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TTA honors Averitt Express for environmental efforts

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Trucking Association (TTA) recently honored Averitt Express for its commitment to environmental responsibility, presenting Averitt with its Clean Diesel Award. The Clean Diesel Award is given to a Tennessee transportation and logistics provider each year for efforts in improving fuel conservation and sustainability within its fleet, according to a news release. “We’re proud to earn this recognition from the Tennessee Trucking Association,” said Averitt President Wayne Spain. “We’re dedicated to improving the sustainability of our operations, and we will continue to seek innovative and creative technologies to reduce our impact on the environment.” Averitt has adopted a wide variety of practices and technologies into his fleet, including: Using only ultra-low-sulfur diesel at the company’s in-house fueling stations to reduce emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. Operating new low-emission diesel tractor engines. Providing trucks with auxiliary power units that enable drivers to reduce tractor idling when parked for long periods of time. Introducing electric forklifts to its fleet. Maintaining balance within the company’s network to reduce empty miles to reduce emissions and fuel usage.

New ACT Research report focuses on ownership costs of autonomous commercial vehicles

COLUMBUS, Ind. – ACT Research has released DRIVING AUTOMATION, a new report that outlines the total cost of ownership for commercial autonomous vehicles in North America. DRIVING AUTOMATION aggregates relevant market information, analyzes autonomous deployment models and presents a technology adoption rate forecast over a 20-year horizon, a news release stated. “The work, executed as a multi-client study with more than a dozen industry leaders, covers six key areas of autonomous transportation, including a market overview, total available market (TAM), regulations and infrastructure considerations, vehicle TCO (including utilization, fuel economy, maintenance, labor and driver impact, and safety considerations), autonomous models’ impact and ACT’s autonomous forecasts.” Ann Rundle, vice president of electrification and autonomy with ACT Research, said. ACT’s Research Analyst Lydia Vieth said the team spent nine months of “intensive collaborative and independent research. Our objective is to provide a one-stop resource combining first-hand industry knowledge of autonomous commercial vehicle market leaders, regulators and fleets with ACT’s expertise in analysis and forecasting to provide a first-of-its-kind business tool.”  

DHL, BigCommerce partner to support global growth of U.S. merchants

PLANTATION, Fla. — DHL has announced a new partnership with BigCommerce geared toward helping online business owners across the U.S. with discounted shipping costs. BigCommerce merchants that join the program will receive discounted rates from DHL Express, a news release stated. Program participants will also have special access to DHL shipping and logistics professionals “who can potentially help unlock global sales opportunities and take the mystery out of shipping internationally,” according to the news release. “We are looking forward to working with BigCommerce and potentially helping their merchants across industries strengthen their global reach,” Greg Hewitt, CEO at DHL Express, said. “As the needs of small startups, mid-market businesses and large enterprises continue to evolve and heighten, we will be able to further support B2B and B2C BigCommerce merchants by offering quick, reliable and expedited shipments that will help maximize their cross-border potential.” Merchants will also have access to DHL’s On Demand Delivery tool, which provides their customers with proactive notifications and offers flexible delivery options worldwide. “Our partnership with DHL further illustrates our commitment to providing merchants access to the highest-caliber technologies and service providers available in the industry,” Russell Klein, chief commercial officer for BigCommerce, said. “DHL shares our desire to help merchants sell more and grow faster to maximize success, and we look forward to working together to mutually support customers.” DHL Express ships to and from more than 220 countries and territories.  

Logistics giant Performance Team set to grow number of electric Volvo tractors in its fleet

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Volvo Trucks North America’s largest West Coast dealership, TEC Equipment, is working with logistics company Performance Team to integrate a growing number of battery-electric tractors into Performance’s California operations. In March 2022, Performance Team ordered 126 Volvo VNR Electrics to service its short-haul warehouse distribution routes, “demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to reducing its carbon footprint,” a news release stated. Performance Team’s full order of Class 8, zero-tailpipe emission trucks are scheduled to complete delivery by Q3 2023. As of October 2022, Performance Team has taken delivery of its first 30 Volvo VNR Electric trucks, with 16 operating from its Santa Fe Springs location and an additional 14 trucks set to begin operating from its Commerce location later this month. “Introducing any new technology into your fleet operations can come with a learning curve, which we are definitely seeing as customers make the switch from diesel to battery-electric trucks,” Jared Ruiz, acting head of electromobility sales for North America, at Volvo Trucks North America, said. “It is inspiring to see our very first Volvo Trucks Certified EV Dealer working side-by-side with the largest Volvo VNR Electric fleet in the world, both of which are fully committed to facilitating the widespread adoption of zero-tailpipe emission transportation solutions. TEC Equipment and Performance Team are taking a trailblazing role in demonstrating how a dealership and customer can collaborate to maximize the benefits of battery-electric trucks when they are deployed into fleet operations at scale.” Michael Gallagher, head of indirect sourcing, North America, at Performance Team, said that both Volvo Trucks and TEC Equipment “continue to go above and beyond to support Performance Team’s growing battery-electric fleet. One example is the ongoing training they are providing to help our drivers optimize the range of the Volvo VNR Electric, including how to leverage regenerative braking benefits to add power back to the battery. Overall, our drivers have had a very positive experience with the Volvo VNR Electric.”

