North American Freight Index Records Highest December Freight Volumes Since - February 02, 2012

TransCore announced that its North American Freight Index http://www.transcorefreightsolutions.com/   in December climbed 11 percent compared to December 2010 on the spot market, marking the second highest freight volume for December since 2005. December's Index was the fourth consecutive month where same-month volume was the highest since the record-setting levels of 2005.

Truckload freight ra...
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All America Transportation, Inc. is proud to announce they are now certified by the SBA as an EDWOSB.  The SBA implemented two new certifications in February 2011, WOSB (Woman-Owned Small Business) and EDWOSB (Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business).

The WOSB Federal Contract Program will provide greater access to federal contracting opportunities for WOSBs and economically-disad...
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All America Transportation Inc.  announced that it has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a Smartway Transport Partner.  Launched in 2004, SmartWay is an EPA program that helps freight companies improve fuel efficiency, increase environmental performance, and increase supply chain sustainability.

Participation in SmartWay helps All America Transportation choose more effici...
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The FMCSA's launch in December 2010 of the new Compliance, Safety, and Accountability Framework had many carriers running scared.  Experts were warning that the new system could put thousands of carriers out of business and take up to 10% of drivers off the road.  The good news is the impact was not as severe as predicted.  It has, however, led to tougher motor carrier hiring standards for truck d...
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After an extended holiday vacation, members of Congress return to a new session with looming Transportation deadlines.  The first deadline, March 31, is the date the temporary extension for the latest transportation reauthorization law expires.  The second deadline, when the Highway Trust Fund runs out of funds, could hit as early as August this year.

Transportation advocates say they are launc...
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The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry fell 0.2 percent in October from September, the first monthly decrease after four consecutive increases, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bureau of Transportation Statistics' (BTS) Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI).

BTS reported that at 109.4 the level of freight shipments, measured by the Freigh...
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced its final rule specifically prohibiting interstate truck and bus drivers from using handheld cell phones while operating their vehicles.
The final rule prohibits commercial drivers from using a hand-held mobile telephone while operating a commercial truck or bus. Drivers who violate the restriction will face federal civil penalties...
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In a time where frauds and scams become more prevalent, there is an increase in the number of older MC numbers being reinstated.  While the reinstatement of MC numbers is not necessarily fraudulent, it serves as reminder for carriers and brokers to research companies they are doing with for the first time. According to Internet Truckstop, 22 % of the reinstated MC numbers were not reinstated by th...
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Recently released economic reports show manufacturing and construction activity showed signs of strength for the month of August.

The Commerce Department reported construction spending rose 1.4 % in the month of  August while the Institute for Supply Management factory index rose from 50.6 % in August to 51.6 % in September. 

The rise in manufacturing is influenced by an increase in export p...
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According to Thom Albrecht, BB&T Capital Markets as reported on September 28, 2011, truck tonnage has grown year-over-year for 21 consecutive months, including a 9.2% growth in August.  According to Albrecht, "The U.S. economy has never had a recession without truck tonnage first going negative and a tonnage decline typically leads an official recession by nine to twelve months...Absent a syst...
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As today's truckload rates and competition for trucks continue to rise, there a few things that can be done to establish good partnership between the shipper and transportation provider.  Some items that may benefit the shipper in retaining the services of their transportation provider may include :

 #1)  Shipments in which the driver is not responsible for loading or unloading freight.

#2) ...
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According to a recent survey conducted by Transport Capital Partners, truckload rates are accelerating as large and small trucking companies raise pricing to shippers.  The percentage of the trucking companies raising rates has climbed from 53 % in February to 83 % in May.  The increase in rates ranged from as low as 5 % to as much as 15 %.

The survey also indicated carriers expect truckload ra...
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Average prices for all trucking services increased .09 % for the month of May 2011.  This was the 10 th consecutive month prices have increased.  Year over year truckload and LTL prices have increased 4.5 %.  Increasing demand for trucks, higher fuel costs, and shortage in truck capacity have contributed to the pricing increases.  Forecast models show an overall yearly increase in cost upward to 6...
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Federal Reserve officials lowered their forecasts for growth this year and next.  Officials say the U.S. economy growing at a moderate pace, somewhat more slowly than previously projected.

