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PORTLAND, Ore. — Just when spot truckload rates and demand seemed ready for an upward swing, they took another hit last week. With weather disruptions on vital truck routes in the Midwest and Rockies, van and refrigerated load-to-truck ratios slipped during the week ending March 16, said DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards: Van: 1.6 loads per truck Reefer: 2.9 loads per truck Flatbed: 22 loads per truck The DAT load-to-truck ratio measures the number of loads moved on the spot market relative to the number of available trucks. National average rates declined as well compared to the previous week: Van: $1.86/mile, down 2 cents Reefer: $2.19/mile, down 2 cents Flatbed: $2.34/mile, unchanged Van trends Spot van volumes remain ahead of March 2018 levels but so far this month demand for trucks is no better than it was in February 2019. Capacity is abundant and spot van rates are drifting: On DAT’s top 100 van lanes last week, pricing fell on 53 and rose on 36. Eleven lanes were neutral. Where Rates Were Up: With freight markets in the Midwest struggling with unusual weather, there was a ripple effect for supply chains. For instance, the challenge of getting freight into Denver last week led to an 18-cent increase in the average rate from Seattle to Salt Lake City ($1.90/mile). On the other hand, the extra West Coast trucks in Salt Lake City caused rates on the lane from there to Stockton, California, to decline. What to Watch: Expect a boost in flatbed pricing as the demand to move heavy machinery and construction materials into the region picks up. High demand for flatbeds in the coming weeks may cause van availability to tighten on some lanes. Reefer trends The national average spot reefer rate has declined in seven of the last eight weeks. On the top 72 reefer lanes, 26 lanes moved up while 43 lanes fell and three were neutral. We’re waiting on California and Florida produce to pull rates higher. Where Rates Were Up: Sacramento, California, to Salt Lake City jumped 40 cents to $2.35/mile, possibly due to trouble getting into Denver. In the Midwest, two lanes from Grand Rapids, Michigan, rebounded from last week: Grand Rapids to Madison, Wisconsin, increased 22 cents to $2.58/mile Grand Rapids to Atlanta added 21 cents to $2.71/mile Where Rates Fell: Many of the prior week’s gainers came back to earth, including Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Boston (down 38 cents to $3.81/mile) and Philadelphia to Miami (off 22 cents to $1.96/mile). DAT Trendlines are generated using DAT RateView, which provides real-time reports on spot market and contract rates, as well as historical rate and capacity trends. The RateView database is comprised of more than $60 billion in freight payments. DAT load boards average 1.2 million load posts searched per business day. For the latest spot market load availability and rate information, visit dat.com/trendlines and follow @LoadBoards on Twitter.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research said that recently softer Class 8 orders are attributed to backlogs that are still out about 10 months. Many of the orders normally booked in the year’s first quarter were actually placed in the rush to get into the queue in the second half of 2018. The report provides monthly analysis on transportation trends, equipment markets, and the economy. “The rolling-over of ACT’s dashboard guidance suggests today’s order weakness will transition from ‘too much backlog’ to an equipment supply-freight demand imbalance in the near future,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT’s president and senior analyst. “That said, heavy commercial vehicle markets continue to benefit from key triggers, including still-strong freight rates (being marked-down from record levels) and new technologies, like better fuel efficiency and safety technologies, as well as increased demand generated in the trailer segment for drop-and-hook to keep drivers moving.” ACT Research is a publisher of commercial vehicle truck, trailer, and bus industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American and China markets. ACT’s analytical services are used by all major North American truck and trailer manufacturers and their suppliers, as well as banking and investment companies. More information can be found at www.actresearch.net.  

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index was down 0.2 percent in February after increasing 2.5 percent in January. In February, the index equaled 117.4 (2015=100) compared with 117.6 in January. “After a strong January, I’m pleasantly surprised that the index didn’t fall much last month,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “I continue to expect tonnage to moderate like other indicators, including retail sales, manufacturing activity and housing starts. Additionally, the level of inventories throughout the supply chain have increased, which is a drag on truck freight.” January’s reading was revised up slightly compared with our February press release. Compared with February 2018, the SA index increased 5.4 percent, down from January’s 5.8 percent gain. In 2018, the index increased 6.7 percent over 2017, which was the largest annual gain since 1998. The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 106.9 in February, 5.7 percent below January’s level (113.3). In calculating the index, 100 represents 2015. Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 70.2 percent of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 10.77 billion tons of freight in 2017. Motor carriers collected $700.1 billion, or 79.3 percent of total revenue earned by all transport modes. ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 5th day of each month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.      

