Less than Truckload (LTL)

Two-person teams to be briefed, then local leaders and rank-and-file.

Becoming a Shipper of Choice requires many steps and processes, but it starts with communication, trust and building a relationship.

A new survey of small fleets and owner-operators found they would like to utilize many of the same tools larger fleets do to control costs, including more technology like predictive maintenance.

Group hopes to set standards for `shippers of choice’.

What makes a commodity and agricultural commodity? That is one question that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations hopes to answer soon, it said, during a regulatory update session at the Mid-America Trucking Show.

Last-mile delivery companies have a new option for managing their businesses as Rand McNally will soon offer a local fleet version of its DriverConnect platform.

Freight levels have dropped from last year, but panelists at the ACT Research conference this week said they have simply returned to more normal levels.

It’s been about 50 years since a truck maker has successfully entered the Class 8 market in North America and lasted, said Dominik Beckman, director of marketing and dealer operations for Hino Trucks. So what makes Hino think it can do that now?

A fold-down ramp is just one of the innovations Morgan Corp. has introduced recently at it looks to build truck bodies to match the growing demands of e-commerce last-mile operations.

Navistar’s Steve Gilligan discussed several technological opportunities for truck makers, including autonomous and electric trucks, during this week’s ACT Research conference.

Several logistics and transportation software providers claim to have machine learning capabilities, but in many cases, the results don’t match the hype.

Rate increases are slowing and could even turn negative later this year, although fleet profits should remain strong for much of the year.

There are plenty of conflicting data points on the direction of the economy, which might suggest that everything may be just fine in the near term.

Flip a switch. Seems easy enough, but for those fleets that think that’s all they have to do with their ELD come December 16, 2019, they may quickly find their truck driver sitting idle, which is why now is the time to start the transition from a legacy AOBRD.

Shippers are buying far more than LTL these days, McReynolds says.

Big data is opening up opportunities for shippers of all sizes, and used properly, it can help reduce shipping rates and improve customer service.

The labor rubber is about to hit the road.

Existing pact extended two months to allow for rank-and-file ratification vote.

Heavy snow melt and rains have caused historic flooding in 16 states and the FMCSA has lifted certain regulations as a result.

FedEx execs counseled patience, but will Wall Street listen?

Bendix is now making its advanced safety systems available for retrofit for models where it was not factory-installed. Plus, U.S. finds little support for postal rate changes, detention time increasing and air cargo boom may be over.

Acquisition to add $75 million in annual revenue.

Revised package worth $3 million more.

While propane doesn’t pack quite the punch diesel does, it does produce enough power to handle many of the tasks at a fraction of the overall cost, advocates say, so why is not a more popular fuel for commercial operations?

Revenues are falling at Roadrunner Transportation Systems, but management remains confident the company is heading in the right direction.

The nominees have been announced and voting is now underway in the inaugural FreightWaves Shipper of Choice awards. The Shipper of Choice Award is in partnership with Convoy.

Volvo has started testing connected vehicle technology in California, plus Michigan governor pitches fuel tax hike, California legislator wants to phase out diesel engines and Alibaba buys into delivery company.

Wagers’ position goes, and so does he.

Modern transportation management systems (TMS) have lowered the cost while increasing the power of the solutions, opening doors for shippers of all sizes to benefit.

Electric trucks dominated the vehicle conversations at this week’s Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, plus the cost of charging vehicles, overtime pay changes and another trucker protest planned.

Innovations in last-mile delivery continue, but each faces challenges to widespread adoption, although UPS, which will trial Thor electric trucks, encourages fleets to test out new technologies.

UPS’ Carlton Rose, president of global fleet maintenance and engineering, said he expects electric power to be the long-term solution in medium-duty, but it isn’t there just yet.

The credit metrics for XPO have weakened but are still good enough for a BB rating.

Electric vehicle charging infrastructure is still in its infancy, but is making progress.

Flashback Fridays previews the soon-to-open Freight Alley Haul of Fame and showcases four trucking companies that contributed to the history of trucking.

Technologies can help prevent rollovers, but a new startup company believes influencing driver behavior is the best approach to preventing rollovers.

Protecting market share is part of the battle over longer trucks.

Compliance issues can result in large fines for companies, which is why some companies find outsourcing compliance programs to experts can be a financial win.

World’s largest ocean freight forwarder continues to grow volume, but impact of liner alliances also take toll on margins.

As the U.S. government works to ease restrictions on where drones can fly, they could become an attractive target for hackers.

Facilities to be shuttered now benefiting from increased business, perhaps NEMF diversion.

Sponsored by Redwood LogisticsThe deployment of technology solutions requires many steps, but using a provider that offers an open systems architecture approach can help ease the transition, eliminating both time and cost.

It is said that moving freight is all about relationships. If that is true, what value does a routing guide provide? A great deal, it turns out.

Today, everything about your business – your brand, all your customer sales and service interactions, your transparency and accessibility – are part of the consideration set of the customer, and that means a different approach to selling.

At least 40 percent of drivers are still using AOBRDs, and nearly 80 percent of those don’t plan to switch to ELDs until the second half of 2019, just ahead of the deadline.

Government continued to pay for services even though it was aware of carrier’s reweigh policies, YRC, others say.

Carrier didn’t give employees 60 days advance notice, suit alleges

UPS has sued a pot delivery company in California saying the company is infringing on hits trademarks; also FreightWaves announces a War on Detention, Connecticut wants to add tolls, and Ford leaves South America.

