Aug 15, 2017 • Community

Trucking Industry Trends

Trucking Industry Trends

Trucking Industry Trends

The trucking industry trends reveal the importance of truck freight in America and freight revenue forecasts to grow by 75 percent over the next nine years.

The trucking industry has powered America for over a century moving 70 percent of all freight. As truck drivers move freight across the country so moves our economy. What are the trucking industry trends for 2016? We reveal the answers!

In 2016, the trucking industry:

Generated $676.2 billion in revenue
Accounted for 79.8% of the nation’s freight bill
Moved 10.42 billion tons of freight
Moved 70.6% of all domestic freight tonnage
3.68 million Class 8 trucks registered
Traveled 450.4 billion miles
Powered by small business – 91% of carriers operate six trucks or less
1 in 15 jobs in America is in the trucking industry

“The information in Trends highlights exactly what I tell elected officials, regulators and key decision-makers every day: trucking is literally the driving force behind our great economy,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “Safe, reliable and efficient motor carriers enable businesses throughout the supply chain to maintain lean inventories, thereby saving the economy billions of dollars each year.”

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TagsTrucking Industry

Trucker Spotlight - Tierra Allen <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different truck drivers to understand some life lessons that make them who they are today. We also learn more about their motivations, and the problems that they encounter on the job. We also tackle how Trucker Path's solutions helped them with what they do. The information that they provide helps inform other people who are looking to delve into the trucking world.</em> <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/11/ts-tierra_young-blog-1.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Tierra Allen</strong>, AKA The Sassy Trucker on Youtube. She's been driving for 3 1/2 years now. She enjoys driving and traveling the world and wanted to drive a truck since she was 18. Let's get to more about Tierra and her sassy life of trucking. <h2></h2> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker?</strong></h3> I decided to become a truck driver because I like the flexible schedule. I like the fact that i don’t have a boss looking over my shoulder 24/7. Most importantly i get paid to travel. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>In the years that you have been driving, what are the significant changes that you've noticed in the trucking industry?</strong></h3> I’ve noticed more and more women are getting into trucking. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/11/ts-tierra_young-blog-2.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you decide to put up your Youtube channel?</strong></h3> I decided to make a Youtube channel to share my experiences with everyone and to encourage and influence others to decide if they want to become a truck driver. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Any times when you get lonely while driving? How do you deal with it?</strong></h3> Whenever I get lonely, I talk on the phone with friends and listen to podcasts and music. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/11/ts-tierra_young-blog-3.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>As a trucker, what are the current struggles in this COVID19 pandemic?</strong></h3> Us truck drivers put our health at risk because we high a high chance of catching Covid19 because we are driving cross country. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What's your favorite Truck Brand / Model?</strong></h3> My favorite truck is the Kenworth Studio Sleeper . <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/11/ts-tierra_young-blog-4.jpg" alt=""] <h3><strong>Aside from being a trucker, any other things you dream of doing?</strong></h3> I want to become an actor. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What's the best truck stop for you?</strong></h3> The best truck stop for me is Petro truck stop. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are the common troubles or problems you encounter while trucking?</strong></h3> As a female, I encounter a lot of harassment, hate, and other truckers underestimating me because I am in a male dominated field. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/11/ts-tierra_young-blog-5.jpg" alt=""] <h3><strong>What are your pet peeves while driving/trucking?</strong></h3> I dislike how some cars tend to cut truck drivers off. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your trucker essentials when you drive?</strong></h3> Dash cam, GPS, bluetooth headset, refrigerator, microwave, sleeper bag, emergency bag, and boots. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>We're glad that you use the Trucker Path app on your day to day trucking. What features do you enjoy the most?</strong></h3> What I enjoy the most about <a href="http://www.truckerpath.com">Trucker Path</a> is the fueling feature. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers?</strong></h3> Be prepared to work in crazy weather conditions. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Where can people watch your videos on Youtube?</strong></h3> They can view my videos on my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/TheSassyTrucker/videos">Youtube Channel, The Sassy Trucker</a>. <h2></h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/20ZfEa9_J88" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> <h2></h2> Hope you guys enjoy! <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Nov 05, 2020 • Carriers

