After posting record earnings for the fourth quarter of 2018, the company is expecting its first quarter earnings to take a hit from lowered demand in the early months of 2019.

The overall winners were announced during TCA’s 81st Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday, March 11.

One session at TCA’s 81st Annual Convention, dubbed “Helping Your Independent Contractors When You Can’t ‘Help’ Them,” examined how motor carriers can enhance the experience of the owner-operators they contract without putting the “arm’s length” relationship in jeopardy.

TCA Retention Coach Ray Haight will speak at the National Recruiting and Retention Symposium in Ontario, Canada next month. The symposium, powered by TransRep, will focus on educating transportation industry leaders about recruitment, retention and human resources issues.

The logistics industry has been bombarded with years of overdue technological advancement ever since the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate went into effect. Technological advancement in the space has only increased since that pivotal moment, and brokerages have not been exempt from the pressure to keep up.

It is no secret that truck driving can take a toll on one’s physical wellbeing. From obesity to smoking, drivers consistently experience more risk factors for serious disease than other Americans. However, it is becoming clear that their mental health also takes a hit.

FreightWaves, Nodal Exchange, DAT and ABInBev hosted the seventh Freight Futures Road Show in St. Louis on Wednesday, February 27. The show introduced transportation and logistics leaders to Trucking Freight Futures.

About 40,000 pounds of broccoli was scattered across a metro Atlanta freeway after a truck overturned earlier this month. The broccoli was not met with the same zeal from passersby as last month’s frozen chicken spill.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed a bill that will allow drivers between the ages of 18 and 21 to operate a commercial vehicle for the purpose of interstate commerce in the state if and when they are permitted to do so by federal law.

New York has banned empty tractor trailers from portions of the New York State Thruway and some interstates in the western and central parts of the state due to high winds.

Jack Cooper Transport Company has announced its intention to stop yard management operations and lay off 425 employees at its Louisville, Kentucky terminal.

Food and beverages were among the top commodities targeted in North American cargo theft incidents last year, according to a recent report from BSI Supply Chain Services and Solutions.

The transportation giant will be using cloud-based software applications Load Track and Smart Capacity to improve its processes and make working with Schneider’s logistics division as seamless as possible for carriers and drivers.

There are currently about 30,000 carriers on the Uber Freight network, according to the company. That number is expected to continue to grow.

Electric vehicle startup Rivian announced a $700 million funding round led by Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) today, February 15. The investment comes after the Michigan-based company unveiled its all-electric R1T pickup and R1S SUV last fall.

San Francisco-based logistics provider Flexport is rumored to be in talks to raise about $500 million in a deal lead by SoftBank Group Corp. (OTC US: SFBTF), according to an article published on Axios Wednesday.

Driver detention has plagued the trucking industry for years,. Now that the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate is in effect and fleets are decked out with more technology than ever, carriers have a better view of just how much detention is costing them.

Driver detention has plagued the trucking industry for years. Now that the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate is in effect and fleets are decked out with more technology than ever, carriers have a better view of just how much detention is costing them.

Forbes has named Covenant Transport (NASDAQ: CVTI) one of America’s Best Employers For Diversity in 2019. Coming in at number 463, Covenant was the only truckload carrier to make the list.

Sponsored by Redwood LogisticsRedwood Logistics announced its acquisition of Strive Logistics Monday, cementing Redwood’s place as a top-15 truck broker and an emerging multimodal logistics provider with over $1 billion in freight under management.

Average length of haul has been trending up since October 2018, according to TCA data housed inside FreightWaves’ SONAR.

Old Dominion’s operating ratio (OR) improved 520 basis points in the fourth quarter, moving from 83.9 percent to 78.7 percent year-over-year. This is the third quarter in a row the company has posted an OR under 80 percent.

Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ: WERN) reported strong earnings in the fourth quarter of 2018, posting a diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.77. This topped analyst expectations, with the average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research coming in at $0.68.

Sponsored by Redwood LogisticsThird-party logistics (3PL) companies are attractive investments for private equity firms, enabling new companies in the space to grow faster than ever before. FreightWaves and Redwood Logistics teamed up to host a webinar on how the availability of private equity is shaking up the transportation space.

