TheTrucker.com

NationaLease awards Leadership Circle Awards

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — Twenty-five companies have been recognized by NationaLease for their good work as part of this year’s Leadership Circle Awards. “Recipients of the Leadership Circle Award have been loyal and steadfast supporters of NationaLease for many years,” a news release stated. “Their participation in NationaLease programs and other initiatives has significantly impacted and will continue to impact the growth and success enjoyed by NationaLease in the truck leasing industry.” The recipients who qualified for this award comprise the top tier of NationaLease’s 120 independently owned businesses. This year’s winners are: Aim NationaLease. Airoldi Brothers NationaLease. All Services Leasing Inc., a NationaLease Member. Autow NationaLease. Bentley Truck Services Inc., a NationaLease Member. Brown NationaLease. Carco NationaLease. Carmichael NationaLease. Diversified Truck Leasing, a NationaLease Member. Fleet One Leasing NationaLease. Fox & James NationaLease. Hogan Truck Leasing Inc., a NationaLease Member. Hoyt’s NationaLease. Koch NationaLease. Kris-Way Truck Leasing Inc., a NationaLease Member. McMahon Truck Leasing, a NationaLease Member. Miller NationaLease. Parrish Leasing Inc., a NationaLease Member. Salem NationaLease. Star Truck Rentals Inc., a NationaLease Member. Success NationaLease. Suppose U Drive Truck Rental & Leasing, a NationaLease Member. TCI Leasing/Rentals, a NationaLease Member. Truckway NationaLease. Velocity Truck Rental and Leasing, a NationaLease Member.

Canadian currency toll rates at the Blue Water Bridge adjusted beginning Oct. 1

SAGINAW, Mich. ­— In accordance with the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Blue Water Bridge (BWB) parity rate adjustment policy, toll rates paid in Canadian currency (CAD) for traffic heading into Canada will remain the same for cars and extra axles but will increase for trucks and buses. Based on the current average daily exchange rate, the roll rates below will be in effect through March 31, 2023: Passenger vehicle rates will remain $3.75 (CAD) per trip. Extra axles will remain $3.75 (CAD) per trip. Trucks and buses will increase to $4.25 (CAD) per trip. In 2016, MDOT announced the currency parity policy. The Canadian rate for eastbound traffic is reviewed and adjusted April 1 and Oct. 1 of each year, rounded to the nearest $0.25 and calculated based on the prior six-month average daily exchange rates between the U.S. and Canadian currencies. Travel restrictions to Canada have recently been updated by Canada Border Services Agency. The BWB is currently enrolling commercial and commuter customers in its EDGE Pass program. Commuter customers receive a discounted toll rate for non-commercial vehicles with no more than two axles. The EDGE Pass also offers commuter customers a dedicated toll lane. Both commercial and commuter account holders have 24-hour access to manage accounts online through a secure web portal. Questions regarding the EDGE Pass can be sent to [email protected]. Customers can apply by visiting www.BlueWaterBridge.us.  

Drivers invited to nominate carriers for TCA’s 15th annual Best Fleets to Drive For contest

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Nominations are now open for the Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) this year’s Best Fleets to Drive For contest. This is the 15th year TCA and CarriersEdge have recognized top performing carriers through the annual contest. Professional truck drivers and independent contractors are invited to formally nominate the company they work for; the nomination period ends Oct. 31. “The Best Fleets to Drive For program started fifteen years ago during the 2008 recession, surprising us with the unique ways fleets addressed the needs of their drivers during times of uncertainty,” said TCA President Jim Ward. “I look forward to seeing what new standards carriers have implemented since last year’s program to better working conditions for professional drivers, and the industry as a whole.” Fleets operating 10 or more tractor-trailers in the U.S. or Canada are eligible for nomination. Visit BestFleetsToDriveFor.com to learn about the program and how to submit a nomination. A TCA membership is not required to participate. “By nominating a fleet, a professional truck driver is formally recognizing its company’s culture, programs and working environment,” a TCA news release said. If the nominated carrier chooses to participate in the contest, its senior management will take part in a questionnaire and interview, while a selection of drivers will participate in surveys, all of which dig deeper into the company’s policies and practices. At the end of the evaluation process, the top 20 highest scoring fleets will be identified as Best Fleets to Drive For and announced at the end of January 2023. From this pool, companies will be divided into “small” and “large” carrier categories. Two overall winners will be recognized alongside fleets who will be entering the program’s Hall of Fame at the TCA Annual Convention, March 4-7, 2023, in Kissimmee, Florida. “The program evolves every season to match what is happening in the industry,” said Jane Jazrawy, CEO of CarriersEdge. “Over the past two years, we watched carriers work hard to meet the unprecedented challenges that arose during COVID. Now, we are excited to see what new ideas fleets have come up with to transition from the pandemic and meet the challenges of a fluctuating economy.” To view best practices from last year’s program as well as profiles of the overall winners, visit www.BestFleetsToDriveFor.com. Follow along with the contest on social media by searching the hashtag #BestFleets23. To view the program’s Facebook page, visit www.facebook.com/BestFleetsToDriveFor  

CarriersEdge adds course to help prevent tanker operator injuries

NEWMARKET, Ontario, Canada — CarriersEdge has introduced a course to help drivers avoid injuries while performing tasks directly or indirectly related to operating a tanker. Falls from climbing a tanker, using the catwalk or tripping over hoses are common causes of injuries for tanker drivers. These can result in sprains, fractures or even serious head injuries. The “Tanker Injury Prevention” course focuses on risks associated with getting in and out of the cab, climbing on and off the tanker, securing the cargo and handling hoses while loading and unloading cargo, according to a news release. The interactive module outlines the different aspects of the driver’s tanker-related duties, including specific examples and detailed steps. “Tankers present a multitude of opportunities for workplace injury, so it’s critical for drivers to understand how to stay safe when loading, unloading, and inspecting the equipment,” Jane Jazrawy, CEO of CarriersEdge, said. “This course uses a combination of text, images, animation, and interactive exercises to take drivers through the common activities and ensure they’re well prepared to avoid injuries.” “Tanker Injury Prevention” is available to customers now at no extra charge as part of the CarriersEdge subscription service.  

