The tragic UPS MD-11F crash in Louisville on November 4 has already claimed 14 lives. Now it is delivering a second, slower-moving shock to global air cargo: an indefinite grounding of one of the industry’s most important widebody freighters. The FAA’s Airworthiness Directive—initially temporary—has hardened into an “undeterminable period” of highly invasive inspections, repairs, and part replacements for every MD-11 and MD-11F still flying. For UPS, FedEx, and niche operator

The U.S. trucking industry is entering 2026 in a holding pattern: not collapsing, but far from thriving. Weak freight demand, lingering tariff-driven cost inflation, and regulatory uncertainty around EPA 2027 have combined to keep fleets in survival mode. Capacity is finally starting to contract after years of oversupply, yet meaningful rate or volume recovery remains elusive through at least the first half of the year. At Gain Consulting, we work daily with fleets, private c

Walmart's latest earnings report isn't just a win for the retail giant—it's a blueprint for how omnichannel logistics can drive explosive growth in a competitive e-commerce landscape. For Q3 FY26 (ended October 31, 2025), Walmart posted a 5.8% revenue increase to $179.5 billion, fueled by a staggering 27% jump in global e-commerce sales. Leading the charge? Same-day delivery, which skyrocketed nearly 70% year-over-year, with 35% of store-fulfilled orders arriving in under thr

The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) released its estimated TransBorder Freight Data for September 2025 today, revealing a notable slowdown in cross-border trade amid ongoing economic headwinds. Total transborder freight between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico clocked in at an estimated $127.8 billion—a 6.2% drop from September 2024. While these figures are preliminary (derived from a four-year average due to data disruptions from the recent government shutdown), t

The holiday peak is officially here. With e-commerce sales projected to jump 12–15% over 2024 and parcel volume expected to shatter records, the major carriers have released their 2025 “ship-by” dates to guarantee delivery by Christmas Eve (Dec 24). Miss these cutoffs and you risk disappointed customers, refund requests, and damage to your brand’s reputation. At Gain Consulting, we’ve helped dozens of retailers and DTC brands shave days off transit times and avoid millions in

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is no stranger to rate adjustments, but the latest proposal for 2026 signals a significant escalation that's set to ripple through supply chains nationwide. With average increases ranging from 5.1% to 7.8% across key services, shippers—especially those in e-commerce and small parcel logistics—face higher costs just as holiday volumes peak. At Gain Consulting, we specialize in helping businesses optimize transportation spend, and these c

In the ever-evolving landscape of global supply chains and economic indicators, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) has released its latest Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) data for September 2025. The numbers paint a picture of deceleration: the Freight TSI fell 2.1% from August 2025, snapping a two-month growth streak, and declined 1.2% year-over-year from September 2024. This downturn extends to the Passenger TSI, wh

The Cass Freight Index®  for October 2025 delivered a sobering snapshot of the freight market: shipments fell 4.3% month-over-month (m/m)  (or **2.1% in seasonally adjusted terms), reversing September's gains, while the year-over-year (YoY) decline widened to 7.8%  from 5.4%. Expenditures dipped 3.9% m/m and turned flat YoY (-0.2%) , implying inferred rates rose 8.2% YoY —largely from shippers consolidating LTL loads into TL to dodge ongoing rate hikes. At Gain Consulting , w

The global freight industry has entered a transformative and unpredictable phase. Escalating U.S. tariffs, near-daily policy shifts, and a lingering freight recession have turned international shipping into a high-stakes game of adaptation and survival. Port volumes surge ahead of tariff hikes, then plummet when the levies hit. Supply chains built over decades are now under pressure to evolve—but most shippers remain frozen, waiting for a stable trade landscape before making

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)  has issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD)  grounding all MD-11 aircraft  worldwide following the November 2, 2025, crash of a UPS cargo jet in Louisville, Kentucky , which claimed at least 14 lives . The incident—caused by the detachment of the left-hand engine and pylon during takeoff —has triggered the most significant air cargo fleet grounding since the 2013 Boeing 787 battery fires. UPS  and FedEx , the primary operato

