Jack Jones, VP of Truckload Product Development, Transportation Costing Group, explains how using Activity-Based Costing can provide comprehensive insight into the profitability of any carrier’s operations.

With increased competition comes increased pressure on companies to invest in the technologies that allow them to offer the same services their competition is – or, better still, offer services the competition can’t afford. Murray Fitzer and Brad Jones, from Florilli Transportation, discuss why customer service requirements, like offering accurate arrival times, are forcing companies like theirs into investing in software and hardware solutions that are fast becoming table stakes in today’s high tech trucking world.

It’s been a difficult time for trucking companies; freight volumes are down and not a day goes by that another carrier isn’t closing its doors. But with difficult times comes great opportunities. Jim Hebe, Sr. VP of North American Sales, Navistar, discusses his formula for how trucking companies can re-invent themselves and come out of this downturn stronger than when they went in.

Wilson Cross, VP of Asset Services for Ameriquest, admits that times are tough. This is especially true when it comes to financing equipment purchases. With the credit markets all but frozen, it’ll be the creative companies that come out on top. Wilson offers a little advice on how challenging times not only create roadblocks, they create opportunities as well.

If you’ve been running older trucks and are just now looking at adding some used ’07 power units to your fleet mix, then Thomas Newby, Director of Field Maintenance at old Dominion Freight Line, has some information you might find useful. From tips on retraining drivers on their traditional shifting patterns to strategies to deal with an inevitable increase in towing costs, Newby offers invaluable advice to any fleet looking at the ’07 engine.

Surviving a recession is challenging enough as you are constantly aware of your expenses and your bare bones budget, but now you need to be aware of your post recession strategies to deal with higher volumes. Joe White of CostDown Consulting details out what CEO's need to adjust and focus on for the longer term survival of the company.