Bulk Freight News & Industry Updates - Stay Ahead in Trucking

KETTERING, Ohio – An Ohio woman could serve jail time for feeding squirrels on her neighbors' property. WDTN-TV reported Annick Richardson of Kettering, Ohio, will appear in court in December for a pretrial hearing on two counts of criminal trespassing. If convicted, she could serve up to 60 days in jail and pay a fine. She was appointed a public defender Friday. Neighbors said Richardson went onto their property to leave peanuts for local squirrels. The animals, drawn to the nuts, then

When you own a trucking company, finding the best option for trucking insurance is important. You want to get the best coverage but also save money. Finding the best insurance company for your needs is important. You want to save money on your insurance but want to get great coverage. There are several companies that offer trucking insurance that will help to protect your company and you will want to pick the best plans to make sure that your drivers are safe. Also, if you do not have enough tru

Over the past month, nearly a handful of truck accidents in the Grand Valley have caused serious damage. But heavy haulers say their industry is one of the most regulated. Posted: 7:00 PM Nov 17, 2011 Reporter: Kelly Asmuth Email Address: kelly.asmuth@nbc11news.com View Original Post

The U.S. government is giving a nearly half-million dollar grant to a beer maker in Alaska that aims to install a first-of-its-kind boiler that is fueled entirely by spent grain. All brewers are confronted with mountains of spent grains -- mostly barley. Many get rid of the waste by routing it to farmers for animal feed, a noble service that can help grow a steak to accompany your fine ale. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Alaskan

NOGALES, Ariz. -- Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Tucson Field Office seized almost 3,000 pounds of marijuana hidden in a shipment of watermelons. Nogales CBP officers discovered the marijuana worth nearly $1.5 million Monday evening. A 44-year-old Mexican man attempting to enter the United States at the Mariposa Commercial Port was referred for a non-intrusive X-ray inspection of his Volvo truck. The X-ray operator noticed an anomaly in the shipment. Officers ins

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) has ordered Gunthers Transport, LLC, based out of Maryland, shut down after an investigation concluded the company to be an imminent hazard to public safety. This isn't the first time, either. Company owner Mark David Gunther was convicted on similar charges in 1995. The company was shut down on November 8 after the FMCSA found patterns of hours-of-service (HOS) and vehicle maintenance violations that considerably increa

After years of advocacy by members of Maine's congressional delegation, the U.S. House on Thursday afternoon passed by a 298-121 vote a transportation bill carrying provisions that will allow trucks weighing up to 100,000 pounds on all interstate highways in Maine for the next 20 years. The Senate approved the bill with a 70-30 vote Thursday night. "This is a major accomplishment and I am delighted to have successfully negotiated this agreement. Moving these trucks from our downtown street

What's even more maddening than road closures and construction? Inconsiderate, irresponsible drivers that make you just shake your head in disbelief. Each week on Patch, we'll highlight some of these Traffic Troublemakers, plus give you a look at what to expect on the roads courtesy of the Missouri Department of Transportation. Traffic Troublemakers A comment on last week's column about Patch editor (Jean Whitney, Chesterfield) who wouldn't dim her high beams because she had a light out, s

It might be something to moo and squawk about. Shur-Gain, one of Canada's leading suppliers of animal feeds and health care products, will permanently shut down its livestock and poultry feed mill operation in Stephenville at the end of the year. "The reasons for this closure are related to the low volume of finished feeds being manufactured and limited profitability at the operation," said Réjean Faubert, Shur-Gain's Atlantic region general manager, in an email to the Georgian. "We wil

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - Legislation on Capitol Hill is reaching right to the steps of Mississippi's Department of Transportation as state and local leaders ban together against it. "These are bad ideas which will do serious damage to our already financially strained transportation systems," said Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall. Those ideas are bundled into pieces of legislation which, if enacted, would increase trucking weight limits on interstate roadways by about

MASON CITY, Iowa-- An Iowa grain processor has been fined more than $96,000 for failing to develop a facility response plan as required by the federal Clean Water Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that Omaha-Neb.-based Ag Processing Inc. agreed to pay the fine for its failure to develop and implement a response plan for its soybean processing facility in Mason City. The EPA says the Mason City facility is near a stream which flows into two small lakes an

