Less than truckload

LTL executives highlight shippers moving spillover LTL freight to full truckload amid market weakness and low rates.

Transfix’s new feature aims to streamline logistics for small and midsize businesses by addressing manual processes and securing competitive rates, in line with an integrated marketplace approach.

FlockDirect uses real-time data to pool freight for multiple customers going in the same direction. The solution effectively dismantles the physical hub-and-spoke constraints that have defined the supply chain for more than a century.

Online marketplace uShip has been investing in technology, sales and partnerships in anticipation of when the freight economy surges again.

“Optym HaulPlan has enabled us to plan more efficiently and make adjustments to lanes quicker,” said Estes President and COO Webb Estes.

Brokers say some shippers are steering clear of the troubled trucking carrier. Other customers are flocking to Yellow.

Less-than-truckload booking platform MyCarrier is automating insurance coverage for the 10,000 shipments it is booking daily.

R2’s LTL service is designed specifically to service small-medium-sized shippers – bringing well-rounded expertise in one platform that gives shippers the same advantages of a large shipper.

AskWaves takes a look at managed transportation services in the less-than-truckload market.

The startup will hit an $11 million annual run rate in September.

Inside this edition: Know what the claims team needs to be successful; LTL quarterly results come in hot; and the tribe has spoken.

Roadrunner said Thursday it has completed the second phase of service enhancements in its metro-to-metro, less-than-truckload network.

Echo Global Logistics announced its first acquisition since being taken private last year. It signed an agreement to acquire temperature-controlled services provider Roadtex Transportation.

Banyan Technology has introduced a new first/final mile software offering for fleets, helping shippers and 3PLs connect with providers.

AskWaves looks into the growing amount of shipment detail needed when submitting an RFP.

Less-than-truckload carrier Yellow Corp. reported better-than-expected adjusted fourth-quarter results Wednesday after the market closed.

AskWaves looks at the impact general rate increases have on less-than-truckload rates.

Many LTL carriers have lowered caps from 16 linear feet to 12 linear feet, either denying freight that exceeds those limits or instituting punitive pricing measures that make moving it unaffordable.

Autonomy will ripple strongly through multiple modes, Lee Klaskow said during FreightWaves’ Domestic Supply Chain Summit.

Yellow Corp. President Darrel Harris has filled the company’s vacant chief operating officer role.

Electronic bill of lading capabilities in less-than-truckload shipping are growing in favor, according to shipping management platform MyCarrier.

SPS Commerce is collaborating with C.H. Robinson to open up new LTL capacity to retailers in need of space to move goods this holiday season.

Understanding the differences among truckloads

ArcBest said Wednesday an August tonnage decline in its asset-based segment was done intentionally so that it could better service its core less-than-truckload customers.

Less-than-truckload carrier Old Dominion reported strong operating trends for the first two months of the third quarter. The carrier said it will continue to reinvest in its network to achieve further market share wins.

“Operating systems should learn from the behaviors of these shippers and LTL carrier partners, record these exceptions and apply learning from them for future automation.”

Forward Air posts a quarterly record for operating income and revenue in the second quarter.

Forward Air reported first-quarter earnings results and issued second-quarter guidance that were both ahead of expectations.

Hunker down once more; things appear to be heating up for LTL demand heading into the summer months.

Less-than-truckload carrier Saia reported first-quarter earnings ahead of expectations and guided for second-quarter results to outpace normal seasonality.

Scientists and government leaders are pushing for a more sustainable supply chain. Consumers are paying attention.

Less-than-truckload carrier Yellow Corp. announces the departure of its COO and chief network officer. The company announced that its strategic initiatives head, Darrel Harris, will take over as president.

Forward Air’s growth plans net 11 new final-mile terminal locations in the first quarter. While recent activist shareholder interests called into question the company’s capital allocation strategy, it appears the final-mile segment remains part of the plan.