Musk: Pepsi to receive first Tesla Semis in December

AUSTIN, Texas — Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced Friday, Oct. 7, that his company’s first production Tesla Semi’s will be delivered to soda giant PepsiCo on Dec. 1. PepsiCo reserved 100 of the electric tractors in 2017. This follows an Aug. 10 announcement by Musk that the Tesla Semi trucks would begin shipping this year. Musk also stated once again that the Tesla Semis can travel 500 miles on a single electric charge. In the past, Musk has also said that the 500-mile range even applies when the Semi is pulling a full 80,000-pound load. Musk has also said that the Tesla Semi will cost less than a diesel semi, considering fuel savings, lower maintenance and other factors. Earlier this year, Tesla Semi units were spotted at PepsiCo’s Frito Lay facility in Modesto, California. It was also reported that several Tesla Semi Megachargers have also been installed at the Modesto facility. In April, one of the Tesla Semis was spotted at the Cyber Rodeo Giga Texas, which was held at Tesla’s new Texas factory. The Tesla Semi was unveiled in 2017 and production began in 2019. Since then, the project was delayed several times. Production finally ramping up in the summer of 2020. Reuters reported that the truck is expected to cost $180,000. It would qualify for a tax break of up to $40,000 under a U.S. subsidy program approved by the Senate.    

Daimler Truck, Torc begin fourth year of collaboration on automated tractor project

BLACKSBURG, Va. — As Torc Robotics and Daimler Truck AG enter into their fourth year of partnership, officials at both companies say their focus remains directed at customers, industry collaboration and commercialization of Level 4 autonomous trucks for long-haul applications in the U.S. Level 4 automation represents high automation, where a vehicle can operate without human override under ideal environmental conditions. Since Daimler Truck’s majority share investment in Torc in 2019, “the two have worked hand-in-hand to be the first to commercialize a profitable autonomous truck solution at scale,” a news release stated. “Torc continues to operate as an independent subsidiary and serves as the lead for autonomous driving system development, innovation, and fleet testing.” This year, Torc launched two new facilities. The first one opened in January in Austin, Texas. It is a 21,000 square-foot engineering-focused product development center. Torc chose Austin “due to the city’s unique culture, commitment to innovation, and talent pool is driving technology development and product growth,” according to the news release. In late March, Torc announced the launch of the Torc Autonomous Advisory Council (TAAC) “to gain insights from freight industry leaders and address requirements for integrating autonomous technology into the freight network,” according to the news release. “TAAC and Torc leaders meet quarterly throughout the year, in addition to independently collaborating on critical areas such as integrating autonomous trucks with current freight operations and regulatory challenges.” Torc and Schneider recently announced that Schneider will serve as an operational partner for Torc’s autonomous test fleet. The news release stated that “Schneider will provide freight loads for Torc’s pilot operations and unique insights on truckload freight that will help guide the development and ongoing commercialization of autonomous trucks for long-haul applications.” In preparation for a full hub-to-hub experience, Torc further developed its capabilities for highways, including complex merges and lane change maneuvers. In addition, other proficiencies include autonomously detecting and reacting to traffic lights and navigating complex intersections. From a technology perspective, Torc officials recently started running their vehicles with an updated sensor suite, computers and additional integrations that further testing efficiency as the team scales its autonomous fleet.  

