News

FreightWaves data scientists are using GPS data to better understand truck movements through the busiest ports in North America—origin and destination, lanes, and the time it takes to get freight into retailers’ DC networks.

The improved Operating Ratio posted by Norfolk Southern wasn’t enough to stop analysts from asking about its comparison to that of CSX.

According to CB Insights, “the maritime shipping industry accounts for 90% of global trade and is only now beginning to leverage technology. This shift could have far-reaching impact on retailers, consumer goods companies, manufacturers, and more.” With this important industry in mind, CB Insights hosted a July 24 webinar to “explore how shipping companies and global ports are utilizing automation and blockchain technology to revolutionize the shipping industry,” taking a look at various aspects of the supply chain along the way.

NAFTA trade talks are back on the table, with Canada and Mexico hoping to ward off potential auto tariffs that could be levied by the U.S. if the agreement turns out to be unfavorable to its interests.

Beyond the Technology presented by LaunchIt Public Relations …Whether they are ordering brand new trucks or deciding which tires to purchase, fleet managers have a lot of choices to make. They are often making these choices while working to meet particular fuel efficiency objectives. That is where Vnomics comes in.

Freight markets continued to cool last week, but have stalled for the moment. Isolated markets showed increased activity around the international borders. What we should be looking at moving forward as we move into August?

Chassis lessors had raised objections to the agreement.

CN had a strong quarter as it comes out of system problems that stretch back into 2017.

Apology issued for emails falsely reporting potential bankruptcy.

Despite repeated efforts, confusion still reigns when it comes to hours-of-service compliance and when drivers can use personal conveyance or the agriculture exemptions available.

Supply chain software company awarded damages of $14.4 million.

Costs related to shutting down stand-alone container liner operation, grounding air cargo fleet cited.

Foreign affairs minister says businesses and workers on both sides of border impacted.

The Federal Maritime Commission has completed compromise agreements with eight non-vessel-operating common carriers, resulting in the recovery of $618,000 in civil penalties.

The Class I railroad will pay $1.2 million to the U.S. government and $1 million to West Virginia for the environmental damage caused by the derailment.

The Atlanta-based parcel giant saw its net income rise 7.3 percent year-over-year to $1.5 billion during the quarter.

Arrival of first magenta ship at Port of New York and New Jersey sign of “strong connectivity” with Asia.

The Class I railway also declared its third-quarter dividend to be paid to shareholders on Sept. 28.

Preliminary numbers on the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) June For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index shows a slight downturn in tonnage carried despite the generally robust economic numbers that should fuel freight demand. 

There is a fear on the part of some investors in the trucking space that a peak may have been reached.

Demand in the economy continues to grow at a solid pace at the start of the 3rd quarter, but a myriad of government survey results suggests that trucking capacity and concerns over tariffs have limited the performance of several sectors.

Among today’s highlights: a drop in spot rates, Werner comments on driver availability, Rhode Island collects more than expected

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) has inked a deal with the province of Guizhou for creating China’s first commercial hyperloop track.

Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …During a period of crisis in their lives, truck drivers often have nowhere to turn. But, there are several charities available to assist during these emotional times.

Leaders from several different safety advocacy groups came together to ask the U.S. Senate to add safeguards to the AV START Act (S. 1885), a bill that addresses autonomous vehicles.

Werner Enterprises had a strong second quarter, trouncing analyst consensus on its expected performance. Here are some of the highlights from its earnings release.

LxRoadFreight is the first customer relationship management solution designed specifically for U.S. trucking carriers and brokerage firms.

The Makassar Highway ran aground Tuesday while en route to the Port of Södertälje in Sweden.

Driver turnover percentage the lowest in 20 years.

CEO says company is well positioned despite uncertainties from “geopolitical headwinds and recent changes in trade policies.”

Irish port reports volumes increased by 5.2 percent in the first half of the year.

Aircraft manufacturer said the industry will need to double its current pilot pool between 2018 and 2037 to keep the world’s commercial aircraft fleet flying.

Company wants to add foreign components to gift sets packaged in Florida.

Forwarders will have instant access to contracted rates and capacity availability and will be able to book their cargo on specific flights.

