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C.R. England, Torc Robotics plan autonomous trucking pilot program

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Self-driving vehicle technology company Torc Robotics has announced plans to collaborate with C.R. England on a pilot program using C.R. England’s temperature-controlled loads and Torc’s fleet of Level 4 autonomous test trucks for long-haul applications. The collaboration will serve as an expansion for Torc into refrigerated freight, a news release noted. At Level 4, the interaction between human and machine lowers as the vehicle’s capability increases. Steering, braking, accelerating and monitoring the environment are taken out of the driver’s hands, as well as changing lanes, turning and signaling, according to navigation company TomTom. The vehicle can handle highly complex driving situations, such as the sudden appearance of construction sites, without any driver intervention. At the moment, this is allowed for specific, predefined circumstances, such as on controlled access highways. However, a human still has the option to manually override. The pilot will provide select customers “with temperature-controlled capacity and world-class service,” according to the companies. Information from the pilot will include insights and will help guide the development and ongoing commercialization of autonomous trucks for long-haul applications. Initial planning will begin mid-2023, with on-road tests soon after. “Torc is thrilled to be partnering with C.R. England to better improve long-haul trucking safety for one of the premium service providers and largest refrigerated carriers in the nation,” said Peter Vaughan Schmidt, Torc Robotics CEO. “The data derived from the pilot will contribute to our safety and validation efforts and use cases for autonomous trucking.” The pilot program with C.R. England is Torc’s second announced carrier pilot. This news comes on the heels of Torc’s recently announced acquisition of Algolux for its award-winning intellectual property and expertise in computer vision and machine learning. “C.R. England is excited to announce our partnership with Torc for pilot activities on level 4 autonomous test trucks. We believe this innovation will eventually provide the ability to expand our network safely, with high levels of service to our customers, all while enhancing the quality of existing driver jobs,” says Chad England, C.R. England CEO. “Specifically, by adding autonomous lanes to our network, we can expand our customer offerings and create more structured jobs for drivers at both ends of autonomous runs. Torc’s deep integration with Daimler Truck AG makes our two organizations a perfect fit for piloting this new technology.”  

Bestpass to help fleets, owner-operators during HVUT tax season

ALBANY, N.Y. — As tax season begins for fleets and owner operators required to file IRS Form 2990 for Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT), Bestpass is offering help. Last year, Bestpass acquired ExpressTruckTax, the leading HVUT e-filing provider that serves over 200,000 businesses, further expanding its back-office management solutions outside of toll. HVUT is an annual tax levied on all heavy vehicles weighing 55,000 pounds or more that operate on public highways. For fleets of 25 trucks or more, e-filing IRS Form 2290 is required and is the preferred filing method by the IRS for fleets and owner operators with less than 25 trucks. “It’s an exciting time at Bestpass as we begin our first tax season as a provider of HVUT e-filing services and continue to expand our service offerings for fleets and owner operators outside of toll,” said Joseph Santamarina, who was recently appointed general manager of ExpressTruckTax. “By adding HVUT e-filing to our portfolio of services available through Bestpass, we can now offer customers simplified access to both toll management and tax filing solutions.”  

Tripp Transportation announces operations in Pearland, Texas

PEARLAND, Texas — Tripp Transportation Incorporated established truckload operations in Pearland, Texas in June 2021. The trucking company, which provides dry van and bulk liquid transport services, was started to ensure that Third Coast has the capacity to support their logistics needs, including stock transfer movements and bulk product deliveries for contract manufacturing operations, according to a news release. “We recognized a need to support a growing business and dedicated our resources to Third Coast’s demand for trucking,” said Toby Holzhuter, General Manager. He added that the purpose for starting the company was twofold, to ensure Third Coast had the capacity to service the growing business and to reduce costs. Tripp Transportation began services with dry vans, then added bulk trailers to its fleet in September 2022. The freight company currently operates nine dry vans, four bulk trailers and five tractors. Tripp Transportation hauls roughly 30 loads a week of packaged goods and 20 loads per week of bulk product for Third Coast.

Manac unveils new branding strategy, website

SAINT-GEORGES, Quebec, Canada — Manac Inc. is reinventing itself with a new branding strategy that company officials say strengthens their position as a leader in semi-trailer manufacturing. According to a news release, Manac’s brand positioning “focuses on the human factor, cooperation and partnership as a growth driver with the new slogan ‘Together we go further.’” “This slogan symbolizes Manac’s vision — to be recognized as the industry’s preferred partner in North America — and the company’s commitment to working closely with our clients to cater to their ever-evolving needs,” said Tom Ramsden, vice president of sales and marketing at Manac. “We literally go further thanks to the sturdiness, efficiency and durability of our trailers. Concept-wise, we go further in terms of business, as we work together with our team members, clients, and suppliers to generate synergies.” This brand repositioning comes with a visual identity that puts the flying moose at the forefront, “focusing on the wings that carry us further,” the news release noted. In addition, Manac has created a new website “that is better suited for today’s market needs, where clients require increased transparency and concise, quickly accessible information,” according to the news release. “Clients can expect an improved user experience, thanks, in part, to increased ease of navigation, detailed product sheets, and a dedicated section for services such as repairs and liftgate installation.”

