Business Archives

DAT Truckload Freight Trends show load posts fall 9%; truck posts hold firm

Dana Guthrie - November 18, 2024

BEAVERTON, Ore. — The market for spot truckload freight cooled slightly last week, with fewer loads posted for all three equipment types compared to the previous week, according to DAT. October imports dipped but still broke records “Containerized import volumes were down 5% month over month in October but were almost 8% higher than in October 2023,” said Dean Croke, DAT iQ industry analyst. “Indeed, the total TEU (twenty-foot equivalent) volume was just 0.02% (6,252 TEU) lower than in October 2020, the height of e-commerce retail shopping during the pandemic.” According to Croke, the number of loads available on the DAT One network fell to 1.65 million, down 9% week over week and about 1% lower year over year. The number of available trucks posted on the network rose 0.6% to 325,414, about 21% lower compared to Week 46 last year. The combination of lower spot rates, fewer load posts, and a higher number of loads moved suggests better routing-guide compliance on primary tenders and lower rejection rates last week.The Port of Long Beach beat out New York for second place behind the Port of Los Angeles for the highest number of TEU in October. Imports have helped boost outbound truckload volumes by 7% year over year in Los Angeles and 5% year over year in nearby Ontario. The Ports of New York and New Jersey, where volumes were flat month over month and 4% lower than last year, are usually the No. 2 port complex in the nation. Reefer spot rates increased last week “With fresh and frozen food moving ahead of Thanksgiving, reefer spot rates increased again last week,” Croke said. “Linehaul rates (which exclude fuel) were up almost a penny per mile week over week; at a national average of $2.04 a mile, that’s 6 cents higher than last year. The average reefer spot rate is around 5 cents higher than the three-month trailing average.” Croke also noted that according to the USDA, truckloads of produce in California were around 9% behind last year at the start of November, accounting for 20% of the year-to-date (YTD) truckload volume. Major crops include lettuce (21% of YTD volume), strawberries (15%), and grapes (10%). The USDA reported a 13% lower volume of produce last week nationally, impacting spot market load posts, which were almost 6% lower nationally. Dry Vans ▼ Van loads: 765,986, down 8.8% week over week ▼ Van equipment: 213,300, down 0.1% ▼ Linehaul rate: $1.66 net fuel, down 1 cent ▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 3.6, down from 3.9 Reefers ▼ Reefer loads: 386,195, down 5.7% week over week ▲ Reefer equipment: 66,542, up 3.4% ▲ Linehaul rate: $2.04 net fuel, up 1 cent ▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 5.8, down from 6.4 Flatbeds ▼ Flatbed loads: 569,028, down 5.9% week over week ▲ Flatbed equipment: 45,572, up 0.2% ▼ Linehaul rate: $1.96 net fuel, down 3 cents ▼ Load-to-truck ratio: 11.0, down from 12.6

NFI works to help military veterans as they transition to civilian life

Dana Guthrie - November 18, 2024

Amy M. loves being a part of NFI and working in the finance department — but what really makes the company special for her is the emphasis and honor the company places on those who have served in the U.S. armed forces. “I was born in Arizona, but I would say I’m from New Jersey. I’ve lived all over everywhere from Arizona to Florida to Tennessee to Indiana,” she told The Trucker. “I was a military brat, since my dad was in the Army.” Amy’s familial ties to the U.S. military go much deeper, she said, noting that her uncle was in the Navy, and both her grandfather and her husband served in the Air Force. “There was a lot of moving. Our first seven years of marriage, we moved 13 times,” she said. “Once he received his honorable discharge from the military, we settled down.” Unable to follow the family tradition of serving in the military due to a health condition, Amy had to make a different path for herself — one that started when she was just a child. “I worked as a mechanic as a kid, and I worked for a fleet management company for years,” she said. Five years ago, her journey led her to NFI. “I started in the mechanics field, in the maintenance field and then moved to compliance. I moved to finance about two years ago,” she said. Because her family is so deeply rooted in the military Amy says she wanted to find a way to still be involved in helping veterans in whatever way she could. Veteran Engagement Team “I’ve been very passionate about it,” she said. “Four years ago at NFI, we created what was called the Veteran Advisory Council. After a couple of years, it grew into what they call VET — the Veteran Engagement Team.” The VET serves as an employee resource group for veterans. “We have a portal out there that has transportation and military apprenticeships, and we have designated days of observance to honor veterans,” she said. Veteran Resource Page The program schedules special events and observances throughout the year to honor military veterans. In addition, NFI has a veteran resource page that current and prospective NFI employees can access to find information about navigating benefits like mental health, relationship management, financial management and other topics. “Just within the past few months, we created cards that have an inscription on the front, and on the back there’s a QR code that will take whoever scans it directly to that resource page,” Amy said. “They can literally carry this in their pocket, whether they’re a driver, a manager or whatever, and have access to those resources 24 hours a day.” Annual Donation Drive NFI also sponsors a donation drive, something Amy believes is important — but she’s also quick to point out that the drive is only one of many steps NFI takes to help veterans. The company’s resources are not only for veterans preparing to transition to civilian work, but also those struggling with PTSD, financial management and a variety of other issues. “We want to make sure that we’re there for them, and we can provide them with the resources and guidance regardless of how long or how recent they may have served,” Amy said. Fellow NFI employee and military veteran Dustin S. echoes Amy’s deep appreciation of steps the company takes to support former service members. “NFI’s veterans initiatives hit especially close to home for me,” Dustin said. “I’m a Marine Corps veteran myself.” Like Amy, Dustin was born into a military family — his parents were active-duty Marines. “My stepson is currently active-duty Navy and is stationed in Groton, Connecticut. My other stepson is active-duty Air Force and currently stationed in Jordan, right between Iran and Israel,” he said. “For all of those reasons, I participate heavily in the annual Veterans Donation Drive. This is my third consecutive year and is very much a grass-roots thing. Year over year, it grows significantly.” During the NFI’s 2023 donation drive, close to 100 gifts were purchased on the Amazon registry. This year, the donations are already at 140 and it only recently went live, Dustin says. To participate in NFI’s 2024 drive, click here. Placing Value on Service The value NFI places on its employees as well as on the nation’s military personnel and veterans is important to Amy. “When I decided to make a career change five years ago, this type of values was one of my requirements — how they treated their employees,” she said. “A lot of companies out there talk about their commitment to their local areas and to their employees, but not all of them walked that walk.” In addition to partnering with organizations like Hiring Our Heroes, the Department of Defense Skillbridge program, Wreaths Across America and others, she says NFI is seeking other programs that will allow the company to lend a hand to help veterans. “It’s the least we can do for the sacrifices that they’ve made for us day in and day out,” she said. “Veterans are quite literally the reason we’re able to sleep soundly,” Dustin said. “Our veterans made a conscious decision (post-Vietnam) to defend our country from all enemies, foreign and domestic, and it’s of great importance we do our part to make sure those veterans are shown our appreciation.”