Trucking, logistics companies earn awards for humanitarian work

LAKELAND, Fla. — Several trucking and logistics companies were honored with Humanitarian Logistics Awards from the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) on Wednesday, Sept. 21. “Today we’re honored to recognize a few of the people and businesses that have been a beacon of hope during disasters like the recent flooding in Kentucky, COVID-19 and the conflict in Ukraine,” said ALAN Executive Director Kathy Fulton. “Their combined efforts have raised millions of dollars for disaster survivors — and inspired comparable donations of warehousing space, transportation services and building supplies.” This year’s recipients include: Fleet Advantage, which received ALAN’s Outstanding Contribution to Disaster Relief Efforts Award. GP Transco, which received ALAN’s Outstanding Contribution to Disaster Relief Efforts Award. SEKO Logistics, which received ALAN’s Outstanding Contribution to Disaster Relief Efforts Award. Vector Global Logistics, which received ALAN’s Outstanding Contribution to Disaster Relief Efforts Award. Fleet Advantage received its award for creating the Kids Around the Corner Foundation, which volunteers and donates a portion of the company’s profits to various children’s causes such as the First Responders Children’s Foundation, the Jacksonville, Florida, School for Autism and Truckers Final Mile. GP Transco received its honor for creating Trucking & Logistics Professionals for Ukraine, a non-profit organization that has raised more than $2 million for Ukrainian relief efforts. SEKO Logistics merited its award for launching SEKO Cares, an initiative that has provided more than $500,000 worth of personal protective equipment and other support for frontline responders during COVID-19. The company also supplied more than  $150,000 in donated transportation services for medical, food and other goods into Ukraine, and helped raise an additional $200,000 to support organizations providing ongoing relief around the war-torn nation. Vector Global Logistics received its award for the many product and in-kind transportation donations it has coordinated on behalf of Ukrainian relief — and for raising awareness of the needs of Ukrainian refugees via its Leveraging Logistics for Ukraine open working sessions and its Logistics with Purpose podcasts. “These outstanding honorees are living, breathing examples of what selfless logistics is all about,” Fulton said. “We’re truly in awe of the wonderful work they have done, and we are proud to recognize them today.”  

Trucker relief fund receives donation on behalf of Highway Transport driver of the year

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Highway Transport driver Thomas “Tom” Frain, who earned national driver of the year honors from the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC), has had $2,500 donated on his behalf to a nonprofit that helps truck drivers who are out of work due to injury or illness. Frain, who was recognized earlier this year as the 2021-2022 Professional Tank Truck Driver of the Year Grand Champion, had the donation made in his name by NTTC to the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund (SCF) as part of the award. Frain drives for Highway Transport, which is headquartered in Knoxville and operates 20-plus service centers in major chemical manufacturing zones across the United States. “The NTTC is pleased to provide this donation to the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund on behalf of Mr. Frain,” said William Lusk, NTTC manager of education and government relations.  “It’s important for us to recognize the leaders in our community while also giving back to those who move our industry forward. Our hope is that this funding will help SCF fulfill its mission to aid drivers and their families during a difficult season.” Shannon Currier, St. Christopher Fund director of philanthropy, said: “We want to congratulate Tom for his well-deserved national recognition and thank NTTC for its support. There are so many unknowns when a family member gets sick or is suddenly out of work, and these situations leave families stressed and confused on how to proceed with everyday life. Donations allow us to further enhance the health and well-being of semi-truck drivers and their loved ones when an unexpected illness or injury occurs.” The Watkins family, owners of Highway Transport, have been longtime supporters of the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The mission of the organization is to help over-the-road semi-truck drivers and their families who are out of work due to a recent illness or injury. SCF’s assistance may be in the form of direct payment to providers for household living expenses such as rent/mortgage, utilities, vehicle payments and insurance. The SCF also provides health and wellness programs such as diabetes prevention and smoking cessation. “It’s an honor to have a donation sent in my name to a group that gives back in such an impactful way to the trucking community,” Frain said. “St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund does an outstanding job of assisting my fellow drivers and their families during hardships.” Frain and Lusk recently participated on SCF’s “Highway to Hope” podcast to discuss careers in trucking, the Driver of the Year program and the donation to the St. Christopher Fund. The podcast is available at truckersfund.org/scf-podcasts. A leader in bulk chemical transportation, Highway Transport also earned the Responsible Care Partner of the Year Award from the American Chemistry Council in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Highway Transport also has received recognition as a “Top Company” for women by Women in Trucking. National Tank Truck Carriers is a trade association representing over 500 companies that specialize in transporting bulk or related services throughout North America. The tank truck industry generates roughly 5.1% of all truck freight revenue, but that represents 23.3% of all truck freight in terms of tonnage due to the heavy nature of the liquid bulk products handled.