Inventory levels up, values down as Sandhills Global Market Reports show continuing trends

LINCOLN, Neb. — Inventory levels showed another month of increases across Sandhills Global marketplaces for used trucks, trailers, construction equipment and farm machinery. And in what has become a recurring trend, asking and auction values dropped year-over-year (YOY) in most of the equipment categories Sandhills monitors. As an example, the asking value for a typical 4-year-old sleeper truck was around $120,000 in April 2022. By contrast, asking value this April for the typical 4-year-old sleeper was around $80,000, one-third less YOY. Value trends are likely to continue moving lower for heavy-duty trucks into the near future. The key metric used in all of Sandhills’ market reports is the Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI). Buyers and sellers can use the information in the Sandhills EVI to monitor equipment markets and maximize returns on acquisition, liquidation and related business decisions. The Sandhills EVI data include equipment available in auction and retail markets as well as model year equipment actively in use. Additional Market Report Takeaways Sandhills market reports highlight the most significant changes in Sandhills’ used heavy-duty truck, semitrailer, farm machinery and construction equipment markets. Each report includes detailed analysis and charts that help readers visualize the data. The newest reports examine YOY variance in detail, noting changes from April 2022 to April 2023 with an eye to inventory, asking value and auction value trends. U.S. Used Heavy-Duty Trucks The Sandhills EVI shows heavy-duty truck inventory increased 4.82% month-over-month (M/M) and 30.23% YOY in April. Heavy-duty truck values have been in nearly continual decline since March 2022, and in April, asking values dropped 2.7% M/M and 20.67% YOY. Auction values also declined, falling 5.36% M/M and 29.89% YOY. U.S. Used Semitrailers April’s semitrailer inventory increases were driven by dry van and reefer semitrailers. The Sandhills EVI expects semitrailer inventory to continue to increase and values to soften going forward. Semitrailer inventory levels increased 4.66% M/M, extending consecutive months of gains and were up 43.15% YOY. Asking values in April were down 1.09% M/M and 22.7% YOY. Semitrailer auction values decreased 2.17% M/M and 31.83% YOY. U.S. Used Medium-Duty Trucks Used medium-duty truck inventory has been rising since the start of 2023. In April, inventory levels increased 5.46% M/M and 18.55% YOY. So far in 2023, medium-duty truck asking and auction values have decreased by 2% to 3% each month. In April, asking values decreased 2.32% M/M and 9.56% YOY. Auction values experienced similar drops, declining 2.03% M/M and 13.78% YOY. U.S. Used Farm Equipment As used farm equipment inventory levels continue to climb, the gap between asking and auction values is increasing; these trends are leading indicators of a coming decline in asking and auction values. Inventory levels increased 1.05% M/M and 23.3% YOY in April. Over the past few months, farm equipment asking values held steady, and this trend continued in April. Asking values decreased 0.18% M/M and were up 9.78% YOY. Auction values for the used farm equipment market, which includes combines and 300-horsepower-or-greater tractors, have cooled in recent months, but values are currently trending sideways. In April, auction values decreased 0.79% M/M and were 6.37% higher than last year. U.S. Used Compact and Utility Tractors Used compact and utility tractor inventories experienced seasonal declines in April, with levels dropping 2.83% M/M. However, the long-term recovery trend remained intact with levels up 69.67% YOY. The Sandhills EVI has shown asking and auction values for compact and utility tractors softening in recent months, and auction values were already lower this April than they were in April 2022. YOY asking value drops are likely to follow. Asking values decreased 0.67% M/M and are currently trending sideways. Compared to last April, asking values were up 3.03%. Auction values are also currently trending sideways. Sandhills EVI indicates that auction values decreased just 0.33% from March to April and were down 2.14% YOY. U.S. Used Heavy-Duty Construction Equipment Unlike inventory levels in the truck, trailer and ag equipment markets, used heavy-duty construction equipment inventory has held steady since last year and is currently trending sideways. In April, inventory increased 1.04% M/M and 0.6% YOY. Asking and auction values have been in decline since the start of 2023; used crawler excavators are the primary driver of these decreases. In April, asking values decreased 1.26% M/M and 4.76% YOY. Auction values declined 0.17% M/M and 6.32% YOY. U.S. Used Medium-Duty Construction Equipment Inventory levels in this category have been trending up since the start of 2023, led by mini excavators and track skid steers. The Sandhills EVI shows used medium-duty construction equipment inventory increased 3.39% M/M and 34.48% YOY. Loader backhoes played a role in asking value declines for used medium-duty construction equipment in April. Overall, asking values were nearly flat M/M and decreased 0.77% YOY. Auction values declined 0.48% M/M in April, continuing a string of M/M decreases and were 6.16% lower than last year.