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) announced the appointment of three new vice presidents as part of its ongoing growth plans. With over 1,700 members, the association is the leading organization devoted to the North American third-party logistics (3PL) industry.

A professional truck driver attempted to cross a wooden bridge in rural Arkansas despite posted weight limit signs last week. Both the truck and the bridge ended up being submerged in the river below.

Their good deeds range from simple acts of kindness, such as fixing a flat tire, to heroic life-saving efforts, such as pulling someone from a burning vehicle and administering CPR.

The competition is open to all for-hire trucking companies operating 10 trucks or more in the United States or Canada. There is no cost to participate, and fleets do not have to be TCA members.

Schneider National (NYSE: SNDR) reported strong earnings again in the fourth quarter, beating analysts’ earnings per share (EPS) estimates of $0.46. The transportation giant posted adjusted diluted EPS of $0.49, up from 2017’s fourth quarter result of $0.33.

Driver detention has been causing headaches and lost wages for years, but the ELD mandate has shone a spotlight on the issue like never before. For the first time, carriers have the data to back up what they have always known.

Driver detention has been causing headaches and lost wages for years, but the ELD mandate has shone a spotlight on the issue like never before. For the first time, carriers have the data to back up what they have always known.

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive species from Asia that first appeared in Pennsylvania in 2014. Despite efforts to control the insect, known to be a prolific eater and breeder, it continued to spread. The bugs have now been spotted in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware and New York.

Covenant Transport (NASDAQ: CVTI) reported record revenue in the fourth quarter, beating analyst projections by $10.72 million. The company announced $272.3 million in total revenue, a 33.9% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2017.

TCA data housed inside FreightWaves’ SONAR indicates that just over 17% of the average truckload carrier’s utilized drivers identity as owner operators or independent contractors. That number has stayed fairly consistent over the last couple years and represents a significant percentage of drivers,

Sponsored by Redwood LogisticsWhile Redwood has moved freight in and out of the Southeast for quite some time, this acquisition provides the company with strong operational presence in the region. This geographical expansion is a key component of Redwood’s overall acquisition strategy.

The finalists were selected based on their safe driving records, their efforts to enhance the public image of the trucking industry and their overall contributions to their individual communities.

Class 8 truck orders dropped dramatically in both November and December, with orders dropping below deliveries in December.

Class 8 truck orders dropped dramatically in both November and December, with orders dropping below deliveries in December.

In the midst of the driver shortage and a growing economy, technology can be invaluable to brokers at third-party logistics providers working to secure reliable capacity for their customers.

After hosting two game-changing events in 2018, FreightWaves plans to shake up the conference circuit again this spring with Transparency19.

A truck hauling frozen chicken crashed in rural Alabama last week, spilling plastic-wrapped tenders onto the highway. The local sheriff’s office had to warn people against stopping to pick-up dinner from the scene of the accident.

The TCA Profitability Program, or TPP, is an exclusive performance benchmarking initiative. The program’s aim is to help member carriers improve performance and profitability.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation is embarking on a mission to improve safety conditions on a stretch of Interstate 80 that is prone to brutal winter conditions and high crash rates.

The existing U.S. 301 has been converted to a local roadway, with truck restrictions in place except local deliveries, according to the Delaware Department of Transportation.  

TriumphPay presented its product to a room of 1,000 transportation, technology and finance executives at MarktWaves18 in Dallas, Texas.

Trimble introduced a blockchain solution based on Hyperledger Fabric and demonstrated smart contract prototypes at MartWaves18 in Dallas for a group of transportation, technology and finance executives.

The spike in revenue per driver per week came alongside record container volumes at the Los Angeles, California ports. Both Los Angeles and Long Beach experienced a standout October in terms of loaded inbound container volume.

The Trucking Alliance is made-up of several well-known transportation companies, including Cargo Transporters, Dupré Logistics, JB Hunt Transport, KLLM Transport Services, Knight-Swift Transportation, Maverick USA and U.S. Xpress.