WASHINGTON — It wasn’t much of a decline, but at the least could it be the beginning of a trend. For the week ending March 18, the average on-highway price of a gallon of diesel fell nine-tenths of one cent to $3.07, according to the Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy. The average price had gone up 11.3 cents a gallon during the past four weeks. The most significant decline was 2.3 cents a gallon on the West Coast, not including California. California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington are the states in the West Coast region. The next largest decline was 1.9 cents a gallon on the Midwest (Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio). The largest increase was 1.7 cents a gallon in New England (Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine). The March 18 price was 9.8 cents higher than the comparable week one year ago. For a complete list of prices by region for the past three weeks, click here.  

PLOVER, Wis. — The Women In Trucking Association Monday released its second annual list of Top Women to Watch in Transportation. The editorial staff of WIT’s Redefining the Road magazine selected these individuals for their significant career accomplishments in the past 12 to 18 months as well as their efforts to promote gender diversity. “This year, we’ve identified 53 women who stand out as top performers in a field of highly qualified nominees,” said Brian Everett, group editorial director and publisher of Redefining the Road magazine. “They represent a diverse range of company types and a variety of roles and responsibilities, showcasing the many career opportunities for women in the transportation industry.” The 2019 Top Women to Watch in Transportation work for motor carriers, third-party logistics companies, equipment manufacturers, retailer truck dealers, professional services companies, technology innovators, and private fleets. Their job functions include corporate management (23 percent), operations/safety (21 percent), sales/marketing (18 percent), human resources/talent management (13 percent), customer service (6 percent), engineering/product development (2 percent), and professional drivers (9 percent). “It is exciting to see so many remarkable women not only pushing the envelope in their own careers but also supporting women around them,” said Ellen Voie, WIT president and CEO. “Celebrating the accomplishments of women in our industry is central to the mission of Women In Trucking, so we’re especially pleased to recognize these industry leaders.” The 2019 Top Women to Watch in Transportation include Tina Albert, assistant plant manager, Peterbilt Motors Co.; Tami Allensworth, senior vice president, customer experience, J.B. Hunt Transport; Lisa Angara, enterprise architect manager, Navistar; Cathy Bauder, driver, owner-operator, Steven Davis Trucking; Courtnay Beckham, sales specialist, SelecTrucks of Atlanta/Peach State Trucks; Mona Beedle, founder, Trucking Angels for Christ; Josephine Berisha, senior vice president, global compensation and benefits, XPO Logistics; Tracy Bird, branch manager, Trimac Transportation Inc.; Melissa “Missy” Blair, program manager, Center for Transportation Training, Pima Community College; Donna Boesen, customer service leader, Veriha Trucking; Jennifer Braun, vice president, Kansas City operations, Trinity Logistics; Debra Brunton, group director, maintenance, Ryder; Angie Buchanan, vice president, operations, Melton Truck Lines; Cynthia Champion, transportation safety manager, Martin Transport Inc.; Dawn Cochran, professional driver, Old Dominion Freight Line; April Coolidge, driver/trainer, Walmart; Kelly Cargill Crow, external communications manager, FedEx Freight; Mezzalina “Lina” Dejongh, branch manager, Trimac Transportation; Shayne Fanning, B2B communication and events, Michelin North America Inc.; Shirley Foley, vice president, DTS Logistics, LLC; Kristen Forecki, vice president, operations, Convoy; Trish Garland, corporate vice president, strategic services, Estes Express Lines; Emma Gelacek, safety manager, Garner Trucking; Mary Ann Hudson, executive vice president, Bibby Transportation Finance, and Tracy Jahnel, controller, Sterling Transportation Services. Also, Tamara Jalving, vice president, human resources, Holland; Tracy Jonas, operations manager, JX Enterprises Inc.; Chelsea Kendrick, customer education manager, KeepTruckin; Tina Lewis, director, legal services, TVC Pro-Driver; Mary Malone, vice president, business development, Stay Metrics; Krissy Manzano, senior director of sales, enterprise & mid-market team, KeepTruckin Inc.; Judy McTigue, assistant general manager–operations, Kenworth Truck Co.; Mackenzie Melton, recruiting manager, Garner Trucking; Melissa Nishan, vice president, driver recruiting, Epes Transport System; Katlin Owens, corporate communications manager, CFI; Jennifer Piatt, elite support and diversity manager, Stoops Freightliner; Jennifer Radcliffe, president, Insight Technology; and Michelle Richard, vice president, human resources, Saia LTL Freight. Also, Erika Rios, retail sales consultant, Arrow Truck Sales; Amanda Rodriguez, account manager/regional sales consultant, Navistar; Jane Rosaasen, plant manager–Mount Holly Truck Manufacturing Plant, Daimler Trucks North America; Roxie Sanford, director, driver services, Winnipeg Motor Express; Crystal Sequin, vice president, distribution channel strategy, Navistar; Leah Shaver, chief operating officer, The National Transportation Institute; Shannon Spence, trailer sales representative, Stoops Freightliner–Quality Trailer; Amanda Thompson, vice president, human resources, U.S. Xpress; Melissa Tomlen, senior vice president, accountability and Performance, YRC Freight; Carianne Torrissi, partner, Goldberg Segalla; Sauny Tucker, vice president, Art Pape Transfer DBA/ Tucker Freight Lines; Connie Vaughn, government relations manager, McKee Foods Corp.; Elaine Weackler, customer service representative, Veriha Trucking; Megan Wells, director of employee services, Veriha Trucking; and Heather Wilson, chief communications officer, BMO Transportation Finance. The women will be featured in the upcoming edition of WIT’s Redefining the Road magazine and online at www.womenintrucking.org/womentowatch2019. Women In Trucking Association, Inc. is a nonprofit association established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 17 percent of its members are men who support the mission. For more information, visit http://www.womenintrucking.org or call 888-464-9482.      