PGT Trucking, Nikola, Nucor form green supply chain solutions partnership

BRANDENBURG, Ky — PGT Trucking is planning to use Class 8 Nikola Tre battery-electric vehicles (BEV) to grow its zero-emissions fleets. According to a news release, the company is the first flatbed trucking company to take such a measure. PGT will deliver low green house gas (GHG) intensity steel from Nucor’s new Brandenburg, Kentucky, plate mill to a nearby fabricator. An event is planned for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23, at Nucor’s Brandenburg plant at 100 Ronnie Greenwell Road in Brandenburg to celebrate the inaugural shipment of low GHG intensity steel via the Nikola Tre BEV. Participants will hear from Nucor, Nikola and PGT leadership. Following the brief presentation, attendees will be taken on a guided and interactive tour of the Nikola Tre BEV and charging station. Boxed lunches and refreshments will also be provided.

Navistar partners with infrastructure solutions provider Quanta Services

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Navistar has formed a partnership with Quanta Services Inc., an infrastructure and energy transition solutions provider. Quanta is the largest specialty electric power grid infrastructure solutions company in North America, providing engineering, construction and maintenance services, as well as power and infrastructure assessment for electric vehicle (EV) charging and related infrastructure, according to a news release. In partnership with Quanta, Navistar will provide International Truck and IC Bus customers with a comprehensive vehicle and charging infrastructure solution that enables fleets to implement battery-electric vehicles. “Our electric vehicles are only as strong as the grid that powers them,” said Mathias Carlbaum, president and CEO of Navistar. “The differentiator of this partnership is Quanta’s ability to complete site construction and utility work. This allows our team to offer the customer a one-stop-shop approach to all aspects of an EV transition.” The partnership with Quanta will utilize Navistar’s three-step approach to delivering fully integrated eMobility solutions to customers: consulting, charging and deployment. Together, Navistar and Quanta will analyze, forecast, plan and execute across customers’ electrification journey, the news release noted. “Quanta has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Navistar as a key partner for medium and heavy-duty trucks and we look forward to expanding and enhancing our relationship through this innovative partnership,” said Duke Austin, president and chief executive officer at Quanta. “We believe this partnership is uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive EV solutions to Navistar’s customers that support their fleet electrification initiatives and enable the transition to a clean energy future. Further, we believe this partnership will serve as a catalyst to achieve Quanta and Navistar’s shared near-term goal of providing and building the safest medium and heavy-duty trucks in the market using the latest technologies starting in 2024.” Navistar’s EV consulting process begins with establishing an EV roadmap for customers by hosting discovery workshops designed to understand fleet needs and concerns around electrification. In partnership with the International and IC Bus dealer network, Navistar delivers a tailored roadmap with scalable strategies that align with growth goals for successful adoption and continued successful use, according to the news release. “Quanta is vital to bringing our integrated EV solutions to life because it’s partnerships like these that allow the eMobility transition to happen faster,” said Trish Reed, vice president of zero emissions, at Navistar. “This partnership ensures the long-term success of our customers with their power solutions by helping customers partner directly with utilities, assisting in power requirement analyses and sourcing responsible energy.” Navistar also works to determine hardware and charging depot locations for each individual fleet. When EVs are ready to be deployed, connected technology plays a large role in ensuring the best use cases and optimal operation. Navistar’s OnCommand Connection technology allows for advanced remote diagnostics and the ability to turn vehicle health data into actionable insights, allowing for greater uptime and lower total cost of ownership.

