Bulk Freight News & Industry Updates - Stay Ahead in Trucking

If there’s a perfect career for a serial killer, a long haul truck driver just might be it. They are often loners, living a nomadic lifestyle that involves constant travel across state lines and jurisdictions, providing easy access to an array of potential victims and allowing truckers to evade law enforcement for years. A new book by former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence Frank Figliuzzi – Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers – offers a terrifyi

The Andersons, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANDE) and Skyland Grain, LLC have signed a non-binding letter of intent for The Andersons to purchase an ownership interest in Skyland, operating in South Central and Southwest Kansas, Northwest Oklahoma, Eastern Colorado, and Texas. "Our two companies are aligned in our vision to serve our local producers and expanded customer base," says Pete Goetzmann, Skyland's chief executive officer. "This proposed transaction provides an opportunity to

Trucking companies that rely on brokers and load boards might be frustrated with the process. The process of finding a load, connecting with a broker, bidding on a rate, and negotiating for it comes with many challenges, whether it is due to fraud, miscommunication, or a lack of trustworthy relationships. How can those challenges be avoided?  Most trucking companies are classified as small businesses, according to the American Trucking Associations’ latest trend repor

While operating off of load boards and brokered loads can have its risks, for many fleets, they are essential. There are actions fleet owners and carriers can take to ensure they stand out from the thousands of trucking operations on those load boards. And it’s these actions that will show brokers and shippers whether the fleet will make a good carrier partner. Andy Dyer, the president of transportation management with AFS Logistics, a global third-party logistics provider, said one of

Three trucking and insurance executives offered advice on how leaders can adopt technologies and impact their companies’ safety culture from the executive suite during a session at Truckload Carriers Association’s 2024 Safety and Security Meeting. The discussion also was intended to help truckers gain insight into the steps and strategies involved in achieving minimal accidents within an organization, their key meaningful metrics and the importance of leaders’ roles in fostering a safe

Larry Atkinson, a truck driver from Charleston, South Carolina, thought he was living the dream when he climbed into his new Kenworth T680 as a lease operator with Super Ego after previously driving company-owned trucks. “It was cool,” he recalled. “I felt like I was my own boss, I could turn down loads, and I wouldn’t have to go up north in the winter if I didn’t want to. It was a good feeling.” But Atkinson says he soon realized he wasn’t in control, and his dream dissolved when he d

The Departments of Agriculture and the Interior announced a proposed investment of $2.8 billion in fiscal year 2025 through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to protect and sustain our public lands and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-funded schools. Proposed projects will occur in all 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and multiple U.S. territories. In August 2020, GAOA established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), authorizing up to $1.9 billion per

The truck freight market continued to underperform the broader economy during the first quarter. This is reflected in the U.S. Bank National Shipments Index, as it contracted significantly from both the final quarter of 2023 and a year earlier. Several factors contributed to declining truck freight levels during the first three months of the year, including bad winter weather in many parts of the country. While there are indications that freight levels rebounded slightly in February, a strong

Prominent truck driver training school Armstrong’s Driver Education is integrating simulation software into its training programs over the next six months. Armstrong’s, which is based in Melbourne, has partnered with simulator company Motum to allow learners to hone their truck driving skills in a virtual environment. While Motum CEO Steve Hoinville acknowledged that virtual driver training will never replace real-world experience in a truck, he said it offers a number of advant

If you're not using BulkLoads to manage the entire load life cycle (dispatching, invoicing, automated data entry, document capture, etc.) you could be wasting 30+ hours a week. We're hosting a webinar to go over these exact tools and how to use them on August 28th at 10am! We have limited space, sign up free, here!

Rising production costs, climate change and an aging population of farmers ready to retire are among the challenges facing the agriculture sector in Maine. LEWISTON — It’s the time of year when people in Maine start seeing a plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables showing up at local farmers markets, farm stands and other markets. Agriculture is of course a year-round sector of the economy, which gets a significant seasonal boost

The Trucking Association of New York filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which developed the toll scheme, arguing the higher fees unfairly and unconstitutionally target the trucking industry. The trucking association’s lawsuit is among at least eight seeking to block the congestion fee plan, which is slated to launch June 30. Under the transit authority’s plan, trucks would be subject to a charge of $24 or $36 per trip, depending on their

The American Trucking Associations’ newly launched “Nothing Without Trucking” campaign is an effective and thoughtful rebranding of ATA’s efforts to enhance the industry’s image, experts say. The multiyear, nationwide initiative aims to educate policymakers about the important role trucking plays in Americans’ lives, according to a news release from the organization. The campaign launched at ATA’s Mid-Year Management Session in San Antonio with a promotional video and a new website for

A semi truck driver who witnessed a crash on a Wisconsin interstate stopped to rescue a fellow trucker before her truck went up in flames. The crash occurred at 5:25 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29, in Grand Chute, Wisconsin. Police were called to I-41 northbound near Highway 15 for a reported crash involving two semi trucks. According to the Grand Chute Fire Department, investigators believe that a northbound truck struck a concrete barrier, causing the

It’s not difficult to find heavy-duty trucks on the road. You might see them thundering down the highway on your way to work. However, there is an ongoing conversation about the best way to fuel those trucks. The best big truck parts are readily available through various websites, but there’s much more contention about what will power heavy-duty trucks in the immediate future. Could hydrogen-powered engines be an attractive candidate?

