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Chris Henry

Chris Henry has spent his entire 20-year career in transportation. In 2014, he founded the online motor carrier benchmarking service StakUp. As a result of a partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) in 2015, StakUp was rebranded as inGauge and Henry became the program manager for the TCA Profitability Program (TPP), an exclusive benchmarking initiative that includes more than 230 motor carrier participants throughout North America. Since joining the program, participation in TPP has grown over 300%. In June 2019, StakUp was acquired by FreightWaves and Henry became its vice president of carrier profitability, in addition to his role with TPP. Henry earned an MBA from the University of Massachusetts and a bachelor of commerce degree from Nipissing University.
Apr - 2020 -
02 April
Chris Henry

Why are unseated tractors a critical factor affecting truckload carriers?

Chris Henry writes about the true costs of “unseated” trucks and what carriers can do to keep their number of unseated trucks as close to zero as possible.

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Mar - 2020 -
20 March
Chris Henry

Drivers can cross the border, but are they covered for medical treatment?

As trucks try to resupply stores across the U.S. and Canada, an issue of drivers’ health insurance when in a different country has arisen. Read this article to learn more.

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06 March
Chris Henry

Solving the trucking profitability paradox

Profitability is the key to any business staying in business. In trucking it is harder than in many other businesses. Chris Henry explores the “trucking profitability paradox.”

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Feb - 2020 -
05 February
Chris Henry

Why net revenue per truck per week is a key metric

The key metric “net revenue per truck per week” is explained by Chris Henry.

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Jan - 2020 -
13 January
Chris Henry

What is Total Cost Per Mile for truckload carriers?

Chris Henry runs fleet profitability benchmarking and analytics for FreightWaves and facilitates the TCA’s TPP program. If you are interested in benchmarking your fleet’s performance with the best operators, join TCA’s TPP. The data presented in this article come from analytics of over 230 truckload for-hire fleets, representing more than 70,000 trucks.  A wise trucker […]

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08 January
Chris Henry

Trucking Math: Why a ‘Mile’ isn’t necessarily a ‘Paid Mile’

The trucking world can be confusing at times and no where else is this more obvious than the trucking world’s use of the term mile.

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02 January
Chris Henry

Commentary: Unions have no first amendment right to unlawful secondary picketing

By R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which covers nine States including California, recently affirmed a decision by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) which found that prohibitions on secondary boycotts under Section 8(b)(4)(i)(B) of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) do not violate the […]

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Dec - 2019 -
31 December
Chris Henry

TCA Profitability Program launches TPP Data Analytics Group

New group will be the first of it’s kind in transportation The TCA Profitability Program (TPP), an exclusive business performance improvement initiative provided by the Truckload Carriers Association, is pleased to announce the formation of the TPP Data Analytics Group. This unique group will be sponsored by McLeod Software, and meetings will be held semi-annually […]

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Chris Henry

Commentary: 2019 ends with less profit/more problems for truckload carriers

FreightWaves Market Expert Chris Henry provides a look into truckload’s year that was and commentary on a possible path toward consistent profitability.

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30 December
Chris Henry

Top trucking trends for 2020

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner As 2019 comes to a close and 2020 kicks into gear, now is a good time to prepare for the potential regulatory and legislative action that the trucking industry will see in the new year. We can expect big […]

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22 December
Chris Henry

TCA, Pilot Flying J honor professional truck drivers at Wreaths Across America event

On the evening of Friday, December 13, TCA Chairman and Trekker CEO Josh Kaburick and Pilot Flying J’s Wendy Hamilton, recognized nearly 100 professional truck drivers during the 2019 Wreaths Across America (WAA) Washington DC Area Wreath Reception and Dinner. The event was held prior to Saturday’s wreath-laying in Arlington National Cemetery. Nearly 900 people […]

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17 December
Chris Henry

Congress shows impatience with drug testing delays

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner In just a few short weeks, our industry will be graced with one of the biggest safety advancements in recent memory. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse goes live on January 6, providing an online […]

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12 December
Chris Henry

Commentary: Court rules ADA inapplicable where employer believes applicant may develop impairment in future

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel Employers may be well aware of the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in situations where an employee or applicant is “disabled” as that term is defined under the ADA. What about a situation in which an employer purportedly discriminates against an applicant because the employer believes […]

