UPS is planning to add 50 plug-in electric vehicles from Workhorse this year for testing with plans to add more units in 2019.

Truckers Against Trafficking has launched the Man to Man Campaign in an effort to eliminate human trafficking in the transportation industry.

Insurance & Risk Management presented by Reliance Partners … While the number of recorded cargo thefts in 2017 declined to 649, the group said, the threat remains, and according to Scott Cornell with Traveler’s Special Investigations Group (SIG), may be underreported.

Techpertise together with TMW SystemsTechnology platforms have enabled the Dart Network to automate the bidding process, leading to a more efficient system that better utilizes company resources.

Several states are looking at ways to exempt truck drivers from the ELD mandate, but at least one expert says any laws passed by states to do so would likely violate federal regulations.

Truck orders and tonnage both posted strong gains in January suggesting there is no immediate end coming to the good times.

The American Trucking Associations’ Technology and Maintenance Council and Transportation Security Council, in conjunction with the FBI, has developed Fleet CyWatch to help fleets protect themselves against cyberattacks.

The ELD compliance rate continues to inch up among fleets according to the latest survey conducted by CarrierLists.

Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPayDetention of drivers remains a significant problem in the industry, with few solutions in sight, although ELDs may be able to help smaller fleets and owner-operators enforce detention policies.

Unilever has pulled back the veil of secrecy on its palm oil supply chain hoping that greater transparency into the process can create greater efficiencies.

Drivers using certain J.J. Keller ELD devices have had issues transferring data to roadside enforcement, but the company is working on fixes and expects to have all devices updated by the end of the month.

Spireon is hoping to solve trailer tracking issues for mixed fleets that require customization with its FL Flex modular trailer tracking solution.

It seems so simple, but basic attention to detail can help prevent an unwanted interaction with law enforcement, which can lead to increased insurance premiums.

The Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association has joined efforts to change the current hours-of-service rules to allow drivers to stop driving when they are tired.

In all, 35% of Americans will purchase flowers this year, says the Society of American Florists, totaling some $2 billion in sales, and the most of them get to their destinations via the trucks.

Autonomous vehicles may be coming, but it doesn’t appear to be very soon.

UPS is asking for inclusion of part-time drivers to make Sunday deliveries and also to allow use of personal vehicles in its latest demands in contract negotiations with the Teamsters, according to reports.

Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay You’ve taken the leap and decided to purchase your own truck. Or maybe you run a small fleet and have a handful of trucks. In either case, the next challenge is upon you: maintaining those vehicles, because if a truck isn’t running, it isn’t making any money.

After several delays, Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) workers have begun installing truck toll gantries in the state this week. The project, which will collect truck-only tolls at 12 locations in the state, is estimated to raise about $470 million in tax revenue over 10 years.

As capacity tightens, there are two ways fleets and shippers can go: they can add more capacity through acquisition or equipment purchases, or they can tap into existing capacity in a different way. That way might be boosting the rental and dedicated transportation markets.

With so many regulations to follow, fleets and shippers probably don’t need another reason to fret, but bribery and corruption are on the rise.

Predictive maintenance is something that has been talked about for several years. The ability to identify when particular components might fail, or to proactively replace components before they fail based on past data trends has been referred to as the Holy Grail of vehicle maintenance.

According to a report from Tech Crunch, Elon Musk’s Tesla is preparing to test autonomous driving on a cross-country trip within 3 to 6 months.

Trucking companies face high insurance costs, and few are higher than new venture insurance for new carriers. Some steps can be taken to help lower that initial cost, though.

Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA), the largest industry-specific blockchain standards organization in the world, today announced its newest member, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America.

What exactly is going on with all these truck orders? ACT Research reported that January Class 5-8 preliminary orders came in at a surprising 80,400 units. Class 8 orders alone accounted for 48,700 units, their best month since March 2006.

Seasonality has finally hit van rates as available loads dropped 6% last week, according to DAT.

Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA), the largest industry-specific blockchain standards organization in the world, today announced its newest member, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America.

