Business

COLUMBUS, Ind. – October net U.S. trailer orders were 83% higher compared to September, according to ACT Research. October’s trailer orders of 47,860 units added 57% on a seasonally adjusted basis and 171% above the October 2021 level, according to the November issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report. Discussions across the past month indicate trailer OEM business conditions, including 2023 demand, material/component supply chain and labor, are on-par with September, although swinging toward the “better side of the pendulum,” Jennifer McNealy, director–CV market research & publications at ACT Research, said. McNealy said demand overall remains healthy, with cancellations low. She said some cancel-rebooking activity in Q4 can be expected. She also said that October’s backlog-to-build ratio saw an uptick in tandem with the increase in orders. “October orders were mixed, with some trailer categories up triple digits from September, others down double digits, and a few virtually unchanged,” McNealy said. “This year’s backlogs are filled and build slot availability in 2023 varies widely by OEM but continues to open more fully, which helps explain customers’ ability to place orders at the pace exhibited the past two months.”  

OKLAHOMA CITY – Love’s Travel Stops is now serving customers in Madison, Ohio, thanks to a travel stop that opened on Thursday, Nov. 17. The store, located off Interstate 90 (1601 Great Lakes Way), adds 90 truck parking spaces and 55 jobs to Lake County, according to a Love’s news release. “We are thrilled to show customers Love’s Highway Hospitality in Madison,” Shane Wharton, president of Love’s, said. “Coming off the most recent milestone of our 600th location, Love’s is as dedicated and excited as ever to continue providing our customers with the best service and amenities on the highway as we embark on the road to 700.” The location is open 24/7 and offers many amenities, including: More than 13,000 square feet. Arby’s (opening November 17) 90 truck parking spaces. 71 car parking spaces. Seven RV hookups (opening Dec. 1). Nine diesel bays. Seven showers. Laundry facilities. CAT Scale. Bean-to-cup gourmet coffee. Brand-name snacks. Fresh Kitchen concept. Mobile to Go Zone with the latest GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories. In honor of the grand opening, Love’s will donate $2,000 to the Madison Village Police Department.  

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — P&S Transportation LLC, a PS Logistics subsidiary, has purchased all substantial transportation assets of Clay’s Transport, Inc. and Clays Logistics LLC, a privately-owned interstate trucking and brokerage company that specializes in flatbed shipping in the southeastern United States. Headquartered in Brookhaven, Mississippi, Clay’s maintains a fleet of 35 tractors and 50 trailers, according to a news release from P&S. Transportation. Clay’s primarily hauls general flatbed freight, including lumber, metals and steel — types of freight in which P&S also specializes. “Clay’s brings great freight synergies to both our companies as well as our customers,” said Scott Smith, chief executive officer of PS Logistics. “It also further establishes our driver base in the Southeast and adds our first trucking terminal in Mississippi to our growing national network.” The acquisition will provide Clay’s, its customers and its drivers with additional capacity, new service offerings and increased economies of scale, the news release stated. Organizationally, Clay’s will be managed by James Waldrop as a separate division of P&S under the leadership of Houston Vaughn, P&S’ president and chief operating officer. Clay’s will continue to operate under the Clay’s Transport brand name. “P&S will be a great partner for our business,” Waldrop said. “Both of our companies are committed to our drivers and their success, and we share a positive culture that creates an ideal environment for everyone to grow and prosper.” The news release stated that “Clay’s acquisition continues PS Logistics’ acquisition strategy of partnering with families and owners within the flatbed trucking segment. Since 2016, PS Logistics has successfully acquired 26 trucking and brokerage operations.” Financial terms of the Clay’s transaction were not disclosed.

