Bulk Freight News & Industry Updates - Stay Ahead in Trucking

Deere & Co. cut nearly 500 salaried workers in Iowa and Illinois, with 319 employees slashed at the iconic tractor and combine manufacturer's global headquarters and production facility, both in Illinois, according to notices the Illinois Commerce and Economic Opportunity released Friday. Deere told Illinois officials that 298 white-collar workers were cut at the company's Moline world headquarters, and 21 employees were laid off from the company's John Deere Harvester Works manufa

The Multistate Tax Commission is considering changes to how trucking receipts are sourced for determining state income taxes, a move that industry stakeholders are very much against. For nearly 40 years, states have taxed interstate freight moved by trucks on a mileage-based model. However, some states are lobbying for a destination-based model, which can significantly alter how trucking receipts are divvied up. According to the current rule, states receive revenue from freight

When it comes to developing the next round of leaders for America’s trucking family businesses, straightforward communication may be the X factor in a successful transition—or a failed one. In a survey just published by The Smith Family Business Initiative at Cornell University, with the help of Family Enterprise USA and The Roberts Group, communicating effectively with the next generation of family trucking business leaders emerged as the biggest hurdle. As far as I know, no su

If you're currently paying more than $15k then you may be overpaying on your premium. BulkLoads Insurance Agents are shaving thousands off of bulk hauler's insurance premiums. With access to market knowledge and contacts, we know what to look for to save you thousands. Don't let the general insurance agencies continue to overprice your rate. Reach out today to find out how we can help.

A Thurston County Superior Court judge has denied an effort to make the state Department of Ecology find a way to assure farmers are exempt from paying fuel surcharges under the state’s cap-and-trade program as intended. Judge Chris Lanese dismissed a lawsuit earlier this week that would have required the agency to reopen rulemaking to fix the exemption process. The Washington Farm Bureau, the Washington Trucking Association and others sued the department a year ago after months

New worker safety regulations meant to log how many hours truckers are on the road may have inadvertently exposed millions of U.S. 18-wheelers to hackers who could take control of entire fleets of vehicles, according to a new Colorado State University paper. Jake Jepson, co-author and graduate research assistant at Colorado State University, said it's important to create guard rails as the nation's transportation networks, power grids, water systems and other critical infrastructure mo

A semi-annual survey of freight brokers from Bloomberg Intelligence and truckstop shows brokers are hopeful that demand could pick up in the latter half of the year. "Though freight brokers continued to face challenging demands and rates in the first half of the year, there are some signs that the worst may be over."

Loans to trucking companies have been one of the troubled parts of bank portfolios the past two years, but the worst may just be over.  Shipping volumes on trucks fell at a lower pace in the second quarter of the year, according to a new U.S. Bank report on trucking conditions, a sign that the industry's fortunes could be turning. Trucking companies boomed during COVID as home-bound consumers splurged on goods and deliveries, but the industry's financial results had been spiraling as s

Two years ago, Galen Lee was trying to buy a plot of land in Fruitland to farm, but he was outbid by a housing developer for twice as much as he could offer. Lee is a fourth generation farmer in Payette County, and he raises sugar beets, peppermint, asparagus, alfalfa, corn and beef.  This year, those developers converted 20 acres of that piece of land in Fruitland into housing developments. Next year, they will develop it into more housing, Lee said.  “It’s frustrating a

Driver turnover is one of the trucking industry’s most ubiquitous and evergreen concerns. The annual industrywide turnover rate has consistently come in at over 90% since the 1990s. Conversations about turnover and retention often hinge heavily on pay, but that is only part of the story. While drivers certainly care about their paychecks, another factor may be even more responsible for this yearly exodus: poor engagement. It is true that drivers often receive a bump in pay – via higher

Total Transborder Freight by Border in May 2024, Compared to May 2023: Transborder freight between the U.S. and North American countries Canada and Mexico: Total transborder freight: $138.9 billion of transborder freight moved by all modes of transportation, up 2.0% compared to May 2023 Freight between the U.S. and Canada: $66.0 billion, down 2.4% from May 2023 Freight between the U.S. and Mexico: $73.0 billion, up 6.3% from May 2023 <

As farmers across the U.S. are on track to harvest some of their biggest corn and soybean crops ever, the Federal Reserve says the ongoing decline in commodity prices is putting farm income in questionable territory. “Regional Fed banks in Chicago and Minneapolis say the farm income outlook had weakened in recent months,” according to the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book. “Agricultural conditions in the Kansas City Fed’s District says farmers faced headwinds from weak crop prices. Elevated

