Maritime Industry Briefing: Freight Compliance Concerns as Ghost Fleets Migrate to Lighter-Regulated Segments

## Maritime Industry Briefing ### Ghost Fleets Surface in Hotshot and Auto Transport Segments A detailed investigation by FreightWaves has shed light on a growing compliance problem within the North American freight sector, with direct implications for port operators, freight forwarders, and shippers relying on landside transport connections. According to FreightWaves, as regulatory enforcement tightened on long-haul trucking operations, marginal and non-compliant operators did not exit the market as intended. Instead, they migrated into hotshot trucking and auto transport — segments characterised by smaller rigs, less frequent roadside inspections, and lower insurance thresholds. The phenomenon has given rise to what the publication terms 'ghost fleets': operators who remain active in freight markets while effectively operating below the radar of standard compliance frameworks. For the maritime industry, the development carries meaningful operational risk. Port drayage — the short-haul trucking that moves containerised cargo between terminals and inland distribution points — frequently intersects with the hotshot and regional transport sectors. Shippers and logistics managers who rely on spot-market or brokered capacity to clear port cargo may unknowingly engage carriers operating with inadequate insurance coverage, lapsed safety certifications, or unverified driver credentials. The FreightWaves report underscores a structural challenge facing freight regulators: enforcement pressure in one segment can displace risk rather than eliminate it, pushing non-compliant actors into adjacent markets where oversight is lighter. Industry observers note that this dynamic is not new, but the scale of migration following recent long-haul crackdowns appears to have accelerated the problem. For port authorities and terminal operators, the findings reinforce the importance of robust carrier vetting protocols and the use of verified freight intermediaries when arranging landside logistics. Beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) are similarly advised to review their drayage and last-mile carrier qualification standards to mitigate exposure to uninsured or underinsured transport providers. *Source: FreightWaves* --- *Note: Additional items received in this briefing cycle — including a hospitality AI platform launch and airport dining expansions at JFK — fall outside the scope of maritime industry coverage and have not been included in this edition.*