Ashley Coker IMAGE: JIM ALLEN / FREIGHTWAVES 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. On the physical side, […]

IMAGE: JIM ALLEN / FREIGHTWAVES By TCA Vice President of Government Affairs Dave Heller & TCA Manager of Government Affairs Kathryn Sanner February saw the start of Congress’ work on infrastructure reform. The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee has held two hearings on the subject so far, with more to come. The Senate Commerce Committee […]

Chris Henry, Program Manager, TCA Profitability Program (PHOTO: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES) One of the most frequent questions I get asked is, “What are the best KPIs that we/I should be tracking in my/our business?”. The answer can be dramatically different depending on your operating mode and model. To exacerbate the problem, from a benchmarking (comparison) point […]

Ashley Coker IMAGE: WIKIPEDIA COMMONS 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. After a truck spilled chicken tenders across an Alabama highway, local law enforcement officials […]

Ashley Coker IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK 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. The impetus to allow younger drivers […]

Ashley Coker IMAGE: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES 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. Wind gusts as strong as 86 mph howled across the state Sunday, February 24 and Monday, February 25. Winds […]

(PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK) Guest Authors: Tim Almack – Partner – Katz, Sapper & Miller (KSM) & David Roush – President – KSM Transport Advisors (KSMTA) This is the second article in a five-part series related to isolating and understanding the gap which exists between Knowing and Doing in your business.Prior to our recent TCA Profitability Seminar […]

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel IMAGE: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES The third-party logistics provider (“3PL”) in this case had a clause in its Motor Carriage Services Contract with a non-exclusive trucking company. The clause prevented the trucking company (“carrier”) from hiring or trying to hire any of the 3PL’s employees while the two companies were still […]

The FreightWaves Research Institute, in conjunction with industry partners, universities and technology vendors announces the “War on Detention Pledge” – a promise for companies involved in the freight transportation ecosystem to develop and advance research, initiatives and best practices to mitigate uncompensated asset and driver detention. “Uncompensated detention is one of the biggest travesties in […]

Ashley Coker IMAGE: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES 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. BSI is a leading global provider of supply chain intelligence, auditing services, risk management compliance solutions and advisory services. The report […]

PHOTO: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES By TCA Retention Coach Ray Haight So far we have talked about setting your retention and recruiting efforts up for success. We have also discussed the TPP Retention Project platform and the expectations for conduct throughout this effort and the importance of knowing where you are in the marketplace on driver wage. […]

Chris Henry, Program Manager, TCA Profitability Program (SOURCE: SHUTTERSTOCK) Nothing irritates me more than a poorly designed order / checkout process on a website. The causes of frustration can be numerous, however many of them can fall into one of three categories: Asking for unneeded or information already entered (we’re looking at you American Airlines) […]

(PHOTO: JIM ALLEN/FREIGHTWAVES) By TCA Vice President of Government Affairs Dave Heller & TCA Manager of Government Affairs Kathryn Sanner By now, you have undoubtedly read the news that a new study by researchers from Northeastern University and the University of Arkansas suggests that electronic logging devices (ELDs) do not directly improve the safety of […]

(SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS) The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has partnered again this year with the Alliance for Toll Free Interstates (ATFI). ATFI is a national coalition comprised of individuals, businesses, and organizations working to maintain the longstanding policy of protecting existing interstates from new tolls. As a partner, TCA is working with like-minded businesses and […]

Ashley Coker (PHOTO: TRUCKSTOCKIMAGES.COM) 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. Forbes partnered with market research company Statista to determine the top 500 employers for diversity. Statista anonymously surveyed 50,000 Americans […]

Ashley Coker CHART: TCA DATA HOUSES INSIDE FREIGHTWAVES’ SONAR Average length of haul has been trending up since October 2018, according to TCA data housed inside FreightWaves’ SONAR. The data indicates average length of haul came in at 626 miles in October 2018, then climbed to 638 miles in November 2018. TCA’s average length of […]

R. Eddie Wayland, TCA Legal Counsel (PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK) The Union in this case sought to represent a unit of drivers at one of the carrier’s facilities.   Under the Union’s petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), only drivers would be represented. The carrier argued that the unit should be a “wall-to-wall” unit of all […]

(PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK) In Part One, we talked about the delusion of the industry, the sales job to the “inside the walls” personnel, and a little about apathy. The next step, if you were to follow the process of the TCA Retention Program, would be to establish how we as a company conduct ourselves moving forward. […]

Ashley Coker (PHOTO: YELL COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT) 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. A Yell County Sheriff’s Office issued a ticket to the driver for […]

Ashley Coker (PHOTO: JOHN WESTON, CHALLENGER MOTOR FREIGHT, 2017 WINNER OF HIGHWAY ANGEL OF THE YEAR, AND NASHVILLE RECORDING ARTIST LINDSAY LAWLER, THE OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON OF THE HIGHWAY ANGEL PROGRAM) The Truckload Carriers Association has been recognizing Highway Angels, or professional truck drivers who demonstrate compassion and courage on the road, since its 1997 inception. […]