With the summer months quickly approaching and bringing with them, many hope, more home building and construction jobs, flatbed haulers are hoping to continue the momentum they have built early in 2017.

While Congress and the states kick around proposals to increase funding for infrastructure, Robert Atkinson, an opinion writer for The Hill, has backed the idea of charging big rigs taxes based on the number of miles they drive.

“If you look back at the DAT truck data, which is essentially the NASDAQ of truck freight brokerage, you would know ahead of time,” Donald Broughton told CNBC, explaining why the firm’s data is a good indicator of economic trends.

The cost of traffic congestion each year to the transportation industry is staggering. In 2015, the industry experienced over 996 million hours of delay because of congestion. ATRI determined the cost to be $63.4 billion, or $63.70 operational cost per hour for trucking. But going inside the numbers tells an even deeper tale of the cost to society.

The recent surge in U.S. oil drilling has helped keep gas and diesel prices depressed, despite oil production cuts by OPEC. This infographic provides a quick glimpse of what is happening in the sector.

Two senators this week are pitching a bill that would create a private “bank” to fund infrastructure projects in the U.S. Also, the I-85 bridge in Atlanta has reopened, truckers are interested in Uber Freight’s services and how to benchmark your fleet.

Volvo Group and recycling company Renova are testing a self-driving refuse truck in Sweden that uses sensors that continuously monitor the vehicle’s path and stops the truck immediately if an obstacle appears. Volvo released a video of the vehicle in action. 

The Northeast has exited a period of cloudy, rainy weather that has held down freight volumes into and out of the region. That is just one of the weather-related stories this week that have affected rates across the nation.

The expansion of fuel cell trucks is continuing, with an announcement from Ballard Power Systems that its 85-kilowatt fuel cell engine will power a Class 8 Kenworth drayage truck at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Also, Uber Freight launches, a fuel tax hike is still on the table and Amazon pushes furniture.

Any trucker knows the importance of directions. Have the right ones, and there is a good chance you can arrive on time. But incorrect directions, and not only will you be delayed, but your employer may be out money for that late arrival. A new app is hoping to change that.

Volvo Group is testing a self-driving refuse truck. The truck allows a driver to walk behind the vehicle collecting refuse container. Also, it may be easier to test truck drivers for sleep apnea following a court ruling and the prospects for industry growth are perking up.

“If the thesis is that all of these small carriers who’ve been running illegally will be put out of business were they to comply with this mandate, there is no incentive for them to comply.” That is part of the reasoning that Stifel analysts have used to suggest the ELD mandate will not drive up shipping rates. 

Good morning. Hope the roads are clear where you are today. As it turns out, that is not often the case for many of us. The American Transportation Research Institute reported that congestion on U.S. roadways cost the trucking industry $63.4 billion in 2015 and resulted in 996 million hours of lost productivity, which is equal to 362,243 truck drivers sitting idle for an entire year.

A boom in U.S. oil production is not only helping keep fuel prices low, but it is driving more trucking business. The addition of a 2-rig, 8-well design could drive between “5,850 to 8,905 truckloads of equipment, drilling fluids, sand, water, etc.”

FedEx said it was victimized by the massive cyber attack on Friday that hit businesses in an estimated 100 countries. Also, more venture capital money is flowing into trucking and 3-D printers may be altering the movement of freight in the near future. 

This Week in Trucking, the U.S. and China have announced a trade deal centering on natural gas, financial services and beef. Also, a renewed push is on to approve hair testing in driver drug screenings and the rapid rise in last-mile delivery services is leading to plenty of new entries to the market.

While in-store sales have been declining in recent years, retail sales as a whole have not due to growth in e-commerce. That is resulting in a shift in freight movement, with more heading to a growing number of distribution centers and less heading to brick-and-mortar stores.

There has been a narrative in the U.S. that retail is dying a quick death. The reality is that is just not true. So far in 2017, there have been nearly as many store openings announced as store closings. This FreightWaves infographic details some of the trends in retail and how trucking is responding.

A Court of Appeals has granted a 90-day delay requested by EPA and NHTSA in a lawsuit brought by the Truck Trailer Manufacturer’s Association over the government’s Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas regulations. EPA requested the delay in part so that it can review the rule, throwing some uncertainty into implementation of the rule.

