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Oct 25, 2019
California Plans Nation’s First Electric Truck Mandates

California air regulators want to force a wave of cleaner trucks onto the road by requiring that half of all medium and heavy trucks sales be for zero-emission vehicles by 2030. If adopted by the California Air Resources Board, the regulation would be the first of its kind in the nation.

Oct 24, 2019
U.S. Farmers Face Crisis of Losing Hemp Crop Investment Due to Drying Inability
Oct 24, 2019
TO HARVEST OR NOT TO HARVEST, THAT IS THE QUESTION
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Oct 25, 2019
California Plans Nation’s First Electric Truck Mandates

California air regulators want to force a wave of cleaner trucks onto the road by requiring that half of all medium and heavy trucks sales be for zero-emission vehicles by 2030. If adopted by the California Air Resources Board, the regulation would be the first of its kind in the nation.

Oct 24, 2019
U.S. Farmers Face Crisis of Losing Hemp Crop Investment Due to Drying Inability

Paragon Processing, the largest hemp processing and climate-controlled storage facility currently operating in the U.S., is offering a much-needed solution to farmers, who are dealing with the crisis of losing their hemp crop due to their inability to properly dry the harvest. Due to the current demand for drying services, over the next few weeks, Paragon Processing is adding 10,000 pounds of wet weight per hour of drying to its current 3,000-4,000 pounds of wet weight per hour drying capabil

Oct 24, 2019
TO HARVEST OR NOT TO HARVEST, THAT IS THE QUESTION

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Thats the famous beginning of Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities. It could just as well be the beginning of the tale of two crops in 2019, first the one we expected when the year began. Then there was the crop we expected in June, when very little was planted and it looked like it would be a disaster. Well, we did lose 20 million acres (give or take a few million) to prevented planting. But all of a sudden, it

Oct 24, 2019
Fire destroys grain elevator in Whitman County; crews let it burn

A grain elevator caught fire and was destroyed in Whitman County Tuesday, KHQ reported. The Colfax Fire Department said crews were letting the large blaze near Winona, Washington, burn due to high winds as of about 6 p.m., according to KHQ. About 110,000 bushels of wheat were lost. Nearby rail cars also complicated the fire department response, KHQ reported.

Oct 24, 2019
Spring floods still drowning Midwest farms, grain carloads

Even though its October, reminders of the devastating March floods in the western Corn Belt havent faded. Roads are still closed, farms drowned, and the volume of grain carloads leaving the region is still trying to play catch up. The rainy spring destroyed billions of dollars of corn and soybean fields that were already planted and continues to harm this years harvest. Many Midwestern farmers had to plant later in the spring due to the flooding, and parts of the region w

Oct 23, 2019
Getting Paid Shouldn't be Your Focus

Freight factoring company, Smart Freight Funding, helps trucking companies of all sizes keep their trucks moving by getting paid quicker. Smart Freight Funding works with single truck operations, individual owner-operator, and larger companies managing several trucks and drivers. We offer competitive low rates, quick pay, and superb customer service. The team behind Smart Freight Funding has more than 50 years combined driving, dispatching, contracting and accounting experience in

Oct 23, 2019
PODCAST When to expect a Rebound in Frac with Bleu Sexton

https://www.bulkloads.com/tools/podcasts/the-supply--demand-of-the-oil-industry-with-blue-sexton/ Check out our weekly podcast!

Oct 23, 2019
Harvest Progress Remains Behind Averages

Good Morning from Allendale, Inc. with the early morning commentary for October 22, 2019. Grain markets continue to show low trading volumes, with minimal fund activity as traders continue to focus on weather and the farmers ability to complete harvest efficiently. Grain markets are stabilized by strong storm activity with strong winds and heavy rains forecasted to hit the Midwest this week.

Oct 23, 2019
Group aims to bring holiday cheer to truckers

PARK CITY, Kan. The organization that raises funds to help truckers and their families in the U.S. and Canada has announced its 12th annual holiday fundraising campaign. The Truckers Christmas Group said Monday it will begin the campaign Nov. 18. Aid nominations will open on the TGCO website beginning Nov. 21 and will close on Dec. 11.

Oct 23, 2019
Superior Ag announces partnership with Central Kentucky Grain

Superior Ag has partnered with Central Kentucky Grain LLC., a grain storage facility located in Lebanon, KY. The business will continue to operate as Central Kentucky Grain LLC. All operations and personnel will continue, on an uninterrupted basis, serving growers throughout the region. Central Kentucky Grain CEO, Mark Boone, is continuing to lead the business following the creation of the partnership.

Oct 23, 2019
Scoular adds organic grain assets

OMAHA, NEB. Scoular, an organic grain merchandising company, is expanding its portfolio of certified organic assets. The company recently secured organic certification for its facilities in Hershey, Neb., and Goodland, Kas. The company also has entered into an agreement with Jessen Wheat Company of Pine Bluffs, Wyo., to handle organic grain.

