Business Archives

Trucking company accused of subjecting women to sex-based discrimination in hiring

The Trucker News Staff - October 3, 2022

INDIANAPOLIS — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Friday, Sept. 30, that it has filed suit against Gypsum Express Ltd., headquartered in Baldwinsville, New York, for sex discrimination in hiring, as well as retaliation and constructive discharge involving two former recruiters. Gypsum Express provides truck-transportation services and currently has terminals in Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Indiana, Georgia, South Carolina and Illinois. In its lawsuit, the EEOC charged that, since at least 2014, Gypsum Express has engaged in a nationwide pattern or practice of hiring discrimination against female applicants for flatbed driver positions because of sex, including having a formal same-sex trainer/trainee policy for a period of time. The EEOC alleges the policy precluded recruiters from hiring inexperienced female applicants for driver positions because Gypsum Express “did not employ any female trainers and was unwilling to pair female trainees with male trainers.” The EEOC further alleged that hiring officials, other management and supervisory employees, human resources personnel, and recruiters expressly stated sex-based criteria for flatbed driver positions. The EEOC also charged that Gypsum Express subjected a former recruiter to retaliatory discharge for opposing the trucking company’s discriminatory hiring practices and forced another recruiter to engage in discriminatory hiring practices, which “adversely affected her terms, conditions or privileges of employment, forcing her to quit.” Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits, among other things, using sex-based criteria in employment and retaliation against employees who oppose sex discrimination. After first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process, the EEOC filed its lawsuit (EEOC v. Gypsum Express, Ltd., Case No. 2:22-cv-00119) in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Covington Division. The agency seeks lost wages, pecuniary and non-pecuniary compensatory damages, along with punitive damages, as well as a permanent injunction and ongoing reporting and monitoring procedures to ensure that Gypsum Express complies with the law in the future. “This case demonstrates the EEOC’s ongoing commitment to remedying class-wide sex discrimination and eliminating barriers in recruitment and hiring,” Kenneth Bird, regional attorney of the EEOC’s Indianapolis District Office, said. “Hiring must be based on the individual’s ability to do the job, regardless of sex.” Michelle Eisele, director of the EEOC’s Indianapolis District Office, said, “Retaliation against employees who oppose discrimination they observe in the workplace cannot be tolerated. The EEOC is committed to seeking relief for workers who speak up against their employer’s discriminatory conduct.” For more information on sex-based discrimination, visit https://www.eeoc.gov/sex-based-discrimination. The case is being litigated by the Louisville Area Office, which is part of the EEOC’s Indianapolis District, with jurisdiction over Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and parts of Ohio.

ACT Research: DAT, ACT partner to boost analytics services

The Trucker News Staff - September 30, 2022

DENVER, Colo. and COLUMBUS, Ind. — DAT Freight & Analytics and ACT Research have entered into an agreement that “will enhance the service offerings of both organizations,” according to a news release. “By far, DAT maintains the largest database of truckload transactions than any other marketplace in the industry,” said Tim Denoyer, vice president and senior analyst at ACT Research. With more than 500-million loads posted each year, DAT iQ provides information on spot and contract rates through a database of $137 billion in annual market transactions. “Joining forces to couple the power of DAT’s highly regarded RateView data, with ACT’s strategic forecasting services, will enhance our offerings to the industry,” said Kenny Vieth, president of ACT Research. ACT Research uses proprietary Class 8 equipment population and driver analysis, with award-winning economic forecasting, to predict DAT rates over a 2- to 3-year window. “We add value by applying our expertise in freight volume and capacity dynamics to predict where rates are headed in the future. The depth and breadth of DAT’s data will help us to further refine our forecasting accuracy,” Denoyer said. ACT’s Q2’22 forecasts for DAT spot rates, net fuel, from a year out, were 98.7% accurate in the ACT Freight Forecast. The standard deviation of this data set on a quarterly basis is 19%. Both Adamo and Denoyer will be on stage at DATCON22, DAT’s annual user conference for transportation and logistics professionals on Oct. 5-7. The event will be held in Austin, Texas, at the AT&T Hotel and Conference Center and include workshops, networking events and topical guest sessions. For more information about DATCON22, click here. “ACT Research provides a critical service to the industry,” said Ken Adamo, DAT chief of analytics. “We’re excited about how our collaboration will enhance their spot and contract rate forecasting to benefit shippers, carriers, brokers, and all stakeholders alike.”

