December 2018

The roads are getting slick out there! Here’s a reminder of what to look out for.

Roadrunner Freight’s quarterly newsletters highlight what’s new in our company, recent blog posts, infographics and any upcoming news that we think is important for you to know!

Don’t get stuck in a bind waiting for next week’s pick ups! Our Enhanced Weekend Lanes can get your shipment on the road sooner!

Roadrunner Freight Named to the Inbound Logistics Top 100 Trucking Company List

Want to save time on LTL shipping? Our Rapid Pricing Program can help!

The addition of this capability extends Redwood’s diversified services beyond the Southern border and solidifies its position as an industry leader, with core competencies in multimodal brokerage, transportation management, supply […]

Redwood was named among the Freight.Tech 100, which recognizes the most innovative and disruptive companies in freight.

Redwood Logistics won MarketWaves Demo Day Best in Show for Eric Rempel’s and John Pattison’s demonstration of our primary middleware: RedwoodConnect.

Significant winter storm could ice over areas from Texas to Missouri this first week of the new year. Heavy snow to cover the southern Rockies.

Riverside Transport is making strides toward helping drivers achieve better health in 2019. The carrier, which prizes itself on its driver first culture, offers drivers access to gym memberships and nutrition education to help them make better food choices.

The British Government has made efforts to alleviate the expected congestion in the south-east of England if there is no Brexit deal with agreements with Danish, French and UK ferry operators who have agreed to increase capacity at ports away from the Dover region.

Black Smoke Matters, a group formed by truckers, is planning a nationwide shutdown on April 12 to protest several issues facing truckers.

But President Trump still hopeful a deal can be done; tariffs costing both sides billions, and truckers plan one-day labor action for April.

Locating intermodal assets and identifying which of those assets is available for use is one of the key attributes of Phillips Connect Technologies’ Intermodal Smart Solution.

Communicating safety is not always the easiest message to deliver. From drivers to executives—and everyone in between—safety is the core of your company culture and values. How you communicate your safety message is paramount to ensuring that everyone embraces your safety message and that it’s at the heart of every action they take. Download the eBook and learn how to sell safety in your fleet.

Joplin, Missouri-based Contract Freighter Inc (CFI) will “assume responsibility” for Chicago-based freight transport company, Optimal Freight, at the start of the New Year. Financial details of the transaction are not available at the time of writing.

The ELD mandate, tough to find drivers, going the last mile, precision railroading…the most intriguing stories of 2018.

The Surface Transportation Board, which regulates U.S. domestic transportation providers, has slightly adjusted its penalties upward to reflect annual inflation.

YM Wonderland and YM Wisdom will be deployed to THE Alliance’s Asia-Europe service.

Ashley Coker (PHOTO: FREIGHTWAVES STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Riverside Transport is making strides toward helping drivers achieve better health in 2019. The carrier, which prizes itself on its driver first culture, offers […]

Hundreds of manufacturing firms in China seek to take advantage of the vast national investment directed at renewable energy and battery storage technology. This motivates China to capitalize on metal resources necessary for launching the electric vehicle industry.

Logistics startup Opus9 provides automated and digital transportation services for small and medium companies to ship truckload and LTL nationwide.

Andrew Silver, CEO of MoLo Solutions, looked back at 2018 and talked about the challenges and joys of running a high-growth brokerage, December freight markets, and and MoLo’s plan for 2019.

Carriers lower rates heading to the West Coast this year as inbound container volumes flood the ports.

If you are involved in the process of arranging LTL freight shipments, you need to know about the most recent updates from the National Motor Freight Classification.

Telematics provider seeks to integrate data into easily consumable format for driver coaching.

Logistics startup SmartHop helps automate route planning and provides real-time dispatch advice for truckers, while also assisting shippers in sourcing capacity for their loads.

Hedging all those barrels coming out of the ground in the U.S. is creating downward pressure on prices.

The rapidly growing connected sensor and software company doubled its valuation and positioned for future progress ahead of what could be 2019’s “winter for venture capital.”

Reverse logistics is a big issue for clothing companies, but many don’t see it that way.

Contract Transport Services granted a popular Christmas wish for nearly 100 children: a brand new bicycle. The company gave the bikes to Green Bay, Wisconsin-area children in need this month. The effort was part of the CTS’s 4th Annual Holiday Bike Drive.

