There is a lot of work being done behind the scenes involving some of the biggest names in and out of transportation, when it comes to driverless vehicles and trucks.
BCOs move toward LTL as intermodal rates rise on box scarcity
A growing shortage of ocean containers is raising the cost of getting goods inland and putting more freight into less-than-truckload (LTL) networks closer to ports, trucking companies say. The amount of ocean freight transloaded into domestic trailers as well as intermodal containers long has been growing, but costs associated with repositioning containers are speeding the […]
ATA Announces First Annual Economic Summit
American Trucking Associations announced it will be hosting the first annual ATA Economic Summit July 20 in Arlington, Va., for its motor carrier and private fleet members. The Summit will bring together chief economists from several trade associations for an outlook on their respective industries, spanning from manufacturing to construction to retail. Attendees will gain […]
U.S. hopes to launch NAFTA talks in just over 90 days: Ross
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Friday that he hopes to launch formal talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico in a little over three months, setting in motion a campaign promise made by President Donald Trump.
Industrial demand drives up US spot truckload rates
Those looking for a trigger for higher US truck rates may find one in the spot market. US spot truckload rates shot up in early March, after weeks trailing higher freight volumes. Dry van spot rates rose in 56 of the 100 top truckload lanes, DAT Solutions said, led by outbound rates from Memphis, Tennessee, […]
FMCSA report affirms current, less restrictive hours of service rules
After some two years, rules governing truckers’ use of a 34-hour restart have been settled by a report issued by the Department of Transportation. The new study confirms that truckers’ 34-hour restarts will not require two 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. periods and will not be limited to once per week.
FTR: Class 8 orders up another 5% in February
Net orders for North American Class 8 trucks totaled 22,900 units in February 2017, up 5 percent from the previous month and 28 percent from the previous year, according to freight transportation analyst FTR.
Who’s to Blame for the Trucker Shortage?
Help wanted: America needs truck drivers. In 2015, American Trucking Associations estimated that for-hire trucking companies had nearly 50,000 fewer drivers than they needed. The shortage was less severe in 2016, but the trade group expects it to worsen in coming years. (This article requires a subscription to the Wall Street Journal. To subscribe, please […]
Less-Than-Truckload: “Upbeat” outlook for 2017
As we roll into 2017, it’s clear that the $36 billion less-than-truckload (LTL) sector is enjoying a financial renaissance as carriers continue their new-found pricing discipline and resist the urge to expand capacity beyond fulfilling immediate shipper needs.
Major carriers’ group opposes driverless trucks
A trucking industry group of major carriers opposes deployment of fully autonomous, driverless trucks. In a statement Tuesday, Feb. 28, the Alliance for Driver Safety and Security says it “supports the development” of automated truck technology, as long as deployment of such technology doesn’t leave unmanned trucks on U.S. highways.