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11 December
Chris Henry

Transport the Wall That Heals in 2020

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) has announced The Wall That Heals national tour schedule for 2020. The Wall That Heals exhibit includes a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center. The 25th season of The Wall That Heals will begin on February 20, 2020 in Marco Island, Florida and […]

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05 December
Chris Henry

Christmas tree shortage driving prices higher

by FreightWaves’ Linda Baker A limited supply of Christmas trees in Oregon, the country’s No. 1 producer, continues to drive up wholesale and retail costs. The pricetag for Noble Firs doubled compared to five years ago. In the past two years, prices have risen 15% annually. “Supply is definitely tight, said Greg Smith, owner of Molalla […]

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03 December
Chris Henry

Don’t punch holes in the ELD mandate

TCA and our for-hire carrier members have repeatedly affirmed our support for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) electronic logging device (ELD) mandate. Unfortunately, others in the trucking industry continue to seek exemptions to avoid complying with the rule.  The most recent example of this comes from the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC). […]

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02 December
Chris Henry

TCA unveils new fleet manager certificate program

The Truckload Carriers Association’s Truckload Academy has unveiled the next generation of its Fleet Manager Certificate Program. Produced in partnership with CarriersEdge, the new program includes updated content and a new subscription model that allows unlimited participants in a company to complete the program for a fixed monthly fee. Incorporating feedback from participants completing the […]

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Nov - 2019 -
21 November
Chris Henry

Commentary: National Labor Relations Act further develops new approach to employer workplace rules

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel We have previously discussed the Boeing decision of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In that decision, the NLRB changed its approach to determining whether an employer’s workplace rule violates the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).  Before Boeing, an employer’s workplace rule would be struck down if it “could […]

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20 November
Chris Henry

The numbers don’t lie: size of legal awards vs. trucking companies is soaring

by John Kingston, FreightWaves The data is in and it shows pretty clearly what everybody has assumed: In the Southeast at least, the size of the verdicts against trucking companies are on the rise. Data compiled by a company called CaseMetrix is stark in showing how the jury verdicts against trucking companies have gone up over the […]

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13 November
Chris Henry

TCA’s Truckload Academy launches new, virtual online course

The Truckload Carriers Association, in conjunction with the TCA Profitability Program (TPP), offers a new, virtual, interactive learning experience available to all professionals in the trucking industry. The Truckload Live Distance Learning model offers a fresh perspective, one which includes facilitation from instructional design experts and a collaborative online classroom. Participants will engage in insightful […]

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08 November
Chris Henry

Commentary: National Labor Relations Board further empowers employers to restrict union access to employer property

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel In a recent Legal Comment article, we discussed how the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) went back to following a rule established by the United States Supreme Court, holding that an employer can bar any nonemployee from soliciting its employees, including union organizers, so long as they bar all […]

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07 November
Chris Henry

Commentary: Small changes won’t cut it on hours of service

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner On October 21, the public comment period closed for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on hours of service (HOS). More than 2,700 comments were submitted to the Agency, with arguments both in […]

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Oct - 2019 -
31 October
Chris Henry

Lincoln’s logs Halloween special: Frightening freight

Image: Jim Allen/FreightWaves Lincoln’s Logs is brought to you by FreightWaves’ Lincoln Duff Hello and welcome to another edition of Lincoln’s Logs, where I point out some of my favorite datasets in SONAR that can empower you to make actionable decisions to help keep your trucks rolling and increase revenues.  Happy Halloween everyone! Today is […]

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29 October
Chris Henry

California fires lead to growing tender rejections, increasing volumes

by FreightWaves’ Lincoln Duff Hello and welcome to another edition of Lincoln’s Logs, where I point out some of my favorite datasets in SONAR that can empower you to make actionable decisions to help keep your trucks rolling and increase revenues.  Today I’m back in Chattanooga after another week on the road. Last week I […]

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28 October
Chris Henry

First annual Truckload Live Summit will arm carriers with knowledge needed to succeed in today’s market

The transportation industry is in a constant state of flux, experiencing market changes influenced by everything from macroeconomic conditions to hurricane season. Understanding data, learning to benchmark and knowing how to take advantage of any market can help carriers stay profitable during downswings. TCA Profitability Program’s first annual Truckload Live Summit is designed to help […]

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25 October
Chris Henry

Does your company need a reinvention of its culture to turn the corner on driver retention?

by Ray Haight, TPP Retention Coach The issue of driver turnover has plagued the industry for decades and, it seems to me, that trucking companies should have made better progress in bringing it under control. The fact is that many trucking companies see the published numbers on driver turnover coming from industry groups, and as […]

