The month prior, September, was a record-breaking month for truck sales within the industry, so it was hardly feasible that October would be able to top it. While it predictably did not, it still outperformed the rest of the year by a wide margin. FTR has the numbers!October 2022 Sales NumbersFTR pins the preliminary net […]
You may remember a month ago that we wrote about the case regarding RhodeWorks, a system of tolls that targeted truckers to raise revenue for infrastructure. One thing we mentioned that is worth repeating is that the $100 million that the RhodeWorks tolls accumulated over the duration of the litigation is theirs to keep. As […]
While it is true that we are not going to run out of fuel any time soon, it is undeniable that people reliant on energy are feeling the strain of higher prices. In direct response to this, three states have enacted States of Emergencies to mitigate wallet damage.NebraskaGovernor Pete Ricketts of Nebraska has enacted a […]
We are about a month away from total havoc. We were also a month away from no more diesel fuel about a month ago, and the month before, and the month before. This is simply how the lead-time for diesel fuel works. Allow us to explain. Production Vs. Consumption In general, fuels of all types […]
What’s New? On Saturday, November 5, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union members approved the terms of the deal presented by the railroad. If you’ll recall, on July 15, President Joe Biden blocked a freight railroad strike in Omaha, Nebraska. This strike would disrupt the already fragile supply chain by delaying the […]
We at TopMark Funding have been busy. So busy, that we skipped a month on posting about monthly jobs in the trucking industry according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This month, we are getting it out of the way immediately so as to not forget. October (and September) 2022 Numbers October 2022’s first […]
History repeats itself. In September, the month prior, the rates for all three forms of freight decreased. October also had decreases for the month, but the extent to which all three decreased was lower than it was before. With the holiday season quickly approaching, is this a sign of a turnaround? DAT Freight & Analytics […]
What’s New?The American Trucking Associations Law Enforcement Advisory Board, which consists of 37 retired and active law enforcement professionals with over 900 combined years of experience, sent letters to the governor’s office and the state department of transportation of all 50 states.The letters urged the states to apply for additional federal funding to increase truck […]
What’s New?US Route 212 was awarded $10 million on Sept. 15 from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America federal funding account. Route 212 is a major corridor that connects Southwest Minnesota and Twin Cities. The corridor spans 161 miles in Minnesota and connects 22,000 square miles of Minnesota and South Dakota.The funds will be used to complete […]
What’s New?On October 11, the Biden Administration announced that $60 billion (yes, billion with a “B”) of federal funding would be used to repair transportation corridors nationwide. “America’s roads and bridges are the vital arteries of our transportation system, connecting people and goods across the country,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. On Oct. 13 the White House […]
Global supply chain shortages, ravaging the trucking industry for the better half of a year, may finally be coming to an end, as both ACT Research and FTR report numbers that are higher than they were in August.September 2022 NumbersACT Research pins the number at 25,700, while FTR has revised its preliminary numbers from 12,500 […]
J.D. Valuation Services reports that while some used truck models increased in value at auction and others decreased over the month of September, the decreases were larger than the increases and created a net drop in used auction rates for the month.September 2022 NumbersModel year 2021: $147,458 (No comparison to August)2020: $89,336, a decrease of […]
BackgroundOn July 15, President Joe Biden blocked a freight railroad strike in Omaha, Nebraska. This strike would disrupt the fragile supply chain by delaying the shipment of goods for at least 60 days.To combat this, President Biden appointed a board of arbitrators, the Presidential Emergency Board, to help the dispute with contract building and negotiation […]
Coming hot off the heels of the news of OPEC Plus slashing oil production by two million barrels of oil per day, Joseph Biden announced that he will once again be tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help alleviate prices. Details The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a well of crude oil near the Gulf […]
Thirty-one months to flatten the curve. In our last update regarding the coronavirus State of Emergency from the FMCSA, we talked about how the change in pace from the exemption being renewed every ninety days to every forty-five days could mean the Declaration may be on its last legs. It appears that that rings true, […]
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is no stranger to having inspections on commercial vehicles for safety purposes, lest we forget the International Roadcheck that happened earlier this year. As it turns out, they have done another one, this time, the Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods Road Blitz.DetailsIf this is your first time hearing about this event […]
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is not a stranger to speaking to stakeholders in the trucking industry. Just a little over a year since he spoke at a Mack Trucks Plant in Pennsylvania, he is back at it again at a Volvo Group powertrain plant in Maryland. While there, he spoke about the economy for the […]
What’s new?Texas Department of Transportation has announced its plan to spend $85 billion on roadways, focusing on congestion, enhanced transportation safety, and improved highways over the next 10 years. The governor gave the stamp of approval on Aug. 30.The 188-page document outlines the planning and development for the Unified Transportation Program, which also explains how […]
The trucking industry is composed of numerous facets that all interconnect with one another. While it would be nice to say everything in the trucking industry is sunshine and roses all of the time, that is simply not the case and while most of the industry can be thriving, good news in some aspects of the trucking industry can sometimes lead to less favorable news in others. Case in point: freight rates taking a slight dip in the last month.
