May 26, 2020

Industry Update - May 26, 2020

Industry Update - May 26, 2020

By Aldous Aldwin

Load Volumes are Up by 7 Percent

Load volumes are up 7% versus last year even as import volumes are down. Traditional produce markets in the Southwest have contributed to the largest monthly changes in volumes (Tucson, Phoenix). The rapidly improving consumer spending data is also playing a role in this growth. The reopening of most states is unleashing the pent-up demand from Americans who have grown tired of being on house arrest.

Availability

Truck Availability Falls 17 Percent

The availability of trucks on the spot market dropped 17.5% even if spot freight volumes on major lanes continued to grow last week., This is a probable sign that capacity is shifting to the contract market as industries open up.

Pricing power remains with brokers and shippers.

Here are the national average spot rates through the week:

Van: $1.55 per mile, 8 cents lower than the April average
Flatbed: $1.86 per mile, 8 cents lower than April
Reefer: $1.97 per mile, 4 cents higher than April

Amazon

Amazon Invests $4 Billion to Keep Employees Safe

In a Youtube video posted by Amazon, it revealed to have allocated $4 Billion on COVID-related initiatives to get products to customers and keep employees safe. Here’s a breakdown of their initiatives.

Shipped 100 million masks to employees and partners
To deliver 6 million meals

Watch the full video below.

TagsTruckloads Load Board Loadboard Truck truck drivers Owner Operator trucking FMCSA Trucker Path Industry Update transportation Covid19

Industry Update - May 10, 2019 <h5>By Jeremy Feucht</h5> <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>Did you Know?</u></strong></h3> On May 11, 1947, the BF Goodrich Company announces their invention of the tubeless tire. The invention was proven capable and a patent was granted to BF Goodrich in 1952. During testing, it was shown that the tubeless tire was easier to change, more efficient and offered a better ride. <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>Trucking tip of the Week</u></strong></h3> We are coming up on graduation week across the nation. This means, the start of the 100 deadliest days of the year on the road. Generally stretching from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the 100 deadliest days of the year on the road coincides with family vacations and good weather. Couple this with free time from new drivers, free time and three holidays (Memorial Day, 4<sup>th</sup> of July and Labor Day) means speed and alcohol tend to play major factors in many crashes. Be safe out there! <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>Truckers to the Rescue</u></strong></h3> We all know how much truckers due to help those in need in the US. A trucking company out of Cedar Rapids, IA, stepped up to help out some with cancer this week. West Side Transportation decorated a trailer and named it <a href="https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Cedar-Rapids-trucking-company-raises-10k-fpr--509744831.html">Convoy for a Cure to raise $10,000</a> that they donated to the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Iowa City, IA. <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>Technology and Safety</u></strong></h3> In a not so surprising bit of news, ELDs, as of now, <a href="https://www.ehstoday.com/safety-technology/has-technology-made-highways-any-safer">have not made the roads any safer</a>. While they have reduced the number of hours of service violations, the number of wrecks and the issues with vehicles have not decreased to the extent that was predicted. Hours of service issues have decreased as much as 50% but unsafe driving habits actually increased by nearly 44% for Owner-Operators from December 31, 2017 to late September 2018. <h3></h3> <h3><strong><u>Infrastructure</u></strong></h3> The 2017 report on structurally deficient bridges has been released. These reports are always a year behind and are released by the Federal Highway Administration. The report shows that nearly nine percent of all bridges in the US are deficient. Of the National Highway bridges, that number drops to just over three percent. Both of these numbers are slight decreases from the 2016 numbers.

