Economy
Load volumes break records in August
TORONTO, ON - Canadian load volumes were the highest ever recorded for any August reports TransCore Link Logistics. The company says August 2017 saw a 12% increase month-over-month, from load volumes in July, but the month also shattered records set for the highest August values, with a 26% increase over August 2011.
Trimble acquires 10-4 Systems
SUNNYVALE, CA - Trimble has acquired shipping and transportation technology company 10-4 Systems. Trimble, owner of telematics providers like TMW and PeopleNet, announced today their acquisition of the privately held company that offers shipment visibility to shippers, carriers, and third-party logistics providers.
Class 8 truck sales continue surge
BLOOMINGTON, IN - North American Class 8 truck orders this August were 50% better than a year ago, and 14% above July totals, analysts at FTR report. "Orders were up for the third straight month, and it looks like May's 16,500 orders will be the low point for the year. Orders are expected to increase in September, leading into robust order activity in Q4," said Don Ake, FTR's vice president of commercial vehicles. The numbers are in keeping with expectations and should help to fill remaining 2017 build slots, FTR concludes. It's the best August order performance since 2014. In the past 12 months, North American Class 8 orders have reached 231,000 units.
Investors approve Knight-Swift deal
PHOENIX, AZ - A merger to create the biggest truckload fleet in North America has been approved by stockholders. A special meeting of Knight Transportation stock holders, held yesterday, approved the merger of the company with Swift Transportation Company that was announced in April.
East Coast International Trucks opens new facility
MILLBROOK, NS - East Coast International Trucks (ECI) is celebrating the opening of their new building today. The International truck dealership with four locations in the Maritimes unveiled their new 17,000 sq-ft building Sept. 7, allowing customers to tour the facility and see what ECI has to offer.
Ox Bodies announces new president
FAYETTE, AL - Henry Bell has been named as the new general manager and president of Ox Bodies. Owned by Truck Bodies and Equipment International, the designer, manufacturer, and installer of medium- and heavy-duty truck bodies, saw its former general manager Ray Salley, retire in August.
Slow growth for year’s end: FTR
BLOOMINGTON, IN - FTR Intelligence expects the economy to slow down before the end of the year, matching slower freight growth. The company reported improvements to shipping conditions in June over the previous month, but warns that slow contract pricing increases, and a modest weakening of the expected regulatory environment, will mean slower growth and fairly moderate conditions in the short-term.
WABCO, Nexteer announce long-term cooperation
AUBURN HILLS, MI - WABCO Holdings and Nexteer Automotive are steering into the future together, announcing a long-term cooperation agreement today. The two companies will collaborate to develop and supply active steering systems for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and also look to work together on developing autonomous trucking technology.
Harvey trounces Texas; trucking
HOUSTON, TX - Hurricane Harvey is hitting hard, taking up to 10% of the trucking industry with it, reports FTR Intelligence. The category four storm made landfall in Texas, northeast of Corpus Christi, Friday night, bringing with it rain and winds of up to 209 kilometers per hour (130 miles per hour).
E-commerce is transforming trucking
NASHVILLE, TN - Seventeen years ago, Tom Hanks stood in a shipping yard and lamented that 87 hours was an eternity. Castaway was on the big screen, and the Hollywood superstar was playing a time-obsessed operations manager for a world-wide shipping company. Shouting that "the cosmos [were] created in less time. Wars have been fought and nations toppled at 87 hours. Fortunes made and squandered," Hanks was forecasting the future of supply chain. From 87 hours to just 24 or less, time is running out for goods that take more than a day to get to consumers, and trucking is undergoing massive changes, all thanks to a store that sells just about everything: Amazon. As e-commerce grows exponentially, taking larger and larger shares of markets -- like household goods, cosmetics and personal care items, groceries, and furniture -- it's re-shaping how goods are packaged, shipped, and stored, forcing fleets to adapt quickly. Retail markets were up in July all over the United States, but online sales saw an increase of 1.3%, compared to just 0.1% for traditional brick-and-mortar stores.