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17 October
Chris Henry

Why not us?

by Ray Haight, TPP Retention Coach I have done a dozen or more Retention Action Plan rollouts over the past couple years and one of the key questions that I pose to folks during the on-site workshop that revolves around the TCA’s “Best Fleets to Drive For” contest and “the Safest Fleets in North America” […]

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16 October
Chris Henry

TCA takes on cross-border issues

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner There are many hot-button issues in the U.S. press right now, but the one which may have the greatest impact for the entirety of North America is the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This trade agreement, intended to replace the North […]

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15 October
Chris Henry

Lincoln’s logs: Actionable SONAR data insights

IMAGE: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES Lincoln’s Logs is brought to you by FreightWaves’ Lincoln Duff Hello and welcome to another edition of Lincoln’s Logs, where I point out some of my favorite datasets in SONAR that can empower you to make actionable decisions to help keep your trucks rolling and increase revenues.  Today I’m coming to you […]

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14 October
Chris Henry

Driver helps save young girl after fiery crash

The Truckload Carriers Association has named Brian Smith of Madisonville, Tennessee, a professional truck driver leased to Mercer Transportation Company of Louisville, Kentucky, a Highway Angel. He is being recognized for helping at the scene of a fiery crash that killed four people. On March 25, Smith was driving his flatbed near Lordsburg, New Mexico […]

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11 October
Chris Henry

Court rules EEOC Overstepped its authority with background check guidance

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which is based in New Orleans and has appellate jurisdiction over federal district courts in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, determined that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) impermissibly issued a “substantive rule” when it issued “Enforcement Guidance on the […]

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09 October
Chris Henry

Walmart Transportation driver assists motorist after serious crash

The Truckload Carriers Association has named Robert Wheeler of Crestwood, Kentucky, a professional truck driver with Walmart Transportation of Seymour, Indiana, a Highway Angel. He is being recognized for his quick action in helping at the scene when an SUV pulled into the path of oncoming van. On August 9, Walmart driver Robert Wheeler had just […]

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04 October
Chris Henry

Lincoln’s logs: Take a look at Houston

Image: Jim Allen/FreightWaves by FreightWaves’ Lincoln Duff Hello and welcome to another edition of Lincoln’s Logs, where I call out some of my favorite data in SONAR that can empower you to make actionable decisions to help keep your trucks rolling and increase revenues.  Today we’re going to take a look at how a weather […]

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02 October
Chris Henry

How does your safety program stack up?

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner For the past several years, the crash statistics for large trucks and buses have been getting worse. While this could be driven by many different factors, from the prevalence of cell phone use and distracted driving to the deteriorating […]

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Sep - 2019 -
30 September
Chris Henry

Court rules sleeper berth time in excess of eight hours is compensable

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel In the last Legal Comment, we discussed a recent Massachusetts federal district court ruling. Specifically, we looked at the aspect of that decision which dealt with compensating drivers during various phases of an orientation program. As noted in that article, the court also addressed whether sleeper berth time in […]

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27 September
Chris Henry

Driver helps to save young girl after fiery crash

The Truckload Carriers Association has named Brian Smith of Louisville, Kentucky, a professional truck driver leased to Mercer Transportation Company also of Louisville, Kentucky, a Highway Angel. He is being recognized for helping at the scene of a fiery crash that killed four people. On March 25, Smith was driving his flatbed near Lordsburg, New […]

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25 September
Chris Henry

Professional truck driver assists fellow driver struck by passing motorist

The Truckload Carriers Association has named Terry Whittington, a professional truck driver with ABF Freight System, Inc., a Highway Angel. He is being recognized for helping a fellow truck driver that was struck by a passing motorist while inspecting his vehicle. It was 7:30 a.m. in June 2018, Whittington was leaving Fontana, California on Interstate […]

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19 September
Chris Henry

By the numbers: Getting scientific with maintenance

Chris Henry, Program Manager, TCA Profitability Program (PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK) A weekly review of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that all trucking companies should be tracking on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. These standardized KPIs are the foundation of the TCA Profitability Program’s inGauge Benchmarking Platform  – the largest (and only) online benchmarking platform for […]

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18 September
Chris Henry

‘Moving forward, we will be building vehicles on top of computers.’