Washington — The American Trucking Associations commended Tennessee on enacting comprehensive reforms to crack down on predatory towers that target heavy-duty trucks.  The bill, SB1692/HB1731, was signed into law by Governor Bill Lee after passing the Tennessee Senate unanimously and the House overwhelmingly without a single dissenting vote.   Predatory towing entails any incident in which a towing operator severely overcharges; illegally seizes assets; damages asse

A recent survey by industry publication Overdrive looked into a question that is common among owner-operators: “Who is really hauling all the cheap freight?” The survey considered loads that are on the edge of or below a carrier’s profitability level. Asked if they ever hauled a load that lost money, a majority of the nearly 600 respondents said they had, while 38% said they had not. Looking at reasons for taking unprofitable loads, most respondents fell into either repositioning into

MANSFIELD — A quick-thinking truck driver was credited with limiting a hazardous chemical leak as well as injuries at a foam manufacturer on Maple Street Tuesday morning. The leak was reported about 8:20 a.m. at the rear loading dock of the Future Foam Co. at 47 Maple St., where about 30 gallons of isocyanate fluid had leaked from a broken valve on a tanker truck carrying 6,500 gallons of the solution, Fire Chief Justin Desrosiers said.  

What’s the future of your farm going to look like in terms of the people involved? More specifically, what about the farm’s leadership? Who will be leading the operation in different aspects? Farms could be in a number of different scenarios right now in terms of who is involved in future leadership and whether a leadership transition is taking place. Many farms have members of the next generation who have been working in the operation for years already, while others may just be gettin

John Deere has created a new business unit in the Americas with the mission of including thousands of producers in agriculture 4.0, also called precision agriculture, according to Future Farming. Precision Upgrade Business will make available a wide range of products, including hardware and software, to upgrade agricultural machinery that does not have JD´s latest technologies in its original configuration.

May 28 (UPI) -- The 90-year-old holder of the Guinness World Record for the oldest truck driver said "the word 'retire' is not" in his vocabulary. Doyle Archer, who has worked for Coomes Inc. in Phillipsburg, Kan., for 20 years, was certified as the world's oldest truck driver at the age of 90 years and 55 days old. Archer has been driving trucks for more than 60 years, racking up approximately 5.5 million miles behind the wheel.

The demonstrator vehicle features regenerative braking, reduced weight and aerodynamic enhancements. Kenworth unveiled its SuperTruck 2 last week at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Las Vegas, showcasing a one-of-a-kind demonstrator vehicle that challenged traditional design norms. The truck, developed over six years in connection with a Department of Energy program, can reach up to 12.8 mpg, has a combination weight reduction of over 7,

At BulkLoads, we understand the frustrations with traditional factoring companies. That's why we created our own factoring service, designed with your needs in mind. Our service comes with no contracts, no minimums, and ensures you get paid quickly. While the industry average for payment is 20-30 days, BulkLoads Factoring gets you paid within 24 hours of submitting your documents. Powered by Smart Freight Funding, our service offers everything you expect from a factoring company, pl

ALACHUA, Fla. (WPEC) — A kitten lying down in the middle of a Florida highway was saved with the help of a police officer and truck driver. While on patrol, Officer Stanfield from the Alachua Police Department found a kitten lying down in the middle of NW U.S. Highway 441, with cars flying past the feline within feet from hitting it.  

May is World Trade Month and this is World Trade Week – a perfect opportunity to celebrate U.S. agriculture’s trade successes and highlight the importance of trade to the farm sector and to our nation as whole. After all, about 20 percent of all U.S. agricultural production is exported, providing a critical source of farm income, supporting more than a million jobs, and generating nearly $200 billion in additional economic activity each year in our rural communities and beyond. 

