While more and more fleets are utilizing thousands of data points to make operational decisions, insurance providers are tapping into those same data points to help create more accurate risk profiles of carriers and their drivers to build improved insurance offerings for those fleets. And at a lower cost in some instances.

Technology startup FR8 Revolution has received an investment from Sandhills Publishing as well as announced a new technology partnership with the company.

Recently, Mexico shifted into a supply-and-demand based pricing structure for its fuel markets, ditching the old system where the government set the fuel price through state-owned oil company Pemex as it seeks to attract more U.S. investment.

The increasing use of mobile technology has spawned a new industry that many in trucking – from drivers to fleets – can take advantage of: peer-to-peer (P2P) payments.

Last-minute efforts to delay or stop the electronic logging device rule (ELD) are continuing, but it may be too little, too late unless President Donald Trump throws a Hail Mary.

For millions of football fans, a trip to the Super Bowl is the ultimate bucket list item. For blue collar workers, though, attending the game is often out of reach with ticket prices reaching $5,000 and above on the secondary ticket market. For two lucky truck drivers that will change.

The out-of-control wildfires burning in California have had a dramatic impact on spot rates in the region.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has issued a letter to state attorneys general in all states asking them to review potential problems surrounding upcoming enforcement of the electronic logging device mandate.

Trucks drive everyday down the highways of America and no one really knows what’s in those trailers. FreightWaves created this infographic to give you an idea of what could be inside that trailer.

Anheuser-Busch’s private fleet is among the leaders in the country when it comes to efforts to cut carbon emissions through alternative fuel use. The company is taking another step, announcing it has reserved 40 Tesla Semi electric tractors.

A few years ago, cameras in trucks were viewed negatively by nearly everyone. That has started changing as more providers perfected the systems and word started getting out on how a camera could save a fleet from a million-dollar lawsuit, not to mention reducing risky driving behaviors.

ZED Connect offers an ELD device that comes with a one-time purchase fee and no monthly charges. COO Chris Harlow offered up some last-minute thoughts as the deadline quickly to implement ELDs quickly approaches.

Following a Thanksgiving week that saw loads depressed, but not rates, the spot freight market was going full steam ahead last week with loads climbing 64% on the DAT network of load boards.

Blockchain is a foundational technology, said Jason Kerner, vice president of sales engineering for Project44, that will allow the building of transformational technologies in the future.

Like all of the companies at the first Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) meeting, held last month in Atlanta, TMW Systems sees blockchain technology playing a critical role in the freight transportation industry going forward.

When you run a trucking business that has weekly and daily bills such as salaries and fuel, but shippers pay at 30, 60 or even 90 days, ensuring you have the proper cash flow to maintain operations can be tricky. That’s why many owner-operators and smaller fleets have turned to invoice factoring.

Following on the footsteps of its European counterpart, Daimler Trucks North America will begin shipping 3D printed parts under a pilot program. Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz unit started a similar pilot in Europe last year.

Truck drivers are concerned with pay, but it’s not the most important topic on their mind when providing feedback to their employers. WorkHound compiled a list of topics drivers talked about the most, and pay only came in fourth. What was number one?

Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz Vans brand has introduced its third-generation Sprinter van at an event in Stuttgart, Germany. The van features many of the iconic attributes it always has, but has added new connectivity to further improve its utilization.

Job application fraud is a serious and significant problem in all industries. But without the time and financial resources to properly vet candidates, especially in an industry such as trucking with is facing a shortage of some 50,000 drivers, bad employees get through.

Toyota announced it is building a megawatt Tri-Gen hydrogen plant in California. The plant will produce hydrogen using renewable sources and will provide fuel for its Project Portal Class 8 hydrogen truck.

One of the common questions surrounding blockchain is how it will be utilized in the supply chain. Many people assume smart contracts, transparency and quicker payments will be early uses. For Rana Basu, founder and president of Consurgo, that discussion is ongoing on a daily basis.

FourKites has launched its own ELD certification program that operates on an open architecture platform to help shippers and 3PLs to assist carriers in choosing ELD solutions that offer visibility into location data.

Larger fleets sometimes control their insurance costs by self-insuring. Smaller fleets, though, often don’t have the financial resources to self-insure, so more of them are turning to “captive” insurance programs.

Just as people are getting used to the concept of blockchain and Bitcoin, now we have something called initial coin offerings (ICOs), which use cryptocurrencies to raise money. Sometimes called token sales or TGEs, they are becoming a popular way for companies, especially startups, to raise funds.

Fuel surcharges have a long history in the transportation industry, dating back to the Arab oil embargo in 1973 by most accounts. While the early days of surcharges were straightforward to calculate, that is no longer true, and they may not even be the best way to manage costs anymore.