U.S. trailer orders in June remained below the previous year’s levels, according to ACT Research. Preliminary net data indicated a 19% year-over-year decline, with orders dropping to 6,300 units. However, this total represented a slight increase compared to the previous month. “This month’s data shows 26,000 trailers were ordered in Q2 2024, a 14% contraction compared to the same quarter in 2023. June’s net orders bring the year-to-date tally to 74,500, a reduction of 23,900 uni

A new study by the National Corn Growers Association shows American corn growers were responsible for a $152 billion boost to the U.S. economy in 2023. The report looked at the number of ways corn growers help shape the economy, including economic output, contributions to the Gross Domestic Product, tax revenues, labor income, and employment statistics. “The data shows that growers remain deeply rooted in rural America, where they serve as pillars of economic growth

For the first time in nearly two years, the average cost of moving goods by truck is set to rise 0.2% annually this month, signaling a potential end to the trucking recession, according to Bloomberg. Trucking executives are optimistic, noting demand is returning to pre-pandemic levels. Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. CEO Adam Miller expects demand to build at the end of the third quarter and see seasonal activity in the fourth quarter. The Russell 3000 Trucking Index, inclu

Whether disruptions are happening or not, shippers should have contingency plans in place, experts say, which was a hard lesson learned during the pandemic. Though as that crisis subsided, 2024 has not been a smooth year for ocean shipping stakeholders. Risks along the Red Sea have created longer transit times, fueling congestion at some ports in Asia. Along with higher ocean rates and a looming East and Gulf Coast labor contract expiration, shippers are also facing a volatile ocean ma

Here's what TMS user Mike Korte from K2 LLC has to say: "What I have discovered is the TMS portion is cost-effective in our industry, and easy to use for us older guys, it truly has made my life easier. I probably would not do what I'm doing today if it wasn't for TMS. It just, it makes my life so much easier. The whole purpose was to enjoy my truck and help guys t

An explosion occurred at Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM)’s processing complex in Decatur on Sunday morning. A spokesperson from ADM said a “potential smoldering event” was found at an elevator in the building around 6:30 a.m. Upon investigation, surrounding operations were shut down and the complex was evacuated. The Decatur Fire Department was called to the scene. The elevator exploded an hour later at 7:30 a.m. The spokesperson said no one was hurt in the incident. However, the e

The national Outbound Tender Reject Index topped out at its highest level in nearly two years just before the Fourth of July, a smidge above 6.5%. The more interesting pattern might be the fact that the OTRI has been perfectly mirroring the 2019 pattern since mid-May. Is the 2019 market a good blueprint for the rest of 2024? What's Similar?  The 2019 freight market was extraordinarily loose and characterized by deflating rates and a strong capacity bleed-off. Th

Broker transparency and the enforcement of 49 CFR 371.3, pertaining to records to be kept by brokers and carriers' right to review the record, remain among the hottest debates in trucking, with small carriers and owner-operators demanding visibility from brokers, and big brokers who would rather keep their cards close to their chest.  Earlier this year, Overdrive surveying, detailed in this report, found about 3 in 4 owner-operators want brokers to reveal the rates shippers pa

Major rulemaking deadlines were again extended as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration pushed back several decisions to 2025. The FMCSA’s proposed truck speed limiter rule was scheduled to be published this June but is now delayed to May 2025. It would require that trucks over 26,000 pounds be equipped with an electronic speed governor set to a currently undetermined maximum speed. This is the second time the rule has been pushed, with the first being originally scheduled by mid-20

The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index suggests the supply-demand balance between the fleet and freight is narrowing, ACT Research reported Thursday. ACT states the Volume Index decreased 5.5 points in June to 48.9, seasonally adjusted (SA), from a Roadcheck-assisted 54.4 in May. “Volumes have been fairly flat this year, but they’ve improved to ‘less worse’ on a year over year basis, with the index averaging 48.8 through the first half of this year, versus

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has asked Congress to give the agency the statutory authority to assess civil penalties for unauthorized brokerage violations — both the double-brokering and fraud problems as well as a significant increase it has seen in household goods consumer complaints.   The report to Congress was in response to the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which required FMCSA to report on efforts

When it comes to developing the next round of leaders for America’s trucking family businesses, straightforward communication may be the X factor in a successful transition—or a failed one. In a survey just published by The Smith Family Business Initiative at Cornell University, with the help of Family Enterprise USA and The Roberts Group, communicating effectively with the next generation of family trucking business leaders emerged as the biggest hurdle. As far as I know, no su

