The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association

September 25, 2026

Invest in Your Professional Growth at the
Fall Meeting
October 26 – 29, 2026
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Join leaders from government, military, and industry at the 14th Annual NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting, October 26-29 in Grapevine, Texas, at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Conference Center. Engage with these leaders and all Fall Meeting attendees around the 2026 theme “Delivering Hope, Projecting Lethality – Theater to Globe”, and be part of reinforcing the critical role transportation and logistics plays in supporting both mission readiness and humanitarian response efforts around the world. 

The NDTA-USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting will feature keynote, fireside chat, and roundtable sessions,Transportation Academy, networking opportunities, meetings, and a dynamic exhibit hall.  Visit the NDTA website for the evolving agenda and register today. […READ MORE…]

Boeing and Korean Air Finalize Record 103-Aircraft Order

Korean Air finalized an order for 103 Boeing aircraft valued at $36.2 billion at list prices. The purchase includes 20 777-9s, 25 787-10s, 50 737-10s and eight 777-8 Freighters. Aviation analysts estimated the aircraft’s current market value after customary discounts at approximately $12.6 billion. The broader $44.8 billion investment package also includes spare engines and long-term engine maintenance. Korean Air said the aircraft will support fleet modernization and expansion following its integration with Asiana Airlines, with approximately 80% replacing existing aircraft. (Reuters, Sept. 16, 2026).

FAA Waiver Preserves Production of 35 Boeing 777 Freighters

The Federal Aviation Administration approved a waiver allowing Boeing to sell 35 additional 777F freighters after new aircraft-emissions standards take effect Jan. 1, 2028. The waiver permits sales through 2030, helping bridge the production period before the next-generation 777-8F is expected to enter service around 2029. Boeing said losing that production could have reduced U.S. exports by more than $15 billion. The FAA estimated the additional aircraft could increase global freighter operations by approximately 2% and fuel consumption by approximately 8% compared with 2024 operations. (Reuters, Sept. 17, 2026).

FedEx Consortium Clears Key Threshold InPost Acquisition

A consortium led by FedEx and Advent International secured tenders for 89.81% of InPost’s shares, exceeding the 80% minimum required for its approximately €7.8 billion — or $8.95 billion — all-cash acquisition offer. The new acceptance level represents a substantial step toward completing the transaction announced in February. InPost operates one of Europe’s largest automated parcel locker networks, with operations in nine countries. Following completion, the company is expected to retain its name, management and Polish headquarters while delisting from Euronext Amsterdam. (Reuters, Sept. 18, 2026). 

High Diesel Prices Shift Freight from Trucks to Union Pacific

Union Pacific said rapidly rising diesel prices are prompting some shippers to transfer freight from trucks to rail, increasing demand for the railroad’s intermodal services. The company reported paying approximately $5.25 to $5.30 per gallon for diesel, well above its projected third-quarter average of $4.25. Despite pressure on operating costs, Union Pacific said industrial shipments and intermodal traffic remained strong and that it had not yet seen significant freight-demand destruction. The development illustrates how energy costs are changing mode-selection decisions across domestic supply chains. (Reuters, Sept. 16, 2016).

Maersk Consolidates Rotterdam Calls for Transatlantic Service

Maersk consolidated the import and export Rotterdam calls of its TA3 Europe–North America service into a single call at the APM Maasvlakte II terminal. The change took effect immediately and does not alter the remainder of the service rotation. Maersk Fredericia was scheduled to become the first vessel using the consolidated arrangement, arriving Sept. 21 and departing Sept. 23, followed by SFL Hawaii. Combining the calls should simplify terminal handling and improve operational coordination for cargo moving through the Rotterdam gateway. (Maersk, Sept. 15, 2026).

Please join NDTA in welcoming two new Sustaining Members.

Atomus CMMC

Atomus is a U.S.-based cybersecurity service provider specializing in aerospace and defense, helping organizations meet stringent compliance standards like NIST 800‑171, DFARS 7012, and CMMC.

Point of Contact

Joel Joseph, Co-Founder of Atomus
Email: joel@atomuscyber.com
Website: http://atomuscyber.com

Packard Transport, LLC

Since 1989, Packard Transport has built a reputation as a trusted, high-quality truckload carrier serving customers nationwide. With a commitment to owner-operator excellence and strong Agent partnerships, Packard continues to deliver safe, reliable, and customer-focused freight solutions.

