Trucking

News and analysis of trucking, including full truckload, less-than-truckload, private fleets, refrigerated, regulation, supply and demand

The latest Trucking News & Analysis

Knight-Swift to buy truckload carrier U.S. Xpress for $808 million 

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Mar 21, 2023, 12:54 PM EDT

Knight-Swift, the largest US truckload provider, will substantially expand its reach and scalability for shippers with the purchase of U.S. Xpress, the country’s ninth-largest truckload carrier.
SurfaceTruckingTruckload

FedEx Freight cuts costs but improves profit as US LTL volumes shrink

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Mar 20, 2023, 4:58 PM EDT

With ‘every dollar under scrutiny,’ FedEx Freight is squeezing its trucking division, gaining financial improvements that better position the carrier for the next economic rebound. 
SurfaceTruckingLTL

CP-KCS could benefit from rising tide of cross-border freight from Mexico

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Mar 16, 2023, 4:43 PM EDT

The combined railroad has an opportunity to divert more than 64,000 truck shipments to intermodal rail, according to S&P Global, but that’s only the crest of a wave of US imports from Mexico. 
SurfaceTruckingRailInternational railIntermodal providers

Shipwell arms ‘underserved’ smaller shippers with automated bidding tool

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 16, 2023, 6:00 AM EDT

Shippers that often use spreadsheets and small transportation teams to bid and execute freight shipments are the target of a new software tool from technology provider Shipwell.
Logistics technologyTruckingTruckloadLTLTruck brokers

US truckload rates drop sharply in February, but not LTL pricing: PPIs

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Mar 15, 2023, 4:13 PM EDT

Trucking is a tale of two sectors in early 2023, with truckload carriers making more significant contract rate concessions than less-than-truckload companies, according to the US producer price index.
TruckingTruckloadLTL

US trucking, warehousing firms shed jobs, but still have more than a year ago

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Mar 14, 2023, 12:35 PM EDT

Most of the transportation job losses reported for February were due to seasonal cuts rather than economic contraction, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Supply ChainSurfaceTruckingLast mile

US chassis market nearing ‘equilibrium’ after disruptive shortages

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Mar 13, 2023, 1:37 PM EDT

Chassis providers believe the equipment shortages that bogged down inland supply chains in 2021 and 2022 will soon no longer be an issue for shippers, allowing the industry to return to a more typical supply/demand balance.
Container shippingTruckingIntermodal providers

Intermodal share data point to opportunities: analyst

Larry Gross, president and founder, Gross Transportation Consulting; and JOC analyst | Mar 13, 2023, 11:05 AM EDT

It stands to reason that the more miles one spends on low-cost rail, the better the comparative economics versus truck should be, but that’s not what happens in the real world, writes analyst Larry Gross.
SurfaceTruckingIntermodal providersNorth-American rail

OCEMA appeals chassis ruling to FMC commissioners

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Mar 10, 2023, 3:49 PM EST

The Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association says the FMC’s chief administrative judge erred in issuing a summary judgement against the group because key facts are still in dispute.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer linesNorth American portsTrucking

Drayage tech provider PortPro targeting shippers with new tracking tools

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 10, 2023, 2:05 PM EST

Drayage software vendor PortPro is attempting to narrow the gap between the tools that port truckers and their shipper customers use with a new container milestone tracking product it has launched.
Logistics technologyNorth American portsDrayageTrucking

Shippers committed to digital investments in logistics: S&P Global

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 9, 2023, 12:53 PM EST

Shippers are showing “healthy adoption” of a wide variety of digital transformation projects, according to new research from S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingPortsTruckingSupply Chain

Southern California volume declines cause truck, rail rates to plunge

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Mar 8, 2023, 12:23 PM EST

Trucking and intermodal providers are offering discounts to secure freight in Southern California, where volumes are declining as imports from Asia fall.
SurfaceTrans-PacificNorth American portsTruckingIntermodal providers

