Continental customers will switch from using the RoadLog ELD to KeepTruckin ELD solutions.

FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller introduced three new products at FreightWaves LIVE @HOME – Lane Signal, SONAR Signals and Mission Control.

We are bearing witness to today’s trucker as the backbone of our nation’s supply chain, staying the course during this turbulent time and supplying our essential needs through product deliveries every day. While the public has a newfound appreciation of truck drivers and those that support them inside the business, there are pockets of concern in the trucking industry. While many are thanking drivers at #KnightsoftheRoad and #ThankaTrucker for their dedication to their job, and their willingness to perform their duties as an essential worker, there are other mounting problems.

The capacity picture is still lagging and continues to be at historically loose levels, but even though spot rates bounced in a few markets, overall rates are still horrible. The result is continued pricing power for shippers in the weekly DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index.

COVID-19 can accelerate many existing but slow-moving trends in the industry as it has forced changes in behavior and altered industry priorities.

Magnus Technologies offers a solution that can run the entirety of a trucking fleet’s business operations over a single platform.

The DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index fell another 5 points this week to its lowest total in series history. Volumes are beginning to come back to life, but capacity remains historically loose and spot rates are extremely low.

FreightWaves has partnered with Overhaul, a SaaS platform for real-time supply chain visibility and risk management, to produce a white paper that provides pharmaceutical shippers with information on the threats to look out for and steps to mitigate risk.

Manufacturing supply chains in for prolonged distress; U.S. oil rates in limbo; global air cargo facing severe capacity crunch.

The new tracking system allows real-time monitoring of transported goods across a variety of markets including food & beverage, pharmaceuticals and micro-mobility.

In this new report transportation analytics company INRIX analyzed billions of anonymous location-based data points to understand the impact that COVID-19 is having on freight movement across the U.S.

Ford has invested $500 million in Rivian and participated in the startup’s $1.3 billion investment raise in 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created the need for social distancing, even while working. For the freight industry, the adoption of autonomous vehicles might be a good start.

The frustration of 300 million people is bound to show with regards to this virus shutdown. This week, the media began showing a small subset of people protesting the shutdown and showing disregard towards the Country’s safe distancing protocols. If these businesspeople and workers show disregard during a protest, what will their protocols be when they reopen their businesses? In every business situation we need to measure Risk vs Reward, but usually, the risks are confined to your business, not the total U.S. business.

As freight volumes hit bottom, and rates respond to an overcapacity situation, pricing power is firmly in the hands of shippers.

Farms of major row crops like tomatoes or potatoes are usually highly mechanized and could escape the wrath of COVID-19.

The shippers are in the strongest pricing power position in the DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index history, but for all the wrong reasons. Volumes are stable, but well below normal levels, and tender rejections are at the lowest level in the index’s 3-year history.

USPS stops services to 111 countries; oil rallies on gulf tensions and output cuts; Uber Freight and BluJay announce partnership.

As the COVID-19 crisis deepens, it is critical for logistics workers to make sure they stay safe as they continue to keep the economy running.

A new rule from the National Labor Relations Board clarifies joint-employer status under the National Labor Relations Act. With a stricter standard, employers will have more clarity around which company has legal responsibility for employees.

Documents will now be automatically scanned, categorized, grouped, and audited by HubTran, before being assigned to the correct load on the FMS platform.

Descartes has been receiving questions from customers asking how to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on their operations, employees, customers and carriers. The good news is there is a lot […]

Identifying the packages that come in contact with infected individuals in the supply chain is vital to reduce the pandemic’s spread.

With what seems like nothing but time these days, my wife brought me an old boot box that my mother put together some 20+ years ago and said “Look what I found!!” We’ve been going through all sorts of things in the house, probably just like yourself. Not that I really wanted to do that, but I must say, I’ve learned a l

Companies trading in the affected foreign markets will have to decide if shifting to other forwarders will justify the resulting high shipping costs.

Pricing power shifts towards the shippers in a major way this week. Contract freight volumes are now at Labor Day 2019 levels and are poised to go lower. Rejection rates are encroaching on a rare 4% mark, and spot rates are in the bin.

U.S. retail spending fell by 8.7% last month; oil demand to fall by 29M barrels a day in April; companies look to diversify procurement geography.

Carriers can now submit bids for loads and receive feedback on select loads directly in the app.

The Seattle-based digital freight network will pay 100% of trucking costs for food bank donations

A chief supply chain officer can be the linchpin connecting all different departments within a retail company, including marketing, finance, sales and accounting.

World’s second-largest box carrier resolves its website woes.

The feature enables shippers to make data-driven decisions about allocating freight

Loans under the government’s Payroll Protection Program are being approved and money is starting to flow into the hands of trucking companies.

The FreightWaves SONAR platform is adding an API upgrade allowing subscribers to digest rates directly into their own unique workflows.

KeepTruckin introduces Maintenance Reminders, a tool that helps companies avoid unscheduled vehicle downtimes.

