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Following the breakdown of US-Canada trade talks, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on $27.6 billion worth of US imports, with the list explicitly including aluminum, steel, pulp and paper. The move is expected to impact the highly integrated North American packaging supply chain, with companies and industry associations in fiber, metal and glass segments already voicing their positions.
Advance Auto Parts announced during its August 20 earnings call that it will re-bid all carrier contracts, expecting to work with 70% fewer carriers and generate tens of millions of dollars in cost savings, contributing to margin expansion in 2027. This move is part of its strategy to optimize supply chain efficiency, while the company has completed distribution center consolidation and plans to expand its market hub network.
The Missouri Department of Transportation held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday on I-70 to launch a $33 million truck parking expansion project. The project will add 255 parking spaces, expected to be completed by the end of 2028, and will use federal grants to modernize a 191-mile stretch, expanding two lanes in each direction to three lanes. Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, praised the move at the ceremony as a substantial step toward addressing the long-standing parking crisis.
Behnke Dedicated & Logistics (Battle Creek, Michigan) announced the acquisition of AG Freight (Piedmont, South Carolina), which closed on June 24. Terms were not disclosed. CEO Ben Behnke described the move as giving the company a "true foothold" in the Southeast, with access to the Greenville market and Inland Port Greer. AG Freight provides trucking and brokerage services, with 30 power units and 30 drivers.
Global port operator APM Terminals (part of A.P. Moller-Maersk) announced an additional order of 96 electric terminal tractors from Orange EV for its largest terminal on the U.S. East Coast, the Elizabeth, New Jersey terminal. This follows the company's expansion of a pilot from 20 to 60 units at Pier 400 in Los Angeles, marking the transition of electric terminal equipment from pilot to large-scale deployment.
On August 13, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia announced that a federal grand jury has indicted Diane Marie Poe, 62, on 54 counts related to a tax fraud scheme targeting at least 26 clients, most of whom were independent truck drivers. Poe operated the accounting and tax preparation firm Genuine Financial Solutions and is accused of collecting service fees without fulfilling filing obligations and withholding payroll and trust taxes owed to the IRS. The list of involved companies has been released, and the FBI and IRS urge affected victims to contact the Atlanta office.
The Oregon Department of Transportation stated in a press release on August 19 that the automated oversize cargo permitting and route planning system (ORION), launched in 2025, saved approximately $940,000 in its first year of operation. The system replaced the previous manual review process that relied on paper maps, processing applications instantly and recommending the safest and fastest routes. Although some complex loads or routes still require manual review, the process has been largely automated, notifying road management departments via email for review. This initiative is the result of Oregon's modernization of its oversize permit system following the 2013 Washington state bridge collapse, and it also fills a long-standing gap in the state's automation efforts.
Canada confirmed retaliatory tariffs of up to 50% on US goods, effective Sept. 8, mirroring US Section 338 and 232 levies. The initial list covered steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, electronics, seafood, and pulp and paper, but seafood and fish were removed on Wednesday. A $7.5 billion support package for affected businesses was also announced.
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, a case involving the scope of freight brokers' liability in carrier selection. The ruling could clarify the applicability of federal preemption, affecting freight brokers, carriers, and the supply chain nationwide. Industry warns that if the plaintiff prevails, it could marginalize small carriers, raise costs, and trigger legislative ripple effects.
AI-generated content is surging across social media, with LinkedIn and X most affected. Platforms like Pinterest and Reddit are fighting back, while Meta pushes AI tools despite user resistance. The trend raises fundamental questions about the future of social interaction online.