Truckstop, Bloomberg Intelligence Survey shows spot market close to turning corner

BOISE, Idaho — Spot market conditions appear to be a near turning point as carrier pessimism about future demand and rates moderates, according to the latest Bloomberg | Truckstop survey, which polled owner-operators and small fleets. “While we don’t believe we’re out of the woods yet, the shift in sentiment is encouraging,” said Lee Klaskow, senior freight transportation and logistics analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. “Conditions should improve due to seasonal trends, coupled with higher-cost capacity being forced out of the market. Rates may get additional support as inventory levels return to more normal levels.” Carriers sense better spot market conditions ahead: Demand expectations for the next three to six months have improved, though remain below historical 1Q averages. At the same time, the rate outlook is inching up, aided by seasonal trends and more capacity coming out of the spot market. Carriers see better short-term demand: While about 48% of respondents experienced weaker demand last quarter, 60% expect volumes to rise over the next 3-6 months — about 20 percentage points higher than the 4Q22 survey. Still, improved sentiment isn’t motivating carriers to buy additional or replacement tractors, with only 29% of respondents saying they might make a purchase over the next six months. Soft demand was cited by 42% as the main reason for not buying equipment, followed by higher costs (32%). Spot market volumes declined 9% on average in 1Q23: Demand remained soft for carriers in the spot market in 1Q, with 71% of respondents seeing a drop from 4Q and about 48% reporting lower volume growth from a year earlier. Dry-van carriers appear to be the hardest hit, with 85% noting demand was down compared to last year, while flatbed carriers were the most resilient with 42% seeing lower volumes. This backdrop will likely push higher-cost operators out of the market. “We agree with the sentiment of those surveyed that spot market conditions are near a turning point,” said Kendra Tucker, chief executive officer, Truckstop. “Truckstop provides carriers with the technology and solutions they need to keep their business moving and their bottom line growing.”

ATA now accepting nominations for America’s Road Team

WASHINGTON — Every two years, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) accepts nominations for a group of professional drivers to serve on its America’s Road Team. ATA members are encouraged to nominate professional truck drivers who exhibit strong interpersonal skills, have impressive safety records and demonstrate a positive attitude toward the industry and their careers, a news release stated. Nominations for the 2024-25 class of America’s Road Team are due Sept. 5. To nominate a professional truck driver, click here. Finalists will be announced Oct. 27, with the final selection taking place in January 2024 in Washington. “Since the first America’s Road Team was named in 1986, these men and women have exemplified the very best our industry has to offer,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “These proud and patriotic Americans embody what makes our industry the greatest in the country: commitment to service, safety and professionalism. They are the best spokespeople trucking has and we eagerly await welcoming the next group of drivers into this elite fraternity.” Road Team captains promote the trucking industry by engaging with the public, media and elected officials, highlighting the industry’s safety record and career opportunities. “Volvo Trucks North America has been the exclusive sponsor of America’s Road Team for over 20 years,” said Magnus Koeck, vice president of strategy, marketing and brand management for Volvo Trucks North America. “At the core of everything we do at Volvo Trucks is safety. The men and women who are the Captains of America’s Road Team share that core belief with us as demonstrated by millions of safe mile accomplishments, superior driving skills, and dedication to making the trucking industry better every day. We are proud to align with them and continue demonstrating the value of safety that we at Volvo Trucks believe in.”

ACT Research: Class 8 truck orders down 27% in April

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Preliminary North American Class 8 net tractor orders in April were 11,600 units, down 27% year-over-year (-39% month-over-month), while preliminary Classes 5-7 net orders were 18,000 units, down 10% year-over-year (-6% month-over-month). Complete industry data for April, including final order numbers, will be published by ACT Research in mid-May. “Given robust Class 8 orders into year end, ensuing backlog support, and normal seasonal order patterns, orders were expected to moderate into Q2; we expected seasonally adjusted orders in a range of 15-20,000 units per month into mid-Q3’23, said Eric Crawford, ACT’s vice president and senior analyst. Coupling those items with increasingly cautious readings from the ACT Class 8 Dashboard, “April orders were weaker than expected on a standalone basis but bring the year-to-date monthly seasonally adjusted average to 17,500, squarely in line with our view,” Crawford said. “The recent turmoil in the banking sector likely tightened credit conditions for some industry participants and may have played a factor in exacerbating April’s weakness,” Crawford said. “Thus, while we expect orders to remain at subdued levels into mid-Q3’23, we are not inclined to think April’s order activity represents the likely run rate going forward.”

