Eric Bratton
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China’s Fuel Export Halt Raises the Stakes of a Possible U.S. Diesel Ban—What Changes a Shipper’s Bill?
China’s reported fuel-export halt raises global supply risk. FIR separates policy, fuel benchmarks and the contract terms that change freight invoices.
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October Freight Outlook: Truck Volumes Soften, Air Cargo Tightens—and Cheap Capacity Is No Safe Assumption
Softer truck tonnage is no guarantee of cheaper freight. FIR’s October outlook separates fuel, linehaul, rail growth and tightening air capacity—and sets out mode-specific buying decisions.
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The $30 Billion U.S.–China Tariff ‘Cut’ Is Not Yet a Rate Cut—What Shippers Should Measure Now
The U.S. and China identified $30 billion of goods each for possible tariff relief—but no rates or effective date are final. Here is how shippers should measure exposure before changing…
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Port Authority Says JFK Barges Replaced 250,000 Truck Trips—What Made the Shift Work?
The Port Authority says JFK barges replaced 250,000 truck trips. FIR examines the 12-acre logistics site, batch risk and five gates for project-freight redesign.
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Parcel Peak Fees Begin Before Black Friday—UPS Today, FedEx Domestic Monday
UPS domestic demand fees begin Sept. 27, FedEx follows Sept. 28, and USPS prices change Oct. 4. Audit package attributes, stacked charges and volume baselines.
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A Flat Global Container Index Hid an 8%–9% Rise on U.S. Import Lanes
Drewry’s global container index barely moved in three weeks, while Shanghai–Los Angeles and Shanghai–New York assessments rose 8%–9%. FIR shows how to match contract benchmarks, quotes and sailings before Q4…
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BNSF’s $1.3 Million Shuttle Bids Put Grain Shippers’ 2027 Utilization to the Test
BNSF’s yearlong shuttle bids averaged $1.3 million while near-term premiums fell. FIR examines the utilization, contract eligibility and shipment-volume tests behind a sound 2027 capacity commitment.
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Freight AI’s Trust Test: Who Saves Time—and Who Does the Extra Work?
Freight AI can save a broker time while creating more work for a carrier. FIR examines the survey evidence and proposes a scorecard for the full transaction.
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Old Dominion’s October 5 Rate Increase: Reprice Your Shipments, Not Just Your Budget
Old Dominion’s October pricing change gives affected LTL shippers a deadline to test actual shipment costs. FIR explains what to rerate, what not to infer, and how to compare alternatives.