CSA 2010 tweaked; standings visible to truck fleets August 16
This week the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released updates to the Safety Management System (SMS) methodology of the new CSA 2010 safety-scoring rules for truck fleets—with an eye to better identifying motor carriers deemed to be “high risk” or to have other safety-compliance problems...
ATA, NTTC release tank-truck safety video
A new video designed to educate tank-truck drivers about rollover incidents and how to prevent them has been released by the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) and the American Trucking Assns....
Truck freight hits a flat stretch
While truck freight volumes continue to strengthen, the pace noticeably slackened in June, causing concern among some industry analysts. According to Jon Langenfeld, associate director of research at Robert W. Baird & Co., though absolute freight volumes remained solid in June, above 2007 levels, trends notably flattened as well during a month that typically experiences a spike in spot demand...
ATA truck tonnage drop in May “not significant”
A 0.6% decrease in the American Trucking Assns.’ truck tonnage index for May was the first month-to-month drop since Feb., but “it’s not significant,” according to industry analyst Noel Perry of FTR Associates...
Logistics report: Turbulent times for trucking
WASHINGTON D.C. – The 21st annual State of Logistics Report, sponsored by Penske Logistics and released by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) this week, doesn’t paint a rosy picture of trucking’s future...
More slow but steady growth in tonnage
A slow yet steady increase in freight tonnage, coupled with an earlier-than-expected tightening of truck capacity, is making analysts more confident that the trucking industry is on the road to recovery...
Obama mandate will shift truck R&D focus
The fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks endorsed by the Obama administration last week are going to radically alter the research and development focus of truck OEMs going forward, moving them away from reducing exhaust pollutants for the first time in decades...
FMCSA Pre-Employment Screening applauded by ATA
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced on May 11 a Pre-Employment Screening Program for professional drivers that will provide motor carriers with access to up to five years of driver crash data and three years of inspection data regardless of the state or jurisdiction. The American Trucking Assns. (ATA) was among the first to endorse the new program...
ATA sees 25% freight growth in next decade
A new report released by the American Trucking Assns. (ATA) is forecasting bright days in the years ahead for freight and freight revenue. “The ATA U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast to 2021” predicts a 25% growth in total freight tonnage in ten years’ time...
Safety board wants sleep apnea screening for drivers
BALTIMORE – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) renewed its campaign this week to broaden the use of sleep disorder screening across all modes of transportation – air, rail, marine, and trucking – as part of long-term effort to significantly reduce the negative effects of fatigue...
How to stay union free
Two attorneys have published a book detailing how trucking companies can maintain non-union status. The book is being offered through the American Trucking Assns.’ Business Solutions division. ...
Freight moving slower than expected
For-hire trucking tonnage rose a scant 0.4% increase in March this year, according to figures compiled by the American Trucking Assns (ATA). And while the tonnage figures indicate freight volumes are moving in the right direction, they came in below expectations for many...
Truck-freight pricing “renaissance” in sight
As trucking freight capacity keeps exiting the market and freight volumes continue their recovery, motor carriers may find themselves in position to obtain better rates . That is unless uncontrollable factors, such as higher fuel prices, knock over the apple cart just as it gets rolling...
Court throws out ATA reefer-unit claim against California
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit (D.C. Circuit) has dismissed the claim of the American Trucking Assns. (ATA) and the Truckload Carriers Assn. (TCA) that the federal government has given California too much control over certain engine emission standards, namely those for truck/trailer refrigeration units...
Rough weather, fuel prices obscure freight picture
The severe weather that struck most of the U.S. over the last few months combined with diesel fuel prices that are increasingly disconnected from the effects of supply and demand are clouding the freight picture for the trucking industry...