(IMAGE: ALAN ADLER/FREIGHTWAVES) Guest post by FreightWaves’ Linda Baker Truck manufacturers are pushing full steam ahead into connected vehicle platforms, using telematics and data integration to drive value for customers while providing countless other benefits for partners, the community and the OEMs themselves. Paccar started its digital transformation journey in 2015 with a remote diagnostics platform, […]

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17 September
Chris Henry

Court rules drivers are employees during carrier’s orientation program

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel A Massachusetts federal district court recently issued an important ruling addressing whether driver trainees attending a carrier’s orientation program were in fact “employees” of a carrier and therefore subject to the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  Background The carrier operates its own truck driver training school. […]

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16 September
Chris Henry

Driver recognized for assisting fellow driver struck by motorist

The Truckload Carriers Association has named Terry Whittington of Fort Smith, Arkansas, a professional truck driver with ABF Freight System, Inc., a Highway Angel. He is being recognized for helping a fellow truck driver that was struck by a passing motorist while inspecting his vehicle. It was 7:30 a.m. in June 2018, Whittington was leaving […]

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13 September
Chris Henry

Congress should stick with fuel tax

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner On Wednesday, September 11, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Highways and Transit held a hearing to examine funding options for nationwide infrastructure improvements. The hearing, titled “Pricing and Technology Strategies to Address Congestion on and Financing […]

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10 September
Chris Henry

Court rules employer’s no-fault attendance policy violates the Family and Medical Leave Act

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel An automotive supplier will be required to revise its no-fault attendance policy after the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit’s recent determination that an employee’s lawsuit challenging the attendance policy should go forward. The employee was terminated after accumulating more absences than allowed by the employer’s […]

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09 September
Chris Henry

TCA Scholarship Fund issues awards to more than 50 students

The Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) Scholarship Fund will be providing financial assistance to 52 undergraduate college students for the 2019-20 academic school year. Each student will receive a scholarship ranging from $6,250 to $2,725 from a total pool of nearly $150,000. Since 1973, the Fund has been providing scholarships to students associated with the trucking […]

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05 September
Chris Henry

Lincoln’s logs: Make your way into the Northeast

IMAGE: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES Post by FreightWaves’ Lincoln Duff I hope you had a great long weekend and enjoyed some time with family, football and good food. Although I bet if you were anything like us here at FreightWaves, the threat of a category 5 hurricane barreling towards the 3rd largest port in the US probably […]

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04 September
Chris Henry

TCA and CarriersEdge seek the Best Fleets to Drive For in North America

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and CarriersEdge encourage professional truck drivers and independent contractors to nominate their companies as Best Fleets to Drive For®. The annual contest and survey, now in its 12th year, evaluates and identifies those employers who provide exceptional workplace environments within the trucking industry. Visit www.BestFleetsToDriveFor.com between September 3 and October 31, 2019, […]

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03 September
Chris Henry

By the numbers: Stop rationalizing high turnover

Chris Henry, Program Manager, TCA Profitability Program IMAGE: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES A weekly review of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that all trucking companies should be tracking on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. These standardized KPIs are the foundation of the TCA Profitability Program’s inGauge Benchmarking Platform  – the largest (and only) online benchmarking platform […]

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Aug - 2019 -
30 August
Chris Henry

Make Washington work for you

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner IMAGE: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES Have you ever heard the saying, “there’s no time like the present?” According to Dictionary.com, this adage dates back to 1562. While life in the 16th century was certainly much different from our own, one thing […]

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29 August
Chris Henry

Lincoln’s logs: Target the upper Midwest

Image: Jim Allen/FreightWaves FreightWaves’ Lincoln Duff delivered an insightful freight market tidbit Thursday, August 29. Hello TPP Group Members, and welcome to my favorite day of the year: The start of college football! (Note: last week didn’t count, it was a good primer, but the football was sloppy and Florida was lucky to get that […]

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27 August
Chris Henry

Lincoln’s logs: Reject loads into Cincinnati

Image: Jim Allen/FreightWaves FreightWaves’ Lincoln Duff delivered an insightful freight market tidbit from the Cincinnati market Tuesday, August 27. Cincinnati has historically been a positive headhaul market, with more outbound freight than inbound. In the last few weeks, we’ve seen a pretty large shift as inbound volumes are up almost 30 percent from the average […]