Oct 23, 2019
Shakeup could change rules for how often truck drivers take breaks: What you need to know

The rules on Hours of Service (HOS) are the standards by which both short haul and long haul drivers measure their drive time and their rest time. "This proposed rule seeks to enhance safety by giving America's commercial drivers more flexibility while maintaining the safety limits on driving time," U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced this past summer. "FMCSA wants drivers and all (commercial vehicle) stakeholders to share their thoughts and opinions on the proposed changes

Oct 22, 2019
Texas Farmers Prepare For Hemp Growing

AUSTIN, Texas -- Hemp farming has become a hot commodity in the Lone Star State. House Bill 1325 authorized production of hemp in Texas Texas Department of Agriculture needs to send plan to USDA Hemp can't be grown in Texas until plan is finalized But this is something that's been in the works for a long time and right now things seem to be at a standstill. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the commercial production of hemp. House Bill 1325, which Governor Abbott signed this year, authorized the p

Oct 22, 2019
"Combining for Curtis": A Harvest Full of Heart

A combine is more than just a machine for Curtis Lewis; its his office. Custom harvesting, Ive been doing that all my life, said Curtis Lewis, who lives in Bates City, Mo. Harvest of 2019 started out just like any other year.

Oct 22, 2019
There's a stark reason why America's 1.8 million long-haul truck drivers can't strike

Blue-collar workers in general have struggled in recent decades as pay and job security tumbles. But, following the largest strike since 1970, General Motors employees represented by the United Automobile Workers secured this week an $11,000 bonus, a pledge to retain 9,000 jobs, and other wins, according to the Detroit Free Press. And that strike held serious economic implications for America's largest automaker. Bank of America estimated that the walkout cost GM a whopping $2 billion.

Oct 22, 2019
Newspaper Predicts Trucks to Replace Railroads

An article published 100 years ago in the Medford Mail-Tribune predicted motor trucks would replace railroads just as the automobile had pushed aside horses on city streets and country roads. Under the headline Will The Motor Truck Replace the Railroads(?) the article noted that farmers followed city dwellers closely in discarding horse and buggy for a passenger car, and were proving no slower in switching to trucks for hauling freight.

Oct 21, 2019
As It Was: Newspaper Predicts Trucks to Replace Railroads

An article published 100 years ago in the Medford Mail-Tribune predicted motor trucks would replace railroads just as the automobile had pushed aside horses on city streets and country roads.

Oct 21, 2019
Day at grain elevator reveals ups and downs of 2019 harvest, farming industry

RISING Its been slower than usual at the Premier Cooperative grain elevator in Rising, just west of Champaign. Farmers were late to start planting, so harvest is coming in late. Were pretty far behind, said Nancy Turner, the elevators manager. Were at least two to three weeks behind. As of last week, about 25 percent of Illinois corn and soybeans had been harvested, less than half as far along as a year ago at this point.

Oct 19, 2019
CEO of the largest US trucking company predicts ‘difficult’ quarter for transport industry

A week before the largest U.S. trucking company reports third-quarter earnings, Knight-Swift Transportation CEO David Jackson is preparing investors for the volatility in the industry to hit the companys bottom line.

Oct 19, 2019
One of the hottest trucking startups is trying to make America's 1.8 million truck drivers' lives a lot better with freight 'personalization'

Online marketplaces are pretty good at recommending the exact sort of products you want. A slew of job-hunt websites are happy to send along potential openings tailored to your field, experience level, and location.

Oct 19, 2019
Late Corn Harvest Brings Lower Feed Cost Opportunities

With so much late-planted corn, its likely many farmers are struggling with wet grain. Because drying costs could be prohibitive, theyre looking for ways to market high-moisture corn and it could be a way for dairy producers to access lower-cost feed.

Oct 19, 2019
Explosion Closes Cargill's Dodge City Plant

An explosion today (Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019) at Cargills Dodge City beef packing plant has injured two employees and shuttered the facility for the remainder of the day. The plant has a slaughter capacity of 5,200 head per day.

Oct 18, 2019
Experienced trucker says there are three things you should never, ever do on Tennessee highways

When Tim Chelette is driving his 18-wheeler on interstate highways, he doesn't see other cars and trucks he sees people. The Middle Tennessee-based truck driver is one of the safest drivers on the road, having logged about 2 million accident-free miles. How far is that? Well, it's like circling the earth 80 times. He was recently named to America's Road Team, a group of 18 national ambassadors of the American Trucking Association that represent the trucking industry to motorists, lawm

Oct 18, 2019
CEO of the largest US trucking company predicts ‘difficult’ quarter for transport industry

A week before the largest U.S. trucking company reports third-quarter earnings, Knight-Swift Transportation CEO David Jackson is preparing investors for the volatility in the industry to hit the companys bottom line. The freight environment is difficult. It has been more difficult than people expect from earnings standpoint, Jackson said in an interview, adding he expects other truck and rail stocks to be similarly impacted.

