Alleging that Prime Inc. put female truck drivers in harm’s way, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit this week against the carrier, alleging Prime did not take adequate steps to prevent sexual harassment of a female truck driver.
Delays by other railroads in implementing PTC is the basis for BNSF to request a delay in its end-year deadline.
U.S. Xpress overhauled its management and its capitalization to get to the public markets.
A class-action lawsuit against J.B. Hunt will head to trial this September after the Supreme Court refused to review the transportation giant’s appeal to overturn a ruling issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
There is now a bill in both the House and Senate that would repeal the 12% excise tax on new trucks and trailers.
Efforts are being made to exempt livestock and certain agricultural haulers from ELD and hour-of-service rules, but a trucking group and safety advocacy organization are fighting back.
The new Trucker Path whitepaper finds that 70% of truckers have had to violate HOS, and 96% have parked in areas not designated for trucks. 48% spend an hour or more to find safe truck parking, driving time that does not translate into fleet revenues.
Ag haulers are not only dealing with ELDs and hour-of-service uncertainty, but tariff talk is clouding the future outlook as well.
Daimler Trucks of North America reveals 2 new services that take a very datacentric approach. One of them will improve the driver experience.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations addressed the potential for hot button ELD exemptions in the report language of its fiscal year 2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) bill, but the issue was not tackled in the bill itself.
Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …Unless you are one of the many drivers who have proclaimed the next three days as vacation days, there is a good chance you will run into an inspection somewhere. If so, will you be prepared?
No longer just a tire company, Michelin is quickly becoming a “solutions” company as it positions itself as a business its customers can rely on regardless of their needs.
Freedom of movement in the 150-mile radius, and a loosening of the rules to get somewhere safely are part of FMCSA’s latest guidance.
Freedom of movement in the 150-mile radius, and a loosening of the rules to get somewhere safely are part of FMCSA’s latest guidance.
Most may not associate the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) with freight movement, but the organization is working hard to change that and the industry, launching a new transport decarbonization tool on Wednesday.
According to experts, platooning is a “now” technology ready for commercial operations, but there is still some resistance and operational challenges that must be overcome.
Michelin made a statement on Wednesday at the Movin’ On 2018 conference in Montreal when it announced its goal of recycling 100% of all tires globally by 2048 and using 80% sustainable materials in the production of those tires, also by that timeframe.
The future of mobility is going to require government regulation, according to panelists at the opening session of the Movin’ On by Michelin conference in Montreal.
Everyone sees the market as strong and staying that way, but are there other headwinds in the trucking sector?
Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …If your ELD provider suddenly shuts down service and goes out of business, do you know what to do?
Imagine the worst boss you’ve ever had looking over your shoulder all day and telling you what to do, and then once 14 hours have elapsed since you drove to work, you have to drop everything, stop work and take a 10-hour break regardless of the time of day.
Drivewyze PreClear weigh station bypass service is now offered at a total of seven sites in the Gem State.
An analyst summarizes a talk on digital brokerage, a truckers’ strike in Iran, and the prospects for ELD legislation.
The hard reality is that very little is getting passed in this Congress, and ELD-related legislation would need to break that pattern late in the game.
From parking to accident prediction, the vision is that the controversial machines are throwing off data that can be used by truckers in other applications.
The proposed legislation would radically change the HOS rule for the livestock industry, which describes its problems as unique.
On Tuesday, 35 companies gathered at Transparency18 to show off their tech-oriented products. These five were voted “Best in Show” by the event attendees.
The ELD mandate hasn’t created a capacity squeeze but there are other signs of how it has changed driver behavior.
Eye on Safety sponsored by SmartDrive …Using video to identify risky behaviors by drivers, but also complimenting them for a job well done.
FMCSA chief touts military program as a possible model for bringing in younger drivers.
Less than one week after announcing it was selling many of its business entities to TruckThat, One20 has said it will cease supporting its electronic logging device (ELD) as of June 18, 2018.
The trucking industry has a significant relationship with shale. Can shale in the U.S. remain successful if it doesn’t throw off cash?
There are a lot of exclusions but the goal is to raise funds for a road that is seen as a safety nightmare.
As fleets adopt more advanced safety system, the issues of initial and ongoing driver training become the primary vehicle to the success of those system.