Drivers Legal Plan announces endorsement by Florida Trucking Association

Dana Guthrie - November 18, 2024

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Drivers Legal Plan (DLP), a national law firm providing legal services to commercial truck drivers has reported that Florida Trucking Association (FTA) has officially endorsed DLP as a preferred partner for its carrier members. “Keeping Florida’s professional drivers on the road and operating safely is essential to our state’s economy,” said Alix Miller, President and CEO of Florida Trucking Association. “Over 95% of manufactured goods are transported by truck in Florida. Drivers Legal Plan provides affordable legal protection against citations and violations that can harm a driver’s CDL record and a carrier’s safety rating.” According to a media release, the strategic alliance recognizes Drivers Legal Plan’s unwavering commitment to providing exceptional legal representation and support to the trucking industry in Florida. The endorsement was unveiled earlier this month at the Florida Trucking Association’s Fall Round-Up in Ocala, Fla. “We are honored to be a member of FTA and to have received their endorsement,” said Marilyn Surber, vice president of Sales and Marketing at Drivers Legal Plan. “We look forward to expanding our reach and supporting even more FTA members with our legal services. Our goal is to become a trusted resource for more carriers and their drivers. An additional benefit of working with us is that our company donates a portion of our revenue from members back to Florida Trucking Association, helping to support the association’s mission and goals.” The release noted that Drivers Legal Plan leverages its deep understanding of complex federal and state trucking regulations and extensive nationwide experience to deliver superior legal representation. With a proven track record of successfully defending truck drivers against a wide range of moving and non-moving violations, DLP significantly improves the chances of a favorable outcome for its clients. Drivers Legal Plan is a national law firm with extensive experience in truck driver Commercial Drivers License ticket defense. Founded in 1991, Drivers Legal Plan is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla. and serves clients in the 48 contiguous United States. To learn more about Drivers Legal Plan, visit https://www.driverslegalplan.com/.

Container trade booms in Savannah; October volumes soar 10%

Dana Guthrie - November 18, 2024

SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Georgia Ports Authority handled 494,261 twenty-foot equivalent container units in October, an increase of more than 45,000 TEUs, up 10 percent, making it the third busiest October on record for GPA after 2021 and 2022, when more than half a million TEUs crossed the docks at the Port of Savannah. “Despite the cargo increases this year, many customers continue to divert to the U.S. West Coast while the contract negotiations are ongoing,” said Griff Lynch, Georgia Ports president and CEO. According to a GPA press release, GPA terminal velocity is exceptional with containers connecting from vessel to rail in one day. The on terminal Mason Mega Rail facility provides rail service to customers via both Norfolk Southern and CSX. “I want to thank our Georgia Ports employees, the local ILA, Gateway Terminals, the Pilots and all our port partners in Brunswick and Savannah for the great work they’re doing to keep our ports competitive and easy to use by our customers,” said Kent Fountain, Georgia Ports Chairman. Record October trade through the Appalachian Regional Port helped boost GPA’s performance with an October high of 3666 rail lifts at the Northwest Georgia inland port up 4.4 percent. For the first four months of fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024-Oct. 31, 2024), GPA has moved 1.9 million TEUs, up 211,320 or 12.3 percent. In autos and high/heavy machinery, Colonel’s Island handled 68,569 units of Roll-on/Roll-off cargo in October and 300,647 RoRo units fiscal year-to-date, up 10.6 percent. According to the release, Georgia Ports received an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Ports Port grant in October to implement electrification infrastructure to support ships at berth to plug-in to shore power and turn off auxiliary-powered diesel engines. The $46 million grant also covers replacement of diesel terminal tractors with electric terminal tractors and electric charging infrastructure. “These initiatives are designed to create positive impacts to the community and ensure we’re a good neighbor,” added Lynch.

Hazmat vehicles under the scanner: CVSA’s 5-day surprise inspection blitz nets nearly 600 OOS violations

