Bulk Freight News & Industry Updates - Stay Ahead in Trucking

The Department of Energys Energy Information Administration in its monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook released this week revised its outlook for retail diesel prices for the fourth quarter of 2022 and the beginning of 2023.

Robert LeDoux was sitting in his truck waiting to unload when the explosion happened. His dashcam captured the explosion.

The USDAs Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) says the number of grain barges being unloaded in New Orleans during September and October dropped significantly. An AMS report says the number of barges is 20-30 percent lower than in recent years. The slowdown coincides with river closures and restrictions on barge companies that reduced the bar tow.

A Michigan jury recently awarded $7.7 million to a man who was seriously injured in 2018 when the wheel came loose from a box truck heading in the opposite direction, jumped the median and crashed into the front of his vehicle. It took an eight-person jury less than two hours on Friday to find Lower Huron Chemical & Supply Co. of Wayne, Michigan, solely responsible for failing to follow the Department of Transportations regulations for the inspection, repair and maintenance of its

Recent data from the American Trucking Associations found that the average truckload driver made over $69,000 including salary and bonuses in 2021 an 18% increase from 2019. At the same time, however, driver compensation that is, a lack of it ranked as the No. 1 issue among company drivers and third among all drivers, according to the latest annual survey released in October by the American Transportation Research Institute, which works closely with ATA.

The annual rite of fall in western Minnesota and the Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota also attracts retired men and women, seasonal laborers and others who drive trucks for a variety of different industries.

Recently, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., posted a campaign video on Twitter that caught the attention of longtime truck driver Gord Magill, who is based in upstate New York. Magill and other truckers werent happy with Kellys message. In the video, Kelly discussed a bill he introduced this year with Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo. The legislation would do away with certain requirements for obtaining a commercial drivers license. As Kelly said in his campaign video, the law would ea

As a veteran in the industry for nearly 20 years, I've had a front row seat dealing with thousands of companies in our industry from large grain and feed trading entities to a single owner operator trucking company. I've seen the companies that thrive and the companies that don't make it unfortunately and figured out why. We have used this knowledge to create a single platform that will equipment your company with the most innovative and profitable tools to keep your business on the leading e

In this episode, Jared brings on Michael Belzer, a professor at Wayne State

The National Grain and Feed Association, along with 192 other members of the Agricultural Transportation Working Group, want Congress to prevent a potential strike by railroad union members over the labor contract between the unions and the railroads.

CHS Inc. reported net income soared to $1.7 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, due to higher refining margins as well as strong demand within the global grain and processing and wholesale agronomy businesses. In fiscal year 2021, CHS reported net income of $554 million.

Last week, 63-year-old Brian Lovett died of cardiac arrest while on the job at ADM Grain Company in Seward. His death happened before he was able to complete his own harvest on his Winnebago farm. On Thursday, sixteen neighboring farmers came together to honor him by completing the job.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, on Oct. 26, issued a state of emergency in the state due to extremely low inventories and outages of certain liquid products including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, propane, ethyl alcohol, natural gasoline, diesel exhaust fluid, and anhydrous ammonia.

I started with one truck. During my time as an owner-operator, I turned it into a kind of rolling university. In the beginning, I didnt even know what a load board was. But I was always eager to learn more and elevate within this industry.

The transportation industry is shouldering the burden of sky-high diesel prices, as suppliers blame supply chain shortages and red tape for impacting prices at the pump. But President Biden has painted oil companies as the scapegoat for high gas prices, accusing them of hiking prices to enhance their profit margins, while critics have shot back accusing the administration of hampering American energy production. South Carolina Trucking Association CEO Rick Todd joined "Fox & Friends First

The 28-year-old co-owned a trucking company in Buffalo, the U.S. Attorneys Office says, in which he managed drivers and coordinated shipments. Prosecutors say that for roughly a year, starting in mid-2020, Fares received payments after fraudulently applying for unemployment benefits and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.

Owner-operators Toni and Chris Murphy of New Egypt, New Jersey, said its been hard to fight back against an invisible tech-savvy fraudster who stole their trucking companys identity, posted loads using their Department of Transportation number, collected payment for those loads, then disappeared, leaving the Murphys to deal with the fallout.

Hey guys, many of you farm and truck. Check out my latest podcast with Tanner Winterhof as we dive into farming operations that have trucking entities as well. Tanner also hosts the Farm4Profit podcast you can check out here.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - Production at Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) could come to a stop within hours if union workers reject a contract offer and walk off the job. According to Teamsters Local 238, over 200 members are preparing for a strike as the unions contract expires at midnight. Jesse Case, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 238, said, I think all were asking for is a fair deal. Case said the union and the company go through the negotiation process ever

Domestic U.S. shipping demand is receding and freight rates are falling, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports, in a sign that shifting demand by overstocked retailers is unraveling traditional seasonal shipping patterns. The changes are cascading across freight operations, cutting into inbound shipping volumes and bringing fewer goods onto the roads, according to WSJ.

