Truckload

“The fact that tonnage rose in November after a strong October is impressive,” Bob Costello, ATA chief economist, said.

US shippers took a similar hit when the US electronic logging device (ELD) mandate disrupted truck capacity in inter-city lanes last December.

The Manitoulin Group of Companies acquired the book of business of one company and partnered with its parent company to broaden its coverage in northwest Canada.

Freight growth may slow in 2019, but shippers should be vigilant in seeking new routes owing to constrained capacity.

Shippers plagued by capacity shortages need to eliminate inefficiencies and wasted time to effectively create capacity now out of reach.

For those who think that it’s somehow counterintuitive to have a pricing model designed to create a loss or to reduce operating margins, rest assured, it is.

Innovation and outside-the-box thinking are needed to help shippers and trucking companies kick old, bad habits and bring pricing into the 21st century. This is Part 1 in a 5-part series.

By setting its internal minimum wage at $15 an hour, Amazon increases competitive pressure for blue-collar workers, especially younger workers, across industries, including trucking.

Freight demand remains strong, even in summer, carriers say, and that’s allowing them to pick and choose the most profitable freight, with peak season just ahead.

Many truckload carriers are on their second round of pay hikes this year as freight demand grows faster than driver supply. Can they keep pace with the peak?

A Mexican government crackdown on double tractor trailers sparks shipper fears of trucking capacity reduction, potentially forcing them to pay more for trucking services or use rail.

Acquisitions boost revenue, profit for Iowa-based Heartland Express as US freight demand pushes the limits of ‘transportation infrastructure.’

Shorter (and sometimes longer) contracts, volume commitments, and even higher rates are among the many types of bait shippers are using to capture elusive truckload capacity.

Once cyclical, problems such as the driver shortage are becoming systemic. That threatens to ‘bake’ higher costs into transportation rates.

The Landair Holdings acquisition underscores strong shipper demand for dedicated services to meet delivery demands.

It’s a stronger US truck market than even 2004/2005, drivers are aware that they are in short supply, and there is no end in sight — hence there is an obvious reason why both shippers and trucking companies should keep those market conditions in mind.

“The market has a long way to run and it’s going to last longer than we’ve seen in the past,” said Eric Fuller, CEO and president, U.S. Xpress Enterprises.

As freight demand and the need for capital rises, the fifth-largest US truckload operator plans a route back to Wall Street to fund growth.

So how do you know whether a US dedicated contract carriage solution is right for you? Here are nine questions that will shape your review.

Trucking companies at the NASSTRAC Shippers Conference say they aren’t having an easy time finding capacity either, citing rising labor costs and a shrinking labor pool. And there are other sector issues they are dealing with that shippers never see.

By load volume, J.B. Hunt now hauls more dedicated freight than intermodal containers, as e-commerce is adding to dedicated trucking revenue.

As sure as cherry blossoms are a sign of spring, a widespread bump up in US truck and intermodal pricing indicates stronger economic activity in the second quarter. Those increases also underscore pricing trends that will challenge shippers as the spring retail and produce seasons kick into higher gear.

Full enforcement of the electronic logging device mandate began April 1, but inspectors issued a slew of violations in early 2018, federal data show.

DAT and Truckstop.com report that dry van rates have spiked as the new "spring peak" season picks up pace. Furthermore, truckers expect pricing and volumes to stay on an upward track through autumn.

By partnering with digital marketplace NEXT Trucking, MOL Consolidation Services looks to link Asian vendors with scarce US truck capacity.

Shippers should be aware that there are anecdotal reports that questionable forms of co-brokering or double brokering are on the rise in 2018, as the supply of US trucks tightens and some brokers look to make a quick buck. During these instances, shippers essentially fund a double commission and could be exposed to financial damages, delays or lawsuits when things go wrong.

As the electronic logging device mandate enforcement deadline looms, Trucker Path and Convoy have introduced new features to help truckers and shippers manage driver time in the digital era.

Activity-based pay made possible by electronic logging devices and other technology may lead to trucking firms offering drivers more incentives and shippers a more transparent view of costs.

Shippers are moving so much freight that there are not enough US trucks to move it, causing them to pay rates and surcharges in February not seen in more than 3.5 years for truckload, container drayage, and intermodal rail.

A reporter’s notebook from this week’s Transportation & Logistics Council meeting shows shippers and their suppliers grappling with big trends and fine details, from e-commerce to freight claims.

After two years in an economic rut, US trucking accelerated in 2017, led by less-than-truckload carriers before truckload carriers merged into the same fast lane later in the year.

Abilene Motor Express, based in Richmond, Virginia, operates about 450 trucks with most of its business in the dry van and refrigerated space.

Agricultural shippers, especially livestock owners, and truckers will get some relief this produce season via an extension of a temporary waiver of the ELD mandate. Other groups are pressing for longer waivers, as the rollout of the ELD mandate throws supply chains out of whack.

Shippers saw very little pricing relief last month that, although down from January, was 20 to 35 percent higher than February 2017. With produce season appearing to have begun earlier, rates on the spot and contract markets are likely to be up double digits on some lanes for the foreseeable future.

In what is typically the slow season for US truckload shipping, carriers are levying surcharges and rejecting shipments.

Drivers who complete 8,750 miles in a month will get a penny more. An additional cent is tacked onto the bonus for each 750 miles beyond that point.

Hub Group is levying surcharges on some shippers in Chicago, LA, Seattle, Dallas, and Atlanta on excess freight. Shippers said the fees range from $150 to $600. J.B. Hunt is also limiting the amount of excess freight accepted from shippers in certain markets but has not instituted surcharges.

National drayage company adds third company in its drive to expand through organic growth and acquisitions.

US shippers and other e-commerce parties take note: freight demand, still strong in January, will raise contract rates in the coming quarters, truckload carrier Werner Enterprises has warned.

The acquisition of Direct Right Cartage, which occurs as Canadian demand for intermodal climbs, helps expand Manitoulin Transport's links between Western and Central Canada.