New research reflects ‘loose trucking market’ with supply and demand balance rising

COLUMBUS, Ind. — The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed August volume flat and productivity down, with the supply and demand balance and capacity rising marginally. Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at ACT Research, said that “while volume index flatness month-over-month reflects the difficult freight environment, August’s number remains above the June/Q2 dip and reflects diminished but wage-supported underlying economic conditions.” Vieth said productivity/utilization declined seven points month-over-month to 47.6 in August, as the lower volume freight market increases inefficiency. Downward pressure on freight volumes related to inflation and interest rates, recovering equipment production, and still-rising driver populations suggest that fleet utilization is likely to be choppy across coming quarters, he said. Regarding supply and demand, Vieth said that while volumes were up incrementally this month, “the reading still reflects a loose trucking market and a late stage in the freight cycle.” “Freight volumes are not in significant downturn, but have certainly stagnated since Q1, whereas capacity, which always lags the cycle, is still growing,” he added. “With capacity growth set to continue amid flattish industry volumes, the looser environment is likely to persist, even as volumes ramp into peak freight season in the coming months.”

PGT Trucking selects Penske Truck Leasing for comprehensive fleet maintenance solutions

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. — PGT Trucking, Inc. announced Wednesday, Sept. 21, that it selected Penske Truck Leasing as its provider of choice for comprehensive fleet maintenance solutions. According to a news release, the move “enables PGT to streamline its resources on driving innovative and sustainable solutions in the transportation industry.” By working with Penske for extensive maintenance solutions, PGT “will provide advanced repair options, simplify roadside service and reduce maintenance downtime for its drivers,” and “improvied analytics will provide data for more accurate preemptive maintenance,” the news release states. Gregg Troian, PGT Trucking president, sayshe is looking forward to the new partnership. “As part of our Future of FlatbedSM program, PGT is committed to implementing strategic partnerships, like our new relationship with Penske, which will expand our service offerings and reimagine transportation solutions,” he said. “We are confident that the addition of Penske’s fleet maintenance program will contribute to PGT’s goal of providing an enhanced driver experience.” Penske Truck Leasing will provide on-site maintenance at five PGT-owned locations, 24/7 roadside assistance nationwide, mobile roadside maintenance services and access to Penske’s  network of more than 880 maintenance locations across North America. PGT and its drivers will also tap into Penske’s digital customer experience tools, including mobile apps and a portal to for internal processes and fleet management. “We’re very pleased to begin this new relationship with PGT Trucking,” said Art Vallely, president of Penske Truck Leasing. “PGT has a strong reputation in the marketplace for quality, performance, and customer service. We look forward to supporting PGT’s drivers and fleet with the latest equipment, maintenance, and technologies available.”  

Logistics study: Shippers, third-party logistics companies strive to rebalance supply chains

READING, Pa. — With the growing uncertainty of today’s global supply chain, many in the industries that make up this complex system are coming up with ideas that may help improve it. Such is the case with the 2023 Annual Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Study, released Monday, Sept. 19. The study is designed to give insight into the challenges and opportunities facing suppliers and third-party logistics providers, according to a news release. The publication, created in conjunction with NTT DATA, supply chain professor and researcher Dr. C. John Langley and Penske Logistics, examines back-to-basics principles for supply chain professionals, the ongoing talent crisis and the rise of reverse logistics. Key findings include: Getting Back to Basics — While innovative technologies, globalization and growing access to data have all helped transform the supply chain, they have also created complexity, disconnects and competing priorities. A return to the fundamental principles governing supply chains is underway. “The Seven Immutable Laws for Supply Chain Success” helps organizations shift back to basics by focusing on the core principles needed to achieve current and future supply chain success. Of these principles, both shippers and 3PLs rated data and analytics, customer focus, and innovation and transformation, as the most important in achieving future improvement in their organization’s supply chains. Understanding the Talent Crisis — The supply chain industry has been hit hard by labor shortages, with 78% of shippers, and 56% of 3PLs, reporting that labor shortages have impacted their supply chain operations. Hourly workers (e.g., pickers and packers) and licensed hourly workers (e.g., truck drivers and equipment operators) continue to be the hardest roles for companies to hire and retain. Many see the talent shortage as a long-term issue, with 27% of shippers, and 29% of 3PLs, reporting they believe there has been a permanent shift. Tapping into the Potential of Reverse Logistics — Often neglected as the back half of the supply chain equation, reverse logistics has since become an integral part of both the B2B and B2C buyer experience. Consumer-focused shippers rated the returns experience as being extremely important (75%) to consumer loyalty, and both consumer-focused shippers (65%) and business-focused shippers (60%) noted that return expectations are growing. As buying habits continue to shift reverse logistics represents a key opportunity to boost efficiency and improve consumer satisfaction. ESG Surges — Corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) continues to be a top priority for today’s supply chain. However, only 22% of shippers and 17% of 3PLs rated themselves as a trailblazer and a leader in ESG. Conversely, 45% of shippers and 41% of 3PLs rated themselves as average in their ESG targets. This discrepancy suggests that both shippers and 3PLs may be misaligned in implementing their ESG efforts. The study was released at this year’s Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) EDGE conference in Nashville.

