Thor Trucks announced it is changing its name to XOS on April 18 after settling a trademark infringement lawsuit with the maker of recreational vehicles with a similar name, Thor Industries Inc., in January.
In partnership with Reliance Partners …Distracted driving in the U.S. is a bigger cause for accidents than driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This could be prevented if fleets take responsibility and educate drivers on safe driving and also by remotely monitoring driving behavior.
The founding of Nikola Motor Company did not happen overnight; it actually dates back to a time when a six-year-old boy was bothering his railroad-working father and was sent to see a train engineer.
J.B. Hunt blames its earnings and revenue shortfall on weak intermodal freight volumes, harsh winter weather and concerns about possible tariffs on Chinese imports in its first quarter earnings report on April 15.
If you can get your hands on a Nikola Two hydrogen-electric truck in the near future, it could save you money compared to a diesel model, the company said. Getting one, though, will be hard due to early demand.
Market expert Dean Croke writes about the construction boom in Las Vegas, the number of flatbed trucks hauling steel to the city for its mega-construction projects, and the outlook for the flatbed truck market in 2019.
Marten Transport posted its best-ever first-quarter operating revenue, operating income and net income in the company’s 74-year history in the first quarter of 2019, the company said in its April 16 earnings release.
J.B. Hunt’s earnings and revenues fell short of analysts’ expectations in the first quarter of 2019, causing its stock to drop 4 percent at the end of trading on Monday, April 15.
For months, members of a Facebook group named Black Smoke Matters (BSM) have been calling for an industry-wide shutdown to bring national attention to what the group says is government overreach.
Gary Petty, president and CEO of the National Private Truck Council, struck a tone of family and togetherness in his opening remarks of the organization’s 2019 Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition
Providers are in the process of shutting down older 3G cellular networks, and that means the fleets running equipment on these networks could see disruptions.
Down Under Trucking: a weekly round-up of trucking news from Australia. The country has been struck by a spate of horrible crashes of trucks with multiple trailers have rolled over. On the corporate side, a major trucking-related hostile takeover has broken out. Politicians in Queensland are seeking to modify the Heavy Vehicle National Law and, on the commercial front, truck sales appear to be coming off the boil from last year’s red-hot market.
Approximately 9,000 inspectors in North America will be checking to ensure trailer underride guards meet federal regulations as part of CVSA’s annual International Roadcheck blitz scheduled for June 4-6.
“Truck, Driving, and Tractor Driver” is the most common job in 29 of the 50 states.
In partnership with Reliance Partners …Data analytics and machine learning can help companies irrespective of the size of their data sets, as long as the data being captured is of good quality and is specific to the required operational needs.
Motor carriers may want to double-check the condition of their trailers’ rear impact guards before hitting the highways in early June.
The fluctuating price of fuel makes it difficult for carriers and shippers to know the exact cost to move freight. Genesis Fuel is offering a way to pre-buy diesel at a set price, adding certainty to the cost for both parties.
Isuzu with partners Supreme and Delivery Concepts have introduced a truck body designed for craft brewers, complete with taps. Plus, ports seek alternative fuels, concerns over fracking, and Walmart pressures suppliers.
Trucking companies using weigh station bypass services save more than $8.68 and five minutes each time their truck bypasses a truck weigh station, according to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration calculation. However, each system operates differently, meaning what works well for one fleet, be it large or small or somewhere in between, doesn’t automatically work for another. This new whitepaper reviews the following items to help trucking operations determine what type of system is best for them.
Birmingham, Alabama-based McLeod Software has launched its new TopMatch technology, aimed at digitally pairing brokers and logistics providers with the best carriers to haul their freight.
KeepTruckin has announced plans to launch a first-of-its-kind load-matching platform that uses data collected from its electronic logging devices, or ELDs, to help match small-business carriers with available freight.
Down Under Trucking: a round-up of trucking news from Australia. Top news this week: revealed – how trucks have accidents in Australia; a new in-depth government inquiry into trucking and transport. And, finally, how one truck driver thought he was being pranked… but, in reality, he was winning BIG!
On April 4 , President Trump said he is giving Mexico a “one-year warning” before closing the southern border. This is an overview of what a closed border might look like.
Xtra Lease announced it will invest more than $300 million to buy more than 10,000 trailers in 2019, the company’s largest capital investment in over-the-road trailers in a single year.
The bridge railing collapse in Chattanooga on the morning of April 1 was likely caused by an illegally oversized load, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).