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26 August
Chris Henry

By the numbers: Selling time–using ELD data to better understand your business

Chris Henry, Program Manager, TCA Profitability Program IMAGE: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES A weekly review of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that all trucking companies should be tracking on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. These standardized KPIs are the foundation of the TCA Profitability Program’s inGauge Benchmarking Platform  – the largest (and only) online benchmarking platform […]

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19 August
Chris Henry

By the numbers: Becoming gross margin focused

Chris Henry, Program Manager, TCA Profitability Program A weekly review of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that all trucking companies should be tracking on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. These standardized KPIs are the foundation of the TCA Profitability Program’s inGauge Benchmarking Platform  – the largest (and only) online benchmarking platform for the North […]

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16 August
Chris Henry

CalArk driver recognized for heroic actions on the highway

The Truckload Carriers Association has named Kevin Phillips of Sheridan, a professional truck driver with CalArk International, Inc. a Highway Angel. He is being recognized for aiding a woman after vehicle rollover. Phillips has been a truck driver for 30 years, but said he’s never experienced anything like what happened May 22. It was 5 a.m. […]

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15 August
Chris Henry

Potential gap looms for crash preventability proposal

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner (PHOTO: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES) On August 5, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) announcement of its intent to make the Crash Preventability Determination Program permanent brought many cheers from the trucking industry.  Penalizing carriers for non-preventable crashes, particularly through […]

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14 August
Chris Henry

Truckload Carriers Association commits to working with government on hours of service

Earlier today,  the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to make changes to the federal hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. These include granting additional flexibility for drivers utilizing a truck’s sleeper berth, standardizing the 14-hour driving window for short-haul drivers, alterations to the 30-minute rest break requirements and updates […]

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13 August
Chris Henry

Husband and wife team helped driver in fiery crash

Ashley Coker The Truckload Carriers Association has named Ed and Tracy Zimmerman, a husband and wife team who drive for Hirschbach Motor Lines, Inc. “Highway Angels.” They are being recognized for their selfless courage in racing to pull a trapped motorist from his burning vehicle. The duo left fear behind them one Saturday morning when they […]

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12 August
Chris Henry

By the numbers: Driver to non-driver ratio

A weekly review of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that all trucking companies should be tracking on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. These standardized KPIs are the foundation of the TCA Profitability Program’s inGauge Benchmarking Platform  – the largest (and only) online benchmarking platform for the North American Truckload market. There are endless Key […]

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09 August
Chris Henry

Driver recognized for stopping to assist teens in rollover crash

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named Justin Rockcastle, a professional truck driver with Melton Truck Lines, a Highway Angel for stopping and rendering assistance when a vehicle filled with minors veered off the road and rolled. It was a miserable day to be on the road. It was May 23, and it was raining and […]

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06 August
Chris Henry

Driver honored for willingness to assist crash victims on highway

Jim Higginbotham, a professional truck driver for Stone Trucking Company, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). He is being recognized for his willingness to stop and render aid following a serious two-car accident that ejected one of the motorists. On Friday, May 3, Higginbotham, was heading out of Ramona, […]

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05 August
Chris Henry

Driver earns third set of Highway Angel wings after detaining drunk driver

Christopher Lemaire, a professional truck driver for Revere Transportation, has once again been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). He is being recognized for his willingness to detain a drunken driver involved in a hit and run. Lemaire is no stranger to the Highway Angels program. He’s been nominated twice before […]

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02 August
Chris Henry

Regulatory rulemaking revs up

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been in high gear in recent weeks. The Agency has several pending regulations which are currently open for public comment and which could dramatically impact the truckload segment of the trucking […]

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01 August
Chris Henry

Drivers recognized for freeing baby from locked vehicle

Cody Crisler and Kenneth Meekins, professional truck drivers with Henderson Trucking, have each been named Highway Angels by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). Both men are being recognized for their willingness to stop and assistance a young family whose baby was accidentally locked in their vehicle. On June 7, Henderson Trucking colleagues Jessica Graham, Crisler, […]

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Jul - 2019 -
30 July
Chris Henry

Carrier prevails in sexual harassment case despite numerous allegations of harassment

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel A federal trial court in Iowa recently ruled in favor of a carrier in a sexual harassment case. The basic factual allegations are all too familiar: a male driver and a female driver are driving together in a truck, and alleged sexual harassment occurs. The carrier here prevailed because […]

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24 July
Chris Henry

Recent Department of Labor opinion letter clarifies compensability of time spent in sleeper berth