Oct 18, 2019
Harvest Crawls as Farmers Fight to Bring in 2019 Crop

We're getting a better idea of just how far along harvest is following a historic, wet spring. The USDA has released new crop progress numbers. It reports only 22% of the corn in 18 states is harvested right now. That's 14% behind the five-year average. The corn crop also has a while to go yet to maturity. 73% of the crop is reported as mature. That's compared to 92% typically.

Oct 18, 2019
Wet Weather Won’t Go Away Anytime Soon

Plentiful rain has been the weather condition for much of the Corn Belt this year, and according to a report by Adisseo and Novak Weather Consultants, this pattern will continue for several more weeks. However, North Carolina, the Southern Plains and Deep South have been experiencing an ongoing drought. Both drought and high moisture impact mold and mycotoxin contamination, but it is important to remember that Fusarium molds benefit from higher moisture conditions, while Aspergillus prolifera

Oct 18, 2019
US soybean market to see long-term challenges

US soybean prices, planted acres are expected to stay low as trade challenges and the spread of African Swine Fever continue, say analysts.

Oct 17, 2019
There’s a Little Mystery to This Year’s Late Planted Corn

Corn planted later in the season isnt mature at the same time as what was planted on timeduh, right? Its more than just the calendar delaying the corns maturity, something is making it take more growing degree days (GDDs) than even the maturity rating indicates.

Oct 17, 2019
Bunge to relocate global headquarters

WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S. Bunge Ltd. is relocating its global headquarters from White Plains, New York, U.S., to St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. While St. Louis is already an important hub for Bunge and our current North American operations, the city is also home to a number of food, agriculture, animal health and plant science organizations and customers, said Gregory A. Heckman, chief executive officer of Bunge. Moving the global headquarters to a location where Bu

Oct 17, 2019
Hoosier farmers now harvesting Indiana's first legal hemp crop in 80 years

Tuesday afternoon, Jim Trietsch did something that hasn't happened in Indiana for more than 80 years. Equipped with garden shears and his two sons by his side, Trietsch is now harvesting a large field full of hemp in Owen County, and he's been waiting for this moment for a long time. "We're excited to get in here and finally start harvesting," he told WTHR. "It's been a really long year." The farmer jumped at the opportunity to convert 60 acres of fields previously used to grow soybeans and b

Oct 17, 2019
Trucker’s ‘Wheel of Fortune’ appearance is peak truck stop humor

A California trucker is making headlines for his biting self-introduction on the game show Wheel of Fortune. Cardiff, California resident Blair Davis made a splash during his Monday night appearance on the game show for his darkly funny way of introducing himself to host Pat Sajak.

Oct 17, 2019
Slowdown in Industrial Sectors Hits Truckers & Railroads. But Consumers Are Still Buying Stuff

Freight shipments by all modes of transportation truck, rail, air, and barge within the US fell 3.4% in September 2019, compared to September last year, according to the Cass Freight Index for Shipments. For the index which tracks shipment volume of consumer and industrial goods but not of bulk commodities it was the 10th month in a row of relentless year-over-year declines:

Oct 16, 2019
Don't let Truck Insurance Cut Into Your Profits

BulkLoads.com has partnered with a leading insurance company to offer more affordable insurance coverage for grain and bulk carriers. You can send a request at http://www.bulkloads.com/insurance/ You'll be contacted right away.

Oct 16, 2019
Only a small fraction of US farmers are profitable

As Americans, we all participate in agriculturethe system that feeds our economy as well as our families. From our personal health to the state of the climate, agriculture affects critical aspects of our day-to-day lives. Yet few people know much about how agriculture works. Over the past 70 years, small farms have gone out of business as industrialized multinational corporations have taken over our food supply. Even though food companies commonly adopt the farm-to-table

Oct 16, 2019
John Phipps: Not All Small Farms are Doomed

Secretary of Ag Sonny Perdue ruffled some farmer feathers this week with a remark about the future of small dairies. There has been a lot of media coverage with varying degrees of accuracy since, but I think the best summary was by Chip Flory and you can find it on AgWeb.

Oct 16, 2019
"Nuclear Verdict" Kills 540 Truck Carrier

Country Wide RV Transport (CWRV), the nation's second largest RV and motor-home transportation provider, is shutting down for good, according to information received late Friday by FreightWaves. The 540 drivers that currently work for the recreational vehicle transport company will be out of work effective November 1st. The news was first reported on the blog Freight Broker Live., which included a screen shot of an email sent to the company's employees.