In the competitive trucking sector, growth hinges on strategic moves that extend beyond daily operations. From market expansion and cost efficiencies to talent acquisition and competitive advantage, acquisition can offer a multitude of opportunities. First and foremost, do you have a clear objective for what you want the acquisition to achieve? This is a critical step that many buyers often overlook, as many believe that an acquisition is necessary to grow, emphasized Spenc

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is alerting truckers about fraudulent emails purported to be from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. OOIDA, which represents small-business truckers, has received several reports from members about an email scam that attempts to hijack a motor carrier’s authority. The email, which appears to come from FMCSA, includes attachments of forms MCSA-5889 or MCS-150 and asks carriers for their USDOT PIN. “Although t

Money. It's either the root of all evil, the thing that makes the world go 'round or, somehow, both.  In either case, it's the top factor that truck drivers said would lure them away from their current job and to another fleet. CCJ's What Drivers Want survey, conducted this spring in partnership with Lytx, revealed – even if unsurprisingly – that 35% of drivers claim being offered more money would be the main reason they would consider changing jobs and driving for another fle

Federal regulators are delaying several rulemakings affecting the trucking sector, including a controversial rule that would limit new trucks’ engine speeds. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposed truck speed limiter rule, scheduled to be published last month, has been delayed to May 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s latest agenda released by the White House Office of Management and Budget. The proposed rule, which would require that

Nobody enjoys locking themselves into a contract that either they don't understand or may not be able to work with later. Contracts can get in the middle of your business and trying to grow it. We hate contracts and we believe that you should be in charge of your money. BulkLoads offers freight factoring through our partner company, Smart Freight Funding, to do just that for you. No contracts No minimums Paid in 24-hours Take control of your busine

As farmers across the U.S. are on track to harvest some of their biggest corn and soybean crops ever, the Federal Reserve says the ongoing decline in commodity prices is putting farm income in questionable territory. “Regional Fed banks in Chicago and Minneapolis say the farm income outlook had weakened in recent months,” according to the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book. “Agricultural conditions in the Kansas City Fed’s District says farmers faced headwinds from weak crop prices. Elevated

U.S. trailer orders in June remained below the previous year’s levels, according to ACT Research. Preliminary net data indicated a 19% year-over-year decline, with orders dropping to 6,300 units. However, this total represented a slight increase compared to the previous month. “This month’s data shows 26,000 trailers were ordered in Q2 2024, a 14% contraction compared to the same quarter in 2023. June’s net orders bring the year-to-date tally to 74,500, a reduction of 23,900 uni

It was the Tik Tok video that sealed the deal for Sourav Saini. A minute-long spiel from a Punjabi-speaking influencer, singing the praises of Navkin Transport, a new trucking business in Brampton, Ont., where Saini lives. "There is a top-notch company providing trips to the U.S.," said the ad. "It's a great company with great work and guaranteed trips … We will rock!" Saini, 24, already had his trucking licence and had been looking for a way into the industr

 recent survey seems to confirm what many truckers have long believed: other motorists don't know how to drive around big trucks. A survey of 1,000 people by FinditParts found the majority of other motorists -- the folks truckers refer to as "four wheelers" -- don't realize they are unseen when in the blind spots of tractor-trailers. It also found about two-thirds of people who say they feel unsafe around big rigs, blame the trucker and their rig. The key i

The American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council and Decisiv said that combined parts and labor expenses fell 1.7% during the first quarter of 2024, according to data released in the latest Decisiv/TMC North American Service Event Benchmark Report. “Lower parts and labor costs are welcome news to fleets, who have been weathering substantial increases for much of the last several years,” said TMC executive director Robert Braswell. “This important parts and labor

Deliveries are getting faster than ever in the U.S., but the faster movement of goods is undercutting the country’s climate progress.  In a new study published July 18 in the journal Nature Energy, a CU Boulder researcher and his collaborator estimate that federal regulations aimed at enhancing heavy-duty trucks’ energy efficiency could be as much as 20% less effective than policymakers initially anticipated.  That’s because the regulations make trucking cheaper. As a result, mo

Despite economic headwinds, including rising operating costs and high capital costs in contrast with low freight rates, momentum in merger and acquisition deals continues. According to data from S&P Capital IQ, the transportation and logistics sector saw a total deal value of $29.7 billion with 52 disclosed deals from November 2023 to April 2024,

On Friday, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling along ideological lines, overturned Chevron and handed authority back to Congress and the courts. Overturning the doctrine is a significant ruling that limits federal regulatory power. The Chevron doctrine, established in 1984, had directed courts to defer to federal agencies' reasonable interpretations of ambiguous laws. The decision was split along ideological lines, with the conservative majority voting to overturn Chevron

Frances Hall, former co-owner of Bill Hall Jr. Trucking, has been sentenced for her role in a scheme to avoid $9 million in workers’ compensation premiums. During her appearance on July 10 in Austin’s 147th District Court, Hall was sentenced based on a plea she entered in May. Under the plea agreement, Hall received 10 years deferred adjudication, was ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution, and will undergo treatment as the probation department recommended.