Point of Contact

Raymond Machlowski, Vice President of Sales
Email: ray.machlowski@packardtransport.com
Website: http://www.packardtransport.com

Missed a great NDTA conference or meeting session — or ready to revisit one? Check out NDTA’s video archives to find standout sessions that feature ideas, expertise and perspectives from leaders and experts across the defense transportation community.

In her 2026 GovTravels keynote, Travel Readiness: Powering the Mission, Lauren Concklin, Deputy Director of Travel & Director of GO.gov, General Services Administration, emphasizes that federal travel is not a support function, but a critical component of mission readiness. She frames travel as operational infrastructure that enables deployments, training, disaster response, and national security activities. CLICK HERE TO WATCH!

Good ideas don’t have an expiration date. Revisit a Defense Transportation Journal article from the NDTA archives and discover insights that resonate with today’s challenges.

Union Pacific plays a critical role in U.S. defense logistics, moving military equipment, supplies, and other essential cargo across its rail network. In his article, Railroads and Readiness: A Legacy of Service and Strength, Kenny Rocker, Executive Vice President – Marketing and Sales, Union Pacific Railroad, explains how infrastructure investments, emerging technologies, military partnerships, and the proposed Norfolk Southern merger could further strengthen national readiness.

Today’s USTRANSCOM Cybersecurity Pulse issue examines a rapidly evolving threat landscape spanning national defense, critical infrastructure, financial systems and emerging technology. An AI-enabled phishing campaign reportedly targeted personnel and families connected to 99% of U.S. military bases, while NATO allies disrupted an alleged Russian operation to sabotage subsea cables in Arctic waters. The Treasury Department is urging banks to report cyber-enabled scams more aggressively after nearly $13 billion in losses since 2023.

Cybercriminals are also refining their tactics. Microsoft identified increasingly sophisticated invoice scams and passkey-themed phishing attacks designed to compromise cloud accounts and steal data. Meanwhile, Revolut disclosed that customer records were released after attackers submitted fraudulent requests through a legitimate government email domain. An Iran-linked group claimed responsibility for an AT&T outage in Texas, although the company attributed the disruption to attempted cable theft.

Elsewhere, the White House plans to expand its water-sector cybersecurity pilot to other critical infrastructure sectors, and the NSA is reorganizing around five mission centers, including cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. This issue also explores debate over slowing AI development, Hanwha’s real-time satellite-intelligence platform and expanded intermodal service connecting Charleston and Huntsville. CLICK HERE!

Editor’s Picks

Freight Begins Shifting from Highway to Rail as Diesel Costs Climb

Union Pacific said sharply higher diesel prices are beginning to push freight from trucks to rail as shippers seek more fuel-efficient transportation. Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Hamann said the mode shift is adding to improved rail demand. The development could affect routing decisions, intermodal volumes and transportation costs for commercial and government shippers. Railroads generally can move one ton of freight farther on a gallon of fuel than trucks, giving intermodal service a widening cost advantage when diesel prices rise. (Reuters, Sept. 16, 2026).

Strait of Hormuz Traffic Remains Far Below Recent Average

Only four commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Sept. 17, compared with a 10-day average of 16, according to preliminary Kpler data. The vessels included two Panamax tankers, one Supramax and one Kamsarmax. Three liquefied natural gas vessels reappeared outside the strait, suggesting limited movement may be resuming, while some ships continued to turn off tracking systems. Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait also remained below its recent average. The disruption affects energy shipments, vessel availability, insurance exposure and logistics planning through two important maritime chokepoints.  (Reuters, Sept. 18, 2026).

Container Carriers Add More Red Sea and Suez Services Despite Security Risk

Ocean carriers are returning additional services to the Red Sea and Suez Canal despite continuing security concerns near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd plan to return four more services to the corridor after restoring two. MSC, Cosco, OOCL and CMA CGM also have resumed or are considering additional Suez transits. The change could shorten voyages, release vessel capacity and reduce costs compared with routing ships around Africa. Sea-Intelligence cautioned that renewed attacks could force carriers to reverse course, leaving shippers exposed to another round of diversions and schedule changes.  (The Wall Street Journal, Sept. 15, 2026).

