Transport Topics back issues from January 2006:
Truckload Driver Turnover Climbs for Large, Small Carriers
Jan 02, 2006; ... The driver turnover rate for large truckload carriers increased by six percentage points in the third quarter to 135%, just below its all-time high, according to American Trucking Associations. The turnover rate for small truckload carriers also increased in the quarter, but the rate for ...
Design Breakthroughs Needed To Meet Goals, Wal-Mart Says
Jan 02, 2006; ... Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which recently declared its plans to double the fuel mileage of its trucks, told TRANSPORT TOPICS the increase will require breakthroughs in powertrain design as well as advanced vehicle aerodynamics. Some of the technology needed to improve fuel efficiency, "is ...
FMCSA Urged to Fix Programs
Jan 02, 2006; ... GAO Criticizes Oversight of Enforcement Grants Recent reports from the Government Accountability Office urged the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to improve its enforcement grant and outreach programs. GAO said FMCSA agreed to consider GAOs recommendations for ...
Manufacturers to Offer Programs Preparing Technicians for '07 Engines
Jan 02, 2006; ... Several diesel engine and truck manufacturers said they would prepare their technicians and distributors to work on 2007-model engines, offering new certification programs with online and hands-on training. Detroit Diesel Corp. and Cummins Inc. said they had programs aimed specifically ...
Freightliner LLC Lays Off 130 Workers
Jan 02, 2006; ... Freightliner LLC, North America's largest truck maker, laid off 130 employees, effective Jan. 2, who had been building its Western Star brand of Class 8 trucks in Portland, Ore. The cuts were made to increase production of other unspecified Freightliner models, Freightliner Spokesman Andy ...
ATA Hails House Passage of Pension Bill
Jan 02, 2006; ... The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Dec. 15 aimed at protecting single- and multi-employer pension plans. The move drew the approval of American Trucking Associations. "Many industries, including trucking, have been concerned with the pension issue for some time ...
Correction
Jan 02, 2006; ... A ranking of the top 25 freight brokerage firms (TT Logistics 50, 11-14, p. 14) should have listed Matson Integrated Logistics as No ....
Oregon Court Allows Flat Fees
Jan 02, 2006; ... ATA 'Disappointed' at Second Setback in Six Months The Oregon Supreme Court has overturned a lower court's ruling and decided that allowing some short-haul truckers to pay flat fees, instead of taxes based on vehicle weight and miles traveled, does not illegally discriminate against ...
Fleets to Invest in Tractors, Delay Trailer Buys Until '07
Jan 02, 2006; ... ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE Trucking companies will continue to invest mostly in replacement tractors in 2006 and put off major purchases of trailers until a later date, according to fleet executives and transportation analysts. And while rolling stock still accounts for the largest ...
Dana Names New Head Of Its Heavy-Duty Unit
Jan 02, 2006; ... Heavy-duty component manufacturer Dana Corp. said Bernard Cole, president of its heavy vehicle technologies and systems group, was scheduled to retire at the end of 2005 after 37 years with the company, and would he replaced by Nick Stanage. Dana said Stanage was being promoted to ...
Celebrating 2005 and Looking Ahead
Jan 02, 2006; ... For many in the trucking industry, 2005 turned out to be a much better year than most of us imagined 12 months ago. Thanks to a strong domestic economy, coupled with the reduction in freight capacity brought on by the last recession, most of the nation's fleets racked up handsome profits ...
Driver Sleep Apnea: a Hidden Crisis
Jan 02, 2006; ... Sleep apnea syndrome is a serious and sometimes fatal condition that is far more common than generally known. Because its symptoms include drowsiness, sleep apnea is of particular concern for an industry that relies on wide-awake truck drivers. A sleep apnea study conducted with drivers ...
Trucking Stocks Hit All-Time Peak in '05; 3Q Earnings Boosted Investor Optimism
Jan 02, 2006; ... Stocks After hitting an all-time peak in March, major trucking stocks slumped in the middle two quarters of 2005 before reigniting in October and peaking again in November on one trucking index. Investor worries in the spring and summer about a softening economy and high diesel ...
Suppliers Posted Strong Profits in 2005 Despite Rising Production Costs
Jan 02, 2006; ... Suppliers Truck makers, engine manufacturers and other heavyduty component builders roared into 2005 after posting very strong profits in 2004 and promised more of the same lay ahead. But continued high costs for raw materials, especially steel, and record prices For the oil used ...