Oct 16, 2019
Wondering If Wintry Weather Is Affecting Grain Markets? Ask Oats

Oats know is an old adage in Chicago grains markets, where moves in thinly traded oats can be a precursor for what may happen in the larger-volume corn and wheat contracts. What oats may know this week is that bitter winter storms that slammed parts of southern Canada and the northern U.S. have threatened serious damage to grain still standing in the fields.

Oct 15, 2019
How Fuel Surcharges are Calculated with Wayne Levinson

Wayne Levinson and I discuss the history of fuel surcharges and how they are calculated differently among shippers and brokers.

Oct 15, 2019
Drawn by the Salary, Women Flock to Trucking

Last year, Rebekah Koon left her job as an assistant manager of a gas station in Fort Bragg, N.C., to train as a truck driver, inspired by watching her uncle hit the road as a long-haul trucker when she was growing up.

Oct 15, 2019
Cash crops: Michigan farmers test growing market for industrial hemp

The millennials she works with planted the seed. All of their talk about industrial hemp and how it's going to be a real game changer for farmers and the environment is what led JoAnn Austin to research the crop for her farm just outside of Richmond and decide to grow it. "What they were saying made sense and why not do, something that's good for the earth and good for people?" said Austin, who, along with her husband, Richard, is among the more than 570 Michigan farmers who are licensed to g

Oct 14, 2019
Community rallies to help farmer in need before the ground freezes

ELLIS, Idaho The weather has been a headache for some area farmers this year. Heavy rain in the spring delayed planting, and in the fall, rain again delayed some from harvesting their grain. Now some potato farmers, who are still in the middle of their harvest, are lamenting the early freeze, which could damage their potato crop. Thankfully, other members of the community are stepping up to help.

Oct 12, 2019
Don’t Expect Much Of A Yield, Production Adjustment After Today

Thursdays USDA Crop Production report increased corn average yield slightly to 168.4 bu. per acre, up 0.2 bu. per acre from September. Soybean estimated yield dropped 1 bu. per acre to 46.9 bu. per acre for the national yield estimate. Overall production projections for both crops are down slightly.

Oct 12, 2019
Founded by an 18-year-old five years ago, Silver Trucking is on track to break $10 million in revenue

Founded by an 18-year-old five years ago, Silver Trucking is on track to break $10 million in revenueFounded by an 18-year-old five years ago, Silver Trucking is on track to break $10 million in revenue

Oct 12, 2019
CON ARTIST SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR DEFRAUDING BROKERS OUT OF $2.6 MILLION IN ELABORATE SHIPPING SCAM

TRENTON Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that a man was sentenced to prison today for orchestrating an elaborate shipping scam by which he defrauded five freight brokers out of $2.6 million. The defendant fled the country and was a fugitive for eight years after being indicted in 2011, but he returned in July 2019 and surrendered to the Division of Criminal Justice.

Oct 12, 2019
From ‘Carpet Farming’ to Custom Work, Young Farmer Chases Dream

BETHEL, Pa. In a field off Route 501, a John Deere combine and its operator have stopped for the day. The field once had sunflowers, but now shredded soft parts of stems cover the ground. Jake Degler of Bethel was relaxing with his wife, Amber, and their 20-month-old son, Lee Jeffery, after spending the evening at the wheel of the combine. Degler started his custom farming business, Degler Ag Services, earlier this year with a purchase of the John Deere combine.

Oct 11, 2019
‘It was part of her survival:’ Truck driver paves way for metro couple en route to hospital

INDEPENDENCE, Mo -- A man trying to rush his wife to the hospital got stuck in rush-hour traffic. While they were boxed in, a box truck driver came to the rescue, and escorted the couple to Centerpoint Medical Center. Now, they're searching for the driver who helped last Tuesday -- without knowing it was a matter of life and death.

Oct 11, 2019
Farm Tech Meets FinTech — Grain Silos And Data Silos

As farms grow larger, they often outgrow the resources of community banks, said Curt Hudnutt, head of rural banking for North America at Rabobank, a global leader in ag finance. As the U.S. ag industry continues to consolidate, and the size and scope of farm operations continues to increase, that means higher capital requirements which many community banks cant meet, he explained. Regulators are looking closely as community banks and the risk they may be carrying on their

Oct 10, 2019
U.S., Japan Trade Deals Provide Opportunity for Rural America

On Monday, President Donald Trump oversaw the signing of two limited trade deals with Japan, reducing tariffs on agricultural products including $2.9 billion worth of Americas beef and pork products. The deals were signed by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Shinsuke J. Sugiyama in the White House. According to Jim Wiesemeyer of Pro Farmer, the limited trade deal is intended to boost markets for American farmers and give Tokyo assurances th

Oct 10, 2019
Trucking Grapples With Impact of Legalized Marijuana

SAN DIEGO The trucking industry needs to get out in front of the challenges it faces with the growing legalization of marijuana, according to the co-chairman of an American Trucking Associations subcommittee studying the impact of controlled substances. An employee in certain states can use marijuana on the weekend and come to work and take a random drug test and lose his employment and a way to make a living, Harold Sumerford, CEO of J&M Tank Lines and co-chair of t

Oct 10, 2019
Why Trucking Companies Need to Plan Now for a Cyber Attack

When Harold Sumerfords phone rang at 2:30 a.m. on April 2, he knew the news couldnt be good. But he figured it was probably the safety department not the CFO telling him the companys entire computer system was down from a ransomware attack.