When demand outpaces supply for an extended period of time, it is like a shaken bottle of soda. Eventually, it is going to erupt. According to the preliminary numbers provided by FTR, that is exactly what happened in September.September 2022 NumbersFTR estimates the sales for September 2022 to be 56,500 units. That is:169% more than […]
We do not post monthly updates for the ATA’s Truck Tonnage Index, which tracks a quality estimate of the total weight of freight hauled by all trucks in a month when compared to 2015. In any case, this is a special time and a cause for celebration, as the ATA Truck Tonnage Index is a […]
There appears to always be some weather phenomenon going on somewhere in the fifty states that comprise this country. This time, the topic of interest is Hurricane Ian, the second major hurricane of this year’s hurricane season. In response to it, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared a State of Emergency to […]
Tropical Depression Nine was spotted approximately 1,000 miles southeast of Florida on September 23rd, 2022, and the Sunshine State is expecting it to brush up against its shores. In a direct proactive response, Governor Ron DeSantis is issuing a State of Emergency that is fourteen sections long and is far longer than any typical Declaration […]
Truckers traveling along I-95 and other highways through Rhode Island have been paying tolls targeted towards them since 2018, but the U.S. District Court says that this must go on no longer.DetailsSince RhodeWork’s initial planning in 2015 the state has implemented twelve toll booth locations, with a thirteenth along the way had the U.S. District […]
America can always use more unsung heroes of the road. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis agrees with the sentiment, and on September 15th the governor granted $8.2 million dollars to five community colleges to boost their vocational trucking programs.DetailsFlorida is hoping that the one-time payment of $8.2 million will increase the number of truckers these five […]
What’s New? On Thursday, Sept. 15 U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced that the Biden-Harris Administration has awarded $1.5 billion for highway, multimodal freight, and rail projects that will make the nation’s transportation and infrastructure systems safer and more resilient. “Today we are announcing transformative investments in our nation’s roads, bridges, ports, and rail […]
What’s New? Illinois Department of Transportation’s Data-Driven Decisions Tool has selected 13 projects for state investment improvements. The tool was used to determine which projects would benefit the most under the state’s Multi-Year Program (fiscal years 2023 to 2028). The analytics tool was used to assess current infrastructure projects adding highway capacity to a 6-year […]
International Roadcheck 2022 was a little over four months ago, and now the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has published its findings of the 72-hour inspection blitz across the North American continent.ResultsThe CVSA performed 59,026 inspections over 72 hours, or over thirteen per minute.Mexico continues to reign supreme of the three countries in terms of out-of-service […]
Of all the various regulations the FMCSA requires, the ELD mandate is one of the most confusing. Truckers are required to use an approved Electronic Logging Device, but seldom does the FMCSA update the list to show which are allowed and which are not. Now the FMCSA wants to revise its mandate, and it wants […]
On September 19th the Truck Safety Coalition released a document listing the number of fatalities for each state, both by total number and by population. Here are those results.MethodologyThe Truck Safety Coalition compiled data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on truck crash fatalities in 2020, the latest data, and compared it to […]
It is widely considered that the most dangerous part of a Class 8 truck is the driver behind the wheel. If he or she is not actively paying attention, catastrophic damage can occur. Autonomous trucking technology is slowly getting better, but long before trucks ever become fully automatic, they will become easier to handle but […]
We have talked before about an impending decrease in auction prices due to demand slowly decreasing as a direct result of higher prices, but has that happened yet? It is hard to say, as some year models have dropped and others have risen. J.D. Valuation Services has the numbers.August 2022 NumbersModel Year 2021: No trucks […]
While the State of Emergency regarding hours-of-service and COVID-19 has been extended only forty-five days, its sister declaration regarding the handling of Commercial Learner’s Permits (CPLs) has been extended the typical ninety days.DetailsUnder normal circumstances, a CLP driver needs to have a driver with a CDL riding shotgun for the duration of training. With coronavirus […]
“Women are significantly underrepresented in the trucking industry, holding only 24 percent of all transportation jobs,” FMCSA Deputy Administrator Robin Hutcheson once said in a statement. The Biden-Harris administration is interested in making the industry more representative of the population as a whole, and is founding the Women of Trucking Advisory Board (WOTAB).DetailsWOTAB’s inaugural committee […]
