Companies in the supply chain targeted in successful ransomware attacks face a dilemma: pay to regain access to their encrypted data and systems, or refuse, which carries its own cost.
In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, some carriers believe a proposed rule that would allow hair testing could weaken the effectiveness of the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Plus, the U.S. Postal Service cuts a deal to ensure parcel delivery and Workhorse Group blames COVID-19 for not hitting production targets.
A legal decision in favor of an employer puts additional burden on an employee to show whether they worked overtime without compensation.
TCA recently filed comments in support of a proposed pilot program from FMCSA to study adding a 3-hour pause to the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. TCA is hopeful that this is a positive sign for the revival of the sleeper berth pilot.
I was on a webinar last week where one of my colleagues was accused of “sensationalizing” the freight market dynamics in favor of the carrier world. These are the numbers in the current market, and we all know this cycle will come to an end.
In an online listening session Wednesday, FMCSA leaders heard views about possible changes in current broker transparency regulations. One question came up repeatedly: what about the shippers?
For the fourth consecutive year, a shortage of drivers topped the Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute.
The lack of participation in a program meant to address a shortfall of drivers entering the trucking industry is forcing regulators to adjust.
All stakeholders are experiencing used truck momentum despite and because of the lingering pandemic.
The Truckload Carriers Association member company and TCA Profitability Program Retention Project member, Steve’s Livestock Transport was honored during this year’s Top Fleet Employer awards gala.
Drop in stocks relative to demand was the biggest ever in the latest report; demand figures finally seem to be reflecting strong trucking market
Detention time has been a perennial thorn in the side of the truckload industry. Now, with capacity as tight as it is, shippers will feel the pinch if they make drivers wait unnecessarily for their appointments. But will a new FMCSA pilot program accurately determine the impact of the problem?
Federal regulators have denied a request by the Small Business in Transportation Coalition to ease regulations for drivers traveling with their pets.
A federal district court has found that the Department of Labor’s final rule that narrowed the definition of joint employment under the Fair Labor Standards Act violated the Administrative Procedure Act has struck down portions of the rule.
Data and commentary point to an earnings blowout for trucking companies in the third quarter with the likelihood of similar results in the fourth quarter. However, headwinds surrounding driver recruitment and retention present a hurdle to the rally.
The expectation for truckload (TL) contractual rates to increase by double digits in 2021 is growing. In a Wednesday note to clients, UBS transportation equities analyst Tom Wadewitz outlined the fundamentals supporting this projection.
While federal or state law may allow an employer to mandate specific medial procedures or drugs, the employer should still conduct a thorough analysis of the specific facts presented and the applicable controlling federal and/or state law in the jurisdiction before proceeding.
Company redrawing the peak landscape, and is expected to dominate it, Convey says.
With the first presidential debate of 2020 in the books, I am reminded of our most basic right that we enjoy as free citizens of this country.: The right to vote.
The Department of Labor’s attempt to clarify and save the independent contractor model should be applauded.
Latest NHTSA data show truck occupant fatalities increased 0.2% in 2019.
TruckPark, whose mobile app allows truck drivers to reserve truck parking, has now introduced a fleet version for dispatchers to manage reservations.
Truckload giant appears to be out ahead of others as driver market tightens
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Wednesday that aims to end the sale of new gasoline- and diesel-powered passenger cars in the state by 2035, but while it also addresses trucks, it is unclear whether it also bans truck sales.
It is not an unusual event for an employee to leave their employment to pursue new opportunities. Unfortunately, sometimes these departing employees choose to use their experience against their former employer by working for that employer’s competitor.
The peak will be “bigger, faster, will come quicker and stay longer,” said Greg Ritter, chief customer officer of transport and logistics giant XPO Logistics Inc.
Every driver that stays with their current carrier is one less that has to go home and tell their families that they don’t have a job. Driver turnover is fixable, if we all start to take it more personally.
The country is slowly emerging from its summer vacation, and this is particularly true for lawmakers and policymakers in Washington, DC. While COVID-19 remains front and center, there is still much work to be done before the November elections.
Current legislation to expand truck parking slated to expire.
Back to school meant potential conflicts for parents. As school districts deploy a combination of in-person, hybrid, and remote learning models, businesses need to be aware of what their legal requirements are under FMLA.
USPack building last-mile scale through acquisitions.
A couple of Uber Freight alumni have launched an on-demand employment platform that aims to boost opportunities for truckless CDL drivers, as labor market changes fuel interest in driver-only business models.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel appeared split on whether a temporary injunction barring California’s AB5 employee classification law from being enforced within the trucking industry should be allowed to stand.
Looking forward, I believe the future is very bright for trucking while all the fundamentals are still in place for a tight capacity crunch. So, what are you doing to prepare yourselves for that?