According to officials the US economy will from 2.7 %  this year to 2.9% next year.  Previous projections were from 3.1 % this year to 3.3%  next year.  Along with these revised projections, the fed is also b...
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According to a recent survey by Wolfe Trahan, shippers expect truckload capacity to tighten even further over the next year.  Shippers believe LTL capacity will be more stable.  The survey found that 77% of shippers expect truckload capacity to get tighter, the highest percentage since 2004, the equity research firm said.  On average, shippers surveyed expected their transportation budgets to rise...
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In the world of shipping, Truckload carriers are reporting the largest rate increases, according to an article published in The Journal of Commerce.  Spot market and broker rates are leading contract truck pricing, according to TransCore Freight Solutions.  In the first quarter of 2011, dry van rates on the spot market jumped 8.1 percent nationwide, an increase of ten cents per mile, TransCore sai...
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The America Trucking Association reported truck tonnage increased approximately 6.3 % in March. This marked the 16th consecutive year over year increase in the U.S. Additionally tonnage if the first quarter rose 6.1 compared with the same period last year.

There is a concern higher fuel prices may effect consumer spending which in turn effects trucking tonnage. Even with higher fuel prices the ...
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As fuel prices continue to rise (average per gallon price of diesel $4.078, higest in 12 years), it may be interesting to take a look at some facts regarding oil consumption. See below.

Oil Consumption by the Numbers
* The United States gets 40 % of its engery from oil
* The average American spends 6 % of their gross income on gasoline
* The United States is the largest consumer of oil in ...
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According to the TransCore North American Freight Index, freight volumes rose 38% in February 2011 from January 2011, and 65% from a year earlier.  February's volume levels were the highest for that month since the TransCore North American Freight Index began reporting in 1986.  Spot market demand hit a record level in January as well.  Flatbed volume skyrocketed 44% from January and dry van freig...
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Nationwide truckload capacity increased by 4 % during the week of March 12 according to Trans Core's Dat Network.  Also according to the DAT network truck postings increased compared to the previous week as well.  Dry van postings were up 3.8 % , reefer postings were up 5.8 % and flatbed postings were up 2.4 %.

The average nationwide load to truck ratio for the week of March 12 was as follows ;...
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Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) recently  introduced a bill in the House of Representatives which, if passed, would require the Dept.  of Transportation (DOT) to study the amount of time truck drivers are forced to wait at loading docks and to use those study results to establish detention time "fees" for shippers and receivers.

The bill, H.R. 756, would require DOT to study detention time, issue reg...
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Hopefully by now, most companies understand the severity of the current truck shortage, as well as the factors that have led up to it.  Most of our shippers do understand, and have already begun taking steps to help their business and their customers and suppliers change their habits and procedures in order to cope.  All America Transportation, Inc. is recommending to all of our customers, THEIR c...
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All America Transportation Inc. is proud to announce company Vice President Scott Parkinson has been designated "Certified Transportation Broker" by the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA).  The CTB is awarded in recognition of Scott's successful completion of a rigorous course of study and passing a thorough and comprehensive examination. This is the highest certification for particip...
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Trucking firms could see their biggest rate increases in years in 2011, and coupled with rising equipment and fuel prices, end products' costs could increase accordingly, USA Today reported Monday.

An analyst with R.W. Baird estimated that rates could gain 5%, the most since 2005, the paper reported in its business section.

After falling from 2007 to 2009, trucking rates edged up 2% last yea...
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According to the TransCore Truckload Rate Index, in the week ending February 4, dry van rates increased 1.1% nationwide.  Example lanes showing an increase include Chicago IL to Los Angeles, CA, up 5 cents per mile, Dallas to Los Angeles up 6 cents per mile, and Atlanta to Los Angeles up 7 cents per mile, all in the last two weeks..  Some short haul van lanes are showing sharp increases, including...
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This week's national average price of diesel fuel increased as did the prices in all regions as well. The current national average for a gallon of diesel is $3.534, an increase of 0.021¢ from last week. By comparison, the price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.140 per gallon, a decrease 0.008¢.

Bloomberg Energy reports that as of Monday, February 14, the spot price for a barrel of West Texas Inte...
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The American Trucking Associations' advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 2.2 percent in December after falling a revised 0.6 percent in November. The latest improvement put the SA index at 111.6 (2000=100) in December, which was the highest level since September 2008.  In November, the SA index equaled 109.2.

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents...
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Freight Watch International, the leading global logistics security provider, recently released it's Bi-
Annual Cargo Theft Report.  Although the thefts vary between commodities and groups, cargo theft was slightly up in 2010.