In a connected society, the transparency of items moving through the supply chain is a critical component of shipping best practices. From manufacturer, to trucking company, to end customer, the tracking of goods ensures timely delivery and top customer service ratings. OmniTrails is poised to lead to next revolution in this arena with its micro-location tracking solutions.

They say farm to fork, but without trucks, the farm never makes it to the stores, much less the fork. And that’s why ag haulers are so in tune with their shipping partners. When farmers suffer from crop delays for any reason – trucking is affected.

From Chattanooga to Birmingham, from Memphis to Atlanta, Freight Alley is home to a growing number of freight and logistics companies. But who is calling the area home? You can read more about Freight Alley here: When freight moves it moves through Freight Alley. This graphic is updated as new companies are identified. To see the most updated map, click the graphic.  

Ready or not, truck platooning is inching closer to reality. And it offers a real chance at fuel savings. Research suggests that trucks running in platoons can save between 4% and 10% in fuel depending on their position in the platoon. Read more about how Peloton is moving the industry closer to vehicle platoons: Peloton set to debut truck platoons later this year.

UPS conducted a drone delivery test in February in Lithia, FL, with Workhorse Group, an Ohio-based battery-electric truck and drone developer. Workhorse built the drone and the electric UPS package car used in the test. Read more about how last-mile delivery is changing: R2D2 may make your next delivery. 

This Week in Trucking, Elon Musk adds some details to his electric Tesla Semi program; the U.S. trade gap with Mexico is growing larger and Amazon faces a carrier lawsuit for refusing to pay shipping fees.

The Republican health care bill has received both criticism and applause from a divided nation. But what does it do for trucking? Well, like the rest of the nation, that may depend on what side of the industry you are on. 

To show off its Project Portal prototype hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 tractor, Toyota recorded the vehicle in a drag race against a similarly equipped diesel-powered tractor.

UPS has announced an expansion of its large alternative vehicle fleet with the addition of hydrogen fuel cell delivery trucks. The vehicles will be in operation in California later this year.

To highlight the impact weather can have on trucking, and to highlight their new partnership, TransFX, which is seeking to offer trucking freight futures contracts, and Riskpulse, a supply chain risk analytics firm, have produced an infographic that provides a few surprising facts about weather-related delays.

With weather delays costing the trucking industry as much as $3.5 billion yearly, the impact is enormous, especially on shipping rates. TransFX is seeking to offer trucking futures contracts to help brokers, carriers and shippers better manager their exposure to volatile rates. As part of that effort, it has tapped into the expertise of Riskpulse, a leading supply chain risk analytics firm.

Unlike autonomous vehicles, a driver remains in ultimate control of a truck while in platoon formation. Because of this, it is likely that two-truck platooning will be available to fleets later this year. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been teasing audiences for months on the company’s secretive electric truck project. At a TED Conference in Vancouver, Musk posted this shadowed picture of what the truck may look like.

This Week in Trucking, the EPA has filed a court brief seeking a delay in a challenge to its greenhouse gas regulations, leading to speculation that the agency may review the upcoming Phase 2 rules. Also, the government has acknowledged it is lacking answers for regulating automated vehicles, Amazon jumps into the driverless vehicle arena and the economy is off to a slow start in 2017.

Whether you are a large or small trucking company, or even a driver, there is a lot to like about President Donald Trump’s proposed tax plan, even if many of the specifics are lacking at this point.

President Donald Trump’s decision to place softwood lumber tariffs on Canada this week might be an indication that the administration is set for a reset on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It is a gamble that potentially puts billions of dollars in NAFTA trade shipments at risk – much of it hauled by trucks.

Much has been written about Tesla’s electric truck project and while opinions vary on the viability of a heavy-duty electric semi, some are wondering if the truck is only a vehicle to reach a different end game for Elon Musk.

Toyota Motor North America announced its Project Portal hydrogen fuel cell powertrain this week. The engine produces 670 hp. and can pull an 80,000-lb. pound, the company said. Vehicle tests will take place at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, hauling cargo between the two sites.

This Week in Trucking, the CEO of Old Dominion Freight Line suggests boosting federal fuel taxes to pay for infrastructure improvements and Texas is the first state to require ELDs for intrastate commercial drivers. Also, Toyota unveils a hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 tractor.

While life on the road can be difficult for many truck drivers, it’s not made any easier by the demands from carriers looking out for the bottom line. That’s why One20 has been busy building a series of products and services designed with the truck driver in mind.  