Dana Guthrie - November 18, 2024

Over five days this summer, commercial motor vehicle inspectors conducted 3,929 inspections of commercial motor vehicles transporting hazardous materials/dangerous goods (HM/DG) as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) unannounced HM/DG inspection and enforcement initiative. According to the media release, during the HM/DG Road Blitz, inspectors affixed 1,009 CVSA decals, which means there were no critical vehicle or specification cargo tank violations on those vehicles. On the other hand, inspectors discovered HM/DG violations on 576 of the vehicles inspected. Vehicles with out-of-service HM/DG violations were removed from roadways until those violations were corrected. Forty-five jurisdictions participated in this year’s unannounced HM/DG Road Blitz, which was June 10-14. A total of 4,095 packages were inspected; specifically, 1,488 non-bulk packages/small means of containment, 2,218 bulk cargo tank packages/large means of containment and 389 other bulk packages/other large means of containment. “There were 116 out-of-service loading and securement violations in North America,” the release said. “Loading and securement requirements prevent cargo/goods/materials from moving in a manner that would cause damage to the package resulting in leaking, spilling, etc., in a commercial motor vehicle. This is especially important when it comes to the transportation of HM/DG.” Nineteen packages were cited for HM/DG package integrity (leaking) violations. Leaking hazardous materials or dangerous goods pose a significant threat to human health and safety, property, and the environment. According to the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a hazardous material is a substance or material that is capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety and property when transported in commerce. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation states that 3 billion tons of hazardous materials were shipped in the U.S. in 2017. To minimize the risks associated with transporting hazardous materials, anyone involved in HM transportation in commerce is required to comply with the federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs). The HMRs govern the transportation of hazardous materials in interstate, intrastate and foreign commerce. The release noted that In the U.S., inspectors discovered 93 undeclared packages during the five days of the blitz. According to PHMSA, each year, approximately 1,500 transportation incidents occur when undeclared hazardous materials are shipped. Hazardous materials must always be properly classified, packaged, labeled, handled and stowed for transportation. This protects workers, emergency responders and the general public from the risks associated with HM transportation. In Canada, dangerous goods are defined as any substance or material capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety and property when transported in commerce. Shipments of dangerous goods number in the multi-millions annually. The federal, provincial and territorial governments of Canada enacted legislation to regulate the transportation of dangerous goods via the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations. Canada’s TDG Regulations prescribe safety standards and shipping requirements for dangerous goods and communicate the nature and level of hazard and risk associated with those dangerous goods. In Canada, inspectors identified 79 TDG training certificate violations. The purpose of the training certificate is to demonstrate that the individual handling and/or transporting dangerous goods is properly trained and competent to safely fulfill their duties, according to the release. There are nine recognized classes of HM/DG. These classes designate HM/DG into categories based on the materials’ chemical and physical properties and the risks associated with those materials. The transportation of HM/DG demands rigorous training and heightened compliance requirements. For motor carriers and drivers, safely transporting HM/DG is imperative to the safety of the driver, the public and the environment. For inspectors, inspecting vehicles transporting HM/DG is a complex and detailed process that involves safely looking for leaking materials or unsecured HM/DG cargo, and checking and verifying shipping papers, placarding, marking, labeling, packaging and loading compliance. CVSA’s annual unannounced HM/DG Road Blitz aims to: Remove vehicles with HM/DG out-of-service violations from roadways. Spotlight the importance of the programs, processes and regulations associated with the safe transportation of HM/DG. Recognize safety-compliant HM/DG drivers, motor carriers, manufacturers, shippers, etc. Highlight the specially trained inspectors who prioritize transportation safety by inspecting vehicles transporting HM/DG and enforcing strict compliance regulations. Identify HM/DG shipping paper, placarding, marking, labeling, packaging and loading compliance violations. The HM/DG Road Blitz is an annual unannounced HM/DG inspection and enforcement initiative made possible through participation from CVSA’s member jurisdictions throughout North America. It is supported by the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Transport Canada, and Mexico’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation. The initiative was adopted by the CVSA Hazardous Materials Committee, which provides technical HM/DG guidance and assistance to government and industry in an effort to reduce HM/DG incidents and encourage uniformity and consistency in the application of the regulations.

Empowering women in transportation, SEFL recognized as top place for women to work

Dana Guthrie - November 18, 2024

LEXINGTON, S.C.—Southeastern Freight Lines, has been recognized as a 2024 Top Company for Women to Work in Transportation by Redefining the Road, the official magazine of the Women in Trucking Association (WIT). “We are honored to be recognized for our steadfast commitment to fostering an empowering and inclusive workplace for our female associates,” said Melissa Atkins, vice president of linehaul transportation. “At Southeastern, not only are we dedicated to helping our associates excel and advance in their careers, but we value the impact that female voices have on continuing to grow our quality, efficient operations. We sincerely thank Redefining the Road for this recognition and look forward to continuously enriching our culture to remain a great place to work for years to come.” According to a press release, WIT is a non-profit organization with a mission to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize the obstacles they face. Its annual Top Company for Women to Work in Transportation award recognizes companies with exemplary corporate cultures that foster gender diversity, competitive compensation and benefits, flexible work requirements, professional development opportunities and more. “Redefining the Road is pleased to name Southeastern Freight Lines as a 2024 Top Company for Women to Work in Transportation,” said Brian Everett, group publisher and editorial director. “Southeastern has demonstrated that it places a significant importance on gender diversity as part of its business strategy and is to be commended for the work in diversity that it is doing.” WIT hosted a conference and exposition in Dallas, Texas where Atkins, alongside Marketing Supervisor Mary-Riley Walker, accepted the prestigious award on behalf of Southeastern.

Motive unveils new Integrated Coaching platform to enhance driver efficiency and safety

Dana Guthrie - November 18, 2024

SAN FRANCISCO — Motive has launched Integrated Coaching, a streamlined coaching solution that consolidates safety and compliance activities into one unified workflow giving fleet and safety managers real-time visibility into driver performance to enhance coaching efficiency and reduce risk. “Motive’s new Integrated Coaching product sets a new benchmark for fleet safety and compliance by bringing all coaching activities into one comprehensive view,” said Jai Ranganathan, Chief Product Officer at Motive. “By streamlining safety and compliance into a single workflow, fleet and safety managers can now save time, focus on key priorities, and proactively keep their drivers safe and compliant on the road.” Motive also noted that nearly half of leaders use more than ten individual tools to manage their overall operations, with 30% saying it is too many to count According to the press release, coaching drivers is a time-consuming and manual process that requires fleet managers to rely on disjointed coaching tools and disparate data sources across many systems. According to Motive’s Physical Economy Outlook, nearly half (46%) of leaders use more than ten individual tools to manage their overall operations, with 30% saying it’s too many to count. As a result, leaders report spending most of their time dealing with reactive issues versus proactively managing their workers, fleet, spend, or equipment. Motive’s Enhanced Driver Coaching Workflows Drive Efficiency Fleet and safety managers can manage driver safety and compliance issues more effectively by accessing all coaching activities, including cell phone usage, close following and Hours of Service (HOS) violations, through a single “Coaching” tab in the Motive Fleet Dashboard, according to the release. The centralized approach streamlines the review of safety events, HOS violations, and other compliance concerns into a single platform, saving valuable time and enhancing coaching efficiency to lower risk for both drivers and the business. “Since using Motive’s Integrated Coaching, I’ve been able to coach drivers more quickly, helping them learn from their mistakes and avoid repeating them,” said John Haverstick, safety/recruiting/IT manager at Miller Expedited Freight. “By streamlining these processes, we’re saving time, reducing administrative burden, and enhancing both safety and compliance. We’ve seen drastic improvements in our CSA scores since deploying Motive.” The release noted that Motive’s Integrated Coaching provides real-time visibility into driver performance and automatically flags logs that require attention. The feature also simplifies coaching status tracking with easy-to-use labels such as “Needs Review,” “Coachable,” “Coached,” and “Dismissed” so managers can quickly prioritize coaching sessions and follow up with drivers. On the future roadmap for Integrated Coaching are other critical areas for improving safety, productivity, and profitability across an organization including improving fuel efficiency, according to the release.

