Freight Day! 👋 We’re starting the day with strong news for U.S. container imports. In April 2025, container volumes hit 2.4 million TEUs, marking a 1.2% increase from March and a 9.1% jump year-over-year, despite new tariff pressures.

The growth follows the implementation of a 145% tariff on Chinese goods in early April, prompting importers to rush shipments ahead of the deadline. With China still leading as the top source of U.S. imports, this surge reflects continued adjustments in response to changing trade dynamics. More ahead 👇

💬 More in Freight:

⚫️ Driverless Semis At Night Time

⚫️ U.S.-U.K. Trade Deal

⚫️ AI For Truck and Trailer Manufacturing

⚫️ PODCAST: LTL Update, Tariffs, and Freight Talk With Keith Farnsworth

Driverless Semis At Night Time 🤖

Aurora Innovation plans to expand its driverless trucking operations by adding night driving and adverse weather capability in the second half of 2025, the company announced in its Q1 shareholder letter.

The autonomous vehicle firm, which launched its first commercial driverless route between Dallas and Houston, aims to extend service to El Paso and Phoenix. CFO Dave Maday said unlocking night driving could double truck utilization. “We’ll drive efficiency to get as many miles on as many trucks as fast as possible,” Maday told investors.

Aurora has already logged over 4,000 miles of driverless freight with partners Hirschbach Motor Lines and Uber Freight and is now running two autonomous trucks daily, with plans to scale to “tens of trucks” by late 2025.

The update coincided with the resignation of co-founder and chief product officer Sterling Anderson.

Aurora reported $871,000 in pilot revenue, up 22% quarter-over-quarter. Maday said 2025 revenue is expected to be modest—mid-single-digit millions—as operations ramp. The company reported $211 million in Q1 operating expenses, with $153 million for R&D, and ended the quarter with $1.2 billion in cash.

In the near term, Aurora will own and operate its fleet through Uber Freight but plans to transition to a driver-as-a-service model by 2027, partnering with Paccar and Volvo Trucks to scale production.

U.S.-U.K. Trade Deal 🤝

President Trump’s new U.S.-U.K. trade deal offers modest gains but little overall impact, says Andy Abbott, CEO of Atlantic Container Line.

“For most U.K. imports, it’s just noise,” Abbott told CNBC, noting the U.K. won’t ease food standards, keeping U.S. hormone-treated beef off the table. While the deal favors U.K. luxury car brands, Abbott said, “A 10% tariff won’t make buyers swap a Bentley for a Ford.”

Steel tariff adjustments may help U.S. aerospace and auto firms, but Abbott warned U.K. imports will likely get pricier as importers pass along costs. The White House expects $5B in new farm export opportunities and sees the deal as a model for future trade agreements.

TOGETHER WITH TALENTO.

Talento is not just a nearshoring solution – it’s a partner in building and scaling a thriving logistics business. Focused entirely on freight, supply chain, and logistics, Talento offers more than just talent—it provides an entire ecosystem designed to support and optimize growth.

Beyond providing skilled, nearshore professionals, Talento helps diagnose operations, improve processes, and implement the right technology solutions.

Let Talento be the partner that helps build a dream team and scale smarter, faster, and limitless.

What Else Is Moving 🚚

April Imports 🚢

U.S. container imports remained strong in April 2025, hitting 2.4 million TEUs—a 1.2% increase from March and up 9.1% year-over-year—despite new tariff pressures.

The growth comes as the Trump Administration’s 145% tariff on Chinese goods took effect in early April. According to Descartes’ Global Shipping Report, it was one of the strongest Aprils on record.

China remained the top source for U.S. imports, accounting for 33.4% of inbound volume, with shipments rising 5.4% month-over-month. Analysts attribute the spike to importers rushing goods ahead of the April 9 tariff.

“Importers may still be front-loading shipments to beat the tariffs,” said Jackson Wood, Director of Industry Strategy at Descartes.

Sourcing diversification continued, with Vietnam (+32.5%), Italy (+29.9%), and Thailand (+13.4%) all seeing notable growth as U.S. companies seek alternatives to China.

West Coast ports saw a rebound, with Los Angeles and Long Beach volumes up 13.9% and 12% respectively, while East Coast ports like Savannah and Charleston declined—reversing last month’s trend.

Port delays also hit their lowest since Descartes began tracking in 2021. However, some experts, including analyst John McCown, have questioned Descartes’ data accuracy, citing a 4.3% deviation from official port counts last year.

Looking ahead, Wood noted that May figures may better reflect the full impact of the new tariffs, as many April shipments were already en route before they took effect.