EXCESSIVE freight costs are forcing farmers to cart their own harvests, sparking long delays for trucks at Port Adelaide export terminal, grain growers claim. They are transporting grain direct from their farms because they say the freight charges imposed by Canadian-owned grain handler Viterra Inc are too high. South Australian Farmers' Federation grains industry committee deputy chairman Philip Wilsdon said his cost for freight, storage, handling and shiploading charges had risen to abo

A judge will not set aside a ruling ordering a travel agency to reimburse J.D. Heiskell & Co. $16,651 for travel vouchers that the Tulare-based feed business purchased for employees and clients. Tulare County Superior Court Judge Paul Vortmann made the ruling Wednesday against Steve Griffiths and his Tulare business, Executive Travel, despite his lawyer arguing that there was no proof submitted to show how much the travel agency actually may owe. Attorney Stanley Michner, representing Grif

Want a snapshot of private company power??The food companies on our private companies list account for roughly 2% of the nation's GDP. The average company in this elite group rang up $8.1 billion in sales, up 6.2% from last year. Cargill leads, of course, but Scoular, an agricultural company, saw the biggest jump in rank, from 105 up to 63, with sales growth of 40%. One of the newcomers to this year's list was Del Monte Foods (No. 104), taken private in March in a private equity deal valued at $

The Prairie Pride Bio-Diesel Production Plant four miles west of Deerfield was scheduled to be back in production Wednesday following a Monday night fire that company officials and firefighters said burned only crushed dry soybeans on the first and third floors and outside the 17700 S. T Highway complex. Jessie McKinney, a spokeswoman for the parent firm, Archer Daniels Midland Co. in Decatur, Ill., said in an email that the fire started in the plant's pellet cooler area associated with soybea

COLUSA -- The passenger in a big rig hauling two bottom-dump grain trailers died at Enloe Medical Center following a crash Nov. 6 on Old Highway 99W south of Hillgate Road, in Colusa County. Luis J. Rodriquez, 38, of College City, was ejected from the cab as it rolled over at least once. He was transported by helicopter to Chico. Investigators said the driver, Fernando Martinez, 39, of Williams, allowed the rig to drift off the pavement and onto the right shoulder of 99. Martinez was t

Nov. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Burlington Northern Santa Fe, the railroad controlled by Warren Buffett, is upgrading yards that handle shipping containers as it takes advantage of a 29 percent surge in Asia-bound shipments of specialty grains. Products such as organic or genetically modified soybeans, which can't travel in traditional hopper cars, are now being packed in containers that once sailed back empty to Asia after bringing retail goods to the U.S. That's an opportunity for railroads to bring

Cargill MacMillan Jr, the billionaire heir to the Cargill family fortune, died on 14 November at his home in Indian Wells, California, at the age of 84. The great-grandson of the founder of the eponymous company, which is today the world's largest agricultural commodities trader, MacMillian began at the family business in 1950 as a trainee. He later held various positions across the group's offices before moving to California. MacMillan, who was a board member of the Minnesota-based comp

National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC) declared 2012 The Year of Tank Truck Driver Sustainability and, sure enough, our industry is now experiencing a severe shortage of truck drivers, as well as truck mechanics and trailer repair technicians. The continued driver shortage may very well be the most critical factor in the future success of tank truck fleets. Even with unemployment well above 9% and despite hefty hiring and referral bonuses, the driver population is shrinking at an alarming rate.

