Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Laredo gets its third cold storage inspection facility; a Texas trucking company is acquired by Phoenix Logistics; SE-Freight gets 30 Kenworth trucks; and Revere Plastics acquires a Mexican factory.
Online training provider launches new defensive driving program for truck drivers as the FBI warns of possible armed protests at all 50 state capitols and in Washington, D.C.
In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, driver medical exams may be missing, according to a watchdog. Plus, freight rates continue their surge and FMCSA plans to study additional sleeper berth flexibility.
Tender volumes accelerate, driven by strong, stimulus-fueled consumer spending.
The position is seen as a nod to the growing complexity of Prologis’ business.
The levy will apply to customers tendering 30,000 weekly parcels from Jan. 4 to Jan. 31.
Three-judge panel upholds determination by FMCSA that the agency preempts California’s meal/rest break rules
Berlin-based digital freight brokerage Sennder closed a $160 million series, exceeding a $1 billion valuation.
The second issue of FreightWaves Truck Talk looks at the past, present and future of WorkHorse Group.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently launched a weekly data report on current market trends for key imported crops from Mexico and Canada.
New 25-driver subcommittee will give FMCSA direct feedback on safety issues.
The California Supreme Court rules the ABC test can be a factor in new and old worker classification litigation. If AB5 is lifted in California, it will add to the growing role for the B prong in the state’s trucking sector
FMCSA agrees to take action after OIG warns of weaknesses in its medical examiner registry.
CIEM’s Pioneer Chassis is gearing up to play a key role in squelching port bottlenecks and filling the chassis shortage gap.
In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon talks innovation, sustainability and more in a CES speech. Plus, FMCSA names new members to a safety advisory panel and Navistar plans to close an Illinois plant.
When he tried to sell GM’s iconic Hummer brand to the Chinese a decade ago, Jim Taylor never imagined he would import tiny electric delivery van bodies from China to finish in the plant that spawned the hulking SUV.
Penske Logistics “strongly refutes” claims by Loves but defers other comments.
The December rates subindex jumped 13% year-over-year, setting the stage for big rate hikes in 2021, according to Cass data.
Reliance Partners’ Brian Runnels fears that relaxed regulations may result in an uptick in CDL fraud in driver schools.
An FMCSA pilot project is considering 6/4 and 5/5 split rest periods for sleeper-berth drivers.
Also on the podcast: The 10-week run of higher DOE diesel prices and whether they’ll continue
A Prologis and MIT study said the holiday peak season in 2020 was the most environmentally friendly yet. E-commerce dominated 2020 consumer buying trends, drastically reducing the number of individual trips to the store.
Cross-border trade is strong but could be affected by everything from driver shortages to the freight imbalance to the Mexican peso in 2021. FreightWaves recently caught up with Troy Ryley […]
FourKites has announced that a record 382 carriers, brokers and 3PLs have been named to its Q4 Premier Carrier List, recognizing the top-performing companies for visibility.
“Tai reduces the number of clicks needed to run your operation,” said Tai Software’s Vice President of Sales Sean McGillicuddy. “We’re providing brokers a centralized platform for everything that they do.”
2020 was supposed to be a year when trailer orders dropped after racing ahead of Class 8 tractor reservations. Even with practically no orders in April, annual trailer bookings blew away early-year predictions.
In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, civil penalties for drug and alcohol violations could jump under a proposed rule. Plus, the holiday shipping season trned out better than most expected, and California unveils a plan to invest in clean vehicles.
Tayland Rahim, 27, of Gladstone, Missouri, an ex-Swift truck driver, was shot multiple times after troopers claim he drove to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s local headquarters in Lee’s Summit with an assault-style rifle, firing several rounds.
Navistar is selling an engine-testing facility in Illinois to an industrial park developer, laying off 250 employees by the end of the year. The need for engine testing is shrinking amid the industry transition to alternative propulsion like battery-electric vehicles.
Deutsche Post DHL’s Express and E-Commerce units report strong numbers.
Each company is the other’s “preferred partner” in the factoring/truck stop cooperation
The North American Council for Freight Efficiency will focus on electric vehicles for its third Run on Less demonstration, an exploration of what works and what needs work in the battery-electric commercial vehicle space.
The land borders between the United States, Canada and Mexico will remain closed until at least another 30 days.