Saudi Export Disruption Cancels Cargoes and Pushes Oil Above $100

Crude loadings stopped at Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu terminal after an attack disrupted the East-West Pipeline, prompting the cancellation of shipments to Europe. West Texas Intermediate crude closed at $105.83 per barrel and Brent at $108.75. The pipeline became a primary export route after traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was severely restricted. U.S. officials estimated that repairs could take days or weeks. The disruption threatens as much as 4% of global oil supply and is likely to raise bunker fuel, diesel, jet fuel and transportation costs across military and commercial logistics networks.  (Reuters, Sept. 15, 2026).

Freight Shipments Post First Annual Increase in 42 Months

The shipments component of the Cass Freight Index increased 2.1% from August 2025, ending 42 consecutive months of year-over-year declines. Seasonally adjusted shipments rose 5% from July, reversing most of the declines recorded during June and July. The expenditures index climbed 19% year over year and 6% from July on a seasonally adjusted basis. Cass estimated that overall freight rates rose approximately 1% during the month. The report cautioned that the rebound does not yet establish a sustained recovery, but the figures provide shippers and carriers with an important signal about demand, capacity and transportation spending. (Cass Information Systems, Sept. 16, 2026).

Germany Authorizes First Driverless Truck for Regular Freight Service

Einride has placed Germany’s first fully autonomous, cabless truck into regular operation on public roads under a permit from the Federal Motor Transport Authority. The electric Level 4 vehicle is carrying goods for Lidl between a warehouse, distribution center and retail location without a safety driver aboard. The operation is expected to expand into a multi-stop delivery network. Germany’s authorization moves autonomous trucking beyond a controlled demonstration and into a daily commercial freight operation in Europe’s largest road-freight market. It also establishes a regulatory precedent for using driverless vehicles to address driver shortages and operating costs. (Autoweek, Sept. 16, 2026).

Fuel Shock Forces Major U.S. Airlines to Cut Planned Capacity

American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines are reducing planned flight schedules as higher jet-fuel prices increase operating costs. American estimated that its fourth-quarter fuel expense has risen by approximately $1 billion. United has canceled some December flights and warned that additional reductions could follow. Southwest cut its planned 2026 capacity growth by half and may make further adjustments. The airlines said travel demand remains strong, including corporate demand, but less-profitable routes are most vulnerable. The reductions could tighten seat availability and increase fares for government and corporate travelers during late 2026 and 2027.  (Reuters, Sept. 16, 2026).

Software Defect Behind Outage that Canceled 2,000 UK Flights

A software defect in the United Kingdom’s air traffic control system caused an outage that led to approximately 2,000 flight cancellations. NATS Chief Executive Martin Rolfe said a high-priority request interrupted the system’s normal aircraft-identification process, activating backup procedures and reducing airspace capacity. Safety was not compromised, but airlines and passengers experienced widespread disruption and financial losses. NATS has introduced interim safeguards and is testing permanent correction. The British government has called for an independent review, while airlines are seeking stronger accountability after another major air traffic disruption. (Reuters, Sept. 18, 2026).

U.S. Airlines Oppose Air China Request for Additional Flights

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, through Airlines for America, have opposed Air China’s request to operate additional flights from Beijing to New York and Washington. The U.S. carriers argue that Chinese airlines retain an unfair cost and scheduling advantage because they can use Russian airspace, while U.S. carriers must fly longer routes. They asked the Transportation Department to treat the proposed flights as limited charters rather than additions that could support future scheduled service. The decision could affect international capacity, competition, fares and official travel between the United States and China. (Reuters, Sept. 18, 2026).

Corporate Air Trips Increase Again as August Demand Holds

The number of air trips sold by corporate travel agencies and settled through Airlines Reporting Corp. increased year over year in August, extending the recovery in managed business travel. The results provide travel managers with a current measure of corporate demand as airlines prepare schedule reductions in response to higher fuel costs. Continued growth in corporate trips, combined with tighter capacity, could place upward pressure on negotiated fares and reduce availability on heavily traveled business routes. The findings are relevant to government and corporate travel programs preparing budgets and supplier negotiations for 2027. (Business Travel News, Sept. 18, 2026).

FEMA Kicks Off National Preparedness Month

(www.ready.gov) The 2026 National Preparedness Month theme of FEMA’s Ready Campaign is  “Americans Stand Ready.”  The campaign empowers Americans to take charge of their own readiness by creating an emergency plan to keep their families safe and their neighborhood and communities more resilient—before, during and after disasters.

2026 National Preparedness Month Partner Toolkit.pdf

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