Pilot Co., United Through Reading partner to bring services to veterans in transportation industry

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In honor of Truck Driver Appreciation and National Literacy Month, Pilot Co. is partnering with United Through Reading, a national non-profit serving military families, to help military veterans in the transportation industry stay connected with their families through reading. As the exclusive sponsor of United Through Reading’s Transportation Industry Veterans Outreach program, Pilot Co. is providing assistance to extend United Through Reading’s app-based program to veteran professional drivers, according to a news release. “We are so honored to serve veteran truckers as they continue to serve our country every day,” said Dr. Sally Ann Zoll, CEO of United Through Reading. “Thanks to Pilot Co., we are able to connect with these heroes to ensure that their family can maintain their reading routines even when they are on the road.” Using the United Through Reading app, veterans verified through ID.me can select a free book from their extensive collection, including eBooks, and record themselves reading a story to their family. United Through Reading will send the family a hard copy of the book or eBook, along with the recording, enabling veteran drivers to read with their children no matter the distance or time zone. “What better way is there to stay connected to your loved ones than sharing a story,” said James Haslam II, Veteran and Pilot Co. founder and chairman emeritus. “United Through Reading gives professional drivers who are veterans a platform to read and share a book with their family back home, helping relieve some of the stress of being on the road and providing a way to experience special moments together regardless of the distance.” A statement from Pilot Co. noted that “professional drivers continue to sacrifice for America, and both Pilot Co. and United Through Reading are honored to provide another service to help drivers along their journey. United Through Reading was founded on the principle that family separation is one of the most difficult parts of being in the military, and there are more than one million military veterans that have taken their skills and continued their service behind the wheel as professional truck drivers. They often face similar challenges of separation while on the road as professional drivers, and Pilot Company and United Through Reading are hoping to help bridge that gap by giving them the ability to share a book with their children.” To learn more about United Through Reading and sign up as a veteran professional driver for the United Through Reading app program, visit www.unitedthroughreading.org.  

Truckstop announces 3 executive appointments to leadership team

BOISE, Idaho — Truckstop announced on Wednesday, Sept. 21, the appointment of Julia Laurin as chief product officer and Catherine Saul as senior vice president of strategy and execution. Pete Lunenfeld, who previously served as interim chief product officer, will now take on the role of chief technology officer. Laurin brings 15 years of business-to-business, business-to-consumer and software-as-a-service (SaaS) product leadership to Truckstop, where she will oversee product vision, roadmap and strategy efforts. Most recently, she served as chief product officer of a healthcare technology company, where she served on the executive management team and was responsible for the product strategy, R&D, industry partnerships and capital investments. Lunenfeld will oversee all facets of technology, including software development, architecture, systems integration, infrastructure and SaaS product delivery. Lunenfeld has more than 30 years of technology experience in the transportation and logistics industry, including as chief technology officer and executive vice president of RMIS, the leading provider of transportation compliance software and services that was acquired by Truckstop in 2021. In the new role of senior vice president of strategy and execution, Saul will oversee strategy and corporate development, strategy execution and business operations for Truckstop. Previously, Saul was manager at a large global consulting firm and vice president, strategy for multiple companies. She also has previous P&L leadership experience where she was accountable for a $750 million spend. “Julia, Pete and Catherine bring their expertise to the Truckstop leadership team, which strengthens our ability to deliver best-in-class, mission-critical software to the freight transportation industry,” said Kendra Tucker, CEO of Truckstop. “We are thrilled to have them onboard and look forward to their contributions during our next phase of growth.”

