The causes cited for trucks hitting overpasses near New York are many: GPS instructions, not enough signs, driver unfamiliarity with the limited roads.
Sponsored by Reliance Partners…Other than the economy slowing and unemployment rising, is there a solution to the driver problem?
One of the largest wasted revenue opportunities for carriers in freight movement is when trailers move less than full. FR8Star has introduced a new partial load service to help change that.
To help alleviate the growing technician shortage, Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks are partnering with local colleges to develop training programs.
The American Trucking Associations and three Northeast-based motor carriers have sued Rhode Island over the implementation of truck-only tolls, claiming they are discriminatory and violate federal commerce laws.
The sleeper drivers at UPS, by the end of a five-year contract, would have rates that are approaching $1 per mile.
Hyliion has taken steps to help secure its pipeline of technology with the acquisition of Gentherm’s battery division and strategic partnerships with Toshiba and Dana Corp. as it seeks to further its hybrid-electric technology.
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a loophole that will allow glider kit manufacturers to avoid certain Obama-era emissions regulations and, effectively, build as many trucks as they deem fit, according to the New York Times.
The details in the company statement are not precise, but the all-in number for some drivers could be as high as 67.5 cts per mile.
An OOIDA executive took to the airwaves a few days after its ELD exemption request was denied, and he had a few things to get off his chest.
Dock411 says that 60% of truckers visit a new location each day and 70% have lost time because of unfamiliarity with a location. But that is only half the story. Once at a facility, many locations do not have amenities such as bathrooms for drivers.
Fleets ordered 41,800 new trucks in the month of June, making last month the busiest June on record. OEM stock prices rose on the news, and their order backlogs continued to lengthen.
The OOIDA request would have exempted companies meeting the definition of a small business along with various safety standards.
A rule last year by DOT on testing trucking applicants for drugs specifically left hair testing out, but the HHS needs guidelines if the push is to proceed.
A USDOT 3-year pilot program would allow drivers under the age of 21 and holding a military CDL to drive interstate commerce when sponsored by a participating trucking company.
UPS remains silent on the agreed-upon contract, but its union makes it look all but certain that Sunday delivery is coming.
Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …Drivers can potentially benefit from added flexibility by utilizing the current split sleeper provision allowed under hours-of-service laws.
The Jones Act has proved itself costly and irrelevant to the U.S. for long enough. Unfortunately, it will take more than an “act of God” to change the law. It will take an act of Congress.
The trucking industry isn’t at the point of no return yet, but it is at risk. Many of those jobs are heading into the increasingly efficient warehouses.
Solar power may not be the cure-all for reducing fuel costs, but it can provide assistance and achieve payback in relatively short time if used in the right applications.
Understanding hours-of-service and ELD regulations and their exemptions can help fleets better manage driver’s time.
To successfully market a new or existing product, a company needs the right mix of product innovation, marketing, sales and promotional efforts. Some companies are finding that outsourcing some or all of these functions can provide many benefits over in-house teams.
The FMCSA has posted a new infographic on its website, which it says it plans to update monthly.
Third-party supply chain provider NFI along with Penske Truck Leasing will take delivery of and test Daimler Trucks North America’s (DTNA) electric vehicles.
Months after the start of hard enforcement, there are still some drivers who know little about their ELD.
Most bills introduced now have little chance of passage, but this one may suggest something when reading between the lines.
A few thoughts in Today’s Pickup from a two-day visit to Washington.
Cutbacks dating back to 2015, strong economic growth and problems in a lot of producing countries have brought the oil market to this point.
Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to potentially develop commercial vehicles as part of a strategic alliance.
Penske Logistics has reached agreement in principle to acquire Epes Transport Systems, of Greensboro, NC. The deal, expected to be finalized in the next few weeks, will add over 1,200 units to Penske Logistics.
Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …For some owner-operators, Obamacare provided a path to insurance coverage. For others, the mandate was government overreach. This is starting to change, but what is not is the increasing costs of health care.
The free webinar will focus on how a driver and a fleet can prepare themselves for roadside inspections in a world governed by the ELD mandate.
Alleging that Prime Inc. put female truck drivers in harm’s way, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit this week against the carrier, alleging Prime did not take adequate steps to prevent sexual harassment of a female truck driver.