Freight Watch International reported cargo theft gangs are seeking larger profits per theft and are targeting their approach to multi-trailer thefts and large scale wareh...
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Driver detention is something most carrier, brokers, and shippers have had to deal with at least a few times.  Detention is becoming a bigger issue due to the "hours of service" regulations that are currently in place.  Listed below are a few suggestions to help in avoid higher shipping costs due to detention.  They are as follows :

#1) On going communication between the shipper/carrier or brok...
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) recently issued a regulatory proposal that would revise the hour of service requirements for commercial truck drivers.

The current 34-hour restart would remain in effect.  This allows drivers to restart their 60-70 hour week after taking at least 34 consecutive hours off.  The only proposed change in this would be the restart period woudl ...
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The rate of trucking bankruptcies is declining.  Trucking bankruptcies fell 18.5% in the third quarter of 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009, to 330 closings, taking an estimated 10,685 trucks out of the market, according to Avondale Partners.  The number of bankruptcies declined over the first nine months of 2010, the investment research firm said, but each quarter, failures cut deeper i...
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Michael White, North American president of Maersk Line, Norfolk, VA recently predicted that in the private sector, the shortage of international cargo containers that developed early in 2010 will repeat itself when freight demand grows and strains the ocean shipping industry's equipment capacity.  Those shortages were created after manufacturers cut their building capacity to near zero, he said, b...
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Accidents involving commercial vehicles have dropped approximatley 52 % since 2005.  In 2005 there were 173 fatal crashes compared to 88 fatal crashes  in 2009.   Disabling injury crashes also fell 31 % from 2005-2009.

Although there are several factors for the reduction of accidents including an emphasis on safety and education, the main reason cited was a lower number of lane departure crashe...
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More often than not, shipments are made everyday and delivered without damage.  However, there are instances when damage may occur with a particular shipment.  In such instances a few things should be followed when making a claim.

To make a claim a shipper must prove a few things.  First, the the goods were in good order when tendered to the carrier.  Second, non-delivery or damage was found at...
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TransCore's North American Freight Index measured a whopping 65% increase in spot market freight availability for September, 2010, compared to the previous year.  September's spot freight reached the highest levels for the month since 2005, which was a peak year for spot market volume.  Year-over-year comparisons are expected to be progressively less dramatic in the coming months, however, as this...
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The bill of lading initiates the shipment and is the most important single document of the shipping process. It performs two key functions. First, it serves as the contract of carriage. By accepting the goods and signing this document, the carrier contractually agrees to haul the goods described from the named pickup point, via the routes indicated, to the consignee's delivery address. When a carr...
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The TransCore North American Freight Index was at its highest level for the month of August, 2010,  since 2005.  Spot market freight availability in August increased 75 percent over August 2009.  Year-over-year comparisons are expected to be progressively less dramatic in the coming months, as this year's spot market freight volume will be compared to the improving levels of freight volume seen in...
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The CSA program previously delayed begins trucking safety evaluations Nov 30 2010.  The new program presents freight brokers with some interesting challenges.  Brokers who fail to obtain carrier CSA 2010 scores could be exposed to law suits.  Due dilligence by the broker to get current scores is extremely important when selecting carriers....
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US trucking companies' June 2010 tonnage increased by 7.6% from June 2009.  Freight levels may have exceeded levels from one year ago, but June was the second straight month that the total was lower from the previous month, as reported by the ATA.  Many truckload carriers believe that although freight tonnage has increased over last year, the big boost to business has been the reduced capacity due...
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The Department of Transportation's Freight Transportation Services Index increased 4.4% in May from a year ago.  This is the third straight year-to-year increase....
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All America Transportation, Inc. is proud to announce their recent WBE Certification through The Supplier Clearinghouse, Public Utilities Commission-State of California.  This certification is recognized by the following entities: AT&T Inc, California American Water Co., California Water Service Co., Citizens Communications, Inc., Golden State Water Co., Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Pacific P...
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Transport Capital Partners (TCP) Managing Partner Lana Batts indicates that pricing increases in the truckload sector are almost iminent this year.  In an interview with Logistics Management, Batts commented that there are several areas of the country already experiencing equipment shortages.  One such area, she said, is the Midwest.  Lower dry van capacity in the Midwest is due to a rebounding au...
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For the first time in 17 months the average price of diesel exceeded the $3 per gallon mark.  The average price of diesel last week rose to $3.015 per gallon according to the Department of Energy.

Also the price for gasoline rose to $2.826 per gallon.  This is the highest level since October 2008.  Both gas and diesel prices have risen six out of the last seven weeks said the DOE.  At this poin...
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Industry trade groups are reporting a rebound in freight volumes for the first quarter of 2010.  American Trucking Association Chief Economist Bob Costello stated, "I have every reason to believe our March numbers are going to be very good.  Anectdotal comments from carriers about March volumes have been very upbeat."  ATA's tonnage index reported a 3.5% increase in the first two months of 2010.

