 35,000-plus, shrinking the North American fleet even as weekly volumes rise sharply.Tariff policy changes averaging once per week are freezing shipper fleet planning decisions, while Section 232 steel tariffs are pushing railcar and lease costs higher.North American intermodal car storage is at a six- to seven-year low; chemical traffic — Trinity’s largest segment — remained flat year over year in week 39.This Summary is generated thanks to a transcription of the interview, for the full interview please enjoy the video above. The post Railcar Market: Fleet Shrinks as Demand Rises (2026 Outlook) appeared first on FreightWaves.

via FreightWaves October 7, 2026

Transportation

Extended Fall Prime Day 2026 Green Deals: EVs, power stations, electric tools, smart devices, and much more [Updated]

Update 10/8: We’re keeping this hub updated for the rest of the week, so all the deals on EVs, power stations, tools, and smart appliances/devices that remain have yet to end. Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days are finally here, and we’ve already been reveling the last week in all the early savings, but things are ramping up even further for the rest of this week. You’ll find a massive collection of deals across all our favorite Green Deal brands – both at Amazon and from direct websites – giving you a great chance at savings on EVs, power stations, electric tools, robots, and much more. It’s all been rounded up together and curated for you below, giving you a one-stop shopping hub for all your needs. Head on down and keep checking back throughout the week as we update this hub. more…

via Electrek October 7, 2026

Transportation

Radiant Logistics’ latest deal expands its bi-modal broker platform

Third-party logistics provider Radiant Logistics announced it has acquired the Dallas brokerage operations of Whitacre Logistics Services. The unit offers intermodal and over-the-road transportation services and will become part of Radiant Road & Rail. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. A portion of the purchase price is tied to future performance goals, which is how most of Radiant’s (NYSE: RLGT) deals are structured. The acquired Dallas operation will continue to be led by Jeff Vielhaber, who will also assume leadership of Radiant Road & Rail’s new independent agent development program. “We are keen to accelerate the growth of our bi-modal brokerage platform and this transaction represents a tremendous opportunity to support the acquired account base with our robust technology platform and an expanded service offering, including domestic and international forwarding, customs brokerage and a range of other value-added services,” said Bohn Crain, Radiant founder and CEO. The Renton, Washington-based company has inked several deals, including acquisitions and agent-station rollups, in recent years. Last year, it acquired a majority stake in Mexico City-based transportation and logistics provider Weport. That deal shortly followed the acquisition of Transcon Shipping, a California-based ocean and air freight forwarder. The new Dallas operation primarily serves customers in the building materials, manufacturing and packaging sectors. “Radiant’s technology platform and deep bench of intermodal experience make them an ideal fit to support the business we’ve built in Dallas,” said Vielhaber. “I’m excited to bring that same customer-first approach to a broader stage, both in continuing to grow our Dallas account base and in helping Radiant expand its agent network across the country.” Why it matters? This acquisition highlights how 3PLs are expanding their capabilities and bundling services. Additionally, it reflects a larger trend of consolidation across the brokerage space. More FreightWaves articles by Todd Maiden: Yellow Corp., Teamsters settle on WARN Act claims LTL survey: Old Dominion, Daylight Transport take home top honors again Transportation prices surge as capacity tightens further in September The post Radiant Logistics’ latest deal expands its bi-modal broker platform appeared first on FreightWaves.