Werner Enterprises, Kodiak Robotics team up for 24/7 long-haul autonomous freight operations

The Trucker News Staff - September 29, 2022

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., and OMAHA, Neb. — Kodiak Robotics Inc. is collaborating with Werner Enterprises to establish an autonomous trucking lane and to showcase how efficiently autonomous trucks can be used with a transfer hub model at truck ports. The relationship began in August with a week-long pilot program in which a Kodiak truck, occupied by a human safety driver at all times, completed four tours involving eight unique trips between Dallas and Lake City, Florida, according to a news release. Werner Enterprises also joined Kodiak’s Partner Deployment Program, which helps carriers establish autonomous freight operations and integrate the Kodiak Driver, Kodiak’s self-driving system, into their fleet. “Working with Kodiak enables us to efficiently incorporate new technologies into our business while giving us a competitive edge,” said Chad Dittberner, senior vice president of van/expedited for Werner. “We’re eager to establish the hybrid model of drivers and ongoing autonomous lanes to create new and unparalleled levels of efficiency while staying focused on Werner’s value of putting safety first.” During its pilot with Werner, Kodiak completed a total of 152 hours of driving time and achieved 100% on-time delivery performance. Werner had trailers ready for a Kodiak self-driving truck to pick up on both ends of the trip. Werner’s local drivers completed the first-mile pickups and last-mile deliveries. This truck port model maximizes the amount of time the Kodiak Driver spends driving. “Werner’s vision for incorporating autonomous trucks into their future operations demonstrates a fundamental understanding of where autonomous technology fits within the trucking industry,” said Don Burnette, founder and CEO of Kodiak. “The Kodiak Driver is designed to do the often-undesirable highway portions of long-haul routes, allowing drivers to handle the deliveries that let them sleep in their own beds at night. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Werner and introducing new permanent lanes together.” The joint effort with Werner Enterprises is the most recent carrier relationship to be announced by Kodiak. Earlier this year, the company announced partnerships with U.S. Xpress, 10 Roads Express and CEVA Logistics.

ACT Research: Anticipating inbound recession, September forecasts unchanged

The Trucker News Staff - September 29, 2022

COLUMBUS, Ind. — In the release of its Commercial Vehicle Dealer Digest, ACT Research reported essentially unchanged forecasts from last month. Demand remains healthy, production remains constrained, and freight rates and volumes managed to squeak out small improvements compared to August. The report, which combines ACT’s proprietary data analysis from a wide variety of industry sources, paints a comprehensive picture of trends impacting transportation and commercial vehicle markets. “We’re hardly at the ‘living on a prayer’ stage when it comes to our outlook, but as the old investing maxim goes, don’t fight the Fed,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT president and senior analyst. “We believe wage inflation needs to moderate before the Fed can begin turning away from tighter monetary policy. As long as the jobs reports remains strong, the harder it may be to tame wage inflation — which may lead to more-aggressive-for-longer rate hikes and worse than expected economic outcomes. As it has been for several months, a mild recession centered in early 2023 remains our base case.”

ACT Research: Trailer orders up over previous month, significantly over 2021

The Trucker News Staff - September 27, 2022

COLUMBUS, Ind. — August net U.S. trailer orders of 17,777 units were 4.6% higher compared to last month, but more than 37.7% above last year’s August level, according to this month’s issue of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report. “Discussions across the past month indicate more OEMs opening 2023 build slots (some opening initial slots, others expanding into later in the year),” said Jennifer McNealy, director of commercial vehicle market research & publications at ACT Research. “OEMs continue to negotiate with fleets, and those efforts are quickly moving to booked business.” ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report provides a monthly review of the current U.S. trailer market statistics, as well as trailer OEM build plans and market indicators divided by all major trailer types, including backlogs, build, inventory, new orders, cancellations, net orders and factory shipments. It is accompanied by a database that gives historical information from 1996 to the present, as well as a ready-to-use graph packet, to allow organizations in the trailer production supply chain, and those following the investment value of trailers, trailer OEMs and suppliers to better understand the market. “While manufacturers continue to wrestle with rolling supply-chain disruptions, as well as challenges on the labor front, tangible improvements are being made,” McNealy said. “OEMs are investigating longer-term supply solutions, including but not limited to increased parts inventories and automation to offset labor pains, in hopes of getting ahead of potential future disruptions. Demand remains strong, cancellations remain insignificant as fleets in queue plan to stay in line, and we’re beginning to hear about price stabilization accompanying the smoother flow of materials in the supply chain.”