Oct 9, 2019
Could a Frost or Freeze This Week Still Impact the Markets?

Meteorologists are calling for a cold week across the Upper Midwest. But its not just the cold that has farmers concernedits the snow in the forecast. Hype over a possible early frost or freeze has been discussed since summer, but a mild fall prevented that from coming to fruition in some areas. As the forecast is changing, frost could still have an impact on prices but, according to some analysts, not as large of an impact as farmers would have seen if this sort of forec

Oct 9, 2019
WHAT’S NEW FROM BAYER CROP SCIENCE

Bayer has taken some hits since it closed on its purchase of Monsanto in June 2018. Its stock price of $30.10 on June 8, 2018, has dipped to last Fridays (October 4) $17.50 close. So far, Bayer is also 0 for 3 in glyphosate-cancer lawsuits. On the other hand, the cultural integration between the two firms is going well, says Liam Condon, president of Bayer Crop Science.

Oct 9, 2019
Stevens Tanker Division closes and eliminates 586 jobs across Texas

Dallas-based Stevens Tanker Division has notified the state of Texas it will cease operations by October 15. The closure will permanently affect 586 jobs across Texas, according to a notice sent to the Texas Workforce Commission. The tanker division, part of Dallas-based Stevens Transport, serves oil and gas drilling operations in Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The company was involved in the transport of water and frac sand used for drilling.

Oct 8, 2019
Indiana DOT to Expand Tech Use Along Interstate Routes

(TNS) The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has announced a tentative timeline for expanded information technology systems (ITS) to be installed along I-469 and I-69 in Allen County. Work is tentatively expected to begin on or after Monday, Oct. 7, weather permitting.

Oct 8, 2019
For-hire trucking industry loses 9,300 jobs the past two months

WASHINGTON The for-hire trucking industry has lost 9,300 jobs the past two months, according to the Department of Labors monthly job report released Friday, which showed that overall, U.S. employers added a modest 136,000 jobs in September, but enough to help lower the unemployment rate to a new five-decade low of 3.5%.

Oct 8, 2019
Truckers create memorial for murdered tourists along Alaska Highway

Along a rural stretch of the Alaska Highway, just south of Liard Hot Springs, a large memorial has been erected to ensure that the shortened lives of a young tourist couple are never forgotten.

Oct 8, 2019
Agriculture in brief: 10/05/2019

Agriculture in brief: 10/05/2019

Oct 8, 2019
Shippers' Advice to Truckers

Transport Topics Associate News Editor Dan Ronan recaps the MCE 2019 session in which shippers offered their perspective on critical issues to the trucking industry.

Oct 8, 2019
American Railroads Are Already in Recession With No End in Sight

This years railroad slump is getting worse as a slowdown in manufacturing threatens broader weakness in the U.S. economy. Theres no bottom in sight as the decline in carloads for large U.S. railroads widened to 5.5% in the third quarter, the biggest drop in three years, according to weekly reports from the Association of American Railroads. Shipments are down for autos, coal, grain, chemicals and consumer goods, with crude oil the only bright spot.

Oct 7, 2019
How an immigration scheme steers newcomers into Canadian trucking jobs – and puts lives at risk

Immigration consultants and trucking firms with sketchy safety records have found ways to exploit foreign job seekers, sometimes with tragic results when unprepared drivers are sent out on the road, a Globe investigation finds

Oct 5, 2019
Shippers hammer railroads with lawsuits over fuel surcharges

U.S. Class I railroads BNSF (NYSE: BRK), Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP), CSX (NYSE: CSX) and Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) got slammed with lawsuits this week from shippers of various industries. The lawsuits allege that between 2003 and 2008, the railroads engaged in price fixing by assessing fuel surcharges and saying they were part of a fuel cost recovery program, thus violating the Sherman Act. More than two dozen lawsuits may have been filed this week on the issue, according to research conduc

Oct 5, 2019
Andersons, Marathon, merge four ethanol operations into one company

The Andersons Inc. and Marathon Petroleum Corp. said Wednesday that they have merged four ethanol operations into a new company: The Andersons Marathon Holdings LLC. The operations involved are the Albion, Mich., ethanol plant; the Clymers, Ind., plant, and the Greenville, Ohio plant all three of which previously were jointly owned by Findlay-based Marathon and The Andersons, which is based in Monclova Township and The Andersons wholly-owned ethanol plant in Denison, Iowa.