Maersk shifts detention billing to consignees ahead of FMC regulation

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 8, 2023, 9:50 AM EST

The move by the carrier comes as the FMC is in the midst of a rulemaking process around detention and demurrage billing mandated by the passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 last June.
DrayageContainer shippingContainer linesNorth American portsTruckingTransport, trade and regulation

Trucker group opposes Biden’s labor secretary pick over AB5 support

Teri Errico Griffis | Mar 7, 2023, 12:34 PM EST

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association says Julie Su’s support of AB5 while California’s labor secretary showed a lack of understanding of the owner-operator trucking model.
SurfaceTrucking

Investors back Overhaul’s hybrid risk management–visibility strategy

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 7, 2023, 9:00 AM EST

Supply chain risk-focused technology provider Overhaul has channeled demand for reducing exposure to cargo theft into a $38 million funding round just a few weeks after acquiring competitor SensiGuard.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingTruckingRail

US startup eyes street turn tech expansion throughout North America

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Mar 6, 2023, 10:00 AM EST

Technology startup Qualle is trying to overcome drayage industry inertia around matching empty import boxes with export loads outside of ports by using early-stage funding to serve every North American port market.
Logistics technologyPortsMarine terminalsNorth American portsDrayageTrucking

More US shippers finding LTL savings, but no ‘price war’ 

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Mar 3, 2023, 3:49 PM EST

Several US shippers tell the Journal of Commerce they are getting rate concessions from their less-than-truckload carriers, but the price cuts are far from universal and may depend on how shippers bid.
SurfaceTruckingLTL

Journal of Commerce Rankings: Top 25 truckload carriers saw big revenue gains in 2022

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Mar 2, 2023, 5:01 PM EST

The last two years were highly profitable for the largest US truckload carriers, but 2023 promises to be a tougher time as rates and volumes decline.
SurfaceTrucking

US truck tonnage levels better than expected in January

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 23, 2023, 2:21 PM EST

An actual decrease in truck tonnage last month was masked by a seasonal adjustment to an American Trucking Associations index, but US freight volumes aren’t yet on the road to recovery.
TruckingTruckloadLTL

Leaf Logistics using technology to create dedicated truckload fleets in key US markets

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 21, 2023, 6:00 AM EST

Freight coordination software provider Leaf Logistics is working with a number of shippers and truckload carriers to build flexible, dedicated fleets to allow for continuous moves in big US markets.
Logistics technologyTruckload

New data casts doubt on H2 rebound in US freight demand

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 17, 2023, 1:58 PM EST

Despite better-than-expected factory output in January, the manufacturing spigot that releases shipping demand simply isn’t turning fast enough and retail inventories remain stubbornly high.
SurfaceTruckingRailSupply Chain

Cap European rail electricity price hikes or lose out to road: intermodal group

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Feb 16, 2023, 10:11 AM EST

Long-haul rail freight in Europe, the main alternative to road transport, is being undermined as the cost of electricity far outstrips diesel, say combined transport stakeholders.
RailTruckingLTLInternational railIntermodal providers

US flatbed trucking activity sees early regional revival: DAT

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 15, 2023, 5:06 PM EST

Demand for flatbed tractor-trailers is rising along the Gulf Coast and Southeast, buoyed by project cargo, shifting freight patterns, and a warmer-than-normal winter, DAT Freight & Analytics says.
SurfaceProject cargoTruckingFlatbed

Cass sees US freight shifting to truckload as costs drop

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 14, 2023, 4:08 PM EST

Lower rates and ample capacity are drawing more freight to the US truckload sector, particularly the dedicated and contract markets, according to the Cass Freight Index report.
SurfaceTruckingTruckload

US LTL shipments getting smaller: Forward Air

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 14, 2023, 1:40 PM EST

Shippers are still tendering approximately the same number of shipments, but they’re shipping less freight per shipment, the head of expedited LTL carrier Forward Air says.
SurfaceTruckingLTL

US truckload capacity still abundant despite recent motor carrier exits

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 13, 2023, 2:08 PM EST

Smaller trucking firms are leaving the market at a faster rate, but plenty of truckload capacity remains, especially at larger fleets that are just short of record truck counts.
SurfaceTruckingTruckload