It is that time of year again. Do you love telling people your opinion? If you do, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) wants to know what your greatest priorities are regarding current trends within the trucking industry.DetailsThe survey can be found on the ATRI’s survey webpage. For its methodology, the survey gives you twenty-eight […]
The trucking industry is always changing, and the research organizations are always revising their numbers. As such, we wanted to give you an update not only for July’s sales numbers, but also a change to what happened in June. June Numbers Increase In a previous article we reported that trailer sales for June 2022 were […]
What’s New?Early on Sept. 15, it was announced that the six Class I railroads and union workers reached a tentative deal with the management council for the rail carriers.The tentative deal prevented about 115,000 conductors, engineers, and other employees from staging a walkout.In a statement by President Biden, he said this deal would guarantee “better […]
What’s New?According to the Energy Information Administration, data report released on Sept. 12, diesel fuel dropped 5.1 cents to $5.033 a gallon.The price of diesel fuel jumped on Aug. 29 to $5.115 after being below $5 for nine weeks.Diesel Gas September PredictionsAccording to EIA, based on their Short-Term Energy Outlook Sept. 1 update, EIA is […]
What’s New?The Department of Transportation is giving $513.2 million to 30 states as part of their Emergency Relief Program. The goal of the program is to provide relief to communities after extreme weather and wildfires.“From recent hurricanes that struck the Gulf Coast, to wildfires in California and floods and mudslides in numerous states, we must address […]
July 2022 was, as expected, a relatively weak month for truck sales. As such, it is hardly a surprise that the truck sales for August were significantly higher. FTR has the numbers.August 2022 Truck SalesFTR places their estimate for August 2022 truck sales at 21,400, which is an increase of about double what it was […]
We have written about railroad strikes before, but we have not yet discussed in detail to what extent it would impact the trucking industry. Chris Spear of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has an idea of what it would be. Details Trucking and railroad are invariably intertwined: oftentimes a railroad will cover the majority of […]
The trucking industry continues to roll on, with more drivers on the road than ever. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has posted updates. August 2022 Employment Numbers The first preliminary numbers for August 2022 pins the count at 1,595,500. July 2022’s second preliminary pegs the number at 1,594,700. This is a decrease of 300 from […]
The United States is suffering from a water distribution problem this summer: while the west coast cannot get enough water, the east coast is experiencing torrential downpour. As of the start of September seven states are undergoing States of Emergencies regarding water, be it a dearth or an abundance.AlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the […]
We were hoping on August 31st, the last day of the previous extension, that it would be the last. In the final hours, however, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended the Declaration another 45 days. This is the first time that the regulatory body has extended it by this period of time, usually […]
BackgroundOn July 15, President Joe Biden blocked a freight railroad strike in Omaha, Nebraska. This strike would disrupt the fragile supply chain by delaying the shipment of goods for at least 60 days.To combat this, President Biden appointed a board of arbitrators, the Presidential Emergency Board, to help the dispute with contract building and negotiation […]
House Bill 479 aims to increase fines for truck drivers who park in residential parking, increasing fines up to $2,000. Currently, the bill is waiting on action from Delaware Gov. John Carney after it went through the General Assembly unopposed. “Staff from the governor’s office usually reach out to the chief clerk of the House […]
The temperature across the nation is not the only thing that is white-hot right now, freight rates have been experiencing similar extremes these last handful of months. Like the weather of the year, it appears that the rates are starting to cool down.August 2022 Freight RatesDry van decreased eleven cents to $2.53 per mile.Flatbed decreased […]
What’s New?Aug. 30 – Gas prices have fallen for 70 days consecutively. This is the second longest decline in gas prices since January 2015, falling for 117 days.According to AAA, gas prices are averaging about $3.892 per gallon after reaching a record high of $5.016 per gallon in June.Diesel Gas 2023 PredictionsEIA forecasts global liquid […]
Any trucker who has been on the road for longer than a week knows that it is hard to find dedicated parking to put the truck for a night. Oftentimes a trucker will have to make due with covering multiple spots intended for four-wheelers or a long stretch of curb in residential areas. New York […]
Knowledgeable truckers know how to use Section 179 of the tax code to get a discount on their latest additions to their fleet. In this article we will go over things you should know about this trick for your truck, though understand that we are not tax lawyers.What is Section 179?Section 179 allows a business […]