When people discuss blockchain, often the concept is too abstract to grasp. In many respects, you need a phD to understand it. So it was fortuitous for Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) members that the group’s first meeting in Atlanta recently had just such a person.

Used-truck sales volumes continued their upward trend in October, but the industry is still facing an oversupply of vehicles, according to ACT Research. Class 8 same dealer used truck sales increased 12% month-over-month and 37% over October 2016, the firm said.

Regardless of their level of knowledge on blockchain, attendees at the first BiTA meeting were engaged by Ken Craig, senior vice president of special projects for McLeod Software, as he delivered an energetic and entertaining primer on Blockchain 101. 

Could the economy be starting to slow? That is a conclusion that FTR’s Don Ake has drawn after reviewing a number of economic indicators. He bases his evaluation on current GDP growth and what he thinks will be coming in 2018.

Nearly 60% of people find blockchain interesting, but remain unclear on its usefulness, according to a Gartner Research survey. That was just one of the nuggets of information Bart DeMuynck, research director at Gartner, imparted on the audience during the recent Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) meeting.

If your small trucking company seems like it is operating on a week-to-week basis, you are not alone. According to a new survey from Mercator Advisory Group, 75% of small businesses in the U.S. routinely delay purchases at least once or twice a year because of cash flow issues. You can minimize this impact, though, through proper planning.

The spot market, which has been trending up for much of this year and is near record highs, is showing no signs of slowing down, according to DAT.

Automation and digitization continue to infiltrate the shipper and 3PL markets, even as those industries lag in investment, according to a study conducted by Infosys Consulting and presented during a Stifel conference call on Tuesday.

Following on the heels of a 90-day waiver from the ELD rule for agriculture haulers, and several other exemptions granted by FMCSA in recent months, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has submitted a new exemption request to the agency.

Fleets do not have to be stuck paying high insurance premiums as there are a number of choices they can make to lower their risk profile and cost. Here are 10 ways to help do that.

Last week, FreightWaves published a commentary suggesting that solving the driver shortage may be as easy as raising pay – a supply and demand issue. We got many comments on that, including from Stifel Equity Research’s John Larkin, who said economics is not the only issue at play.

FMCSA has made two recent changes to hours-of-service and ELD compliance that affects the agricultural community.

There are times in every business owner’s life when you need cash. The business has hit a rough patch, an unexpected expense has arrived, or a new business opportunity has presented itself, but you don’t have the money to take advantage. So how do you get the money?

The man behind the trucker march on Washington last month is back with a new group and a new billion-dollar lawsuit. James Lamb and his Small Business in Transportation Coalition has sued Indiana over the collection of Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) fees.

Building a smart contract requires coding, and incorrect code could turn a good deal into a not-so-good deal. To help alleviate that problem, McLeod Software this week introduced FlowLogix Smart Contracts.

Amazon has officially entered the freight app business with a new option called Relay. The app debuted last month, CNBC reported, and will make it easier for truck drivers to get into and out of Amazon facilities.

Like taxes, insurance can be confusing. Many carriers, especially smaller carriers without dedicated insurance experts on the payroll, are at the mercy of an insurance provider. But armed with a little knowledge, carriers can make more informed purchasing decisions.

Van and refrigerated spot rates remain near historic levels, according to the latest data from DAT. The firm said the national average van rate fell 1 cent to $2.06 per mile, but remains just 3 cents below the post-hurricane peak of early October.

With all the advances being made in technology, it’s time for state transportation departments to be innovative and forward thinking, but that is not the case, according to the latest edition of McKinsey & Co.’s Voices on Infrastructure report.

Offering long-haul truck drivers the opportunity to extend their day by 2 hours is the goal of a new petition to FMCSA from KeepTruckin. The ELD provider said an analysis of data collected from devices found a troubling pattern of safety concerns when drivers are detained at shippers.

Filing your taxes can be confusing enough, try writing tax law. The complications in writing a tax law is one of the reasons the nation has not seen a major revamp of current law since the 1980s. Here are some of the key provisions in the draft bills.

The seventh and final ELD survey conducted by Morgan Stanley before the Dec. 18 compliance date has found that capacity is expected to tighten about 3.44%, the highest level of all the surveys, the firm said.

Shippers may not be paying the correct price for fuel based on the way contracts are written and fuel surcharges are applied, according to Breakthrough Fuel, which advises a market-based approach instead of the traditional surcharge method.

A push to increase detention pay has been gaining momentum in recent years in the U.S., yet detention remains a significant problem for carriers. Could the introduction of ELDs and blockchain eliminate that problem?

