UNION PACIFIC, NORFOLK SOUTHERN FILE HISTORIC STB MERGER APPLICATION
The railroads formally submitted a comprehensive plan to the Surface Transportation Board to create the first coast-to-coast U.S. freight railroad, a move that could reshape intermodal flows and competition with trucking if approved.
BNSF CEO SAYS UP-NS RAIL MERGER REMAINS A ‘SIGNIFICANT THREAT’ TO ECONOMY, CONSUMERS
BNSF doubled down on opposition to the proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern deal, warning it would reduce competition and raise rates, and arguing the plan doesn’t meet the STB’s strengthened merger standards.
UP-NS MERGER PLAN TOUTS 10,000 NEW SINGLE-LINE LANES, SHIFT OF 105K TRUCKLOADS TO RAIL
In their filing, UP and NS project major network efficiencies that could pull 105,000 annual truckloads off highways, while giving shippers 10,000 single-line service options that bypass key interchange bottlenecks like Chicago.
MAERSK ASIA–US VOYAGE SUCCESSFULLY TESTS RED SEA TRANSIT; NO FULL RETURN YET
Maersk completed a Red Sea transit on an Asia–U.S. loop but stopped short of committing to regular Suez routings, keeping supply chains in a wait-and-see posture on potential ocean-transit time and cost relief heading into 2026.
JUDGE LETS EEOC CASE OVER DEAF TRUCK DRIVER APPLICANT PROCEED
A federal judge denied summary judgment for a carrier accused of rejecting a deaf driver application, allowing the EEOC’s case to move forward and spotlighting compliance risks around driver qualification practices.
FEDEX EXPECTS GROUNDED MD-11S BACK BY SPRING; TEMPORARY COSTS MOUNT
FedEx said grounded MD‑11 cargo jets should return to service in the spring, but near‑term peak operations are absorbing extra costs and workarounds as the parcel giant navigates the busy holiday period.
GROUNDED MD-11S COULD COST FEDEX $175 MILLION DURING PEAK, CFO WARNS
Amid better‑than‑expected quarterly earnings, FedEx said the MD‑11 grounding is adding roughly $175 million in peak‑season costs, forcing more truck moves and leased lift while pressuring near‑term profit targets.
FEDS BLOCK CALIFORNIA FROM ISSUING CDLS TO THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANT DRIVERS
USDOT halted California’s plan to resume issuing commercial licenses to immigrant drivers with work permits, leaving an estimated 20,000 drivers in limbo and intensifying state–federal tensions over credentialing and safety enforcement.
DAT: NOVEMBER TRUCKLOAD VOLUMES HIT 2025 LOW EVEN AS SPOT RATES TICK HIGHER
DAT reported double‑digit month‑over‑month drops across van, reefer and flatbed TVI in November, while spot rates edged up; analysts say a seasonal December lift must carry into 2026 to signal a true turn in the cycle.
NWS: WYOMING’S I-80 CLOSURE EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING AMID HIGH WINDS, WHITEOUTS
The National Weather Service relayed WYDOT guidance that long stretches of I‑80 remain closed due to extreme winds and blizzard conditions, with reopening not expected until Friday morning—disrupting holiday freight schedules across the corridor.
USPS: SHIPPING DEADLINES ARE NEAR, BUT ‘WE STILL DELIVER’ DURING PEAK WEEK
USPS reminded shippers and consumers that even as send‑by dates arrive, the Postal Service is staffed and ready to handle last‑minute parcels, sharing tips to pack properly and “skip the line” for on‑time delivery.
FMCSA RENEWS HEARING EXEMPTIONS FOR 21 COMMERCIAL DRIVERS
A Federal Register notice renews hearing exemptions, allowing 21 hard‑of‑hearing and deaf drivers to continue operating CMVs in interstate commerce, with public comments due in January 2026.
FMCSA RENEWS HEARING EXEMPTIONS FOR 13 COMMERCIAL DRIVERS
In a separate notice, FMCSA extended hearing exemptions for another 13 drivers, underscoring ongoing pathways for qualified deaf and hard‑of‑hearing professionals to remain in the interstate driver pool.
NYC BILL TARGETING AMAZON’S LAST-MILE OPERATIONS WON’T ADVANCE IN 2025
A New York City “Delivery Protection Act” aimed at licensing and policing last‑mile facilities—seen as focused on Amazon—won’t get a hearing this year, punting potential new compliance burdens for parcel and final‑mile carriers to 2026.
STATE OF FREIGHT: SURPRISING YEAR-END TIGHTENING AS SPOT RATES CLIMB
FreightWaves’ year‑end webinar highlighted a sudden uptick in demand and rising spot prices, with tender rejections jumping as seasonal surges, weather, and regulatory enforcement squeeze capacity heading into 2026.
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