With more regional and local deliveries due to e-commerce, there is more opportunity for truck drivers to find less-than-truckload freight, but knowing how it is billed is critical to winning contracts.

There are many stock analysts that have been predicting a stock market decline. The question now becomes, are we looking at a correction or something more indicative of a slowing economy?

New truck orders jumped in January, reaching their second highest level on record, according to data from FTR and ACT Research.

Transport stocks were not immune to the big sell-off on Wall Street on Monday, with the Dow Jones Transport Index falling 336.77 points to 10,350.41, a 3.15% fall on the day.

Supply chains are such a complex enterprise, that it’s nearly impossible to solve any one problem without it impacting another part of the chain. That was one of the main points that Michael Zargham, founder and CEO of BlockScience, said during a discussion last month in New York City.

The annual American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting is one of those trade shows that industry professionals come away with not just knowledge, but best practices that will guide them throughout the year.

Some early adopters of the Tesla Semi are receiving another advantage – help with designing and building electric charging stations for the trucks.

It wasn’t that long ago that many analysts believed the demise of Blackberry was close at hand. They were so wrong.

With one round of electronic logging device (ELD) madness behind, and another likely upcoming ahead of the April 1 hard enforcement date, Transflo President & CEO Frank Adelman says his company is prepared for another round of drivers rushing to get compliant devices.

Fleet Complete, a provider of global IoT provider of mission-critical fleet, asset, and mobile workforce management solutions, has expanded its European operations with the acquisition of Ecofleet, a telematics provider in the Nordic and Baltic regions of Europe.

Conditions improved slightly for shippers in November according to FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index (SCI). The SCI recorded a -8.9 for November, slightly better than October but still solidly negative, the firm said.

As seemingly simple as the rule sounds – ensure food is safe during transport – it is anything but. The FDA’s food safety regulation, says, Sam Rizzitelli, transportation practice lead for the Americas for Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, has opened up new concerns from an insurance impact.

With all the purchasing of team apparel and snacks that takes place around the Super Bowl, it’s imperative those goods make it to retail locations on time. It takes a Big Game logistics operation to make it happen.

The race to self-driving and electric vehicles has focused medium and heavy-duty vehicles lately, even though many believe local and urban is the best place for electric trucks. udelv, though, is focusing on that last-mile.

After reviewing 30 site locations, Nikola Motor Co. has announced that Buckeye, AZ – just outside Phoenix – will be the location for its manufacturing headquarters.

Even trucking original equipment manufacturers are not immune to spot freight volatility. Because of that, Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), is working to shore up its supply chain relationship with contracted freight carriers through a new digital platform.

Two-year-old startup NEXT Trucking has secured $21 million in a Series B round of financing, led by Sequoia Capital, as it seeks to stand out in a crowded field of competitors looking to match available truck capacity with freight.

Despite all this good news, an underlying problem remains for many truckers – getting paid. There are still some shippers that are dragging their feet when it comes to settling their bills, and that leaves carriers short of cash.

Transparency18 is designed to be a unique freight conference for participants. Towards that end, the two-day event will dedicate one day to live product demonstrations. Companies are encouraged to sign up to demonstrate their innovative solutions.

FedEx Corp. will accelerate pay increases for hourly employees this year as part of its response to the new tax law and expected benefits from it. The company will also make investments in facilities in Indianapolis and Memphis.

According to a survey of participants on a recent FTR webinar, only 11% of the people believe the ELD impact has been severe. A full 52% say the impact has been moderate while 34% say it is minimal. Three percent don’t believe it’s had any effect.”

The Teamsters have opened negotiations with UPS on a new contract and they have a significant request: no drones or driverless vehicles.

In what will come as little surprise to anyone who has recently renewed their commercial insurance policies, rates are going up. The bad news is that there doesn’t appear to be an immediate end in sight, according to a new report from A.B. Best.

At least for one week, seasonality has impacted rates, according to the latest data from DAT Solutions. Spot rates for dry vans and flatbeds fell for the week ending Jan. 20.

Manual processes may appear cheaper at first, but studies have shown that switching to automated accounting programs for account payables and receivables saves money in the long run, even for small operations.