The trucking industry is turning a corner after a prolonged freight recession that succeeded the Covid boom in transportation rate and services, according to logistics executives. Data from Motive, which tracks trucking visits to North American distribution facilities for the top five retailers, shows volume up 30% year-over-year in June. Hamish Woodrow, Head of Strategic Analytics founder and CEO of Motive, told CNBC it is seeing significant freight being moved into all retaile

A group of Louisiana trucking firms and a moving and storage company are challenging the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on a new rule that changed how independent contractors are classified. The trucking industry has shared concerns that the rule could necessitate reclassifying independent drivers as employees, thus escalating costs and reducing driver autonomy. In February, Frisard’s Transportation first filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

'This is my second year with BulkLoads Insurance. They helped me move out of progressive and hopefully help me save a ton in my 3rd year. No complaints so far.'   - JMC Cattle Co   You deserve great service and an agent that will fight tooth and nail to save on your insurance premium. BulkLoads Insurance cares about your operation as a

Truck driving is vital to ensuring that the economy functions appropriately. However, there has been quite a bit of stressful news related to trucking, and that trend is continuing. The latest is that several truck drivers could have their commercial driver’s licenses downgraded in the coming months. This would be the case for drivers who fail to meet specific guidelines. According to CDL Life, 171,361 truck drivers with either their full CDL or a CLP could soon have their licenses d

According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the used Class 8 average retail sale price ebbed 1.5% lower month-over-month to $58,400 in May. “On a year-over-year basis, used retail prices were 15% lower,” said vice president at ACT Research, Steve Tam. “We anticipate the price outlook will soften in our next update, owing to a weaker than expected freight market. Prices are expected to remain stable through most of 2024, transitioning to

The U.S. winter wheat harvest is running ahead of schedule and is stronger than expected, federal agriculture officials said Friday. A bumper crop means lower prices for wheat buyers, like flour mills, food companies and farmers who feed grain to livestock. But U.S. growers are watching their profits wither as they coax some of the highest yields on record from their land.

Reginald Walton had just rolled his 18-wheeler into Louisiana, eastbound on Interstate 10 after making a Texas delivery, when he spotted what looked like a discarded baby doll sitting on the embankment. Then he saw movement. “I noticed that it moved and I called 911 and told them I thought I saw a child on the side of the road,” Walton told The Associated Press in a Friday telephone interview. Walton, of Texarkana, Texas, didn’t know it as he maneuvered his semitrailer to the roadside Tuesday mo

Bath & Body Works Logistics Services announced June 18 that it laid off 85 employees from a distribution center in Columbus, Ohio. The layoffs are tied to clothing retailer Express filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, officials said. “The [distribution] facility provides logistics and shipping services to the Express clothing brand. On April 22, Express filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced its plan to close 100 stores. Since that time Express’s volume has remained low

Trucks are on the move, with around 72.6% of the nation's freight by weight, according to trucking industry statistics from the American Trucking Associations' professionals. That makes the goal of this blog all the more finite, as truckers pave the way for the American economy to thrive. In this post, we're going to provide an in-depth analysis of the current trends, key statistics, and future forecasts for the US trucking industry in 2024. By the end of this Cota Systems extensive re

Freight carriers that want to challenge regulations that govern them may have received a significant boost from the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday in a decision that overturns a 40-year precedent of deference given to federal agencies. The high court decided 6-3 to overrule the Chevron doctrine, a policy challenged in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo that requires lower courts to defer to regulatory agencies in legal challenges of regulations that agencies have inte

Wider adoption of low- and zero-emission commercial trucks will depend on the development of new fueling and charging infrastructure, but industry stakeholders will need to overcome a variety of challenges along the way. Energy sector leaders high­lighted the importance of government incentives, consistent energy policies and industry partnerships to ease the transition toward cleaner trucks and the infrastructure to support them. “We are trying to skate where the puck is,” said

As more and more people continue to shop online, the United States also continues to face a decline in qualified truck drivers to to get those goods delivered. From those aging out or retiring, to barriers of entry for younger workers, experts say several factors are causing the massive shortage. But a community college in North Carolina is leading the charge in helping high school students prepare and qualify early to meet the demand. Johnston Community College has been trainin

