ArcBest makes its numbers but the quarter overall is weak
Most key metrics were lower for the LTL carrier/brokerage company.
Stay Up to Date on the LTL Industry
Less than truckload (LTL) refers to shipping services for relatively small loads of freight (typically between 150 and 15,000 pounds). One of the main benefits of the LTL industry is cost efficiency. LTL trucking allows shippers to combine several loads going to the same facility into one truck, creating economies of scale, with each shipper only paying for the space they use. On the flip side, LTL shipping can take longer to plan and organize. Shipments may also take longer since the truck has to be filled before it leaves and may have to make multiple stops or transfers on the way to a given destination .
The explosion in online shopping sparked by the pandemic has made a marked impact on the LTL industry. As online shopping grows, demand for LTL trucking has increased significantly, putting stress on an already-burdened industry. To better understand the state of the LTL industry, we teamed up with BlueGrace Logistics to survey shippers about their approaches to LTL trucking in today’s environment.
Download our report to learn more: Evolution of LTL
Most key metrics were lower for the LTL carrier/brokerage company.
Upgrading docking, a new Northeast hub to come and the “weekend advantage” all played a role in the improvements
UPS posts largely expected Q4 results as operating gains and nontax and after-tax charges cancel each other on the bottom line.
It’s a bold plan and FreightWaves’ Mark Solomon has plenty of experience covering XPO to give us a unique perspective.
New Penn Motor Express files change of operations proposal with union to obtain additional workers at three new regional velocity centers.
Rates seem to be recovering from 2019’s downward spiral.
Earlier this month, the CEO of XPO (NYSE:XPO), Brad Jacobs, announced that he intended divest operating units of XPO in an effort to maximize shareholder value. One thing was clear, however. Jacobs intended to hold onto the less-than-truckload (LTL) operations of XPO that were formerly known as Con-way. As part of our Online Haul of Fame Series, here is a look back at the history of Con-way.
FedEx Freight levies $7 `California compliance’ surcharge on all LTL shipments in, out and within the state
Brad Jacobs enters rich, leaves richer
FreightWaves CEO Craig Fuller writes about methods to lower diesel fuel expenses for large and small trucking companies.
With an impending breakup of the company, XPO Logistics will look like a far different company as the century’s third decade dawns.
Jevic Transportation was founded in 1981 in Delano, New Jersey by Karen and Harry Muhlschlegel. The Jevic name was a combination of the names of the three Muhlschlegel children. Founding a trucking company just one year after deregulation was ambitious, but the gamble proved profitable. Jevic enjoyed prosperity throughout the 1980s and the early 1990s.
Brian Aoaeh writes about the challenges and opportunities of logistics in Africa – and what will likely occur in the next few years.
Ben Thrower examines the issues surrounding California’s AB-5, which impacts truckers who are independent contractors.
XPO may be on verge of breaking itself as it says it will explore sale or spin off up to 4 business units
Market Expert Anthony Smith provides insight into the all-important housing market as 2020 gets underway.
Chris Henry runs fleet profitability benchmarking and analytics for FreightWaves and facilitates the TCA’s TPP program. If you are interested in benchmarking your fleet’s performance with the best operators, join […]
Seth Holm of FreightWaves Freight Intel Group writes about the impact of nuclear verdicts on the trucking industry. Will 2020 be a tipping point for these huge awards?
A number of readers responded to Brian Aoaeh’s 12/26/19 “Commentary: Trucking industry observations heading into 2020.” His current commentary features some of those responses and information from Anthony Campo, a trucking industry veteran.
McLean Trucking is one of the pioneers of the less-than-truckload (LTL) trucking industry. The company’s founder eventually became one of the pioneers of the global logistics and trade industry.
Top 25 less-than-truckload carrier Midwest Motor Express has been acquired by Red Arts Capital and Prudential Capital Partners.
Saia’s CFO leaves after just 8 months to return to reefer warehousing firm Americold
Averitt Express its first distribution center in Atlanta
Market Expert Zach Strickland provides timely advice for shippers that need to choose either a carrier or a 3PL.
If you had to name one of the most influential companies in trucking history, Consolidated Freightways (CF) would be near the top. While the trucking company, CF is no longer with us, the legacy of CF lives on through the companies it spun off, including Freightliner, CNF (which became part of XPO) and Purolator International.