The compliance rate for ELDs among fleets sits at 86%, according to the latest rolling survey of 318 fleets by CarrierLists.

The impact of the government shut down; U.S. oil production; Lyft users ditching their cars; February weather forecasts–all this and more.

Back in November, KeepTruckin launched a petition drive asking FMCSA to provide a 2-hour exemption for long-haul drivers delayed at a shipper.

American Trucking Associations President & CEO Chris Spear took to Medium on Thursday to tout the benefits the trucking industry will see from passage of the new tax law, including noting an ATA survey that says 50% of fleets are planning wage increases or one-time bonuses.

The long-awaited infrastructure plan from the White House is taking shape and could be part of President Trump’s State of the Union speech on Jan. 30, according to Reuters. CNN, however, reports that the plan will not likely be finished by that time due to the president’s travel schedule.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is asking the Trump Administration to increase the federal fuel tax 25 cents per gallon.

The recent mudslides in California have caused a number of travel concerns in California, including along Highway 101, which will likely remain closed until next week, California Department of Transportation officials said.

For fleets that spend time operating on load boards, the high spot rates are a blessing. For shippers, though, it’s been a challenging time as they have been forced to adjust to a new era in trucking.

In the last few weeks, there has been a lot of confusion in the driver community regarding the per diem, which has been eliminated for company drivers under the new Republican tax plan.

A combination of factors continued to drive dry van trailer orders as 2017 came to an end, with December orders up 38% year-over-year, according to FTR.

Last-mile delivery might get very interesting very soon. Boeing has unveiled a prototype “unmanned electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) cargo air vehicle (CAV) prototype” capable of hauling 500 pounds.

Lost in the flurry of news yesterday from Walmart was a little nugget of information that will have profound impact on freight movements both within the Walmart supply chain and for carriers who transport goods to Walmart.

FreightWaves, in partnership with the Georgia Tech Institute of Technology and the Blockchain in Transport Alliance, will be presenting the inaugural Transparency18 Future of Freight Conference, May 22-23, 2018, in Atlanta, GA, at the Georgia International Convention Center. The event promises to be unlike any previous trucking or logistics show.

Have the good days of high rates ended? While not declaring an end to rising van spot rates, a blog post yesterday by DAT Solutions’ Matt Sullivan did note some indications that the rapid rise may be slowing.

Owner-operators have unique insurance needs, and it matters whether you have your own authority or are leased to a carrier. Either way, it’s important to understand what coverage you need and find policies that fit your budget.

With all the cheering from business over passage of the Republican tax plan, the next step in the tax reform journey has now begun: the real-world impact. And it could fundamentally change the way drivers are classified.

Trucking and logistics have grabbed a share of the spotlight this year at the Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas. None, though, has grabbed more attention than Toyota’s E-Palette concept and alliance that includes such big names as Amazon, DiDi, Mazda, Pizza Hut and Uber.

Mexico’s ambassador to the United States told CBS News there is a 50% chance that the end result of NAFTA negotiations will be termination of the trade pact.

Jim Johnston, longtime president and CEO of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), has passed away following a year-long battle with lung cancer, the association announced Monday evening.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Labor published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that expands the ability of associations to offer health insurance plans.

According to ACT Research, preliminary North America Classes 5-8 net order data show the industry booked 58,800 units in December, bringing the full-year net order tally to 543,400. That is an 11% improvement over November and 35% above December 2016.

A weather bomb hit the East Coast over the past two days and it has left a mark that will take shippers several days from which to recover.

A holiday week did little to slow the rising tide of rates as 2017 came to a close. According to DAT Solutions, national spot rates for van and refrigerated loads reached their highest point of the year.

Recently, there were a couple of Facebook posts from owner-operators asking for advice on where to look for new insurance. One poster said their insurance company was dropping them because their “maintenance scores” were too high. What, they asked, did that mean?

U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, announced he will step away from Congress at the end of his current term.

Oil prices finished 2017 above $60 a barrel for crude, surpassing their highest level in more than two years. Delivery of light, sweet crude for February was up 1% to $60.42 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude was up 71 cents to $66.78 a barrel.