COLUMBUS, Ind. — The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index showed a downtick in volume, pricing and productivity with the supply-demand balance continuing trend, loosening for the fourth consecutive month. The Volume Index returned to negative territory, reaching 47.1 in February, while pricing fell to 48.9. Productivity dropped sharply to 43.0, and the supply-demand balance now sits at 42.7. “While respondents noted weather impacted February results, the Pricing Index fell below neutral for the first time since July 2016 amidst soft demand and accelerating pricing. We see evidence here that the laws of supply and demand have not been repealed,” said Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s vice president and senior analyst. “The supply-demand balance reading fell from 45.6 in January, and the decline was due to the lower freight Volume Index reading, partly offset by the sequentially lower Capacity Index. Both accelerating Class 8 tractor production and slowing freight growth are loosening the supply-demand balance as we near the 2019 contract rate season.” The February fleet purchase intentions reading indicated an uptick in equipment demand, with 55.5 percent of respondents planning to buy trucks in the next three months, up from 53.6 percent, seasonally adjusted, in January. ACT is a publisher of new and used commercial vehicle industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American market, as well as the U.S. tractor-trailer market and the China CV market. ACT’s CV services are used by all major North American truck and trailer manufacturers and their suppliers, as well as the banking and investment community in North America, Europe, and China. For more information on ACT, please visit https://www.actresearch.net/.    

SUNRISE, Fla. — dexFreight,  providers of a decentralized, blockchain-based logistics platform, has appointed blockchain academic and business leader Justin Banon  as its chief operating officer. Banon has been a key advisor for dexFreight and has taken a lead role in the architecture of the company’s existing triple token model, and has collaborated in structuring the company’s business plan and soon-to-be-released rewards program, according to Hector Hernandez, dexFreight co-founder. “Justin Banon brings to dexFreight a wealth of global business leadership experience including high growth business models, digital strategy and platform design,” Hernandez said. “He understands the complexity of token economics, loyalty programs and go-to-market strategies in a way that few executives can hope to, we are thrilled to have him on our team.” Previously leading a global platform business that grew from $50 million to $1 billion in revenue through business model innovation, Banon brings to dexFreight over 20 years of business leadership experience advising CEOs and boards of directors on how to scale disruptive ventures. In addition to his professional track record, Banon holds a bachelor’s degree in physics and a masters in innovation with a focus on network-effects business models and digital transformation. Currently, he is completing a second masters degree in blockchain with a focus on token-powered network effects business models. “dexFreight is a fantastic business set to disrupt and transform the logistics industry with a decentralized platform,” Banon said.  “I am excited at the opportunity to join the leadership team as we lead the business on its next stage of strategic development.” dexFreight is a decentralized, blockchain-based logistics platform that allows shippers, carriers and other supply chain stakeholders to transact and collaborate more efficiently, transparently and securely. For information, visit www.dexfreight.io  