Dry van truckload contract rates have fallen about 9% since the start of the summer but have slowed their rate of descent this fall, according to FreightWaves Van Contract Initial Report Index (VCRPM1), which is based on the linehaul-only portion of freight invoices. Is this a sign that shippers will not be aggressively peeling back the past two years of rate increases?

Be afraid of plaintiffs counsel who make millions of dollars a year looking for weaknesses, attacking truck drivers and trucking companies alike, a lawyer has warned Canadian carriers operating in the U.S.

John Mullis has been hitting the open road since 1979. Im with a pretty good company and they take care of us pretty good, he said. Over the years, hes seen diesel prices go up and down, but lately, hes noticing an uptick in certain cities. Not only that, but he also is concerned about supply. Its going up and going up... when you can find it, said Mullis.

For every kernel of corn from the Baker family farm left at Gavilon Grain Thursday, John Baker probably doubled the number of "thank yous" he gave to the volunteers who harvested the fields.

Rail companies and labor unions have reached stalemate over paid sick leave, raising the prospects of a worker strike in coming months. With harvest just over halfway complete, the threat of a rail strike could not come at a worse time.

Dozens of farmers came together to support a family after their father passed away unexpectedly, leaving five fields unharvested.

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission on Thursday agreed to accept a $15,000 penalty from Hefty Seed Company, based in Baltic, South Dakota, for not having a state-required license to buy grain.

On the grounds of Williamsport High School in western Maryland, three 17-year-olds pile into the cab of a white Volvo truck, pens and pads in hand.

A north central Iowa organic soybean business filed for bankruptcy Monday, saying it owes at least 100 creditors $10 million. It's the state's second grain business to run into financial insolvency this year.

Global grains merchant Archer-Daniels-Midland Co on Tuesday posted its strongest third-quarter profit on record on robust demand for grain and oilseeds and tight supplies, and said full-year earnings would exceed previous guidance.

Freight factoring company, Smart Freight Funding, helps trucking companies of all sizes keep their trucks moving by getting paid quicker. Smart Freight Funding works with single truck operations, individual owner-operator, and larger companies managing several trucks and drivers. We offer competitive low rates, quick pay, and superb customer service. The team behind Smart Freight Funding has more than 50 years combined driving, dispatching, contracting and accounting experience in

The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has an array of new resources at its disposal, and regulators are looking to put them to work at a time when the trucking industry is in the spotlight.

Today, the American Transportation Research Institute, the trucking industry's not-for-profit research organization, released its 18th annual Top Industry Issues report, identifying the leading industry concerns including fuel prices, the driver shortage, truck parking, driver compensation, the economy and for the first time, speed limiters.

Jared brings on Ken Evans and Kristin Rakoczy with Konexial to discuss ELDs

Here is a look at the five most compelling regulatory activities, based on stage of proposed rulemaking, scope, and date of action, within in the agencys most recent Significant Rulemaking Report, issued for September 2022. Also included below is an update on FMCSAs intention to issue a revised Medical Examiners Handbook and related guidance.

While a freight broker bond doesn't protect against liability, it is a requirement if you want to operate your logistics company and don't want to tie up $75,000 in a BMC-85 trust.

Trucking firm Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. warned of a rapid slowdown in the freight market, an ominous sign for the economy as shippers grapple with a lackluster peak season ahead of the holidays. Businesses are slowing their orders on concern consumer demand wont hold up, and that means less freight to carry, especially for smaller truckers, the company said late Wednesday as it reported quarterly earnings. Thats leading to a decline in the prices transportation c

Were pretty deep into the back half of the Atlantic hurricane season, but that doesnt necessarily mean that the worst is behind us. Weve seen major hurricanes run into late November and just last year Tropical Storm Wanda knocked out power throughout New England, and coastal Massachusetts saw hurricane-force wind gusts, causing damage to numerous homes and obstructing many roadways.

The 2000 International semi was going north on Highway 183 when a 2010 Toyota passenger vehicle attempted to pass the truck in a no-passing zone. A southbound vehicle swerved into the ditch to avoid a head-on collision with the Toyota, that is when the semi left the road, overcorrected, and flipped, coming to rest on its top, according to the KHP.

A car driver gets quite the wakeup call about the importance of sharing the road with big rigs in construction zones in this dash cam video.