Delays by other railroads in implementing PTC is the basis for BNSF to request a delay in its end-year deadline.
U.S. Xpress overhauled its management and its capitalization to get to the public markets.
A class-action lawsuit against J.B. Hunt will head to trial this September after the Supreme Court refused to review the transportation giant’s appeal to overturn a ruling issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
There is now a bill in both the House and Senate that would repeal the 12% excise tax on new trucks and trailers.
Efforts are being made to exempt livestock and certain agricultural haulers from ELD and hour-of-service rules, but a trucking group and safety advocacy organization are fighting back.
The new Trucker Path whitepaper finds that 70% of truckers have had to violate HOS, and 96% have parked in areas not designated for trucks. 48% spend an hour or more to find safe truck parking, driving time that does not translate into fleet revenues.
Ag haulers are not only dealing with ELDs and hour-of-service uncertainty, but tariff talk is clouding the future outlook as well.
Daimler Trucks of North America reveals 2 new services that take a very datacentric approach. One of them will improve the driver experience.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations addressed the potential for hot button ELD exemptions in the report language of its fiscal year 2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) bill, but the issue was not tackled in the bill itself.
Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …Unless you are one of the many drivers who have proclaimed the next three days as vacation days, there is a good chance you will run into an inspection somewhere. If so, will you be prepared?
No longer just a tire company, Michelin is quickly becoming a “solutions” company as it positions itself as a business its customers can rely on regardless of their needs.
Freedom of movement in the 150-mile radius, and a loosening of the rules to get somewhere safely are part of FMCSA’s latest guidance.
Freedom of movement in the 150-mile radius, and a loosening of the rules to get somewhere safely are part of FMCSA’s latest guidance.
Most may not associate the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) with freight movement, but the organization is working hard to change that and the industry, launching a new transport decarbonization tool on Wednesday.
According to experts, platooning is a “now” technology ready for commercial operations, but there is still some resistance and operational challenges that must be overcome.
Michelin made a statement on Wednesday at the Movin’ On 2018 conference in Montreal when it announced its goal of recycling 100% of all tires globally by 2048 and using 80% sustainable materials in the production of those tires, also by that timeframe.
The future of mobility is going to require government regulation, according to panelists at the opening session of the Movin’ On by Michelin conference in Montreal.
Everyone sees the market as strong and staying that way, but are there other headwinds in the trucking sector?
Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …If your ELD provider suddenly shuts down service and goes out of business, do you know what to do?
Imagine the worst boss you’ve ever had looking over your shoulder all day and telling you what to do, and then once 14 hours have elapsed since you drove to work, you have to drop everything, stop work and take a 10-hour break regardless of the time of day.
Drivewyze PreClear weigh station bypass service is now offered at a total of seven sites in the Gem State.
An analyst summarizes a talk on digital brokerage, a truckers’ strike in Iran, and the prospects for ELD legislation.
The hard reality is that very little is getting passed in this Congress, and ELD-related legislation would need to break that pattern late in the game.
From parking to accident prediction, the vision is that the controversial machines are throwing off data that can be used by truckers in other applications.
The proposed legislation would radically change the HOS rule for the livestock industry, which describes its problems as unique.
On Tuesday, 35 companies gathered at Transparency18 to show off their tech-oriented products. These five were voted “Best in Show” by the event attendees.
The ELD mandate hasn’t created a capacity squeeze but there are other signs of how it has changed driver behavior.
Eye on Safety sponsored by SmartDrive …Using video to identify risky behaviors by drivers, but also complimenting them for a job well done.
FMCSA chief touts military program as a possible model for bringing in younger drivers.
Less than one week after announcing it was selling many of its business entities to TruckThat, One20 has said it will cease supporting its electronic logging device (ELD) as of June 18, 2018.
The trucking industry has a significant relationship with shale. Can shale in the U.S. remain successful if it doesn’t throw off cash?
There are a lot of exclusions but the goal is to raise funds for a road that is seen as a safety nightmare.
As fleets adopt more advanced safety system, the issues of initial and ongoing driver training become the primary vehicle to the success of those system.