Blue Ink Tech adds Scale Ticket capability to their BIT Air Scales

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Blue Ink Technology, the maker of the BIT ELD, has introduced a new way for drivers to print and send their gross and axle weights to carriers and shippers. Customers who use BIT Air Scales can now access the ability to print and send scale tickets from the Blue Ink Tech app. “This is an exciting time for our air scale users” Mike Riegel, head of operations at Blue Ink Tech, said. “With this capability, drivers will not only know what they weigh at the shipper’s site, they can email scale tickets to shippers based on their recent calibrations to get loads fixed.” Historically, shippers have been skeptical of pressure gauges and on-board scales because there is no way to tell if they represent accurate weights. BIT Air Scale requires multiple calibrations where the driver enters axle weights in the Blue Ink Tech app. These calibrations are stored and compared to get a Calibration Confidence Score. When a driver has completed a few weight entries, and their calibrations have a 99.4% or better confidence level, they can save and email Air Scale weight tickets. “With the constraints that the ELD mandate has put on drivers and carriers, it costs a lot to address an overloaded truck,” Riegel said. “Our goal is to help eliminate the situation at the point of loading, so drivers won’t have to choose between backtracking or risking fines. Air Scale weight tickets are there to back up our drivers so they can get the load fixed immediately.” Blue Ink Tech is also seeing carriers taking advantage of their new scale ticket capabilities. “Carriers with a fleet want to do things by the book because any down time is lost revenue. They’re spending a fortune having drivers scale every load,” Riegel said. “With drivers being able to get weights on their phones and send in scale tickets directly, it’s saving over $1,000/year per truck just on scale tickets” Carriers will also be able to have confidence that drivers are loaded and legal before they even start the delivery. For more information about Blue Ink Tech’s Air Scales and scale ticket feature visit blueinktech.com/air_scale

Pilot Flying J honors 2022 Road Warriors

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Pilot Flying J has revealed the winners of its annual Road Warrior contest, which recognizes truck drivers who go above and beyond to keep America’s freight moving. After reviewing thousands of deserving nominations, this year’s $15,000 grand prize winner is David Sweetman of Wilmington, Delaware, according to a news release. The $10,000 second-place winner is Jeffrey Thomas of Belews Creek, North Carolina. “Inspired by the incredible stories received this year, Pilot Flying J for the first time in contest history determined it was a tie for third place, selecting Greg Hepner of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Ron Rigdon of Tignal, Georgia, to win $5,000 each,” the news release stated. “It is an honor to be able to give back to professional drivers and hear their incredible stories through our annual Road Warrior contest,” Jason Nordin, chief operator for Pilot Flying J, said. “We appreciate all the professional drivers out there who, like our winners, represent the heart, determination, and resiliency of trucking. Congratulations, David, Jeffrey, Greg, and Ron on being this year’s winners – we thank you for the millions of safe miles, for being incredible stewards of our industry, and for your dedication to serving our country in many ways.” Grand prize winner Sweetman is an Army veteran with more than 50 years and 5 million miles behind the wheel. He leases out his truck to Bennett Truck Transport as a power-only hauler for concerts, stage events and equipment moves. He has also been a contributing writer and editor for various trucking publications for more than 20 years. During the Covid lockdown, Sweetman carried on, helping set up food banks, hauling generators for emergency hospitals and helping move generators, showers, and water treatment units for FEMA after several natural disasters across the southern United States. “David is a great person with a tremendous set of core values while always being safety conscious. It is rare to find drivers with not only his qualities but who have driven over a million miles safely while out on the road. We are very blessed at Bennett to have David,” Tom Woodall, president of Bennett DriveAway, said. Sweetman is also one of the original Trucker Buddy professional trucker volunteers, working with classrooms to help educate students across America. Through reading, writing and mentorship, Sweetman and others help encourage future generations of professional drivers through tales of the road and showcasing how essential trucking is to the economy and our way of life. “One of the great things about the project is that it gives us, the people traveling the country, a chance to share not only what we do but it teaches school children, who’ve maybe never left their hometown, where produce in the supermarket comes from, it comes from trucks,” Sweetman said. To recognize his contributions and further the great work of Trucker Buddy, Pilot Company surprised Sweetman during his award ceremony at the Bennett Family of Companies with a $15,000 donation on his behalf to the organization. To watch this special moment and Sweetman’s reaction, visit https://fb.watch/fXWEq9S1cj/. “David, a founding driver of Trucker Buddy when Gary King started the program, has been showing students a positive image of the trucking industry for over 30 years,” Randy Schwartzenburg, assistant treasurer and former executive director of Trucker Buddy, said. “We appreciate companies like Bennett and Pilot for working with us to encourage young students to excel in school and to bring education from the road to the classroom through the lens of a truck driver.” Pilot Flying J’s second place Road Warrior winner, Jeffrey Thomas, is the independent owner-operator of Joly American Enterprises, LLC. He is a Marine veteran and driver trainer with more than 35 years of experience. Third place winner, Greg Hepner, has spent 30 years and more than 3 million incident free miles behind the wheel covering 38 states, 17 foreign countries and three war zones. He currently drives for Tidewater Transit Company. The other third place winner, Ron Rigdon, is an Army veteran, father and grandfather who currently operates a 53-foot race car hauler across the country for Parella Motorsports Holdings. Rigdon also started and operates Santa’s Toy Run, a toy drive and fundraiser dedicated to providing toys and funds to children in need. To learn more about Pilot Flying J’s 2022 Road Warrior contest and winners, visit pilotflyingj.com/roadwarrior.