On Thursday, Loves Travel Stops announced the opening of the companys 600th location with a new store in Perry, Oklahoma. The new 12,000 square foot store is located off of I-35 in Perry. Amenities at the Perry Loves location include: As Loves opens its 600th location in the U.S., and 81st in its home state of Oklahoma, the company remains committed to being the best and most comprehensive travel stop on the highway and adding new amenit

The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) will implement a pilot program this winter that will semi-automate Variable Speed Limit signs in an effort to increase highway safety when the weather turns bad. On October 19, WYDOT announced that the pilot program will be installed along I-80 between Laramie and Rawlins and on Wyoming Highway 28 over South Pass. While Variable Speed Limit changes are usually initiated by WYDOT and Wyoming Highway Patrol personnel,

These challenges can include insurance prices, recruitment capabilities, maintenance and building shipper partnerships all evergreen problems that attracted the investors of its most recent round.

Jared brings on Jason Byer with Crowdspring to discuss branding. Crowdspring helps business owners grow the

The exemption, first issued by FMCSA in March 2020 following the national emergency declared by President Trump in response to COVID-19, was extended and/or modified over 10 times. It gave truck drivers and carriers more flexibility to deliver shipments of livestock, medical supplies, vaccines, groceries and diesel fuel by waiving hours of service restrictions.

Despite threats to their health and fears of driving to unknown territories, they stayed true to their jobs and transported food, supplies and medicines.

A 64-year-old from Michigan is suspected of setting dozens of semi-trucks from the same transportation company (not pictured) on fire at rest stops in eight

Global Processing Inc. of Kanawha, Iowa, which owns and operates grain facilities in Lexington and Haigler, surrendered its license Wednesday after a PSC audit showed it did not have enough funds to cover its grain purchases made in the state.

Special rules apply for those who work in the transportation industry. Someone who works in the transportation industry is defined in Rev. Proc. 2019-48 as someone whose work directly involves moving people or goods by airplane, barge, bus, ship, train or truck.

Jared brings on Joe Vaclavik with Standard Grain. In this episode, Joe shares his story about how he got into the grain market industry and what he does for a living. Joe also hos

Through our enforcement in the wage and hour division, we know that misclassification is occurring in many industries and sectors, said Principal Deputy Administrator of WHD Jessica Looman during a media briefing Tuesday. We believe the proposed regulation would better protect workers from misclassification, while at the same time providing a consistent approach for those businesses that engage or wish to engage with independent business contractors.

Their steeds have names like Peterbilt and Kenworth, and they may not wear spurs, but cattle truckers have just as much impact on the health of our herds as cowboys in the saddle.

The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) is targeting and ticketing CMV drivers who do not comply with the states Chain Law requirements at during three planned enforcement checkpoints this month. CSPs Golden Division will partner with the Colorado State Patrol Port of Entry in Dumont and the Colorado Department of Transportation to set up a series of Chain Law checkpoints near Georgetown on I-70 at mile marker 228 (Georgetown Chain Station).

As of Oct. 7, the river was still closed near Stack Island, Miss., and Memphis, Tenn. That has resulted in a backup of more than 2,000 barges at various points, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Dredging activities are currently paused, and officials plan to reopen the waterway with restrictions when it has been determined safe to do so.

Blue Ink Technology, the maker of the BIT ELD, has introduced a new way for drivers to print and send their gross and axle weights to carriers and shippers. Customers who use BIT Air Scales can now access the ability to print and send scale tickets from the Blue Ink Tech app. This is an exciting time for our air scale users said Mike Riegel, head of operations at Blue Ink Tech. With this capability, drivers will not only know what they weig

A St. Louis-based grain and soybean manufacturer is planning to spend $445 million to expand its processing plant in Morristown. Bunge North America Inc. says the effort is expected to result in 70 additional jobs by the end of 2025, raising employment at the plant to 177.

The truck transportation sector had approximately 1,580,800 employees in September, compared to 1,592,200 the prior month, according to seasonally adjusted data from the Labor Department. There was a loss of 11,400 jobs in the sector month-over-month.

Authorities say that Padilla stole the identity of an interstate carrier located in Spring Valley in San Diego County, California, and agreed to deliver loads using that carriers identity. However instead of delivering those loads, Padilla posed as a shipper and re-brokered the loads to other trucking companies, who actually delivered the freight. Padilla collected the payments from customers as the Spring Valley carrier and did not pay the trucking companies that actually delivered th

An application from a company specializing in pulsating brake lights for trucks has been denied by federal regulators despite strong support from the trucking industry.

