The Daily Dash: Truck platooning, Schneider sitting on cash and Big Brown surprises

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, a significant government platooning study will move forward with a California organization conducting the research. Plus, Schneider may be eyeing an acquisition, UPS’ provides a second-quarter earnings surprise and a lumber company bankruptcy means many carriers may be out thousands of dollars.

Platooning partners

The federal government has given a truck platooning project to a California organization that will study the benefits of platooning. California Partners for Advanced Transportation Technology will test the viability of platooning, and the results could influence federal safety regulations.

John Gallagher has the project details: Exclusive: Feds award major truck platooning contract to California PATH

Cash to spend

Schneider National (NYSE: SNDR) had a very good second quarter, and it is predicting good things in the third quarter. It also has been growing a war chest of $714 million, and it is looking to spend it.

Todd Maiden has the details on what Schneider plans to do with the cash: Schneider eyes deployment of growing cash balance

Big Brown rolls in the green

UPS (NYSE: UPS) blew away analysts’ expectations with its second-quarter earnings results, posting adjusted diluted earnings per share of $2.13, up 8.7% year-over-year and besting analysts’ $1.30 prediction.

Mark Solomon explains why the package giant performed so well: UPS blows away estimates with stunning second-quarter results

Get in line

Northland Corp., a major supplier of lumber, has filed for bankruptcy protection, and several trucking companies are among those owed thousands of dollars. The Kentucky-based company lists 199 creditors, including several flatbed carriers and brokerages.

Clarissa Hawes breaks down who is owed money: Carriers owed thousands after lumber processor files for bankruptcy

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WEX reports sharp drops in revenue and earnings during second quarter

Old Dominion held the line on costs, has slight uptick in OR even as volume dropped

DHL injects $1.6M into new Indianapolis life sciences facility

Coronavirus plant shutdowns crimp Dana’s cash in Q2

Jury awards $8 million to trucker run over by forklift

Werner model stands up during downturn

Did you miss this?

A depressed used truck market has dented Ryder’s earnings, as the company sold more vehicles than in 2019 but took in 33% less revenue from sales. And things are not looking bright on the used front, with a glut of inventory on hand.

John Kingston has a look at what all this means for Ryder moving forward: Ryder sees weak market for used vehicles lingering, and it has a lot of them

Hammer down, everyone.

Brian Straight

Managing Editor

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