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) declined moderately in February, falling 5 percent month-over-month thus erasing a portion of January’s 10 percent improvement, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research. However, the report indicated that longer-term comparisons yielded a 20 percent decline compared to February 2018. Other data released in ACT’s preliminary report included year-over-year comparisons for February 2019, which showed that average prices rose 15 percent, while average miles contracted 5 percent, and average age was 3 percent higher. “Generally, low inventory and strong demand increase price, while higher supply and softer demand tend to drive prices lower,” said Steve Tam, vice president at ACT Research. “The current pricing environment and dealer commentary suggest inventory remains one of, if not the main, limiting factor inhibiting sales volumes.” ACT’s Classes 3-8 Used Truck Report provides data on the average selling price, miles, and age based on a sample of industry data. In addition, the report provides the average selling price for top-selling Class 8 models for each of the major truck OEMs — Freightliner (Daimler); Kenworth and Peterbilt (Paccar); International (Navistar); and Volvo and Mack (Volvo).

ST. LOUIS — Mid America Logistics has announced a new driver program called “No More Counting Miles” as what the company is calling a transparent driver pay model. The program allows single or team drivers to choose 30-, 60- or 90-day tours and provide guaranteed compensation that escalates based on length of the tour. Drivers have control of their start date of each tour and are not obligated to start another tour until they contractually commit to another tour. “The biggest pain point in the trucking industry is staying competitive against over 500,000 registered trucking companies in the U.S.,” said Mid America Logistics’ Managing Partner and Co-Founder Sam Baisch. “Our logistics division has found new innovative ways to over double in size and we used that innovation to create a market disrupter for our trucking division.” Baisch said in creating the program Mid-America addressed the two greatest irritants of drivers; driver payroll and control of personal time. “This program gives the control back in the drivers hands,” he said. Under Mid America Logistics’ new program, solo drivers are compensated a fixed gross amount of either $6,500, $14,000 and $24,000 for 30-, 60-, and 90-day tours, respectively. Team drivers are compensated $17,000, $38,000 and $63,000 for the same respective tour periods. Drivers are contracted on tours independently and entitled to the published amounts and paid weekly. They are provided paid orientation for their first tour and issued a late model Freightliner Cascadia Tractor and trailer. If a driver wishes to continue driving for Mid America Logistics, they simply contract for an additional tour period. Mid America will entertain drivers under this program with a minimum of two years of long-haul driving experience and a clean driving and criminal record, Baisch said. “Oftentimes drivers are lured away based on a promise of making six figures a year and never get the miles to do so,” said Ann Searles, the asset operations manager at Mid America Logistics. “Now we have the ability to provide a fixed model that is transparent where we pay drivers for their time while respecting their family lives”. With offices in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Phoenix, Charlotte, North Carolina, Jacksonville, Florida, Nashville, Tennessee, Northwest Arkansas and Guadalajara, Mexico, Mid America has over 130 employees. It offers full truckload, less-than-truckload, and transportation technology services to clients in the food production, retail, CPG, industrial, and agricultural industries. For more information, visit www.midamericalogistics.com.