Technology, Rule Proposals Eyed In Attempt to Reduce Truck Crashes
Jan 02, 2006; ... Safety A number of promising new safety systems designed to help drivers maintain vehicle control took center stage in 2005, as truck makers and fleet managers evaluated an array of emerging technologies with the potential to reduce the number of truck crashes. The year also saw ...
Toll, Fuel Tax Hikes Add to Trucking Costs; More Increases Proposed
Jan 02, 2006; ... Tolls Toll increases and fuel tax hikes continued to raise trucking's costs in 2005, as cash-strapped state governments and nighway commissions looked for ways to fund and accelerate delayed road upgrades and highway projects. Tolls increased in New York, Illinois, Maine and ...
Closings and Bankruptcies
Jan 02, 2006; ... Closings Service Transport, a less-than-truckload and truckload carrier in Cookeville, Tenn., ceased operations (5-16, p. 4). Regional LTL carrier USF Dugan, Wichita, Kan., was closed after its parent, Chicago-based USF Corp., was acquired by Yellow Roadway Corp., Overland Park, ...
Clean Energy Buys Texas LNG Plant
Jan 02, 2006; ... Vehicular natural-gas provider Clean Energy said it acquired Applied LNG Technologies USA's liquefied natural gas plant in Willis, Texas, for more than $14 million. It also acquired five additional tanker trailers for delivering LNG. Clean Energy said LNG is 600 times more dense than ...
Power-Unit Maker, Machine Haulers Group Sign Pact
Jan 02, 2006; ... Energy & Engine Technology Corp., a manufacturer of auxiliary power units for trucks, said it signed an agreement with the Machinery Haulers Association to be the exclusive APU recommended to association members. The agreement, which lasts until the end of 2006, provides MHA members ...
House Bill to Increase Tax Credit for Hybrids
Jan 02, 2006; ... Legislation introduced in the House of Representatives Dec. 7 would increase by $3,000 the current tax credit for makers and consumers of domestic hybrid vehicles, including commercial trucks. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Rahm Einanuel (D-Ill.), would also require the federal government, ...
Market Trends
Jan 02, 2006; ... * Dec. 5 - USA Truck Inc. was downgraded to "neutral" from "buy" by Robert Diiim at Sidoti & Co. He set the 12-month price target at $31 per share. * Dee. 7 - TNT N.V. was raised to "buy" from "neutral" by Mariais Hesse at Bank Sal Oppenlieim Jr. & Cie. * Dec. 9 - FedEx ...
North Carolina's Fuel Tax Rises 10%
Jan 02, 2006; ... The North Carolina Department of Revenue said a 2.8-cent-pergallon increase in the state's motor fuel tax was scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The 10% increase would raise the tax on diesel and gasoline to 29.9 cents per gallon from ...
Caterpillar's November Engine Sales Decline
Jan 02, 2006; ... Caterpillar Inc. s engine sales growth slowed to the lowest level of 2005 in November, led by a decline in truck and bus engines, according to figures posted on the company's Web site. A company spokesman said he could not comment on the figures because the company was "cautious of ...
Forward Air Accelerates Stock Options
Jan 02, 2006; ... Forward Air Corp., a contractor to the air freight industry, said it planned an early award of the company's outstanding and unvested stock options to its employees, officers and directors before a Dec. 31 deadline. Forward said it will incur a ...
Beall Corp. Buys Marquez Manufacturing
Jan 02, 2006; ... Truck trailer manufacturer Beall Corp. said it purchased Marquez Manufacturing, Sunnyside, Wash., on Dec. 1. The company said Marquez's plant produces about 200 ...
Tight Capacity, Rising Rates Seen Continuing in '06
Jan 02, 2006; ... 2006 PREVIEW The main issues that dogged shippers and carriers last year - tight capacity, high operating costs, volatile fuel prices and a shortage ofdrivers - will continue to trouble fleets in 2006, according to several trucking executives. However, most carriers ...
Truck Tonnage Jumps in Nov.
Jan 02, 2006; ... 1.9% Increase Is Third Straight Monthly Gain Trucking tonnage jumped in November as strong consumer spending and manufacturing activity pushed freight volumes to their third consecutive monthly gain during the strongest November in more than a decade, according to a report from American ...