Fresh data from GenLogs  reveals a 5% drop in active carriers  for the week ending November 5, 2025, and a 7.3% decline  from October 1-31—signs that the trucking industry is turning more confident about a freight market upturn . By tracking unique Department of Transportation (DOT) numbers  via a nationwide camera network on major interstates and highways, GenLogs' metrics suggest carriers are holding back capacity  in anticipation of better rates and volumes, a classic prec

The October 2025 Logistics Manager’s Index® (LMI®)  held steady at 57.4 , signaling continued expansion  in the logistics sector despite cross-pressures: inventory drawdown  and warehousing relief  offset by a sharp rebound in transportation activity . Most notably, Transportation Prices surged +7.5 to 61.7 , flipping the two-month negative freight inversion  as downstream retailers activated holiday inventory flows . At Gain Consulting , we view this as a classic late-cycle

The SMC3 Monthly LTL Executive Briefing  for October 2025 paints a complex picture of the less-than-truckload (LTL) freight market —one characterized by persistent demand softness , elevated pricing , and cautious optimism for 2026 . Despite encouraging macro signals—such as a Q3 GDP estimate of +3.9%  (Atlanta Fed) and a Flash Manufacturing PMI of 52.2 —LTL volumes remain decoupled from economic growth , dragged down by services-heavy consumer spending , inflation-distorted

UPS CEO Carol Tomé  announced a preliminary agreement  with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to restore last-mile delivery support for UPS Ground Saver , the low-cost, slower-speed alternative to standard ground shipping. The deal, expected to finalize in the coming weeks and months, would allow USPS to handle final-mile delivery for Ground Saver packages—reversing UPS’ 2025 decision to pull volume in-house. At Gain Consulting , we see this as a pivotal shift in parcel network

The U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index™ for Q3 2025  reveals a freight market under pressure: national shipments fell 2.9% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ)  and 10.7% year-over-year (YoY) , while spending rose 2.0% QoQ  and -1.7% YoY —a decoupling driven by tighter capacity, higher fuel costs, and regional imbalances. Shipments have now declined in six of the last seven quarters , down over 40% since late 2020 , signaling a prolonged freight recession. At Gain Consulting , we interpre

The freight market showed signs of fatigue in September, with the American Trucking Associations (ATA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index declining 0.9% to 114.2 from August's 115.3—the best month since 2023. Despite the sequential drop, the index rose 0.8% year-over-year, and year-to-date tonnage remains up 0.2%. Not seasonally adjusted, volumes fell 2.6% to 114.7. At Gain Consulting , we analyze these fluctuations to guide shippers and 3PLs toward resilient strategies amid a bifu

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) , the preeminent Class I railroad serving the western, central, and southern United States, has just released its third quarter 2025 earnings report, revealing a remarkable performance that underscores the company's unwavering commitment to operational excellence, disciplined pricing strategies, and forward-thinking strategic initiatives. In a quarter marked by flat shipment volumes across traditional carload and intermodal unit measureme

In a move reflecting ongoing industry pressures, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL), one of North America's premier LTL carriers, has announced a 4.9% general rate increase (GRI) effective November 3, 2025. This adjustment applies to rates under ODFL's existing 559, 670, and 550 tariffs and includes nominal increases in minimum charges for intrastate, interstate, and cross-border lanes. At Gain Consulting , we’re closely monitoring carrier rate actions like this to help o

In a bold move to streamline operations and enhance service excellence, AAA Cooper Transportation (ACT)  is set to unify Midwest Motor Express (MME)  and DHE Transportation (DHE)  under the single ACT brand, effective January 1, 2026 . This strategic consolidation represents a significant milestone in the regional logistics sector, promising greater efficiency, expanded capabilities, and unwavering commitment to customer success. At Gain Consulting , we applaud this visionary

The U.S. transportation sector serves as a critical barometer for economic activity, reflecting shifts in commerce, consumer behavior, and industrial output. The latest Transportation Services Index (TSI)  from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), released for August 2025, reveals a mixed landscape: a slight decline in freight volumes juxtaposed against a rebound in passenger travel. At Gain Consulting, we leverage these insights