In partnership with Reliance Partners …Payment solutions have evolved over time, from being cash-based in the 1950s to now using data analytics and AI over data streams coming out of fuel cards, to provide better safety and security to fleets and drivers.
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.
Down Under Trucking: a round-up of news, information and the latest developments from the Australian trucking industry. Top news this week is the announcement of a A$2 billion (US$1.4 billion) road safety funding package by the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison. Funding was a big theme this week, as was driver safety, road safety and fatigue.
FreightWaves, in partnership with Nodal Exchange and DAT, launched the world’s first financially settled Trucking Freight Futures contracts at 9 a.m. Friday, March 29. The first trade came through within 20 minutes of opening, at 9:18 a.m.
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?
Navistar’s Steve Gilligan discussed several technological opportunities for truck makers, including autonomous and electric trucks, during this week’s ACT Research conference.
Trucks designed to haul freight on highways are becoming much more sophisticated in China. Thanks to standardization, trucks now have the ability to do drop and hook, according to Perkins. Trucks are also being upgraded to more modern emissions systems.
Rate increases are slowing and could even turn negative later this year, although fleet profits should remain strong for much of the year.
Nikola Motors is setting up its hydrogen truck manufacturing plant in Arizona, which is expected to roughly bring about 2,000 jobs by 2024.
Big data is opening up opportunities for shippers of all sizes, and used properly, it can help reduce shipping rates and improve customer service.
While the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate has indeed improved hours of service (HOS) compliance, a recent study found that the mandate’s potential safety impacts, which are often discussed, have not come to pass.
Accident that killed members of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team in Saskatchewan spurred efforts improve driver-training standards in country.
Daimler Trucks North America is recalling more than 3,300 heavy-duty Freightliner Cascadia trucks because of a potential air bag glitch in the steering wheel, which could unexpectedly deploy.
In partnership with Reliance Partners …If the DRIVE-Safe Act gets passed in the Congress, it would usher thousands of young drivers into the long haul trucking space. For them to have a long and successful career in the industry, it is critical for them to focus on body movement and the way they interact with their environment to prevent workplace injuries.
Truck trailer orders dropped for the third straight month in February.
Proposal would boost incentives for greener fleets as industry bemoans forthcoming carbon taxes.
Kargo Technologies is an online freight logistics marketplace that connects commercial shippers with truckers across Indonesia.
The Atlanta sales office will support both the asset-heavy and asset-light sides of AMX.
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.
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.
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.
In partnership with Reliance Partners …What occurred in Alabama and Georgia is devastating and something that can happen suddenly in any area of the U.S. prone to this type of weather. It’s important to consistently communicate with drivers on how to remain safe under such conditions, as we can’t control the weather regardless of how much we monitor it.
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.
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.
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.
Scanlog, a Scandinavian logistics company will use ShipChain’s technology to improve visibility into its trucking operations, and plans to monitor up to a dozen Scanlog trucks by the end of the year.
dexFreight introduced the Early Adopters Program, through which companies that sign up will have exclusive access to early release versions of the dexFreight platform, and have the opportunity to interact with dexFreight’s development and product teams.
Trella is a Cairo-based startup that is looking to optimize truckers’ routes so they’re no longer driving empty by connecting them with shippers across Egypt.
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.
Microdea is an Ontario-based company that digitalizes documentation and automates back office processes to make them more efficient, seamless, and less wasteful.
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.
Jack Cooper Transport Company has announced its intention to stop yard management operations and lay off 425 employees at its Louisville, Kentucky terminal.
Manual transmissions have almost disappeared from cars and light-duty trucks. But that isn’t the case in heavy-duty trucks. Read the pros and cons of manual and automatic transmissions in Class 8 trucks.
J.B. Hunt has closed its acquisition of Cory 1st Choice Home Delivery, adding the last-mile business to its Final Mile Services Division.
The Trucking Freight Futures Road Show rolled into the “Big D” – Dallas! Learn more about Trucking Freight Futures and what participants discussed in Dallas!
After years of development work, TSA’s approval for third-party canine screening should provide faster and more accurate air cargo acceptance and security screening, and reduce truck detention at airports.
The newest release adds major weather data features, visualization and modeling tools, additional news features, and DOT highway cameras.
The Houston-based startup is run by executives with decades of experience in global logistics, and plans to tackle the oil and gas vertical first.