READING, Pa. —Penske Truck Leasing has expanded its use of renewable diesel in California through a preferred supplier agreement with Shell Oil Products U.S. The move is a continuing effort by Penske to help reduce emissions across its truck rental, heavy-duty truck leasing and logistics fleet operations, a news release stated. “In California, renewable diesel provides a realistic pathway for fleets to reduce emissions from well to wheel as the industry continues to decarbonize,” Josh Tippin, vice president, energy and fuel supply at Penske Transportation Solutions, said. “Collaborators like Shell are essential in supporting our fleet sustainability efforts by securing and supplying lower-carbon fuel sources such as renewable diesel and collaborating with us on other carbon reduction initiatives.” All vehicles refueling at Penske Truck Leasing’s 32 locations equipped with fuel islands in California are now receiving renewable diesel at its pumps. Penske plans to expand its use of renewable diesel in other markets as supply increases, and as carbon compensation programs for replacing traditional diesel fuel with renewable diesel become more widely available. According to the California Energy Commission and California Department of Tax and Fee Administration statistics, approximately 3 billion gallons of diesel fuel are sold annually in the state, with only about a third being sold as renewable diesel. Penske first piloted renewable diesel in Southern California for several months to ensure there were no adverse effects on vehicles or their operation. To the contrary, Penske officials say they found an overall net positive effect on the vehicles related to renewable diesel. Of note were reduced maintenance-related issues along with the added benefits of lower overall emissions and a cleaner fuel compared with traditional ultra-low sulfur diesel. The renewable diesel provided by Shell is fully compatible with all diesel engines and has a higher cetane level. Penske has been working closely with Shell to progress decarbonization of the road transport sector, launching sustainable solutions across its operations. For example, Penske is currently installing approximately 100 Level 2 electric vehicle chargers in six states during 2022. This is in collaboration with Shell Recharge Solutions to support Penske’s growing fleet of light-duty electric rental trucks.  

PLOVER, Wis. — Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has recognized Peterbilt as a 2022 “Top Company for Women to Work For in Transportation.” The organization’s mission is to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments, and minimize the obstacles they face, according to a news release. Peterbilt joined WIT in 2016. Peterbilt’s Diversity Council was created in 2016 “to cultivate an inclusive environment that fosters creativity, productivity and mutual respect where all people feel like they belong and can succeed,” the news release stated. Within the Diversity Council, the Peterbilt Women’s Initiative Network has more than 100 members dedicated to championing the empowerment of women within Peterbilt through education, support, networking, personal growth and development opportunities. “I’m very proud that Peterbilt has been recognized as a Top Company for Women to Work For in Transportation,” Jason Skoog, Peterbilt general manager and PACCAR vice president, said. “Our efforts to cultivate a diverse workforce and champion the development of women leaders within the organization remains a critical part of our success each year.” This is the fifth time Peterbilt has received this recognition.

LOWELL, Ark. – J.B. Hunt Transport Services has announced a new goal to reduce its carbon emission intensity 32% by 2034 (baseline 2019). According to a news release, the move is toward an overall goal of “advancing the company’s sustainability vision of moving the freight industry towards a low-carbon future.” “Our roadmap to achieving this aspirational goal will help J.B. Hunt strive to significantly reduce our carbon emission intensity while holding true to our customer commitment of providing efficient, quality-driven, competitive supply chain solutions for moving their freight,” Craig Harper, chief sustainability officer and executive vice president at J.B. Hunt, said. “Our goal is an ambitious challenge to improve J.B. Hunt’s carbon footprint and to help advance the transportation industry’s progress in developing sustainable solutions that are commercially viable and scalable for widespread adoption.” Specifically, J.B. Hunt will focus on three key areas to reach its emission-reduction target by 2034: Incorporating alternative powered equipment into its fleet. Expanding the use of biogenic fuels. Improving fuel economy (diesel powered miles-per-gallon). “Achieving the company’s target is dependent on significant progress with the development and availability of new industry technology and the infrastructure needed to enable their day-to-day use on an industry-wide scale,” the news release stated. Examples include developments such as ongoing enhancements to commercial motor vehicles, charging and refueling infrastructure, expanded capacity on the electrical grid, increased availability of biogenic fuels and the incorporation of more energy resources with lower carbon intensity. J.B. Hunt officials say their goal is “an intensity target aligned with the original goal of the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celcius. Emission intensity measures the volume of absolute emissions emitted against a relevant business output, allowing for business growth while still showing emissions improvement on a per unit basis. The company’s target will focus on reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions per company operated ton-mile 32% by 2034 from a 2019 base year.”