PORTLAND, Ore. — After eight weeks of declines, national average spot van and refrigerated freight rates stabilized during the week ending March 9, said DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards. An increase in spot rates is a sign that demand from shippers and freight brokers is picking up. However, the market is still looking for traction: van and reefer load-to-truck ratios declined last week and higher rates were concentrated on a handful of lanes. National average spot rates Van: $1.88/mile, unchanged Flatbed: $2.34/mile, up 1 cent Reefer: $2.21/mile, up 1 cent National average load-to-truck ratios Van: 4.2 loads per truck, down from 4.6 Flatbed: 25.9, up from 25.7 Reefer: 5.6, down from 6.0 Van Trends While van volume on the spot market is almost identical to this time last year, only 26 of the top 100 van lanes saw rates rise last week; 59 lanes were lower and 15 were neutral. Texas freight availability is heating up with higher load-to-truck ratios and relatively solid van rates from Houston ($1.72/mile average) and Dallas ($1.64/mile) last week. The Dallas-to-Los Angeles lane surged 20 cents to $1.46/mile. Reefer Trends Despite a 1-cent rise in the national average spot rate, reefer activity is in a seasonal lull. On the top 72 reefer lanes last week, rates on 29 lanes moved higher while 40 lanes declined and three were neutral. Volumes were down only slightly from the previous week. Average outbound rates increased in Fresno, California, and McAllen, Texas, two of the nation’s top produce markets. Lanes with big price increases included McAllen to Dallas, up 23 cents to $3.03/mile, and Fresno to Denver, up 9 cents to $2.45/mile. DAT Trendlines are generated using DAT RateView, the industry’s largest database of truckload rate information. DAT RateView is based on more than $60 billion in freight payments and 256 million freight transactions annually. For the latest spot market load availability and rate information, visit www.dat.com/trendlines and follow @LoadBoards on Twitter.  

Class 8 new truck sales in the United States fell 1.7 percent in February with 19,858 units sold compared with 20,192 in January, according to data provided by WardsAuto. However, year to date sales are 28.6 percent ahead of 2018 with 40,050 units sold compared with 31,145 during the first two months of 2018. February 2019 sales were up 19 percent over February 2018. Peterbilt and Kenworth, both PACCAR companies, headed the list OEMs increasing month over month. Peterbilt was up 22.7 percent, Kenworth was up 22.3 percent.    

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — After a spike to a 11.44 positive reading in December, FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index fell back to 5.79 in January as had been expected. The January level was attributed to higher costs of capital along with lower freight demand and capacity utilization. Even the January level will not be sustained for long as conditions for trucking are expected to moderate further toward neutral territory through at least the third quarter. “Trucking conditions in January were not the outlier that December conditions were, but the industry still enjoyed much lower diesel costs than had been the case for most of 2018,” said Avery Vise, vice president of trucking. “With diesel prices now rising and capacity utilization and freight rates easing, we would expect January to represent the high point for trucking conditions in 2019.” The Trucking Conditions Index tracks the changes representing five major conditions in the U.S. truck market. These conditions are: freight volumes, freight rates, fleet capacity, fuel price, and financing. The individual metrics are combined into a single index that tracks the market conditions that influence fleet behavior. A positive score represents good, optimistic conditions. Conversely, a negative score represents bad, pessimistic conditions. The index tells you the industry’s health at a glance. In life, running a fever is an indication of a health problem. It may not tell you exactly what’s wrong, but it alerts you to look deeper. Similarly, a reading well below zero on the FTR Trucking Conditions Index warns you of a problem, while readings high above zero spell opportunity. Readings near zero are consistent with a neutral operating environment, and double-digit readings (both up or down) are warning signs for significant operating changes. For more information about the work of FTR, visit www.FTRintel.com, follow on Twitter @ftrintel, or call 888-988-1699, ext. 1.

WASHINGTON — The average on-highway price of a gallon of diesel fuel increased three-tenths of one cent to $3.079 for the week ending March 11, according to the Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy. Albeit small, the increase marked the fourth consecutive week prices have gone up. The largest increase was in the Central Atlantic states with a 1.4 cents a gallon hike. Central Atlantic states include New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. The biggest decrease was fourth-tenths of a penny in the Lower Atlantic States ( West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida). The average price for the week ending March 11 was 10.3 cents higher than one year ago. For a complete list of prices by region for the past three weeks, click here.  