The liquor was stolen when the truck driver hauling the load stopped for dinner at Tampa Truck Stop on U.S. Highway 301. Sometime during the course of his meal, the driver noticed the trailer was no longer attached to his truck.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The number of trucks sold at auction rose to a more typical level in November, but pricing was unstable. Pricing trended lower with less consistency.

In the second installment, P&S Transportation Vice President of Human Resources Kim Daigle will provide carriers with practical ways to recruit more women drivers.

Two-axle vehicles without a special pass will rack up a $3.92 toll if it travels the entire stretch of road. That number climb to $7.84 for three-axle vehicles and $15.68 for four-axle vehicles, according to rates posted by North Carolina Turnpike Authority.

From driver health concerns to snow build-up on equipment, braving the winter months often requires carriers to plan in advance. Spireon hosted a webinar in collaboration with FreightWaves earlier this week to offer carriers tips on how to best prepare their drivers and their fleets for winter weather.

FreightWaves announced the Freight.Tech 25 at MarketWaves 18 last month. The list highlights the most innovative and disruptive companies in transportation and logistics. Digital freight broker Loadsmart snagged the number 22 spot on the list with its automated platform, which allows for server-to-server booking with no human interaction.

FreightWaves Founder and CEO Craig Fuller interviewed Chris Henry, program manager of the TCA Profitability Program, about TPP and Truckload Indexes during Henry’s recent visit to FreightWaves’ Chattanooga, Tennessee headquarters.

Analysts agree that freight market improvements are likely to slow in 2019, and carriers need to prepare now in order to weather the slowdown as effectively as possible.

Omnitracs Senior Data Scientist Emilie Worsham made the case for women drivers using performance and turnover data during Women In Trucking’s latest webinar.

Drivers traveling through Birmingham, Alabama should expect to spend extra time getting around the city for the next 14 months. Interstate 59/20 through the downtown area is expected to close for construction in January 2019. The anticipated reopening date is March 2020.

It is not uncommon for trucking business owners to receive unsolicited offers to purchase their businesses. These instances have become more prevalent in the current market, thanks to a combination of factors, including the driver shortage and buyers’ ability to pay.

FreightWaves Founder and CEO Craig Fuller interviewed Truckload Carriers Association Vice President of Government Affairs David Heller about some of today’s most relevant issues facing the truckload industry during Heller’s recent visit to FreightWaves’ Chattanooga, Tennessee headquarters.

While some truckload carriers tend to treat their brokerage operations as hobbies or support functions, Chattanooga-based Covenant Transport (NASDAQ: CVTI) is committed to fostering a relevant and prosperous brokerage firm with Covenant Transport Solutions. New hire Ben Caplenor, vice president of customer service, plays an integral role in that mission.

Despite many truckload carriers reporting record revenues and strong operating ratios, TCA data housed inside FreightWaves’ SONAR shows an anomalous jump in insurance expenses, spiking as high as 4.45% of total revenue at the end of October 2018.

HealthCheck360 Director of Health Coaching Trent Tangen said poor driver health is more of an epidemic than most people realize, with 69% of drivers being obese compared to 33% of U.S. adults.

FreightWaves announced the Freight.Tech 25 at MarketWaves 18 earlier this month. The list highlights the most innovative and disruptive companies in transportation and logistics. Industry giant FedEx (NYSE: FDX) ranked high on the list, coming in at number eight.

Brokerage revenue spiked as high as 13.67% in June when the spot market was blowing up, but as rates started to fall, revenues followed suit. By August, brokerage revenues sank to just 10.82%.

JD Walker’s son, Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Walker, was killed in Iraq over 11 years ago. In a few short weeks, Walker will deliver a truckload of remembrance wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery in honor of his son and other deceased veterans as part of the annual Wreaths Across America initiative.

Central Oregon Truck Company will wrap-up its cross-country tour hauling the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree with one last stop at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland this weekend before the tree is dropped off at its final destination.

Drivers at Swift Transportation, a subsidiary of Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KNX), now have the opportunity to earn college degrees online through Southern New Hampshire University’s College for America program.