Oct 5, 2019
Big rigs are hauling $643B worth of stuff in N.J., and more trucks are coming

If you think youre seeing more trucks on the road, its not your imagination. And more are coming, meaning that work needs to be done on highways and other infrastructure to keep up with the demand. A report by TRIP predicted that the value of freight moved by trucks in New Jersey will increase by 93% between 2016 to 2045, the 13th highest increase in the nation. Measured in weight of cargo moved, that would be a 54% increase for the same time period.

Oct 5, 2019
Autonomous trucks reach a new milestone (with video)

Recently I had the opportunity to test-drive Covenant Transport Groups latest addition to its fleet the amazingly clever automatic Freightliner Cascadia fully equipped with a Detroit engine and drivetrain along with the intelligent Assurance 5.0 suite of safety systems. Suffice to say, weve come a long way from my first experience with Detroit back in 1990 driving a Ford LNT9000 in the Outback of Australia. The two trucks couldnt be more different.

Oct 5, 2019
This year’s late harvest has domino effect

The immature crops, rain and snow that have delayed harvest will have wide-ranging ramifications: some are obvious and some are not. The financial hit is at the top of the obvious list. A lot of malting barley has been reduced to feed and a great deal of wheat and durum will now fall into the bottom grades. On top of that, many producers will spend a lot more on grain drying costs than in a more normal year.

Oct 4, 2019
Oakley Dishes the Dirt on Big-Time Sports

Like most American sports fans, Oakley Trucking operations manager Nick Dulaney will find himself watching some of the MLB playoffs at some point over the next month. Maybe itll be the game that clinches a team the pennant or even the World Series itself. And if theres a play at the plate or a bang-bang play on the bases, hell watch with a little more interest because he knows his company had a part in getting that field in shape for the big game. Dulaney and Oakley have

Oct 3, 2019
A major trucking company just slashed 10% of its workforce — and it shows the trucking ‘bloodbath’ isn’t over

The trucking industry has seen a downturn in 2019 with thousands of job losses and hundreds of bankruptcies. Truck drivers including Kentucky-based Chad Boblett have called the conditions a bloodbath.

Oct 3, 2019
Wenger Group purchases Risser Grain

RHEEMS, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S. The Wenger Group said on Sept. 30 that it will purchase Risser Grain, LLC, including seven grain locations, a fertilizer facility and a feed mill. The purchase agreement includes the grain and fertilizer operations of Risser. The grain facilities have millions of bushels of storage and processing capacity. Rissers fertilizer facility and production capacity is one of the largest in Pennsylvania.

Oct 3, 2019
Seth Moulton Proposes Digitizing Drivers License Notices

Outside the Danvers branch of the Registry of Motor Vehicles on Tuesday, Congressman Seth Moulton publicly announced legislation he's filed in hopes of making it easier for traffic safety officials to share information about drivers across state lines.

Oct 3, 2019
Trucking accounts for one-fourth of the fuel used on U.S. roads

The Energy Department's Vehicle Technologies Office's "fact of the week" pulls data on 2 key categories of medium- and heavy-duty trucks to illustrate what prolific fuel users they are. The big picture: As the chart above shows, in 2017 they consumed over one-fourth of the fuel used on U.S. roads despite being just 4.5% of the vehicles. "Combination" trucks alone that is, tractor trailers accounted for 17% of that consumption.

Oct 3, 2019
What you need to know about Thursday's 'slow roll' interstate protest

A group of truckers plan to hold a demonstration on interstates around Sioux Falls on Thursday morning to protest problems facing the trucking industry. The group will have a "slow roll" on I-29, I-229 and I-90, according to Jeremy Johnson, an organizer of the event. The demonstration, which involves a line of semi-trucks driving at a reduced speed, will loop around Sioux Falls and continue onto Pierre, Johnson said.

Oct 2, 2019
How to Improve Fuel Economy in a Truck

The US trucking industry spent an estimated $89.7 billion on diesel fuel in 2016 alone. Fuel is the second biggest expense motor carriers face, after labor costs. Since it's such a huge chunk of a trucking fleet's budget as much as 20% of the total operating cost saving on fuel is essential for any fleet, whether local or national. Yet it's tough to learn the best practices that would actually boost a truck's fuel economy. The data you need to make a decision is limited, and o

Oct 2, 2019
Insurer Must Pay $685K For Selling Trucking Co. Bad Policy

An insurer sold an inadequate policy to a trucking company whose warehouse flooded.....

Oct 2, 2019
Know before you go: The impact of seeing wait times before accepting loads

It is hard to run a trucking company in 2019. Over 600 companies have shut their doors this year, and plenty of others are struggling just to stay on the highway. In order to stay in the game, these carriers need to be profitable. Surging detention time at shipping facilities threaten that profitability, and by extension, some carriers very existence.