Success for the rest of 2022 may depend on spot versus contract rates

Carriers that depend on spot freight rates for their business are in for a rough go in the coming months. On the other hand, carriers that depend on contract rates for their business are likely to earn near-record revenues for 2022 and will have an easier time riding out the coming recession. Those two statements seem to be the consensus among the firms that track and analyze the data from various resources. It’s a reasonable prediction, because spot rates are more volatile than contract rates. Spot rates can change overnight, while contract rates depend on — well, as the name suggests, negotiating a new contract. In summary, whatever spot rates do, contract rates will most likely follow, but months later. At the time of this writing, we’re at a point in the trucking cycle where spot rates have been falling steadily for months. According to DAT Freight and Analytics, dry van spot rates on their board fell 4.2% in August from July levels, while flatbed rates fell 7.4% and refrigerated rates fell 3.3%. Perhaps a more telling statistic is the “load-to-truck” ratios reported by DAT. When truckers have more loads to choose from, rates tend to rise as competition for trucks intensifies. The opposite is occurring now. Load-to-truck ratio for dry van fell 7.9% in August, the refrigerated ratio fell 2.2% and the flatbed load-to-truck ratio fell 35.2%. With less competition to find trucks to move product, spot rates continued to fall. Things were a little rosier on the contract side. Freight volumes grew by 6.6% in August, according to data released by Cass Information Systems. Compared with August 2021, freight volumes grew by 3.6%. The Cass data includes information from different modes of transportation, including rail, ship, barge, air, pipeline, trucking and others. While freight volumes grew by 3.6% compared with August 2021, the amount of money spent on shipping grew by 20.4% as rates climbed faster. At ACT Research’s Seminar 67, held Aug. 23-25 in Columbus, Indiana, ACT Vice President and Senior Analyst Tim Denoyer spoke about the trucking industry outlook. “We’re coming into a rough patch, but we’re coming from the best ever, and 2022 will end up as probably the third or fourth best year for carrier profits,” Denoyer said in a presentation. He cautioned that the data was taken from quarterly reports of publicly held trucking companies and may not represent trucking companies as a whole. In a September 12 press release, ACT President and Senior Analyst Kenny Vieth echoed the news for large carriers. “Carrier profits and profitability were at record levels in 2021, and contract freight rates are still expected to rise by high single digits this year,” Vieth explained. That’s all part of the trucking industry cycle. In late 2020 and into 2021, spot rates were rapidly rising, prompting many owner-operators to purchase trucks and apply for their own authority to take advantage of the boom. Now the cycle has turned downward, and some of those drivers are surrendering their authority and leasing on — or hiring on — to carriers that have freight at contract rates. Like all cycles, the cycle of rising contract rates must end, and that day is coming. The coming year 2023 may prove to be difficult, with a recession predicted for the first half of the year. Denoyer predicts the recession will be a mild one for trucking and that the economy will recover in 2024 and 2025. In his Seminar 67 presentation, Denoyer addressed some of the factors that are impacting freight supply. One, he explained, is that consumer spending is moving back towards services rather than purchase of goods. That makes sense, with inflation running at a 40-year high. After paying bills, buying groceries and filling up the gas tanks of their vehicles, there simply isn’t enough cash left over for a spending spree. Retailers need to maintain an inventory of products to keep shelves stocked, and here’s where the cycle repeats. When people stop buying due to inflation, retailers order fewer products to replace their inventories. At a manufacturing level, inventories of parts and of completed product are also higher. Fewer reorders means fewer shipments for trucking. Another factor involves overseas shipping. The long lines of ships waiting to get unloaded at West Coast ports have shortened considerably. Some ships diverted to East Coast ports, and there are some wait times there, but the worst is over. Trucking has benefited from the railroad industry’s inability to move those containers coming into the ports. The railroads needed more chassis to stack the containers on, and those weren’t being built fast enough to supply the demand. The biggest reason was record steel prices that held up production. Those days have passed. Steel is cheaper and chassis are being built again, meaning railroads can move more containers, leaving less for trucking. Interest rates play a part, too. To combat inflation, the Federal Reserve has already increased prime interest rates by 75 basis points, or 3/4 of a percent, twice this year. At a meeting scheduled for Sept. 21, the Fed is expected to enact another increase, possibly of a full percentage point. Those increased interest rates reverberate throughout financial markets. For consumers, it means interest on mortgages, car loans and credit cards will continue to rise, adding to the cost of purchases that are already increasing in price. When the prices go up, along with the cost of borrowing money to make purchases, trucking sees less freight. Perhaps the only good economic news is that fuel prices have come down — but they’re still much higher than they were a year ago. Many smaller carriers are feeling the pinch. There is still money to be made in trucking, but it’s becoming more difficult to maintain a level of profitability. It won’t be getting any easier in the coming months.

123Loadboard integrates with ZUUM to increase capacity for users, expand carrier base

HOUSTON — Freight-matching marketplace 123Loadboard and ZUUM unified logistics platform have joined forces to provide an integration of services to expand capacity for ZUUM’s customers and, in the future, allow digital freight booking for 123Loadboard’s carriers. This new integration will give ZUUM’s 3PL customers the ability to showcase their freight on 123Loadboard and use the services to identify suitable contacts and equipment types for their featured freight, a news release stated. In the future, 3PLs will experience carriers using automated digital “book now” capability in real time to arrange the movement of their freight. Besides loads and trucks, 3PLs will be able to access rates, documents, mileage, and routing along with other services readily available within the integration. “123Loadboard is one of the premier places to match loads and trucks across the industry and now brokers utilizing Zuum’s Automated Broker platform can easily gain the benefit of that through automated load postings,” said Matt Tabatabai, COO and co-founder of ZUUM. “This type of integration will allow 3PL customers to transform their capacity management, as they will be able to sync freight details like quotes and carrier profile data from 123Loadboard to ZUUM,” said Loarn Metzen, vice president of 123Loadboard. “They will be able to extract information from both services thereby improving their workflow efficiency and speeding up the freight-moving process.” Using123Loadboard’s freight-matching platform, the integration will allow ZUUM to offer automated digital freight booking to help its 3PL customers secure capacity. “Leveraging the power of this integration with the 123Loadboard platform, ZUUM members can focus on further managing capacity using the upcoming truck searching and rate connectivity solutions to streamline their freight-moving process,” said Mustafa Azizi, CEO of ZUUM. “As a technology TMS company, ZUUM sees loadboards as our partners and sees them as a value add. TMS and digital brokerages should understand that loadboards are our friends.”

Infinium to provide electrofuels for Amazon trucking fleet

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Infinium has announced an agreement with Amazon to begin using Infinium Electrofuels in the retailer’s middle mile fleet as an ultra-low carbon alternative to traditional fossil fuels. The clean-burning electrofuels will be produced for Amazon at one of the world’s first electrofuels production facilities, located in Texas, according to a news release. Infinium Electrofuels, which are produced from carbon dioxide waste and renewable power, can be dropped into Amazon trucks with no engine modifications as an immediate replacement to petroleum-based fuel. According to the release, these electrofuels reduce greenhouse gas emissions better than traditional fossil fuels, making them among the strongest ultra-low carbon alternatives to traditional fuel without requiring costly engine modifications. “We’re thrilled Amazon has chosen to begin powering its middle mile fleet with Infinium Electrofuels to help meet their corporate net zero carbon goal,” said Infinium CEO Robert Schuetzle. “This significant milestone is a strong testament to the many ways electrofuels will help transform commercial transportation for all industries and is a huge step forward in reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions on our planet.” With the transportation sector accounting for approximately 25% of all CO2 emissions globally, according to the UN Environment Programme, the ability to reduce emissions from trucks, airplanes and ships without modifying existing infrastructure is critical to reaching a decarbonized world and a vision of net-zero CO2 emissions. “This agreement with Infinium can help Amazon take important new steps to reduce carbon emissions from our transportation network and deliver packages to millions of customers more sustainably,” said Kara Hurst, vice president of worldwide sustainability at Amazon. “We’re excited to begin using electrofuels in our middle mile fleet next year, which will also put us closer to our goal of net zero carbon by 2040.” The Infinium Electrofuels production facility in Texas will use approximately 18,000 tons per year of CO2 waste that would have otherwise been released into the atmosphere, producing enough electrofuels to power vehicles in Amazon’s middle mile fleet for approximately 5 million miles per year. The Infinium facility is due to begin production in 2023, and Amazon plans to initially begin using the electrofuels in the Southern California region. “We all need to do our part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change,” Schuetzle said. “We appreciate how committed our industry partners like Amazon have been in embracing new technologies and we are confident that Infinium Electrofuels will play a significant role in our collective journey to a decarbonized, renewable energy economy.” Amazon previously supported Infinium’s development of electrofuels technology through two rounds of investment through Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, a $2 billion venture investment program that specifically invests in companies building technologies, products and services that will help Amazon and others accelerate the path toward net zero carbon future. While the new agreement is focused on providing Infinium Electrofuels for Amazon’s middle mile fleet, Electrofuels can also be used to power airplanes and used as an ultra-low carbon fuel alternative in the production of plastics and other industrial materials.