USAL expands auto transport capabilities with debut of USAL Solutions

HOUSTON — US AutoLogistics, an auto transport provider headquartered in Houston, with origin points and terminal locations throughout the southern United States, has announced the expansion of its affiliated company, USAL Solutions, a national auto transport brokerage company. The move reflects USAL’s evolution and its strategic diversification for the future as it recognizes its 10th anniversary this year, a news release stated. USAL Solutions arranges for the transport of vehicles by pairing available freight with its team of certified carriers. “Through USAL Solutions, we are excited to introduce our unique range of end-to-end services, offering competitive rates and high-quality freight to our carriers while providing timely communication, flexibility, and back-end support to best meet their needs,” said Doug Bennett, president of USAL Solutions. “We take great pride in establishing trust and nurturing our carrier relationships.” With this most recent business expansion, the organizational brand is now collectively known as USAL, which encompasses USAL Solutions and US AutoLogistics, a regional interstate auto carrier with a modernized fleet of nearly 400 transports. “We have provided over 40 years of safe, on-time, legally-compliant, and damage-free service to our customers. Our recent expansion of USAL Solutions will allow the USAL brand of companies to continue to offer premium auto transport and logistics solutions at an elevated level for many years to come,” said President Gary Cole. “As we embark on our 10th anniversary as USAL, this milestone is the perfect occasion to acknowledge the evolution and transformation of our organization.” Originally established in 1980 as Gulf States Toyota Trucking with 10 transports delivering Toyota product to dealers across the state of Texas, the company became GST Transport Systems in 1990. US AutoLogistics was formed in 2013 as a result of a consolidation between GSTTS and Birmingham-based Alaplex Auto Transport. USAL Solutions was formed in 2021.

Listening is key: Estes terminal manager Tammy Mangham isn’t afraid to ask questions

Tammy Mangham has none of the traditional prerequisites generally seen in the leadership of trucking companies. She wasn’t raised in a trucking family, she didn’t work in a garage or warehouse, and she’s never been behind the wheel of a big rig. None of that has kept Mangham from moving up the ranks of Estes Express Line’s Texas operations, where she’s now manager for the Virginia-based company’s Dallas terminal. In fact, Mangham is a prime example of the new generation of trucking management, one that’s expertly applying data-informed leadership skills in the trucking marketplace. “I graduated from college and started my career with Estes a little over 13 years ago,” Mangham said. “The truth is, my first exposure to trucking was in college. At the time, my college — the University of North Texas — was one of the first schools in the state that had a logistics program. What I learned there really did open my eyes, because I really didn’t know how big the logistics world was at the time.” Graduating in 2002, the Texas native first worked for Central Transport and then for Central Freight Lines before landing at Estes as an office supervisor. “I did that for about a year, and then my terminal manager at the time offered me the opportunity to be an operations manager to run our pick-up and delivery local department,” she recalled. “It was a pretty big operation — it had 70 P&D (pickup and delivery) drivers. That was my big step into the operations side.” Promotions followed, bringing with them larger head counts and more responsibility. Mangham’s 70-driver outfit yielded to a 175-employee terminal and finally her current role, which employs nearly 400 people. At each stop, Mangham executed the same strategy of learning while leading. “I asked a lot of questions, and I spent a lot of time with different groups of people,” she said. “I was transparent with people and said, ‘Hey I’m just trying to learn what you do,’ or ‘Hey, would you mind letting me ride along with you just so I can see a day in the life of your job?’” she continued. “I have to rely on my employees a lot, and I’ve been able to learn by watching other people … who have more experience than me.” In short order, Mangham’s understanding of the various parts of the operations multiplied considerably. She also scored points with the rank-and-file because of her work ethic and desire to take all points of view into consideration. “Typically, I would work Monday through Friday — but let’s say there were people I wanted to talk to, and our schedules didn’t line up. What do I do? I showed up on a Saturday, I showed up on a Sunday, just to see something for myself,” she said. “I don’t like to address things when I don’t have the complete picture, because everyone has their own perspective,” she added. “I’d change my schedule and do all that I could to get a complete picture from all the shifts versus just listening to one person or one group’s point of view.” Mangham’s relatively uninitiated perspective was valuable in its own right, as it gave her the chance to view operations from an unbiased perspective. Being able to approach issues with a fresh set of eyes, she says, laid the groundwork for innovative solutions. “I don’t know that I re-created the wheel on some of these things, but I think I asked the right questions,” she said. “Whenever I suggested something, people were often like, ‘Why didn’t we think of that?’ Usually, it’s because they never thought to ask. Oftentimes people just do what the normal routine is and as the saying goes, ‘We’ve always done it this way.’” Mangham is quick to recognize the value and experience of each member of her team. “Individually all of my people are smart, and they know their pieces well,” she said. “My role is to get them to put all the pieces together.” This strategy has worked well, and each solved problem provides a baseline of knowledge to innovate in other areas. It’s also led to Mangham’s phone ringing with calls from other terminals throughout the company, with other Estes team members seeking to “pick her brain” on how to replicate similar successes. “I do believe that I have made an impact,” she said. “There are terminals that have called me, or they’ve called my boss and ask, ‘How are you able to do this?’ ‘What did you do differently?’ What I value about our company’s culture is that it’s a culture where we just want to talk to each other and figure things out. There are really no dumb questions,” she said, adding that questions lead to discussions. “I tell (other managers) all the ins and outs I’ve done, because that’s the culture my bosses before me built. That’s what we do,” she said. “For all the challenges that I have had, I think for the most part my reputation is that I try to do the right thing and try to help anybody that I can.” Being relatively new to her current role, Mangham says there’s plenty left to learn and solve. Nonetheless, she knows she’s in the right place with the right company. After all, she’s faced similar challenges before. “This is why I love Estes, hands down,” she said. “When I was in my first position as a terminal manager, I really didn’t know how to be one. I learned through that first experience. The first few weeks it wasn’t working out like I had envisioned. I remember feeling like, ‘This job is not me. I have my own show and I’m working long hours and giving it my all, but it’s not working.’” That changed at Estes, she noted. “One night, my district manager and my VP stopped by my terminal,” she said. “They weren’t there to beat me over the head. They were like, ‘Tammy, it’s time to go home. What can we do to help you get there?’ They were there to genuinely help me and show me they had my back. That was the day I knew, no matter what, I was gonna take care of the business.”