Oct 2, 2019
Number of women behind the wheel soars year-over-year

Women now make up over 10 percent of over-the-road (OTR) truck drivers, an increase of almost 30 percent over the 7.89 percent seen in the Women in Trucking (WIT) Associations 2018 survey. The increase came after a industry-wide push to hire more women drivers in response to last years capacity crunch. FreightWaves partnered with WIT to complete this years survey. It was conducted via email to FreightWaves readers, garnering 884 responses from across the logistics

Oct 2, 2019
Man admits to scheming truckers out of more than $1 million

A Maryland man has pled guilty to fraud charges after he allegedly rerouted and stole more than 1000 payment checks from trucking companies as part of a double brokering scheme. On September 26, 43 year old William Francis Hickey III pled guilty to two federal wire fraud charges relating to a scheme that took place between May 2016 and January 31, 2019.

Oct 1, 2019
Markets Rise on News About Grain Stocks, Possible China Ag Buys

The markets took off on Monday after USDA released it's latest grain stocks report and on news about China. The USDA pegs the old corn crop now at 2.11 billion bushels. That's down 1% from a year ago. An estimated 753 million bushels are estimated to be stored on farms. That's 22% higher than a year ago. Off-farm stocks are 1.36 billion bushels, down 10%. Joe Vaclavik of Standard Grain says, "That's a 300 million bushel difference in the pre-trade versus what was actually printed here. The re

Oct 1, 2019
Is beef really that bad?

If you look back at years past when our nation was a more agrarian society, the farmer was a respected person in the community. People were closer to agriculture and more in touch with the way farms worked. Today, that is not the case. People are more removed from agriculture than ever, despite their yearning for local food. How do I know this? The attacks that the public farmers face are relentless. Much of those attacks come from a place of misunderstanding. Many of those who hurl insults a

Oct 1, 2019
Truckers Run Massive Convoy For Special Olympics

FARGO N.D. Its a grand old roundup of truckers from across the valley for a significant cause. Seventy trucks escorted by police made their annual eighteenmiledrive around Fargo to raise money for Special Olympics. The Truck Convoy for Special Olympics is also a way to celebrate the trucking industry, law enforcement, and everyone who helps support causes like these.

Oct 1, 2019
THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE U.S. & CANADA’S ELD MANDATES

For the past few years the trucking industry has been focusing on electronic logging device (ELD) mandates. The U.S. first published its final ELD mandate in 2015, with fleet compliance starting in December 2017. Canada took a bit longer to release its version, but they finally published their ELD mandate in June 2019. Cross border fleets are expected to comply with both countries regulations, so here are the biggest differences companies should be aware of.

Oct 1, 2019
Marubeni Is Said to Sound Out Potential Buyers for Gavilon

Marubeni Corp., one of the worlds biggest general trading companies, has sounded out at least two potential buyers for its U.S. grains unit Gavilon Group LLC, according to people familiar with the matter. The Tokyo-based company has discussed a possible sale with at least two other trading firms, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the information is private. Talks are preliminary and no decision has been made, the people said.

Oct 1, 2019
Saying yes to the trucking industry

I am probably more familiar with what happens in truck stops than nearly everyone in this valley due to the fact I have traveled many thousands of miles in trucks as a hitchhiker. Yes, there are bad truck stops and there are bad truckers. And, there are very good truck stops, where a lone, single woman is not only safe from harassment but also treated with kindness and respect. Loves truck stop policies and the way they treat their staff, which reflects in the way the staff treats trav

Oct 1, 2019
ADM develops superabsorbent polymers in diapers from corn

In the future, cornstarch may not be the only corn product possibly found in diapers. Archer Daniels Midland Company and LG Chem announced a joint development agreement to create biobased acrylic acid, a foundational element required in the manufacture of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) used in a range of hygiene products, including diapers.

Sep 30, 2019
Collaborating on lanes can benefit shippers and carriers

David Heller, vice president of business development for Ashley Distribution Services, said at the CSCMP Edge 2019 conference last week that the owners of Ashley Furniture decided, Why dont we go from being strictly a consumer of transportation services to taking all of that volume that we have and that density and leveraging that to become a provider of transportation services?

Sep 30, 2019
Ken Foltz with Foltz Trucking on Growing to One of the Largest Hopper Bottom Fleets Nationwide

Ken Foltz talks about their humble beginnings and growing to having a fleet of over 200 hopper units. Listen here: https://www.bulkloads.com/tools/podcasts/ken-foltz-on-growing-to-one-of-the-largest-hopper-bottom-fleets-nationwide/

Sep 28, 2019
Lack of Rain Starting to Strain Kentucky Agriculture

Just six or seven months ago, Kentucky was dealing with overabundant rainfall and soaked pastures, but now things are close to bone dry. Kentucky needs rain, and fast. Unfortunately, weve been seeing many reports that the dry conditions we seem to be stuck in are putting stress on our farmers, said Matthew Dixon, agricultural meteorologist for the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Kentucky is officially in agricultural drought, an

