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Transportation Summit Can Help You with Trucking Challenges
MISSISSAUGA -- How should you react to the many challenges shaping the freight transportation industry? That is just one of the many topics that will be discussed during the Surface Transportation Summit on Oct. 14 as shippers, carriers, and industry suppliers gather for a full day's worth of presentations, workshops, keynote addresses, networking and panel discussions.
Quebec Providing $1.5 Billion for Port Improvements
MONTREAL -- Quebec's government announced on Monday it will invest more than $1.5 billion in the province's ports over the next five years as part of what it calls its "Maritime Strategy," including money for improving roads to speed up cargo movement at the Port of Montreal.
U.S. Canada Freight Flow Value Drops
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The value of U.S.-Canada freight plummeted in April, according to a new U.S. Transportation Department report, as overall freight traffic between all three North American Free Trade Agreement countries also declined.U.S.-Canada freight totaled US$48.8 billion in April, down 12.5 percent from a year earlier, as all modes of transportation - truck, rail, air, pipeline and vessel - carried a lower value of U.S.-Canada freight than a year earlier. The top commodity category transported between the U.S. and Canada was vehicles and parts, of which 58.2 percent moved by truck and 39.2 percent moved by rail. Vehicles and parts replaced mineral fuels as the top commodity in March. Mineral fuels had been the top commodity by value moved between the U.S. and Canada for 29 consecutive months starting in November 2012. This change is due, in large part, to a decline in the unit price of mineral fuels in recent months.
APTA Cautious About Increased Tolling in Nova Scotia
Dieppe, NB - One trucking group is open to a plan by the Nova Scotia government to speed up construction along what it said are some of the province's "most dangerous sections of highway" but it's not wild about seeing increased highway tolls.The sentiment from the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association (APTA) follows the government asking for proposals to conduct a feasibility study for the twinning and tolling at eight specific sections of four major highways, with the belief the additional funding could speed up the pace of roadway expansions. The association said the government's commitment to undertake a study on how to twin sections of parts of 100 series highways more quickly is a good approach, provided the government goes into the study with an open mind about its current revenues from fuel taxes and how they should be spent.
Canada’s Element Financial Purchasing Parts of GE Capital
TORONTO - The Canadian fleet management and equipment finance company Element Financial Corp. has reached an agreement to acquire GE Capital's remaining North American fleet management operations in the U.S. and Mexico, along with as GE Capital's fleet management operations in Australia and New Zealand.
Used Truck Prices Still Increasing, Trailer Orders Ease
COLUMBUS, IN - Used heavy truck prices in the U.S. during May took a break from their increasing pace. Commercial vehicle data provider Act Research reports the average cost in April experienced a leveling off, in keeping with the trend of flattening age and mileage, coming in just shy of US$50,000.Compared to April, the average price is up eight percent from last year, with the gains in line for ACT's expectations of five percent to 10 percent price growth in 2015 in the Class 8 sector. Total reported sales volumes of used Class 8 trucks fell to 2,496 units in May, down 11 percent month-over-month, but up three percent year-over-year. "Volume softening can be seen in the retail and wholesale markets, with month over month declines of 12 percent and 14 percent, respectively," said Steve Tam, vice president, commercial vehicle sector with Act Research. "Auction transactions saw a nine percent increase month over month, eight percent above volumes from May 2014. Our guidance for full year 2015 sales remains unchanged."