Restrictions Prevent Many Carriers From Obtaining Funds for Retrofits
Jan 02, 2006; ... Many longhaul carriers are ineligible for state and local emission-control retrofit grants because they do not do enough business in the geographic areas the programs cover, transportation officials said. Texas and California, for example, both fund grants providing money to retrofit ...
Mediator Rejects Pilots' Request To Be Released From UPS Talks
Jan 02, 2006; ... The National Mediation Board on Dec. 28 rejected a request from the Independent Pilots Association to be released from mediated contract talks with UPS Inc. The NMB had declared an indefinite recess in the talks on Dec. 23. IPA spokesman Eric Cooper told TRANSPORT TOPICS the ...
Minnesota Halts Use of Biodiesel for 21 Days
Jan 02, 2006; ... The Minnesota Department of Commerce said it had suspended for 21 days a state law requiring that diesel fuel sold in the state be a 2% biodiesel blend. The Dec. 23 action stemmed from complaints received from truckers about the fuel causing their vehicles' fuel filters to become clogged ...
Mayor Says N.Y. Lost $1 Bln. During Strike
Jan 02, 2006; ... A three-dav transit strike exist New York Citv businesses an estimated $1 billion and hampered truck traffic in the clays leading up to the Christinas holiday. news services reported. Transit workers walked off the job Dec. 20 after contract talks between the Metropolitan Transportation ...
Diesel, Gasoline Fall 1.4¢ To End Roller Coaster Year
Jan 02, 2006; ... The average retail prices of diesel fuel and gasoline each fell 1.4 cents a gallon in the Department of Energy's final fueling survey for 2005, bringing to a close a turbulent year that saw multiple records broken. DOE said the Dec. 26 diesel average of $2.448 followed a 2.6cent gain a ...
FedEx Freight Loses Federal Appeal; Ground Unit Ordered to Pay $18 Mln.
Jan 02, 2006; ... FedEx Corp. received two negative judgments in legal cases involving labor issues at its parcel and freight divisions last month. First, a Los Angeles superior court judge issued a final judgment Dec. 19 ordering FedEx Ground to pay $18 million to conclude a classaction lawsuit involving ...
FedEx Says Rise in Deliveries Boosts Quarterly Profits 33%
Jan 02, 2006; ... Package carrier FedEx Corp. reported a 33% increase in profits to $471 million or $1,53 a share for its fiscal second quarter ended Nov. 30, as international and U.S. deliveries increased. Its second-quarter net income compared with $354 million or $1.15 a share a year earlier. The ...
Gulf Coast Transport Buys Regional TL Carrier
Jan 02, 2006; ... Truckload carrier Gulf Coast Transport said it has acquired regional truckload carrier Southwest Transportation for an undisclosed sum. Gulf Coast said it would add 50 trailers to Southwest's operation based in Fort Worth, Texas, and turn the acquired company into a division that will ...
Business Costs Rise Along With Traffic Around Seattle
Jan 02, 2006; ... Carriers Hire More Employees, Adjust Schedules as Congestion Worsens on Interstate 5 TACOMA, Wash. - Every driver in the greater Seattle area has seen it: the sea of red taillights as you creep down Interstate 5 or 1-405. You slouch in your seat, heave long sighs and make calls on your ...
Letters & Comments
Jan 02, 2006; ... Roundabouts Redux The United States needs to rediscover the roundabout, or traffic circle, as your excellent article points out (12-5, p. 12). Using modern design and common sense, you not only can save lives, but can pass a significantly larger number of vehicles through an ...
Capital Equipment Budgets Influence Ability Of Fleets to Raise Rates, Improve Margins
Jan 02, 2006; ... Because trucking is viewed as a commodity, the industry's ability to raise rates is largely determined by supply and demand, with capital expenditures a critical factor in that equation, according to one transportation industry investment analyst. At the same time, shareholders are ...
Big Mergers Dominated Trucking As Companies Extended Global Reach
Jan 02, 2006; ... Mergers/ Closings Less-than-truckload carriers and third-party logistics providers pulled off the splashiest mergers in 2005, as transportation companies continued to maneuver to gain market share and extend their global reach. Yellow Roadway Corp., formed in December 2003 by the ...