J&R Schugel celebrates 50 milestone years, honors Disabled American Veterans with epic gift

Dana Guthrie - November 18, 2024

KIRKLAND, Wash. — J&R Schugel recently took delivery of a Kenworth T680 during a special ceremony at Kenworth’s manufacturing plant in Chillicothe, Ohio as part of J&R Schugel’s 50th anniversary celebration and to show support for Disabled American Veterans (DAV). Representatives from Kenworth, a division of CSM Companies, and J&R Schugel were on hand for the event. To commemorate its milestone anniversary, J&R Schugel had its new T680 specially wrapped in support of the nonprofit organization, DAV, to recognize the services and sacrifices made by our nation’s military veterans. “It’s a privilege to collaborate with Disabled American Veterans in honoring those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom,” said Courtney Antonsen, J&R Schugel human resources director. “Our uniquely wrapped Kenworth T680 truck will proudly journey across the country, symbolizing our appreciation and dedication to supporting veterans and their families. We also extend our gratitude to CSM Companies for their generous $25,000 donation, which will directly fund vital services for veterans.” In addition to bringing awareness to DAV, J&R Schugel’s dealer, Wisconsin Kenworth, presented a check for $25,000 at the event to be donated to DAV on behalf of J&R Schugel. According to a media release, for J&R Schugel, going above and beyond to serve customers employees, and the local community is a key value the family operating company lives by. Since its founding in 1974 by Jerry and Rich Schugel and their father Harold, the company’s driver-centric culture stands out among competitors in the industry. The New Ulm, Minnesota-based truckload, dedicated, and regional transportation services provider has a history of wrapping its Kenworth trucks to bring awareness to causes that are important to the company and its drivers. “We have a special culture here at J&R Schugel, and we take a lot of pride in supporting various causes to support our drivers and the community,” said Antonsen.” Our trucks give us a unique opportunity to spread awareness of these causes across the country.” In addition to its latest themed truck in support of military veterans the company has three other specially themed T680s that bring awareness to causes including, breast cancer, mental health, and autism. “J&R Schugel has been a great customer for years, and we’re proud of all their efforts to partner with charity organizations and bring awareness to important causes throughout the country and in their local community,” said Kevin Haygood, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing. “Disabled American Veterans is an excellent organization that helps support our military veterans in need, and J&R Schugel’s latest themed T680 will help get the message out about DAV as it travels all across the country.” J&R Schugel is 100% employee-owned and operates more than 700 trucks, most of which are new model Kenworth T680s specified with 76-inch sleepers, a mix of PACCAR MX and Cummins X15 engines, and 12-speed automated transmissions, according to the release. According to Antonsen, the company is on a three-year trade-in cycle with Wisconsin Kenworth to keep equipment new for its drivers and to reduce downtime. In the past few years, J&R Schugel’s fleet has been transitioning to Kenworth’s latest T680 model, which was introduced in 2021. “All of our trucks are currently 2021 models or newer,” Antonsen said. “In the past few years, we’ve been cycling into the new T680 model, which our drivers are finding to be a nice upgrade. The new interior features and technology, such as the digital display and sharper exterior design of the truck, are what stand out to our drivers. They spend most of their day in their trucks, and we believe providing them with new, premium equipment helps with overall job satisfaction.”

PS Logistics bolsters its reach with acquisition of Fluker Transportation

Dana Guthrie - November 18, 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — PS Logistics, along with its subsidiary Blair Logistics (Blair) has acquired Fluker Transportation (Fluker), a founder-owned trucking company that specializes in flatbed and heavy-haul shipping. “We are excited to welcome Fluker’s flatbed and heavy-haul drivers and employees to the PS Logistics family,” said Scott Smith, chief executive officer and co-founder of PS Logistics. “Fluker has continued to grow in a broadly challenged freight market, which is a testament to the company’s commitment to its drivers and service to its customers. Fluker aligns nicely with our desire to partner with founder- or family-owned trucking companies that put their drivers first, and PS Logistics is looking forward to the growth opportunities that will result from this acquisition.” Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. According to a media release, Fluker Transportation was founded in 2011 by James Watson and primarily hauls steel, construction equipment, and military defense related freight across the southeastern United States. Fluker’s freight mix and geographic coverage are highly complementary to Blair’s and are expected to provide immediate opportunities to realize operational synergies. Fluker will now operate under Blair Logistics’ name. “Blair and the broader PS Logistics network are going to be great partners for this business,” said James Watson, founder and co-owner of Fluker Transportation. “Throughout the process of working with them, it became evident that they are committed to the drivers’ success, and I’m excited that Fluker will now be a part of a larger organization that will provide greater freight choices to our drivers and more capacity to our customers, and bring operational expertise to the business.” The transaction continues PS Logistics’ acquisition strategy of partnering with families and quality owners within the transportation and logistics industry. Since 2016, PS Logistics has successfully acquired 27 trucking operations and five non-asset logistics operations across the United States. “Partnering with PS Logistics represents a transformative step forward for Fluker,” Peter Walker, co-owner of Fluker Transportation. This collaboration will fuel significant growth and enhance our drivers’ experience, positioning the business for long-term success.”

Harvesting hope: Valley Companies partners with After the Harvest to feed Kansas City

Dana Guthrie - November 16, 2024

HUDSON, Wis. — It’s apple picking season, but not all of those fruits find their way from tree to mouth or table; after falling to the ground, many go overlooked, ending up in wastebaskets. Thanks to Kansas City-based non-profit After the Harvest (ATH) and employees from Valley Companies, a leading provider of managed transportation solutions, more than 3,000 pounds of apples were shared with hungry neighbors around the Kansas City Metro area. “Our Kansas City team rolled up their sleeves with After the Harvest, gleaning apples at Cider Hill Family Orchard to help fight hunger in the community,” said Brett Miller, Valley’s executive vice president. It was an early morning departure for the Valley Companies team. Employees joined ATH to pick apples, filling a van and a truck bed, making the day a huge success for combating hunger. ATH rescues nutritious fruits and vegetables from going to waste, donating them to agencies that serve hungry people, primarily in Greater Kansas City. The organization teams up with volunteers, such as employees from Valley Companies, to gather what’s left in farmers’ fields. “The nutritious produce we collect is delivered to hundreds of area food pantries, shelters and community kitchens by our staff, volunteers and Harvesters, where it becomes part of a nourishing diet for families, children and seniors in our community,” ATH officials said. The same efforts help to reduce methane emissions by ensuring that produce ends up on plates and not in landfills. The event was just one of many charitable engagements made by Valley in recent months, including Feed My Starving Children (packing meals for the malnourished) and Habitat for Humanity projects. In August, members of the Valley team had the opportunity to play in the 10th annual Tee It Up for the Troops event at Troy Burne Golf Club in Hudson, Wisconsin. Charitable events are an important part of the company’s culture, which recently spanned four generations with the appointment of Brandon Gilbert as director of logistics partnerships. “Not only does Brandon become the fourth generation of Gilberts to help ensure Valley’s success as a leading provider of customized logistics and managed transportation solutions, but one of the most important partnerships he will help to continue is our tradition of giving back to local communities,” said Todd Gilbert, CEO and Visionary for Valley Companies. “Teaming up with After the Harvest was a pleasure, knowing that our time and efforts will help to keep neighbors fed around our Kansas City location.”