Canadian trucking company Trimac acquires Ohio-based AIP Logistics

CALGARY, Alberta, Canada — Canadian trucking company Trimac Transportation has bought central Ohio-based American Industrial Partners (AIP) Logistics. The acquisition was finalized on April 27. AIP specializes in providing bulk terminal services, transportation and warehousing for the plastics, liquid chemical, food grade storage and metal production industries, according to a news release. AIP operates with a fleet of 13 tractors and 119 trailers, in addition to other yard vehicular equipment. The company’s 52-acre property, located in in Wapakoneta, Ohio, and positioned along the Interstate 75 corridor, is home to cold, dry and food grade warehousing, bulk transloading and storage with access to CSX Transportation rail line, along with dry van, reefer, dry bulk and bulk liquid transportation. The location has indoor rail access and 70 railcar spots for rail transloading and storage. Currently, the business is made up of approximately 38% trucking, 42% warehousing and 20% transloading/other. “We are excited about this next step in our US growth,” said Matt Faure, president and CEO at Trimac. “We look forward to connecting our most recent acquisition of AIP Logistics with superior service with safety. The integration with a leading logistics company such as AIP will place Trimac in an excellent position for its continued growth and contribution to business partners and communities in this region.” Founded in 1982 by Charles Kantner, AIP was originally known as Riverside Storage, offering basic warehousing for dry food ingredients. Kantner will stay on for a transitional period immediately to provide expertise, the news release noted.

American Trucking Associations adds 2 to legislative affairs staff

WASHINGTON — American Trucking Associations (ATA) has made two new additions to its legislative affairs staff. Sean Garcia has been hired as the new director of legislative affairs, and Abbey Schroeder is the news grassroots program manager, according to a news release. “Our industry never stops, and the federal issues affecting trucking don’t either,” said ATA Executive Vice President of Advocacy Bill Sullivan. “ATA is excited to add to its capabilities to deliver for our members and the trucking industry. Because of our reputation as an honest and constructive partner to policymakers and stakeholders, we are able to attract high-quality talent like Sean and Abbey.” Garcia comes to ATA from the office of Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., where he was intimately involved in transportation and infrastructure issues, according to the ATA, which also notes that he has a track record of infrastructure-related advocacy work at a number of trade associations, including the American Public Works Association and American Water Works Association. Garcia has degrees from the University of Portland and George Washington University. Schroeder joins ATA from the National Republican Congressional Committee, where she was a finance operations coordinator. In addition, she worked as a legislative analyst at the Williams & Jensen law firm and has experience as a legislative staffer in both the House and Senate, according to the ATA. Schroeder has degrees from Arizona State University. “Our Hill team continues to do great work in representing ATA and the trucking industry,” said Ed Gilroy, ATA senior vice president of legislative affairs. “We’re lucky to be able to add Abbey and Sean to our team and are excited to begin working with them.”

Poultry carrier Lew Thompson & Son bought by Covenant Logistics

HUNTSVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas-based poultry carrier Lew Thompson & Son Trucking Inc. has been purchased by Covenant Logistics Group Inc. for around $100 million. The sale was announced by Covenant in late April during an earnings report call Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Covenant’s deal also includes an earnout of up to $30 million, which depends upon Lew Thompson & Son’s performance over the next three years. The poultry hauler, headquartered in Huntsville, Arkansas, generated around $64 million in revenue in 2022. “We are very pleased to welcome the entire Lew Thompson & Son team to the Covenant family,” Covenant Chairman and CEO David Parker said. “We pursued Lew Thompson & Son because of their proven track record of operating a first-class dedicated contract carrier business in a niche market, which we believe has less sensitivity to economic cycles and opportunities to grow. We believe the backing of Covenant will provide additional resources to expand Lew Thompson & Son to best meet the needs of their strong customer base.” Lew Thompson & Son has more than 230 trucks and 400 trailers, according to its website, while Covenant has around 2,040 trucks and 5,237 trailers in its fleet.