XPO’s IT investments help offset weak macro environment for freight
Market Expert Anthony Smith writes about the factors that will affect the U.S. economy in 2020 and what that willl mean for business.
The operating realities of long-haul, for-hire trucking translates into working conditions that require both employee and independent contractor drivers to be away from home, and alone for days and sometimes weeks at a time. This combined with transit delays (both on the road and at customer facilities), and lifestyle-related health pressures (sleep deprivation and poor eating choices) are the primary causes of both short and long-term turnover.
FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller writes about the issues the trucking industry dealt with in 2019 and what is ahead in 2020.
Ben Thrower writes about what most in the trucking industry know – 2019 was a tough year for almost everyone.
Market expert David Faulkenberry explains the details of final mile delivery.
Brian Aoaeh writes about key trucking events in 2019 and looks ahead to 2020.
One of the leading load boards shuttered since Friday forcing customers to find workarounds.
Consumer demands and expectations are rising dramatically. Up to 25% of consumers are willing to pay extra for same-day delivery. Some estimate same-day delivery will reach a 25% market share […]
Kayla Matthews writes about best practices to manage fleets during the holidays.
FedEx’s lousy second quarter results are a cost issue first and foremost
One year after a sharply negative report sent shares plunging, XPO stock has more than recovered
Forward Air to become top 5 final-mile provider with acquisition of most of Linn Star
YRC swaps CFOs, names new chair as traffic levels weaken
It’s taken nearly a year for someone to publicly acknowledge that their company has benefited from the February bankruptcy and subsequent shutdown of less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier New England Motor Freight […]
Last Friday, December 6, FreightWaves reported that Celadon intended to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy and now the company has made it official. On the surface, it sounds like Chapter 11 […]
A number of trucking companies are expanding and/or upgrading their terminal systems.
Saia, Old Dominion fourth quarter updates show that one may be gaining at the expense of the other
Market Expert David Faulkenberry writes about the increasingly important “final mile” and why estimates of its size vary so widely.
Moving to a fixed quarterly RFP program with brokers has added consistency, accuracy and reliability to Bumble Bee’s relationship with intermediaries
Jim Blaze writes about the Alameda Corridor in Los Angeles, that takes some of the freight from the harbor to distribution centers. Is it still economically viable?
Freightquote by C.H. Robinson brings Robinson’s information advantage, capacity, and technology to small businesses.
Meet David Faulkenberry, FreightWaves final mile market expert, who joins the company’s deep bench after a storied career at XPO Logistics, 3PD, HomeDirect, GeoLogistics and more.
Mountain Valley Express, a less-than-truckload carrier headquartered in Stockton, California, has been acquired by an international buyer.
For anyone in and around the Corn Belt in 2019, the lasting effects of this spring’s flooding are still front and center in everyone’s mind. The economy has been impacted […]
ArcBest posts weak third quarter numbers for asset and non-asset units
YRC’s third quarter earnings show weakness at regionals, some resiliency at YRC Freight
Biesterfeld: “We expect that North American routing guides will continue to reset at lower prices.”
Fleet Advantage says that data supports shorter trade cycles for trailers, allowing fleets to benefit from newer technology.
While Hyundai’s HDC-6 Neptune hydrogen truck concept garnered most of the attention on Monday at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta, it was not the only innovative product […]
XPO Logistics stays ahead of macro weakness as net income, EPS jump in q3
Engines in Australian trucks may have been modified to allow them to break speed limits. Australian police have been reading premises across the country. In other Down Under News: APE eats up AHG; new boss for Orcoda; mobile phone driving surveillance laws; broken bridges; accident black spots; corporate debt.
Forward Air management guided for negative EPS growth in the fourth quarter.
Old Dominion posts first year-on-year revenue drop in 3 years as macro weakness hits home
Determining freight class is a key to shipping freight successfully. Learn more about the processes involved in this article.
Charley Dehoney writes about Jelani Hawkins, a former NFL player who has gone into trucking. Read about his new career.
Brexit is now only two weeks away but the dangers facing truckers and shippers continue to mount.