Class 8 Sales Outpaced 2004's Yearly Mark In First 11 Months
Jan 02, 2006; ... Truck Sales U.S. retail sales of Class 8 trucks operated at a blistering pace in the first 11 months of 2005, surpassing yearly sales for all of 2004, as carriers continued to replace aging equipment before new emission rules go into effect in 2007, said fleet executives. The new ...
Intermodal Boosted Transport Revenues, But Congestion at Ports Caused Problems
Jan 02, 2006; ... Intermodal Fueled by container imports from Asia, intermodal traffic became an increasingly important source of revenue for trucking companies, ocean carriers, ports and railroads in 2005. But it was accompanied by major congestion and work stoppages. Intermodal is fast becoming ...
Timken Gets Dumping Act Disbursement
Jan 02, 2006; ... Bearing and steel manufacturer Timken Co. said it received about $81 million under the U.S. Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act for 2005. The disbursement was in response to overseas companies' continued dumping of bearings in the United States. Timken spokesman Jeff Dafter said the ...
Airbus Finalizes $2.9 Billion UPS Jet Order
Jan 02, 2006; ... Commercial jet manufacturer Airbus SAS, which is based in France, said it signed a firm order from UPS Inc. for 10 Airbus A380 cargo jets valued at $2.9 billion. UPS will take delivery of its first A380 ...
Southern California Ports Seek Publicity To Convince Shippers Delays Are Over
Jan 02, 2006; ... Officials with the Southern California ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles said they have embarked on publicity campaigns to convince shippers the problems that caused long delays during 2004 have been fixed. Los Angeles port spokesman Art Wong said the port was relying mostly on ...
Class 3 Truck Manufacturers Experience Banner Sales in 2005
Jan 02, 2006; ... Manufacturers of light-duty Class 3 trucks enjoyed a banner year for sales in 2005, showing an increase of 66.7% through the first 11 months of the year compared with the same time in 2004. It had the highest rate of increase among Classes 3-8. In spite of an unsettled discrepancy about ...
Market Insiders
Jan 02, 2006; ... * Dec. 1 - Gregory Swienton, chairman of Ryder System, exercised options on 50,000 shares at $21.25 per share. He then sold them all at $42.84, bringing his holdings to 90,976 shares. * Dec. 2 - Troy Reiiner, treasurer for C.H. Robinson Worldwide, exercised options on 1.636 shares at ...
McLeod Software, Maptuit Reach Deal
Jan 02, 2006; ... McLeod Software said it signed an agreement with Maptuit to provide truck drivers with real-time road conditions and traffic information as part of its LoadMaster software. Rick Halbrooks, McLeod's vice president for sales and marketing, said the agreement will allow carriers to purchase ...
CARB Adopts New Port Emission Rules
Jan 02, 2006; ... The California Air Resources Board adopted two measures last month aimed at curbing emissions of diesel particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides at the state's ports, a CARB official said. The first regulation calls for the replacement or retrofit of existing engines used in ...
Ontario Passes Liability Limits
Jan 02, 2006; ... The government of Ontario, Canada, approved legislation last month limiting vicarious liability for owners of rented and leased commercial trucks and passenger ...
OBITUARY: Sharon Nichols, 69, Former Director Of the Western Highway Institute
Jan 02, 2006; ... Sharon Nichols, a former executive director with the Western Highway Institute and managing director of the Wyoming Trucking Association, died Dec. 22 while en route from her home in Wyoming to visit family in Tennessee. The exact cause of death was not known at press time. Nichols, 69, ...
Consumer Confidence Rises
Jan 02, 2006; ... Consumer confidence has nearly recovered from the heating it took from Hurricane Katrina and other severe storms, boding well for spending in 2006. The Conference Board said declining gasoline prices and improving job opportunities boosted its consumer confidence index to 103.6 in ...
DHS Eyes ID Tags
Jan 09, 2006; ... To Urge RFID Seals on Containers The Department of Homeland Security is expected to propose in the spring that all international freight containers entering the United States be equipped with "smart seals" to provide protection against possible terrorist attacks. The DHS proposal ...
Yellow Roadway Corp. Renamed, Plans to Run Trucks in China
Jan 09, 2006; ... Less-than-truckload and logistics holding company Yellow Roadway Corp. changed its name to YRC Worldwide Inc. on Jan. 4, and its chairman and chief executive officer told TRANSPORT TOPICS last week the company is planning to own and operate trucks in China. After pulling off major ...