Jim Ward, President and CEO of DM Bowman of Williamsport, Maryland, talks with JP Hampstead from FreightWaves about Bowman’s evolution from a conventional truckload carrier to a full-service transportation and […]

Some roads in Mountain West could end up closed this weekend. Heavy snow and wind to give truckers a hard time.

Plus: The optical communications supply chain, carriers reflag ships ahead of Brexit, and Massachusetts to tackle pot delivery 

Adding blockchain to existing order fulfillment software product speeds up event recording required for invoice approval.

For many people, myself included, the holidays are a time for reflection and looking ahead at what’s to come. And although I tend to think making specific predictions is an […]

Trade associations warn of big disturbances in the event of a “cliff-edge” withdrawal.

The Government Accountability Office, a congressional body that acts as a watchdog of executive branch performance, did call for more documentation of decision-making.

More than 130,000 containers have made the trip up and down the James River.

Redstar Transport, a large long-distance and heavy-freight trucking business, collapsed in Australia after running out of cash just days before Christmas. Hundreds of people have been thrown out of work. Cargo has been returned to the depot. And the liquidation of Redstar may have wider consequences than is first apparent.

The regulatory body granted Stoneridge a five year exemption to install its MirrorEye camera monitoring system on trucks in lieu of two rear-view mirrors.

Three sister ships are slated to join the fleet in the first half of 2019.

Nighttime operations and mobility, sustainability and digitization projects are in the works.

The Cargotec company announced plans to buy TTS Group’s marine and offshore businesses in February.

DAT Solutions says reefer rates from McAllen, Texas, continue to reflect strong demand.

Cargo tonnage record among the milestones reached during the year.

Ashley Coker (PHOTO: CONTRACT TRANSPORT SERVICES) Contract Transport Services granted a popular Christmas wish for nearly 100 children: a brand new bicycle. The company gave the bikes to Green Bay, […]

Basic amenities rank high among truck drivers as improvements shippers can implement to improve driver experience.

Freight clearance at border crossing at ports could be susceptible to backups and delays if Washington lawmakers are unable to resolve the funding crisis sooner rather than later.

Alabama Motor Express is celebrating 30 years in business by performing 30 acts of kindness that touch both the trucking and logistics industry and the wider Alabama community, including raising driver wages and donating time and supplies to a local homeless shelter.

The European Shippers’ Council says that a no deal withdrawal from the European Union is the most likely scenario if the Conservative Government lose the ‘meaningful vote’ in mid-January and that could cause chaos on both sides of The Channel.

The tool would allow voice commands and voice recognition to do many things that a set of fingers is now required to complete.

BlueWater Reporting says the United States and China will continue to drive world trade.

Increased electric vehicle adoption could lead to higher fuel taxes; drone deliveries could be a nuisance to neighborhoods; EU believes that the U.K. might vote in favor of the Brexit agreement this January.

China’s government is making the port-city of Xiamen, in the south-east of the country, one of the main nodes oin its 21st Century version of the Silk Road. A major new initiative involving ports, road transport, maritime carriers, rail transport, common-marketing, a logistics single trade window and many other features are being set up in the City.

CEO Soren Skou tells Financial Times the company needs to do acquisitions in the logistics space.

TRAC Intermodal says inventory optimization as well as new and added equipment have eased shortages.

Tela Innovations named Acer, Asus, Lenovo and others in a complaint to the ITC alleging infringement of companies’ imports on Tela’s intellectual property rights.

The U.S. Department of Transportation expects to offer up to $902.5 million for its Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant program in fiscal year 2019.

With talks set to start as early as mid-January, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative shared its vision for approaching customs and trade remedies.

The agency is accepting input and will hold a hearing in February to gather more information on countries that provide inadequate IP rights protection to U.S. nationals.

Taiyo Life Insurance Co. is funding the project that is part of the shipping line’s medium-term management plan.

Ashley Coker (PHOTO: ALABAMA MOTOR EXPRESS) Alabama Motor Express is celebrating 30 years in business by performing 30 acts of kindness that touch both the trucking and logistics industry and […]

Prime offerings gained serious traction over holidays.

In recent years, Daseke has emerged as the de facto gorilla in this fragmented component of the North American transportation industry.

