Regional Economic Indicators (Southeast Focus)
PE firm Open Road Ventures acquires intermodal 3PL Double-Stack (Freightwaves)
Summary: Private equity firm Open Road Ventures has acquired Double-Stack Logistics, an intermodal 3PL that owns over 150 containers and maintains direct relationships with Class I railroads. The deal, terms undisclosed, marks Open Road’s first acquisition in a strategy to consolidate small- and mid-size freight brokers. Double-Stack plans to expand its service portfolio and North American footprint, leveraging PE backing to convert project-based intermodal work into steady, consistent opportunities. The acquisition signals a targeted roll-up approach in the intermodal brokerage space, with Open Road indicating a pipeline of further deals.
Why it matters: For the Southeast, this acquisition could accelerate modal shift from truck to rail for regional freight, potentially easing congestion on I-75 and I-85 corridors while concentrating intermodal capacity in key logistics hubs like Atlanta, Savannah, and Chattanooga.
Context: Intermodal 3PLs typically operate asset-light, but Double-Stack’s owned container fleet and direct railroad relationships give it a structural advantage in converting non-traditional freight to rail. Open Road’s stated goal of aggregating ‘like-minded’ brokers suggests a consolidation wave that may reshape competitive dynamics in the fragmented mid-market brokerage sector.
"“We take items that typically don’t ship intermodal and work with the railroads to come up with a plan to shift and move that product from over the road to intermodal,” said Joe Kolb, Double-Stack founder and CEO." — FREIGHTWAVES
Commentary: The PE-backed roll-up model here is notable for its focus on intermodal specialization rather than general brokerage. If Open Road successfully aggregates multiple niche brokers, the combined entity could gain pricing leverage with railroads and shippers alike, potentially squeezing smaller independents. For Southeast logistics operators, this may mean fewer but more powerful intermodal partners to negotiate with, and a gradual shift in how regional freight moves between ports and inland distribution points.
Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:53:32 +0000
URL: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/pe-firm-open-road-ventures-acquires-intermodal-3pl-double-stack
AI Sentiment Score: Positive (60%)
AI Credibility Score: 10.0/10 — High
Scores and text generated by AI analysis of the source article indicated.Texas drops ban on commercial drivers licenses for temporary farm workers (Freightwaves)
Summary: Texas has resumed issuing non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses to H-2A agricultural workers after a suspension triggered by tightened FMCSA rules. The state currently only processes H-2A applicants, with guidance for H-2B and E-2 visa holders pending. This follows a nationwide compliance crackdown that has seen multiple states pause their non-domiciled CDL programs. The FMCSA estimates that 97% of the roughly 200,000 current non-domiciled CDL holders will be unable to renew under the new regulations.
Why it matters: For logistics and agricultural supply chains in the Southeast, this signals a critical bottleneck: the pool of legal foreign commercial drivers is about to shrink by 97%, threatening harvests and freight capacity just as federal audits intensify.
Context: Texas is a major agricultural state and a key node in the Southeast’s freight network. The suspension and now partial resumption of non-domiciled CDLs directly impacts the availability of drivers for seasonal farm work and related transport, especially as other states like California and Pennsylvania also reassess their programs.
"FMCSA projects that about 194,000 of them — 97% of the current total — will be unable to renew under the new rule. As existing licenses expire, the agency expects the non-domiciled CDL population to plunge from roughly 200,000 drivers today to about 6,000 in the coming years." — FREIGHTWAVES
Commentary: The 97% reduction figure is staggering and will create acute labor shortages in agriculture-dependent regions, particularly in Texas and the Southeast. Expect upward pressure on wages for domestic CDL holders and potential disruptions to just-in-time supply chains for perishable goods. The patchwork of state approvals (only nine states so far) will further fragment the labor market, incentivizing drivers to relocate or carriers to restructure routes around compliant states.
Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:39:53 +0000
URL: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/texas-drops-ban-on-commercial-drivers-licenses-for-temporary-farm-workers
AI Sentiment Score: Negative (80%)
AI Credibility Score: 10.0/10 — High
Scores and text generated by AI analysis of the source article indicated.Box rates soar $1,000 in one week on peak rush (Freightwaves)
Summary: Ocean container rates on major east-west trade lanes surged by at least $1,000 per FEU on June 1, driven by early peak season demand tightening capacity on top of elevated fuel costs from the Strait of Hormuz closure. The Iran conflict continues to disrupt global shipping, with MSC confirming a vessel was hit by projectiles near the Persian Gulf. Spot rates from Asia to the West Coast hit ~$3,200/FEU and to the East Coast ~$5,000/FEU, while Asia-Europe rates reached $3,000–$4,400/FEU before the latest spike. Additional GRIs and peak season surcharges from CMA CGM, Maersk, and others are planned for mid-June, pushing rates toward or above last year’s peak levels.
Why it matters: For Southeast ports and logistics hubs, these rate spikes signal imminent cost inflation for importers and potential congestion as peak season arrives earlier than usual, straining already tight capacity.
Context: The Strait of Hormuz closure has kept container rates elevated since March, but the early peak season surge is now compounding pressure, with spot rates on Asia-Europe lanes already surpassing last summer’s highs.
"Ocean container rates on major east-west trade lanes that held steady a week ago spiked by at least $1,000 per forty foot equivalent unit (FEU) on rate hikes and surcharges that took." — FREIGHTWAVES
Commentary: The $1,000/FEU spike in a single week is a clear signal that carriers are leveraging both war-related fuel costs and seasonal demand to reset pricing floors. For Southeast importers and distribution centers, this means higher landed costs and potential inventory delays as space allocations tighten. The early peak season also risks pulling forward holiday cargo, which could compress warehousing capacity in Q4.
Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2026 18:37:44 +0000
URL: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/box-rates-soar-1000-in-one-week-on-peak-rush
AI Sentiment Score: Positive (45%)
AI Credibility Score: 10.0/10 — High
Scores and text generated by AI analysis of the source article indicated.Post ID: 8b38d8d8