Heavy-duty truck, semi-trailer auction values hold steady in September

LINCOLN, Neb. — According to the newest market reports from Sandhills Global, inventory levels in the heavy-duty truck and semi-trailer categories have decreased two months in a row while auction values remained steady in September. The stabilizing pattern for these key markets follows an extended period during which inventory levels grew significantly and auction values declined. It’s also significant to note that used heavy-duty truck and semi-trailer inventory levels in Sandhills marketplaces are still well above those reported for September 2021. The key metric used in all of Sandhills’ market reports is the Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI). Buyers and sellers can use the information in the Sandhills EVI to monitor equipment markets and maximize returns on acquisition, liquidation, and related business decisions. The Sandhills EVI data include equipment available in auction and retail markets, as well as model year equipment actively in use. Regional EVI data is available for the United States (and key geographic regions within) and Canada, allowing Sandhills to reflect machine values by location. Chart Takeaways Sandhills Market Reports highlight the most significant changes in Sandhills’ used truck and trailer, construction equipment, and farm machinery markets. Each report includes detailed analysis and charts that help readers visualize the data. Sandhills provides a complete view of the equipment market trends with its newest market reports, detailing the critical patterns in markets like medium-duty trucks and medium-duty construction equipment. U.S. Used Heavy-Duty Trucks The Sandhills EVI shows used heavy-duty truck inventory decreased 2.7% month-over-month in September, following a 5% M/M drop from July to August. Heavy-duty truck inventory levels were still up 20.9% year-over-year. Auction EVI was steady (decreasing 0.1%) M/M and increased 12.4% YOY. Heavy-duty truck asking values continued to follow trends set by auction values in prior months. Asking EVI decreased 0.8% M/M, marking the fourth consecutive month of asking value decreases, and increased 25.8% YOY. U.S. Used Semi-Trailers In September, semi-trailer inventory levels were down 3.7% M/M and up 37% YOY. Similar to the flattening auction values seen in heavy-duty trucks, semi-trailer auction values decreased just 0.7% M/M and increased 12.7% YOY. September marked the fourth consecutive month of declines in semi-trailer asking values. Asking EVI decreased 4.5% M/M and increased 31.7% YOY. U.S. Used Medium-Duty Trucks With inventory levels decreasing 1.2% M/M in September, medium-duty truck inventory levels continued their slow decline. YOY, however, inventory levels showed a 57% increase. Medium-duty truck asking and auction values have been sluggish in recent months. Auction EVI decreased 2.9% M/M, and values were nearly flat (up 0.6%) YOY. Asking EVI decreased 0.5% M/M and increased 16% YOY. U.S. Used Heavy-Duty Construction Equipment The Sandhills EVI shows used inventory levels dropped 3.1% M/M for heavy-duty construction equipment; inventory levels also remain lower than last year, having decreased 34.8% YOY. Auction EVI for heavy-duty construction equipment was flat (up 0.1%) M/M and increased 7.5% YOY. Asking EVI increased 1.1% M/M, a slight rise following a 0.4% July-to-August value drop and increased 8.1% YOY. U.S. Used Medium-Duty Construction Equipment Used medium-duty construction equipment inventory levels decreased 3.4% M/M and decreased 22% YOY. With a 1.5% M/M auction value decrease in September, auction EVI in this category has shown four consecutive months of decreases. Auction EVI increased 4.8% YOY. Asking values in the medium-duty construction market has been slowly decreasing in recent months. Asking EVI decreased 0.26% M/M and increased 11.3% YOY. U.S. Used Farm Equipment Used farm equipment inventory levels have been steady for several months, increasing 2.5% M/M in September. Inventory is also lower than last year, down 16% YOY. Auction EVI decreased 1.1% M/M but remains higher than last year, up 5.6%. Asking EVI decreased 0.6% M/M but is also above last year, up 7.3% YOY. Obtain the Full Report For more information, or to receive detailed analysis from Sandhills Global, contact us at [email protected].  

Leonard’s Express helps construct community playground by offering in-kind hauling services