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel PHOTO CREDIT: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES On July 22, 2019, the Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the Department of Labor (DOL) issued an opinion letter as to whether the time a driver spends in his or her truck’s sleeper berth qualifies as compensable hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards […]

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23 July
Chris Henry

New Jersey appellate court rules for truckers in class-action wage deduction suit

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel A trucking company retained two drivers to serve as independent contractors and, on that basis, the company was allowed to make wage deductions, including for insurance, membership dues, and truck lease payments.  The lower court disagreed that the drivers were independent contractors but ultimately determined that the deductions were […]

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19 July
Chris Henry

Government seeks input on under 21 driver program

Ashley Coker PHOTO CREDIT: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has extended its comment period concerning its possible pilot program that would allow non-military drivers under 21 to drive commercial vehicles across state lines.  The previous July 15 deadline has been pushed back to August 14, giving people an extra month to […]

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15 July
Chris Henry

Carriers are safe to accept loads into Louisiana after Barry

Ashley Coker IMAGE: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES Carriers steering clear of Louisiana due to precarious weather conditions can start accepting loads into the state again. While Hurricane Barry caused serious flooding over the weekend, most of the damage was limited to rural areas with little freight activity. “Most of the damage occurred in rural areas where there […]

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11 July
Chris Henry

TCA announces support for speed limiter legislation

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) announced its support of S. 2033, The Cullum Owings Large Truck Safe Operating Speed Act of 2019. The bill would require new trucks weighing over 26,000 pounds to be equipped with speed limiters set at a maximum speed of 65 mph. Existing trucks already equipped with the technology would be required […]

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10 July
Chris Henry

Small business owners are becoming less optimistic about the economy

Ashley Coker PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK Small business owners across the nation slipped off their rose-colored glasses last month. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Optimism Index fell 1.7 points to 103.3 in June, reversing May’s gains.  The NFIB Optimism Index is intended to track small business sentiment and is released each month. The index takes […]

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09 July
Chris Henry

National Labor Relations Board restores employer’s ability to restrict union access to public spaces

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel The employer ejected two union organizers from its public cafeteria where the organizers were meeting with employees.  The union organizers challenged these actions and won before an administrative law judge. Following an appeal, however, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overruled the administrative law judge on two of the […]

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08 July
Chris Henry

Cross-border best practices during Trump’s trade policy uncertainties

Guest post by FreightWaves’ Noi Mahoney More than $400 billion in freight crossed in both directions through the United States-Mexico border by truck in 2018. In Laredo, Texas, alone, more than two million trucks carried goods across the border last year. While President Donald Trump’s trade wars with Mexico and China have destabilized business markets, […]

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03 July
Chris Henry

Class 8 orders post worst first half of year since 2010

Guest post by FreightWaves’ Alan Adler Class 8 new truck orders rose in June from a three-year low a month ago, but the first six months of the year accounted for the slowest first half since 2010. June orders of 13,100 were 69 percent below one of the peak months of a 2018 ordering spree, […]

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02 July
Chris Henry

Swift Transportation, Spartan Direct drivers rescue stranded colleague on busy highway

IMAGE: TCA Professional truck drivers Scott Wagner of Spartan Direct, based in Pevely, Missouri, and Robert Barnette of Swift Transportation Company, based in Phoenix, Arizona, have each been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). They are being recognized for their willingness to drive nearly an hour to rescue a colleague stranded […]

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01 July
Chris Henry

ELD mandate to take effect in Canada in 2021

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner IMAGE: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES The day of reckoning is finally upon us. On June 13th, Canada’s Minister of Transportation, the Honorable Marc Garneau, announced that Canada’s electronic logging device (ELD) mandate will take effect on June 12th, 2021. This means […]

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Jun - 2019 -
27 June
Chris Henry

Cross-border trucking volumes jump in Otay Mesa port of entry

PHOTO COURTESY OF OTAY MESA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Post by FreightWaves’ Noi Mahoney Business is good at the Otay Mesa port of entry, California’s largest commercial land port of entry, which tallied a record $50 billion in two-way trade with Mexico during the last fiscal year. For June, the latest SONAR data shows outbound tender […]

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25 June
Chris Henry

Employer may face FMLA liability where it forced continuous leave on employee

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel The employee here requested intermittent leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) but was instead forced to go out on continuous leave. Under the FMLA, “intermittent leave” is taking leave in separate blocks of time for a single qualifying reason. Reducing the employee’s usual weekly or daily […]