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimated 91.5 million acres of corn planted in the United States for 2024, down 3% from last year, according to the Acreage report released today. Soybean area planted is estimated at 86.1 million acres, up 3% from last year. Following up on the Prospective Plantings report released in March, NASS surveyed approximately 9,000 segments of land and nearly 64,000 farm operators during the first two weeks

Used Class 8 truck sales in May increased 18.1% compared with the same period the prior year, ACT Research reported. Sales increased to 22,800 units from 19,300 during May 2023. But there was no change in sales from the prior month. The average retail sale price fell 15.5% year-over-year to $58,380 from $69,073, and 1.5% from $59,269 the prior month. Mileage decreased 2.1% to 417,000 from 426,000 a year ago, and 0.5% from 419,000 the prior month. “We anticipate the price outlook

Have you ever dreamed of operating your own business? Be in charge of your work by setting up your own authority. Have questions on what steps to take? BulkLoads Permitting can help answer any questions and assist you along the way. Get your DOT Number Apply for your operating authority so you can travel out of state Set up your IRP/IFTA accounts in most states Handle your ongoing paperwork (IFTA filings, Plate renewals, etc) so you don't have to!

On April 10, 2024, a Dallas County trial court jury returned a Nuclear Verdict® of $37.5 million,1 This case involved a gruesome and tragic accident between two commercial vehicles and resulted in the death of one driver. What might have driven jurors to award such a significant verdict? Facts On August 7, 2021, Shamser Singh, who was working as a commercial driver for AVS Trucking LLC, stopped his tractor-trailer partially on the shoulder and partially in the right lan

TFI International acquired Entreposage Marco Inc. for an undisclosed sum, its fifth takeover in 2024 and second of a food-grade liquids hauler, the company announced in a LinkedIn post. Based in Montreal, TFI ranks No. 4 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America and continues to grow through acquisitions. Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec-based Entreposage — a stainless steel tank hauler — specializes in transporting edible products, including

While enduring a prolonged freight recession, the largest trucking companies in North America have been surviving on lower rates and tightly managing their operating expenses as they await a market rebound. The financial strain caused by the freight downturn, which took hold in mid-2022 and has continued for two years into the first half of 2024, is plainly evident on this latest edition of Transport Topics’ Top 100 For-Hire Carriers list. The preponderance of companies that app

With tighter commercial truck greenhouse gas emissions regulations poised to take effect in 2027, most of the industry seems to agree that truck pre-buy activity will be substantial next year and into 2026, said Chris Visser, director of specialty vehicles at J.D. Power. At a recent media event, Magnus Koeck, vice president of strategy, marketing and brand management for Volvo Trucks North America, said his company is already seeing signs of pre-buy activity, particularly among private

FTR reports a significant dropoff in U.S. trailer orders in May, falling 56% from the April level to 5,766 units, which is down 14% year-over-year and 65% below the average for the last 12 months. The number of trailers ordered over the last 12 months now totals 198,200 units. FTR says the May decrease was primarily driven by a substantial drop in gross orders coupled with the sustained high level of cancellations. Trailer production decreased by 5% month-over-month and 22%

Market reports for the month of May find hopeful improvements for some trucking segments. Freight volumes are looking up for fleets in both spot and contract markets—particularly for van and reefer loads. Rates remain steady, with modest changes that vary by segment. American Trucking Associations and DAT Freight & Analytics provide monthly market reports that provide these findings. The two organizations found that freight volumes in May saw long-awaited year-over-year incr

Although spot rates increased for two of the three principal equipment types, total broker-posted spot rates in the Truckstop system were essentially unchanged during the week ended June 14 (week 24) due to changes in the freight mix. Meanwhile, spot truckload rates bounced higher in May in the DAT One freight marketplace as shippers sought capacity to move greater volumes of van and refrigerated freight, said DAT Freight & Analytics, operators of the DAT One fr

Sarah Adams of Gallagher predicts tech will revolutionize remote farming, enabling individual animal management for precision and sustainability. Emerging technologies are set to transform remote farming operations by allowing animals to be managed increasingly as individuals, Gallagher’s head of new ventures says.  Sarah Adams says the future of farming lies in greater precision – getting the most out of every animal and resource in the farm system. 