FARMINGTON, N.Y. — Leonard’s Express delivered five truckloads of raw materials and playground equipment more than 1,000 miles, free of charge, from Delano, Minnesota, to Canandaigua, New York, to help with construction of a community playground. The materials were delivered on a weekly schedule during the summer of 2021, culminating with a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony in June 2022. The total value of the Leonard’s Express donation was approximately $31,000, according to a news release. “It was a perfect opportunity to support one of our communities and demonstrate our values,” Leonard’s Express Chief Financial Officer Kyle Johnson said. “We delivered swing sets, slides, merry go rounds, buddy benches — pretty much everything on the playground except the concrete and mulch.” Dubbed the Dream Big campaign, the playground was designed for people of all abilities to enjoy in Western New York. Mike and Nanci Bentley from the Inclusion in Motion project spearheaded the effort with support from dozens of community partners. They say that visitors from the Rochester and Finger Lakes region have come in droves to enjoy the new outdoor space. “Over the summer, four to six busloads of visitors came to the playground each week, including Cub Scout troops, school districts, church groups, nonprofit organizations and families and friends, all joining to create lasting memories of generations playing together,” Nanci Bentley said. “We have quickly become a popular destination for schools, adult agencies and even other municipalities to visit. Without the community’s support and the backing of donors like Leonard’s Express, this playground would not be where it is today. We couldn’t have done it by ourselves.” And none of it could have been possible without the help of big trucks. Leonard’s Express became involved when another trucking company was unable to keep its commitment to haul the playground’s surfacing from Pennsylvania. “A different carrier had offered to haul the surfacing but a week before our scheduled delivery, they backed out,” Mike Bentley said. “So, I called Kyle Johnson from Leonard’s Express and asked for help. He said, ‘Absolutely.’ We were in a real jam and Leonard’s came through for us without hesitation.” Johnson said he was happy to help. “Leonard’s Express is proud to participate in transforming Inclusion in Motion’s big dream into a reality,” he said. “At Leonard’s Express, philanthropic activities are central to our culture and help define us as a company and as a great place to work.”  

Class 8 tractor orders hit highest ever monthly total

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Preliminary North American Class 8 net tractor orders for September totaled 53,700 units, an all-time high, while orders for North American Classes 5-7 totaled 26,600 units. Complete industry data for September, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-October. “The strength in orders reflects OEMs having fully opened their order boards for 2023 a bit earlier than normal, as the seasonally weak period for truck orders typically runs May through September,” Eric Crawford, ACT’s vice president and senior analyst, said. Crawford called September Class 8 orders “sensational no matter how you slice the data. Over the past 12 months, 249,800 Class 8 orders have been booked. Manufacturer demand was strong. ACT’s State of the Industry: Classes 5-8 Vehicles report provides a monthly look at the current production, sales and general state of the on-road heavy and medium duty commercial vehicle markets in North America. It differentiates market indicators by Class 5, Classes 6-7 chassis and Class 8 trucks and tractors, detailing activity-related measures such as backlog, build, inventory, new orders, cancellations, net orders and retail sales. Additionally, Class 5 and Classes 6-7 are segmented by trucks, buses, RVs and step van configurations. The Class 8 market is segmented into trucks and tractors, with and without sleeper cabs.

Werner inks deal to acquire Baylor Trucking

OMAHA, Neb. — Werner Enterprises Inc. has signed a definitive agreement and closed on the acquisition of FAB9, Inc., doing business as Baylor Trucking Inc. Founded in 1946, Baylor operates 200 trucks and 980 trailers in the east central and south-central U.S., with itsnetwork of two terminals. “Baylor, with its highly-skilled professional drivers and non-driver associates, further strengthens our portfolio with their exceptional service and stellar reputation,” said Derek Leathers, chairman, president and CEO at Werner. “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.” Werner touts the following strategic and financial benefits of the acquisition. Addition of 234 highly-skilled, tenured and professional drivers. Fleet of 200 trucks (170 company and 30 independent contractor) and 980 trailers. Existing Baylor leadership (including President Cari Baylor), drivers and non-driver associates will remain in place, and we are retaining the Baylor brand to ensure smooth integration and high driver retention. Freight revenues mix of one-way dry van (51%), expedited dry van (42%) and refrigerated (7%). Adds high-quality driver and non-driver talent and increases Werner’s fleet size by 2.4%. Buying power synergies are expected through combined management of our two fleets. Both Werner and Baylor have similar cultures that are intensely focused on safety and superior customer service. Shared values of working with winning customers with high expectations, establishing long-term mutual service and revenue objectives, and delivering best-in-class performance to stabilize volume and minimize churn. Baylor 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. Leathers continued, “Both Werner and Baylor believe deeply that our professional drivers are the backbone of our companies. 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.” Cari Baylor, president of Baylor Trucking, said she has admired and respected Werner for a long time as an industry leader. “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.”

