66% of logistics pros say talent quality — not cost — is the #1 factor in choosing a nearshore partner. Rapido's integration model explains why that's the right question to be asking.
Plus, a carrier pleading guilty to mob money laundering while still FMCSA-active, Iran's first post-ceasefire attack and what it means for diesel surcharges, FedEx Freight's first earnings as a standalone company, and more in today's newsletter.
Freight brokers are measuring their inboxes wrong. Most inbound email is monitoring, not work. And the longtail categories that look like noise are costing real margin. Here's how to audit what's actually in your inbox, and why it matters in 2026's margin-first market.
Earlier this month, we reported on the layoff of a significant number of staff at the freight brokerage, Elite Transit Solutions and the issues surrounding the company.
Since then, there have been murmurs about unpaid staff and broken promises. FreightWaves provides a deeper view of what happened after the layoffs.
Elite Transit's Rocky End Elite Transit Solutions, once a thriving freight brokerage in Pittsburgh, is teetering on the brink of collapse. Its CEO, Michael D. Johnson, is holding on amidst financial tumult, leaving ex-employees and carriers unpaid and anxious. The firm's promise of imminent payroll release, as conveyed in Johnson's email, looms against the backdrop of Thanksgiving and Black Friday, leaving many in limbo.
FrerightWaves obtained an email from CEO Michael D. Johnson promising the release of payroll in the next couple of weeks.
Signs of Struggle
Former employees recount ignored red flags and evasive responses from Johnson regarding the company's declining financial health.
An unspecified number laid off via Microsoft Teams, with final paychecks overdue since November 10.
Promises Unkept Those loyal to the company during its last days, buoyed by hopes of a rescue deal, now face the reality of unfulfilled promises and three weeks of unpaid labor. Elite's counsel Kushal Dave denies the collapse of any deal but remains tight-lipped on future plans.
DAT's Role Claims of DAT barring Elite from posting freight due to non-payment complaints add to the turmoil, although Dave disputes this. DAT stresses its commitment to network integrity and the expulsion of fraudulent players.
Human Cost The financial disarray at Elite has had a profound human impact. Stories of truckers struggling to stay afloat, with one carrier even forced to sell personal assets, underscore the gravity of Elite's alleged payment failures. Employees, once hopeful, now grapple with uncertainty and broken trust, compounded by the stressors of the holiday season.
Multiple alerts, like the one below, regarding the company have been floating around the web for months.
Elite Transit Solutions LLC dba ETS – Pittsburg, PA has been reported for non-payment of #freightbills. If they owe you, make sure you reach out today. Call David at 662-258-1916 or Bill at 901-300-7460https://t.co/bNFXNWwAOd via @YouTube
We will just have to wait and see if Elite makes good on its promises, but the whole situation underscores the fragility of trust and the human toll of business mismanagement.
🚨Breaking: In a Microsoft Teams call, Elite Transit Solutions abruptly laid off ~65 employees, silencing their queries and leaving urgent concerns about final wages and vacation pay. With their HR VP’s recent departure, the path to answers is murky. Unpaid carriers since May…
I’m Adriana, a writer and editor at FreightCaviar. I’ve covered everything from freight tech to industry lawsuits and market shifts, helping scale us to almost 14K subscribers. My goal: to make logistics stories digestible, clear, and fun to read.
66% of logistics pros say talent quality — not cost — is the #1 factor in choosing a nearshore partner. Rapido's integration model explains why that's the right question to be asking.
Freight brokers are measuring their inboxes wrong. Most inbound email is monitoring, not work. And the longtail categories that look like noise are costing real margin. Here's how to audit what's actually in your inbox, and why it matters in 2026's margin-first market.
Freight fraud is a multi-billion-dollar problem, and the old verification model is broken. Here’s the new standard every broker needs to build toward in 2026.
Freight AI pilots succeed. Production deployments often don't. Augment CEO Harish Abbott on the change management gap — and what ops leaders need to do before the tech even matters.
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