Options are a key hedging tool, because they can require a far smaller initial outlay for a company to protect itself from wild price swings.
FreightWaves adds agricultural truckload prices and numerous warehousing and real estate data points to SONAR.
Shares of Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) decreased by $0.47 on February 6 after the company missed the consensus expectations of fourth quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $3.81 by 8.6 percent, according to Seeking Alpha. Non-GAAP EPS was only $3.48.
In partnership with Reliance Partners …Fleet safety needs to be looked at as a part of operations and not as an addendum, as initiatives like video safety can help reduce driver turnover and mitigate the impact of litigations that arise due to collisions, both from a cost and a time perspective
FreightWaves adds agricultural truckload prices and numerous warehousing and real estate data points to SONAR.
Access to data has improved market transparency, and recent spikes in volatility make the case that transportation costs must be hedged and de-risked.
Our second look at women in the trucking industry.
Ruckit specializes in trucking management software for the heavy construction and materials marketplace and brings transparency by networking the TMS systems of the stakeholders involved in a hauling process.
Workhound bridges the gap between fleets and drivers by actually listening to what drivers want and translating that into real-time actionable insights for fleets to help them reduce turnover.
Electric vehicle makers can learn from some of the lessons that natural gas developers faced when introducing that fuel source to trucking.
FreightWaves adds violations, fuel spread, and more rail data to SONAR platform
A high-level review of road safety governance has begun in Australia.A lack of road safety carries a terrible toll in lives and injuries in Australia
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.
Though semi autonomous trucks would be a reality in a decade, IRU believes that it would not displace drivers from the trucking ecosystem but would only make their jobs more sophisticated.
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.
Is 60 degrees hot or cold? Is the freight market hot or cold? The answers to both questions depend on perspective.
Trucks and truckers are baking in the extreme Australian summer heat, which is nudging the 122 F (50 C) in certain parts of the country for days at a time. (Photo: Shutterstock).
In partnership with Reliance Partners …Winter has set in, making it hard for truckers to navigate the snowed-in and slippery roads. Marilena Acevedo from PetroChoice outlines measures that could be taken by the fleet leadership and drivers to stay safe during these times.
FreightWaves is monitoring a number of trends that will impact the freight market in 2019. Digitization will play a key role in these trends as companies seek to optimize their supply chain processes.
U.S. Xpress Enterprises is selling its interest in its Mexican cross-border operation, but the company is not abandoning the Mexican market, says its CEO.
December was a month of growing uncertainty and severe declines in the U.S. financial markets. The only thing that seems to be growing is the level of ambiguity in everyone’s outlook.
This April, the Freight Alley Haul of Fame museum will open in FreightWaves’ new corporate headquarters in downtown Chattanooga.
FreightWaves adds air cargo volume and pricing data to SONAR platform
In partnership with Reliance Partners …Cargo theft in absolute numbers is minuscule. But that does not negate the havoc it plays on the image of the carrier in question, and the supply chain disruptions it leaves at its wake.
Vector is digitizing the trucking sector by extracting information that is offline and moving it online.
Autobon AI is building an aftermarket autonomous vehicle system that would allow any commercial truck to be turned into an autonomous truck.
Infestations of the brown marmorated stink bug found on ships en-route to Australia are causing havoc with local supply chains. Bugs are breeding, ships are re-routing, trucks are idling and supply chains are collapsing.
Economic and freight indicators are mixed, with some suggesting a downturn is coming, but others pointing to continued growth.
Sponsored by Redwood LogisticsNo book can accurately define what “company culture” really is. It’s as much feel as it is philosophy. What experts do agree on, though, is that it needs to permeate all facets of the company.
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.
It’s that time of year; time to look forward and plan for the year. In order to have a better idea of where the economy and industry are headed, we always like to look back and review from where we came and what happened.
Although it’s early in 2019, there has already been a major restructure of Australia’s byzantine freight-related governmental advisory sector. Ownership of Transport Certification Australia has now transferred – by order of one of the nation’s top transport decision-making bodies – to Austroads.
Locating intermodal assets and identifying which of those assets is available for use is one of the key attributes of Phillips Connect Technologies’ Intermodal Smart Solution.
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.
Logistics startup Opus9 provides automated and digital transportation services for small and medium companies to ship truckload and LTL nationwide.
Andrew Silver, CEO of MoLo Solutions, looked back at 2018 and talked about the challenges and joys of running a high-growth brokerage, December freight markets, and and MoLo’s plan for 2019.