Economist predicts pressure on shippers as capacity remains constrained Shippers are likely to face steep increases in truckload rates in the next two years, followed by a recession in 2014 or 2015, a transportation economist warns. The expansion of U.S. manufacturing is buoying freight shipping in the U.S. this year despite weak imports, said Noel Perry, senior consultant with FTR Associates. Truckload volume should grow 2 to 3 percent year-over-year for the next two years, but won'

The company was cited for 21 violations of workplace safety standards following the May 11 death of an employee who was fatally engulfed by cotton seed stored in a silo. Proposed penalties total $155,200. Nov 17, 2011 OSHA has cited Harbor Point Mineral Products, a processor of animal feed in Utica, N.Y., for 21 violations of workplace safety standards following the May 11 death of an employee who was fatally engulfed by cotton seed stored in a silo. Proposed penalties total $155,200. An

If there is one universal complaint I hear in the industry, it is a lack of qualified drivers. It is getting worse. How can this be? Unemployment is stuck at 9 %. If you add those who have given up looking for employment the number is closer to 17 % effective unemployment in this county. 43% of young people are not satisfied with their current level of employment. Youth unemployment stands at 18.1%. The majority of the industry shrunk their fleets during the Great Recession and numerous surv

U.S. farmland prices in the third quarter surged to the highest levels in more than three decades amid an accelerating agricultural boom that has so far defied fears of a bubble about to burst. Prices hit record highs in the U.S. Plains, where wheat and cattle dominate production, and jumped 25 percent in the Midwest Corn Belt, where bumper grain crops and recovering livestock markets put more money in farmers' wallets and enticed investors to bid up for the fertile ground, according to two F

A rural Springfield man faces a federal wire fraud charge for allegedly selling Grain Millers more than 4.2 million pounds of conventional corn falsely labeled as organic. Harold Allen Chase reaped an additional profit of nearly $200,000 by passing off the grain as organic, the government charged in documents filed this month in Eugene's U.S. District Court. Chase has not yet appeared in court to enter a plea, although U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken has set an arraignment and change of pl

Truckers are hauling more freight in the U.S. and charging higher prices for their services. This is fueling truck-buying demand as fleets replace old equipment. While economic risks tied to European contagion remain, U.S. activity suggests truck equipment suppliers are benefiting from both manufacturer sales and aftermarket sales to fleet operators. One company growing thanks to improving freight trends is Clarcor (CLC), best known for its Baldwin filter division. In 2011, new commercial veh

In many ways, Covenant Transportation Group's recently released third quarter earnings report neatly presents the struggles the industry is facing in microcosm. The carrier watched its revenues drop 2.1% to $161.4 million compared to the same period last year, leading to a net loss of $11.2 million versus profits of $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2010. Though an after-tax non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $9.4 million represented the bulk of Covenant's red ink, David Parker, the

Frances Moore Lappe, "Let's Make Small-Scale Farming a Viable Option," (Nov. 2 Register), automatically makes the assumption (as do the people in the "organic" movement), that organic farming is the best way to protect the environment. Lappe then cites a study by GRAIN (supposedly an independent educational organization) that "estimated that if organic practices were combined globally with re-integration of livestock and farming and a big shift to local markets, our food and farming sector co

On Halloween, the commodities firm MF Global Inc. filed for bankruptcy, and the effect is being felt in rural Minnesota. It was three years to the day since VeraSun filed for bankruptcy, which also had an effect. VeraSun was a clear bankruptcy situation, said Bob Zelenka, executive director of the Minnesota Grain and Feed Association. The impact was more isolated and the amount of money involved was less than what's possible with the bankruptcy of MF Global. MF Global is a major derivat

Are you feeding distillers grains to your beef or dairy herd? Despite recent slides in the grain markets, corn is still relatively expensive as a feedstock. It's making distillers grains a more attractive feed source option for even younger animals as long as it's managed properly. Previous research shows young heifers can glean more protein from distillers grains than corn at a lower cost. But, other more recent data from Purdue University shows distillers grains can be fed earlier than

(Springfield, MO) -- In honor of KOZL's 'Work Week," we took a deeper look into a company that might not look so fancy on the outside. But after seeing the inside, you might be surprised what this company has to offer. Prime Trucking Inc. has a good reputation as a transport company throughout North America, but it also has a different reputation. While searching for companies that treat their employees nice, Prime was recommended. Little did we all know that 'nicely' was the under