...
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that it has pushed back the start of its new carrier safety monitoring system, CSA 2010, until late this year.  Some portions of the program will be delayed to 2011.  The program was originally scheduled to begin in July 2010....
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a rule Friday that will require carriers with repeat patterns of serious hours-of-service violations  to use on-board recorders in all vehicles.  The rule will go into effect June 1, 2012.

The agency also said it will begin the rulemaking process later this year to mandate Electronic On-Board Recorders for more carriers.

Under the rule, ...
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All America Transportation, Inc. has become a supporting member of the OOIDA.  The Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association is the independent trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect truckers.  The nearly 160,000 members of OOIDA are men and women in all 50 states and Canada who collectively own and/or oper...
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The Institute for Supply Management reported Thursday that the U.S. manufacturing activity expanded for the eighth consecutive month in March.  The rate of growth was the fastest since July 2004, with new orders and production indexes each rising above readings of 60, closing the first quarter with significant momentum, the ISM said.

ISM's monthly index rose to a 59.6 reading from 56.5 in Febru...
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Lianne Reizer, President of All America Transportation, Inc., completes the Kaufmann Foundation's  Fasttrac Growth Venture Training Program.  Missouri DOT's Office of External Civil Rights sponsored twelve MoDOT DBE Certified businesses in the program.  The program is designed to sharpen the business acumen of entrepreneurs  in all facets, including marketing, financials, and managing operations  ...
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The Department of Energy reported the average retail price for diesel climbed for the 5th consecutive week.  The average price for diesel increased 2.2 cents to $2.946....
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A weekly index published by Internet Truckstop on March 4 indicates truckload demand had outpaced truckload capacity for the first time since September 2008.  Freight executives and other industry experts have said the market is turning and it is difficult for shippers to comprehend the changes in truck availability.

Freight is particularly strong with retail and grocery shipments and is approa...
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The number of highway fatalities fell 8.9% in 2009.  The total number of 33,693 was the lowest since 1954 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Assocation.

NHSTA estimated the overall fatality rate fell t0 1.16 per 100 million miles traveled, the lowest on record....
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The American Trucking Association's seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage index was up 3.5% for the first two months of 2010 over the same period last year.  ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello told CNBC "things are starting to pick up a little and we are cautiously optomistic" that will continue. 

"I continue to hear from motor carriers that both the demand and supply situations are steadily...
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Obama signed a bill on March 18 2010 extending the Highway Trust Fund through the end of the year.     The current authorization expired last September.  Since then, highway and transit programs had been operating under several thirty day extensions. 

In late February, Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) temporarily blocked passage of an extension, causing a shut down of the federal program for several ...
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The average price of diesel rose 2.9 cents last week in the US, the second consecutive increase, while gasoline also increased for the second week at 4.7 cents.

The national average for both had fallen five consecutive weeks before rising the last two weeks.  Cold weather in the northeast and mid Atlantic and the rising price of crude oil have had an effect on pricing....
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Two of the most common fraudulent activities in 2009 and continuing into 2010 are double brokering and identity theft.  Double brokering for more money and not paying carriers was up 57 % and identity theft posing as another company was up 34 %.

There are tools and steps your company can take in protecting itself from becoming a victim.  Always review the following information :

#1)  Authori...
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The American Trucking Association has reaffirmed its support for legislation that would provide federal funding for commercial vehicle parking at rest areas.

"Jason's Law" was drafted after truck driver Jason Rivenburg was killed in March 2009 at an abandoned gas station in South Carolina.

The legislation was introduced into the House of Representatives last May by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY).  S...
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The Department of Transportation announced that it will drop some materials, including paint and diesel fuel, from the list of substances the agency considers dangerous enough to require hazmat motor carriers to file detailed security plans. 

Still included on the list of "serious security risks" are such materials as gasoline, explosives, and some toxic gases. 

The new rule, effective Octob...
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A proposed federal rule would triple to $3,000 the annual registration fee for large motor carriers who haul hazardous materials, but would maintain a $300 fee for small carriers.  The American Trucking Association said it believes the proposed rule places an unfair burden on large carriers.
The fee increase was suggested by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration as a way to i...
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Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) agreed last week to stop blocking the legislation that would extend the Federal Highway Program.  The Senate  approved the 30 day extension, allowing state transportation agencies to resume construction projects that had been shut down. 

