Sethmar Transportation

10/30/2026

Halloween may be one night, but the freight behind it moves for months.

The National Retail Federation expects U.S. Halloween spending to reach $13.5 billion in 2026, including billions spent on candy, costumes, and decorations. Nearly half of shoppers started buying Halloween items in September or earlier.

For transportation and supply chains, that means seasonal demand starts well before October 31. Retailers and suppliers are moving everything from candy and costumes to displays, decor, packaging, and replenishment inventory long before trick-or-treaters hit the streets.

It is a good example of how consumer demand can create freight movement weeks or even months before the actual holiday. Have a safe and Happy Halloween from Sethmar!

10/28/2026

An active DOT number and an established operating history are important checks, but they may not tell the full story.

A recently announced federal cargo-theft case alleges that criminals purchased or assumed control of established motor carriers, then used their DOT numbers, email accounts, and trusted reputations to secure legitimate freight. At least 24 loads were allegedly stolen.

Read more here: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/millions-in-stolen-freight-reveal-a-weakness-criminals-keep-exploiting

For shippers and brokers, the takeaway is not to disregard carrier history. It is to verify that the people behind that history have not changed unexpectedly.

Recent changes to ownership, contact information, insurance, banking details, drivers, or equipment should be independently confirmed before freight is released. Carrier vetting is not simply a box to check once. It must continue through every handoff.

From a $12 million cargo theft scheme to fraudulent shipment diversions, recent cases reveal a recurring weakness. The question is whether your team knows how to recognize it before freight moves.

10/22/2026

A reminder that safety on the road is everyone's responsibility. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance recently released results from its 2026 Operation Safe Driver Week, which took place in July across North America.

During the initiative, law enforcement interacted with more than 8,000 drivers, issuing nearly 4,000 warnings and over 2,600 citations. Speeding was once again the most frequently cited unsafe driving behavior.

The findings are an important reminder for both commercial drivers and passenger vehicles. Staying alert, maintaining safe speeds, and being mindful of the vehicles around us can make a difference.

At Sethmar, we know how important safe roads are to the drivers, carriers, and communities who depend on them every day.

Read more here: https://cvsa.org/news/2026-osd-week-results

10/20/2026

Not every shipment needs a full truck. For smaller freight shipments, less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping can be a practical option. Instead of paying for an entire trailer, shippers share space with other freight moving through the carrier's network. But choosing between LTL and full truckload isn't just about shipment size.

Delivery timelines, handling requirements, freight dimensions, and overall cost all play a role in determining the best fit. As freight conditions continue to shift, understanding your shipping options can make a difference in both efficiency and cost.

At Sethmar, we're here to help customers navigate those decisions and find transportation solutions that make sense for their freight.

Learn more: https://sethmar.com/spotlight-on-less-than-truckload-ltl/

10/15/2026

October is Manufacturing Month, and while much of the attention is on the products being made, there's another important part of the process: getting those products where they need to go.

From raw materials arriving at production facilities to finished products making their way to warehouses, distributors, and customers, transportation plays an important role at every stage.

At Sethmar, we're proud to support the manufacturers, shippers, and transportation partners who help keep supply chains moving. Here's to the people and businesses making things happen, both on the production floor and on the road.

10/13/2026

A story from 2013 has recently been making its way around social media again, and we thought it was too good not to share!

Truck driver Jim Lowe spotted a vehicle connected to an AMBER Alert while traveling on Interstate 24 in Tennessee. Rather than pursuing the vehicle himself, he alerted other truck drivers nearby, who worked together to slow the vehicle until authorities could intervene.

Thanks to their quick thinking and teamwork, 2-year-old Cael Whitehead was safely recovered.

It's a powerful reminder that truck drivers do so much more than keep freight moving. They're also looking out for the communities they travel through every day.

We're proud to be part of an industry filled with people who step up when it matters most.

A 2-year-old was in that car. Truckers boxed it in.

A 2-year-old boy was taken from his home and driven nearly 200 miles. Jim Lowe heard the Amber Alert, spotted the car on Interstate 24, checked the plate, and radioed truckers ahead.

They moved their semis around the car, boxed it in, and slowed it from highway speed until police could reach them.

Officers arrested the driver and found 2-year-old Cael Whitehead inside, safe.

They had never met that boy. They just refused to let the car get away.

10/08/2026

Freight volume may be softer in parts of the market, but that doesn’t automatically mean capacity is opening up or costs are coming down.

Newly released September data shows transportation capacity contracted for the tenth straight month, while transportation prices remained elevated. Higher operating costs and a smaller pool of dependable carriers continue to put pressure on the market, even without a major increase in freight demand.

For shippers, early planning still matters. Accurate shipment details, realistic pickup and delivery windows, and clear communication can make a real difference when capacity is limited.

At Sethmar, we keep a close eye on changing market conditions so our customers can plan with a clearer picture of what’s ahead!

Read more here: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/transportation-prices-surge-as-capacity-tightens-further-in-september

The September Logistics Managers’ Index showed significant tightening in transportation capacity while pricing surged.

09/30/2026

The best carrier relationships are built on more than just moving freight.

At Sethmar, we want our carrier partners to succeed too. That means helping connect them with good lanes and opportunities, while building the kind of consistency, capacity and service our customers can count on.

When both sides bring value to the relationship, that’s where long-term partnerships are built.

09/25/2026

October 1 is next week, and Q4 has a way of getting busy fast. Holiday schedules, changing order volumes, weather, and year-end deadlines can all add pressure to a freight plan.

The best time to talk about those changes is before the freight is sitting on the dock. If you’re expecting higher volumes, need extra coverage on certain lanes, or know your shipping schedule will look different over the next few months, let’s start that conversation now.

The earlier we know what’s coming, the more options we have to build a plan around it: https://sethmar.com/contact-us/

09/22/2026

Cooler weather doesn’t mean temperature control stops mattering.

Fall can bring chilly mornings, warm afternoons, and changing conditions along a shipment’s route. Your freight still needs to stay within its required temperature range from pickup to delivery.

At Sethmar, that means matching shipments with the right refrigerated equipment and carefully vetted carrier partners, with temperature monitoring when required and backup cold-storage options if something goes wrong.

Re**er season doesn’t end when summer does.

Learn more about our cold chain capabilities: https://sethmar.com/spotlight-on-cold-chain-capabilities/

**erFreight