Truckers in revolt: New York Gov. Hochul reinstates controversial congestion pricing, industry vows to resist

Dana Guthrie - November 16, 2024

New York, N.Y. – Governor Kathy Hochul detailed her vision to reinstate New York’s Congestion Pricing Plan after initially pausing the program. The Trucking Association of New York (TANY) decries the reinstatement as a disruption of “Business as Usual” which will negatively impact New York jobs and raise costs for New Yorkers during an affordability crisis. “While political leadership is now saying the right things about bringing down the cost of living in the state, New Yorkers should not be fooled by the rhetoric: this new congestion pricing plan is still bad for the economy, will still cause supply chain disruptions, and will still raise the price of goods upon which households across the five boroughs and its surrounding suburbs rely,” said Kendra Hems, TANY president. “As such, the Trucking Association of New York will continue using every tool at our disposal to fight this plan and deliver relief for hardworking operators and the New Yorkers counting on their services.” According to a media release, Hochul’s new vision still fails to account for the critical role trucks play in our state’s economy and will still burden New Yorkers with higher prices. Under the revised toll structure, passenger vehicles entering the business district will be charged $9 per day, no matter how frequently they travel into and out of the zone. By contrast, trucks will pay between $14.40 and $21.60 each trip. While the plan reduces costs for commuters, trucks have been left out of the relief and the burden will fall on all New Yorkers. “The fundamental issue remains the same as before: the disproportionate pricing structure, which once again unfairly targets trucking operators, is a burdensome regulatory framework and cost imposition on the industry responsible for transporting 90% of goods in New York State,” Hems said. “As we have repeatedly stressed, a reduced rate congestion pricing structure is a positive development for our industry but is not sufficient on its own. The decision to maintain the per-trip charge, rather than adjusting the fee to a per-day structure, is yet another example of the continued disregard toward our industry from the most powerful people in the state. During a recent press conference, Hochul said her belief in this new plan is not just about raising money but also about supporting commuters. She stated this would help keep millions of dollars “in the pockets of our commuters.” Hems noted that the trucking industry was entirely excluded from all discussions pertaining to the reinstatement of this plan. “The Governor rightly paused the plan in June, acknowledging the state’s affordability crisis, and she acknowledged these stressors once again today,” Hems said. “However, she failed to mention that industry experts on both sides of the Hudson have long warned that the discriminatory way trucks and logistics companies are targeted by the plan will increase costs for residents everywhere. Trucking operators may be forced to raise prices to afford these tolls, which will drive up costs for New Yorkers. The plan has also triggered sharp criticism from New Jersey officials, including Governor Phil Murphy who is a congestion pricing opponent and Rep. Josh Gottheimer who said, “It’s utterly absurd at a time of inflation. The added costs for Jersey motorists went from zero to $2,500.” “It is disappointing that, after a lengthy pause, the Governor’s revised plan still does not provide a solution to the constitutional violations we highlight in our lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, which argues that the congestion pricing policy unfairly targets trucking and logistics companies by charging far higher rates than passenger vehicles,” Hems said. “Until this discrepancy is addressed, the Trucking Association of New York remains committed to seeing out the legal process and is hopeful that our ongoing litigation will preserve business-as-usual for New Yorkers.”

Landstar unveils new leadership team

Dana Guthrie - November 15, 2024

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Landstar has announced two changes to its executive leadership team effective Dec. 1 including Joe Beacom as president of company subsidiary, Landstar System Holdings and each of its agent-based transportation services companies, along with Matt Miller as vice president and chief safety and operations officer, succeeding Beacom in the role. “With three decades of exemplary leadership and broad experience at Landstar, Joe is uniquely positioned to work across our executive leadership team to help accelerate our distinctive business model and drive our strategic growth initiatives forward in cooperation with our agents, owner-operators and truck brokerage carriers,” said Frank Lonegro, president and CEO of Landstar. Mr. Beacom has agreed to serve in this new capacity through the end of 2025, following which he will transition to the role of Special Advisor to the CEO before his anticipated retirement in the first quarter of 2026.” According to the media release, with his promotion to the company’s executive leadership team, Miller will have enterprise responsibility for all operational matters relating to Landstar’s capacity network of truck owner-operators and third-party truck brokerage carriers. His expanded role continues to include responsibility for safety, compliance, trailer maintenance and utilization and operations solutions at Landstar. During his 15-year career at the company, Miller has held positions of increasing responsibility in safety, operations, finance and risk management. “I’m excited to welcome Matt to the Company’s executive leadership team,” Lonegro said. “Matt’s wide-ranging experiences at Landstar and more broadly, his engaging leadership style and passion for safety position us well for the future with him at the helm of our operations,” “I look forward to working directly with Joe and Matt in their new positions, as we continue to align the company for future growth and customer service excellence.”

Elite recognition: Capitol North American named 2024 North American Van Lines Agent of the Year

Dana Guthrie - November 15, 2024

CHICAGO, Ill. — North American Van Lines has recognized Capitol North American of Milwaukee, Wis. as its 2024 Agent of the Year at its annual agent convention October 29 in Orlando, Fla. “North American and it’s agent network take pride in providing the highest quality moving experience and service to our customers, which we’ve done for over 9 decades,” said Kevin Murphy, vice president and general manager, North American Van Lines. “Capitol North American Milwaukee has a passion for delivering excellent quality and service to its customers and is a leading network “team player”. This attitude has earned them their first Agent of the Year title. Congratulations to everyone at Capitol North American Milwaukee for this achievement.” The North American Van Lines Agent of the Year award recognizes the agent that attains the best overall scores in categories including service quality, hauling growth, sales growth, safety performance, and demonstrates the “Power of Blue” in supporting fellow agents and customers, according to a company media release. “Our Capitol North American Milwaukee team has worked hard to earn this honor, and I am extremely proud of everyone who has contributed to this win,” said Todd Grey, vice president and general manager, Capitol North American. “Providing the highest quality service to every customer, every move, every day is our goal and I am proud to work with a group of such dedicated and hard-working individuals. I look forward to more achievements from this team in the years ahead.”