LAS VEGAS — On the road toward a more environmentally sustainable future, the trucking industry is encountering an unprecedented level of complexity driven by an expanding menu of powertrain options, infrastructure challenges and overlapping emissions regulations. At the same time, however, truck manufacturers, suppliers, fleet operators and other industry stakeholders are ramping up their efforts to meet these challenges with technologies ranging from combustion engines powered by cle

The Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Conference in Las Vegas offered a glimpse into the future of trucking this week, with a number of OEMs showing off their latest technological advancements. The event is one of the biggest in global trucking, with more than 500 exhibitors across the world of transport showcasing what they have to offer.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday $300 million in funding for more than 60 groups seeking to diversify American agricultural exports. “USDA is pleased to be able to provide the startup capital to tap into these opportunities,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on a call with reporters Monday night previewing the announcement. In total, 66 organizations will be funded under the new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program, or RAPP. The USDA 

According to a research report “Global Agriculture Industry Outlook 2024 - Feeding the Future Through Innovation” published by MarketsandMarkets, the Top 10 Agriculture Markets Will Grow from USD 81.5 billion In 2023 to USD 94.3 billion by 2024 at A YOY Increase of 15.7%. Industry is undergoing a transformative journey, with a growing focus on sustainable practices, innovative technologies, and ethical organic farming.  

There’s no amount of money that would make being chased by a grizzly bear worth the trouble. In my opinion, you’ve got to call it a career as a trucker if you are forced to climb atop your big rig to avoid being eaten by a couple of feisty grizzly bears. Maybe that’s just me though… This just goes to show that there are a lot of tough people doing thankless jobs out there. When the average person thinks of semi-truck drivers, the first thing that comes to mind is probably how muc

San Antonio, Texas — Today, the American Trucking Associations formally launched “Nothing Without Trucking” – a multi-year, nationwide image campaign to educate policymakers and the public about the indispensable role trucking plays in Americans’ lives. The campaign launched at ATA’s Mid-Year Management Session in San Antonio with an introductory video, new website with social media shareables and call to action for industry supporters to share their stories.

Representatives of Louisiana’s trucking industry point to systemic issues for a worsening driver shortage and hope to cast a bigger net to entice more nontraditional workers to the industry. As 10/12 Industry writes in its latest issue, there’s growing evidence that something must be done. More than 80,000 drivers are currently needed to fill a U.S. shortage, according to a recent study by the American Journal of Transportation—a number that’s expected to increase to

Since BulkLoads started offering trucking insurance in June of 2022, over 160 trucking companies have trusted us to insure their operation. Out of 160 clients, we've saved our members well over $500k on their premiums. It's simple. Many bulk haulers were insured by agencies that don't: a. understand trucking b. understand the bulk industry c. care  d. make trucking their primary market If an agency falls short of any of those options, ther

Conventional agriculture relies heavily on synthetic fertilizers, which can harm soil health, water quality, and biodiversity. Organic fertilizers, derived from natural sources, offer a more sustainable alternative. They minimize chemical runoff and environmental damage, making them a compelling choice for environmentally conscious consumers. The surge in organic food sales underscores this consumer preference. Organic food sales in the United States surpassed a staggering USD 60 billi

The best fleets, buffeted by higher costs and now increasing environmental mandates, manage to stay ahead of competition through vision, strategy, and execution. But in the end, executives say it’s their people who make the biggest difference. To an outsider, the Top 50 trucking companies don’t seem to change much over time. However, to those inside running the best companies in this $900 billion industry, change is occurring at breakneck speed. Here in the early part of 2024, the bigges

The Environmental Protection Agency published April 11 the latest edition of the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2022. The report has been published annually since 1990; it provides an annual estimate of all man-made greenhouse-gas-emission sources in the United States as well as estimates of the amount of carbon trapped in forest and vegetation soil.  

In 1990, NIOSH developed an agricultural safety and health program to address the high risks of fatal injuries and illnesses experienced by workers and families in agriculture. NIOSH supports extramural research and prevention programs at 12 Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health. These programs conduct research on

From sponsorships to TV ads and TikTok, fleets are using marketing to differentiate their businesses. When Sherri Garner Brumbaugh first looked into a NASCAR sponsorship for her trucking company, she wasn’t sure how to make it work. She wondered how a regional carrier would stack up against big national brands like Menards and Lowe’s.

Alabama has now banned lab-grown meat becoming the second state, following Florida, to prohibit the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of food products made from cultured animal cells. Erin Beasley, Vice President of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, spoke with RFD-TV’s own Suzanne Alexander on the concerns they have regarding lab-grown meat, when the ban goes into effect, and what this means for the state.

The driver of a semi truck that careened off the Clark Memorial Bridge in Louisville, Kentucky, is speaking out for the first time since her miraculous 40-minute rescue. "It happened so fast," Sydney Thomas told Louisville ABC affiliate WHAS. "I was like, I can't believe this, that I'm really hanging

A small trucking company owner has called the new truck emissions standards a “crazy” mandate that’s too soon.  Matt Pierson owns Eagle Enterprises in Nebraska and is a part of the Nebraska Truckers’ Association. He says that the proposal brought forth by the Biden Administration and EPA that mandates more electric semi trucks by 2027 is too soon for his company and other small trucking companies like his. 