Cold chain tracking solutions market set for rapid growth

GOTHENBERG, Sweden — Berg Insight released Monday, Sept. 19, a new market report covering the cold chain tracking market. The number of active tracking devices deployed for refrigerated cargo and cargo-carrying units — including trailers, intermodal containers, rail freight wagons, air cargo containers, cargo boxes and pallets — reached 4.1 million worldwide in 2021. Growing at a compound annual growth rate of 17.4%, this number is expected to reach 9.2 million by 2026. In terms of installed base, tracking devices for general refrigerated cargo applications is today the largest market, followed by refrigerated intermodal containers and trailers. The markets for tracking solutions for refrigerated rail freight wagons and air cargo containers are considerably smaller. The total market value for cold chain tracking solutions reached an estimated $720 million in 2021. Growing at a compound annual growth rate of 11.4 %, the total market size is forecasted to reach $1.2 billion in 2026. The cold chain tracking and monitoring market is served by a wide range of players. Maersk has rolled out a system for real-time tracking of its entire fleet of 385,000 refrigerated containers, making it the largest refrigerated cargo container tracking project worldwide. ORBCOMM is the second largest player in terms of the number of connected units with an estimated 380,000 units installed on both refrigerated trailers and reefer containers. Denmark-based tracking specialist Globe Tracker is the third-largest provider of tracking solutions for refrigerated cargo-carrying units. The company is collaborating with shipping company Hapag-Lloyd to equip the ocean carrier’s entire fleet of around 140,000 reefer containers with tracking units. Additional leading players in the refrigerated intermodal container and trailer tracking segment include Envotech, Cooltrax, Emerson, Spireon, Schmitz Cargobull, CalAmp and Idem Telematics. DeltaTrak, Sensitech (part of Carrier), Controlant, Tive and Frigga (part of Dewav Electronic Technology), each with more than 100,000 active trackers at any given time. Additional players in the segment include OnAsset Intelligence, Roambee, Adapt Ideations, Tempmate, Escavox, 7PSolutions and Intelyt. Accelerated by the supply chain disruptions following the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry is now investing heavily in digital solutions that will increase visibility and security in the supply chain. Cold chain tracking solutions provide significant value for shippers and logistics providers by providing real-time data on the location and condition of temperature-sensitive cargo in-transit. “The logistics industry is currently undergoing a major transformation,” said Martin Backman, senior analyst at Berg Insight,. “The lack of up-to-date and relevant shipment data is one of the main reasons that lead to spoiled cargo. “2021 was a stellar year for the cold chain tracking industry and the future looks bright as the industry is now ready for investing in the technology.” To download the Cold Chain Tracking and Monitoring Market report, click here.

Fleet Advantage donates $10K to Truckers Final Mile

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Fleet Advantage announced Sept. 15 a donation of $10,000 through its Kids Around The Corner Foundation to Truckers Final Mile as a way to show its ongoing appreciation during this year’s National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. “Truck drivers are so important to our economy and the health of the overall nation, and inflation has brought about even more challenges for them to do their jobs each day,” said Elizabeth Gomez, marketing manager for Fleet Advantage and chairperson for the Kids Around the Corner foundation. “It’s important to keep goods flowing, but it’s just as important to offer care, assistance and the means for truck drivers’ families to remain close to one another. We are proud to donate to such a powerful organization whose mission serves these families when they need help the most.” The Truckers Final Mile mission is to reunite North American truck drivers and their families in times of crisis, loss of life, debilitating injury or serious illness. Since the program’s inception, the organization has helped 31 families with children following the death of a parent while out on the road. Many of these children suddenly find themselves in a single-parent household where changes and sacrifices are needed. Fleet Advantage, through its Kids Around the Corner foundation, is an official sponsor of the program. The company’s current contribution will help secure a total of 20 college education savings accounts through the Truckers Final Mile’s annual Sleigh Bells and Santa Christmas campaign. Last year, Fleet Advantage’s contribution helped secure 10 college education savings accounts. “The loss of a parent is a grief-filled, traumatic experience and it permanently alters children of any age, nothing is ever the same again,” said Robert Palm, founder and CEO of Truckers Final Mile. “Here again is Fleet Advantage Kids Around the Corner Foundation, doubling last year’s effort so that a minimum of 20 of these children will receive a 529 Account. The words ‘thank you’ will never be enough for what this will mean to them as they grow.”  