FREIGHT SNIPPETS ✂️

⚡️ Manifest Acquired By Hyve | Hyve is entering the supply chain and logistics space with its acquisition of Manifest, a leading industry event that connects the full logistics ecosystem. The deal strengthens Hyve’s portfolio of high-profile events that global businesses rely on for marketing, sales, product launches, and brand positioning. Read more.

🔋 Class 8 Truck Orders | North American Class 8 truck orders plunged in April as market uncertainty grew, ACT Research reported. Preliminary orders fell 52% year-over-year to 7,600 units and dropped 54% from March. It’s the weakest showing since early in the pandemic. Read more.

🔔 Forward Air Q1 | Forward Air posted a narrower Q1 loss as revenue rose 13% to $613.3M, though results missed Wall Street estimates. The company reported a net loss of $61.2M, down from $88.8M a year ago. CEO Shawn Stewart said Forward is focused on long-term growth and has seen early gains from recent pricing adjustments. Ancora Holdings, meanwhile, is pushing to oust board members over the Omni Logistics deal; Stewart defended the board’s strategy. Read more.

🚛 Speed Limiters | A Montana senator has introduced a bill to block the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from mandating speed limiters on heavy-duty trucks. The FMCSA is expected to propose a speed limiter rule for large commercial vehicles in May 2025, but lawmakers aim to halt the move. Senator Steve Daines’ newly introduced Deregulating Restrictions on Interstate Vehicles and Eighteen-Wheelers (DRIVE) Act would prohibit the agency from implementing any such regulation. Read more.

🦾 AI For Manufacturing | Wabash and UP.Labs are partnering to bring advanced AI technology to trailer, truck, and parts manufacturing, the companies announced April 22. The collaboration includes launching a Wabash Venture Lab and two AI-driven startups aimed at streamlining operations and accelerating decision-making for Wabash customers. Initial product capabilities are expected by late 2025. Read more.

🚨 Trimble Revenue Tumbles | Trimble reported Q1 transportation and logistics revenue of $146 million, down 25% year-over-year, though annual recurring revenue grew 7% to a record $459 million. CEO Rob Painter credited strong results from its Maps and Transporeon units, despite the freight recession. Total Q1 revenue was $840.6 million (down 11.8%), with adjusted EPS of 61 cents—beating expectations. Trimble projects Q2 revenue of $815M–$845M and full-year revenue of $3.37B–$3.47B. Read more.

NEW PODCAST 🎧

#82: Keith Farnsworth, CrossCountry Freight Solutions

In this episode, Thomas sits down with Keith Farnsworth to dive into CrossCountry Freight Solutions’ growth journey and innovations, the current landscape of the LTL market, and how tariffs are shaping industry dynamics.

They explore the importance of strong leadership and team development in overcoming challenges, discuss how technology is transforming sales processes, and share Keith’s personal take on where the freight industry is heading next.

🎧 Also available on Apple, Spotify, and wherever podcasts are available.

Pallets of News 🚛

Foreign Drivers Hurting Trucking? 👀

Gerry Reed closed his South Texas trucking company in December, unable to compete with B-1 visa drivers illegally hauling domestic loads in the U.S.

Carriers have long violated cabotage laws by using B-1 visa drivers—meant only for cross-border trips—to haul domestic freight, driving rates down and pushing out U.S. operators. “There’s no competing with B-1 drivers,” Reed said. “They work for less, and it’s impossible to keep up.”

While drivers can legally haul into the U.S. and return to Mexico, many stay to run illegal domestic loads. Some U.S. carriers also exploit the system to save costs.

The American Trucking Associations is urging federal agencies to crack down, warning that misuse of B-1 drivers is distorting the market. Local truckers say enforcement is weak, despite ample state police presence along key freight corridors.

Even Mexican trucking officials admit it’s hurting their own industry, as U.S. firms lure away drivers with much higher wages—$5,000–$6,000 a month versus $1,500 in Mexico.

GXO Logistics Q1 💰

GXO Logistics reported higher revenue but a larger loss in Q1 2025, the company announced May 8.

The Greenwich, Conn.-based firm posted a net loss of $95 million, widening from a $36 million loss a year ago. Revenue rose 21% to $2.98 billion from $2.46 billion.

“GXO delivered a strong quarter,” CEO Malcolm Wilson said, highlighting $228 million in new business wins and a $2.5 billion sales pipeline. He noted a landmark $2.5 billion contract with England’s National Health Service Supply Chain—GXO’s largest to date. The company has also secured $700 million in additional 2025 revenue and $300 million for 2026.

“In a dynamic trade environment, customers rely on GXO’s tech-driven solutions and global scale,” Wilson added.

MEME OF THE DAY 😂

📍 Upcoming: I’ll be in Cincinnati next week, from May 12th to 16th—let's catch up if you're around! Also, catch up with us at Home Delivery World in Nashville on May 21st-22nd. If you’ll be there, let us know—we’d love to connect!