Long Island Business News recognizes Transervice Logistics for corporate social responsibility

The Trucker News Staff - September 27, 2022

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. — Transervice Logistics Inc. was recognized for its corporate social responsibility as one of Long Island Business News’ 2022 Corporate Citizenship Honorees. An awards ceremony following the State of the Not-For-Profit Industry panel discussion was held on Sept. 20 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, New York. The Corporate Citizenship Awards recognize companies and individuals who believe that by being a good corporate citizen they contribute to the economic and social well-being of their employees, businesses and the community. “Transervice fully embraces its responsibility to advocate for individuals, the environment and other causes,” said Gregg Nierenberg, president and chief executive officer. “We’re passionate about giving back to the local community, and to organizations across North America. Charitable giving is — as it should be — at the heart of our mission.” Among the charities supported by Transervice and its employees are the following Long Island organizations: The Book Fairies, an organization that collects reading materials for people in need throughout metropolitan New York. Salvation Army, a relief agency among the first to arrive with help after natural or man-made disasters. Island Harvest Food Bank, a hunger relief organization delivering food to thousands of Long Islanders. United Way of Long Island, an organization that advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life focusing on health, education and financial stability. Red Nose Day, an annual fundraising campaign to end the cycle of child poverty and ensure a healthy future for all children.

New data shows record number of females working in transportation HR departments

The Trucker News Staff - September 27, 2022

PLOVER, Wis. — The percentage of female professionals in human resources and talent management roles within the commercial freight transportation industry has reached an all-time high, according to new data highlighted in the Women In Trucking Association’s (WIT) recently released WIT Index. The WIT Index serves as an industry barometer to benchmark and measure the percentage of women who make up critical roles in transportation each year. The 2022 WIT Index shows that 74.9% of human resources and talent management roles in transportation companies are filled by women. In addition, approximately 49% of respondents reported that 90% or more of professionals in their human resources and talent management positions are women. Another 34% say that between 50% and 90% of their human resources and talent management professionals are women. Approximately 11% report that women comprise 10% to 50% of human resources and talent management roles, while 6% report having no women in human resources-related roles. Traditionally, human resources and talent management disciplines have been long perceived as a female-oriented profession, primarily because of the skill sets requirement in the field, according to Ellen Voie, president and CEO of WIT’s president. According to WIT, women are typically more skilled in this area because they are commonly considered to have a better emotional intelligence score than men. Critical skills in this discipline that are more commonly held by women include multitasking, leadership, planning, communication and human relations skills. “Women have always been visible in the areas of human resources and talent management, but we want to see these figures increase as more women find careers in the transportation industry,” Voie said. Initiated in 2016, the WIT Index is comprised of average percentages of females in various roles that are reported by companies in transportation, including predominantly for-hire trucking companies, private fleets, transportation intermediaries, railroads, ocean carriers, equipment manufacturers and technology companies. This data was confidentially gathered from January through April 2022 from 180 participating companies and percentages are reported only as aggregate totals of respondents. Along with its traditional benchmark percentages among HR/talent management, leadership and professional drivers in commercial freight transportation, WIT this year has expanded its collection on the percentage of women to include operations, technicians, sales and marketing. For more information on the WIT Index and to download a full executive summary of the 2022 WIT Index findings, visit https://www.womenintrucking.org/index.

NationaLease awards Leadership Circle Awards

The Trucker News Staff - September 26, 2022

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

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

The Trucker News Staff - September 26, 2022

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

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

The Trucker News Staff - September 26, 2022

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

CarriersEdge adds course to help prevent tanker operator injuries

The Trucker News Staff - September 23, 2022

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

Trucking, logistics companies earn awards for humanitarian work

The Trucker News Staff - September 23, 2022

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

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

The Trucker News Staff - September 23, 2022

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

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

The Trucker News Staff - September 23, 2022

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

PGT Trucking selects Penske Truck Leasing for comprehensive fleet maintenance solutions

The Trucker News Staff - September 23, 2022

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

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

The Trucker News Staff - September 22, 2022

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

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

The Trucker News Staff - September 22, 2022

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

Truckstop announces 3 executive appointments to leadership team

The Trucker News Staff - September 22, 2022

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

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

Cliff Abbott - September 21, 2022

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

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

The Trucker News Staff - September 21, 2022

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