The amount of freight hauled by trucks in May improved in May after declining in April, according to the American Trucking Associations. ATA’s advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 3.6% in May after decreasing 1% in April. In May, the index equaled 115.9 (2015=100) compared with 111.9 in April. “May was the first month since February 2023 that tonnage increased both sequentially and from a year earlier,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “While

After decades of substantial U.S. agricultural trade surpluses, staggering agricultural trade deficits over the past two years have caught the nation’s attention. For fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 – September 2024), USDA’s Economic Research Service estimates that there will be a record $32 billion agricultural trade deficit. The fiscal year 2024 deficit follows the current record deficit of $16.7 billion set in fiscal year 2023 and would be only the fourth agricultural trade deficit in the l

Appropriations action for fiscal year 2025 continued Thursday with the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee approving a bill setting funding levels for covered departments for next year. Among provisions in the bill is one that would prohibit the Department of Labor from implementing its independent contractor rule, which was finalized and took effect earlier this year.

If you're running multiple trucks, efficiency is crucial. BulkLoads offers a suite of tools specifically for bulk freight that allows you to: Dispatch Drivers Easily provide your drivers with what they need to haul a load. Make it easy for them to get tickets and paperwork back to you so you can invoice your customers faster. Invoice Your Customers Connect your QuickBooks and seamlessly invoice faster to increase your cash flow. Elimin

Farmers planted 91.5 million acres of corn and 86.1 million acres of soybeans with both coming in slightly higher than USDA's forecast in March. Corn grain stocks on June 1 were pegged at 4.99 billion bushels and soybeans came in at 970 million bushels. USDA on Friday released its Acreage report and quarterly Grain Stocks estimates. The reports, which were scheduled for release at 11 a.m. CDT, were delayed by several minutes due to a system failure at the National Agricultural S

A former New York trucking company owner was convicted by a federal jury of making false statements to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Tony Kirik, who also goes by Anatoliy, operated Rochester-based Dallas Logistics, which had millions of dollars in revenue. He submitted false documents regarding the safety rating of his business to the FMSCA during compliance reviews and safety audits, even though the company had “many safety violations,” the IRS said in an announceme

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released a new study on the unique challenges faced by women truck drivers. The results of the study “Identifying and Mitigating the Challenges Faced by Women Truck Drivers” were released by the ATRI on June 18, 2024. The ATRI surveyed both male and female truck drivers on key workplace problems that they experience on the job, then identified the following six core challenges for women truck dri

According to the latest reports from ACT Research, current Class 8 overcapacity and production levels may upset the market in the near future. Trailer and medium-duty truck forecasts were largely unchanged, ACT said. “Not only did April build not slow in the face of tough freight fundamentals, falling backlogs, and near-record inventories, production of Class 8 vehicles came in well ahead of expectations. Still strong production and an upwards adjustment to our inventory-carryi

The first signs of trucking's pre-buy ahead of 2027 emission regulations might be underway.  ACT Research reported Tuesday that trucking industry data was disinflationary in May, with truck orders rising despite lower Cass shipments and stalling spot trends. The company says the activity could show an industry prioritizing planning for emissions rules over cost economics. “Typically by this point in the cycle, Class 8 tractor orders have fallen considerably further, but

Viterra plans to build a grain facility in Dalhart, Texas, US, that will include a state-of-the-art grain handling systems and loop track served by Union Pacific Railroad’s 32,000-mile network. "As local demand for grain increases, this investment will allow us to market and move product more efficiently to customers in the West Texas area," said Rayner Freyberg, chief executive officer US & Mexico for Viterra. "As we've shown with our previous investments in the are

Covenant Logistics CEO David Parker told the Rotary Club of Chattanooga that battery-powered trucking and autonomous trucking are both far from reality. He said the money, infrastructure and technology that will bring that future to trucking won’t exist for many years. Mr. Parker told the crowd that air carriers can already fly a route with no pilot. But nothing compares with meeting the pilot, preferably gray-haired, he said, when embarking on his flight.

Conditions for trucking companies in April were significantly better than in March, according to the latest report from FTR. FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index indicated a more hospitable environment for carriers in April, while still remaining negative, at a reading of -1.95, up from -7.25 in March. That’s the best reading since January, when the TCI was at -1.41. Both freight rates and financing costs were less negative in April, and freight volume improved during the month, the

Trucking expenses climbed to a new high in 2023 for the third year in a row, according to research released Tuesday by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), dragged upward by a soft freight market that challenged operational efficiency. After first cresting the $2 per mile mark in 2022, the overall marginal costs of operating a truck hit a new record $2.270 per mile in 2023. Cost per mile has climbed 62.4 cents since 2020.  