Zero-carbon fuel crucial in meeting EU truck emissions targets: transport groups

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Feb 10, 2023, 10:37 AM EST

Meeting the EU road emissions targets will not be achieved by focusing exclusively on electric vehicles, with the combustion engine likely to play a significant role over the next two decades.
TruckingForwardingTruckload

3PL Echo moves to expand LTL business with new executive hires

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 8, 2023, 1:24 PM EST

Primarily an industrial transportation sector, the LTL business is moving into retail and is also becoming more involved in transloading at US port cities. 
TruckingTruckloadLTLLogistics technology

Spot truckload rates rising at US East Coast ports, falling on West Coast

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 7, 2023, 4:17 PM EST

Analysts have told the Journal of Commerce they expect spot market pricing to bottom out and remain flat for some time before rising again, most likely at a slow pace.
SurfaceDrayageTruckingTruckload

Overhaul acquisition consolidates freight risk management market

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 7, 2023, 9:00 AM EST

Freight visibility provider Overhaul has acquired a competitor that doubles its size and gives it deeper cargo monitoring capability in Brazil, Mexico, and Central Europe.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingTruckingAir Cargo

US transport providers lose fewer jobs than expected in January

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 3, 2023, 2:44 PM EST

Courier, trucking, and warehousing firms lost workers last month, but the seasonal surge and purge was more muted than expected, reflecting broader labor market resilience.
SurfaceTrucking laborIndustrial real estate

US ‘freight recession’ putting motor carrier financing tools to the test

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Feb 3, 2023, 9:03 AM EST

Smaller US truckload carriers and the companies that provide them with access to working capital are under increasing pressure as cargo demand slows.
Logistics technologyTruckingTruckload

C.H. Robinson reaffirms commitment to global forwarding business

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 2, 2023, 3:25 PM EST

The largest US logistics provider claims “compelling results” from cross-selling surface transportation and air and ocean services, despite weak market conditions.
Supply ChainMaritimeTruckingAir Cargo

US LTL freight volumes starting to improve ahead of spring: ODFL

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Feb 1, 2023, 4:09 PM EST

Old Dominion Freight Line “has its fingers crossed” that the decline in less-than-truckload volumes is turning and an increase in freight demand will be seen in March or the second quarter.
SurfaceTruckingLTL

UPS to sharpen focus on ‘smart’ technology in ‘bumpy’ 2023

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Jan 31, 2023, 4:31 PM EST

Technology that connects and automates packages, trucks, and sorting facilities will come to the fore at UPS this year as the largest US logistics provider positions itself for an economic rebound.
SurfaceTruckingAir CargoSupply Chain

Pitt Ohio, Daylight to expedite LTL freight from eastern US to West Coast

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Jan 30, 2023, 4:54 PM EST

An expedited linehaul service using team drivers will cut transit times connecting Pitt Ohio’s eastern territory with California within three days. 
SurfaceTruckingLTL

US LTL carriers look past downturn by expanding for next rebound

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Jan 27, 2023, 3:51 PM EST

The promise of economic improvement in the second half of this year and 2024 has LTL trucking companies adding terminals, doors, and services despite the current slowdown.
SurfaceTruckingLTL

Investors fuel drayage software provider PortPro with $12 million in funding

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Jan 27, 2023, 2:49 PM EST

Investors see drayage as an area rife for technological improvement, with software provider PortPro the latest startup to secure funding to empower port truckers.
Logistics technologyPortsDrayageTrucking

FourKites aims to turbocharge shipper analytics efforts

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Jan 26, 2023, 2:18 PM EST

The need for shippers to contextualize freight status data led visibility provider FourKites to build a data connectivity tool for enterprise shippers.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingPortsTruckingSupply Chain

US spot flatbed capacity rising as housing starts, manufacturing decline

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Jan 25, 2023, 12:46 PM EST

Demand for flatbed trucks on DAT Freight & Analytics’ spot load boards is at a seven-year low for January, creating excess capacity that is keeping pressure on rates. 
SurfaceTruckingFlatbed