Mack Anthem Unveiled [p]Mack Trucks unveiled the much anticipated new <em>Mack Anthem </em>and it's sure to turn some heads. [/p] [h2] Mack Anthem [/h2] [p] Mack Trucks has been a staple in American trucks since 1900 but it hasn't produced a large market share of the long-haul trucking industry. That might change soon. [/p] [p]117 years later and Mack is poised to challenge the heavy-duty trucking competition with the new Mack Anthem.[/p] [video id="fWWhSMNurrs"] [p] Mack Trucks has produced class 8 trucks for many years now but has yet to crack the top five in terms of <a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/the-most-popular-trucks-in-america/">the most popular trucks in America</a> based on sales.[/p] [img src="/uploads/2017/09/Mack-Anthem-Close-up.png" alt="Mack Anthem Truck"] [p] The truck will come in two trim packages, "Bold Black" and "Mirror Chrome Bright" and the 70-in. stand-up cab boasts 27-cubic ft of space. [/p] [img src="/uploads/2017/09/Anthem-Mack-Truck-sleeper.jpg" alt="Mack Anthem Interior"] [p] The Mack Anthem will feature class-leading storage space including cabinets and a wardrobe. [/p] [img src="/uploads/2017/09/Anthem-Cabinets-and-wardrobe.jpg" alt="Mack Anthem Truck"] [p] It's also expected to increase fuel efficiency by three percent, says the company; and using <a href="http://m.onelink.me/3367bcc5"">Trucker Path</a> to compare fuel prices can also come in handy to save at the pump. [/p] [p]Production will begin in the first quarter of 2018 at the Lower Macungie Township facility in Pennslyvania, employing over 1,800 workers.[/p] [img src="/uploads/2017/09/Mack-Anthem-road-1.png" alt="Mack Anthem Truck"] [h2] The Mack Anthem's Anthem [/h2] [p] Appropriately named, the new Mack Truck includes its own anthem, "Born Ready" by singer Steve Moakler. [/p] [video id="O_7Q5vwQFjU"] [button-green href="https://www.macktrucks.com/trucks/anthem?utm_source=TruckerPath&utm_medium=facebook_partner_post_1200x628&utm_campaign=7605_launch&utm_content=all-new-anthem]Learn More About the Anthem[/button-green] [p]photo credit: Mack Trucks[/p]