FedEx Freight goes national for its last-mile heavy freight deliveries
YRC Worldwide morphs into four U.S. divisions, 17 operating areas in effort to streamline operating structure
SMC3 has set its sights on providing data services to truckload after decades of serving LTL exclusively
Spain’s road transport sector faces a “profound” shortfall in drivers, says IRU
The 2019 Top Companies for Women to Work in Transportation also were recognized at the Women In Trucking conference.
YRC merges terminals in northern Michigan in first step of network optimization plan since landing new financing
Less-than-truckload volumes to continue to be pressured by weak September ISM report
The company is following through on a pledge to acquire 1,000 branded intermodal containers by the end of 2020.
Australian logistics continues to be dangerous for workers: a man was tragically crushed to death last week. In corporate Australia, companies are winning contracts. Meanwhile, trucks might get bigger in Australia, following an official recommendation.
Michael Welch dies. Had co-founded forerunner firm to what is now XPO Logistics
Ashley Furniture, Kellogg, Republic Plastics and Transport America are reducing empty miles and gaining support for sharing trailer space.
XPO Logistics may be getting back in the M&A game
Perception may not be reality, according to the American Transportation Research Institute, which says “discrimation” is the wrong word to use.
Technology is posed to assist the LTL shipping sector and in some cases, already has.
Saia’s expansion in the Northeast U.S. had its risks but appears to be paying off
Boris Blanche, managing director of the International Road Transport Union, believes upskilling, better recruitment practices and semi-autonomous trucking can help address the shortfall of drivers.
FedEx posts lousy fiscal q1 results but insists that the long-term outlook remains bright
FedEx passes on peak season surcharges but will hit the outsized stiff hard. Rates also to rise for 2020 services.
A. Duie Pyle extends service to the West Coast through partnership with Oak Harbor Freight
YRC Worldwide announces new debt financing agreement. The latest step in it’s latest restructuring.
Decision could make it easier for employers to make unilateral work-rule changes
Acquisition of Panalpina creates one of the world’s largest transport and logistics companies.
C.H. Robinson’s Bob Biesterfeld and Uber Freight’s Lior Ron will headline the Townhall Series at the upcoming CSCMP EDGE 2019 conference. The pair will discuss the changing nature of freight and address how technology is making that happen.
Roadrunner Transportation Systems announced that it has found a replacement for its chief financial officer role as the restructuring continues.
SONAR provides real-time data on Dorian’s progress and forecast, along with likely and actual impacts to transportation and energy infrastructure.
Even with all the publicity about the electronic logging device mandate, this year’s Roadcheck safety blitz in June still saw 37.2% of drivers placed out-of-service done so because of hours-of-service violations.
Old Dominion, ArcBest report sluggish monthly
Retailers of heavy goods like furniture face the same e-commerce delivery pressures as retailers shipping parcels, survey finds
FedEx Freight expands its last-mile delivery network to 19 US markets
Using data from FreightWaves SONAR, economist Ibrahiim Bayaan writes about the state of the U.S. retail market and what is ahead for this key sector.
FreightWaves chief analytics officer Dean Croke – who has also driven more than 2 million miles behind the wheel of heavy-duty trucks – previews Copilot by Pronto.
Women In Trucking will honor transportation firms at its Accelerate! Conference & Expo.
Logistics provider LBC Express (PSE: LBC) of Manila, the Philippines, has reported a massive rise in revenues in the second quarter of 2019 but a big slump in net profit after tax.
The new IMO regulation reducing ships’ sulfur oxide emissions aims to improve the health of the environment and human population, especially near coasts and ports. This also means increased costs and a shift in strategies for maritime shippers. A panel at the Edge 2019 conference will explore these regulations and their predicted effect on logistics.
Ohio-based container yard/terminal management software system Depot Systems has today been bought by Sydney, Australia-based WiseTech Global (ASX: WTC) for an undisclosed sum.
Australia’s road transport industry has a way to go in ensuring gender equity. Research has found that female workers encounter misogyny, bullying and discrimination. In other Down Under Trucking news: mistake is no defence to trucking crime; supermarket boosts safety after loading dock death; logistics giant snaps up drayage business; CTI Logistics expects a small profit.
FreightWise found a sweet spot in SaaS-based parcel and LTL managed transportation.
Global logistics provider Agility (DFM: AGLTY) reported a 20 percent increase in net profit for the second quarter of 2019. Agility reported a more modest rise in revenues.