Comments, objections and requests for hearings must be filed by Aug. 22.

The U.S. Council for International Business has formed a special committee within its membership to address the threat that illegal trade poses to global markets and industries.

Foreign components will be used in production of wire harnesses at Hampshire plant

Connecting the dots to bring value — and style — to the masses.

Container line alliances are cutting capacity on their transpacific services in anticipation of a major slowdown in the US-China trade relationship due to tariffs. We see downside risk for Union Pacific and BNSF intermodal volumes, as well as JB Hunt.

Aside from providing track and trace solutions, Loginext uses machine learning to provide organized logistics and field service management solutions in the most cost-optimized way.

Chainyard, North Carolina’s largest blockchain specialist, announces its alliance with Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

The driver pulling frac sand had drugs in his system and had numerous moving violations. That ultimately is what appears to have led to such an enormous penalty.

Small carriers enjoy 30% better retention rates than megas; container lines raise rates worldwide; truckload carriers try to capitalize on a historically favorable freight environment; Tesla begs its suppliers for cash back; LNG production is accelerating.

Sponsored by LaunchIt Public Relations…Susan Fall, president of LaunchIt Public Relations, tells us how to restore respect to the industry and make trucking a top choice career for the next generation.

Panelists from Redwood Logistics, Slync, the Trusted IoT Alliance, and Flux Protocol discussed the difficulties of pushing adoption of blockchain-powered IoT devices, despite the technology’s obvious potential.

In December 2017, XPO was considered an acquisition target by Amazon and Home Depot. We argue that there is a much better fit with this massive and storied trucking operation.

Driver iQ’s second quarter recruitment and retention survey found that, on average, carrier’s expect driver turnover to continue to climb alongside driver pay and sign-on bonuses. When results were broken down by carrier size, however, it became clear that there is a difference between how large and small carriers think about turnover.

Decision comes after U.S. District Court grants Federal Trade Commission’s motion for an injunction to block deal.

Although many of the changes were expected, there were a few surprises in the amended freight pricing requirements for NVOCCs, writes international trade attorney Carlos Rodriguez.

Thirty-four Democrats and one Republican opposed the measure, as 133 Democrats voted present at the insistence of House Democrat leadership.

Letter to key members of the Trump administration urges U.S. Customs and Border Protection to immediately issue Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act drawback regulations.

In a speech attacking the very premises of decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges, BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes laid out what traders really care about, and what makes futures exchanges successful.

Built by VT Halter Marine, El Coquí can carry containers and roll-on, roll-off cargo and is fueled with liquefied natural gas.

The Valencia Containerized Freight Index reflects the evolution of market rates for the export of full containers by sea from Valenciaport.

Appalachian Regional Port inland rail terminal slated to open in August.

Rapid growth in cargo volumes and spending has started to stretch domestic infrastructure to its limits, according to economist Donald Broughton.

The railcar lessor’s net income fell 27.3 percent from last year’s second quarter to $38.8 million.

Local stakeholders tell Senate Finance subcommittee federal programs could benefit from more opportunities for private-sector participation.

The WCI rose 5 percent year-over-year last week, but the SCFI is now down 9.5 percent compared with the same 2017 period.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman has asked the State Department to suspend removal of export controls currently in place for certain software.

Allianz review of shipping safety says “over the past decade, total losses of ships have declined by more than a third.”

Every day during the race, XPO Logistics is in charge of moving the mini-city that makes up the backbone of the Tour de France.

July has started off slower than carriers would like, showing normal freight patterns. Softer demand is also impacting utilization in the market.

Carriers that want to go carbon neutral can do so today. No need to wait for electric trucks.

The summer truck shows reflect a lot that’s good about trucking: fellowship, pride and contributions to the community

A deaf trucker got his CDL, got a pass from FMCSA, had a job, but Werner said the law wouldn’t allow it to hire him. Now the case is in court.

With Chinese tariffs on cherry imports rising to 50%, the Pacific Northwest braces for the impact on the 2018 season.