via FreightWaves October 7, 2026

Transportation

Mexico remains top US trading partner as August commerce hits $94.3B

Mexico remained the United States’ largest trading partner in August, as cross-border commerce surged nearly 27% year over year to $94.3 billion. Two-way trade between the U.S. and Mexico totaled $94.29 billion during the month, a 26.75% increase from $74.4 billion in August 2025, according to U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed by WorldCity. U.S. exports to Mexico increased 15.1% year over year to $33.66 billion, while imports from Mexico jumped 34.3% to $60.64 billion. Mexico accounted for 17.4% of total U.S. international trade during August. Canada ranked as the United States’ No. 2 trading partner during the month with $66.27 billion in two-way commerce, followed by China at No. 3 with $35.86 billion. The latest figures extend Mexico’s position at the top of the U.S. trade rankings. Through the first eight months of 2026, U.S.-Mexico commerce reached $682.82 billion, up 17.5% from the same period last year. Canada ranked second year to date at $503.82 billion, while China was third at $257.43 billion. U.S. trade with China declined 12% compared with the same period in 2025. Overall U.S. international trade totaled $540.92 billion in August, including $204.75 billion in exports and $336.17 billion in imports. Laredo retains No. 1 gateway ranking Port Laredo remained the nation’s busiest international trade gateway in August, handling $38.56 billion in two-way commerce, up 28.5% from $30.02 billion a year earlier. Imports through Laredo totaled $26.23 billion, a 33.9% increase, while exports increased 18.3% to $12.34 billion. Laredo alone accounted for 7.1% of all U.S. international trade during the month. Chicago O’Hare International Airport ranked second in total trade during August at $33.4 billion, while the Port of Los Angeles came in at No. 3 at $27.8 billion. Mexico overwhelmingly drives Port Laredo’s freight activity. Trade with Mexico represented $37.62 billion, or about 97.6%, of Laredo’s total August commerce. The figures underscore Laredo’s role as the primary conduit for the rapidly expanding U.S.-Mexico supply chain, especially for finished vehicles and auto parts. Motor vehicle parts were the gateway’s top export commodity in August at $1.33 billion, followed by diesel engines at $441 million. Computer exports through Laredo more than doubled from a year earlier to $370 million. Mexico’s August performance was also the highest for the month in WorldCity data dating to 2013. Why it matters: The sharp growth in cross-border commerce shows the U.S.-Mexico freight corridor continuing to expand despite tariffs and broader trade uncertainty. More FreightWaves articles by Noi Mahoney: TA Services acquires 2 Texas cross-border carriers, adds 133 trucks DP World plots US port comeback with Corpus Christi container terminal FMCSA restores 30-day HOS relief for truckers during emergencies The post Mexico remains top US trading partner as August commerce hits $94.3B appeared first on FreightWaves.

via FreightWaves October 7, 2026

Transportation

The Hidden Cost-to-Serve in Packaged Goods

The Hidden Cost-to-Serve in Packaged Goods explores how these everyday exceptions consume labor, capacity, and coordination, and what leaders can do about them. This G3 Logistics whitepaper offers a practical approach to measuring hidden costs, aligning sales, operations, and finance, and turning recurring workarounds into intentional service decisions. Discover the G3 Exception to Value Framework for deciding when to absorb, redesign, price, or decline a request. Download the whitepaper to uncover hidden costs and make more informed decisions that protect margin and customer experience. window.jotformEmbedHandler("iframe[id='JotFormIFrame-262795572139974']", "") The post The Hidden Cost-to-Serve in Packaged Goods appeared first on FreightWaves.