Partners in progress: IMC Logistics and Kuehne+Nagel join forces

Dana Guthrie - November 15, 2024

COLLIERVILLE, Tenn. — IMC Logistics has announced a strategic partnership with one of its longtime customers, Kuehne+Nagel, who will acquire 51% of the company to directly address growing demand for end-to-end transportation of cargo to or from seaports or rail hubs, customer facilities and inland in the United States, where landside container logistics are complex. According to a company press release, once the transaction is completed, IMC Logistics will continue to operate as it has been previously, but with greater resources to serve clients. Mark H. George will continue as Chairman with the same leadership team in place. “We embrace the opportunity to partner with Kuehne+Nagel, one of the world’s leading logistics companies, to elevate our family-founded business to new heights and to grow together,” George said. Combining our landside container logistics expertise and offering with Kuehne+Nagel’s global reach will deliver exceptional services for our customers and create new career growth opportunities for our colleagues” Completion of the transaction is expected at the beginning of the first quarter of 2025. The deal is subject to approval from regulatory authorities and customary closing conditions. “International Sea Logistics is a highly complex business with many interfaces and stakeholders, in which US trade flows are of central importance,” said Stefan Paul, CEO of Kuehne+Nagel International AG. “IMC’s range of capabilities significantly expands our service offering and allows us to develop and offer even more attractive solutions for the value chains of our ocean freight customers.” BofA Securities served as financial advisor and Baker Donelson served as legal advisor to IMC Logistics.

Truckstop, FTR report mixed rates: Dry van rates plummet while reefer rates see large gains

Dana Guthrie - November 15, 2024

Data from Truckstop and FTR Transportation Intelligence for the week ending Nov. 8 showed a market that still shows at most seasonal strength. “Spot rates for dry van and refrigerated equipment moved by nearly the same degree in the latest week but in opposite directions,” FTR said. “Broker-posted spot rates for dry van equipment in the Truckstop system fell by the most in a comparable week since at least 2008 during the week ended November 8 (week 45) while refrigerated spot rates saw their largest gain in a comparable week in five years. Flatbed spot rates fell by the most in 11 weeks but continued to move according to seasonal expectations.” According to a press release, broker-posted spot rates in the Truckstop system for van equipment moved by nearly the same degree in the latest week but in the opposite directions. Dry van spot rates fell by the most in a comparable week since at least 2008, while refrigerated spot rates saw their largest gain in a comparable week in five years. Flatbed spot rates fell by the most in 11 weeks but continued to move according to seasonal expectations. The current week (the week ending November 15) usually sees across-the-board spot rate increases, although the total market rate fell last year due to dry van. Total Spotload Availability Total load activity declined 1.7% after easing by a slightly smaller extent in the previous week. Load postings were 17% higher than the same 2023 week but about 20% below the five-year average. Total truck postings increased 2.3%, and the Market Demand Index – the ratio of load postings to truck postings in the system – declined to its lowest level in six weeks. Total Spot Rates The total broker-posted rate decreased more than 3 cents for the largest decline in 11 weeks. Rates were less than 1% above the same 2023 week but 6.5% below the five-year average. Spot rates excluding a calculated fuel surcharge were more than 9% higher than the same 2023 week and were higher y/y for all equipment types. The current week (week 46) usually sees across-the-board rate increases, although rates fell last year due to dry van. Dry Van Spot Rates Dry van spot rates fell 4.4 cents after rising nearly 3 cents in the prior week. Historically, that week of the year always saw rate increases, but that trend ended starting in 2020. Rates were about 1% above the same 2023 week but almost 11% below the five-year average for the week. Excluding an imputed fuel surcharge, rates were nearly 12% higher than during the same 2023 week. Dry van loads increased 1.7%. Volume was basically flat y/y but was about 33% below the five-year average for the week. Refrigerated Spot Rates Refrigerated spot rates rose 4.6 cents after rising 5.5 cents in the prior week. Rates, which had not risen in consecutive weeks since August, were nearly 2% above the same 2023 week but nearly 7% below the five-year average. Rates excluding an imputed fuel surcharge were up nearly 10% y/y. Refrigerated loads rose 5.6%. Volume was down 2.5% from the same 2023 week and was about 33% below the five-year average for the week. Flatbed Spot Rates Flatbed spot rates fell 4 cents after decreasing nearly 3 cents during the previous week. Rates, which almost always decline week over week during that week of the year, were essentially flat with the same 2023 week about 5% below the five-year average for the week. Rates excluding an imputed fuel surcharge were up 8% y/y. Flatbed loads decreased 5.5%. Volume was about 40% above the same week last year but close to 12% below the five-year average.

Heroes wanted: Goodyear announces call for 41st annual Highway Hero Award nominations

Dana Guthrie - November 15, 2024

AKRON, Ohio — The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is now accepting nominations for its annual Highway Hero Award. “Commercial truck drivers are not only at the center of the supply chain industry, but they also act as vigilant guardians of the roads, ready to assist others in need,” said Joe Burke, vice president, Goodyear North America Commercial business. “For over four decades, the Goodyear Highway Hero Award program has celebrated remarkable contributions of professional truck drivers who have acted selflessly for the good of others on the road.” According to a company press release, now through Dec. 31, Goodyear is inviting nominations for drivers with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) who went the extra mile to help others on the road. Goodyear is eager to hear from drivers across the commercial industry from long-haul truckers, to dump truck drivers, regional delivery and vocational vehicle operators and more. Since 1983, Goodyear has been recognizing commercial truck drivers who go above and beyond their regular duties to keep our highways safe. To enter or nominate a CDL driver, visit www.goodyeartrucktires.com/newsroom/highway-heroes/. Goodyear will determine an approved list of nominees from which a panel of judges will select one winner and up to two finalists. Goodyear will announce the award winner in 2025, honoring the driver with cash prizes and a ride on the Goodyear Blimp. Up to two runners-up will also receive a cash prize. Eligible nominees for this year’s Highway Hero Award must be a full-time commercial driver with a valid CDL, reside in the U.S. or Canada and be actively operating a commercial, infrastructure, vocational vehicle or non-lifesaving emergency vehicle with rim size greater than 19 inches. The commercial trucker must be on the job at the time of the heroic incident and the act must have occurred between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024. To learn more about the Highway Hero Award, view exclusive content and read the full terms and conditions, visit www.goodyeartrucktires.com/newsroom/highway-heroes/. The Goodyear Highway Hero Award is one way Goodyear helps recognize the growth and importance of the commercial trucking industry.