State officials said the short-term shutdown caused problems for state transportation agencies by delaying completion of projects as...
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is planning to launch the program, Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 in July of this year.  CSA 2010 is the FMCSA's new regime for rating carriers and drivers.  Features will include more timely updates of fleet performance than the current SafeStat System.  The program is designed to push all carriers to improve compliance with safety rules, and to...
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The Department of Transportation is furloughing nearly 2,000 employees without pay starting Monday March 1st and is temporarily shutting down highway reimbursements to states worth hundreds of millions of dollars as a result of a Senate impasse over federal transportation funding.   The authority for spending funds from the Highway Trust Fund expired on February 28, 2010. The Congress has adjourne...
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The American Trucking Association reported that U.S. truck tonnage gained 5.7% over the same period in 2009.  For 2009, the tonnage index was down 8.7%, slightly larger than a previously reported 8.3% drop. The decline was the biggest since a 12.3% plunge in 1982.

ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said that the latest tonnage reading, coupled with anecdotal reports from carriers, indicates that ...
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The Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index was 58.4 in January, compared with 54.9 in December 2009.  New orders jumped in January to the highest level since 2004.  Current production, order backloads, as well as prices also increased....
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A new trend has emerged in early 2010.  Due to the large number of trucking company failures since the economic downturn, truck capacity has markedly decreased from that just a few months ago.  According to an industry report, demand for trucks has increased to almost three times as much as the same period in February 2009.  Shippers beware, surviving trucking companies will be looking to increase...
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The main border crossing from Michigan to Canada is the Ambassador Bridge, owned by Manuel Moroun, billionaire developer and trucking executive.  The multibillion dollar proposed project, known as the Detriot River International Crossing is causing intense legal and political battles in Michigan.  Moroun is seeking to upgrade his bridge as well as add a second span next to it.  Canadian officials ...
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The US DOT has published a proposal that would make its workplace drug-testing program even stricter.  Testing would include the drugs "ecstasy" and heroin.  It would also lower the cutoff levels for amphetamines and cocaine.  According to a DOT official, the proposed rule is intended to more closely align much of DOT's program of direct-observation urine drug-testing with stringent Health and Hum...
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According to industry reports, the average freight charge per shipment charged by U.S. trucking companies in December 2009 dropped 0.4% from November 2009.  This occurred in spite of the fact that the ATA's truck tonnage index increased 6.6% from December 2008....
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According to FreightWatch International cargo theft increased in 2009 compared to overall thefts in 2008.  FreightWatch announced an average of 72 cargo thefts per month, 859 total cargo thefts, a 12 % increase from 2008.

Truck stops are the prime location for thefts while the electronics industry suffered the highest number of theft incidents....
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The Federal Reserve reported February 17th that the U.S. industrial production rose 0.9% in January....
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A new Avondale Partners Report said trucking failures rose in the fourth quarter and will to continue to rise this year. The total number of failures reached 445 in the fourth quarter compared to 375 in the fourth quarter of 2008.  Also the number of failures climbed compared to this year's 3rd quarter number of 405.

These failures accounted for approximately 21,000 trucks being removed from se...
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Last week Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood issued a band forbidding commercial drivers for texting while driving their vehicles.  " I directed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to use it's existing authority to prohibit commercial truck and bus drivers from texting while driving using any handheld cell phone or other devices that takes driver's attention off the road," LaHood said...
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Due to unrelenting pressure from Trucking Organizations and Safety Advocates, the DOT has agreed to rewrite the Hours of Service Rules for truck drivers. The FMCSA, the agency within the DOT responsible for writing and enforcing the HOS, is expected to complete the new HOS in 2010.

Four groups recently filed a lawsuit in federal court asking that the hours-of-service rules for commercial motor ...
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Effective January 4, 2010, the New York Thruway Toll has increased 5% for truckers. The new toll for truckers traveling the distance on the Thruway is a whopping $110.05, making a round trip over $220. No doubt this increase will be passed on to shippers....
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According to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimate, fewer than 8% of carriers nationwide are audited each year. Under the new program titled CSA 2010, ALL carriers will be audited and will include drivers. The FMCSA says if CSA 2010 were in effect now, approximately 49% of the carriers on the road today would be declared unfit. The new program is scheduled to begin in the summer o...
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The Unified Carrier Registration Agreement was enacted by Congress and is administered by participating states. Companies subject to this program must pay fees to travel into other states.

Any motor carrier that operates in interstate or international commerce is subject to UCR. Included are many businesses that were not subject to the old Single State Registration System-private carriers, exem...
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