NEW YORK CITY — Koffie Financial has launched a first-of-its-kind credit card built specifically for trucking fleets. The Koffie Card is available through a partnership with Power, a credit card issuance platform focused on the commercial space. “The trucking industry is responsible for transporting 80% of goods in the US and generates over $700B in annual revenue yet continues to be wholly underserved in the credit market today,” said Mike Dorfman, co-founder and COO of Koffie. “Existing card solutions for truckers are debit only and miss the mark on controlling expenses and aligning financial incentives. The Koffie Card was tailor-made to provide truckers the first credit card that comes with the tools and financial benefits to weather increasing cost pressures in their businesses.” In addition to incentives enabled through credit card interchange revenue, the offering will also include spend management and expense tracking capabilities, offered natively within Koffie’s platform. “Now, more than ever, verticalized financial solutions are critical to support the unique needs of specific and important industries such as trucking, which is already hyper-margin-sensitive,” said Randy Fernando, founder and CEO ofPower. “Together, Koffie and Power have filled a very real need in the market through best-in-class cash back incentives and workflow management tooling, all embedded within a modern credit card product.” To learn more about the Koffie Card, visit www.getkoffie.com.

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. — Heniff Transportation Systems, LLC announced on Wednesday, Nov. 10, that it acquired the corporate holding company of tank truck operator Coal City Cob Company, Inc. Coal City Cob operates with more than 230 drivers and 500 trailers within its nationwide network of terminals, including a rail-to-truck bulk transfer yard and tank wash facility at its headquarters in Waxahachie, Texas. The existing Heniff and CCC teams will work closely to integrate the two networks, with a focus on combined customer, employee and driver satisfaction. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “We’re very pleased to welcome Coal City Cob into the Heniff family of companies,” Bob Heniff, founder and CEO of Heniff Transportation Systems, said. “I’ve been friends and a competitor with the Cloonen family for many, many years and this combination now allows us to work together as partners. Given the complementary nature of the two operations, we believe strongly that this combination will create value for all our stakeholders and offer real service enhancements to our respective customers.” Alan Goldstein, president of Coal City Cob, said he is grateful to Mike Cloonen and Cotton Creek Capital “for entrusting our team to carry forward 50 years of its history. As we enter this new relationship, I could not be more convinced that both companies are committed to preserving the same shared values, which start and end with taking care of people. I’m excited for our organization to join the Heniff team and improve our abilities to provide our customers with creative solutions and excellent service. Of equal importance, I believe our existing drivers will discover meaningful economic opportunities by gaining access to Heniff’s expansive footprint and uniquely diversified service offerings.”  