LISLE, Ill. — Navistar International Corp. Friday revealed first quarter 2019 net income of $11 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, compared to a first quarter 2018 net loss of $73 million, or $0.74 per diluted share. Navistar’s fiscal year begins October 1. Revenues in the quarter were $2.4 billion, a 28 percent increase compared to $1.9 billion in the first quarter last year. The revenue increase was driven by a 50 percent increase in the company’s core volumes, which represent its sales of Class 6-8 trucks and buses in the United States and Canada. First quarter 2019 EBITDA was $96 million, compared to first quarter 2018 EBITDA of $55 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $173 million versus $104 million in first quarter 2018. Results were impacted by certain one-time items, including a non-cash charge related to a Canadian pension annuity transaction of $142 million (or $104 million after-tax), and aggregate gains of $59 million from the sales of 70 percent of the Navistar Defense business and the company’s ownership interest in the JND joint venture. Navistar finished the first quarter 2019 with $1.24 billion in consolidated cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and $1.19 billion in manufacturing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. “We had our best first quarter since 2010 as customer acceptance of our new products translated to extended gains in our core market share,” said Troy A. Clarke, chairman, president and CEO. “In addition to our ongoing growth in Class 8, our medium-duty market share grew by six points during the quarter, the largest year-over-year medium share gain in the industry.” The company’s first quarter featured a number of positive marketplace developments, Navistar officials said. Continuing its cadence of new product launches, Navistar unveiled its new International CV Series line of Class 4/5 vehicles, the only Class 4/5 truck that is designed, distributed and supported by a manufacturer specializing in commercial vehicles, the company said in a news release. Year-over-year growth in the company’s Core market share was up 1.8 points, led by a six-point share increase in Class 6/7, which was attributable to strong sales of the MV Series of medium-duty trucks. Additionally, the company’s International HX Series and International HV Series vehicles built improved vocational order share resulting in a strong backlog. The company reported backlog growth of more than 8,000 units in its core markets, up 18 percent since the end of fourth quarter 2018. The company reiterated its 2019 industry guidance, including a forecast that retail deliveries of Class 6-8 trucks and buses in the United States and Canada are forecast to be 395,000 to 425,000 units, with Class 8 retail deliveries of 265,000 to 295,000 units. “As our ongoing improvements demonstrate, the company has strong opportunities to benefit from capturing additional market share, growing parts revenue, improving margins and further de-risking the balance sheet,” Clarke said. “Given the progress made in the first quarter, and our positive outlook for the remainder of the year, we are confident that 2019 will move Navistar forward on the path to generate superior shareholder returns compared to the industry.”    

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Moving & Storage Association has named the winners of the 2018 Super Van Operator Awards honoring the nation’s top moving and storage company truck and van drivers. These annual awards recognize drivers and owner-operators who are the best of the best in providing safe, reliable and customer-oriented household goods truck transportation. Judging criteria include miles driven; preventable or non-preventable accidents; lifetime driving record; time out of service for any “Hours of Service” or equipment violations; financial responsibility; community involvement; customer service; driving awards; and outside interests and activities. The 2018 winners include: Lifetime Achievement goes to Gary Eaves of Drakesville, Iowa, who began his career in 1972 and drives for Dircks Moving & Logistics, a Mayflower Agent. He has driven 3.2 million miles in a commercial motor vehicle in his lifetime while not recording a single accident or moving violation. Eaves has won numerous industry awards, including most recently as a Mayflower Van Operator of the Month in 2018. He actively supports numerous local charities, including the Bloomfield Public Library, the Drakesville Fire Station, the Toys for Tots campaign, his local church and numerous youth sports activities. The Household Goods Award goes to Johnny Abbott of Danville, Virginia, who began his career in 1978 and drives for Hilldrup, a United Van Lines Agent. He has driven more than 2.8 million miles in a commercial motor vehicle in his lifetime while not recording a single accident or moving violation. Abbott has won numerous industry awards, including for safe driving and excellence, as well as the United Van Lines Operator of the Year 2018. He has earned high marks from customers for his professionalism and service. The Rookie of the Year: Martin White Hat of Rapid City, South Dakota, who began his career in 2013 with North Western Warehouse Co., an Allied Agent. He has already driven more than 250,000 miles in a commercial motor vehicle while not recording a single accident. White Hat has been honored by the South Dakota Truckers Association as well as Allied Van Lines for their 5-Year Safe Driver Award. He has earned excellent scores from customers for his level of service, and he has volunteered his time to pick up donated furniture for delivery to the local Youth and Family Services location. “The American Moving & Storage Association congratulates these drivers for their excellent records of service to their customers,” said Scott Michael, president and CEO. “Each of these professional drivers has also shown a strong commitment to the highest level of safety for their customers and themselves. They inspire all of us within the industry and in their local communities for the support they give to those in need.” For more information about the AMSA Awards visit www.moving.org.