DECATUR, Ill., Nov 14, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Archer Daniels Midland Company /quotes/zigman/218265/quotes/nls/adm ADM -0.03% today announced that it will build a 265 million liter (70 million gallon) biodiesel plant in Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada, which will increase ADM's North American biodiesel production capacity by 50 percent. The biodiesel plant will be located adjacent to the company's existing canola crushing facility in Lloydminster which will help optimize ADM's agricultural origina

It wasn't the first time Mike Schiotis, a driver for Panther Expedite, had stopped to help a motorist in need, but his heroic actions earlier this month will be one time he sure won't forget. Schiotis couldn't believe it when he saw a man with a gun coming after a woman at a wreck on Interstate 380 outside Scranton, Pa. As the Tennessean reports about the Spring Hill, Tenn. resident, Schiotis said he pulled over, jumped out of the cab, and found the man beating the woman with the gun. As h

A hydrogen fuel cell powered freight truck has been developed by researchers of RMIT University in Australia which promises to make transportation clean, environment-friendly and quiet. The small-scale truck model developed in the varsity is operated by remote control and simulates the performance of a long-haul diesel truck which is being used between Melbourne and Sydney. The environment friendly freight truck is a replica of Scania Highline series of trucks has a hydrogen-powered elec

The need for more grain storage across eastern Australia's grain belt has prompted Cargill to expand dozens of its receival sites. The agribusiness is spending $10 million on increasing capacity at its GrainFlow sites across South Australia, Victoria and NSW. Peter McBride, the company's director of corporate affairs, says it should make grain delivery more efficient. "There's really three areas, one is more mobile grain handling equipment, which'll help farmers have additional drop

In response to Wednesday's column in the Manteca Bulletin headlined "Mexican trucks are on our roads', written by Phyllis Schlafly, President Obama had no right to go against Congress and the opposition of the American people, to go behind his country's back and secretly have Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood sign an agreement that allows Mexican trucks to cross the border and steal jobs, enterprise and money from the American people. To allow the trucks to cross freely without being inspe

Timpte's constant devotion to innovation continues...... David City, NE (November 9, 2011) – Timpte Industries, The industry leader in manufacturing dry bulk commodity trailers, is proud to announce the expansion of the American Ag Series product line. This product line will now include a 50 foot American Ag Series Tri-Axle Model. Production of this model will begin roll off the assembly line December of 2011. The 50 Foot American Ag Series Tri-Axle has been designed for consumers who pr

The collapse of MF Global is sending shockwaves across rural Minnesota, where grain elevators and some farmers are stunned to find their commodity accounts threatened by the distant scandal. Although relatively few Minnesotans directly used the trading services of MF Global, the failed derivatives broker played a larger behind-the-scenes role in commodities futures trading. That has spread the fallout from the collapse, and some Minnesotans are alarmed to find a portion of their commodity ac

Please help us locate our missing driver and/or our tractor and trailer. Driver is James F Luzader, goes by Jimmy. 5'9", 240#, 39 yrs old, reddish hair and green eyes. Our tractor is a 2000KW W-900, unit #368 dark purple or black cherry color. BAJA Trucking on the door. IA plates. Our trailer is a 2011 Timpte hopper, white, unit #842, IA plates. We last heard from Jimmy last Tues morning, Nov 1. He claims he was very ill. He emptied in Denver, CO on Monday night and was to relaod Rifle on Tues.

CARNDUFF -- The shortage of diesel fuel is slowly shutting down the oil industry in southeastern Saskatchewan, according to the owners and operators of trucking and oilfield service companies, whose trucks and equipment run on diesel. The slowdown has been caused by a shortage of hydrogen sulphide at Suncor's Edmonton refinery and an explosion at the Consumers' Co-operative Refineries Ltd. (CCRL) refinery in Regina last month, which damaged the diesel processing unit. Federated Co-op Ltd

ATCHISON -- A crowd gathered Wednesday along the Missouri River in this northeast Kansas town to pay tribute to those affected by the tragic grain elevator explosion Oct. 29. Six people were killed in the explosion at Bartlett Grain, and two others were injured. At noon, family members, friends, loved ones and community members honored Bartlett employees who were killed: John Burke, 24, Ryan Federinko, 21, Curtis Field, 21, and Chad Roberts, 20, as well as grain inspectors Travis Keil, 3

