trucking

In a controversial move that almost certainly will rile up anti-truck safety advocates, the federal government is moving ahead with a three-year pilot program that will allow some under-21 drivers to work in interstate commerce.

Over the course of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, shippers have been up against myriad challenges and changes, which have subsequently resulted in making changes on the fly, in various ways, in order to be able to adapt to a suddenly changing world, and, more specifically, logistics operations.

While 2019 was not the watershed year for trucking that 2018 was, it does not mean that 2019 was not a strong year for the sector. That thesis was firmly supported in data issued this week by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) in its “ATA American Trucking Trends 2020.”

The U.S. government entered the $46 billion less-than-truckload (LTL) industry by effectively purchasing 30% of financially troubled LTL giant YRC Worldwide in exchange for a badly needed $700 million cash infusion.

The April TCI (the most recent month for which data is available) came in at -28.66, topping the previous low of -16.08 recorded in September 2008, and far outpacing March’s -8.69.

It is pretty fair to say that the first quarter United States GDP number was going to be dismal. And now that presumption has become a reality, with the first quarter advanced estimate GDP tally, which was released today by the United States Department of Commerce, coming in at -4.8%, its lowest reading going back to the Great Recession period of 2008 and 2009 (and well off from the fourth quarter of 2019’s 2.1% GDP reading), as well as marking the first quarterly...

For product safety, supply chain leaders should consider using sensors on products and trailers to keep products safe.

Data released this week by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry’s not for profit research organization, focused on the continued impacts of COVID-19 business disruptions on the trucking industry. This follows an ATRI release issued last month.

Transfix, a New York-based logistics technology services provider that streamlines shipment data to better help shippers make informed decisions to optimize time and revenues, rolled out a new offering geared towards “exceptional carriers” that have shown reliability and strong performance metrics in moving freight with the company.

Trucking markets roiled. Supply chains turned upside down. Worries about truck drivers’ welfare and customers just staying in business. And unemployment rates that rival those of the Great Depression. Trucking executives say the word "disruption" does not begin to describe the impact of COVID-19 on freight volumes and demand. Forget about turning a profit, they say. Let’s just concentrate on staying in business.

On the heels of an active March, which largely saw notable gains for spot market load volumes and rates for van and reefer equipment, that were driven by various factors, including urgent orders, or restocking, of retail goods, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, spot truckload volume and rates saw significant declines from March 30-April 4, according to data issued this week by DAT.

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) and the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association Foundation (OOIDA Foundation) have been inundated with responses in conducting a joint research study to understand the numerous impacts that the Coronavirus pandemic is having on trucking operations. The research focuses heavily on a survey that solicits critical input from truck drivers and motor carrier staff who are encountering COVID-19 impacts such as limited shipper access, changing distribution patterns and traffic-related issues. The survey will close April 8. Results...

Following the March 13 national emergency declaration to provide hours-of-service regulatory relief to commercial vehicle drivers transporting emergency relief in response to the nationwide coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an expanded national emergency declaration yesterday.

For the first time this century, a man named Hoffa will not be leading the 1.4 million-member Teamsters union come 2022. James P. “Jim” Hoffa began the end of an era for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, telling The Detroit News he will not seek reelection just as the nation’s largest labor union last week makes a historic exit from government oversight.