Roadrunner announced it has raised $50 million in equity through a private placement led by GlobalTranz and Emerge founder Andrew Leto. The company continues to advance its focus on the less-than-truckload market following a major restructuring.

Less-than-truckload carrier Saia announces the addition of its 20th facility in the Northeast in just the last four years. The LTL market continues to garner incremental investment dollars as demand rises.

Old Dominion Freight Line said Thursday it would add 800 drivers and more than 400 dockworkers and clerical personnel to meet “robust freight demand.”

Certified B Corporation Flock Freight raises the bar with a commitment to offset carbon emissions from FlockDirect shipments for customers.

Industry expectations surrounding information access and transparency have grown. Qualified IT professionals are required to meet these new demands.

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, an activist investor wants changes at Forward Air. Plus, a strong start to 2021 for LTL carriers; reshoring is coming into vogue; and recapping FreightWaves’ Health & Pharma Supply Chain virtual event.

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, raising fuel taxes could be an option to pay for infrastructure, and a truck driver who faced a life-or-death decision on a bridge is rewarded for his choice.

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, conditions remain favorable for LTLs and the overall freight environment. Plus, a new SPAC targets transportation companies in the heartland, and rising commodity prices could soon impact trucking.

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.

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.

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.

A congressional oversight report highlights flaws in the Defense Department’s designation of less-than-truckload carrier YRC Worldwide as a company vital to national security.

The Cass Freight Index sees sequential weakness in shipments but logs year-over-year improvement with expenditures data advancing.

The company pools multiple less-than-truckload shipments onto one truck.

YRC head Darren Hawkins has “a lot of confidence” heading into 2021. Network restructuring initiatives are expected to be greatly advanced as the carrier starts accepting delivery of new equipment.

ArcBest CEO Judy McReynolds talks about the company’s customer service model and how it has helped them thrive throughout the pandemic at FreightWaves LIVE @HOME on Thursday.

Logistics provider ArcBest is experiencing some of the strongest tonnage trends in the company’s history. The year-over-year comparisons turned positive in August and have continued to climb.

YRC Worldwide announced several changes in its third-quarter report. The biggest was that the carrier has already accessed CARES Act relief money to replenish its fleet.

Uncertainty will be the challenge to overcome as 2020 comes to a close. DDC’s Donna Kintop suggests carriers pay close attention to rising freight volumes, the ongoing pandemic and political tensions both domestic and abroad.

Less-than-truckload carrier Old Dominion looks to build on its record third-quarter operating ratio in what it expects will be a “robust” 2021.

Less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier Old Dominion sets a new operating record on its way to a 19-cents–per-share third-quarter earnings beat.

The CARES Act oversight commission is still waiting on a response from the Defense Department regarding its “national security” designation of YRC Worldwide, which allowed the carrier to obtain a pandemic relief loan.

FlockFreight pools together LTL freight and ships it via shared truckloads in full truckload containers instead.

Cass data for the month of August shows significant acceleration in demand and rates but the comparisons to 2019 still lag other data sources.

With many data points sitting at cycle highs, several industry participants are calling for the trucking market’s bull rally to last well into 2021.

YRC Worldwide reported trends worse than its competitors for the first two months of the third quarter. Recent postings show the carrier is moving forward on its turnaround by rationalizing its terminal network.

DDC’s Chad Crotty recommends carriers take a managed approach between tech integration and applying practical knowledge as a workforce planning strategy.

Shared truckload alleviates LTL pain points

Roadrunner fully exits truckload business and announces financial improvement. The company adds former Celadon CEO to the board.

FedEx Freight is expanding its freight distribution operation in Laredo, Texas, near the US-Mexico border.

Flock Freight, which is building a shared truckload solution for LTL loads, has achieved B Corp certification for its sustainability efforts.

YRC management believes it will take four to six quarters to complete $400 million worth of equipment replacement.

Old Dominion Freight Line says it has expanded its network of service centers by nine so far in 2020. The expansion will facilitate the carrier’s efforts to grow market share.