Was this a battle of wills at the very top?

With the completion of the rights offering, the beleaguered carrier has a completely new capital structure.

Shippers responded to tight capacity and high rates in 2018 by turning to managed transportation providers, and if the predictions for 2019 come true, they will likely continue down this path.

Cargo thefts fell 19 percent in 2018 compared to the year before, according to SensiGuard. Plus, the EU cuts a deal on truck emissions and another trucker protest is planned for this week.

Jacobs now must manage through loss of $600 million of his largest customer’s business.

Share buybacks a better use of capital, Jacobs asserts.

Decision triggered by changes in Verizon Wireless product distribution.

“It’s all about the cost savings, and, by the way, we’re also using the lowest emission option.”

ODFL spends money on aggressive capex building out its network of service centers and maintaining a low tractor-to-trailer ratio, as well as, increasingly, share buybacks.

LTL space in Northeast will be at premium once NEMF goes out. Here’s how everyone is adjusting to the new reality.

How do you re-distribute $400 million of LTL freight? Not easily.

An intersection in New Jersey has been deemed the worst for truck bottlenecks, plus Nikola Motor may be adding a purely electric truck; GM and Tesla are working together, and FedEx Express signs on to a new cargo terminal.

YRC unit wants to cut terminals, replace Central Freight with YRC Freight on interline pact.

Carrier succumbs to the harsh realities of present-day trucking.

Challenge finding teams, company executives said.

Strong Q4 drives full-year performance.

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.

Green New Deals are the rage in Washington, with benefits – and costs – for trucking.

Not a gangbusters quarter for Saia or Schneider. But the numbers were strong for both and Merrill Lynch thinks the Schneider stock is undervalued.

Small, yet powerful satellites can now be deployed for just a fraction of the cost of more traditional satellites, potentially changing the way logistics companies access location and other data for assets.

Electric vehicle makers can learn from some of the lessons that natural gas developers faced when introducing that fuel source to trucking.

Phil Connors, played by Bill Murray, is stuck in the same day, played out over and over again, in the film Groundhog Day. He repeats each day until he gets it right. In the real world, we don’t get the chance at a “do-over,” but delivery operations present an opportunity to do very nearly that.

Debt levels are down and EBITDA coverage for that debt is up as the LTL carrier has a strong year and quarter.

Asset-light transportation manager sees results in-line with expectations, but softer rates coming up ahead.

The company laid out its strategy in an SEC filing in the third quarter, and the fact that it is succeeding was evident in the numbers.

Move prompted by customer ending Aberdeen business.

New truck and trailer purchases currently include a 12 percent federal excise tax, adding tens of thousands of dollars to the purchase price. A new coalition is looking to lobby for the repeal of the tax.

As of December 16, 2019, anyone running an AOBRD must switch to an ELD. There are steps that can be taken now to ensure the changeover will be painless.

There are numerous reasons why electric trucks may continue to take a backseat when private transportation fleets and for-hire carriers are developing their truck procurement strategies.

Analyst Bruce Chan at Stifel praises the reorganization at the company that suffered an accounting scandal and sees the base being laid for future growth.

The SureFly is just one of the products that Workhorse is working on. Additional projects include electric delivery vans and electric pickups.

Drivers most often commented on equipment issues, logistics, people, pay, and communication on the WorkHound platform in 2018. The platform compiles anonymous driver comments.

Economic and freight indicators are mixed, with some suggesting a downturn is coming, but others pointing to continued growth.

Everyone knew the quarter was weaker than it had been. The question is how much. Stock prices have reflected a significant slowdown.

Fleets are increasingly turning to video to help exonerate drivers of wrongdoing and finding that a side benefit is the coaching opportunity video provides to improve risky driving behaviors.

Delivery robots, shifting supply chains due to trade wars, and automation slowing productivity in ports

Transflo used its slot during the MarketWaves 18 Demo Day to showcase how its app’s new user interface, along with the broader Transflo ecosystem can be used effectively to reduce time during the lifecycle of a load.

The Teamsters Union is relying on the new Congress to help stave off insolvency of its Central States Pension Fund.

As administrators for the Black Smoke Matters group on Facebook worked to get a handle on the sudden explosion of members in the group, one administrator announced he is stepping away from the page and the group has posted what it is calling “Truckers Declarations for the 2019 Shutdown” on its website.

The New Jersey company will go into Hunt’s Dedicated Services unit.

The udelv autonomous delivery vehicle, with an electric range of about 60 miles, will enter a pilot program with XL Parts in Houston.

It’s an aggressive push by Deutsche to rebut the suggestion that XPO has serious accounting issues.

Aterian Investment Partners Principal Michael Fieldstone said that his firm supported XGS CEO Darrel Harris and his management team and would provide capital to complete improvements to the business.

ELDs have been required for the majority of the industry for more than a year now, but there are still some that do not have to comply until Dec. 16, 2019. A look back at ELDs, and what the next deadline means.

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.

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

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

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

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

Economic issues not yet on the table.

The history books will say many things about 2018, but whatever else is recorded, it will go down as one of the strongest years for spot and contract pricing increases in the history of trucking in the U.S. Will that trend continue?

Facial recognition will be tested next year on the Peace Bridge that connects the U.S. and Canada as a possible solution to speed up commercial border crossings.