An Ohio state legislator has introduced a bill that would require trucks operating in Ohio to have side guards to help protect pedestrians and bicyclists.

The U.S. has its first electrified highway. While not a long stretch, the one-mile catenary system on the north- and south-bound lanes of South Alameda Street from East Lomita Boulevard to the Dominguez Channel in Carson, CA, are providing a proving ground for the technology.

The merger of Knight Transportation and Swift Transportation may be the transportation highlight for the year, but there has plenty more activity revolving around mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in 2017, with no letup in sight.

If the Trump administration wants to push through a massive infrastructure bill, the only viable way to do that is to raise the federal fuel tax. That is the conclusion of an American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) report entitled “A Framework for Infrastructure Funding.”

Many commercial trucking companies will never be impacted by cargo theft, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be prepared. Cargo theft is a multi-million-dollar problem, and like all problems, somebody is going to pay for it.

A one-day brake enforcement inspection by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance resulted in 14% of commercial vehicles in the U.S. and Canada being placed out of service for brake violations. A full 22% of vehicles were placed out of service for some kind of violation, CVSA said.

Netradyne is using artificial intelligence (AI) to provide fleets with the context needed to make more informed decisions surrounding distracted driving events.

As 2017 winds down, many carriers are taking a hard look at their tax situation. Is there anything they can do now that can reduce their tax liability? There is, and it comes in the form of equipment purchases.

The price of diesel fuel jumped last week, rising 6.3 cents per gallon to $2.882. The increase follows a rise in oil prices and a 20-cent jump in fuel taxes in California, that went into effect on Nov. 1.

SmartDrive Systems, which is already among the leaders in video-based safety systems, is adding sensors as an option for fleets to help detect drowsy and fatigued driving. The company made the announcement at the recent American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, Fl.

In the early days of trailer tracking, companies were simply looking for missing trailers. But technology has advanced, and trailer tracking is trying to keep pace. Now, the data generated by trailers can rival that of tractors, and properly managing that data could generate more revenue potential for carriers than ever before.

Iowa is teaming with seven other Midwestern state DOTs to build an accurate, real-time information system on where available parking spots are located.

The Republican tax plan has officially been unveiled, and it includes a permanent corporate tax rate cut from 35% to 20%. The $1.5 trillion plan also includes the shrinking of the number of tax brackets to just four and eliminates the alternative minimum tax. It does not change the pretax treatment of 401K plans, as had been discussed previously.

The Alliance for Driver Safety & Security, aka the Trucking Alliance, has adopted four technologies that the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says is critical to reducing large truck crashes.

Using onboard video cameras can not only reduce risky driving behaviors, they can also lead to a significant decrease in insurance premiums, with one fleet reporting it saw its insurance premiums drop 55%.

Even with rates rising – both contract and spot – and capacity tightening, attracting drivers still remain a primary concern for fleets. Driver pay is increasing, but outside influences are still hurting the recruitment efforts.

Two bills introduced in the U.S. House last week could potentially change the classification of port truckers, requiring them to become employee drivers.

Chances are pretty good you got into trucking to make money. Some carriers, though, continue to suffer through lean year. They are always running short of money, and can never seem to get ahead. Their problem may be their hauling rate.

FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) took a tumble in August, the firm said, dropping to a negative 6.7 reading. Most of the decline was due to the short-term fuel cost increases because of disruptions due to Hurricane Harvey.

The trailer portion of EPA’s Phase 2 greenhouse gas regulations will be on hold following a federal appeals court hearing on Friday. The court, with the support of EPA which did not challenge the ruling, stopped implementation of the rule that affects trailers.

Founded with the purpose of addressing volatility for brokers, carriers and shippers in major shipping lanes through risk-management solutions, TransRisk is one step closer to doing just that. The company, along with DAT Solutions and Nodal Exchange jointly announced an agreement to develop, market and list the first and only trucking freight futures and options on futures contracts.

For the past 15 years, if a carrier needed some assistance getting over a rough time financially, there has been help available from lenders who specialize in transportation finance. One of those companies is Marquette Transportation Finance, which just surpassed a milestone of sorts: It’s lent more than $15 billion to companies large and small.

The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index dropped slightly in September, falling 0.9%. ATA also revised its August Index down to a 4.7% gain from a reported 7.4% increase.

Hyliion announced the availability of its tractor electrification system at the American Trucking Associations’ MCE show in Orlando this week. The system uses regenerative braking to collect energy and store it for later use by the tractor.

There is no requirement for cargo insurance, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have it. As you search for motor truck cargo insurance, you will find various plans at various price points. Like those homeowner’s policies, no two are the same. So how do you know what you should be looking for?