Trucking interests, led by LTL carriers, have been pushing legislation that would allow 33-foot double trailers on American roadways. Opponents are ramping up efforts to stop it.
A usually non-controversial granting of free trade zone status is denied in the latest skirmish in the “drayage wars.”
In addition to the persistent need for more drivers within a fragmented industry, there are additional headwinds that the trucking industry faces makes trucker recruitment difficult, particularly regarding younger drivers.
Trailers orders dipped month-over-month in April, but for the 17th consecutive month they posted year-over-year gains.
According to at least one analyst, Tesla may be putting its ambitious Semi project on hold as it tries to solve its many other issues, including Model 3 production.
Eye on Safety sponsored by SmartDrive …Recent legislation has bipartisan backing, but can it progress in this Congress?
A truck driver probably isn’t going to choose which company to drive for based on a fuel card, but the cards are becoming a more important tool than ever before as part of the experience that more fleets are selling to attract and retain drivers.
Sponsored by Reliance Partners…Two very different approaches could give some breathing room to the tightening CDL driver shortage.
The union’s negotiating committee tosses three members, with the issue of 7-day delivery at the heart of the dispute.
The intensifying shortage of drivers is the result of several key issues relating to supply, demand, and new regulations—and is expected to have a significant impact on oil supply.
Seeva Technologies believes its targeted washer system will play an important role in the development of advanced vehicle safety technologies by keeping cameras, radar and windshields free of debris.
The earnings show a significant shift in salaries vs purchased transportation expenses.
Signs of movement over to rails, OOIDA sounds off on younger drivers, U2 puts its money into trucking.
Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …For truck owners, it’s become more important than ever to ensure you know where your truck is, because if you don’t, it’s going to cost you.
Trucking’s persistent parking problem is only getting worse. What’s being done to help solve the issue?
A Walmart worker loads a trailer inside a distribution center. Private fleets can provide significant value to their broader organizations, but they still must compete for business, which is why customer service ranks so high as a top concern.
Nikola Motor has sued Tesla for patent infringement on its Nikola One, at left. The Tesla model is at right. Nikola claims Tesla violated patents on door placement, wraparound windshield and the fuselage.
Allegations of threats, name-calling all as part of a schism in two trucking associations.
Calling the Hall of Fame honorees a “pretty impressive group,” Tom Moore, senior vice president of the National Private Truck Council, told the story of each of the four drivers before officially welcoming them to the NPTC Hall of Fame.
It’s OK for an employee to be on the HELP board. Beyond that, the state’s auditor is critical of several people’s behavior.
Tax changes have made leasing an even more inviting proposition for fleets, says the COO of Fleet Advantage.
Everyone’s interested in who is a shipper of choice, and if they’re not they want to know how they can become one.
NS had weak operating metrics in the first quarter, but strong performance. Hub sees a strong pricing environment for the rails.
The ATA and OOIDA are on different sides of this issue.
Drivers take a fixed percentage of every load, and the price of those loads is rising.
California is applying meal and rest break provisions to truck drivers that are in conflict with federal hours-of-service regulations, according to many in the industry. That is why so many are pushing to include the Denham Amendment in the FAA authorization bill.
Mack Trucks said it will have a fully electric Mack LR refuse truck model with an integrated Mack electric drivetrain operating in North America in 2019 and Freightliner introduced the EconicSD low-entry, cab-over-engine waste collection truck.
Sparks fly over jurisdiction, charges of conflict of interests and a weigh station alternative.
One aspect of increasing driver retention is to recognize the strong correlation between turnover and quality hiring.
Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …Truck operators have a number of regulations they must meet to operate in California, including trailer and refrigeration unit mandates. Failure to do so can lead to big fines.
Even with low unemployment, recruiters in a new survey indicate they expect an increase in driver job applicants, but they also expect driver turnover to rise as companies continue to boost pay and sign-on bonuses.
For all the innovations, the focus remains on driver comfort and safety.
While April 1 turned out not to be the total disaster so many predicted, the hard enforcement date has brought pain to some individual truck drivers and fleets who continue to be tripped up by common mistakes.
Irrespective of who wins the race to deploy the first fully autonomous vehicles, the unanimous view was that in the future, size is going to matter and carriers/OEMs will need balance sheets to be able to survive.