Teamsters economics director appointed to FMCSA’s Truck Leasing Task Force

WASHINGTON — Kaitlyn Long, assistant director of strategic initiatives for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, has been appointed to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Truck Leasing Task Force (TLTF)       The new task force aims to end predatory lease-purchase practices in the trucking industry, according to the FMCSA. Long, who also directs the union’s economics team of research analysts and economists, will serve on the TLTF with eight others. “I am honored to be appointed to represent labor’s interests. There are many important issues that need to be addressed, and I look forward to shining light on what workers are facing throughout this industry,” Long said. “I will advocate for all workers and ensure they are appreciated for the essential roles they play to keep the U.S. economy moving.” The TLTF was established by the bipartisan infrastructure law enacted in 2021 to advise and make recommendations to the secretaries of transportation and labor through the administrator of the FMCSA. Task force members will examine and evaluate the effects of commercial motor vehicle lease arrangements and review the equitability of common truck leasing arrangements, particularly as they impact owner-operators and trucking businesses subject to such agreements. “The Teamsters are proud to see Kaitlyn Long step into this critical role. She understands the issues facing the freight industry and will be a champion for working people,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien.

CH Robinson introduces new carrier loyalty program

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Global logistics company C.H. Robinson has announced updates to its carrier loyalty program, including changes in how carriers are scored and the benefits they can earn. First launched in 2016, the Carrier Advantage Program rewards carriers that provide the highest level of tracking updates and the best on-time performance on their C.H. Robinson loads, according to a news release. In the wake of two highly disrupted and volatile years in freight transportation, C.H. Robinson executives say that shippers are looking for greater reliability in tracking their freight and a return to pre-pandemic levels of service. The updates to the Carrier Advantage Program incentivize all carriers in C.H. Robinson’s network to meet those higher expectations, the news release states. “C.H. Robinson moves more truckload freight than anyone in North America, which means we offer our contract carriers the most loads of anyone in North America,” said Cody Griggs, director of enterprise product development at C.H. Robinson. “We know that the carriers we work with are top-notch and just as devoted to great customer service as we are. Especially when carriers are eager to secure freight in today’s softer market conditions, we want to make sure that their outstanding efforts are rewarded.” Carriers will now have access to different levels of freight based on their Carrier Advantage status, with top-performing carriers getting the most and earliest access to freight. Carriers earning the highest status also get better payment terms and better fuel discounts than carriers in the lower tiers. The new scoring criteria went into effect April 3. Carriers can watch their progress with each load, but their status won’t change until May 2. In the meantime, C.H. Robinson has helped carriers learn all their options for automating updates, enhanced its carrier app and website to save carriers time filling in required information. The company has also added notifications to alert carriers when their tracking isn’t enabled or isn’t working. All carriers working with C.H. Robinson are automatically enrolled in the loyalty program. Current carriers needing additional help to optimize their Carrier Advantage score and benefits can find out more at C.H. Robinson’s website, in the Navisphere Carrier app or by calling their C.H. Robinson representative. Carriers wanting to sign up to haul for C.H. Robinson and become eligible for the Carrier Advantage Program can learn more by clicking here.

Refrigerated freight spot rates see largest gain this year, according to Truckstop

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — After falling for five straight weeks and declining in 12 of 16 weeks this year, broker-posted spot rates for refrigerated equipment in the Truckstop system saw their largest increase of 2023 during the week ended April 28 (week 17). Dry van rates, which had not risen in seven weeks and had increased only in three weeks this year, also edged slightly higher. Historical patterns suggest that van segment rates might have bottomed out, but rates likely will rise later this month in any case. Loads Available Total load activity increased 5.4% and was up for a third straight week, which had not happened since the second week of this year. Volume was about 48% below the same week last year and more than 21% below the five-year average. Loads were down in the Midwest and Mountain Central region but up in all other regions week-over-week. Truck postings barely budged, and the Market Demand Index — the ratio of loads to trucks — rose to its highest level in seven weeks. Total Rates The total broker-posted rate rose slightly more than 1 cent, which was half as large as the prior week’s increase. The total market rate was nearly 22% below the same 2022 week but about 3% above the five-year average. Due mostly to flatbed’s strength, total rates have remained above the five-year average since the summer of 2020, but rates will have to continue rising to remain above average by June. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Roadcheck event to be held May 16-18 likely will spur notable rate increases in all segments heading into traditional rate strength in June. Dry Van Dry van spot rates ticked up less than 1 cent, but the gain ended a seven-week streak of decreases. Rates were more than 23% below the same 2022 week and about 7% below the five-year average for the week. Dry van loads rose nearly 9% for the largest increase since the beginning of the year. Volume was nearly 41% below the same week last year and almost 10% below the five-year average for the week. Volume was up from the prior week in all regions except the Midwest. Reefer Refrigerated spot rates rose nearly 6 cents, which is the largest increase since the final week of 2022. Rates were 19% below the same 2022 week and more than 7% below the five-year average for the week. Refrigerated loads rose more than 10% for the largest gain since the beginning of February. Volume was 51% below the same week last year and about 22% below the five-year average for the week. Strong volume growth on the West Coast, South Central, and Southeast regions offset declines elsewhere. Flatbed  Flatbed spot rates increased about 2 cents. Rates were about 22% below the same 2022 week but about 7% above the five-year average for the week. Flatbed loads rose nearly 4% after jumping more than 10% in the previous week. Volume was almost 55% below the same week last year and more than 30% below the five-year average for the week. Load activity down in the Midwest but up in all other regions.