CH Robinson’s generative AI brings efficiency to every aspect of freight

Dana Guthrie - November 14, 2024

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — By creating technology that reads incoming email then replicates tasks a person would do, global logistics company C.H. Robinson has automated steps across the entire lifecycle of a freight shipment: from giving customers a price quote, to accepting a load, to setting appointments for pickup and delivery, to checking on the load in transit. “We announced in May that we’d been using our new tech for emailed price requests. Within a few short months, we created new models to automate more shipping steps and have already implemented them at scale,” said Arun Rajan, chief strategy and innovation officer. “This a major efficiency breakthrough for the industry and for supply chains around the world. When you think about retailers that need hundreds of different products on their shelves or automakers that rely on just-in-time delivery for the 30,000 different parts in a car, saving hours and minutes on every shipment matters.” According to a company media release, the new proprietary tech incorporates generative artificial intelligence to overcome the decades-old challenge of automating transactions that shippers still commonly choose to do by email. Shippers directly integrated with C.H. Robinson’s platform have for years been able to get automated service instantly. But the same request sent by email had to wait for a person. Now, more than 10,000 of those routine transactions per day have been automated. Shippers who use email can get the same speed-to-market and cost savings as other customers, and the C.H. Robinson teams that serve them can spend more time on more valuable work. After starting with price quotes, C.H. Robinson has applied generative AI to increasingly complex tasks. That required infusing the technology with the company’s market knowledge, specialized expertise in nearly every kind of supply chain and the specifics of each customer’s unique needs. “An emailed load tender might only say, ‘I have a load for Tuesday’ because the shipper knows we know what they ship on Tuesdays,” said Mark Albrecht, the company’s vice president for Artificial Intelligence. “Or it could contain thousands of words about 20 loads in a PDF attachment with handwritten notes on it. Our tech can connect details in different parts of the email, discern what’s missing, go fill in the blanks and take action. We’ve even built it to determine things like which shipments are best for less-than-truckload and how different commodities should be palletized. We can do that like no one else, because we have the competitive advantage of the largest dataset in the industry and because our generative AI tools continually learn from our experts.” Before C.H. Robinson’s newest technology, it took as much as four hours for an emailed load tender to be taken care of by a person. That’s been reduced to 90 seconds, according to the release. “Once a person got to the email in their inbox, it still took an average of seven minutes to manually enter all the shipment details into our system – and that’s for a single load,” Albrecht said. “If the email tendered us 20 loads, a person would be stuck manually entering the information one load at a time. With generative AI, we can process all 20 loads simultaneously in the same 90 seconds. That’s an enormous time savings, especially when you consider we’ve scaled this to thousands of shipment orders per day just since June.” C.H. Robinson’s new automation tech is being used for Emailed price requests: This has grown to 2,600 quotes delivered a day, and at 32 seconds is now even faster. Having started with truckload quotes, the tech has also been expanded to handle LTL quotes. Emailed load tenders: The tech is turning emails into 5,500 shipment orders a day, achieved in 90 seconds. Emailed appointments: When a customer uses email rather than C.H. Robinson’s touchless appointments, the tech extracts the details needed to lock in a pick-up or delivery time. So far, this is done 3,000 times a day across more than 26,000 locations within 60 seconds. In-transit visibility: For instances when a carrier’s automated status updates aren’t working, C.H. Robinson is piloting the use of generative AI to interact with the carrier, rather than taking up staff time to send an email, text or instant message. “While other companies may be using generative AI for simple data queries or chatbots, we’re harnessing that power to create tangible business value for our customers,” Rajan said. “The faster we can accomplish every routine step in getting their freight on a truck, the greater their potential cost savings. The more we free our staff from mundane tasks, the more they can enhance and strengthen our customers’ supply chains. In a world where a port strike, a hurricane and a Middle East war can be happening all at once, we’re focused on helping our customers be resilient in the face of these increasingly frequent and intense disruptions.”

Uber Freight leaps forward with launch of Broker Access featuring seamless load booking and execution