For anyone in the trucking industry, there is one constant: change. Rates change. Customers change. Freight flows change. But why is there so much change? This graphic answers some of those questions.

Is the trucking industry over-regulated? Good luck finding anyone in the industry that would say no. But ask which regulations should be repealed and chances are each one will be mentioned at least once. But will repealing regulations actually make the industry safer?

Trucking fleets have been hit with a series of equipment price increases in recent years due to new government regulations, including thousands of dollars for tractors due to greenhouse gas regulations. The new electronic stability control regulation, though, may be one where the benefit far outweighs its minimal cost.

Since last summer, Elon Musk has been teasing Tesla fans with word the company is building an electric “semi truck.” What form, shape and size that truck will take is still under wraps, but at least now we have a more definitive timeframe.

This Week in Trucking, President Donald Trump’s infrastructure plan is hitting some bumps in the road; economic indicators continue to favor improving conditions for the nation’s trucking fleets and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is making a last-ditch effort to stop the upcoming ELD mandate.

There is a lot of fear among drivers that they are being displaced by autonomous vehicles, and plenty of companies building these vehicles are looking to do just that. But one company is approaching the autonomous space with an eye on keeping drivers employed and improving their lives.

A futures market will react to the underlying fundamentals of its physical market because in the end, the futures price is linked to the physical market. But, the opposite is also true. A physical market can look to a futures market for transparency and guidance on rate structure. A developing trucking freight futures market might be the answer to solving these industry issues. 

The upcoming electronic logging device (ELD) rule is a great example of the type of mandated technological change coming to the trucking industry, and yet it serves as a great reminder of the importance to perform due diligence before adopting such technologies.

In a stock swap valued at $6 billion, truckload operators Knight Transportation and Swift Transportation have agreed to a merger. The new company, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings, will have approximately 23,000 tractors, 77,000 trailers, 28,000 employees and control approximately 5% of the nation’s truckload market.

Schneider National Inc. is the first transportation provider to issues shares in an initial public offering since 2010, according to data compiled by Dealogic. But, will it be the last? The time may be ripe for more companies to dip their toes in the water. 

This week in the Week in Trucking, we look at improving truck orders and optimism among carriers, why consumer GPS devices don’t work in trucking, GE’s approaching to training workers and how one carrier is finding success by offering its drivers video.

Rate volatility is something that every broker, carrier and shipper must deal with. But, sometimes knowing how shipping rates will react to an event can be a guessing game. The I-85 bridge collapse in Atlanta is a case in point. 

The transportation industry is ripe with startups hoping to be the one that disrupts a $726 billion industry, but without help, most don’t last. Dynamo is a Chattanooga-based venture capital firm that specializes in the logistics space and is helping a few of these startups gain a solid foothold in transportation.

In a world which carriers want to be paid quickly for their services, brokers have long turned to factoring as an option. Technology, though, is changing the payments business, and that means quicker payments for carriers and more cash flow flexibility for brokers. 

Unlike some technologies, blockchain technology is not likely to displace many workers in the trucking industry. It does promise, however, to streamline financial operations and compliance reporting to make those operations more seamless, potentially saving fleets tens of thousands of dollars.

In this week’s edition of the Week in Trucking, a major bridge collapse in Atlanta will cause traffic nightmares for months and the trucking industry sees a significant drop in driver turnover. Also, are regulations forcing trucking companies to run unsafe trucks?

Once a disparate group of entities, the modern supply chain is becoming more akin to a well-oiled machine thanks to technological advances. As it becomes more digitized, the business case for blockchain technology becomes more powerful. 

“The potential here is phenomenal. The match between what blockchain offers and the industry pain points is incredible,” says Bridget McDermott, vice president of Blockchain Business Development for IBM. So what exactly is blockchain? 

Blockchain is a relatively new term used to describe a series of distributed databases that act as a tamper-proof, verifiable ledger. As with any new technology, blockchain has its own terminology. Here is a listing of some of the most important terms and their meanings.

While most people assume that drones will someday be making home deliveries, there are other possibilities including droids and even mobile parcel lockers. Whatever method or combination of methods are chosen, though, last-mile delivery may never be the same.