RESTON, Va. and NEENAH, Wis. — Trucker Tools and J.J. Keller & Associates have formed a strategic partnership the two companies say will provide faster, more accurate and comprehensive shipment location information to freight brokers and shippers from independent truckers and fleet operators. The companies have launched a platform integration that allows J.J. Keller Encompass customers the option to share load-specific truck location data from their J.J. Keller electronic logging devices with the Trucker Tools Load Track automated shipment tracking software. Additionally, J.J. Keller’s customers will gain access to timely information about available loads from the Trucker Tools broker community via the Smart Capacity portal, or through the Trucker Tools Mobile Driver App, according to Tom Reader, senior director of marketing at J.J. Keller & Associates.  Both access points will enable users to quickly locate available loads from participating brokers and securely bid on them, he said. Trucker Tools has dozens of freight brokerage firms utilizing its Load Track automated shipment tracking software, as well as its Smart Capacity visibility, predictive freight-matching and carrier relationship management platform.  The software is integrated with the GPS-enabled, smart-phone-based Trucker Tools Mobile Driver App, which has been downloaded by more than 550,000 truckers and is actively used by 110,000 small fleet operators. J.J. Keller has over 600,000 customers using its safety and regulatory compliance products and services, backed by 66 years of knowledge and expertise in the transportation market. “Pursuing this strategic initiative with Trucker Tools allows our ELog customers the option to share their truck location data with potential brokers and 3PLs to secure available loads in a timely and accurate manner – which translates to additional revenue opportunity for them,” Reader said. “It’s a win-win for shippers, brokers and drivers across the industry who are exploring more efficient ways to secure and move freight.” Prasad Gollapalli, founder and CEO of Trucker Tools, said as well that integrating with J.J. Keller’s ELD products deepens the pool of shipment visibility data for Trucker Tools Load Track users. “Connecting with a proven, real-time ELD platform like J.J. Keller adds to our system another resource for in-transit shipment information, providing a more complete picture of a truck’s precise location and progress to destination,” he said. “That gives our broker-customers a more accurate view of when and where trucks become available, so they can make faster, more informed decisions matching available trucks with loads. And for truck operators, it eliminates manual work such as ‘check calls’ into brokers; location updates are done automatically.” Trucker Tools, based in Reston, Virginia, is a provider of trip planning, shipment visibility and freight matching solutions for the transportation industry. Its ground-breaking Smart Capacity platform uses accurate, real-time data and powerful algorithms to optimally match freight by predicting when and where capacity will become available, days in advance. The company’s popular driver smartphone app has been downloaded by over 550,000 owner operators and small-carrier drivers to access information and services conveniently while on the road. Load Track is a robust feature in the app that connects drivers with carriers and freight brokers to eliminate manual check calls. For more information visit www.truckertools.com or contact the company directly at [email protected]. Since its beginning as a one-man consulting firm in 1953, J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. has grown to become the most respected name in safety and regulatory compliance. Now over 1,400 associates strong, J.J. Keller serves over 600,000 customers — including over 90 percent of the Fortune 1000 companies. For more information, visit JJKellerEncompass.com.

WASHINGTON — Hiring tumbled in February, with U.S. employers adding just 20,000 jobs, the smallest monthly gain in nearly a year and a half. The sharp slowdown in hiring, which might have been worsened by unseasonably cold weather, came after employers had added a blockbuster 311,000 jobs in January, the most in nearly a year. For-hire trucking followed a similar pattern as that of the U.S. as a whole, adding 900 jobs in February after gaining 5,100 in January. In the past three months, U.S. job gains have averaged a solid 186,000. Still, the pullback comes amid signs that growth is slowing because of a weaker global economy, a trade war between the United States and China, and signs of caution among consumers. The unemployment rate fell to 3.8 percent last month from 4 percent in January, the Labor Department said in its monthly jobs report. Businesses stepped up their competition for workers and raised average hourly pay 3.4 percent from a year earlier, the largest gain in a decade. Slowing global growth, a trade war with China and signs of increased caution among consumers have led many economists to forecast weaker growth in the first three months of this year. Still, most analysts expect businesses to keep hiring and growth to rebound in the April-June quarter. It will be harder than usual, though, to get a precise read on the economy because many data reports are still delayed by the partial shutdown of the government, which ended Jan. 25. In the meantime, there are cautionary signs. Consumer confidence fell sharply in January, held back by the shutdown and by a steep fall in stock prices in December. And Americans spent less over the winter holidays, with consumer spending falling in December by the most in five years. Home sales fell last year and price gains are slowing after the average rate on a 30-year mortgage reached nearly 5 percent last year. Sales of new homes also cratered late last year before picking up in December. And U.S. businesses have cut their orders for equipment and machinery for the past two months, a sign that they are uncertain about their customer demand. The economy is forecast to be slowing to an annual growth rate of just 1 percent in the first three months of this year, down from 2.6 percent in the October-December quarter. Growth reached nearly 3 percent for all of last year, the strongest pace since 2015. Still, economists expect a rebound in the April-June quarter, and there are already signs of one: Consumer confidence rose in February along with the stock market. And more Americans signed contracts to buy homes in January, propelled by lower mortgage rates. Analysts have forecast that annual growth will top 2 percent next quarter.