OMAHA, Neb. — Werner Enterprises Inc. has made two major acquisitions in a month’s time. On Nov. 7, the company announced it had acquired 100% of Reed Transport Services Inc.’s stock, along with the stock of RTS-TMS Inc., doing business as ReedTMS Logistics. And on Oct. 3, Werner signed a definitive agreement and closed on the acquisition of FAB9 Inc., doing business as Baylor Trucking, Inc. “We are thrilled to welcome the accomplished ReedTMS team to Werner. ReedTMS Logistics further strengthens our freight brokerage capabilities,” said Derek Leathers, chairman, president and chief executive officer at Werner. “ReedTMS will elevate our logistics portfolio with new customers, by expanding and diversifying our industry verticals. This transaction continues to build upon our Werner DRIVE strategy and positions us for future profitable growth. We expect this acquisition to be accretive to diluted earnings per share in year one.” ReedTMS, founded in 1996 and based in Tampa, Florida, is an asset-light logistics provider and truckload carrier that offers a suite of freight brokerage and truckload solutions, a news release stated. “We are excited to join the Werner team, who we have always considered an industry leader,” said Jason Reed, CEO of ReedTMS Logistics. “Werner will enable us to achieve key goals, including creating broader opportunities for our associates, expanding our service capabilities for our customers and helping us continue our quest to leverage best in class technology solutions for our associates, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders.” As for Baylor, it will operate as a standalone business unit within Werner, and their financial results will be reported in Werner’s One-Way Truckload unit within Truckload Transportation Services, the news release stated. “Baylor, with its highly-skilled professional drivers and non-driver associates, further strengthens our portfolio with their exceptional service and stellar reputation,” Leathers said. “I have known Cari Baylor for many years, and I have tremendous respect for what Cari, her family and her leadership team have created at Baylor. This acquisition delivers on our Werner DRIVE strategy and will position us for further growth. We expect this transaction to be accretive in year one and anticipate buying power synergies through integrated management of our combined fleets.” Baylor operates a fleet of 200 trucks — 170 company and 30 independent contractor rigs — and 980 trailers. Existing Baylor leadership, including President Cari Baylor, drivers and non-driver associates will remain in place, and Werner officials say they are retaining the Baylor brand “to ensure smooth integration and high driver retention.” “Both Werner and Baylor believe deeply that our professional drivers are the backbone of our companies,” Leathers said. “Both companies were founded by their first driver. We look forward to welcoming the Baylor team and working together to create additional value for our customers and shareholders.” Baylor Trucking President Cari Baylor said she has long admired and respected Werner. “We are extremely excited to join the Werner team and look forward to continued growth as we leverage the strengths of Baylor and Werner to serve our existing and new customers at even higher levels,” Baylor said. “We will stand by our customers and continue to provide them with the superior service they expect from Baylor. Aligning with Werner only expands our service capabilities. Werner shares our passion for delivering value and continually creating personal and professional opportunities for our elite Baylor team.”

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Fyda, Inc. has acquired Buckeye Western Star of Columbus and the Kalmar Ottawa business portion of Yard Trucks of Ohio, located in Cincinnati. The deal was inked Nov. 8, according to a news release. “With this strategic purchase, Fyda Freightliner Columbus, Inc. is proud to offer sales, parts, service and body work for Western Star trucks, as well as provide sales, service, parts and rental for the Kalmar Ottawa products,” Gary Tiffan, general manager of Fyda’s Columbus and Zanesville operations, said. The Buckeye Western Star operations have moved to the newly opened West Jefferson location for Fyda Freightliner Columbus, Inc. “Western Star is the future of the vocational segment for Daimler Truck North America and Ottawa is the leading selling yard truck in the U.S. – we couldn’t be happier to add both lines to our Columbus dealership and the Kalmar Ottawa business to our Cincinnati location,” Tim Fyda, president of Fyda, said. Fyda Freightliner Cincinnati, Inc. is keeping the current Yard Trucks of Ohio location at 11649 Reading Road in Cincinnati. “We are excited to welcome the Buckeye Western Star and Yard Trucks of Ohio employees into the Fyda family,” Dan Ruhe, general manager for both the Cincinnati and Walton, KY dealerships, said. “The synergy and opportunities are exciting to everyone.”

BOISE, Idaho — Truckstop is sponsoring Wreaths Across America (WAA) by helping transportation partners assist in delivering more than 2 million veterans’ wreaths for placement on graves of fallen soldiers all over the country. National Wreaths Across America Day is Dec. 17, and the organization will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, as well as at more than 3,500 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad, according to a news release. “We are grateful for the support of companies like Truckstop who are taking the opportunity to give back in recognition of the sacrifice our veterans make, and because of their support we are able to fulfill our mission,” Don Queeney, WAA’s director of transportation, said. Kendra Tucker, CEO of Truckstop, said her company is proud to be a part of WAA. “Supporting the freight transportation community in partnership with such a respected institution is at the core of who we are at Truckstop,” Tucker said. “We provide important tools to help our customers across the U.S. move their businesses forward and to be able to help move Wreaths Across America’s mission to remember, honor, teach forward as well, is an honor.” For more information about how Truckstop is supporting Wreaths Across America this year and how to volunteer, visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/truckstop.