As more and more people continue to shop online, the United States also continues to face a decline in qualified truck drivers to get those goods delivered. From those aging out or retiring, to barriers of entry for younger workers, experts say several factors are causing the massive shortage. But a community college in North Carolina is leading the charge in helping high school students prepare and qualify early to meet the demand.  Johnston Community College has been tra

Don't get trapped into a contract that you don't want to be in. Factoring companies have made a living on getting you stuck and telling you there is a minimum number needing to be factored in each month. They know that once you sign that contract you have no other choice.  No contracts. No minimums. Full transparency. Powered by Smart Freight Funding, BulkLoads created a factoring service. Have a personal accountant walk you through every step of the way to make sure you understand eve

“Better days are in sight for trucking companies.” Words fleets are eager to hear, coming this week from FTR’s vice-president of trucking, Avery Vise. But the recovery is coming slowly and there still remains an imbalance between capacity and freight demand. Trucking conditions improved slightly in April according to FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI), which jumped up to -1.95 but remained in negative territory.

A new law to reduce the number of commercial truck permits the state requires might benefit the family business of the state lawmaker who pushed the measure. Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, authored Senate Bill 260 even though her husband Jody owns a commercial trucking company that could gain from the bill. Her legislation allows truckers to purchase fewer $2,500 annual state permits for hauling heavy equipment. It takes effect Aug. 1. Cloud said her husband’s company only

About 2,000 truck drivers, warehouse and dock workers, and office personnel of Humble, Texas-based U.S. Logistics Solutions (USLS), formerly Forward Air Solutions, say they were blindsided late Thursday when they were notified via conference calls or by text messages that the company was ceasing operations and that they would not receive paychecks Friday. Eric Culberson, former president of USLS, confirmed the closure in a LinkedIn post on Saturday, stating that thousands of workers we

Reuters’ P.J. Huffstutter and Karl Plume reported Monday that “after stockpiling crops for much of this season due to low prices, many farmers in the world’s largest corn-producing nation continue to shun buyers despite few signs that prices will improve. Grain supplies are ample and early ratings of summer crops are the best in years.” “A larger-than-normal volume of grain remains unsold, according to Reuters interviews with 15 grain farmers across the U.S. Midwest,” Huffstutter and P

At its New River Valley (NRV) operations center in Dublin, Va., Volvo held an event to detail every aspect of its all-new Volvo VNL truck. In addition to learning the ins-and-outs of the company’s decked-out Class 8 flagship model (wait for our follow up on the ride and drive experience on Volvo’s private test track), Magnus Koeck, vice president, strategy, marketing and brand management, Volvo Trucks North America, walked us through where we’re at in the North American heavy-duty trucking ma

Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) shared video of a 916,000 pound super load on the move on Wednesday. Video shared on June 19 by ODOT press secretary Matt Bruning shows the twelfth of nearly two dozen “super loads” at SR 104 and 207 as the load is moved from Pike County and into Ross County. According to ODOT, the super load an air processor known as a cold box used in the silicon chip manufacturing process. It measures appr

Peterbilt announced Tuesday it has received more than 5,000 orders for its Model 589, highlighting the widespread acceptance and enthusiasm for the new model from both drivers and fleets. Peterbilt also recently celebrated the delivery of the 1,000th Model 589 to long-standing and valued customer, Mike Lowrie Trucking based in Dixon, California. “As the proud recipient of Peterbilt's 1,000th Model 589, I am reminded of the legacy that my family has shared with Peterb

The major advocacy groups for the petroleum products industry, the voice of independent trucking operators, and two major farming groups have joined orces to oppose the latest anti-pollution regulations aimed at heavy-duty trucks and other equipment.    The American Petroleum Institute (API) today, Tuesday, June 18, filed a lawsuit in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) heavy-duty vehicle emissions standards for model years (MY

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) electric vehicle and truck mandates are working their way through the system – but not without pushback. On March 20, the EPA announced a final rule, known as “Multi-Pollutant Emissions Standards for Model Years 2027 and Later Lighter-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles.” The EPA established new standards that it says will diminish air pollutant emissions from light- and medium-duty vehicles, starting with model year 2027 offerings.

Law enforcement from Arizona and other states descended on Congress on Wednesday, lobbying against a proposal to allow much heavier trucks on the nation’s highways. Backers say the idea would improve the supply chain. But Jeffrey Hawkins, president of the Arizona State Troopers Association, warned that heavier semitrailers would endanger other drivers and lead to more serious crashes. “We only have 63% of Phoenix filled, currently, with troopers,” he said outside the office of R

The trucking industry fuel demand remains remarkably stable, even amid rising fuel prices. This indicates that the demand for fuel in this sector is inelastic, underscoring its essential role in freight transportation. For a comprehensive overview of the trucking industry. In the trucking industry, the demand for fuel shows minimal sensitivity to price increases. This inelastic demand means that fuel consumption remains relatively constant, even when prices soar. This stabilit

A Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) trooper shared a social medial post over the weekend thanking grain harvesters for their hard work and perseverance. On June 15, 2023, Trooper Ben with KHP Troop C took to Facebook to give thanks for the work of the agricultural community in Kansas. Kansas grain harvesters… Today, as I drove through our state, I saw you all working hard, moving your precious crops from the fields to the local co-ops.

