Truckload Indexes

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.

Outbound tender volumes are benefiting greatly from the reopening of the economy and a release of pent-up consumer demand, and the result is the highest level of pricing power for carriers in nearly two months.

Applications are now being accepted for TCA Scholarship Fund, which hands out financial awards to merit-based college students with ties to the trucking industry.

Funds from the Paycheck Protection Program has allowed some fleets to remain in business despite low rates, but as the program ends, some companies may not survive and capacity will tighten as a result and rates will rise.

Recently, a longtime employee of a local car dealership was terminated, allegedly due to a dispute with a co-worker and a subsequent failure to appear at work, showing once again that employers should be careful in handling employment termination decisions which effect those in a protected class.

In trucking, where uptime can be the difference between making or losing money, major truck manufacturers are rolling out digital tools to speed parts ordering and improve the repair process.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a closure of many truck driver training schools, and that worries some in the industry as the influx of new talent dries up.

Tender volumes are racing to the upside and are tracking positive year-over-year in May, albeit off a depressed 2019 comparison, and that is some positive news for carriers.

TCA and the larger trucking industry have been anxiously waiting to see what the final hours-of-service rule would include, and the initial reaction to it is positive.

Long-awaited changes to the federal hours-of-service (HOS) rules expected to provide additional flexibility to truck drivers and fleets were announced today, receiving some industry praise and plenty of criticism from safety advocates.

Payment management solutions provider Cass Information Systems’ freight index fell mightily in April as expected, but it may have represented the bottom of the market.

Pause of 14-hour driving window not included among changes.

Changes to the Small Business Reorganization Act could make it easier for troubled trucking companies to seek bankruptcy protection and emerge better positioned for the future.

State, Teamsters have appealed to higher court over exempting trucking from independent contractor restrictions

The current focus on the rate war distracts from the real issue at hand: how to build a profitable trucking business and control your own future.

Recommendations include electronic invoicing, advance appointments, emergency sick leave.

I woke the other day to a bright ray of sunshine beaming down through my bedroom window. It’s definitely Spring — rain tonight/tomorrow — then sunshine for a couple of days. Nature has already shown recovery from the Winter months of dormancy. Some of you are just now experiencing that Spring effect as well. Even with the stay at home orders of recent, my little town in SW Indiana does not appear to have heard that message.

FreightWaves’ Zach Strickland and JP Hampstead discuss the current elements impacting the spot market, key markets to watch, and whether we’re seeing a V-shape or U-shape pattern in terms of economic recovery.

Freight haulers across transport modes join effort to raise awareness.

FMCSA has expanded the types of crashes eligible for review under its Crash Preventability Determination Program, giving fleets and drivers more options to have non-preventable crashes removed from their record.

The need for social distancing will push companies to look at increased automation of their warehouses.

Driver said pay should include tank wash revenues in the base, but he didn’t say it fast enough

As societal shutdowns because of the COVID-19 pandemic dragged on into the middle of April, the food supply chain has started to center itself.

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has opened up applications for its Scholarship Fund. The fund awards up to $6,250 per year, per full-time college student.

We are bearing witness to today’s trucker as the backbone of our nation’s supply chain, staying the course during this turbulent time and supplying our essential needs through product deliveries every day. While the public has a newfound appreciation of truck drivers and those that support them inside the business, there are pockets of concern in the trucking industry. While many are thanking drivers at #KnightsoftheRoad and #ThankaTrucker for their dedication to their job, and their willingness to perform their duties as an essential worker, there are other mounting problems.

A group of 117 organizations, led by the American Truck Dealers, has written to leaders of Congress asking for a suspension of the 12% federal excise tax on new heavy-duty trucks and trailers.

The capacity picture is still lagging and continues to be at historically loose levels, but even though spot rates bounced in a few markets, overall rates are still horrible. The result is continued pricing power for shippers in the weekly DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index.

As the government pumps more money into the economy, many are questioning where the money is coming from? It’s coming from America’s “Magic Money” tree.

Even as businesses have shut down, traffic data from Inrix showed that, as of April 17, 87% of all truck vehicle miles were still being driven.

Resilience360 recently released reports analyzing the impact of COVID-19 on trade between the United States, Canada and Mexico.

FMCSA has proposed a rule that would force states to stop issuing new, renewing or upgrading CDLs and CLPs, and in some cases even downgrading, for drivers until they complete the return-to-duty process following a positive drug or alcohol test result.