Hino Trucks partners with Hexagon Purus to distribute battery-electric heavy duty tractors

ANAHEIM, Cailf. — Hino Trucks has signed a distribution agreement with Hexagon Purus to exclusively distribute a complete battery-electric vehicle (BEV). This tractor will utilize Hexagon Purus’ proprietary zero-emission technology, including battery systems, auxiliary modules, power modules and the vehicle-level software, according to a news release. The truck is developed to operate on Hino’s XL 4-by-2 tractor cab chassis. “Hino has been an important zero-emission technology development partner for Hexagon Purus in North America for several years, and as a development partner in Hino’s Battery Electric Vehicle program, we are thrilled to continue building on that strong relationship in the years to come”, said Todd Sloan, executive vice president of Hexagon Purus. Production of this electric heavy-duty model tractor is projected to begin the last part of 2024 and will be distributed & serviced exclusively through select qualifying dealers within Hino Trucks’ U.S. network. Glenn Ellis, president of Hino Trucks, said, “Earlier this year, we debuted two new electric vehicles — the Hino Class 5 M5e cab over and Class 6 L6e conventional model. Recent regulations address the need for further reductions in emissions for the transportation sector in the U.S. and will ultimately drive future demand for several classes of zero-emissions commercial vehicles. Our exclusive distribution agreement with Hexagon Purus expands Hino Trucks’ capability to distribute BEV’s in both the medium-and heavy-duty space as we continue to invest in BEV adoption as the landscape continues to evolve.”

Women In Trucking Association announces its May 2023 Member of the Month

ARLINGTON, Va. — Michaela Nejaime is the Women in Trucking Association’s (WIT) May 2023 Member of the Month. Nejaime is the enterprise sales manager at TruVideo, a video-first texting platform designed to create more transparency in the vehicle sales and service process, according to a WIT news release. Nejaime’s professional career began at a technical recruiting and staffing company, “where she quickly learned some hard lessons experienced by women in business,” the news release stated. “In meetings, Nejaime noticed that she was typically looked over and questions were directed at male counterparts. As a result, she would often defer to suggestions submitted by others, knowing it was wrong to not make her voice heard.” After her career transition to TruVideo, a heavy equipment dealer contacted the company, as he had mistakenly received a TruVideo link meant for an automotive dealership nearby. Accidentally clicking the link, he was impressed by the high-definition video of a repair order being performed, combined with the capability of texting updates back and forth between dealer and customer. The dealer asked TruVideo if the same solution could be implemented at his dealership; however, at the time, this could not be done because TruVideo was co-founded by a retail automotive dealer and lacked visibility into the trucking industry. Immediately recognizing the opportunity to enter a new market, Nejaime pitched the transportation industry to her leadership team, which agreed to give her the chance to prove her instincts correct.   “The trucking industry is the lifeblood of our country,” Nejaime said. “There isn’t anything that we touch that hasn’t been brought to us by a truck. Typically, there are only a few women sitting at the same table with you during business discussions. As a woman in this space, it is sometimes natural to doubt yourself and to doubt your ability to contribute. We need to remember we have a lot to offer.” Taking on this initiative by herself with no additional resources, Nejaime began asking dealerships questions regarding their goals, customer experiences and areas that needed improvement to better understand how they conducted business. It didn’t take long for Nejaime to discover the value TruVideo could bring to this industry, expediting the service process and ensuring trucks were back on the road sooner rather than later. “By following her instincts, Michaela discovered a new sales channel for her company and the results speak for themselves,” the news release stated. “Due to her diligent efforts, TruVideo has now been implemented by several hundred similar dealerships within the industry in the U.S. and Canada. One dealer, for example, averaged $3,100 more per repair order in a 30-day time period with TruVideo versus without the platform.”