logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2025
38m 53s

How to Move Freight Across the Icy Roads...

bloomberg
About this episode

We're interested in trucking here at Odd Lots. It's one of those industries that can tell us a lot about the economy, both in terms of the short-term cycle, and also long-term structural trends. Of course, we know that the industry is prone to big boom and bust cycles. And Alaska itself -- driven so much by oil and natural resource extraction -- is also known for its boom and bust cycles. So on our trip there, we spoke with Josh Norum, the CEO of Sourdough Express, an Alaska based trucking company that's been around for over a century. We talked about how the business works, the history of the company, the current economic environment, tariffs, and the unique challenge (and opportunity) of moving freight in America's northernmost state.

Read more:
Uber Freight Founder Joins Autonomous Big Rig Startup Waabi
Driverless Trucks Lumber Along With Safety-First Approach

Only Bloomberg - Business News, Stock Markets, Finance, Breaking & World News subscribers can get the Odd Lots newsletter in their inbox each week, plus unlimited access to the site and app. Subscribe at  bloomberg.com/subscriptions/oddlots

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
NYT CEO Meredith Kopit Levien on Running a Media Brand in the Age of AI
In the last decade, the New York Times has remade itself many times over. It has done that through acquisitions (The Athletic, Wirecutter, and the ever-popular Wordle) and by navigating all the different challenges that have emerged in the digital age and now the age of AI. Its v ... Show More
59m 51s
Aug 9
Introducing: Our Town
Our Town from Bloomberg’s Big Take podcast follows residents of Gainesboro, Tennessee, after a group of far-right Christians moves in with plans for a radical social experiment.Listen to Episode 1 on the Big Take.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
1m 52s
Aug 7
How a Sardine Gets From the Ocean to a Can
Just a decade ago, tinned fish was hardly a premium product. Most Americans likely associated cans of tuna with thrift. But that has changed a lot in recent years. The category took off during Covid and now shoppers are shelling out for high end brands like Fishwife. Today's gues ... Show More
57m 47s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2018
Energy: America Needs Truckers
Although the industry is rarely discussed, there’s a 99% chance that almost everything you own spent at least some time on a truck. We discuss how a looming shortage of truck drivers will impact businesses from the energy sector to retail already absorbing the aftermath of tariff ... Show More
27m 17s
Jan 2015
Monster Trucks and Earnings Surprises
Intel surprises. Best Buy disappoints. And Target checks out of Canada. Our analysts discuss those stories and share some stocks on their radar. And veteran auto writer Paul Lienert shares the latest on big trucks, self-driving cars, and The North American International Auto Show ... Show More
39m 10s
Oct 2023
Where are we in the Economic Cycle: Boom or Bust?
In this week’s Podcast, Dale looks at the economic cycle and analyses if we’re about to start the next boom phase or whether we should expect more doom and gloom. We all know that businesses and the economy run in cycles and knowing where we are in the cycle can assist in determi ... Show More
39m 12s
Jan 2023
Don Burnette navigates the road toward self-driving truck deployments
The Kodiak Robotics CEO and co-founder discusses economic headwinds facing the autonomous-driving industry, how his company is positioned to avoid them and the timeline for deploying driverless trucks in commercial service. 
42m 48s
Jan 2018
Energy: Autonomous Trucking - So Close, But So Far
Seth Clevenger, managing editor of features at Transport Topics -- a print and digital industry newspaper covering trucking and freight transportation – is in the studio to talk about the impact of the new ELD mandate and the future of the trucking industry. 
28m 28s
May 2024
Driving Discussions: How is US refined oil products export market affected by USGC medium range tanker rates bouncing back?
<p>Get a look at what’s happening now in the US refined oil products export market as medium range (MR) tanker rates in the US Gulf coast rebound from 2024 lows, in this podcast. US Products Associate Editor Jason Metko sits down with Americas Freight Deputy Editor Ross Griffith, ... Show More
17m 52s
Jul 2023
How Trucking Works
If truckers suddenly vanished the global economy would come to a grinding halt in a couple days. But as important as they are these highway heroes (mostly) are, they’re systematically mistreated by their industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
1h 1m