Family owned TEC Equipment operates 26 Mack and Volvo truck dealerships in five states. In June, the company opened a $30 million location in Fontana, CA. Here is a look at that facility.

Wolf Direct, an emerging U.S. transportation solutions provider has announced their membership in the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA).

Amazon (AMZN: NYSE) is a power player in the online grocery scene, with sales growing at a rate of 40 percent year-over-year.

After setting one record high after another in the early weeks of 2018, the weekly DAT Dry Van and Reefer Barometers have pulled back slightly before stabilizing in a strong growth range.

Tesla stocks fell by about 2.5% today after a Needham analyst raised concerns on the increased cancellations of Model 3 cars over different reasons like long waiting times, unavailability of base model and the expiration of the $7,500 credit.

Daimler Trucks North America is recalling 18,105 2018-2019 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles for a brake caliper mounting bolt issue, the company informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Covering 14 acres, TEC Equipment’s new Mack/Volvo dealership in Fontana, CA, is designed to improve customer service and features many driver amenities.

Heather Mueller from Breakthrough Fuels will look at the best fuel strategies for the trucking industry.

The U.K. has the second largest dairy trade deficit in the world, with 98% of all its dairy products being sourced from the EU. Once Brexit hits, the country might have a problem doing business like before.

Canadian Pacific turned in a relatively good report despite two labor interruptions; truckload carrier Heartland was solid across the board.

The global third-party logistics provider’s earnings grew 9.6 percent year-over-year.

Company had questioned decision to allow APL to put ships into trade.

French carrier acquires a 10 percent interest in terminal in Belgian port from China Shipping Ports.

Throughput at terminals operated by the Northwest Seaport Alliance grew 8.6 percent in June after three straight months of year-over-year declines.

The railway continues to invest in Mexico and remains on track with positive train control implementation.

The amendments are designed to expand choices for shippers, reduce regulatory requirements and increase efficiencies.

Deal brings Southern Air pilots’ wages in line with those of Atlas Air.

The temperature-sensitive truckload carrier’s operating revenues climbed almost 15 percent.

The trucking and logistics provider posted year-over-year increases of more than 20 percent in net income and revenues.

Woodioso Technology Ltd. may have to pay $160,500 for improperly documenting, packaging and shipping lithium ion batteries.

Each year, Fleet Advantage—a provider of fleet management analytics and solutions—publishes their Truck Lifecycle Data Index (TLDI). Its 2018 TLDI was released at the start of the month, and FreightWaves spoke to John Sternal, Director of PR and social media for Merit Mile for Fleet Advantage to contextualize their findings.

Volvo’s Q2 had the company’s sales earnings climb past hundred billion Swedish kronor, buoyed by double digit growth figures around the world except Europe, where its market has stabilized and is at the point of saturation.

Analysts have issues with the operating rate, and price increases that seem small compared to the transport sector as a whole.

Flatbed demand, railroads’ chemical carload volumes, and the price of WTI crude are all bullish signals for an historically hot freight environment to continue through the rest of the year.

FreightWaves Company Profile Pages are an innovative way for companies within the freight industry to showcase their company news, articles, videos, infographics, white papers, and other newsworthy content to the FreightWaves audience.

A new request for an HOS exemption, a stark quote from the Federal Reserve, and some news from the trade war front.

In partnership with Reliance Partners …With autonomous vehicles virtually at our doorstep, it is becoming mission critical for carriers and drivers to protect themselves. Points of vulnerability will be exploited by those who seek to cause harm, economically or otherwise.

Techpertise together with TMW Systems …We’ve known for years that public blockchains needed a second layer for throughput and privacy, but only now are solutions for the largest networks being built out and tested.

Mack will now offer the Lytx DriveCam safety program as a pre-wire option on Granite models, joining the TerraPro and LR cabover models offering the option.

Waste Management Holdings has applied for an hours of service exemption, asking the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to consider allowing its drivers to work extra hours without losing short-haul status.

Three separate services each will withdraw a sailing in the coming weeks.

The Oslo-based feeder containership owner has agreed to purchase a 1,740-TEU vessel for $13.86 million.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection currently cannot issue administrative protective orders in duty evasion investigations.