Dana Guthrie - November 14, 2024

CHICAGO, Ill. — Uber Freight has launched Broker Access, a new program that enables brokers to book and execute loads digitally on Uber Freight’s carrier network while remaining the sole broker on the load. “Our platform is now more accessible and connected than ever, and brokers love the experience Broker Access delivers,” said Lior Ron, Founder and CEO of Uber Freight. “This solution gives them the tools to not only optimize their freight operations but also to focus on growing their business and strengthening relationships across the supply chain. With Broker Access, we’re continuing to move the industry closer to a more efficient and connected freight ecosystem that is smarter, more efficient and delivers value for all.” According to a company press release, the capacity-as-a-service solution, which was designed to supercharge productivity, service levels, and business growth for brokers of all sizes, evolved from the company’s existing Market Access platform and marks a significant expansion of Uber Freight’s marketplace technology. “Freight brokers operate in a dynamic and demanding environment, juggling an array of operational workflows and processes, and technology platforms,” the company said. “They do all of this with fluctuating margins, and ever-increasing fraud risks. Broker Access helps digitize and automate broker operations by making it easy to book, execute, track, and pay for loads with a user-friendly self-serve portal or via turnkey API, EDI or TMS integrations. The program unlocks access to Uber Freight’s vast, private network of tens of thousands of tech-enabled carriers, ensuring brokers can service their customers reliably and efficiently, as well as mitigate fraud risks, in all market conditions. Along with brokers’ proprietary carrier networks, and public load boards, Broker Access helps brokers complete their diversified sourcing strategy to thrive across market conditions.” Revolutionizing Broker Operations with Digital Innovation Brokers across the industry are facing increasing pressure to provide high-quality service, reduce fraud risk, manage costs, and maintain strong relationships with shippers and carriers alike. Broker Access directly addresses these challenges by offering brokers a comprehensive capacity-as-a-service solution, integrated into Uber Freight’s AI-powered network and platform, according to the release. Key features of Broker Access include: Seamless Load Booking and Execution: Brokers can quickly book, manage, and tender loads through an intuitive self-serve platform or through integrations with Uber Freight’s carrier marketplace. Complete Control: Brokers can take complete control of load pricing, bid interactions, carrier selection or sit back and let the automation features work per their direction. End-to-End Visibility: Real-time tracking, automated updates, and a centralized portal for complete transparency across every shipment. Fraud Mitigation: Automated carrier monitoring helps reduce risks and ensure reliability in a competitive marketplace. Uber Freight was recently named the Best in Cargo Security by CargoNet, recognizing the company’s outstanding fraud prevention efforts in 2023. Customer and Partner Success Stories Early adopters of Broker Access have already experienced significant improvements in productivity, efficiency, and service quality: “Mariner Logistics has been at the forefront of innovation in freight brokerage, and as the first brokerage company to leverage Uber Freight, we’ve seen firsthand how this platform enhances our ability to cover challenging shipments at market-competitive prices,” said Ken Apple, vice president of Engineering at Mariner Logistics. “The combination of Uber Freight’s expansive capacity and reliability has consistently delivered results that meet or exceed what we achieve with traditional tools. We’re thrilled to see Uber Freight expanding its offering to brokers, as it will undoubtedly benefit the industry with greater flexibility, coverage, and cost-effectiveness.” The new offering reinforces Uber Freight’s commitment to empowering the entire freight ecosystem with the tools needed to thrive in today’s dynamic logistics environment, according to the release. “Uber Freight’s Broker Access technology capabilities throughout the booking process saves a tremendous amount of time for our team,” said Libby Whited, Truckload Manager at Seamless Logistics. “The dashboard is also a valuable tool for tracking loads and managing documents and more,” “While we’re still a relatively new Broker Access user, we’re very excited about the growth potential it will bring to our truckload business by enabling us to sell into more areas of strength in the carrier network.” Patrick MacKenzie, CRO at Alvys also praised the program “Many of our Alvys TMS users operate as both carriers and brokers, and we’re thrilled to partner with Uber Freight Broker Access to offer them direct access to vetted, high-quality capacity as sole brokers on the load,” MacKenzie said. “This digital solution enables them to seamlessly expand beyond their own network, accessing reliable support whenever they need it.” Ryan Schreiber, chief growth officer at Metafora noted the speed and ease of use of the program as especially helpful. “A key differentiator in success and failure for technology investments for brokerages of all sizes is speed – realizing time to value. Speed of onboarding and ease of use is key,” Schreiber said. “We are excited to partner as a preferred integrator with the Broker Access team to enable brokerages of all sizes to rapidly integrate one of the most cutting-edge capacity-as-a-service solutions in the transportation and logistics industry and deliver not only immediate, but lasting value.” “Uber Freight’s launch of Broker Access exemplifies leadership in redefining what a capacity network can offer,” said Anthony Sutardja, CEO of Parade. “At Parade, we aim to expand capacity access by enabling our customers to connect with carriers where they prefer to do business. Our integrated partnership with Uber Freight’s Broker Access significantly broadens capacity options for freight brokers, empowering them to support their growth with trusted access to quality carriers.” For additional information on Broker Access and how Uber Freight is shaping the future of logistics for brokers, visit uberfreight.com/broker-access

Averitt boosts capacity and efficiency with San Antonio facility expansion

Dana Guthrie - November 14, 2024

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Averitt is celebrating the opening of its expanded San Antonio, Texas service center, designed to accommodate the growing needs of customers in the region. “These upgrades to our San Antonio facility are a major step forward in our ability to serve our customers,” said David Parrish, San Antonio Service Center Director. “This expansion and upgrade will provide the resources necessary to deliver the high-quality service that Averitt customers expect. The maintenance facility and Driver Support Center will also be great additions to support our drivers.” According to a company press release, the state-of-the-art facility includes significant upgrades, including additional dock doors, a larger warehouse and improved infrastructure to streamline operations and improve service offerings. The service center now features a total of 78 cross-dock doors, up from the original 38. Additionally, a key highlight of the expansion is the newly constructed 85,000-square-foot Averitt Distribution and Fulfillment (ADF) warehouse, which is directly connected to the cross-dock doors. With the addition of the new warehouse, these upgrades will allow Averitt to further support freight distribution across the U.S.-Mexico border, providing faster and more efficient service for customers on both sides. “Although most of the expansion is complete, the new maintenance facility is set to open in 2025,” the company said in the release. “Once finished, it will feature two service bays, a pull-through fuel bay for two tractors at a time, and a drive-through truck wash equipped with undercarriage spray. In addition, there will be a Driver Support Center offering laundry facilities, a lounge, workout room, and showers, providing associates with a comfortable and supportive environment while on the road. This facility expansion is part of Averitt’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring it remains a trusted partner for shippers throughout Texas and beyond.”

NationaLease salutes top performers at 2024 Canadian Leadership Summit

Dana Guthrie - November 14, 2024

MONTREAL, QC — NationaLease, one of the largest full-service truck leasing organizations in North America, recently held its 2024 Canadian Leadership Summit in Montreal where it honored Jérôme Léonard and VEL NationaLease. “The exclusive event, dedicated to NationaLease Canadian members and suppliers, offered a deep dive into thought-provoking Canadian-specific leasing and operations topics, including regulatory changes, infrastructure and purchasing best practices,” NationaLease said in a media release. During the two-day event, two prestigious awards were presented to honor inspiring and remarkable achievements within the truck leasing organization. Jérôme Léonard, senior vice president of Brossard NationaLease, was recognized for his outstanding service as he completed his term as a NationaLease board member. Dean Vicha, president of NationaLease, presented the award, acknowledging Léonard’s dedication and lasting contributions to both the organization and truck leasing industry. VEL NationaLease was honored with the distinguished Canadian MVP Award, celebrating their commitment to industry excellence, innovative spirit and business resilience. Jane Clark, senior vice president of Operations at NationaLease, presented the award to VEL NationaLease representatives Kevin Hoyt, Peter Cook, and Murray Dickinson. According to the release, during the Canadian Leadership Summit, informative sessions highlighted the importance of innovation, collaboration, and dedication to advancing the truck leasing industry across Canada. Discussions were held around such topics as EPA standards, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), cybersecurity strategies, and the Canadian economy.