Bangor - If you have an idea for an upcoming "Take This Job and Love It," email Chelsey at canderson@wabi.tv Veterans Day is Friday. in honor of that, Chelsey Anderson took a temporary job with a local trucking company that has gone the extra mile for our troops. Chelsey... Chelsey: "That's right, Hartt Transportation Systems in Bangor prides themselves in safety, the numerous regional and national awards they've been given, and their participation in the Wreaths Across America drive com

Tractor count at large carrier group shows slight decline from second quarter Capacity at a group of six large truckload carriers tracked by The Journal of Commerce fell a cumulative 1.5 percent from the second quarter and 1.5 percent from a year ago, with two carriers increasing capacity slightly year-over-year. The tractor count at the more than $10 billion carrier group is 6.8 percent lower than it was at the end of 2008 and 14.7 percent lower than at the end of 2006. Since 2009, howe

Worthington, Minn. -- Some Minnesota grain elevators have found themselves dragged by the bankruptcy of MF Global. The two are linked by grain futures contracts. MF Global filed bankruptcy on Oct. 31 after the financial trading company lost a large amount of money in the European debt crisis. MF Global handles futures contracts for many Minnesota grain elevators, which were unaware they too would soon be affected. The good news is that more than 80 percent of the money the elevators had

Please help us locate our missing driver and/or our tractor and trailer. Driver is James F Luzader, goes by Jimmy. 5'9", 240#, 39 yrs old, reddish hair and green eyes. Our tractor is a 2000KW W-900, unit #368 dark purple or black cherry color. BAJA Trucking on the door. IA plates. Our trailer is a 2011 Timpte hopper, white, unit #842, IA plates. We last heard from Jimmy last Tues morning, Nov 1. He claims he was very ill. He emptied in Denver, CO on Monday night and was to relaod Rifle on Tues.

One of the operators of a northwest Missouri grain company pleaded guilty today to federal mail fraud conspiracy charges stemming from the theft of more than $3 million from dozens of farmers. Pauline E. Froman, 66, of Gallatin, Mo., entered the guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, where she and her husband, Daniel F. Froman, also 66, had been indicted. Daniel Froman pleaded guilty to mail fraud in October. Federal prosecutors said the Fromans operated the Gallatin Grain Co

Farmers in West Central Minnesota will soon be confronted with challenges of how best to bring an entrepreneurial product to market, ignite economic development somewhere in Swift County or nearby, and, if past value-added processing history is repeated, add value to area farmers' soybean crops. This represents all that is well with entrepreneurship and ground-up economic development that utilizes Minnesota scientists' talents and rural Minnesota resources. If successful, the result will be n

Truckers and other drivers fueling in Iowa could soon be responsible for paying an extra dime per gallon. From all indications the public supports paying more at the pump to benefit trucking. The governor's Citizen Advisory Commission voted unanimously to endorse a proposal to increase the state's fuel tax rate by 8 to 10 cents per gallon. The 16-member panel is responsible for coming up with transportation funding options to help the state cope with an annual budget shortfall estimated at

ATCHISON, Kan. -- Bartlett Grain Co.'s intentions to rebuild remain strong, even though it could take months to nail down an exact cause of the Oct. 29 fatal grain elevator explosion. "We want to thank the Atchison community for the outpouring of support we have received in the last week and a half," said Bill Fellows, president of Bartlett Grain. "We continue to work closely with the federal and state investigators on site to determine the cause of the explosion on Oct. 29. "Going forward, we

MAUMEE, Ohio, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Andersons, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANDE) today announced third quarter net income attributable to the company of $10.9 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, on revenues of $939 million. In the third quarter of 2010, the company reported results of $1.4 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, on revenues of $707 million. For the first nine months of 2011, the company earned a record $73.4 million, or $3.92 per diluted share, on revenues of $3.3 billion. In the