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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