DEFINANCE, Ohio — Keller Trucking, an affiliate of Keller Logistics Group, has merged with Everhart Trucking to bring the total fleet to 200 tractors and 550 trailers. “Our two companies have a lot of similar philosophies and attributes,” said Keller Logistics Group President and CEO Bryan Keller. “Everhart Trucking and Keller Trucking are two very successful businesses with family cultures, great customer service, and are very safe trucking operations. We will take the best business processes from each company to make an even stronger company, providing customer diversity for all of us to have a more sustainable business for generations to come.” Everhart Trucking started in 2000 when Kent Everhart purchased the company he drove for as one of the original eight owner-operators. The Everhart fleet consists of 32 company trucks and eight owner-operators hauling primarily automotive freight, giving access to Keller Trucking to new geography for drivers, including Lima and Findlay, Ohio as the company plans continued growth. Keller Trucking is retaining all Everhart employees in the merger. “The Everhart team is excited about joining the Keller family and making this a great thing going forward for both teams,” said Kent Everhart, Everhart Trucking CEO. Established in 1978, Keller Trucking is an asset-based carrier headquartered in Defiance, Ohio, consisting of 200 tractors and 550 53-foot dry van trailers, serving customers across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and southern United States.    

PORTLAND, Ore. — National average spot truckload rates for vans, reefers and flatbeds slipped lower during the week ending March 2, said DAT Solutions, which operates the DAT network of load boards. But high-traffic van lanes are looking up, especially on the West Coast, and rates on key flatbed lanes are starting to respond to increased construction and other activity: National average rates: Van: $1.88/mile, down 1 cent Reefer: $2.20/mile, down 2 cents Flatbed: $2.33/mile, down 1 cent Compared to the previous week, the number of load posts on DAT MembersEdge was up 3 percent while truck posts fell 2 percent. The result? Higher load-to-truck ratios, usually a sign that rates are firming up. National average load-to-truck ratios Van: 4.6 loads per truck, up from 4.3 Reefer: 6.0, up from 5.5 Flatbed: 25.7, up from 25.1 Van trends Pricing on DAT’s 100 busiest van lanes by volume seems to have turned a corner thanks to improving activity at West Coast seaports. Van volumes from Seattle were up by double digits compared to the previous week, and several key van lanes moved higher: Seattle to Los Angeles increased 14 cents to $1.35/mile Seattle to Salt Lake City gained 13 cents to $1.84/mile Seattle to Spokane added 13 cents to $3.38/mile Seattle is the closest seaport to China; look for activity from Los Angeles and other West Coast ports as goods there are processed and released in the coming weeks. National average spot flatbed rates have ticked up and down during the last month despite volumes being up 15 to 20 percent in February year over year. One reason: there’s more available flatbed capacity, both in the number of trucks on the road and the utilization of existing equipment. Lanes with big price increases last week: Reno, Nevada, to Los Angeles jumped 80 cents to $2.73/mile Roanoke, Virginia, to Cleveland gained 54 cents to $2.67/mile, possibly on the strength of steel shipments Cleveland to Milwaukee increased 50 cents to $4.38/mile Oil-related freight movements from Houston are definitely in a lull. Texas has been experiencing freezing temperatures of late, even in South Texas, leading to lower rates. The average flatbed rate from Houston was $2.28/mile, a 3-cent drop compared to the previous week. DAT Trendlines are generated using DAT RateView, which provides real• time reports on spot market and contract rates, as well as historical rate and capacity trends. The RateView database is comprised of more than $60 billion in freight payments. DAT load boards average 1.2 million load posts searched per business day. For the latest spot market load availability and rate information, visit dat.com/trendlines and follow @LoadBoards on Twitter.