TCS Fuel welcomes Kwik Trip, Kwik Star to growing discount network

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Kwik Trip and Kwik Star, popular fuel stops in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, are joining the TransConnect Services (TCS) Fuel Discount Network. With nearly 300 Kwik Trip and Kwik Star truck stops to pump diesel, TCS Fuel Card clients will now have more than 1,500 locations to save on fuel, according to a news release. “We are happy to welcome Kwik Trip and Kwik Star into our TCS Fuel Discount Network,” Chris Courts, TCS president and managing director, said. “This addition greatly expands our fuel discount program, so our clients can easily find more opportunities to save money at the diesel pump. All of us at TCS continue to level the playing field between small-to-medium-size trucking companies and larger fleets by providing ways to reduce fuel expenses for truckers.”  

TSA grants renewal exemption for truck drivers with HAZMAT Endorsement

WASHINGTON – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will temporarily exempt the TSA Security Threat Assessment requirement for Hazardous Material Endorsement (HME) holders whose endorsements have expired or will expire before the end of calendar year. The HME Threat Assessment Program conducts a threat assessment for any driver seeking to obtain, renew and transfer a hazardous materials endorsement on a state-issued commercial driver’s license. According to a news release, TSA “determined that it is in the public interest to grant a temporary exemption for commercial truck drivers renewing their HME. Those drivers have previously passed the threat assessment. Supply chain requirements have increased the demand for drivers with a valid HME, and increased HME enrollments have extended adjudication times for some drivers. This announcement supports motor carriers and the trucking industry who require qualified operators to transport hazardous materials. Also, this announcement eases the requirement that current HME holders renew their threat assessment before the expiration of their current HME.” TSA Acting Administrator David Pekoske said the exemption allows state licensing agencies to permit those with expiring, or recently expired hazardous material endorsements, to remain fully authorized by TSA to transport hazardous materials during this time period. “The commercial truck drivers impacted by this decision are subject to recurrent vetting during the exemption period, and their businesses will continue to provide safe and efficient transportation,” he added. Currently, there are 250,000 truck drivers with security threat assessments that have expired or are set to expire in 2022. About 22,500 truckers’ security threat assessments expire each month. For the duration of this exemption, states may extend the expiration date for a period of up to180 days for all HME credentials that expire between July 1, 2022, and Dec. 27, 2022. TSA published a similar temporary exemption for HME renewals on April 8, 2020, to provide regulatory relief during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure full capacity of authorized drivers were available to support an uninterrupted supply chain.  

Bad moon rising? Inflation’s total toll on US economy, trucking industry remains to be seen 

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — “I see the bad moon a-rising, I see trouble on the way.” Those words, penned and sung by John Cameron Fogerty of the group Creedence Clearwater Revival, made for a great song.  They’re also a pretty good predictor of where the U.S. economy is headed.   Inflation topped 9% in June of this year, the highest it’s been in 40 years. While the annual rate eased slightly in the months following, the economy isn’t responding as predicted. Two rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, increasing interest rates by a total of 1.5%, have hardly made a dent in the increases. The Fed is expected to announce a third consecutive hike of 75 basis points, possibly 100, when it meets Sept. 21.  As the COVID-19 pandemic began to wind down, consumers returned to work. And as incomes resumed or increased, so did spending, stimulating a dormant economy.  Inflation, however, has taken its toll. Real disposable personal income — the amount an earner has left to spend after taxes and adjusting for inflation — has trended downward since April 2021. A dollar held in July 2021 buys 85 cents’ worth of product today, on average. That means that families are paying more for necessities like food and fuel and have less left over to purchase goods.  The gross domestic product (GDP) is often used as an indicator of an economy’s health. When times are good, the GDP grows. When it isn’t growing, the economy is shrinking. Most economists claim that two consecutive quarters of decline mean a recession is under way. Real GDP declined in the first two quarters of this year; predictions are for it to grow modestly in the third quarter before declining again for two more quarters.    But there is a more reliable indicator — the inverted yield curve. While those words may sound like investor-speak, they actually aren’t hard to understand.  It works like this: When the U.S. government needs a loan, one way it borrows is by selling Treasury notes, often called T-Notes. These earn a fixed rate of interest until maturity, which can take from one to 30 years. Typically, the longer the lender (the buyer of the T-Note) is willing to let the government keep the money, the higher the interest rate the government is willing to pay. On a graph, the line would be a curve, rising and going to the right. This is considered a “normal” yield curve.  Sometimes, however, things get squirrely, so to speak.  Investors lose their confidence that the government will be able to make good on longer notes. They want to buy T-notes that mature sooner. When that happens, interest paid on short-term notes rises, while interest on long-term notes declines. When interest on the short-term notes is about the same as for long-term notes, the graph looks like a straight line from left to right — a “flat” yield curve.  However, when interest on the short-term notes is higher than it is for the longer-term notes, the line on the graph goes down and right and is known as an “inverted” yield curve. The yield from two-year notes is compared to the yield on 10-year notes.   According to an article by James McWhinney posted on Investopedia in June, an inverted Treasury yield curve “is one of the most reliable leading indicators of an impending recession.” It’s happening now. The Treasury yield curve has been inverted for more than two months as of this writing.  The news isn’t all bad, however.  Unemployment remains at near-historic lows, coming in at 3.7% in August. That’s significantly better than the 14.7% unemployment reported in April 2020, when COVID related shutdowns were occurring.   While it’s a good thing so many people are working, it puts pressure on the economy in terms of wage inflation. When workers are few, wages rise, helping to fuel inflation as companies raise prices for their goods and services to cover higher labor costs.   The stock market has taken a beating in the past month and continues to fall, cheapening investments and providing less income for investors.  Fuel prices are still high compared to 2020 but have come down considerably. Every Monday morning the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports average gasoline and diesel prices for the nation and broken down by region. During the week of June 20, 2022, the national average diesel price peaked at $5.81 per gallon, reaching $6.91 per gallon in California.  For the week of Aug. 15, the national average price had fallen to $4.91, a welcome 90-cent decline. A month later, it had climbed to $5.08 — still better, but still high enough to cause pain for truckers.  Despite the gloom, the trucking industry is still benefiting from plentiful freight and higher rates, provided that fuel surcharges are in place to cover cost increases. Spot rates have stagnated and begun declining, but still remain higher than they were before the pandemic. Contract rates are just beginning to start downward.   Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst at industry forecaster ACT Research, thinks current conditions may help keep a recession from being as bad as it could be.  “We believe wage inflation needs to moderate before the Fed can begin turning away from tighter monetary policy,” he said in a recent news release. “As long as the jobs report remains strong, wage inflation may prove stubbornly persistent — which could in turn lead to a more-aggressive-for-longer rate hikes.”  Vieth identified three factors that could help mitigate a downturn, at least for trucking.  “Carrier profits and profitability were at record levels in 2021, and contract freight rates are still expected to rise by high single digits this year,” he explained. “Vehicle demand remains healthy, if moderating from here, with pent-up demand and low inventories expected to help mitigate the depth of the downturn.”   And, he warned, requirements for reduced emissions from diesel engines will have an impact.  “Finally, some prebuy activity is anticipated prior to the implementation of CARB’s Clean Truck mandate, entering a queue already filled with pent-up demand,” he said. “States representing about 10% of industry demand will be adopting CARB mandates in both 2024 and 2025.”  While the economy is expected to struggle in the first half of 2023, there will still be money to be made by carriers and by the manufacturers who sell them trucks.    

