This week, Chris Caplice is joined by Dr. Jason Miller, Professor of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business, for his fifth appearance on Freightvine.

Chris and Jason break down why they believe the current truckload cycle began in December 2025, why it took a few months to confirm the shift, and why this expansion looks different from past freight cycles.

In this conversation, they cover:

• Why this cycle appears to be supply-driven, not demand-driven
• What spot and contract rate spreads can tell us about market shifts
• How capacity exits, Class 8 orders, and routing guide failures are shaping the market
• Whether the AI boom can deliver real ROI or if the market is getting ahead of itself
• What Michigan’s logistics and supply chain work can tell us about manufacturing, food production, and trade

If you’re trying to understand where truckload pricing, capacity, and freight demand may be headed next, this is a timely conversation with one of the industry’s sharpest data-driven voices.

For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:55 Identifying the Current Truckload Cycle
• 04:16 Market Signals and Transition Points
• 05:53 Comparing Cycles: 2017-2018 vs. 2025
• 09:00 Supply vs. Demand Driven Cycles
• 12:15 Routing Guide Compliance and Market Dynamics
• 16:15 Spot vs. Contract Rates: Current Trends
• 20:38 Economic Factors Influencing Freight Rates
• 22:47 AI and Memory Chip Demand: Future Implications
• 26:10 The Future of AI and Profitability
• 27:23 Electricity Infrastructure and AI's Role
• 29:03 The Cost of AI and Model Maintenance
• 31:28 AI's Impact on Labor and Employment
• 34:04 AI in Academia and Content Creation
• 38:04 The Economics of AI and Cost Structures
• 45:33 Logistics and Supply Chain in Michigan
• 51:09 Freightvine Market Update

The freight industry’s transition to alternative power is firmly in the “messy middle”

This week, Chris Caplice is joined by Mike Roeth, Executive Director of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency, to unpack what that actually means for carriers, shippers, and the broader supply chain.

Mike has been leading NACFE since its early days and brings insights from years of work plus the latest “Run on Less” demonstration and cost analysis on how fleets are navigating this evolving landscape.

In this conversation, they cover:

• Why diesel, BEV, hydrogen, natural gas, and biodiesel will continue to coexist
• Where battery electric vehicles are gaining traction first (regional + drayage)
• What NACFE’s latest “Run on Less” data reveals about real-world adoption
• Why there’s no single “winner” in the near-term transition
• How carriers and shippers can make practical decisions amid uncertainty

If you’re trying to make sense of where freight energy is headed next, this one’s worth a listen.

For previous episodes and to subscribe to our newsletter, visit: dat.com/podcast/freightvine

A unanimous Supreme Court decision could have major implications for freight brokerages🚨

Chris Caplice is joined by Ken Adamo, Chief Strategy Officer at Ease Logistics, to break down the Montgomery case and what it means now that brokers can be held liable for negligent carrier hiring.

⚖️ Why this ruling could reshape broker liability
📈 The potential impact on insurance costs
🚛 How small and mid-sized brokers may be affected most
🔍 Why carrier vetting is now under a bigger spotlight
🛠️ The tools and practices brokers may need moving forward

If you work in brokerage, shipping, or carrier operations, this is a conversation worth paying attention to.

Find previous episodes 👉 https://bit.ly/42HyzRg