Sep 28, 2019
United States inks trade deal with Japan

WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo signed a trade agreement on Sept. 25 that lowers or eliminates tariffs on many U.S. ag products and increases market access for U.S. ag producers in Japan. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), out of the $14.1 billion in U.S. food and agricultural products imported by Japan in 2018, $5.2 billion were already duty free. Under this first-stage initial tariff agreement, Japan will eli

Sep 28, 2019
Cargill Shows Meat Is Still a Cash Cow

Cargill Inc., Americas largest closely held company, posted a gain in quarterly earnings fueled by expanding global appetite for meat. Demand for protein such as beef, eggs and poultry helped the agricultural giant rebound from its steepest quarterly profit decline in four years. Reporting fiscal first-quarter earnings Thursday, it said protein demand rose in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Sep 28, 2019
Are female drivers really detained longer than men? (with video)

Not all female truck drivers agree with the findings of an American Transportation Research Institute survey that said far more women than men deal with lengthy detentions.

Sep 28, 2019
Why measuring driver brain waves might be better than cab cameras to prevent accidents

For the long-haul truckers that stay away from their families for days at a stretch, fatigue and physical discomfort are some of the most commonly shared realities of being behind the wheel. In some cases, hours-of-service (HoS) regulations have weighed into this issue with unintended consequences. Truckers routinely are left stranded on the side of highways as their HOS clocks run out of time even when they know full well that they would reach a town with an additional 10-minute driv

Sep 27, 2019
Sacramento-area crops could come out on top in US-Japan trade deal

The United States and Japan reached a trade deal Wednesday that could lead to more exports of Sacramento-area crops. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced two new trade agreements, regarding agricultural commodities and digital trade, which are designed to lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive trade deal later on.

Sep 27, 2019
FMCSA awards $77 million in truck safety grants

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) awarded over $77 million in grants to help states improve safety and reduce crashes. The funding package, announced on September 25, includes $43.3 million for truck safety technology, $32 million to improve commercial drivers license (CDL) programs, and $2 million in commercial motor vehicle training for veterans. The FMCSA in June began accepting applications for military drivers aged 18-21 seeking a CDL.

Sep 27, 2019
Court upholds $14K overweight fine for trucker who followed GPS

This week, a Pennsylvania Superior Court panel ruled against 40 year old semi truck driver Naron Akins and upheld the $14,250 he was issued for driving an overweight truck on a roadway in Hellertown in June 2018.

Sep 27, 2019
Scoular, Elkhart Cooperative announce partnership

ELKHART, KANSAS, U.S. Scoular Co. and Elkhart Cooperative on Sept. 25 announced a partnership that will create an additional 2 million bushels of grain storage space. Elkhart Cooperative, which operates 11 locations in Southwest Kansas, Colorado, and Oklahoma and already handles over 10 million bushels a year, said it needed more space at its Elkhart facility and worked with Scoular on a solution.

Sep 26, 2019
Virginia farmers fighting extreme dry conditions, praying for rain

GILES COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) Giles County has had barely any decent rainfall since early this summer and cattle farmers in the area say its crippling them. Drought is drying out business on the rocky hillsides, forcing farmers to desperate measures. Some say they just don't know what to do.

Sep 26, 2019
Fixing a legal loophole for young truckers

Skyrocketing college costs and stagnant wages are causing many high schoolers to reevaluate their options as graduation nears. The old adage that a four-year college is the best road to the middle class is no longer the conventional wisdom. But, there are vital industries in todays economy that offer opportunities for steady, good-paying jobs without the exorbitant financial burden of an undergraduate degree. One such industry is trucking.

Sep 25, 2019
How to Market and Grow Your Frieght Business Using Social Media with Matt Mecum

https://www.bulkloads.com/tools/podcasts/how-to-market-and-grow-your-business-using-social-media-with-matt-mecum/

Sep 25, 2019
FMCSA extends comment period for proposed rule to amend trucker hours-of-service regs

Washington The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended by 14 days the comment period for a proposed rule the agency claims would add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers, according to a notice published in the Sept. 19 Federal Register. The move comes in response to requests from industry groups, including the American Trucking Associations, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The n

Sep 25, 2019
Global Agriculture Market Forecast to 2022: Focus on Animal Produce, Crop Production, Rural Activities - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Global Agriculture Market Forecast to 2022 provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global agriculture market.

Sep 24, 2019
How brokers manage working capital in a challenging freight environment

Contract rates for trucking are still sliding while spot rates are flat to up, compressing freight brokerages gross margins. In a challenging freight environment for third-party logistics providers (3PLs) like the current market, brokerages that want to grow must figure out how to free up working capital. Commentary from the management at publicly-traded 3PLs confirms that tough conditions

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