News
Mulroney talks trade, leadership at OTA
TORONTO, ON - Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney brought a message about the importance of leadership and free trade to fleet executives in Toronto today, at a time when the trade agreements he championed are being challenged and renegotiated. In a speech to the Ontario Trucking Association's annual meeting, Mulroney referred to NAFTA discussions as "the most important international negotiations in modern history" for Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. And he drew on a series of statistics to prove his point about the value of trade. "The statistics alone speak to the success of the (Canada-U.S.) Free Trade Agreement," he said, noting how trade between the countries has tripled since 1989. "With less than 7% of the world's population, NAFTA produces 29% of the world's wealth." While U.S. President Donald Trump has referred to NAFTA as a terrible deal, Mulroney stressed that our southern neighbors have "done extremely well", referring to the U.S. unemployment rate of 4.1% as an example.
Shipping conditions to continue to tighten in 2018
BLOOMINGTON, IN - Shipping conditions were down again in September say industry analysts at FTR Intelligence. The data complied from Truckstop.com shows a tightness in capacity that is causing rates to continue to climb, the groups says. Continued hurricane recovery efforts in the Southern United States also contributed too pressure on conditions.
Atlas Van Lines names new president
EVANSVILLE, IN - Atlas Van Lines announced a new president and chief operating officer (COO). The division of Atlas World Group named Joe Stackhouse to the role Tuesday. Stackhouse comes to Atlas with a 30-year background in the telecommunications industry, including senior leadership positions with AT&T, Comcast Corporation, and Charter Communications. He most recently served as the president and COO of American Utility Management in Chicago.
Trucking a dominant force in Mexico
PUERTO VALLARTA, MX - In Mexico, there is an undeniable link between trucking and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The nation is now the eighth-largest producer of trucks in the world; the fourth-largest exporter of the vehicles. And related exports now represent 6.3% of the country's Gross Domestic Product, says Flavio Rivera, president and Chief Executive Officer of Daimler Trucks Mexico. The nation's manufacturing facilities produced 191,000 heavy duty vehicles in 2015 alone, with 151,000 built in 2016. Daimler itself has plants in Santiago Tianguistenco, State of Mexico, and Santillo, Coahuila. Manufacturing in general has been bolstered by free trade agreements with 46 countries, and 80% of available freight now moves by truck as well. Indeed, gone are the days when oil exports dominated the domestic economy. "The presence of the trucking industry in Mexico has been gaining ground," Rivera said, during a broad-ranging discussion with industry media in Puerto Vallarta. "All those [manufactured] goods are absolutely moving by trucks." Still, Daimler is offering no official comment about ongoing negotiations around the all-important trade deal. The public focus is on business as usual. "We are continuing producing trucks. We are continuing operating efficient factories," said Rivera. "The manufacturing plants today are in very good shape. Very modern."
IN PRINT: Brenda Cuthbert collecting hardware for the softer side of the trucking industry
Brenda Cuthbert never planned to work in the trucking industry. But the vice president of human resources at Siemens Transportation Group and this year's winner of the Trucking HR Canada Top Fleet Employers HR Leader Award - and the first woman in 80 years to win the Saskatchewan Trucking Association's Service to Industry Award - knew right away that she and her longstanding employer were a fit. "It was the funniest interview," she recalls of the first day with Siemens Transportation Group owner Erwen Siemens, about 28 years ago. "It was all about family, and he showed me the whole company within the first half hour."
Two more companies commit to Tesla orders
SEATTLE, WA - Two more companies have added themselves to the list of those pre-ordering Tesla's new fully-electric semi. Shipping company DHL, owned by Deutschhe Post AG, and Fortigo Freight Services said they each ordered a limited number of the trucks due out in 2019. DHL said its 10 trucks will be used for shorter routes, telling Reuters they would be deployed on shuttle runs and same-day customer deliveries, as well as being tested for fuel efficiency on longer runs throughout the United States.
Panelists for Women with Drive 2018 unveiled
TORONTO, ON - Packed with powerful women, the line-up at the fourth annual Women with Drive Leadership Summit, hosted by Trucking HR Canada, will focus on the recruitment and retention of women in the trucking industry. Executive Director of Catalyst Canada, Tanya van Biesen will give a State of Women in Business address, as the March summit's keynote speaker. Catalyst is a nonprofit working with organizations to accelerate progress for women in boardrooms across the country. van Biesen brings more than two decades of corporate leadership and diversity experience to the discussion.
