The final Transfix Take of the year arrives at the peak of chaos — and opportunity — in the freight market.
This week, Jenni Ruiz and NFI’s market expert Justin Maze break down one of the most volatile December surges we’ve seen since the pandemic era. With spot rates spiking, winter weather wreaking havoc, and carriers finally regaining the upper hand, Maze walks listeners through what’s driving the sudden escalation — and what it means as we head into 2026.
Jenni and Maze take you region by region across the U.S. to unpack:
• Why national spot rates are climbing faster than expected, with a potential 20¢ jump by New Year’s
• How winter storms and rollover freight are creating a ripple effect across long-haul and cross-country lanes
• The Midwest’s shocking 5%+ breakouts and what’s behind the biggest surge of any region
• Capacity tightening on the West Coast despite minimal weather disruptions
• The looming non-domicile CDL rulings that could reshape Q1 and Q2 capacity
• Whether this is officially the start of the carrier “revenge market”
Maze also shares his early forecast for 2026 — including how January sets the tone, why a 5–8% annual rate increase is firmly on the table, and what brokers must do now to keep carriers aligned heading into the new year.
It’s our last episode of the year — and one of the most insight-packed.
If you’re a freight broker, shipper, or anyone navigating transportation volatility, this is the year-end debrief you don’t want to miss.
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Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.
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The final Transfix Take of the year arrives at the peak of chaos — and opportunity — in the freight market.
This week, Jenni Ruiz and NFI’s market expert Justin Maze break down one of the most volatile December surges we’ve seen since the pandemic era. With spot rates spiking, winter weather wreaking havoc, and carriers finally regaining the upper hand, Maze walks listeners through what’s driving the sudden escalation — and what it means as we head into 2026.
Jenni and Maze take you region by region across the U.S. to unpack:
• Why national spot rates are climbing faster than expected, with a potential 20¢ jump by New Year’s
• How winter storms and rollover freight are creating a ripple effect across long-haul and cross-country lanes
• The Midwest’s shocking 5%+ breakouts and what’s behind the biggest surge of any region
• Capacity tightening on the West Coast despite minimal weather disruptions
• The looming non-domicile CDL rulings that could reshape Q1 and Q2 capacity
• Whether this is officially the start of the carrier “revenge market”
Maze also shares his early forecast for 2026 — including how January sets the tone, why a 5–8% annual rate increase is firmly on the table, and what brokers must do now to keep carriers aligned heading into the new year.
It’s our last episode of the year — and one of the most insight-packed.
If you’re a freight broker, shipper, or anyone navigating transportation volatility, this is the year-end debrief you don’t want to miss.
--
Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.
Supply Chain Decoded | Feat. Jack Pendergast, City Harvest
Transfix
40 minutes 19 seconds
1 month ago
Supply Chain Decoded | Feat. Jack Pendergast, City Harvest
In this episode of Supply Chain Decoded, Jenni sits down with longtime friend and former Transfixer, Jack Pendergast, now Associate Director of Logistics at City Harvest, New York City’s first and largest food rescue organization. Together, they trace Jack’s journey from brokerages and fine art freight to purpose-driven logistics—moving millions of pounds of food and essentials to New Yorkers who need it most.
Jack pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to keep a city fed: timing deliveries to food pantries with limited storage, navigating NYC traffic with a veteran union driver fleet, and managing peak season as holiday demand, marathons, and food drives all collide. He also shares how City Harvest is responding in real time to crises like government shutdowns—getting fresh food to military families, TSA workers, and other federal employees missing paychecks.
They dive into why people, not just KPIs and tech, are the real backbone of any supply chain—from drivers and warehouse teams to community partners—and how City Harvest is thoughtfully modernizing its tech stack without losing sight of its mission: rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste and getting it into the hands of New Yorkers for free.
Listen in to hear:
• How Jack’s brokerage background prepared him for nonprofit logistics
• What makes food rescue and produce logistics uniquely challenging
• Why relationships with drivers and community partners make or break operations
• Simple ways you (and your company) can support City Harvest this season
Plus, learn how you can get involved in giving back during this holiday season.
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Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.
Transfix
The final Transfix Take of the year arrives at the peak of chaos — and opportunity — in the freight market.
This week, Jenni Ruiz and NFI’s market expert Justin Maze break down one of the most volatile December surges we’ve seen since the pandemic era. With spot rates spiking, winter weather wreaking havoc, and carriers finally regaining the upper hand, Maze walks listeners through what’s driving the sudden escalation — and what it means as we head into 2026.
Jenni and Maze take you region by region across the U.S. to unpack:
• Why national spot rates are climbing faster than expected, with a potential 20¢ jump by New Year’s
• How winter storms and rollover freight are creating a ripple effect across long-haul and cross-country lanes
• The Midwest’s shocking 5%+ breakouts and what’s behind the biggest surge of any region
• Capacity tightening on the West Coast despite minimal weather disruptions
• The looming non-domicile CDL rulings that could reshape Q1 and Q2 capacity
• Whether this is officially the start of the carrier “revenge market”
Maze also shares his early forecast for 2026 — including how January sets the tone, why a 5–8% annual rate increase is firmly on the table, and what brokers must do now to keep carriers aligned heading into the new year.
It’s our last episode of the year — and one of the most insight-packed.
If you’re a freight broker, shipper, or anyone navigating transportation volatility, this is the year-end debrief you don’t want to miss.
--
Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Transfix, Inc. or any parent companies or affiliates or the companies with which the participants are affiliated, and may have been previously disseminated by them. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are based upon information considered reliable, but neither Transfix, Inc. nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such. All such views and opinions are subject to change.
