by Jeff Sibio, Director, Industry Marketing Trucking / Fleet Management & Postal CEP at Intermec, a Descartes United by Design Alliance Partner

Posted under the Mobile Resource Management category, this article first appeared on June 8, 2011 in Descartes' Making Things Move Blog.... Read More

by Mike Natalizio, President & CEO, HNI

CSA is changing the atmosphere of the trucking industry, and is impacting motor carriers, individual drivers, insurers and underwriters alike. This legislation brings unprecedented transparency into transportation safety that will affect every level of the industry. The change is already beginning to be felt, with the first wave of warning letters going out to motor carriers last month.... Read More

Just Another Cycle, or a New Beginning? Part Two

by Richard Mikes, PhD & Lana Batts, Transport Capital Partners, LLC

New Equipment Cost Escalation

Annual cost increases for equipment in the last two decades has been around 7% per year, with most of the increases incurred in the last decade being due to EPA mandated engine changes adding approximately $15,000 per truck, coupled with poorer fuel economy and increased maintenance costs. Clearly, someone must pay the equipment bill as freight moves on truck assets owned by someone. Obviously brokers do not want to own, and even some carriers don't either, preferring instead to use independent contractors. Without adequate compensation for their capital or labor, contractors have been fleeing the industry. The economic returns to capital must be there or capital will not flow to the industry long term. This was evidenced by the fleet downsizing of the last few years. Lenders who have been 'burned' by repossessions and bankruptcies are not likely to return without seeing solid earnings evidence. The recent upward trend in Class 8 purchases is not to expand but rather to replace as carriers with an older fleet face mounting maintenance costs and a looming driver shortage.... Read More

Just Another Cycle, or a New Beginning? Part One

by Richard Mikes, PhD & Lana Batts, Transport Capital Partners, LLC

Not since Deregulation in 1981 has the trucking industry faced the degree of growing demand coupled with unbridled opportunity, over-written with the degree of uncertainty of new regulations, rising costs and an economy emerging from a recession. Transport Capital Surveys over the past two years clearly show a re-born cautious optimism.... Read More

by Sergio Torres, VP Engineering, Descartes

Posted under the Mobile Resource Management category, this article first appeared on March 9, 2011 in Descartes' Making Things Move Blog.... Read More

Safety, Comfort and Convenience: The Future of Interstate Rest Areas

by Andy Warcaba

There is a national funding crisis in our Nation that is making it extremely difficult for state transportation professionals to meet the maintenance and safety needs of Rest Area Users traveling on the Federal Interstate System. Many Department's of Transportation have already responded by closing several rest areas and more are in the process of planning to make additional service cuts in the near future. These actions will impact motorist safety and will further exacerbate the ever-increasing problem of inadequate truck parking.... Read More

This article was originally posted on the Eco-Scientific web site by Paul Kauler, a self-described independent consultant, truck driver, diesel mechanic, avid student of life sciences and cancer research technician.... Read More

This blog entry was originally posted by , VP of Government Relations and Public Affairs, Con-way Inc., on their Public Policy & Sustainability blog site.... Read More