Ubirch, a blockchain cybersecurity company, has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA). Learn more about Ubirch and BiTA.

On this holiday weekend, I want to send my best wishes to the trucking community! From the heroic drivers doing their jobs in the face of adversity, to the carrier support folks – some in offices and some working at home – thank you for your support of our drivers and customers. To the valiant technicians that arrive for work every day unknowing what and where they might come face to face with a health challenge in the course of their daily duties. To the truckstops, dealers and other support businesses that support the drivers while on the road, and sometimes when in the most need, thank you all and bless you all for a hopeful family holiday.

During a leadership webinar I presented on last week one of the things I mentioned was that there’s nothing like a crisis to bring things into perspective. While it seems that we can’t see anything at all during a time like this, I just personally experienced some clarity.

The investment will help accelerate product development of its next generation SmartTags and scale up operations across both sales and marketing.

Freight volumes have been dropping as businesses shut down, and that has shifted the advantage to shippers, who now hold more rate negotiation power.

Carriers give back pricing power as volumes and rejections rates plummet. Spot rates are negative week-over-week for 95% of lanes from Truckstop.com.

WTO expects global trade to sink by at least 13% this year; oil demand are down 50% year-on-year; economists expect 25% decline in U.S. GDP in Q2.

Cargo X is Brazil’s largest digital freight marketplace, connecting about 20,000 carriers and their 400,000 truckers with freight.

The impact of COVID-19 on insurance costs is still unknown, but policies for many fleets may not cover losses due to a loss of business.

Shippo is a next-generation shipping platform for ecommerce businesses, helping them provide their end consumers with an exceptional shipping experience.

In the times of COVID-19, logistics companies are stepping up to help the industry in ways they can.

We are in the middle of something we have never seen before. Trucking business owners should be seeking out conversations and relationships that can lead to business transformation, wealth preservation, and peace of mind as they consider what do to next.

While the rearview mirror is crystal clear for all to debate, I always point out that we often get the “test before the lesson” in business, politics and life. This is no different. If the silent majority remains diligent and follows the guidance of the scientific community, we will prevail. Leaders, we do not need to place blame, we need solidarity to help this great country overcome this crisis. “Through difficulty comes opportunity”, and while that seems a long way away, the trucking business has a bunch of tough people, and I’m proud to call you my friends. Keep truckin’ safely.

FreightWaves partnered with Redwood Logistics on this white paper to better understand the most important issues facing retail supply chains.

FreightWaves SONAR has new features to help subscribers gain more insight and clarity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Truckstop.com, the leading Platform-as-a-Service provider for the trucking industry and FreightWaves, the leading provider of trucking news and analytics, are partnering to provide resources to transportation providers responding to relief projects and supply chain distributions.

Offers include one-month free Truckstop.com and FreightWaves SONAR

Without a doubt, our world is changing quickly. Not by the year, month, or week, but by the day and in many cases by the hour. Really, it seems its that quick. Whether its coming from the national news, local news, industry rags, customers, employees or simply your own mind, it seems as though everything is changing very rapidly.

The weekly DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index continues to favor carriers, but the index has fallen from last week’s high as freight volumes start dropping off.

QuickPay gives fleets access to same-day payment on the loads they deliver.

National freight volumes and tender rejections are falling as fast as they rose. Carriers remain in slight pricing power position, but their footing is slipping with each passing week,

RoadSync is a digital payment platform offering services that help solve inconsistencies within paper-based invoicing processes in the freight industry.

On EP22, Kevin and Andrew discuss the inevitable accounts receivable risk incoming in the transportation industry with Peter Rentschler from CarrierDirect. Andrew introduces a new segment and expectations are set […]

Toll authorities from coast to coast have suspended cash payments to limit the spread of the coronavirus between toll collectors and drivers.

The Department of Labor has issued new guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that may not require companies to offer paid leave in certain situations.

logistics workers demand hazard pay; customer traffic fell across storefronts last week; supply chains will diversify post-epidemic.

BMW Group has initiated the “PartChain” project to create an industry-wide solution for secure data-sharing.

In the times of COVID-19, logistics companies are stepping up to help the industry in ways they can.

The big two automakers plan to produce more than 5 million SUVs and pickup trucks in 2026, but only plan on making 320,000 electric vehicles the same year.

As this virus spreads, the driver community becomes more at risk. This presents an unthinkable challenge to our food chain. As I follow the industry on social media, the support from TCA in their efforts to be the front line to support their members, and the national news, I believe the trucking community needs to stay vigilant in their current plans and strategies as well as coming up with Plan B strategies to adapt to the changing situation with COVID-19: strategies which may even allow for increased opportunity when we turn the corner on this pandemic.

There was a time in the early 1980’s that a boy ran around his house with a toy semi-truck singing Alabama’s song “Roll On”. His daddy was a trucker and he asked his momma when he was coming home. Fast forward a few decades and everyone is quick to jump on the bandwagon of calling each of you heroes. For some of us, truckers have been heroes all our lives.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act goes into effect on April 1, and businesses have many questions on how it affects them.