We have been so busy with covering other aspects of the trucking industry that we let a monthly update slip through our fingers. To make up for it, here is a double feature covering the Class 8 sales for June and July, using numbers from FTR.June 2022 NumbersFTR pins the number of Class 8 truck […]
Another month, another round of used Class 8 auction rates from our friends at J.D. Valuation Services. In this case, the downward trend mostly continues as four out of five model years saw prices decline in varying levels of intensity.July 2022 NumbersModel year 2021: $145,278. A decrease of $8,611 (5.6%) from June.2020: $116,840, a $5,839 […]
When you think of Tesla Motors, there are two features that you think about: the long range by electric vehicle standards, and the autonomous driving features. The California Department of Motor Vehicles is putting an ax to the latter.DetailsCalifornia’s DMV is suing Tesla Motors, filing with the Office of Administrative Hearings to say that Tesla […]
What’s new?An American Trucking Association study released on August 10, states that truck driver wages increased by 18% compared to 2019 average wages.Median compensation in 2021 stood at $69,687. This does not include benefits, but it does include bonuses.“In the truckload space, compensation was up 18% from 2019,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said during […]
As of Aug. 15, the average cost of gasoline has dropped 45 cents over the past three weeks, standing at an average of $4.10 per gallon. Over the past nine weeks, we have seen an 81-cent drop, which is still $1 more than this time last year. San Francisco had the highest recorded gas prices […]
We are currently in the middle of an anomaly where flatbed hauling is more lucrative on a per mile basis than reefer hauling. With reefers tending to attract a higher rate in the summer due to temperature control, it is likely that we will be seeing flatbed remain dominant throughout the rest of the year […]
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is expanding its commercial driver’s license program to focus on incarcerated women. “CDL training is a career field which is in high demand throughout the U.S.,” said Donald Murphy, a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Information, Policy and Public Affairs Division, in an interview with Transport Topics. “Inmates who […]
We certainly did not expect to hear anymore news regarding the Tesla Semi until 2023, especially when the company has said that supply chain shortages have made it harder to build trucks due to the massive input required. Things are turning around, however, as Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced via Twitter that the automotive-tech […]
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is a scaled-back version of President Biden’s Build Back Better climate change proposal. The Inflation Reduction Act aims to combat severe weather events for infrastructure projects and promote greener sources of energy for transportation networks. The total bill comes to a grand $740 billion and while the bill details […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, as a part of last year’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is giving away $44 million in grants to different state CDL training programs. If you are a fleet hoping to get more drivers in your trucks, here is what you need to know.Details“FMCSA’s core mission is safety, and […]
Loyal readers of the blog may have noticed a not-so-subtle pattern of job numbers within the trucking industry. Since March of this year, the trucking industry has been consistently hiring, adding more jobs each month than the one prior. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has the numbers.July 2022 NumbersThe BLS pins the first preliminary number […]
It would not be a summer season in California without rampaging wildfires, would it? Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a State of Emergency.DetailsIn the middle of a historical drought, California is prime land for wildfires in the season with the highest temperature.While the fires have not burned to the same extent as the Dixie fire […]
The Energy Information Administration report on July 25 shows diesel and gasoline prices decline for the fifth week in a row.Diesel prices hit a record high of $5.810 on June 20. Since then prices have declined by 54.2 cents. All 10 of the places EIA spoke with have reported a fall in diesel prices per gallon, […]
On July 20, the US House of Representatives passes a transportation bill that would support initiatives, infrastructure grants, and operational expenses through the United States Department of Transportation. The bill would allocate $90.9 billion, $9.9 billion more than the enacted level, for the upcoming fiscal year. “The bill upholds the commitment to respond to transportation […]
Here at TopMark Funding’s headquarters near the capital of the sun-drenched California, we are suffering from a tremendous drought that has left us wondering where all the water has gone. It appears we finally have our answer: it is hitting Kentucky and West Virginia with great force. So much so, that the governors of both […]