While truckers spend hours on the road each day, they can use a variety of exercises when they aren’t behind the wheel to remain alert and healthy.
FMCSA’s safety advisory committee for 2021 adds two trucking companies and four women.
Surging activity around logistics properties dominated the headlines in a fourth-quarter industrial real estate report. The strong trends are expected to advance into 2021 with some moderation seen as more supply comes online.
Commercial vehicle electrification developer Proterra Inc. will go public via a reverse merger with special purpose acquisition company ArcLight Clean Transportation Corp. Daimler Trucks is among lead investors raising $648 million Proterra is expected to receive.
Officials in Mexico unveiled plans Tuesday for an industrial development that includes a logistics center and airport aimed at boosting international trade.
OneRail’s $6.7 million in late seed financing will help the delivery orchestration and fulfillment platform scale its business development, sales and marketing operations.
In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, the U.S. DOT has laid out its strategic plan for safely deploying autonomous trucks and passenger vehicles. Plus, LTL volumes stayed strong in December, and XPO names the head of its logistics spinoff.
A new pairing between C.H. Robinson and SAS has no clear precedent as the large 3PL and a source of massive amounts of data on retail movements get together in a new initiative.
ShipMatrix reports a solid performance by carriers, while a Convey survey shows that U.S. consumers were tolerant of shipping issues.
Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse penalties of up to $5,833 issued by FMCSA are more than double what had been used as guidance over the past two years
DHL Supply Chain experts share how the company has adapted its sustainability efforts due to the COVID-19 pandemic and offer sustainability tips for businesses.
California’s proposed 2021-22 budget would sink $1.5 billion into clean trucks, buses and cars, as well as infrastructure to fuel those vehicles.
General Motors has created a new battery-electric first-to-last-mile business eyeing an $850 billion delivery market. Following a second pilot program, FedEx Express is slated to get the first 500 units of the EV600.
A roundup of the latest trade news in the world of freight tech and autonomous trucking. Embark, Kodiak and TuSimple join Self-Driving Coalition Embark, Kodiak and TuSimple became the first […]
Temperature-controlled carrier Nagle Toledo announced a 17% pay increase for its drivers. The company was one of the first to start paying drivers a straight salary.
Cawston, Chowdhury are tapped for top positions at the new company.
Electric vehicle chassis maker Motiv Power Systems has secured $20 million in debt financing from Crescent Cove Advisors.
In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, could an influx of capacity drive down spot rates? Plus, ArcBest President Tim Thorne is retiring, and federal regulators consider nixing a vision exemption for CDL holders.
The Postal Service’s Priority Mail Cubic may be the best value in parcel shipping, for those who qualify for it.
A Mexico-based driver involved in a multivehicle crash in Georgia has been prohibited from operating commercial trucks in the U.S. by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
DOT Chief Elaine Chao announced a plan for autonomous vehicles on her last day at the department.
ORBCOMM’s privately transacted $200 million refinancing means the ELD provider is entering 2021 with a markedly different balance sheet than in recent years.
Deutsche Bank’s December geofencing data suggests LTL volumes continued the positive trends seen in the first two months of the fourth quarter.
The Seattle-based e-tailer currently operates 10 sites in Detroit that support customer fulfillment and delivery operations.
A parameter setting in 20,000 Navistar work trucks can allow engine revving during power takeoff to overwhelm the parking brake and allow the truck to move. It is the truck maker’s second recall for the condition in a year.
With factories across Mexico getting back to full capacity in 2021, the cross-border freight market is already impacting truckload capacity, supply chains and trade strategy.
FMCSA wants to replace the current vision program by giving medical examiners the ability qualify drivers.
The marriage of consultancies underscores parcel delivery’s growing appeal.
ABF Freight head Tim Thorne announces his retirement after a 31-year career with the less-than-truckload carrier. ABF’s current VP of linehaul, Seth Runser, will become the carrier’s new president in July.
Driver hiring is the first step in building a safer fleet. A simple five-step approach ensures this process is conducted properly and the drivers you hire represent the least amount of risk.
Canadian last-mile delivery company partners with California’s Royale EV to electrify vehicle fleets.
Kodiak Robotics, one of a handful of startups aiming to automate commercial trucking, has successfully completed “disengage-free” deliveries on a 205-mile stretch of Texas highway.
