Freight Pulse & Law Update: Broker Carrier Lists Cut 77%, Hormuz Traffic Collapses, and a $250K Chicken Heist

Capacity is leaving the truckload market, Hormuz traffic has dropped sharply, and cargo theft keeps proving that carrier vetting is a security function: not just a procurement task.

How serious is the truckload capacity correction?

At Morgan Stanley’s Laguna Conference, Schneider National CEO Jim Filter reportedly said the company cut its approved brokerage carrier list from roughly 60,000 carriers at its peak to 14,000: a reduction of about 77%.

Werner Enterprises also expects the correction to remain in its “second or third inning.” The company projects one-way rate per total mile to rise 10%–13% year over year in the third quarter, with stronger contractual increases likely during the 2027 bid season, which begins within the next 30–60 days.

The result: fewer qualified carriers, longer onboarding cycles, tighter insurance requirements, and higher transport costs. Shippers should evaluate dedicated capacity now instead of waiting for the bid cycle to expose the gap.

What does the Hormuz collapse mean for shippers?

Reuters data showed only three ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, down from 12 the previous day. At the same time, global container schedule reliability fell to just 29.4% in August, with reported average delays of 5.1 days, according to Xeneta.

Plan early:

• Model alternate Middle East routings and contingency lanes.

• Expect higher war-risk premiums.

• Add buffer to customer ETAs.

• Protect inventory for critical SKUs.

Why does cargo vetting matter?

Memphis authorities arrested 13 people allegedly unloading $250,000 of stolen chicken behind an inn. In Nebraska, troopers found approximately $250,000 in stolen commercial speakers inside a semi with false paperwork; the driver fled. Read the Memphis report and Nebraska case details.

For third party logistics providers, identity checks, insurance validation, document matching, and shipment-level visibility must work together.

How can operators improve freight visibility?

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Lanta Logistics also supports Mid-Atlantic fulfillment from its Glen Burnie warehouse, including food-grade warehouse and Hazmat certified 3PL operations. Build visibility before capacity and security risks become service failures.