Trucking riding economic wave, but economists fear downturn in 2020

Trucking riding economic wave, but economists fear downturn in 2020

Freight brokers and third-party logistics firms can expect another year of positive business growth before staring down a recession, according to Noel Perry, chief economist for Truckstop.com. Perry, speaking at an April 13 Transportation Intermediaries Association Capital Ideas Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, said the probability of an economic downturn in 2020 is at least…

ATRI study: Marijuana impairment emerges as issue for trucking

ATRI study: Marijuana impairment emerges as issue for trucking

A recent study by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) addressed the growing issue of marijuana-impaired driving as an increasing number of truckers are sharing the roadways with automobile drivers operating under the influence of marijuana. ATRI’s research sought to document the most promising methods to identify and deter marijuana-impaired driving. The study recommends: increased…

Uber Freight app allows drivers to rate retailers and warehouses

Uber Freight app allows drivers to rate retailers and warehouses

It was inevitable. Someone would develop an app that allows truckers to rate retailers that hire them and the warehouses where they deliver. That someone is Uber Freight, the trucking division of the popular ride-sharing app. Launched in late 2016, Uber Freight matches shippers and truckers through an online marketplace. Typically, truckers must work through freight…

FMCSA Streamlines Process Allowing Individuals with Properly Managed Diabetes to Operate Commercial Trucks

FMCSA Streamlines Process Allowing Individuals with Properly Managed Diabetes to Operate Commercial Trucks

In September of 2018, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) officially changed its approach towards commercial vehicle operators with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM). The final rule went into effect on November 19, 2018. The final rule replaces the former Diabetes Exemption Program with a new Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC). Under this new system, a…

Tech startup DriverReach aims to address driver shortage issue

Tech startup DriverReach aims to address driver shortage issue

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao says the truck driver shortage in the United States is a real and growing problem for the country. Chao said the administration is working on pilot programs to potentially solve the problem, including a lower minimum age for drivers and more military transition drivers. An Indianapolis startup, DriverReach, is not waiting…

Trucking industry finds a tech savvy partner in U.S. Army

Trucking industry finds a tech savvy partner in U.S. Army

Historically, technological advances developed for military purposes find their way into the civilian sector in an organic fashion, taking years for the transfer. Now, the military and the trucking industry are comparing notes and building on current research in both camps. In September, the Army’s Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), hosted a…

Driver shortage, daily hours limits top concerns of industry

Driver shortage, daily hours limits top concerns of industry

In its annual survey among motor carriers and industry professionals, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) found that an ongoing driver shortage and the number of hours drivers are allowed to drive per day are the top concerns. ATRI is the research arm of the trucking trade group, American Trucking Associations (ATA). “I’ve spent the…

Fintech startup FreightRover signs $500m deal

App-driven tech will accelerate payments to truck operators Financial technology startup FreightRover has inked a $500 million deal with Crayhill Capital Management to provide accelerated payments to truck operators, a process that traditionally takes several weeks for processing. FreightRover accelerates payments to truck operators by buying their shipping invoices at 99 or 98 cents on…