While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a seemingly endless supply of bad news, there may be one unexpected silver lining.
Each year, unengaged workers cost U.S. companies between $483 billion and $605 billion. In today’s increasingly remote business world, your brand’s social media channels could be one of your company’s most important internal communication touchpoints.
California regulators have approved a new rule aimed at dramatically limiting emissions from slow-moving and idling trucks, arousing the ire of trucking groups.
Truck drivers, search and rescue groups and humanitarian relief organizations, deliver critical medical supplies, food and other essentials after Hurricane Laura pounded the Gulf Coast.
A federal court in New York has invalidated portions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, potentially expanding eligibility for the program. But, this ruling will unfortunately create more uncertainty in an already uncertain area.
Five years ago, Thomas E. Keller Trucking was dissatisfied with its carrier benchmarking efforts. That changed when Keller joined the carrier benchmarking initiative of the Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) Profitability Program (TPP).
TCA’s annual Fall Business Meetings will be held virtually for the first time, the association announced, taking place on Sept. 22-23.
Until adequate wages and a sense of community are achieved, drivers will continue to look for greener pastures.
Entry deadlines for two of the premier Truckload Carriers Association contests are quickly approaching. Nominations for the 2020 Driver of the Year contests and Best Fleets to Drive For contest are still being accepted, but only for a few more days.
Brian Fielkow, CEO of Houston-based Jetco Delivery and a noted safety expert, is offering an instructor-led safety program with special VIP opportunities for TCA members.
California’s AB5 has the potential to harm trucking companies of all sizes and TCA, OOIDA and others continue to push back ahead of a key court hearing.
Most truck drivers with a drug violation in the FMCSA’s Clearinghouse have not completed the steps necessary to return to work, and 80% haven’t even started the process, according to the agency.
High Definition Vehicle Insurance (HDVI) brings software solutions to an industry that has been slow to join the telematics revolution.
President Trump signed an executive order deferring payroll taxes, but the money may have to be repaid at a later date, leaving questions on whether companies should continue to withhold the tax or not.
Despite economic uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, freight demand drove July Class 8 orders to their highest levels in six months.
Truck drivers work around-the-clock to deliver essential medical supplies and food as coronavirus cases rose around the country, and it’s time to codify into law their essential status.
Hurricane Isaias is barreling through the southern Bahamas Friday morning, likely tracking toward Florida’s east coast this weekend.
A warning last week from federal law enforcement on the cybersecurity risks associated with electronic logging devices (ELDs) has raised awareness in the trucking industry on the potential costs of getting hacked.
Fitness for duty policies should ensure that they do not impermissibly screen out certain disabilities or conditions, and that the tests or selection criteria are job related and are consistent with business necessity.
The ability of employers in the transportation sector to take a dispute with an employee to arbitration received a significant win in a New Jersey court last week.
Cautious optimism expressed for the June trucking market by analysts at both organizations
Possible fines range from $13,000 to $130,000.
Freight volumes are up 25% during a recession and truckload earnings started earnings season out strong this week.
Employers must take seriously a lawsuit brought by a plaintiff that represents themselves, as evidenced by a court ruling that allowed a case to move forward even when a claim is not filed in a timely manner.
Changes to the HOS rule that would alter the 30-minute break and allow more flexibility in sleeper berth time could be under siege as FMCSA said it is considering a petition to delay the implementation date.
As the summer months march on, the importance of passing appropriation bills grows before election season distracts legislators.
Shepard Dunn will lead TPP Best Practice Groups while Todd Davis will take over benchmarking for FreightWaves and the inGauge platform.
In addition, the level of orders was still 20% below the considered replacement pace that the industry needs to fulfill the capacity in the freight market. Thus, I don’t believe you need to be an economist to do some prognosticating on the future direction of freight rates.
Nuclear verdicts are on the rise, and two behind-the-scenes factors playing large roles are the emotional pleas plaintiffs’ attorneys are making to juries and the growing number of hedge funds that invest in civil lawsuits.
Four key provisions are being hailed by state’s trucking association
Out-of-control insurance premiums are driving trucking operations out of business, but leading insurance experts say something can be done about them.
Freight volumes, which traditionally rise heading into the July 4 holiday, climbed more than expected last week, rising 45% year-over-year, according to the latest FreightWaves SONAR data.
Many employers have workplace protections and policies for LGBTQ+ applicants and employees, but those that don’t need to carefully update their policies to avoid discrimination based on sexual orientation or transgender status.
Industry hot topics were the focus of a recent discussion with FMCSA’s Jim Mullen and TCA’s David Heller, and some of the perspectives may surprise industry insiders.
