Bulk Freight News & Industry Updates - Stay Ahead in Trucking

When the coronavirus pandemic started spreading across the U.S. in March, state governments issued lockdowns. People stayed home to protect themselves and their families. Toilet paper and Tylenol flew off shelves at lightning speed. Essential goods providers — especially food and pharmaceutical companies — felt their supply chains struggle under the weight of surging demand. Nonessential goods providers halted production and fought to stay afloat while a viral enemy ravaged the country’s health

The INVEST in America Act, a $494 billion, five-year reauthorization of surface transportation programs introduced on Wednesday by Democrats on the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, requires that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), through FMCSA, begin collecting data from drivers and carriers on delays during loading and unloading at shipper and receiver facilities and publish the data on a DOT website.

Mental health awareness getting stronger in trucking industry The trucking industry for one can take a toll on ones mental health. Drivers can easily get lonely, often driving for weeks at a time.

Transportation industry leaders told Congress this week that the industry needs liability protection and flexible funding in order to navigate the economic slow-down that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. (c) Shutterstock During a U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on Wednesday, representatives from transportation advocacy organizations said they hope Congress will focus on infrastructure spending in order to help the countrys economy rebound,

Fundamentals: Weekly export sales this morning came in at 637,500 metric tons for 2019/2020, within the range of expectations, up 49% from the previous week, but down 19% from the 4-week average. Yesterdays weekly EIA ethanol report showed production increased 41,000 barrels per day and stocks dropped 700,000 barrels, to the lowest level since January.

Truck driving is known as one of the worlds most dangerous professions. Yet, drivers of large, heavy trucks must regularly meet tight deadlines set by shippers and receivers to deliver goods to warehouses and other customers on time, and fatigue can make truckers jobs both difficult and risky. In fact, according to a federal study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 13% of commercial motor vehicle drivers experienced fatigue at the time of their crash on the r

A U.S. infrastructure bill unveiled yesterday would fund highways and clean transportation efforts, but also delay a final hours of service rule, and push for a rulemaking on driver detention and changes to the CSA safety rating program. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure introduced a US $500-billion, five-year infrastructure bill, proposing to spend nearly double last years US $287-billion Senate version, which at the time was described as the largest high

"You cant drive into a riot situation because you are going to lose, said Ronnie Sellers, former truck driver and retired police officer.

Oakland International has extended the onsite parking and toilets at its Redditch hub for visiting drivers. Alongside a new canteen, the extended shower and toilet block have just opened.

The first part of a new transportation management system (TMS) from Bulkloads is now available. The new offering, Doc Scanning, includes a document library for carriers to send documents to shippers and brokers through the Bulkloads app, allowing the documents to be retrieved through the website. The full TMS will be rolled out in June.

A west-central Minnesota farmer has been charged in federal court with cheating a grain elevator out of thousands of dollars with the help of two elevator employees over four years. Bryan D. Crandall, a corn and soybean farmer near Herman, worked with two co-conspirators at the CHS Inc. elevator in Herman between 2013 and 2017 to inflate the records of his delivery of corn and soybeans, the complaint filed May 27 said.

Brian Irving is a man who loves Houston. While watching the news, he saw people spraying graffiti on structures around town and he made a decision. He decided to get his pressure washer and clean it up...because he loves this city!

THERE'S nothing more than three-year-old Arkady Douglass loves more than watching the garbage truck every week. So when social distancing restrictions meant a big birthday celebration was off the table, mum Sarah Barto decided to find a creative way to make her son's birthday special.

Trucking industry is at its boom. Although it is still under major developments, a lot of people are considering to enter the market. However, starting in this industry can be highly difficult. When you look out for truck finance, you will realize that most of the lenders are following a highly strict criteria. Most of them require stringent documentation which demonstrates budget protection. In this scenario, truck brokers can be consulted. They are professionals who can connect you with the

With industry-wide use of ELDs and fleet telematics technology, motor carriers may be concerned that the information they are providing to shippers has become a commodity. As noted in this recent CCJ article, many shippers now require automatic shipment updates to be sent directly from carriers ELD systems and transportation management software (TMS) via integration with third-party freight visibility platforms.