The Energy Information Administration report on August 1 shows diesel and gasoline fuel prices decline for the sixth week in a row. Diesel prices hit a record high of $5.810 on June 20. Since then prices have declined by 67.2 cents. All 10 of the places EIA spoke with have reported a fall in diesel […]
In today’s world, the news moves quickly. We reported recently about how the AB-5 protests in the port of Oakland, Long Beach, and Los Angeles were subject to blockage due to protests against California’s Assembly Bill 5, which would outlaw the owner-operator model except under specific circumstances. At this point in time, however, things have […]
If you have taken a step outside in the past few weeks, you may have noticed that it is blisteringly hot outside. The Northern Hemisphere is suffering a massive heatwave.One of the common side effects for a heatwave is the drying out of vegetation, both alive and dead, increasing the risk of fire hazards. This […]
Do you consider the idea of a truck driver under the age of 21 able to drive from Redding, California to San Diego to be okay, but traveling from Kansas City, Missouri to Kansas City, Kansas as unsafe to be an absurd notion? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is inclined to agree, and is […]
Industry experts state that there’s an annual trend for trailer sales in that they usually bottom out in June. This year is no different as June 2022 is the weakest month for sales thus far, however, there is a silver lining to the news, according to ACT Research and FTR.June 2022 DetailsFreight Transportation Research pins […]
On July 18, protesters blocked the Port of Oakland, as a response to Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), resulting in a 95% decline in operations.Owner-operated truck drivers make up 90% of the Bay Area port operations, but that quickly came to a halt when protesters blocked trucks from getting into the port.The original protest was scheduled […]
The Interstate 81 Corridor Coalition wants to form a multistate team in order to apply for federal funds to improve truck parking along the interstate highway. Who is the I81CC? The I81CC was originally formed in 2011 to improve driving conditions for freight and passenger transportation along the corridor. This decision came after a roundtable […]
The American trucking Association introduced a new program that aims to focus on uplifting and acknowledging the contributions of female truck drivers. “The trucking industry relies on women – whether in the boardroom, as a technician, or behind the wheel – and we believe that by highlighting the many contributions the women already in trucking […]
On July 15, President Joe Biden blocked a freight railroad strike in Omaha, Nebraska. This strike would disrupt the already fragile supply chain by delaying the shipment of goods for at least 60 days. To combat this, President Biden appointed a board of arbitrators, the Presidential Emergency Board, to help the dispute with contract building […]
On July 20, the House Transportation and Infrastructure approved a bill to increase parking for commercial motor vehicles. The bill aims to “provide parking for commercial motor vehicles and improve the safety of commercial motor vehicle operators.” Sponsored by Mike Bost (R-Ill.), the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act would build and expand safe parking areas […]
In an effort to combat multiple problems plaguing the trucking industry (emissions, maintenance, etc.), Cummins is planning to bring to market fuel-agnostic engines.DetailsContrary to the name, the engines believe that fuel exists, and each engine will take a particular type of fuel, so a lazy driver cannot pour renewable natural gas into a diesel engine.What […]
Following the Supreme Court of the United States declining to hear the case regarding AB-5 and how it applies to the truckers of California, truckers in California have taken to the streets to voice their concerns via protesting.DetailsStarting July 13th and still going at the time of the writing of this article, approximately 100 truckers […]
Another month, another update from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). As with previous months, the streak of job growth within the trucking industry continues, and the industry reaches a new all-time high.June 2022 NumbersThe initial posting for June 2022 is 1,589,500 jobs.The updated number for May 2022 is 1,585,200, which is a 3,900 increase […]
It appears as though COVID-19 is not the only State of Emergency that needed to be extended, as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has updated its Declaration regarding the hauling of materials used in the production of baby formula.DetailsThe events started in February, when an Abbott plant in Michigan that produces baby formula shut […]
It seems as though it were just last year that the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) had a Brake Safety Week. Likely, this year will be very much the same. With that in mind, we can look at last year’s results to infer what your truck might need looking at to avoid an out-of-service violation.Brake […]
It is fair to say that the used truck market has become a buyer’s market, as, according to J.D. Valuation Services, average prices across the board decreased double-digit points in June.June 2022 DetailsModel year 2021: $153,889. As this is the first month J.D. Valuation Services has tracked for model year 2021, there is no gain […]