Trucking interests, led by LTL carriers, have been pushing legislation that would allow 33-foot double trailers on American roadways. Opponents are ramping up efforts to stop it.
A usually non-controversial granting of free trade zone status is denied in the latest skirmish in the “drayage wars.”
In addition to the persistent need for more drivers within a fragmented industry, there are additional headwinds that the trucking industry faces makes trucker recruitment difficult, particularly regarding younger drivers.
Trailers orders dipped month-over-month in April, but for the 17th consecutive month they posted year-over-year gains.
According to at least one analyst, Tesla may be putting its ambitious Semi project on hold as it tries to solve its many other issues, including Model 3 production.
Eye on Safety sponsored by SmartDrive …Recent legislation has bipartisan backing, but can it progress in this Congress?
A truck driver probably isn’t going to choose which company to drive for based on a fuel card, but the cards are becoming a more important tool than ever before as part of the experience that more fleets are selling to attract and retain drivers.
Sponsored by Reliance Partners…Two very different approaches could give some breathing room to the tightening CDL driver shortage.
The union’s negotiating committee tosses three members, with the issue of 7-day delivery at the heart of the dispute.
The intensifying shortage of drivers is the result of several key issues relating to supply, demand, and new regulations—and is expected to have a significant impact on oil supply.
Seeva Technologies believes its targeted washer system will play an important role in the development of advanced vehicle safety technologies by keeping cameras, radar and windshields free of debris.
The earnings show a significant shift in salaries vs purchased transportation expenses.
Signs of movement over to rails, OOIDA sounds off on younger drivers, U2 puts its money into trucking.
Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …For truck owners, it’s become more important than ever to ensure you know where your truck is, because if you don’t, it’s going to cost you.
Trucking’s persistent parking problem is only getting worse. What’s being done to help solve the issue?
A Walmart worker loads a trailer inside a distribution center. Private fleets can provide significant value to their broader organizations, but they still must compete for business, which is why customer service ranks so high as a top concern.
Nikola Motor has sued Tesla for patent infringement on its Nikola One, at left. The Tesla model is at right. Nikola claims Tesla violated patents on door placement, wraparound windshield and the fuselage.
Allegations of threats, name-calling all as part of a schism in two trucking associations.
Calling the Hall of Fame honorees a “pretty impressive group,” Tom Moore, senior vice president of the National Private Truck Council, told the story of each of the four drivers before officially welcoming them to the NPTC Hall of Fame.
It’s OK for an employee to be on the HELP board. Beyond that, the state’s auditor is critical of several people’s behavior.
Tax changes have made leasing an even more inviting proposition for fleets, says the COO of Fleet Advantage.
Everyone’s interested in who is a shipper of choice, and if they’re not they want to know how they can become one.
NS had weak operating metrics in the first quarter, but strong performance. Hub sees a strong pricing environment for the rails.
The ATA and OOIDA are on different sides of this issue.
Drivers take a fixed percentage of every load, and the price of those loads is rising.
California is applying meal and rest break provisions to truck drivers that are in conflict with federal hours-of-service regulations, according to many in the industry. That is why so many are pushing to include the Denham Amendment in the FAA authorization bill.
Mack Trucks said it will have a fully electric Mack LR refuse truck model with an integrated Mack electric drivetrain operating in North America in 2019 and Freightliner introduced the EconicSD low-entry, cab-over-engine waste collection truck.
Sparks fly over jurisdiction, charges of conflict of interests and a weigh station alternative.
One aspect of increasing driver retention is to recognize the strong correlation between turnover and quality hiring.
Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …Truck operators have a number of regulations they must meet to operate in California, including trailer and refrigeration unit mandates. Failure to do so can lead to big fines.
Even with low unemployment, recruiters in a new survey indicate they expect an increase in driver job applicants, but they also expect driver turnover to rise as companies continue to boost pay and sign-on bonuses.
For all the innovations, the focus remains on driver comfort and safety.
While April 1 turned out not to be the total disaster so many predicted, the hard enforcement date has brought pain to some individual truck drivers and fleets who continue to be tripped up by common mistakes.
Irrespective of who wins the race to deploy the first fully autonomous vehicles, the unanimous view was that in the future, size is going to matter and carriers/OEMs will need balance sheets to be able to survive.