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21 June
Chris Henry

FreightWaves research: Amazon’s new online freight platform is viewed negatively by carriers and brokers

Guest post by FreightWaves’ Kevin Hill Amazon’s entry into online freight matching is being met with skepticism and unease by much of the logistics industry, according to a market research report from the FreightWaves Freight Intel Group.  The report, Amazon and the Logistics Industry, builds on the news FreightWaves broke on Amazon’s beta version of its online […]

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20 June
Chris Henry

Cass data negative, ‘signaling an economic contraction’

Guest post by FreightWaves’ Todd Maiden The Cass Freight Index Report showed further deceleration in the freight markets in May. Donald Broughton, Founder and Managing Partner of Broughton Capital and author of the report, warns an economic contraction could be underway. Cass’ May 2019 report shows signs of weakness with both the shipments and expenditures data sets […]

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19 June
Chris Henry

Volumes on steady rise out of South Georgia market

Ashley Coker CHART: FREIGHTWAVES’ SONAR Volumes out of the Tifton, Georgia market have been moving upward since the beginning of the month, with FreightWaves’ SONAR Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI.TMA) showing a 33 percent surge since June 2. Outbound rejection rates (OTRI.TMA) have been climbing over the same period of time, increasing 274 bps from […]

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17 June
Chris Henry

Retail and industrial activity provide some stability for freight

DREAMSTIME by FreightWaves’ Chief Economist Ibrahiim Bayaan Economic data from the goods side of the economy showed some signs of life in May, as growth in retail sales and industrial production exceeded expectations during the month. This is an encouraging sign that activity may be stabilizing in the second quarter, though details in manufacturing point […]

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14 June
Chris Henry

Congress, FMCSA recognize detention time as critical issue

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner Even though no one has officially designated June as “Detention Time Awareness Month,” the issue has received plenty of publicity in recent weeks. First, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a request for information in the Federal […]

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13 June
Chris Henry

GDP growth does not always mean good things are in store for the freight market

Ashley Coker IMAGE: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES Data across all modes of traffic is signaling a dramatic slowdown in the freight market, but U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) continues to come in strong. FreightWaves Chief Economist Ibrahiim Bayaan and FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller teamed up to explain this apparent disconnect.  Bayaan and Fuller regularly host a webinar, […]

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11 June
Chris Henry

Male employee fails to state case of sex discrimination or sexual harassment

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK The employee, a male executive, failed to allege claims for actionable sex discrimination and sexual harassment where he failed to allege that the complained-of conduct occurred because he was a man. This case is a good case for employers to be familiar with because it illuminates Title […]

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10 June
Chris Henry

Truckers report closed scale houses, light enforcement during Roadcheck blitz

IMAGE: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES Guest post by FreightWaves’ Clarissa Hawes The International Roadcheck inspection blitz kicked off earlier this week in North America, but some U.S. truckers reported that scale houses in some states were closed or they were waved through the scales because inspectors were busy reviewing other commercial vehicles. Truck driver Joel Morrow ran […]

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07 June
Chris Henry

Laredo claims spot as the nation’s top trade hub

Guest post by FreightWaves’ Noi Mahoney For the first time in its 168-year history, Port Laredo is number one. Laredo, Texas surpassed Los Angeles, California as the nation’s busiest trade hub, including airports, seaports and international border crossings. Port Laredo did $20.09 billion in trade during the month of March (according to the latest Census […]

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06 June
Chris Henry

TCA names 2019 Safety Professional of the Year during annual meeting

IMAGE: TCA The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has awarded John Christner Trucking, Inc.’s Director of Safety, John Mallory, as the 2019 TCA Safety Professional of the Year — Clare C. Casey Award recipient. The announcement was made during TCA’s 38th Annual Safety & Security Division Meeting in Memphis, Tennessee. This honor is bestowed upon a […]

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05 June
Chris Henry

It can happen to you: Workplace violence claims lives and costs billions each year

Ashley Coker IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK About 551 people were victims of workplace homicide each year between 2006 and 2010, according to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s  Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Strategos International Executive Vice President Mark Warren works to train employers and employees to recognize the […]

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04 June
Chris Henry

FreightWaves acquires TCA inGauge software platform

FreightWaves, the leading data and content source for the freight markets, has acquired StakUp Inc., as part of a multi-faceted partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) that will build on a previously announced data and marketing agreement, established in November 2018. StakUp is the developer of the ‘inGauge’ online benchmarking platform, used exclusively by […]

