Stolen Cruiser Collision, Courts Protect Brokers, DHL Expansion and More...

Highway 50 Police Pursuit Ends in Fiery Crash

On June 20, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) were called to assist the Otero County Sheriff's Office in a police pursuit on Highway 50. The suspect, Anthony Alphonso Sanchez III, intentionally caused multiple crashes before being forced off the road using a PIT maneuver. Although handcuffed in the backseat of a CSP cruiser, Sanchez managed to crawl into the front seat and steal the car, initiating another pursuit along Highway 50. Stop sticks were deployed multiple times in an attempt to stop him. Eventually, Sanchez struck a set of stop sticks, lost control, and collided with a parked semi truck on the side of the highway. The crash caused the cruiser to catch fire. While Sanchez initially survived the crash, he later died in the hospital. The truck driver stated that he was shaken but not injured.

Federal Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Freight Brokers in Insurance Claim Dispute

A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of freight brokers, stating that an insurance company cannot pursue a claim against a transportation broker if the broker unknowingly hired a fraudulent motor carrier that disappeared with a shipper's load. The court rejected the argument that a federal exemption provision of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act allows negligence claims against brokers based on carrier selection. The decision was seen as good news for the brokerage industry, but it creates a split with a previous ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. The case involved Landstar Ranger Inc., and the court found that the claim against the broker for negligent selection of a motor carrier is preempted by the FAAAA. However, clarity could come from the U.S. Supreme Court if an appeal is sought. The case revolved around Landstar mistakenly turning over a shipment to a thief posing as a registered carrier, who stole the shipment. The court noted that states cannot regulate interstate commerce, and the broker's duty is not to do the FMCSA's job of determining carrier eligibility.

DHL eCommerce Solutions Doubles Size of Orlando Facility

DHL eCommerce Solutions has expanded its facility in Orlando, Florida, doubling its size to 129,000 square feet. The $15.4 million investment includes automation features such as last-generation line sorters and sliding shoe sorters from NPI, capable of processing over 28,000 parcels and packages per hour. The expansion also involves a seven-year lease, office upgrades, and more. DHL eCommerce Solutions in Orlando primarily handles the shipping of parcels weighing five pounds or less for various B2B online retailers, offering services such as Expedited Max, Expedited, and Ground shipping. The expansion aims to accommodate the growing e-commerce volume and support both existing and new customers. DHL has been making strategic investments to meet the rising demand in e-commerce and recently relocated its St. Louis e-commerce facility to Kansas City, Missouri.

Spot Market Fails to Ignite Around July 4th

The spot market is experiencing a lackluster year without sustained momentum, according to industry analysts. Spot rates have struggled to gain traction since hitting a bottom four weeks ago, and the increase in rates during the produce season has been lower than expected. While there have been some upticks in spot rates since May, experts believe it is more due to seasonal volatility than a fundamental shift in market conditions. Reports suggest that the bottom of the spot rate down cycle was likely reached in April, but elevated Class 8 build rates will limit immediate upside potential. The freight market appears to be close to balance, with labor capacity tightening as some fleets shrink or exit the industry. The expectation is for spot rates to continue hovering near the bottom, with seasonal fluctuations but no sustained elevation until a market disruption occurs. While there is still sufficient freight to be moved, carriers need to run efficiently in the current market conditions. Some anticipate a potential seasonal bump into the holidays, but not as high as previous years. The hope is that as carriers leave the industry and demand picks up during peak shipping, back-to-school, and holiday retail seasons, there will be more loads than available trucks, leading to a turnaround in the market.

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