Keith Finney bought his last corn for Tharaldson Ethanol on his 67th birthday, March 28, 2020. Thus ended 47 years of grain buying. The length of his career, plus his unique experience in large-volume corn makes it likely hes traded more grain bushels than anyone in the regions history. Certainly hundreds of millions of bushels, Finney says.

A tanker truck drove into a throng of protesters on a closed interstate near Minneapolis on Sunday, with the driver pulled from his rig and beaten, as major U.S. cities imposed curfews in fear of another night of demonstrations against police brutality descending into violence.

Upon entering Idaho, from Utah, we are required to stop at the Cottrell Port of Entry. On April 18 I drove into the port of entry to do the usual truck legal business. As I was getting ready to leave, a woman with a mask on and gloves covering her hands asked me if I wanted beef or chicken. She said she was handing out taco salads and wanted to know what I liked

For farmers in Montana, the spring planting of crops is almost complete. But a labor shortage created by COVID-19 may impact this years harvest.

The American Trucking Associations released data from its latest Driver Compensation Study, showing driver pay has climbed as rising demand for freight transportation services has increased competition for increasingly scarce drivers.

Despite widespread complaints by small business truckers that they are being gouged by freight brokers colluding against them, the industrys top regulator has yet to see formal evidence backing their case.

Corn used for ethanol is projected to increase from the 2019/20 coronavirus reduced levels, based on expectations of a rebound in U.S. motor gasoline consumption, according to the USDA in May. Corn feed and residual use is projected higher, mostly reflecting a larger crop and lower expected prices.

Truck drivers travelling across the country in the pandemic may be allowed to cross the border, but good luck trying to find a decent meal or even an open bathroom. That's what Lethbridge resident Lena Derksen heard when she would ask her truck driver brother how it was going. My brother is a trucker, he drives and I got friends that drive, and just by what they have told me, there is no pl

COVID-19 is disrupting many aspects of the U.S. agriculture-supply chain. For example some ports have needed to temporarily suspend shipments due to viral outbreaks. Agricultural exporters, primarily those west of Chicago, also have struggled to find shipping containers, said Eric Wenberg, executive director of the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance based in Mankato, Minnesota. Due to a steep decline in U.S. imports during COVID-19 there has been a decrease in cargo-ship sailings from Asia an

The introduction of the TMS and this first phase is coming at a time when the demand for digitizing tickets and bills of lading has grown because of COVID-19. With this first phase, carriers can keep tabs on all documents sent to shippers, brokers and next-day pay factoring services. Shippers and brokers can sort and organize all bills of lading and other documents sent in by carriers for easy paperwork flow. There is an alert system in place in which shippers, brokers and carriers will recei

A Pocomoke City trucking company says although truck drivers are essential workers, theyve been left behind in recent months because of new restrictions.

Motor carriers may access and transmit their information through a portal directly with FMCSA and upload documents in a secure environment. Many motor carriers maintain their records electronically and prefer to submit the records directly, from the electronic application where they are stored. Motor carriers may also fax or email documents to FMCSA if they so choose, or if they cannot access the portal. FMCSA may also use email and telephone and video calls as a substitute for in-person inte

Corn produced by U.S. farmers is exported, fed to people and animals, and used to make ethanol as well as many other products. Pete Meyer, Head of Grain and Oilseed Analytics for S&P Global Platts, says that the coronavirus has impacted both corn used for animal feed and ethanol.

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Thank you for thinking of us who have continued to work during this pandemic. We had been asked not to go home. Just keep on trucking and deliver the much-needed food, we were told. Not only was that meal a meaningful surprise, it happened in my hometown area. That made me really proud! Thank you so much for your kindness and support of us truckers.

The Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) asserts that it is not opposed to the raising of weight limits by individual states aimed at making it easier for shippers and carriers to move essential freight during the pandemic. However, we do believe these provisions must be temporary and no efforts be made at the federal level to make these permanent, the group told FreightWaves. The coalition also noted that supporters of longer and heavier trucks recently sent letters to Capito

Hall thinks southbound truckers are self-weighing their loads of grain during the night at unmanned weigh scales and finding a convenient place to lessen their load when they realize their actual weight. Under the Wildlife Act, fines vary up to $1, 000 for feeding animals and also disposing of waste. Dumping grain on the highway is considered littering, and fines can go up to $2,000 and six months in jail.