As states begin to reopen their economies, leading retail trade groups urge the opening of all distribution centers and implementation of a three-phase reopening strategy.

78% of truck drivers posted positive comments regarding their morale, with many thanking carriers for supporting them, in the latest sign that carriers are effectively supporting their drivers.

The frustration of 300 million people is bound to show with regards to this virus shutdown. This week, the media began showing a small subset of people protesting the shutdown and showing disregard towards the Country’s safe distancing protocols. If these businesspeople and workers show disregard during a protest, what will their protocols be when they reopen their businesses? In every business situation we need to measure Risk vs Reward, but usually, the risks are confined to your business, not the total U.S. business.

“Things haven’t been great, but I feel like it’s not about me right now. Some of us out here are determined to feed America or die trying,” trucker Mike Baker said about hauling for meat processing plants, some of which are now shutting down.

Even as states reopen, there is too much uncertainty ahead to predict boom times returning, but there is finally some optimism appearing.

The shippers are in the strongest pricing power position in the DHL Supply Chain Pricing Power Index history, but for all the wrong reasons. Volumes are stable, but well below normal levels, and tender rejections are at the lowest level in the index’s 3-year history.

Even though crude oil prices are collapsing, truckers will see lower prices at the pump, but maybe not historically low prices.

A new rule from the National Labor Relations Board clarifies joint-employer status under the National Labor Relations Act. With a stricter standard, employers will have more clarity around which company has legal responsibility for employees.

Daimler Trucks and Volvo Group, two truck makers lukewarm on hydrogen fuel cells, hedge their bets to leverage Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz fuel cell efforts for heavy-duty trucks.

From quarantine, Canadian truck driver Nicole Folz detailed her saga of falling ill hundreds of miles from home.

With what seems like nothing but time these days, my wife brought me an old boot box that my mother put together some 20+ years ago and said “Look what I found!!” We’ve been going through all sorts of things in the house, probably just like yourself. Not that I really wanted to do that, but I must say, I’ve learned a l

Risk is often assessed in terms of probabilities. The probabilities themselves are often calculated under the assumption of a bell-shaped (i.e., normal) distribution. This distribution assumes that extreme events are not likely. What if there are?

The 12-year-old St. Christopher’s Development and Relief Fund has seen a rise on donations. It helps injured and sick semi-truck drivers cover household expenses.

Year-over-year declines in the Cass Freight Index accelerated in March, with the shipments index declining 9.2% and the expenditures index dropping 8.2% for the month.

Do you know someone who is going above and beyond to advance safety in the trucking community? If so, now is the time to nominate them for the 2020 TCA Safety Professional of the Year – Clare C. Casey Award.

Loans under the government’s Payroll Protection Program are being approved and money is starting to flow into the hands of trucking companies.

On this holiday weekend, I want to send my best wishes to the trucking community! From the heroic drivers doing their jobs in the face of adversity, to the carrier support folks – some in offices and some working at home – thank you for your support of our drivers and customers. To the valiant technicians that arrive for work every day unknowing what and where they might come face to face with a health challenge in the course of their daily duties. To the truckstops, dealers and other support businesses that support the drivers while on the road, and sometimes when in the most need, thank you all and bless you all for a hopeful family holiday.

During a leadership webinar I presented on last week one of the things I mentioned was that there’s nothing like a crisis to bring things into perspective. While it seems that we can’t see anything at all during a time like this, I just personally experienced some clarity.

States must submit plan detailing use of technology that supports social distancing.

Government agencies and cybersecurity firms are raising alarm bells as companies shift to remote workforces without proper cyber protections in place.

Freight volumes have been dropping as businesses shut down, and that has shifted the advantage to shippers, who now hold more rate negotiation power.

Recent Truckload Carrier Association webinars on helping trucking fleets navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic are now available to watch.

Truckers are being hailed as heroes right now for delivering consumer goods and medical supplies during the coronavirus pandemic, and some believe the industry’s image may get a permanent boost.

TrueNorth’s Cook sees low returns, premium income dropping and more “selectivity” from underwriters.

We are in the middle of something we have never seen before. Trucking business owners should be seeking out conversations and relationships that can lead to business transformation, wealth preservation, and peace of mind as they consider what do to next.