Hazmat drivers traveling through Birmingham, Alabama will need to take a detour to avoid most of the city for the next handful of days, as ordered by the Alabama Department of Transportation under direction of the United States Secret Service.DetailsIn downtown Birmingham from July 7th to the 17th will be an event called the World […]
Another month, another update from DAT Freight and Analytics. In spite of everything going on in the world right now, freight rates have appeared to stabilize somewhat for the previous month.The NumbersAverage dry van rates were $2.69, a two cent decrease.Average flatbed rates were $3.44, a one cent decrease from before.Average reefer rates were $3.05, […]
Rear impact guards are an important component of truck safety, and while essentially all trailers have them, they are not all created equally. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has published a final rule to raise the minimum safety standards.DetailsThe published final rule is 107 pages long, but in a very abridged version, it increases […]
The Supreme Court has announced in an end-of-term orders list that it will not be reviewing CTA v. Becerra, making the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals verdict the official law of California.DetailsJudge Roger Benitez issued an injunction against the AB-5 law roughly two years ago, saying that the AB-5 law, when placed on the trucking […]
Rev up those engines, truckers! Montana needs our help in providing relief from flooding.DetailsOn June 10th, the National Weather Services announced a Flood Watch for Montana. The National Weather Services was right to issue that statement, as some counties in the Treasure State experienced four inches of rain in that single day. Acting Governor Kristen […]
As the national average for diesel fuel exceeds five dollars per gallon, President Joseph Robinette Biden Junior is calling on Congress to suspend the fuel tax for three months to help alleviate fuel prices. Details The federal fuel tax on diesel is about 24.4 cents per gallon. The money is used for the Highway Trust […]
We have talked about the potential suspension of the Federal Excise Tax (FET) before, but with the current administration, it may just become reality this time.FET DetailsThe FET was introduced in 1917 to help finance World War I. A decade later and it is still levying a 12% price increase on newer heavy-duty trucks and […]
Robin Hutcheson, the next person in line to become the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has had her confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate. Here are the events that transpired.DetailsThere were a multitude of topics discussed during the confirmation hearing, but perhaps none as important as the purported “driver shortage” and the […]
DAT Freight and Analytics continues to report unprecedented times: flatbed hauling is the king of the road. With May 2022, the throne has only become higher. May 2022 Numbers Dry van hauling was $2.71, an eight cent decrease from April 2022. Flatbed increased by three cents going from $3.42 to $3.45. Reefer transportation decreased eight […]
The trucking industry continues its winning streak, with another month of all-time high employment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has the numbers.May 2022 NumbersThe initial posting for May 2022 is 1,581,300.The revised count for April 2022 is 1,568,000. This is an increase of 3,900 jobs.March 2022’s final number is 1,554,000. From the last estimate, […]
In a move that Chris Spear of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has called “a long time coming”, the House of Representatives has passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. Now, it heads to Joe Biden’s desk for signature.Bill DetailsThe Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 hopes to stop what Chris Spear of the […]
Class 8 sales have decreased slightly in May 2022, according to Freight Transportation Research (FTR), but FTR’s vice president of commercial vehicles Don Ake says he is not concerned about the slight lull in sales. Here are the numbers, and the reasoning.May 2022 Numbers and DetailsFTR pins the number of big rig sales in May […]
In recent times the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has made changes to commercial driver qualification filing rules. While each individual change did not justify an article on its own, combined they add up into something larger. Here are the changes that have been made in 2022 thus far.Road Test Certificate InformationAs of March […]
The Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) is suing the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regarding a regulation that is due to go into effect in January 2024.DetailsOn December 22nd, 2021, CARB established the Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus Regulation, which places higher emission status on heavy-duty trucks sold in California. It was set to […]
It has been over a year since the Ninth Circuit has ruled in favor of California’s AB-5 law. The California Trucking Association had appealed to the United Supreme Court, and the injunction has stayed in place ever since. Could the Supreme Court hold a hearing regarding the case before its current Term ends?DetailsThere are four […]