National Carriers’ Jill Maschmeier has been named the 2020 winner of the Clare C. Casey Award by TCA’s Safety & Security Division. The group also honored the nation’s top fleets last week at its annual safety conference.
Panelists from leading trucking carriers say a quick economic recovery could create concerns about having adequate labor to meet demand.
California has become the first state to mandate a sales target for electric trucks, beginning in 2024.
The narrative of CSCMP’s 31st annual “State of Logistics Report” finds the nation’s supply chain, and the logistics practitioners who support it, will shift from a model based on cost and efficiency to one driven by resiliency.
The 39th annual TCA Safety & Security Meeting kicks off today, but it is not too late for register for the three-day virtual event.
Insurance costs climbing as awards and amounts increase.
Kodiak Robotics is one of three autonomous trucking startups to describe how it is developing and applying AV technology to make highways safer.
While an employer is not directly prohibited from terminating an employee while he or she is on medical leave, the rationale must be unrelated to the underlying condition and related need for the medical leave.
Large jury awards are crippling trucking fleets, but technology can help prevent some accidents from happening, and when they do, ensure liability is correctly assigned.
Transportation workers need access to PPE to remain safe, and ensuring they can acquire the protections should be a priority in any future stimulus bills.
It seems to me that the present day essential truck driver meets that criteria to a tee. However, in society, the truck driver is considered a worker. Let us examine the current pandemic. The role of essential workers during this 100-year crisis has been obvious, understandable, and well deserved.
I recently watched a wonderful video put together by Mike Durst and Ernie Thornton of Artic Express, out of Ohio, on race relations and what is happening in our country today. Wow…such a timely, innovative chat that we could all learn from.
Even as freight volumes have climbed to within 11% of their all-time high, capacity has been slow to react and carriers are still at a disadvantage when it comes to pricing power.
The hours-of-service emergency declaration has been extended through July 14, but several freight categories, including food and fuel, are no longer eligible for the extension.
Report says by quarter’s end, turnover was at an all-time low
The active railcar fleet fell by 25% in May. Multiple headwinds face railcar demand, but volumes may be turning a corner.
As food insecurity grows in the nation, a critical need for transporting available food is exposing gaps in the supply chain.
These more focused numbers will give your company a much better understanding of where you stand – and why. This drill-down will focus on the different dispatch boards in your company. Look at your dispatch boards as though they are individual fleets within your company because they are. Different boards cover different regions and various types of services and skills; therefore, they often have different kinds of drivers. These types of drivers are often managed differently by dispatchers. It’s easy to see why some boards are harder to staff than others.
As I interact with the TCA Profitability Program (TPP) members, one thing becomes obvious, the attention toward safety in the workforce has attained unimaginable results. We know inside the TPP community, and the TCA community at large, the attention to safety is a core component of their cultures.
As the economy slowly bounces back, carriers are starting to regain some leverage in rate negotiations with shippers.
House Democrats proposed $494 billion INVEST Act requires DOT to complete an extensive safety review, potential delaying implementation of the new hours-of-service changes.
How “The Last Dance” can help inspire you to sell more freight.
Independent contractor laws continue to evolve, and a recent decision by the NLRB further reinforces the need for proper legal advice on the matter.
According to Wikipedia; Strong culture is said to exist where staff responds to stimulus because of their alignment to organizational values. In such environments, strong cultures help firms operate like well-oiled machines, engaging in outstanding execution with only minor adjustments to existing procedures as needed.
Jim Mullen, acting administrator of the FMCSA, said that there hasn’t had a specific complaint about any broker failing to abide by a rule requiring transparency in financial data when the carrier has not waived that right.
The intertwined economies of the U.S. and Mexico mean that trade will play a large role in the economic recovery of both nations from COVID-19-related shutdowns.
As the first recipients face the end of the Paycheck Protection Program, the Small Business Administration has issued long-sought guidance on the program, including information on forgiveness.
Love’s faces opposition in Arizona; ODFL likely to get tax breaks in Ohio.
Opponents of longer and heavier trucks say they cause more damage and are less safe, and while exemption have been issued for essential goods, they fear efforts to make those exemptions permanent.
Like many of you, I have been inconvenienced by COVID-19 throughout the last several weeks. But, as you know if you have been reading any of my mostly weekly posts, I have focused on being productive during this different time.
Over the past two weeks I have seen the plans and the strategies that the “best in class” carriers are putting in place for their business during recovery. The key takeaways for me were plenty, but it starts with the phenomenal job these fleets have already done. Their main mission of keeping their workforce healthy, and the supply chain secure, should be a roadmap for all businesses when re-opening. It starts with strong leadership, open communication, and a “do it now” philosophy when deploying critical resources.
Fleet Advantage is offering to cash out a fleet’s excess trucks at book value in exchange for a lease that could lead to a new truck sale later.