Kenworth supports trucking careers for U.S. military service members

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — Hundreds of active and retired U.S. military members and spouses recently attended a trucking-related career development, networking and job hiring event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Washington state. Dubbed the Hiring Our Heroes Summit, the event was coordinated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes Program. The summit drew leading national and regional-based companies including Amazon, Boeing, Intel, Kenworth and PACCAR. At the summit, Kenworth representatives met with members of the military to discuss employment opportunities with Kenworth and to provide information about the trucking industry. On display at the event was a Kenworth W990 equipped with 52-inch flat roof sleeper, PACCAR MX-13 engine and a PACCAR TX-18 automated transmission for event attendees to get an up-close look and learn about Kenworth’s latest long hood. According to Mark Buckner, Kenworth section manager for battery electric vehicle development and a member of the U.S. Navy reserves, interest in meeting with top national and Washington state employers was high at the career summit. “There was a line that wrapped around one of the cargo plane hangars, which is a very large building,” Buckner said. “A number of attendees stopped by the Kenworth booth and showed interest in learning about the company and our open positions. There was also a lot of interest in the W990 we had staged at the event. I think it was fun for people to compare a modern Class 8 commercial truck with equipment that’s used in the military — it’s very different. We received a lot of compliments about the styling of the truck and in-cab technology, such as the new 15-inch digital display.” Buckner was one of several Kenworth employees on hand to discuss employment opportunities and provide information about Kenworth to event attendees. Prior to joining Kenworth in 2018, Buckner spent seven years in active duty with the U.S. Navy as a submariner. His most recent deployment was to Afghanistan in 2017. Buckner has also served a combined 12 years in the U.S. Navy reserves and currently ranks as captain. With Kenworth, Buckner supervises a team of design engineers for hoods and bumpers of Kenworth’s Class 8 trucks. At the career summit, Buckner met with several qualified candidates for open engineering positions within Kenworth. The company was taking applications ranging from open positions at the Kenworth Renton manufacturing plant, to engineering, HR, and marketing opportunities at company headquarters in Kirkland, Wash. Across Kenworth’s manufacturing plants in Renton and Chillicothe, Ohio and its headquarters, Kenworth employs more than 150 veterans. “It’s important to have career events for veterans transitioning from active duty to civilian life,” Buckner said. “They’re especially helpful for those that don’t quite know what they want to do post-military life. Working with Kenworth, I get to help design components for trucks that I see on the road every day and that help keep the economy moving. I think that’s pretty cool. It’s been a great experience working for Kenworth.” In addition to supporting veteran career events, Kenworth is a sponsor for the “Transition Trucking: Driving For Excellence” program. The program helps to find America’s top rookie military veteran driver who has made the successful transition from active duty to driving for a commercial fleet. Kenworth will provide the top award for the seventh consecutive year — a Kenworth T680 Next Gen equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and the complete PACCAR Powertrain featuring the PACCAR MX-13 engine, PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission, and PACCAR DX-40 tandem rear axles. There are currently 11 driver finalists up for the award. The winner will be announced in December in Washington, D.C.

Trucking company accused of subjecting women to sex-based discrimination in hiring

INDIANAPOLIS — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Friday, Sept. 30, that it has filed suit against Gypsum Express Ltd., headquartered in Baldwinsville, New York, for sex discrimination in hiring, as well as retaliation and constructive discharge involving two former recruiters. Gypsum Express provides truck-transportation services and currently has terminals in Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Indiana, Georgia, South Carolina and Illinois. In its lawsuit, the EEOC charged that, since at least 2014, Gypsum Express has engaged in a nationwide pattern or practice of hiring discrimination against female applicants for flatbed driver positions because of sex, including having a formal same-sex trainer/trainee policy for a period of time. The EEOC alleges the policy precluded recruiters from hiring inexperienced female applicants for driver positions because Gypsum Express “did not employ any female trainers and was unwilling to pair female trainees with male trainers.” The EEOC further alleged that hiring officials, other management and supervisory employees, human resources personnel, and recruiters expressly stated sex-based criteria for flatbed driver positions. The EEOC also charged that Gypsum Express subjected a former recruiter to retaliatory discharge for opposing the trucking company’s discriminatory hiring practices and forced another recruiter to engage in discriminatory hiring practices, which “adversely affected her terms, conditions or privileges of employment, forcing her to quit.” Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits, among other things, using sex-based criteria in employment and retaliation against employees who oppose sex discrimination. After first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process, the EEOC filed its lawsuit (EEOC v. Gypsum Express, Ltd., Case No. 2:22-cv-00119) in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Covington Division. The agency seeks lost wages, pecuniary and non-pecuniary compensatory damages, along with punitive damages, as well as a permanent injunction and ongoing reporting and monitoring procedures to ensure that Gypsum Express complies with the law in the future. “This case demonstrates the EEOC’s ongoing commitment to remedying class-wide sex discrimination and eliminating barriers in recruitment and hiring,” Kenneth Bird, regional attorney of the EEOC’s Indianapolis District Office, said. “Hiring must be based on the individual’s ability to do the job, regardless of sex.” Michelle Eisele, director of the EEOC’s Indianapolis District Office, said, “Retaliation against employees who oppose discrimination they observe in the workplace cannot be tolerated. The EEOC is committed to seeking relief for workers who speak up against their employer’s discriminatory conduct.” For more information on sex-based discrimination, visit https://www.eeoc.gov/sex-based-discrimination. The case is being litigated by the Louisville Area Office, which is part of the EEOC’s Indianapolis District, with jurisdiction over Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and parts of Ohio.  