May 10, 2019 • Carriers

COVID19: State of Trucking <h4>By Trucker Path</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3> <img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/05/b5.png" alt="Trucker Path COVID19" /> <h3><strong>Trucker Path COVID-19 Initiatives</strong></h3> The Trucker Path team is actively monitoring the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and preparing resources to assist truckers as they help keep America running. <h2></h2> In addition to providing updates on the Trucker Path <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TruckerPath/">Facebook Page</a>, a dedicated COVID19 thread has been created in the official Trucker Path forum. <h2></h2> A COVID-19 Tracker has been introduced on the Trucker Path mobile app which is available on <a href="http://bit.ly/truckerpathios">iOS</a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/truckerpathdroid">Google Play</a>. This feature will enable truckers to easily check the spread of the Coronavirus and see insights both for America and abroad, with live updates on infections and recoveries. <h2></h2> Along side the COVID-19 Tracker is the COVID-19 Navigation Tool which has been integrated on the Turn-by-Turn feature to track the latest information regarding reported cases and infected areas and provide alternate routing. </a> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/05/b7.jpeg" alt="FMCSA" /> <h3><strong>FMCSA Emergency Declaration to be extended until June 14</strong></h3> The agency's COVID-19 Emergency Declaration has been extended until June 14. The original declaration was set to expire last Friday. Full announcement can be found <a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/extension-expanded-emergency-declaration-no-2020-002-under-49-cfr-ss-39025">here</a>. <h2></h2> FMCSA’s emergency declaration provides for regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts intended to meet immediate needs for: Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 Supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19 such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants Food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stores Immediate precursor raw materials — such as paper, plastic or alcohol—that are required and to be used for the manufacture of essential items Fuel Equipment, supplies and persons needed to establish and manage temporary housing or quarantines Persons designated by federal, state or local authorities for medical, isolation, or quarantine purposes Persons necessary to provide other medical or emergency services </a> <h3></h3> <h2></h2> <img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/05/b6.jpeg" alt="CDC" /> <h3><strong>CDC Guidelines for Long Haul Truck Drivers</strong></h3> The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has recently updated guidelines for long haul truck drivers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some prescribed steps to avoid contamination and reduce spread. <ul> <li>Notify your supervisor and stay home if having symptoms.</li> <li>Make a plan with your employer and your family as to what to do if you become sick while you’re on the road. Include where to stop, where and how to seek medical advice and treatment, and plans for freight delivery.</li> <li>Limit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet when possible.</li> <li>CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. </li> <li>Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces on a routine basis.</li> <li>Practice proper hand hygiene. This is an important infection control measure. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.</li> <li>Avoid touching surfaces often touched by others when outside of the cab.</li> <li>Do not share personal protective equipment (PPE) (such as vests, safety glasses, hard hats),tools, phones, radios, or other personal items.</li> <li>Use pre-qualified truck stops or hotels identified by your employer as having appropriate COVID-19 protections.</li> <li>When team driving or ride-alongs are required, wear cloth face coverings inside the truck and avoid sharing bedding in the sleeper berth.</li> </ul> Full guidelines can be viewed <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/long-haul-trucking.html">here</a>.

May 21, 2020 • Carriers

Industry Update - May 19, 2020 <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3> <img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/05/b1.jpeg" alt="Truck Stops" /> <h3><strong>Truck Stops to Remain Open</strong></h3> As the nation endures the Covid-19 pandemic, <a href="https://www.ttnews.com/articles/truck-stops-remain-open-pandemic-despite-hit-bottom-line">truck stops have been working to ensure that drivers have a helping hand</a>. Some truck stops like Iowa 80 have enforced measures to limit the Covid-19 spread while keeping the showers and restrooms open. Loves installed plexiglass at all its stores, restaurants, and truck registers. Petro has remained open and has packaged their convenience store foods in a way that prioritizes customer safety. <h2></h2> <img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/05/b2.jpeg" alt="FMCSA" /> <h3><strong>FMCSA HOS Rule Updates</strong></h3> The <a href="https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-service/hours-service-drivers-final-rule">Final Rule</a> features four key changes to existing Hours of Service requirements. <ul> <li>The Agency will increase safety and flexibility for the 30-minute break rule by requiring a break after 8 hours of consecutive driving and allowing the break to be satisfied by a driver using on-duty, not driving status, rather than off-duty status.</li> <li>The Agency will modify the sleeper-berth exception to allow drivers to split their required 10 hours off duty into two periods: an 8/2 split, or a 7/3 split—with neither period counting against the driver’s 14‑hour driving window.</li> <li>The Agency will modify the adverse driving conditions exception by extending by two hours the maximum window during which driving is permitted.</li> <li>The Agency will change the short-haul exception available to certain commercial drivers by lengthening the drivers’ maximum on‑duty period from 12 to 14 hours and extending the distance limit within which the driver may operate from 100 air miles to 150 air miles.</li> </ul> <h3></h3> <img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/05/b3.jpeg" alt="Jobs" /> <h3><strong>More than 80,000 Jobs Lost Last April</strong></h3> According to the<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t17.htm"> Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, 88,300 jobs were lost in the trucking industry, a 6.2% year-over-year decline, as the entire economy continues to suffer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is estimated that around 60% of the jobs mentioned are drivers.

May 19, 2020 • Carriers