New Class 8 big rig market accelerates to highest level of 2022 in August

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The U.S. Class 8 new truck market surged to its highest point of the year in August with manufacturers reporting sales of 23,581 units, according to data received from Wards Intelligence. Only once in the last five years has the month of August seen more sales. The other banner year came in 2018 when 23,913 trucks were sold. That 2018 month was also the best August of the still-young 21st century. Compared with July 2022, truck sales rose by 15% (3,068 units). August 2021 sales were 18,176, meaning that sales in August this year rose by 29.7%. One factor in the increase could be the number of build days — Monday through Friday — that fall in a given month. In July, there were 21; in August, 23. But two additional days can’t account for the entire increase. Manufacturers have seemingly found solutions to the supply chain issues that have plagued production since the COVID-19 pandemic began. There are still some worries that inflation, international conflict, potential recession or even the possible U.S. freight railway strike could interrupt supply chains, but for now the assembly lines are rolling at truck manufacturers. A large factor in the sales totals was an incredible month for Freightliner, which reported the movement of 9,783 trucks in August, an increase of 1,928 (24.5%) over July sales of 7,855. Compared to August of last year, the increase for August 2022 was 3,137 trucks, or 47.2% over August 2021 sales of 6,646. That impressive feat gave the manufacturer its best month since the turn of the century — and likely its best ever. Freightliner sold 41.5% of the new Class 8 trucks sold on the U.S. market in August, up from its 2022 average of 38.2%. Western Star, the other Daimler-owned truck manufacturer in the U.S., also saw a successful August, but on a much smaller scale. The OEM sold 604 Class 8 trucks in the month, up 9.4% from July sales of 552. Compared with 509 trucks in August 2021, sales of Western Star rose 18.7% on a year-over-year basis. International reported sales of 2,749 in August, up 23.3% from the 2,229 sold in July. Compared with August 2021, however, sales dropped by 118 units (4.1%). Volvo reported selling 2,243 trucks in August, up 5.7% from July’s 2,123 — and up a whopping 88% compared to August 2021 sales of 1,193. Volvo finished 2021 with 8.7% of the U.S. market for new Class 8 trucks. This year, that percentage has increased to 11%, even as the whole market has grown. For the year to date, Volvo has reported sales of 17,245, an increase of 35.5% over sales at the same point of 2021. That’s the largest increase by percentage of any of the OEMs. Volvo sibling Mack did better on a month-to-month basis. August sales of 1,594 topped July sales of 1,295 by 23.1%. Compared with August 2021, when 1,495 trucks were sold, sales increased by 6.6%. Mack’s 6.5% share of the U.S. Class 8 market lags behind the 7.9% it enjoyed at the same point of 2021. Peterbilt was the only manufacturer with August sales declining from July numbers. The OEM sold 3,298 in August, down 2.8% from 3,392 the prior month. Compared with August of 2021 when 2,605 Petes were sold, sales increased by 693 units or 26.6%. Kenworth ended August with sales of 3,310, up 7.9% from July’s 3,067. Compared with August 2021, sales increased by 15.7%. For the year to date, Kenworth sales are up 15.7% compared with Peterbilt’s 26.6% increase. Each OEM has a market share this year of 14%, down from last year’s share at the same point. The waiting list for new trucks is still long and order cancellations have been rare, but as long as the parts continue to flow to the assembly lines, sales should remain robust.