via FreightWaves October 7, 2026

Transportation

Red dye diesel break is being greeted with a big yawn

The executive order allowing red dye diesel to be used by trucks, along with its lower tax rate, is not being celebrated by the presumed target of the change. Various consumer or consumer-related groups that would be expected to either sell the fuel or use it in their trucks are looking over the complexities of its consumption and throwing cold water on the idea that red dye fuel is going to be a source of price relief for them. By being dyed red, it marks it as a fuel that can be consumed in certain off-road applications, mostly agricultural, and be bought without paying the 24.4 cents/gallon federal excise tax that is levied for over-the-road uses. Lots of unknowns But as Matt Muenster of Breakthrough Fuel noted in a memo to his company’s clients, although the executive order was signed this week, there are still plenty of questions. “Treasury has five days to confirm it has legal authority to grant the deferral,” Muenster wrote. “As of October 6, no IRS implementing guidance has been published, so the relief is not yet operational.” He also says in the note that there is no impact on undyed fuel. A consumer would need to buy red dye fuel to get the break, and that brings up the whole issue of how a retailer is going to segregate out the fuel that carries a tax break from the fuel that doesn’t have that relief. “For most interstate fleets, the practical risk and record-keeping burden outweighs the savings until Treasury and individual states publish clear guidance,” Muenster wrote. Various trade associations in commenting on the executive order also showed little sign they were embracing the shift. ‘Minimal relief’ In the prepared statement released by the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association, president Todd Spencer, after a few sentences bewailing the impact of high diesel prices on independent truckers, downplayed the red dye diesel shift. “OOIDA believes allowing the wider use of red-dyed diesel will provide minimal relief,” he said. “Market stability is essential to bring down costs for the long haul.” The “practical risk” Muenster referred to could be seen in an advisory sent out by the joint National Association of Truckstop Owners and the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers Association (NATSO/SIGMA). It said the executive order “is mainly a farm-hauling measure.” While diesel-consuming equipment on the farm already would be using red dye diesel to avoid the excise tax, that also means that red dye diesel is already being stored separately. That means, NATSO/SIGMA said, that “it lets agriculture and other related businesses with their own bulk dyed storage put that fuel into trucks and haul commodities or equipment during harvest.” Needs its own distribution system The NATSO memo then went on to note the practical difficulties the sale of red dye diesel would encounter once it went into the broader market outside the confines of a farm. “Selling dyed fuel at scale requires dedicated equipment and enough dyed supply at the rack,” the group said in a note to its membership. “Neither marketers nor commercial trucking companies are eager for the supply chain to reconfigure itself in order to accomplish this.” There also is the issue that various states have taken different paths on red dye diesel, with some of them allowing it and others giving it a waiver for over-the-road use. “Truck drivers travel through multiple states in a given day; untaxed fuel purchased in one state doesn’t mean the driver can avoid liability in states that do not waive enforcement,” NATSO said. “Ultimately, for most marketers, the liability and customer risk outweigh any temporary, uncertain benefit.” Or as Breakthrough’s Muenster said in his company’s summary of the change, “Federal relief does not make dyed fuel legal on-road in any state that has not acted.” A 24 cents per gallon on a base price in excess of $6 reveals a math that is not likely to be worth the effort, NATSO said. The executive order says the tax will be “deferred,” and the White House will look at ways to eliminate any liability. But Breakthrough’s Muenster was skeptical that sort of dispensation could be pulled off. In his report, on what the tax break means for fleets, Breakthrough said “No forgiveness has been granted. Plan as if the deferred tax will be owed.” The organization did say the Trump executive order was a “bona fide attempt” to bring price relief. But it doesn’t change the underlying supply/demand dynamics. The American Trucking Associations’ chief advocacy & public affairs officer Henry Hanscom issued a similar sentiment in that group’s statement on the executive order, saying the ATA “appreciates” the effort. The ATA did not get as deep into the details as NATSO/SIGMA. But it expressed concern with the current uncertainty of how the change will work. “The practical details here matter,” Hanscom said. He mentioned the deferral with no current forgiveness, and noted that the implementing guidelines from the IRS still have not been published. “Carriers need clear federal and state guidance on eligibility, reporting, and any taxes that remain payable,” Hanscom said. Supply and demand still triumph Both NATSO and ATA said the basic problem is supply and demand. “It does not change the broader supply picture that is causing high diesel prices in the first place,” the NATSO note to its membership said. “Even if market participants respond exactly the way the Administration wants, the underlying supply picture remains the same: Diesel inventories remain low, the war in the Middle East continues to constrain trade flows of both diesel and crude, and the Ukraine-Russia conflict is precluding Russian diesel from entering the global market.” Even if all those problems of bookkeeping and state conflicts could be resolved, Breakthrough’s Muenster said in his report that it will run up an important barrier: the infrastructure to sell red dye diesel on the road doesn’t exist. “Most truck stop highway lanes do not dispense dyed fuel, so the practical opportunity for OTR fleets is small,” the report said. More articles by John Kingston FMCSA’s Elison: ‘weeks’ away from fixing Motus user experience Wall Street analysts positive on C.H. Robinson deal; S&P more cautious Cybersecurity portal to fight bad guys open for business: NMFTA The post Red dye diesel break is being greeted with a big yawn appeared first on FreightWaves.

via FreightWaves October 7, 2026

Transportation

Tesla Cybercab loses its entire door panel in a Philadelphia crash

A Tesla Cybercab was involved in a crash in Philadelphia this week, and it came out of it missing the entire outer panel of its driver-side door. We don’t know who was at fault or whether Tesla’s software was driving. But Tesla has no permit to run automated vehicles in Pennsylvania, and that narrows down what this car was doing on Broad Street. more…