Cost initiatives and spot market freight ease the impacts of a choppy pandemic-impacted freight market. ArcBest’s improving trends lead to reinstated wages and benefits.

The truckload carriers have reported solid results to start second quarter earnings season, but some load data is still lagging.

After delisting from the NYSE, Roadrunner Transportation Systems announces it will add three new less-than-truckload facilities this summer. The expansion is part of its re-organization focused on asset-light offerings.

Since last year, Banyan Technology has offered LTL carriers a tool to provide special pricing incentives to shippers. Now it is adding data insights to make that tool more effective.

YRC’s $700 million loan from the Treasury Department raises concerns from industry experts about the survival of the company and whether the deal is worth it.

Deutsche Bank analyst Amit Mehrotra favors a few transportation stocks as the second quarter comes to a close.

Canadian environmental services company Aevitas adds flatbed fleet with the acquisition of Fast Lane Freight Services.

Data shows that such preferred carriers are four times more likely to win new loads and customers.

FourKites says it has cracked the code on delivering more accurate ETA information for LTL shipments

Less-than-truckload demand appears to have bounced off of an April bottom according to reports from carriers.

While less-than-truckload volumes may not have rebounded sequentially from April, one sell-side analyst sees acceleration in recent weeks as bullish for the industry.

YRC beats expectations with the benefit of outsized gains on sales. Noting volumes were down 24% in April, management says it likely won’t satisfy debt covenants into 2021 and it opts out of questions on its call.

ArcBest sees “one of the best first quarters” in company history, but COVID-19-related demand headwinds took a toll on April’s results.

Chief marketing officer, service center manager and executive vice president are named.

The global pandemic offers industry players the chance to trade competition for collaboration and disrupt the status quo.

Saia’s first quarter performance placed its recent terminal expansion campaign on full display. Unfortunately, COVID-19 headwinds will mask near-term results.

Declines in trucking shipments and spend, current and future, highlight the takeaways from U.S. Bank’s first-quarter Freight Payment Index report.

Canadian transportation and logistics company says it laid off or furloughed 1,000 employees as it posts first-quarter results.

With the belt tightened at YRC, a covenant waiver and benefits contribution deferral are still required.

Two former UPS executives have new roles with Atlanta-based companies and a service center manager is named.

ArcBest battens the hatches on coronavirus concerns. The company draws down available credit and implements business continuity plan.

Roadrunner seeks voluntary delisting from the NYSE as it continues its reorganization and focuses on asset-light offerings.

Citing a deterioration in market conditions, XPO announces that it is no longer looking to spin-off its separate business units.

Three months after its formation, Anthym Logistics sells to BlueGrace.

Tonnage headwinds and better yields are the story so far in 2020. Old Dominion Freight Line reports modest revenue decline.

Polaris Transportation Group will get access to more freight for its Canada-to-U.S. less-than-truckload business with the purchase of Toronto-area 3PL brokerage PRI Logistics.

Continued strength in northbound less-than-truckload pricing helps drive Canadian shippers’ freight costs in December, the latest results from the Canadian General Freight Index show.

Old Dominion Freight Line announces a 4.9% general rate increase after reporting market stabilization in January.

Acquisitions and strong less-than-truckload performance help bring record revenue to Mullen Group’s trucking and logistics business and offset declines from its struggling oil services.

Darren Prokop writes about the volatility in trucking, and how ecommerce may help less-than-truckload carriers recover in 2020.

Old Dominion Freight Line sponsors Major League Baseball, and for eight of the 30 MLB teams, the less-than-truckload carrier helps make Florida and Arizona feel like home for six weeks of spring training.

Anthony and Zach break down the less-than-truckload sector and talk about its connection with truckload along with giving a quick update on the latest economic and freight market trends.

US Bank reports declines in freight payment transactions during the fourth quarter. The report signals an improvement on the horizon as truck capacity declines.