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03 June
Chris Henry

Our electric future is sliding away

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner News recently broke that General Motors (GM) and Bechtel, the largest construction company in the U.S., will partner to create a new company dedicated to building a network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the country. While no […]

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May - 2019 -
29 May
Chris Henry

Grand plan for I-81 would route traffic around Syracuse

Guest post by FreightWaves’ John Kingston The highway and viaduct that now shoots truckers and others straight through the heart of Syracuse on interstate 81 might be no more under a plan making its way through an approval process. Instead, drivers will need to circle the city on what is now interstate 481 if the […]

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28 May
Chris Henry

Court rules California’s meal and rest break rules preempted by federal law

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES The employee, on behalf of a class of drivers, sued a motor carrier/delivery services provider and its carrier subsidiary (“Defendants”) for failure to provide meal and rest periods in violation of California Labor Code §§ 226.7 and 512, and Wage Order 9-2001 §§ 11, 12, among other […]

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27 May
Chris Henry

TCA partners with Alliance for Toll Free Interstates to push back against tolls

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has partnered again this year with the Alliance for Toll Free Interstates (ATFI). ATFI is a national coalition comprised of individuals, businesses, and organizations working to maintain the longstanding policy of protecting existing interstates from new tolls. As a partner, TCA is working with like-minded businesses and organizations to push […]

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24 May
Chris Henry

USX CEO sees big impact on capacity from drug and alcohol clearinghouse

Guest post by FreightWaves’ John Kingston The introduction of the drug and alcohol clearinghouse in January 2020 is going to have a bigger impact on truck capacity than the recent implementation of the electronic logging device (ELD) rule, according to Eric Fuller. Fuller, the CEO of U.S. Xpress (NYSE: USX), made the remarks on a panel […]

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23 May
Chris Henry

Truckload companies’ maintenance workflow could mean the difference between profit and loss

Ashley Coker Improving efficiency within maintenance offers the biggest potential for improved profitability of any category within a trucking company. That’s why one of this summer’s TCA Profitability Program (TPP) seminars is all about maintenance workflow. “Being organized and scientific about your maintenance pays huge dividends,” TPP Program Manager Chris Henry said. “Without a doubt, […]

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21 May
Chris Henry

Los Angeles volumes plummet after tariff increase

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK Guest post by FreightWaves’ Zach Strickland After lulling the world economy into a false sense of security, U.S. government decided to raise tariffs on $300 billion of Chinese goods to as much as 25% last week. The list of goods is extensive, covering sneakers to coffee makers. The threat of increasing tariffs completely […]

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20 May
Chris Henry

It is time for carriers to take control of their own data

Ashley Coker Knowing how to access and utilize quality data has become an integral part of running a successful trucking company, but many decision makers have been left scrambling to keep up with changing technological demands. To help combat that problem, TCA Profitability Program (TPP) will host a seminar dedicated to keeping people in the […]

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Chris Henry

TCA honors drivers who display courage on the job

The Truckload Carriers Association has been recognizing Highway Angels, or professional truck drivers who demonstrate compassion and courage on the road, since its 1997 inception. Recently, seven standout drivers received the honor for acts of heroism performed. “Their good deeds range from simple acts of kindness, such as fixing a flat tire, to heroic life-saving […]

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17 May
Chris Henry

There are no opt-outs for the ELD mandate

TCA Vice President of Government Affairs, Dave Heller and TCA Manager of Government Affairs, Kathryn Sanner PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK As we inch closer to the December 16, 2019 full compliance deadline for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, the need to transition to these devices is becoming more urgent. Members […]

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16 May
Chris Henry

TCA helps spread #BuildForTomorrow message during Infrastructure week

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) is participating in the annual national advocacy and educational event, Infrastructure Week, which takes place from May 13-20. Across the country, hundreds of businesses, labor organizations, elected officials, and more will come together to spread the message that we must #BuildForTomorrow. Investing in infrastructure is consistently one of the issues […]

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15 May
Chris Henry

April shipment data raises concerns about potential economic contraction

Ashley Coker IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK The Cass Shipments Index came in negative for the fifth month in a row in April, sparking concern about potential economic contraction. Boughton Capital Founder and Managing Partner Donald Boughton maintained a positive outlook throughout the last several months of negative shipments, becoming gradually more skeptical as the trend continued. He […]

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