The family 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri; the childs mother, Jasleen Kaur, 27; father Jasdeep Singh, 36; and uncle Amandeep Singh, 39 were kidnapped at gunpoint from a new office for their trucking company. The kidnapping took place on Monday, October 3rd in Merced, California.

A with an otherwise solid carrier-vetting strategy contracts with a legitimate Carrier A to move a load. Yet: There is no prohibition in the broker's contract with the carrier that prevents the carrier from re-brokering that load.

Tank truck carriers hear all kinds of excuses for rate increases during the insurance renewal process. Think about the reasonsaka excusesyouve likely heard from brokers attempting to explain increasing premiums.

Werner Enterprises announced Monday the acquisition of Indiana-based truckload carrier Baylor Trucking. Financial terms of the transaction were not provided but a news release outlining the deal showed Baylor generated $81.5 million in revenue for the 12 months ended Aug. 31.

Jared brings on Jason Tiedke with American National Bank to talk all things $$$. Jason gives great advice on how to have a great relationship with your banker and the extra steps you can take to be prepared when

THE PROCLAMATION IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND CONTINUES THROUGH OCTOBER 30TH. THE PROCLAMATION ALLOWS VEHICLES TRANSPORTING CORN, SOYBEANS, HAY, STRAW, SILAGE, STOVER, FERTILIZER AND MANURE TO BE OVERWEIGHT WITHOUT A PERMIT, BUT NOT EXCEEDING 90,000 POUNDS GROSS WEIGHT.

Postal Service contractors McClellan Trucking and Duran Transfer file for Chapter 11

Barge rates reached $49.88 per ton on Tuesday, the highest on record and up nearly 50% from a year ago, according to a government report released Thursday.

KeyBanc analysts downgrade J.B. Hunt and Schneider National, contend that 'imports decelerating, inventories normalizing and spot (rates) below contract rates' suggest weakness could extend into next year

The professionals needed to repair heavy-duty trucks and commercial vehicles require a set of skills distinct from the grease monkeys of 40 years ago. Its time the industry pivots to reflect this change, say those closest to the issue.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $20 million in cost-share assistance to help producers in Kentucky, Minnesota, South Dakota and surrounding areas rebuild agricultural and grain storage facilities that were damaged by natural disasters in 2021 and 2022, particularly in locations struggling to provide storage space as the fall harvest gets underway.

Once upon a time, truck driving was a blue-collar ticket to a solid, middle-class lifestyle in the United States. But today, the industry is plagued with low wages, long hours, and a high turnover rate.

The 1947 Dodge grain truck that George Sanneman entered into the BPW Car Show and drove in this years Piotique Parade has been in his family for a long time.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is asking the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to explain why there has been little movement over the past two years on a popular petition asking for increased protection for truckers against unscrupulous freight brokers.

That distinction may seem like mere semantics, but its actually of enormous consequence for delivery workers with wage-and-hour claims. The Federal Arbitration Act has a carve-out for workers engaged in foreign or interstate commerce, so if the bakery delivery drivers or, for that matter, delivery drivers for any sort of interstate product are transportation workers, they can litigate their claims in a class action. But if they are deemed to be in the bake

In March, a self-driving eighteen-wheeler spent more than five straight days hauling goods between Dallas and Atlanta. Running around the clock, it traveled more than 6,300 miles, making four round trips and delivering eight loads of freight.

BulkTMS, a digital freight platform Powered by BulkLoads.com, enhances the most popular Bulk Freight Marketplace, BulkLoads.com, by adding a full Dispatch-to-Payment solution to facilitate sharing of supply chain information, enhance communication, and gain efficiencies in transportation and back-office proc

The U.S. had an 80,000-driver shortage in 2021, according to the American Trucking Associations. But St. Louis trucking companies saw the number of drivers increase 8% over 2021. Here's how one local trucking firm increased its drivers.

Prairie Central Cooperative in central Illinois has 13-grain elevators, and they have already seen the action pick up. The manager tells Brownfield Ag News so far, they have handled about 5 percent of the total corn harvest, and notes they are just getting started.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has required full industry compliance with the ELD mandate since December 2019, so its reasonable to ask, is the device making the trucking industry safer? While there isnt a government-approved study providing definitive answers, Ronnie Brown III, who drives for Waterloo, Iowa-based Gray Transportation, says no.

In comments submitted on Sept. 21, National Grain & Feed Association (NGFA) urged the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to extend the emergency declaration for livestock and feed to help provide necessary additional trucking capacity for the agricultural supply chain. Agricultural shippers have been experiencing significant rail service challenges and emergency truck freight has been indispensable to help meet demand, NGFA noted in response to FMCSAs request for i