Sep 14, 2017 • Community

How Do Freight Brokers Find Shippers [p] Freight brokers need to find shippers in order to connect them with carriers and move freight. How do freight brokers find shippers is an age-old question and one new freight brokers need answers too. Here are seven ways how freight brokers find shippers.[/p] [h2] How Do Freight Brokers Find Shippers? [/h2] [p]For freight brokers to find shippers, it's important to understand consumer products. Who manufactures them? Where do they come from? How many products do they sell? These are the sort of questions you need to target to know how freight brokers find shippers.[/p] [h2] 1. The Leads Surround You [/h2] [p]Look around you, regardless of where you are the things you see were most likely freight hauled and delivered by trucks, after all, over 70 percent of all freight in America moves by truck. Furniture, office equipment, consumer electronics, clothes, they are all types of freight that shippers need to be hauled from one point to another. As a freight broker, you can find shippers by doing research on the products you see every day to find out where they are manufactured and how they are transported. [/p] [giphy] <iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/xT39CYwjsPWvIfw6UE" width="480" height="270" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy] [h2] 2. Review Your Purchase History and Compare [/h2] [p] Drawing a blank or feeling helpless in finding shippers? Reviewing your own purchases can be a great starting place. Whether it's the receipts from the store or your online Amazon order history, the products you purchase are manufactured and transported from somewhere. [/p] [p]As a freight broker looking to find shippers, you have to get creative at times and go beyond the normal trains of thought. Understand how companies are connected and if one lead doesn't pan out or isn't a viable option, don't give up, there are seemingly endless possibilities. [/p] [h2] 3. Look at the Competition [/h2] [p] Every product that is moved by freight has competitors, it's a natural occurrence and a driving force of the capitalist economy. Take a large company like John Deere. They proudly manufacture varieties of tractors with manufacturing plants in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Georgia. [/p] [p]Despite being a Fortune 500 company and having a tremendous market share, John Deere has a lot of competition in the tractor industry. Using a tool like <a href="http://financials.morningstar.com/competitors/industry-peer.action?t=DE&region=usa&culture=en-US">MorningStar Financial </a> you can get insight into who's its competitors are by clicking on the industry peers tab. Freight brokers can do this search for any publically traded company.[/p] [h2] 4. Use MacRae's Blue Book and Other Shippers Lists [/h2] [p] <a href="http://www.macraesbluebook.com/menu/product_heading.cfm?groupid=2533">MacRae's Blue Book</a> is an industrial directory that provides detailed information about manufacturing companies. You can search through companies based on the types of products they manufacture and the detailed information about a company will even include freight rate estimates for you to compare. [/p] [p] Other manufacturing lists such as <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/08/Top-500-Manufacturing-Companies-USA.pdf">The Industry Week 500</a> are great guides to help freight brokers find shippers. Companies such as Boeing and General Electric have a tremendous amount of supplies both in receiving and shipping of freight. Use the list as a starting point to help you find suppliers for these companies. [/p] [p] Ever wonder how many parts are required for Boeing to build one of its 737 planes? 367,000 parts. Suppliers of those parts are sourced from all over the nation (even world) and are often times small to medium sized businesses that may not have the resources to handle their own freight. This is where freight brokers can use the magic of Google to find shippers. [/p] [p] Search <a href="http://www.airframer.com/aircraft_detail.html?model=B737">"Boeing 737 Suppliers" </a> and boom, a full list of the suppliers for the aircraft including company details and contact information. [/p] [h2] 5. Livestock, Produce and the USDA [/h2] [p]Produce is shipped across the country to satisfy consumer demand. Who doesn't love guacamole even in the winter time just in time for the big game right? Produce locations vary based on the season, though you can conclude that Florida has fruits, Texas has avocados, the Midwest has corn and the Pacific Northwestern has apples. [/p] [p] You can use the <a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/business-listings">USDA business listings</a> to locate farmers that grow crops or raise cattle, poultry, and other livestock and contact them as well.[/p] [h2] 6. Satellite View of Company Buildings [/h2] [p] Continuing to rely on Google and being imaginative in your searches to find shippers, freight brokers can use Google Maps satellite and street views of a building to see if it has shipping and receiving docks. You can spend hours just going street by street in industrial areas, verifying if a location has docks. From there you can do research the company to find out what they do and find out how they ship freight. [/p] [h2] 7. Cold Calling Shippers [/h2] [p] Yes, cold calling is still alive and well. Once you find a shipper you will need to contact them in order to gauge their potential interest in using a freight broker. It's easy to send a quick email but the chances of getting a response are quite low. The best way to connect with shippers is by calling them directly and be straight-forward in your dialogue. [/p] [p] A sales pitch isn't necessary and can be off-putting, but you should describe who you work for, company background or achievements, where you're looking to move freight through and see how you can be of assistance. Remember, you are there to provide them a service so it's imperative that you listen to their needs and how you might be able to address their pain points.[/p] [p]You'll need to understand how the shipper currently transports freight and see if there is an opportunity you can capitalize on. Undoubtedly, a significant portion of shippers will turn you down, but it's a numbers game and you'll never know if you have potential clients or not until you call.[/p] [h2] Relationships, Trust and Load Boards [/h2] [p] Finding shippers is only one aspect of the journey to be a successful freight broker. You'll need to cultivate relationships and build a reputation for being dependable when servicing your shipping clients. To do this you will need to rely on load boards like <strong>Truckloads</strong> with over 100,000 qualified carriers that you can connect with to haul freight for the shipper. [/p] [p]As a freight broker you'll also want to develop a rapport with carriers, especially the qualified ones. Once you use a carrier to move freight that you trust and have a good working relationship with, continue to use them and provide them with the opportunities they desire to maintain the relationship. [/p] [video id=snyBYpnuhWw] [button text="Try Truckloads for Free" href="https://ship.truckerpath.com/signup?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=findshippers&utm_campaign=Aug16" width="250px"]

Aug 16, 2017 • Brokers