via Electrek October 7, 2026

Transportation

Tesla Semi lands 50-truck order from drayage carrier IMC

IMC Logistics is adding 50 Tesla Semis to its California fleet, putting Standard Range models in port drayage and Long Range models on lanes between Southern California and inland destinations. The intermodal drayage provider announced the order in a release on Sept. 22. It did not disclose how many of each model it ordered or when all 50 trucks will enter service. Jim Gillis, Pacific Region president at IMC Logistics, said in the release that the company is taking a blended approach to sustainability in its drayage operations. “The addition of 50 Tesla Semis strengthens that strategy as well as allows IMC to establish zero-emission service for long haul lanes,” Gillis said. 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]); } }, 30000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1709668545404-0'); }); The Standard Range Semi is rated for 325 miles and the Long Range for 500 miles at 82,000 pounds fully loaded, according to Tesla specifications announced during its inauguration event at its Semi factory in Sparks, Nev. The 1.7 million-square-foot plant is designed to build 50,000 trucks a year. DHL, PepsiCo and US Foods took early deliveries. The IMC announcement comes against a backdrop of growing Tesla Semi orders for drayage applications. WattEV ordered 370 Tesla Semis in May to run from its charging stations at the Port of Oakland and Fresno, with the first 50 due in 2026 and full deployment by the end of 2027. In September, Tesla was named primary manufacturer on a 2,500-truck electric order through ZET SCALE, a shipper-carrier alliance whose founding shippers include Microsoft and PepsiCo. Los Angeles is among the 10 freight hubs that order targets first. Hydrogen trucks already in the fleet These EV trucks will augment an existing mixed fleet. IMC runs battery-electric, hydrogen fuel-cell and renewable-diesel trucks in California. In March 2024, the company bought 50 Nikola hydrogen fuel-cell trucks with a 500-mile range to expand its service area, and it was running Volvo battery-electric trucks at the time, CCJ reported. Gillis called the strategy a “blended approach to investing in both electric and hydrogen.” Tesla’s Long Range Semi is rated for the same 500 miles on a battery. Nikola filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2025. By late June of that year, 40 of IMC’s 50 Nikola trucks were running and 10 were offline, Gillis told Transport Topics. He said the price of hydrogen had climbed from $7.50 to $29 per kilogram. “Our commitment was to keep the trucks running. So, we took it on the chin with the increased fuel cost,” Gillis told the publication. IMC’s sustainability page lists a goal of replacing all of its diesel tractors in California by 2028. 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]); } }, 30000); }); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0'); }); Brian Kobza, chief commercial officer at IMC Logistics, wrote in a LinkedIn comment that electric trucks may not fit every Class 8 application today but “are proving viable in specific use cases where the infrastructure and incentives align.” He said IMC’s West Coast deployments show zero-emission trucks can work in drayage with the right operating model, charging network and financial support. “The future of trucking is likely a mix of diesel, electric, and hydrogen, each solving different problems,” Kobza wrote. “The key is letting operational results, not ideology, drive adoption.” The post Tesla Semi lands 50-truck order from drayage carrier IMC appeared first on FreightWaves.

via FreightWaves October 7, 2026

Transportation

Prime Day-2 Green Deals: New low prices on Jackery and Bluetti power stations, Anker security devices up to 50% off, ECOVACS, more

It’s the second and last day of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days event, and we’ve got another deal-packed smorgasbord of Green Deals for you, with all the others we couldn’t fit here collected into our Fall Prime Day Green Deals hub here. Starting off today’s edition is Jackery’s full Fall Prime Day Sale with up to 65% discounts and bonus savings codes, with it offering the 3,584Wh HomePower 3600 Pro Max Power Station at a new $1,664 low, while Bluetti has a number of units at up to 50% off, including the 1,024Wh Elite 100 V2 Power Station at $449. There is also the MASSIVE array of Anker security device deals at up to 50% off starting from $18 for some of the best prices we’ve seen yet, as well as ECOVACS’ O1000 and A2000 LiDAR Pro Robot Lawn Mowers at new lows starting from $949. We also have more on Segway’s Max G2 e-scooter, a new low price on a carbon-fiber EGO Multi-Head Combo kit, a roundup of all the Worx tool deals, Beatbot’s returning low prices on robot pool cleaners, Anker’s Nebula portable projectors, and more. Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories. more…

via Electrek October 7, 2026

Transportation

Porsche says Boxster goes all-electric in 2028, but 911 ‘never’ will (yes it will)

Porsche has finally confirmed that there will be no more gas-powered Boxster/Cayman going forward, and that all-electric versions of those vehicles will have their first production year in 2028. The move shows that Porsche is finally ready to bring electric power to its sportscars… but Porsche’s CEO still says the 911 will “never” go electric. We think time will show him to be wrong on that one. more…

via Electrek October 7, 2026