Ontario-based Geotab has been collecting data and helping fleets solve operational challenges for years. It is now hoping to broaden its customer base even further thanks to its latest offerings.

Class 8 same dealer used truck sales volumes rose by two dozen units in September, according to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research.

There were a number of companies that presented new and updated products this past week at the American Trucking Associations’ MCE 2017 conference in Orlando, FL. Here is a rundown of some of those products.

The EPA is preparing to formally rescind the requirements that glider kits comply with Phase 2 greenhouse gas emissions rules.

PeopleNet made several new product announcements this week at the American Trucking Associations (ATA) Management Conference & Exhibition in Orlando. A new gateway, fault intelligence, document scanning program and wireless trailer camera were on display at the company’s booth.

Whether you own a car, pickup or tractor-trailer, it’s a decision that we all face at some point: Should I just buy a new vehicle or continue to repair my current one?

The move to a digital supply chain is leaving many organizations behind, according to a new report from Fujitsu. The Digital Transformation PACT surveyed 1,625 business leaders globally and found that 84% say customers want them to be more digital but 71% believe they lag their competitors.

We need NAFTA. That was the general consensus from Bob Costello and Derek Leathers on Sunday during a general industry update session at the American Trucking Associations’ MCE 2017 conference in Orlando.

Mack Trucks said that it would renew its commitment to the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) Share the Road campaign and in so doing, would donate a 2018 model Mack Anthem 70-inch stand up sleeper model.

The driver shortage has surged to the most important issue facing the industry, according to the latest top ten critical issues survey, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), said.

The annual State of the Industry address at the American Trucking Associations’ MCE conference is a time for the president to highlight all that is good about trucking. Delivering his second address as president, Chris Spear noted some of the legislative accomplishments of the association, took aim at some of the industry’s critics, and called for unity.

Delivering a speech that was warmly welcomed by attendees, Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta said the Trump Administration was removing barriers to getting work done and improving healthcare for Americans in general, but for the trucking industry specifically.

The U.S. Postal Service could deploy autonomous vehicles as soon as 2025, according to a paper prepared by the Postal Service to explore possible use cases for autonomous technologies. USPS and the University of Michigan are working on a self-driving mail delivery truck, the Autonomous Rural Delivery Vehicle (ARDV), the paper said.

Truck safety could take a big leap forward if drivers could see in their blind spots. Many companies are offering radar that looks down the vehicle and transmits that information back to the cab, but one company has decided the best approach is to eliminate the vehicle’s mirrors altogether.

The driver shortage is increasing, according to Bob Costello, chief economist of the American Trucking Associations, but it’s not as bad as many people believe.

International announced it has created a 24/7 center to manage customer support to help speed the time it takes to get vehicles back on the road.

Many fleets are devoting 10% of their operating budgets to maintenance, but it doesn’t have to be that high, suggests Jim Buell, EVP of sales & marketing for FleetNet America. “If you talk to most people, they think maintenance costs are like death and taxes, you can’t do anything about it,”

SafeKey is debuting a new personal protection device for drivers this weekend at the American Trucking Association’s MCE 2017 show in Orlando. The device, the SafeKey Protector, is a simple push button that triggers a call to SafeKey’s Security Operations Center (SOC), which summons law enforcement.

As its Tractor AeroKit continues to gain acceptance – it is now installed at the factory by three truck OEMs – FlowBelow has continued to look for new ways to improve aerodynamic performance of tractor-trailer units.

When the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) announced in late August that it would delay out-of-service orders for ELD violations until April 1, 2018, many cheered the decision. According to Collin Mooney, executive director of CVSA, many assumed that meant officials would not enforce the ELD rule at all until April. That is simply not true.

TMW Systems is working on blockchain-enabled products and gave a demonstration and update on how that work is progressing on Friday.

A jury has awarded $15.57 million to Isaac Espinoza, who was struck by a tractor-trailer driven independent contractor Ricky Hatfield while assisting a friend on the side of I-81 north. The jury also held the broker who contracted with Hatfield partially responsible.

Fleets using ELDs say they reduce manual processes related to HOS compliance, reduce compliance violations, and improve driver and public safety. All of these benefits provide fleets another benefit: potentially lower insurance costs.

Driver costs are the highest cost for fleets, surpassing fuel for the second year in a row, according to data from the American Transportation Research Institute.

General Motors has advanced its next-generation fuel cell system, which is part of its concept SURUS (Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure) platform that was shown last week at the fall meeting of the Association of the United States Army. Whether commercial transportation is willing to adopt fuel cell technology, though, remains a question.