Plus: UPS, DHL impose coronavirus surcharges

In the times of COVID-19, logistics companies are stepping up to help the industry in ways they can.

While this may be the peak pricing power for the carriers for this freight cycle, the carriers gain another 10 points in the DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index this week.

China opens its factories; 3.28 million U.S. workers apply for unemployment benefits; U.S. seeks to convince Saudi Arabia to end oil war.

The integration is expected to enhance KeepTruckin’s driver workflow, enabling drivers and dispatchers to communicate directly through the company’s mobile app.

Wingcopter is a German-based startup that manufactures drones that attain maximum speeds of 150 mph with a 75-mile range.

KlearNow is an on-demand customs clearance platform that helps companies navigate customs by leveraging AI technology.

China-to-U.S. box rates are losing steam after last week’s rise.

Roadside repairs on vehicles will be allowed to continue, despite rumors that truck drivers would be stranded if their vehicle broke down.

Freight Management Systems (FMS) has created a new web-based TMS solution that brings in open API to extend and function within any brokerage operation.

Brian Aoaeh is a contributor of commentaries to FreightWaves. Last week he wrote Commentary: Supply Chain Caucus established in U.S. House of Representatives. That spurred an idea to write the […]

Treasury Secretary Mnuchin stated the US unemployment rate may reach 20% in the short term if significant fiscal stimulus action was not taken. We estimated whether the modern economy could reach such levels.

As I sit in my home barred from travel, I watch the news and coronavirus updates. In light of the multiple closings of cities, the panic at the sight of empty grocery store shelves; something leaps out to me, “Thank God for the Truckers!” As we float in these turbulent, uncharted waters, and we see unprecedented economic moves to protect us from the impact of the virus, one thing is truly taken for granted — the Individual Trucker — working with their dedicated Operations people servicing the supply chain.

However, there is one constant that has always remained; trucking is one of the most honorable professions in the world. A truck driver does nothing for themselves. They are always doing something for somebody else be it a shipper, a receiver, a dispatcher, or for others on the road.

For carriers with loads to haul, they now have an advantage in negotiating rates, as the weekly DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index has risen to 55.

Fleet tracking and vehicle management firm PowerFleet has developed a suite of solutions that are individually tailored to provide operational visibility for firms of different sizes and capacity.

President Trump has signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act into law, which requires many employers to provide paid leave and expands FMLA for many employees

The continuation of panic buying and restocking has swung the DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index violently to the upside. Carriers are now in dominant pricing power position for the first time since we began this series in September.

The micromobility segment has arisen as an alternative transit option across major cities, and companies in the segment will need to be tactical in their approach to profitability.

Pennsylvania has closed its 65 rest stops, drawing the ire of the industry, as officials say they may reconsider.

Oil exporting countries might lose upto 85% of income this year; big 3 automakers partially close plants; Amazon suspends shipment of non-essential items.

Waymo announced that it will stop driver-monitored self-driving taxi services in Phoenix, Arizona. However, truly autonomous taxis will continue to function.

LoadStop provides a TMS solution that has a built-in compliance manager and an autonomous dispatcher that helps fleets find best-match loads in the spot market.

For fleets that run throughout the day and need high utilization, hydrogen fuel cells offer great value for investment, while also creating zero emissions.

In my previous life as a Truck Dealer, I habitually tracked our Gross Margin on both the Sales as well as the Parts/Service side (it was our lifeblood). Further, through my participation in benchmarking within the Dealer market, it reinforced the value of:

• Identifying and measuring your fixed and variable expenses relative to each other

• Always striving to increase Gross Margin (Revenue minus Variable Expenses)

Despite already wrestling with a challenging trucking industry, the situation is growing increasingly tougher as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread. As capacity goes through a state of flux, and the shipping community gets challenged with matching capacity with oscillating inventory and manufacturing challenges, the country’s trucking community will continue to find solutions.

Uber Works helps temporary workers connect directly with companies posting jobs via its digital marketplace and ensures workers get paid without delay.

Drones can speed up delivery times dramatically, but for the technology to be commercialized, a number of regulatory hurdles need to be cleared.

American consumers are panic buying goods from every aisle. To meet this spike in demand, shippers must procure trucking capacity at higher-than-contracted rates creating a significant 15 point swing to the carriers.

Nuclear verdicts have been a rising phenomenon in the trucking industry over the past decade. Are large lawsuits the cost of doing business, or is there a way to defend against them?

Aramco increases maximum sustainable production capacity; air freight rates soar as manufacturing resumes in China; Americans order food via contactless delivery methods.

Supply chains are a major source of carbon emissions. Switching to alternative fuel powertrains and improving equipment utilization levels can help reduce footprint.

Forbes magazine/Statista have named FreightWaves as 1 of 500 “America’s Best Startup Employers 2020.” Read about the criteria for the award and learn more about FreightWaves.