ACT Research: DAT, ACT partner to boost analytics services

DENVER, Colo. and COLUMBUS, Ind. — DAT Freight & Analytics and ACT Research have entered into an agreement that “will enhance the service offerings of both organizations,” according to a news release. “By far, DAT maintains the largest database of truckload transactions than any other marketplace in the industry,” said Tim Denoyer, vice president and senior analyst at ACT Research. With more than 500-million loads posted each year, DAT iQ provides information on spot and contract rates through a database of $137 billion in annual market transactions. “Joining forces to couple the power of DAT’s highly regarded RateView data, with ACT’s strategic forecasting services, will enhance our offerings to the industry,” said Kenny Vieth, president of ACT Research. ACT Research uses proprietary Class 8 equipment population and driver analysis, with award-winning economic forecasting, to predict DAT rates over a 2- to 3-year window. “We add value by applying our expertise in freight volume and capacity dynamics to predict where rates are headed in the future. The depth and breadth of DAT’s data will help us to further refine our forecasting accuracy,” Denoyer said. ACT’s Q2’22 forecasts for DAT spot rates, net fuel, from a year out, were 98.7% accurate in the ACT Freight Forecast. The standard deviation of this data set on a quarterly basis is 19%. Both Adamo and Denoyer will be on stage at DATCON22, DAT’s annual user conference for transportation and logistics professionals on Oct. 5-7. The event will be held in Austin, Texas, at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center and include workshops, networking events and topical guest sessions. For more information about DATCON22, click here. “ACT Research provides a critical service to the industry,” said Ken Adamo, DAT chief of analytics. “We’re excited about how our collaboration will enhance their spot and contract rate forecasting to benefit shippers, carriers, brokers, and all stakeholders alike.”    

Werner Enterprises, Kodiak Robotics team up for 24/7 long-haul autonomous freight operations

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., and OMAHA, Neb. — Kodiak Robotics Inc. is collaborating with Werner Enterprises to establish an autonomous trucking lane and to showcase how efficiently autonomous trucks can be used with a transfer hub model at truck ports. The relationship began in August with a week-long pilot program in which a Kodiak truck, occupied by a human safety driver at all times, completed four tours involving eight unique trips between Dallas and Lake City, Florida, according to a news release. Werner Enterprises also joined Kodiak’s Partner Deployment Program, which helps carriers establish autonomous freight operations and integrate the Kodiak Driver, Kodiak’s self-driving system, into their fleet. “Working with Kodiak enables us to efficiently incorporate new technologies into our business while giving us a competitive edge,” said Chad Dittberner, senior vice president of van/expedited for Werner. “We’re eager to establish the hybrid model of drivers and ongoing autonomous lanes to create new and unparalleled levels of efficiency while staying focused on Werner’s value of putting safety first.” During its pilot with Werner, Kodiak completed a total of 152 hours of driving time and achieved 100% on-time delivery performance. Werner had trailers ready for a Kodiak self-driving truck to pick up on both ends of the trip. Werner’s local drivers completed the first-mile pickups and last-mile deliveries. This truck port model maximizes the amount of time the Kodiak Driver spends driving. “Werner’s vision for incorporating autonomous trucks into their future operations demonstrates a fundamental understanding of where autonomous technology fits within the trucking industry,” said Don Burnette, founder and CEO of Kodiak. “The Kodiak Driver is designed to do the often-undesirable highway portions of long-haul routes, allowing drivers to handle the deliveries that let them sleep in their own beds at night. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Werner and introducing new permanent lanes together.” The joint effort with Werner Enterprises is the most recent carrier relationship to be announced by Kodiak. Earlier this year, the company announced partnerships with U.S. Xpress, 10 Roads Express and CEVA Logistics.    

ACT Research: Anticipating inbound recession, September forecasts unchanged

COLUMBUS, Ind. — In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported essentially unchanged forecasts from last month. Demand remains healthy, production remains constrained, and freight rates and volumes managed to squeak out small improvements compared to August. The report, which combines ACT’s proprietary data analysis from a wide variety of industry sources, paints a comprehensive picture of trends impacting transportation and commercial vehicle markets. “We’re hardly at the ‘living on a prayer’ stage when it comes to our outlook, but as the old investing maxim goes, don’t fight the Fed,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT president and senior analyst. “We believe wage inflation needs to moderate before the Fed can begin turning away from tighter monetary policy. As long as the jobs reports remains strong, the harder it may be to tame wage inflation — which may lead to more-aggressive-for-longer rate hikes and worse than expected economic outcomes. As it has been for several months, a mild recession centered in early 2023 remains our base case.”

