Transportation
Easing Rates, Capacity Lead to Weaker Trucking Biz
BLOOMINGTON, IN -- A measure of trucking industry business conditions fell in April as capacity and pressure on rates eased up.The Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) from the freight forecasting firm FTR shows a 9% decline from the previous month to a relatively modest reading of 6.7, but still higher than the same time last year. A reading above zero indicates a positive business environment while one below zero is negative. It also said lower fuel prices during April resulted in a positive effect on the index.
Changes Proposed to Dangerous Goods Transportation Reporting
OTTAWA -- Transport Canada has posted in the Canada Gazette proposed changes to reporting requirements when it comes to regulations over spills or accidents involving the transportation of dangerous goods. Regulators are providing a comment period, after which they will review comments from industry. No timeline has been established for when Transport Canada will finalize the proposal. Highlights from the proposed amendments include: A new definition of the release of dangerous goods; Amendments to reporting requirements to introduce circumstances under which a report is required; Exceptions where the reporting obligation does not apply; The reporting of the loss or theft of dangerous goods; The reporting of unlawful interference with dangerous goods; and New reporting criteria for misdeclared or undeclared dangerous goods to harmonize with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) reporting requirements.
VIDEO! New TirePass May be Too Good to Pass Up
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- It's been about two weeks since Love's Travel Stops launched TirePass, a new system that inflates tires automatically while drivers fuel up, and it's already available at more than 90 locations across the U.S. TirePass is a fuel and tire inflation lane where a trained Love's technician checks and inflates your tires for you while you fuel, in addition to them measuring tread depth and performing a visual check of the tire and wheel assemblies. According to Love's, this new system helps to lower downtime, reduce the risk of breakdowns, increase fuel mileage and prolong your tire life.
Spot Market Freight Volume Down, Remains Strong
PORTLAND, OR -- Spot market freight volume remained relatively strong in May, edging down just 1.7% compared to April, according to the DAT North American Freight Index.Compared to the extraordinary volume of May 2014, freight declined 27%, however, volume exceeded same-month totals for 16 of the 18 years since the index was established in 1997. May freight volume dipped 0.8% from April for vans, 4.6% for flatbeds, while refrigerated freight increased 8.1%. Rates on the spot market followed the trends in volume by equipment type, slipping 1.9% for vans, 0.5% for flatbeds, while reefer rates rose 2.7%, compared to April.
Got a Favorite Trucking Loo? Share It for Annual Contest
MISSISSAUGA, ON -- Have you ever walked into a public restroom, especially at a truckstop or any other place that caters to trucking, that impressed you so much you had you to take a photo? One that was so memorable you walked out and immediately told a friend "You will not believe what that washroom looks like!" We must confess, at Today's Trucking, some of us have been guilty of this, though we aren't saying who. But why keep such discoveries a trucking industry secret? Its time to let the whole world know, or at least Canada, that trucking has some great, clean water closets and a contest has arrived for just such a purpose. The restroom supply company Cintas Canada is on the hunt to find these washrooms, launching its 6th Annual Canada's Best Restroom Contest. Through July 31st nominations can be submitted through the contest website.
Minister Urges Trucking to Address Mental Health
TORONTO--Federal Minister of Labor Dr. Kellie Leitch recently wrote to the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA), asking the group to encourage member carriers to take action to address the issue of psychological health in the workplace. The minister's letter refers to sources of data showing that a significant proportion of the Canadian workforce suffers from some form of mental illness, affecting worker productivity, safety and workplace losses, according to the group. The minister's letter provides a link to tools that can assist employers in assessing, addressing and mitigating psychological health and safety issues from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).
Fight Expected Over Upcoming Truck Emissions Rules
The trucking industry in the U.S. is bracing for federal regulators to soon propose new rules requiring the fuel efficiency of new trucks to increase by as much as 40% by 2027 from 2010's level. That's according to a story this week from Reuters, in which it reports that some trucking aren't necessarily opposed to tougher standards. The reason is because fuel is one of any trucking operation's greatest costs, but the real fight may lie in the smaller details of the plan. For instance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency earlier said it will introduce "performance-based" standards, meaning truck makers can use a variety of options to hit fuel economy and emissions targets, ranging from changes in the engine all the way to putting additions on trucks and trailer bodies.