Diesel Price Drops to $2.442, Down 71.5¢ Since High in Oct.
Jan 09, 2006; ... The average retail price of diesel fuel dipped slightly last week - 0.6 cent, to $2.442 a gallon - its second straight decline, according to the Department of Energy. The U.S. diesel average has now declined 71.5 cents since reaching an all-time high of $3.157 on Oct. 24 in the aftermath ...
Two Appeals Courts Rule for Yellow; Shippers Warned About Carmack Rule
Jan 09, 2006; ... The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia ruled in favor of Yellow Transportation, agreeing with a trial court that Yellow is not liable for more than $1 million in damages suffered by one of its customers, S&H Hardware Supply & Co., largely because S&H did not file its ...
Mineta, Manufacturers Set to Speak At Heavy Duty Assn. Event in Las Vegas
Jan 09, 2006; ... Transportation secretary Norman Mineta, truck and engine manufacturing executives and trucking analysts are all scheduled to appear at the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association s Dialogue '06 on Jan. 23 - a day before the opening of the first Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week, Jan. 24-27 in Las ...
Trucking Revenue Rises in 2004
Jan 09, 2006; ... Trucking companies' revenue grew 10.4% in 2004 to $186 billion, the Census Bureau said Dec. 29. The increase from the 2003 total of $168.5 billion was the highest in six years, the report said. Trucks hauling general freight totaled $125 billion in revenue, or about two-thirds of the ...
K&N Purchases ACR Logistics
Jan 09, 2006; ... Swiss ocean freight logistics company Kuehne & Nagel AG said Jan. 3 it completed the purchase of European logistics company ACR Logistics. Previously known as Hays Logistics, ACR said it changed its name in 2004 after it was purchased by Platinum Equity. K&N said that ...
Dana's Income Drops in Restatement
Jan 09, 2006; ... Heavy-duty and automotive components supplier Dana Corp. said its internal review of past financial statements found it earned $44 million less in net income than previously reported during the first two quarters of 2005 and for full-fiscal-year 2004. The company said Dec. 30 it filed ...
Sierra West Deal Expands Vitran's U.S. Presence
Jan 09, 2006; ... Canadian less-than-truckload carrier Vitran Corp. said last week it completed the purchase of the assets of regional LTL carrier Sierra West Express, Sparks, Nev. Vitran said it paid $2.25 million in cash and a contingent $250,000 note for eight terminals in California, Arizona and ...
Freightliner's Changes at Plant In Oregon Result in Layoffs
Jan 09, 2006; ... Company Says Production Level to Remain Same Freightliner LLC announced Dec. 22 it planned to change the mix of trucks built at its Portland, Ore., plant, but not the volume (1-2, p. 2). Results of that decision so far have included layoffs for 130 workers, effective Jan. 2. "The ...
City Councilman in Wyoming Urges Lower Truck Speeds on Highways
Jan 09, 2006; ... LARAMIE, Wyo. - A city councilman is urging state lawmakers to lower the speed limit for trucks on state highways. "Some truckers are pushing themselves to the limit," Laramie City Councilman Dave O'Malley said. "Once that happens, there's little room for error. Stopping one of those ...
SOUTH CAROLINA: Bridge Demolition
Jan 09, 2006; ... CHARLESTON - Another blast reverberated and smoke rose into a clear blue sky as a section of a bridge that rose over Charleston's skyline for almost eight decades crumbled into the water last month. Crews using explosive charges dropped a 320-foot section of the Grace Memorial Bridge, ...
OREGON: Nursery Program
Jan 09, 2006; ... BRIEFS SALEM - Oregon's nurseries are launching an ambitious plan to pool their transportation needs, to cut down on rising freight costs and perennial truck shortages. The program, called "Advantage Oregon," is backed by the Oregon Association of Nurseries. The plan is to put ...
INDIANA: Rerouting Trucks
Jan 09, 2006; ... ANGOLA - State transportation officials are looking to reroute part of U.S. 20 in northeast Indiana to divert truck traffic away from the city. State transportation officials have proposed rerouting part of U.S. 20 to the Indiana TollRoad and relinquishing the existing U.S. 20 from ...