The formula for the rights offeirng could leave Elliott in control of more than 95% of the company’s outstanding common stock.

It’s a prime time for winter storms. Here’s a look at the snowiest cities in the United States (2016-2017).

A blockchain solution adds transparency to the transportation space.

Heavy snow, wind, severe storms to make travel difficult for truckers and holiday travelers returning to work. Delays likely from the Midwest to the eastern Rockies.

Gary Vaynerchuk, the chairman of VaynerMedia, is set to deliver the keynote address at Transparency19 conference in May next year.

Fatigue is a big driver-safety issue. SmartCap is wearable technology that helps drivers to monitor and manage their fatigue levels.

‘Tis nearly the season now for reverse logistics, but meanwhile retailers and parcel carriers are delivering strong results along with signals of steep changes in sales and shipping patterns this holiday season.

After a series of high-profile scandals involving the dumping of asbestos-containing waste on Sydney streets, the local authorities have welcomed a series of guilty pleas and court-imposed jail time on offenders. Meanwhile, the authorities have increased the value of fines and lengthened jail sentences for transport-related asbestos crimes.

Submitted for publication were nearly 1,000 exclusions from a first tranche of tariffs covering $34 billion worth of goods from China in 2017 import value.

The extension of the phaseout of 25 percent U.S. tariffs, agreed to during KORUS talks, was officially established in a presidential proclamation on Friday.

Traders look at the ratio between gold and oil. What did it say in 2018?

Railcars employed for the growing processed foods industry put the squeeze on the Tropicana.

C.H. Robinson’s vice president of Global Ocean Product expects to see ocean carriers putting profitability above rankings and volume in the coming year.

Commission employees have been placed on furlough and are prohibited by law from performing any duties during the shutdown.

An executive committee is elected in Louisiana and a managing director is hired in Italy.

Six of the submissions come from New Jersey and California; others are from Florida, New York, Texas and Virginia.

Chris Henry, Program Manager, TCA Profitability Program (PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK) If you’re in the Flatbed / Open Deck segment, you’re probably very familiar with the Daseke name. In recent years, Daseke […]

The state’s regulations for truck drivers differ from current federal rules.

David Bryan and Kari Dwyer of Keyturn demonstrated at MarketWaves 18 how their product can solve the data verification challenge prevalent along the construction supply chain.

We hope no one gets coal in their stocking tomorrow morning… But if you do, here’s a few facts about where it may have come from.

In this episode, Chad Prevost talks with various members of the industry about what it takes to handle the large volume of holiday freight while still getting drivers home for the holiday.

Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ: WERN) and CRST International made the list of 2019 Military Friendly® Companies. The only two truckload carriers to receive the designation, both companies were recognized for their commitment to supporting veterans and their families.

New center to employ 850 full-timers

The numbers year-on-year are still way up, but there’s been a definite sign of some slowdown.

Even the Port’s director agrees something needs to be done; East Coast port notches new record; ATA crows about California victory.

Bison Transport operates twin 53-foot trailers in Canada, and generally has lower rates of incidents than with single trailers.

Transfix is reportedly trying to raise a Series D that values the company at 10x gross revenues.

The incoming Senate Finance Committee chairman also expects agriculture to be included in U.S.-EU trade negotiations.

CargoChain aims to make it easier for all the parties in the supply chain – shippers, truckers, ports, authorities, everyone, to share what data they want, with who they want, how they want, when they want. It uses BlockChain to provide security and trust.

The United Kingdom’s Port of Dover has welcomed the government’s decision to join the Common Transit Convention , allowing trucks to pass through countries without border controls.

Ashley Coker SPC. TREY DODDS, A TRUCK DRIVER WITH THE 110TH COMPOSITE TRUCK COMPANY, ATTACHES A TRAILER TO A VEHICLE ON SEPT. 13, 2018, IN PREPARATION FOR DEPLOYMENT IN HURRICANE […]

Zoltek Corp., a carbon fiber manufacturer, netted a $7.77 million fine from OFAC for violating the U.S. government’s Belarus Sanctions Regulations.

The platform uses OCR and machine learning to streamline carrier payables.

The beleaguered carpet hauler was over-leveraged and running out of cash.

Carrier operating ratios continue to fall in October with a less volatile freight market.