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is notable for having special periods of time across the year to enforce safety in commercial big rigs. One such example is checking truck maintenance with the International Roadcheck, which passed last month. Another that they do focuses on the most dangerous component of them all, the driver behind […]
When the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced changes to the COVID-19 State of Emergency within less than a month of its expiration, it raised the notion that it would be extended again. Now, we know for sure that it has.DetailsThis extension is brought to you by Robin Hutcheson, current Deputy Administrator of the […]
2022 has been an interesting time for trucking industry assets, as high demand but low supply has everyone scrambling to get their hands on what they can get. ACT Research has the sales numbers for April 2022 net trailer orders.April 2022 NumbersACT Research estimates the sales of trailer orders to be 19,614. While this is […]
Trucking orders lulled for the month, as manufacturers continue to keep a tight backlog and prevent new orders from being added due to demand outpacing supply. ACT Research and FTR have the numbers!April 2022 NumbersACT Research pegs the sales at 15,800; FTR, 15,400. The two organizations, as usual, are very close with their approximations.These sales […]
April was a great month for those in the market to buy a used big rig to increase their fleet, as, for the most part, the auction market eased up during that month. J.D. Valuation Services has the numbers.April 2022 Auction AveragesModel year 2020: $153,580; a $5,920 (3.7%) decrease from March.2019: $112,785; $4,962 (4.2%) decrease.2018: […]
What better time to celebrate one of America’s greatest jobs than during the month of America’s birthday?The World’s Largest Truckstop is known by truckers nationwide for its numerous services and amenities it provides to drivers year round, but almost every year they also put on one of the largest trucking conventions in the world. This […]
North Dakota is having issues with extremely cold weather within its borders. As a result, Governor Doug Burgum has declared a State of Emergency to help save North Dakota’s agricultural industry.DetailsThe Declaration is not unlike a similar one performed by Florida three months ago to save its agricultural commodities, except whereas Florida grows citrus fruits, […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has extended the COVID-19 State of Emergency exemptions numerous times, but this specific instance of touching it is a unique one. While the Declaration is being modified to include new items to be hauled under it, it is not being extended, for the time being.DetailsOn May 13th, Robin […]
We said that this day may come last month, but we are still shocked that it has arrived. Flatbed hauling has now taken the crown from reefer hauling in regards to rate prices, perhaps for the first time in trucking history! With flatbed rates up, and truck and trailer prices finally coming down, maybe it’s […]
Speed limiters are a touchy subject amongst drivers within the United States, but that is not going to stop federal regulators from making them required.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has recently announced that it plans to publish a supplemental notice to a 2016 proposed rule requiring speed limiters on heavy-duty trucks.DetailsThe idea of […]
Another month, another round of statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Unfortunately, with all the news going on in the trucking industry, we accidentally skipped March 2022’s job count update. This article will cover both months.March 2022 NumbersHere is a brief summary of what happened in March’s update:March 2022 data says 1,550,800 jobs.Comparing […]
The National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) is changing gears, pun intended. They are changing the name of their annual convention from the Truck Product Conference to the Commercial Vehicle Upfitting Summit, and it will be taking place September 13-14th, 2022 in Sandusky, Ohio.DetailsIn a time where global supply shortages are requiring fleets to get every […]
It should be no surprise to anyone that COVID-19 and the resulting uptick in pent-up demand, combined with the demand for better working conditions since the work from home movement began, has caused a global supply chain shortage. One such example of blockage is at intermodal points between boat, railroad, and truck. Norfolk Southern, a […]
Everyone’s favorite part of being a truck driver, and the main reason for getting into the business in the first place, is waiting for pickup and dropoff. Oftentimes, these wait times are unpaid, but the state of Pennsylvania is working to make these arduous hours a little more manageable by requiring restroom access. Say hello […]
Auction rates in the current global supply shortage are always interesting to check. With new trucks having a hard time staying on the lot, the industry turns to used vehicles to fulfill asset needs. J.D. Valuation Services has the numbers. March 2022 Numbers For all years except the most recent listed, 2020, prices decreased. Model […]
If you have been following trucking industry news for the past year, you might be familiar with