With third-quarter GDP coming in at 3.2% growth and fourth-quarter GDP also expected to best the 3% mark, which would be the third consecutive quarter of 3%-plus growth, and a newly minted tax plan promising to start moving the economy forward, times would appear to be ripe for trucking.

The saying goes that there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes. If you’re a commercial vehicle operator, though, you can add another: rising insurance costs.

Mark Lavender, special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, awarded DAT’s Tami Hart with a “challenge coin” at the DAT User Conference in October for her efforts in helping the Bureau identify and track down hundreds of cases of false payments, cargo theft, and other transportation fraud.

For business owners, one of the main questions surrounding the new tax law is the corporate tax rate. At 21%, it is lower than the pass-through rate for businesses, which is capped at 25%. That has some asking the obvious question: Should I change my company’s status from a pass-through corporation to a corporate structure?

When the U.S. Department of Transportation announced in August that it was abandoning a proposed rulemaking for sleep apnea, many in the industry were not pleased. While there is no mandate, sleep apnea remains a very treatable problem for drivers.

Uber Freight has added two new features to its app that it believes will help truckers find loads quicker and reduce empty miles.

With millions of commercial vehicles now running electronic logging devices (ELD), concerns have been raised about cyber attacks. That concern is leading to more interest in cyber insurance policies.

Global technology company Wabco Holdings has acquired a 1% equity stake in Nikola Motor Company with a $10 million investment. Nikola is designing a hydrogen-electric Class 8 truck.

Carriers continue to feel good about 2018, according to the latest Morgan Stanley survey, however, overall sentiment declined in the past two weeks and underperformed seasonality.

Travel around the DuPont area of Washington remains snarled this morning as officials work to clear wreckage from the Amtrak derailment over Interstate 5, just south of Tacoma, that killed at least 3 people and injured dozens more.

The days of drivers carrying around multiple credit cards to handle life on the road are quickly disappearing. Once, drivers might have a company credit card for expenses, a fuel card to pay for fuel, and even their own card for non-job-related expenses, but that is all changing as innovations in fuel cards might be making the company credit card obsolete.

Chattanooga, TN-based BlockArray is one of the companies working to develop blockchain-enabled solutions, and it is looking for companies to participate in pilot studies.

One of the big mysteries around hours of service is personal conveyance. When can a driver use a vehicle for personal reasons without it counting against their driving time? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is now attempting to clarify that usage through regulatory guidance.

Nearly 17 years in the making since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration first attempted to require electronic logging devices (ELDs) on commercial vehicles, the day has finally arrived for most of the nation’s 3 million plus driver workforce to begin using the devices.

With truck drivers across the country being required to have electronic logging devices in their vehicles as of Dec. 18, some have complained about the move to electronic recording of hours when paper logs work just fine. For BigRoad CEO Tony Lourakis, the rule presented an opportunity.

Today marks the 26th year that Wreaths Across America volunteers will spend their day placing wreaths on U.S. military veteran’s graves across this country, including at Arlington National Cemetery.

CSX Corp. CEO Hunter Harrison has taken a medical leave of absence from the railroad due to complications from a recent illness. Investors sold off the company stock, causing a 12% drop and $6 billion loss in company value in morning trading.

YRC Worldwide CEO James Welch announced he will retire in July 2018. Current YRC Freight President Darren Hawkins is expected to be named to succeed Welch by the Board of Directors at its July 2018 meeting, the company said in a release.

To get a more detailed look at the impact ELDs are having on the industry, FreightWaves talked with drivers and a fleet that has been running the devices, and each has reported different experiences, but in the end, the concern of all of them is that the devices simply work.

Dry van spot rates hit a 3-year monthly high in November, according to data compiled by DAT Solutions. The November rate was $2.07 per mile, the highest monthly average since December 2014, the firm said, and 5 cents above October levels.

In an interview with FreightWaves, Tadmore Transportation CEO Pete Emahiser says the blockchain will create a common language that carriers, shippers and brokers can all speak, but he also forsees other possibilities, including a capacity blockchain.