In this week’s edition of The Week in Trucking, the trucking industry gets an audience with President Donald Trump, drivers may not be needed in California, are robots are set to take over warehousing and FMCSA pulls a controversial safety-focused rule.

As many drivers and small fleets worry about the impact on productivity and cost with the upcoming mandate to install electronic logging devices, one overlooked aspect is what impact ELDs will have on their insurance rates. 

Since the dawn of the shipping industry, brokers, carriers and shippers have struggled with rate price swings, sometimes due to conditions outside their control, such as weather or politics. TransFX, a Chattanooga-based company located in Freight Alley, is trying to help change that by offering “freight futures contracts.”

As the next generation of the Fuller and Quinn families take on leadership roles of U.S. Xpress, data is becoming more important than ever. Eric Fuller, who succeeds his father Max as CEO, says that technology is poised to change the industry in ways never before imagined.

Each week, the industry sees the introduction of new technologies and regulations along with information that affects how each carrier, shipper, and 3PL operates. Each Friday, FreightWaves will provide a look back at some of the industry’s top stories you may have missed. 

With truck driver turnover approaching and even surpassing 100% at times, costing carriers thousands of dollars to replace them, many fleets are doing what they can to keep their current drivers. This includes increasing pay and benefits, but one company thinks it has a better way and it starts with communication. 

Amazingly, there’s one area of the country where more than 80% of the nation’s freight travels through on its way to its final destination. It’s not Chicago, New York or Dallas. It’s not even in the center of the U.S. Meet Freight Alley. 

Weather disruptions such as Winter Storm Stella that is dumping up to 2 feet of snow on the Northeast today can have a ripple effect throughout the supply chain, driving up rates as freight pickups and deliveries are delayed and cancelled.

A University of Michigan study found that only 9.7% of those surveyed said they have no concerns about fully autonomous vehicles. But what about driving alongside an 80,000-lb. autonomous big rig? These are already being tested on roads and could be operational within five years. Is the industry ready for the disruption autonomous trucks will cause?

While much attention has been paid to autonomous trucks recently thanks to startup companies such as Otto, Embark and Startsky Robotics, many forget that the first company to test an autonomous vehicle in highways was truck manufacturer Daimler Trucks North America. Here is a look at the Freightliner Inspiration.

In a world of volatile diesel fuel prices that rise and fall on a daily basis, the biggest operational variable for any trucking fleet is not within their control. Nikola Motor is promising to change that with its hydrogen-powered electric tractor. U.S. Xpress, is one fleet that believes the future may be hydrogen.

For anyone involved in the movement of goods, weather plays a great unknown. It can cause delays and even cancelled orders, which means lost revenue. But one company is trying to help identify potential weather issues so vehicles can be safely rerouted. 

The required implementation of electronic logging devices later this year has created plenty of worry within industry circles. Beyond the logistics of installing the devices, though, carriers and shippers need to be worried about the business impact: specifically lost productivity and rising rates.

Those on both sides of the freight business have struggled for years with volatile shipping rates. Contracts get locked in for months or more with no assurance that the contract will reflect current prices when loads are delivered. TransVix believes part of the solution to this problem is the creation of a Trucking Futures Exchange. 

From drones to the Internet of Things (IoT), technology is pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of business. It is no different for transportation entities, especially shippers and carriers who are embracing technology while remaining mindful of ever-slimming margins.

Steve Sashihara, CEO of Princeton Consultants, recently spoke about disruptive technologies and Big Data in the transportation space. Here are 9 areas of impact he identified. Each slide represents the belief that industry stakeholders surveyed have in digital disruption. (Click the arrow to scroll through). 

E-commerce is forcing radical changes on the world of freight, led by innovations from Amazon. From shorter lengths of haul to equipment changes, carriers and shippers are scrambling to stay in front of the changes.

As President Donald Trump ramps up the pressure on Mexico and U.S. companies doing business there, at risk is billions of dollars of freight that moves between the countries. 

“There are some trucking-specific changes that will benefit the industry in 2017. The last year and a half was a classic industry recipe for disaster.” That is Bob Costello’s summary of the past year in trucking. He is predicting a turnaround in 2017.

As transportation providers begin reporting their earnings for the 4th quarter, a common theme is developing – while profits are down slightly, the outlook for 2017 remains positive.

The U.S. has pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. But is that a wise decision? Experts differ on the manufacturing impact in the U.S.