At a time when used truck pricing is holding strong and new truck orders seem to surge month after month, many wonder when the proverbial crash is coming. Tam thinks the good times are likely to continue into 2019, with the market taking a turn in the second half of the year.

Even though the Department of Energy’s reported diesel per gallon price has risen 27% since early 2017, carriers have seen their net fuel expense per mile remain largely neutral.

Spireon hosted a webinar in collaboration with FreightWaves earlier this week to explore the importance of building a fleet safety culture and how to do it the right way.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance issued new guidance dissuading enforcement officials from waking up sleeping drivers in order to perform random inspections.

Deutsche Post DHL Group (XETRA: DPW) has taken a new approach to recruiting driving in Europe: offering to rotate them out of driving roles. Following a record-setting September, fleets continued to order trailers at near-record rates in October.

Fresh off strong third quarter earnings, Werner Enterprises (NASDAQ: WERN) President and CEO Derek Leathers was optimistic about the company’s future moving into peak season and beyond.

The webinar is planned for 2 p.m. EST or 11 a.m. PST on Thursday, Nov. 15.

Fatigue is one of the most common health and safety concerns among drivers on the road, and while sleep loss often plays a role in feeling fatigued, counting hours doesn’t always tell the whole story.

While transportation was not a front-of-the-ticket issue for politicians in the midterm elections, FreightWaves Managing Editor Brain Straight reported on some significant developments when it came to funding.

Schneider National (NYSE: SNDR) reported strong third quarter earnings, announcing $1.3 billion in operating revenue, a 15 percent increase compared to the third quarter of 2017.

The project is expected to allow for easier freight movement in the area, especially for trucks moving eastbound from northern Mississippi.  

Parking is a hot button issue across the transportation industry, but it certainly does not carry the same weight among drivers and those who manage transportation companies.

FreightWaves Chief Economist Ibrahiim Bayaan and FreightWaves Chief Analytics Officer Dean Croke explained what the data is saying about the freight market in this week’s monthly market update.

Ryder System (NYSE: R) reported record total revenue and record operating revenue for the third quarter. Both total and operating revenue grew across all business segments, which the company attributed to new business and higher volumes.

U.S. Xpress Enterprises recently announced the promotion of longtime employee Justin Harness from senior vice president of dedicated operations to chief marketing officer.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will no longer assume a commercial driver is always a human as autonomous trucking makes its way onto the scene.

Spireon hosted a webinar in collaboration with FreightWaves earlier this week to explore how the DRIVE-Safe Act could affect the driver shortage if it becomes law.

The number of trucks sold at auction climbed notably in September, and pricing trended lower. Model year 2015 trucks took a particularly hard hit thanks to higher volume and higher average mileage.

Driver iQ’s third quarter recruitment and retention survey found that driver turnover costs the truckload industry over $10.6 billion per year, and over one-third of fleets surveyed expect turnover to increase or remain the same.

Electric bikes and scooters are dominating the transit scene in U.S. metropolitan areas, and residents are beginning to see them as less of a solution and more of nuisance. Groups representing livestock, bee and fish haulers have petitioned DOT to allow them to drive up to 15 hours each day.

BM recently announced that its food supply chain network, IBM Food Trust, has become generally available and is now open for any member of the food ecosystem to join. The network aims to improve food safety and reduce waste.

Four new inbound truck lanes recently opened at Virginia International Gateway, increasing the capacity at the terminal’s gate complex by 30 percent.

In partnership with Reliance Partners …Learn how truck drivers can be more proactive about safety on the roadways in light of the recent increase in fatal crashes.  

The deal marks Transplace’s eighth acquisition in seven years, according to Transplace CEO Frank McGuigan.

The company provides location-specific, short-term weather forecasts by utilizing hyper-sensing technologies like wireless communication networks instead of depending solely on government radar.

Wolfe Research downgraded several trucking stocks Friday after their analysts revealed concerns over spot rates, according to Seeking Alpha

In addition to funding the FAA for the next five years, the bill includes language that could be used to further integrate unmanned aircraft systems, like drones, into the commercial landscape.

SambaSafety, powered by Vigillo, just announced the development of a new CSA scorecard utilizing item response theory methodology.