The agricultural landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in technology and entrepreneurship. On May 29, 2024, join us for a groundbreaking symposium titled "Innovations in Agricultural Technology: Cultivating Tomorrow's Farms," where industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators will converge to explore the cutting-edge solutions shaping the future of farming.

Trucking companies can start reaching younger audiences by making their presence known at high school and technical college career fairs, implementing training programs that target younger audiences.

Trucking is a job within itself, many owner-operators create a small trucking company without thinking of what all the business side encompasses. There are many reasons why small trucking companies have to close their doors, tight markets with low rates typically boost failure rates. Some reasons include not having a business plan in place, managing revenue and expenses poorly, and not accounting for downtime. Another reason companies have to close their doors is because of unexp

The Cargill grain elevator south of Pipestone on state Highway 23 is among several that will be sold to CHS.

The Department of Labor’s revision introduces a comprehensive six-factor test to determine a driver’s employment status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This test aims to better identify economic dependency between workers and employers.

The trucking industry applauded the Senate’s passage of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) of 2023, which would reauthorize the DERA program through fiscal year 2029 at $100 million annually.  The bill will now be considered by the House of Representatives.

A federal grand jury has indicted an Ohio trucking company owner, alleging she failed to pay approximately $1.2 million in taxes in a yearslong scheme.

OSHA cited Latham, New York-based Rail Modal Group LLC for 21 “serious” and two “other-than-serious” violations and proposed $261,375 in penalties over a November 2023 incident at a grain facility in Fremont in which a yard manager was directing congested traffic in a storage yard when she was struck by a passing truck.

U.S. farmer Kevin Whitney thought his iPhone was lost for good when it fell into a grain elevator last year. Eight months later, his phone was returned unscathed after it was found in Japan.

Given the significant infrastructure hurdles in the race to battery electric trucks, a reduced total cost of ownership – largely helped by the absence of fuel expenses and maintenance savings from not having an engine or driveline – has been the biggest pro-battery electric truck argument to-date.

In recent years, the trucking industry has seen a significant rise in nuclear verdicts—judgments where damages exceed $10 million. These verdicts can have catastrophic effects on fleet businesses, not only in financial terms but also in terms of reputation and operational viability. The threat of such outcomes makes the choice of equipment, such as trailer lighting systems, more than a matter of compliance or efficiency; it’s a strategic decision critical to the very survival of a fleet.

It's 2024, if you're still dispatching your drivers every day by texting them each morning, you're leaving money on the table. Same with using spreadsheets like Excel or using a pen and paper. When the trucking market gets tight (like now) it only makes sense to increase efficiency and find ways to save time so you can focus on generating new business and prospecting for new freight. It's time to check out an easier way to dispatch loads, invoice your customers, track your trucks, and

News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero answers viewer questions about the rules of the road, helping Florida residents become better drivers by being better educated.  Four years ago, Trooper Steve was inundated with messages about a viral photo of a big rig with police lights, and whether it was real.

Dawson Baroh, 27 years old, passed away on Monday after a farming accident in Geraldine, Montana. His family and friends, knowing his love for trucking, weren’t going to let him go without one last ride.

unge is looking to acquire Viterra, which is involved in grain purchasing, processing and marketing. But a group of agricultural associations have come out against the merger.

When it comes to the topic of driver detention, Ed Nagle, president and CEO of Ohio-based Nagle Companies, is direct when expressing his displeasure with the time his company’s drivers spend waiting at shipping and receiving facilities.

Arnold Transportation Services had 341 truck drivers and 402 power units

Springfield, Mo. — More than 500 industry professionals attended this year’s Bulk Freight Conference, held April 24-26 at the White River Conference Center in Springfield, Missouri, according to BulkLoads, which hosted the event for the second year in a row.

In 2023, the inaugural conference drew nearly 200 attendees. The 2024 event saw a notable increase in participation, nearly quadrupling the size of the gathering from last year, said a spokesperson for BulkLoads. The conference is the only event in the U.S. that brings together stakeholders from all segments of the bulk freight industry, including owner-operators, carriers, company drivers, shippers and brokers.

For two years, trucking industry watchers have predicted a "bloodbath" where drooping rates and rising diesel press tens of thousands of carriers, particularly small carriers and owner-operators, out of the market and maybe all the way to total failure.

An outsized supply of firms is still clinging to the market, which dominant firms say amounts to overcapacity and has left power in the hands of shippers.

Donna Brisbois describes her 6′5″ son Jacob as a gentle giant, full of kindness and compassion. The 25-year-old Princeton man worked 2 jobs and was a manager at the Leicester Walmart.