Mack partners with community to open Mack Truck Stop

As a result of a partnership with multiple organizations in Lehigh Valley, Pa., a Titan by Mack now greets visitors to the Levitt Pavilion at SteelStacks, an arts and cultural center and the former site of Bethlehem Steel. Mack partnered with ArtsQuest, which manages the Levitt Pavilion, and the Lehigh…

Arkansas Best Corporation Closes on Acquisition of Premium Logistics Company Panther Expedited Services, Inc.

Arkansas Best Corporation (ABFS), a leading provider of freight transportation and logistics solutions, today announced it closed on the previously announced purchase of Panther Expedited Services, Inc. (“Panther”), from Fenway Partners LLC, for approximately $180 million, adding that all of Panther’s outstanding debt has been repaid. The $100 million term…

The FTR Shippers Conditions Index

FTR Associates on Wednesday, June 13, announced that its Shippers Conditions Index for April basically was unchanged from the previous month with a moderately negative reading of -5.4. The SCI sums up all market influences that affect shippers; a reading above zero suggests a favorable shipping environment, while a reading…

Allied Systems Holdings files for Chapter 11

Automotive transportation provider Allied Systems Holdings on Sunday, June 10, announced that the company has implemented a financial restructuring through Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code as part of its plan to eliminate debt and strengthen its balance sheet. The company said it will continue normal operations in the…

Trucking conditions Improvement 2012

FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI) for April moved significantly higher from the previous month, climbing 2.7 points to a favourable reading of 9.1. The TCI is a compilation of factors affecting trucking companies. Any reading above zero indicates a positive environment for truckers with readings above 10 a sign that…

East Coast Truckers vie for Spot in Nationals on Home Turf

Professional drivers from the East Coast Atlantic provinces competed last weekend to earn a spot in the National Professional Truck Driving Championships, which this year will be hosted by their home association. Winners in the provincial competition included: Roy Mattinson, Roy Mattinson and Sons, two-axle; Steve MacPhee, Day & Ross…

FMCSA REPORTS GIVES CONGRESS REPORT ON CARRIER SAFETY

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has informed Congress that implementing the Carrier Safety Measurement System resulted in more carriers categorized as mandatory for investigation than using SafeStat. FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro summarized the agency’s 2011 fiscal year record for compliance reviews on high-risk carriers in her March 30 letter…

Truck Replacement Program Expanded by Tacoma Port

The Port of Tacoma announced new eligibility criteria to allow more diesel engine trucks to qualify for a voluntary program offering truck owners a financial incentive to purchase newer lower-emissions trucks to improve regional air quality. The broader criteria aim to increase participation and help truck owners meet the Port…

Freightliner debuts Cascadia Evolution tractor

Freightliner debuts Cascadia Evolution tractor

Freightliner: The next step in Daimler Trucks North America’s continuing quest for more fuel-efficient trucks appeared at a press conference on Wednesday, May 30, on the eve of Freightliner’s annual dealer meeting in Washington, D.C. The 2014 Cascadia Evolution is designed to be what its model name implies: a sophisticated…

Equipment financing index up 20% in April

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association on Wednesday, May 23, announced that its Monthly Leasing and Finance Index, which reports economic activity for the $628 billion equipment finance sector, showed overall new business volume for April was $6.1 billion, up 20 percent from volume of $5.1 billion in the same…

Diesel engine has a place in the clean energy future

Clean Energy: Although alternative power is a hot topic in the transportation industry these days, diesel engines still have much to contribute to the clean and efficient energy future, according to Andreas Hoyler, manager engine lab and emissions, diesel systems in North America for Robert Bosch, LLC. Fleet Owner recently…

Positive reaction to stability-control proposal (NHTSA)

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Announcment: Back in 2010, Con-way Freight ordered 1,300 Freightliner tractors equipped with Meritor Wabco’s Roll Stability Control system. That order followed Con-way’s participating in a test program in 2009 in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the University of Michigan Transportation…

Oklahoma Trucking Training

Commercial trucking is a fast growing industry in the United States. As the need for more cargo transport rises, so does the need for new drivers. The state of Oklahoma has a number of Trucking Training schools and programs available to aspiring truckers. Each offers different programs and payment options. Prospective…

How to Verify a Freight Broker surety bond

If you’re new to working with freight brokers, you may be confused about the role of their surety bond. From the Carrier’s standpoint, the surety bond is in place as protection in case the broker refuses to pay for services rendered. Always verify a freight broker’s bond before accepting a…

Training for Freight Broker Agent

Freight Broker Training: Freight broker agents can be found in transportation companies managing shipments. A freight broker agent may also be known as cargo and freight agents. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2008 Occupational Employment Statistics, cargo and freight agents earned an average rate of…