The survey includes responses from more than 100 trucking companies of various sizes with the intention of keeping a pulse on the industry.
There’s a lot at stake for shippers, but whether it’s for the long or short-term, becoming a shipper of choice benefits the entire supply chain, not the least of which are drivers’ experiences.
There’s a lot at stake for shippers, but whether it’s for the long or short-term, becoming a shipper of choice benefits the entire supply chain, not the least of which are drivers’ experiences.
The shift would put the burden of dealing with trucking infractions on to local Oklahoma courts.
Volvo Trucks has now formally entered the all-electric push with the announcement that its FL Electric vehicle has been introduced in Europe.
In a move many see as a continuation of his feud with Jeff Bezos, President Trump authorized a task force to look into USPS business practices. Beyond the personal spat, there are real issues with how the post office charges for delivery and the relationship with Amazon
A decision by an NLRB administrative law judge this year was mostly negative for XPO in its relationship with the Teamsters.
“The good news is we picked up 19,000 drivers last year,” says TMW’s Damon Langley. “The bad news is we’re still about 50,000 short.”
To help maximize driver hours, place appointments and schedules around driver sleep patters and preferences
Hinting that it has just received a large contract with “one of the most recognized and valuable brands in the world,” Nikola Motor Company announced last week that it will be refunding all monies paid as part of a reservation to receive a Nikola One hydrogen-electric truck.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has formally extended an ELD waiver for livestock and insect haulers until Sept. 30, 2018, under terms of the waiver that was included in the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.
In partnership with Reliance Partners …It isn’t easy, it isn’t quick, but having a safety culture in your company can pay some clear dividends.
Shippers and trucking companies can be charged high fees and detention costs by cargo lines and marine terminal operators for not picking up loads on time, but the Federal Maritime Commission is now going to investigate that practice.
The FMCSA has formally moved to exempt the MirrorEye Camera Monitor System (CMS) from Stoneridge from federal regulations as the company seeks to begin on-road testing of the system on vehicles without side mirrors.
Clean Truck Programs that remove older trucks from port operation benefit not only the environment, but also productivity, says the program manager of one such initiative.
The number is 175,000 out several years, against a base of a half-million.
Demand for cheap products is rising, and a national “just-in-time” delivery network has placed trucking companies under economic pressure to move heavier and heavier loads.
Cashflow Corner presented by TriumphPay …Large fleets are benefited for years from fuel and maintenance discounts. Now, smaller fleets and owner-operators are starting to reap some of those same benefits.
Wages continue to rise for America’s truckers as the trucking industry contends with driver shortages coupled with an increased demand for shipping services.
To help fleets maximize the value of their equipment, Ryder has launched an Airbnb-type sharing platform that facilities the rental of idle equipment to those in need.
Convoy put the freight brokerage industry and shippers on notice with it’s automatic detention system.
A limitation on soliciting customers is upheld. Restricting the movement of employees is not.
One thing that hasn’t changed (yet) with the ELD mandate is the way drivers get treated at shippers and receivers. The old adage of “hurry up and wait” has never been more apt, especially in the over-the-road truckload sector.
The power has shifted to the carriers, and shippers need to work at staying on their good side.
Presented by Reliance Partners …Cargo theft doesn’t just happen on the road, it can also happen at the warehouse. To prevent it, leading experts noted some of the approaches that scare away thieves.
It’s pay, it’s treatment, it’s training: a long list of personnel issues facing the trucking industry.
The JOBehaviors Assessment helps carriers identify applicants who possess the behaviors, core values, and attributes of top performing truck drivers. Fleets who implement the assessment see higher productivity and lower turnover.
As Phil Wilt, the president and COO of American Central Transport said, “I had heard about a driver shortage for the 12 years I’ve been in the industry. It’s finally arrived.”
FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez heard plenty of complaints from truck drivers over ELDs, hours of service, and parking issues during a Listening Session at Mid-America.
Detention time is a major issue for truck drivers and carriers, but Convoy is doing something about it by introducing automatic detention pay for those operating under Convoy loads.
The administrator said he is on an “aggressive listening” tour.
Love’s continues to grow, and its need for technicians is growing as well, which is why it has created an apprenticeship program.
