
FTR



Truck driver shortage? Think again, says U.S. labor expert.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Cries of a looming -- or existing -- driver shortage are echoed on both sides of the border. They regularly emerge in employer surveys that identify trucking’s biggest challenges, and positions taken by industry lobby groups. Kristen Monaco of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't buy it.


Artificial Intelligence (AI) leading to real-world possibilities
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – There’s data, data everywhere, but limits to what people can do with it. Advances in Artificial Intelligence – often referred to simply as AI – is introducing the computing power that will harness the data to guide everything from the decisions made by autonomous vehicles, to the efforts to better manage traffic flows.







Capacity remains tight despite trade and regualtion uncertainty: FTR
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The economy continues to be strong, with spot rates, employment rates, and load postings all reaching record-setting levels in the last several weeks, but trucking is still susceptible to coming changes say industry analysts.

Can the hot trucking market continue?
NEWPORT, R.I. – It is a good time to be in trucking in the U.S. The economy is strong, freight needs to move, and rates are on the rise. Eric Starks, the chairman and CEO of FTR, pointed to several indicators during a business symposium for Volvo dealers and customers. The ATA Tonnage Index and FTR Loadings Index, which track absolute freight levels, are both trending upward. The flatbed market in particular has been going “crazy”, in part because of increasing demand to move pipe and fracking sand, the latter of which is moved in boxes, he said. “It’s eating up a huge amount of capacity.” Everything from consumer spending to home sales are adding to the demand.

Volvo building share in hot truck market
NEWPORT, R.I. – Per Carlsson has been here before. The global senior vice-president of Volvo Trucks’ strategy and transformation office was president of Volvo Trucks North America from 2008-09, and now he finds himself serving as interim president to fill a role vacated by Goran Nyberg, who has taken a senior position at Volkswagen’s MAN Truck and Bus business unit.