"When my renewal came in at 38k I reached out to Zach with Bulkloads to see if they had any better rate. Within 2 weeks he had me insured with the same deductible and cargo for 14k." - Willie Hill There's no harm in being like Willie and seeing how much you can save on your premium. We've saved bulk haulers thousands of dollars on their premium. If you're uncomfortable with what you're paying for your insurance, let us know. Get with a team that always has your back an

A Georgia jury recently awarded more than $47 million to the family of a 35-year-old owner-operator who was killed in a August 2017 crash involving a former company driver for Wisconsin-based Schneider National Carriers.  “Nuclear verdicts” are described as jury awards in which penalties exceed $10 million. Following a five-day trial, jurors in Cherokee County State Court in Canton, Georgia, awarded $47 million in compensatory damages on June 7 against Schneider National (NYSE:

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators have approved a 25% increase in fees collected by states from motor carriers, brokers and leasing companies that are used to pay for state highway safety programs.  The fee increase in the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan for the 2025 registration year, announced on Friday by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, amounts to approximately $9 to $9,000 more per year that carriers will pay, depending on the size of their fleet (see table).

After a whirlwind few years during COVID-19, national data forecasts farm sector income will fall in 2024. The prediction follows record highs during 2022. Owners at one local farm told WCPO it’s still too soon to tell how 2024 will go, but they say some pandemic-related issues have resolved over the last year or so. “It seems like everything's going back to normal,” said Jack McGlasson, a part-owner of McGlasson Farms.  

Resilience — essentially risk management — is an increasingly critical consideration for road builders. Climate change is impacting roads in surprising ways, and contractors and engineers need to be prepared for extreme weather, sea level rise and hotter temperatures, said a panelist at the National Institute of Building Sciences’ Building Innovation Conference in Washington, D.C., on May 23.   The average cost per mile of a two-lane road is now about $10 million, said Amir Gola

The week of June 10, Farm Journal is celebrating the next generation of American agriculture. Our goal is to encourage you to plan for the future and cultivate multigenerational success through the transfer of skills and knowledge. Think tomorrow, act today to align your asset, resource and financial legacy.

Dive Brief: On-highway diesel prices reached a two-year low of under $3.66 per gallon, per U.S. Energy Information Administration data released Monday. The recent record continued a downward push that’s unfolded during the last three weeks. The series eclipsed an earlier low set on July 3, 2023, for the period. The current rates are well below a January forecast from the agency, with a Midwest region seeing the largest drop of 8 cents week over week.

Transportation attorney says abusive lease-purchase deals are chasing potential tank truckers out of the industry, suppressing rates, driving up premiums—and damaging safety efforts 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

As cargo theft grows rampant in the freight industry, strategic theft has also come up. Talking about the surge of cargo theft, Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at CargoNet, said, “[A big increase] is the fraud using deceptive means to steal a load – whether it’s stealing someone else’s identity to go on a load board, creating a trucking company and going on a load board, and buying another trucking company’s operating authority, name, email and domain, and eventually, taking

Seasonal market trends have continued to appear in the freight market as volume levels have remained healthier than they were this time last year. The Memorial Day holiday provided a boost to volumes to start June, but as in years prior, volume levels have started to decline. If volumes can flatten out in the coming weeks, it sets up the market for continued volume growth throughout the back half of the year. The Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI), which is a measure of national freig

A sinkhole opened up and completely swallowed the rear tanker trailer as a semi truck hauled doubles through a city in California on Monday.  The sinkhole opened up in Madera, California on June 10th near Pecan Avenue and Granada Drive just before 11 a.m.  According to ABC 30, the incident occurred near the location of a sewer line break that was identified last week. The truck driver sustained minor injuries as a result of the accident, and it took crews several hours to remove

If you're a carrier with multiple trucks, starting a brokerage division can unlock numerous opportunities for your trucking business. Many trucking companies are now adding brokerage services to diversify their operations and safeguard their business by not putting all their eggs in one basket. BulkLoads Permitting will assist you in obtaining your brokerage authority with ease. We offer comprehensive permitting services, including IFTAs, new carrier or brokerage authorities, and suppo