Dachser promotes Burkhard Eling to CEO; GlobalTranz hires Bryan Foe as SVP; the Containerization & Intermodal Institute appoints Randy Bayles to its board; and Illinois Railroad Association taps Michelle Kelm as executive director.
Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Border bridge project gets presidential permit; Honda to build electric vehicle in Mexico; Texas-based Spirit Truck Lines acquired by Forgelight; and CBP seizes meth hidden in tortilla press.
The purchase of 12.5 million shares of Hyliion stock with warrants issued to initial stock purchasers in SPAC sponsor Tortoise Acquisition Corp. netted $142 million for the hybrid truck driveline maker.
Trucking groups OOIDA, WSTA and ATA condemn the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol, call for truckers to focus on policy, not politics.
In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, the freight bull market shows no signs of slowing; Chao says goodbye; and trucking continues to add jobs.
Q1 should be one of the stronger first quarters in recent history from a consumer and freight volume standpoint.
For the second month in a row, China was the main trading partner of the U.S., followed by Mexico, Canada and Japan.
The deal with NorthPoint, believed to be valued at $160 million, ends US Steel’s 67-year ownership of the complex.
Uber’s stock dips on a report that Goldman Sachs is looking to unload 38 million shares. The company has made several moves recently to shore up the balance sheet and sustain its cash-intensive brokerage segment.
Road Hunter, a popular navigation app for truckers, surveyed its users to find out more about their ELD providers. The app’s founder said there is a huge market for truckers potentially willing to switch ELD providers.
Expect better times in 2021, industry observer says
First-round borrowers can get more money in the second round but need to show some financial downturn to do so
MSU’s Miller: Not seasonally adjusted numbers show a market with some weakness but trends are still higher
Here is the first issue of FreightWaves Truck Talk, a weekly newsletter adding perspective, context and commentary to industry news and trends.
The Swiss logistics giant Kuehne + Nagel has extensive pharmaceutical experience and will handle the storage and transportation of COVID-19 vaccines for Moderna around the world.
With 2020 in the rearview, there are promising signs that point towards industry growth if one crucial thing takes place: tight inventory levels need to be replenished.
Truck transportation jobs grew by more than 7,000 last month, but that number remains well below year-ago levels.
Emerge founder Andrew Leto and content marketing expert and best-selling author Joe Pulizzi will keynote FreightWaves’ upcoming virtual Sales & Marketing Summit.
In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has resigned. Plus, safety groups are concerned about an HOS exemption for ag haulers, and a worker classification rule could be scrapped.
The Geotab reseller segment will be the initial target for VideoProtects transport technology, which J. J. Keller has acquired.
Traffic is expected to spike 23% compared to the highest-volume period in last year’s peak.
A rideshare drivers union that has helped push up wages and benefits for gig economy workers in New York City has expanded to Chicago.
Truckers need snacks that provide energy and curb hunger to stay alert between rest breaks.
Getting people to think about visibility in a more dynamic and collaborative manner requires dismantling the idea that visibility refers only to a moving dot on a map.
Reliance Partners’ Brian Runnels explains that driver trainers should be everything from instructor and mentor to trainer, psychologist and friend to their students.
UBS equity research analyst Tom Wadewitz’s 2021 outlook calls for a continuation of healthy freight activity during the first half of the year with a little more uncertainty in the back half.
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is first cabinet head to quit after storming of U.S. Capitol.
Volvo’s decision to discontinue the sale of Class 8 trucks in Mexico concerns cross-border carriers’ ability to resell vehicles.
FMCSA rule expanding definition of ag commodities called “meritless and reckless” by group of safety advocates.
Consumer goods demand, recovery in manufacturing and shortage of drivers combine to create profits that fleets spend to upgrade and expand truck capacity.
Evans Transportation needed to update its TMS platform but couldn’t find exactly what it was looking for in the marketplace, so it built its own system.
Revised from earlier Department of Labor rule, it isn’t expected to survive an early Biden administration review
Reflecting on how consumer behaviors influenced changes in sourcing and shipping.
In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, YRC’s government loan is coming under increased scrutiny. Plus, the 20 Best Fleets to Drive For are named and a bill to allow truck drivers to carry a concealed weapon has been introduced in Congress.
As e-commerce continues to surge, consumers are demanding more sustainable practices throughout the supply chain. Reusable packaging solutions and strategic container designs are emerging.