ACT Research: Trailer orders up over previous month, significantly over 2021

COLUMBUS, Ind. — August net U.S. trailer orders of 17,777 units were 4.6% higher compared to last month, but more than 37.7% above last year’s August level, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report. “Discussions across the past month indicate more OEMs opening 2023 build slots (some opening initial slots, others expanding into later in the year),” said Jennifer McNealy, director of commercial vehicle market research & publications at ACT Research. “OEMs continue to negotiate with fleets, and those efforts are quickly moving to booked business.” ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report provides a monthly review of the current U.S. trailer market statistics, as well as trailer OEM build plans and market indicators divided by all major trailer types, including backlogs, build, inventory, new orders, cancellations, net orders and factory shipments. It is accompanied by a database that gives historical information from 1996 to the present, as well as a ready-to-use graph packet, to allow organizations in the trailer production supply chain, and those following the investment value of trailers, trailer OEMs and suppliers to better understand the market. “While manufacturers continue to wrestle with rolling supply-chain disruptions, as well as challenges on the labor front, tangible improvements are being made,” McNealy said. “OEMs are investigating longer-term supply solutions, including but not limited to increased parts inventories and automation to offset labor pains, in hopes of getting ahead of potential future disruptions. Demand remains strong, cancellations remain insignificant as fleets in queue plan to stay in line, and we’re beginning to hear about price stabilization accompanying the smoother flow of materials in the supply chain.”    

Long Island Business News recognizes Transervice Logistics for corporate social responsibility

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. — Transervice Logistics Inc. was recognized for its corporate social responsibility as one of Long Island Business News’ 2022 Corporate Citizenship Honorees. An awards ceremony following the State of the Not-For-Profit Industry panel discussion was held on Sept. 20 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, New York. The Corporate Citizenship Awards recognize companies and individuals who believe that by being a good corporate citizen they contribute to the economic and social well-being of their employees, businesses and the community. “Transervice fully embraces its responsibility to advocate for individuals, the environment and other causes,” said Gregg Nierenberg, president and chief executive officer. “We’re passionate about giving back to the local community, and to organizations across North America. Charitable giving is — as it should be — at the heart of our mission.” Among the charities supported by Transervice and its employees are the following Long Island organizations: The Book Fairies, an organization that collects reading materials for people in need throughout metropolitan New York. Salvation Army, a relief agency among the first to arrive with help after natural or man-made disasters. Island Harvest Food Bank, a hunger relief organization delivering food to thousands of Long Islanders. United Way of Long Island, an organization that advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life focusing on health, education and financial stability. Red Nose Day, an annual fundraising campaign to end the cycle of child poverty and ensure a healthy future for all children.  

New data shows record number of females working in transportation HR departments

PLOVER, Wis. — The percentage of female professionals in human resources and talent management roles within the commercial freight transportation industry has reached an all-time high, according to new data highlighted in the Women In Trucking Association’s (WIT) recently released WIT Index. The WIT Index serves as an industry barometer to benchmark and measure the percentage of women who make up critical roles in transportation each year. The 2022 WIT Index shows that 74.9% of human resources and talent management roles in transportation companies are filled by women. In addition, approximately 49% of respondents reported that 90% or more of professionals in their human resources and talent management positions are women. Another 34% say that between 50% and 90% of their human resources and talent management professionals are women. Approximately 11% report that women comprise 10% to 50% of human resources and talent management roles, while 6% report having no women in human resources-related roles. Traditionally, human resources and talent management disciplines have been long perceived as a female-oriented profession, primarily because of the skill sets requirement in the field, according to Ellen Voie, president and CEO of WIT’s president. According to WIT, women are typically more skilled in this area because they are commonly considered to have a better emotional intelligence score than men. Critical skills in this discipline that are more commonly held by women include multitasking, leadership, planning, communication and human relations skills. “Women have always been visible in the areas of human resources and talent management, but we want to see these figures increase as more women find careers in the transportation industry,” Voie said. Initiated in 2016, the WIT Index is comprised of average percentages of females in various roles that are reported by companies in transportation, including predominantly for-hire trucking companies, private fleets, transportation intermediaries, railroads, ocean carriers, equipment manufacturers and technology companies. This data was confidentially gathered from January through April 2022 from 180 participating companies and percentages are reported only as aggregate totals of respondents. Along with its traditional benchmark percentages among HR/talent management, leadership and professional drivers in commercial freight transportation, WIT this year has expanded its collection on the percentage of women to include operations, technicians, sales and marketing. For more information on the WIT Index and to download a full executive summary of the 2022 WIT Index findings, visit https://www.womenintrucking.org/index.