Kansas farmers are projected to harvest 284.4 million bushels of winter wheat this year, industry leaders said Thursday. The forecast from the annual Wheat Quality Tour, held for the past 50 years by the Wheat Quality Council, came during a virtual wheat tour held via Zoom this week amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"There's nothing like that view out of the windshield," he says, looking out the bug-spattered glass. "I'm happiest when I'm looking out it." Rodgers, the owner of a small trucking firm, is one of the 3.5 million truck drivers helping keep America running during the coronavirus outbreak that has already sickened one of his drivers and has kept him from returning home for more than two months straight.

Blessing Bags are being handed out by the Asbury United Methodist Church at truck stop areas along the Thruway. A simple way of saying thank you for being an essential worker and another Western New Yorkers are embracing the #BuffaloStrong spirit. We caught up with Syms and parishioner Amy Diati at the Clarence Service Center as they handed out Blessing Bags to truckers. Weve had truck drivers that were stuck and they couldn't get out and this was there only food that they could

Outbound tender volumes are benefiting greatly from the reopening of the economy and a release of pent-up consumer demand. Supply dynamics are taking longer to adjust and capacity remains extremely loose. While rates are coming off a depressed base, spot rates have increased in the vast majority of lanes. Consumer spending data and a bump from produce season put the carriers in a better position than they have been in throughout the past month.

Rodgers, the owner of a small trucking firm, is one of the 3.5 million truck drivers helping keep America running during the coronavirus outbreak that has already sickened one of his drivers and has kept him from returning home for more than two months straight.

The pandemic has been a tale of adapting for the trucking and transportation industry defined by remarkably high demand and catastrophically low rates. Before Denton County even confirmed its first coronavirus infection, an onset of what was to come was seen at area grocery stores, where essential items like toilet paper, eggs and milk were out of stock.

After serving more than 1,200 free meals to Americas courageous and hard-working truckers, San Paso Truck Stop, and its partner Melton Technologies, Inc., are again providing breakfasts to all truckers who come to the truck stop at 81 Wellsona Rd, Paso Robles, 5-9 a.m. daily through May. Truckers can either choose any one menu item at no charge, or opt for a free breakfast bag that includes a breakfast burrito, hot coffee, and a thank you card from Melton Technologies and the truck sto

A retired teacher is hosting a second Feed the Truckers event Tuesday to show her continued appreciation for truck drivers. Sandwiches 4 Semis: A Free Meal to Say Thank You starts at 3 p.m. for drivers passing through Nationwide Transportation Brokers, just off exit 28 on the Thruway, at 58 Riverside Drive in Fultonville. A team of volunteers will offer a bagged or boxed meal to the first 200 truckers who stop by. Phoebe Sitterly, St. Johnsville resident and retire

A private attorney with the OSHA workplace safety practice group says he believes this country is on the verge of a tidal wave of litigation stemming from COVID-19.

We need to get back to normal, whatever that may look like. Back to work, back to school, back to going out with friends. We are isolated enough in the trucking industry without being denied the right to catch-up, catch up for a meal, a quick coffee or a few drinks with our mates. Many workers may not have families or are separated by distance and their workmates are their substitute family.

Comcar announced Sunday that it would sell off all five of its national transportation companies in its Chapter 11 filing. Comcar management said it will conduct daily business activities as usual until the firm shutters, and that they will manage the sell-off process with supervision by the bankruptcy court.

Owner-operators have stepped up their fight for greater broker transparency by formally petitioning the Trump Administration to levy fines on brokers for non-compliance. Brokers have been deliberately skirting federal transparency regulations for decades, said Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) President and CEO Todd Spencer. We certainly dont think exempting yourself from federal regulations is legal, but this is precisely what is happening. It

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has altered the rules concerning the hours of service for commercial motor vehicle drivers. (c) Shutterstock The rule is designed to improve safety, the agency said, and do not increase driving time. The changes will allow CMV operators more flexibility in their breaks but will continue to prevent operators from driving more than 8 hours without a break.

Bay Area-based big-rig drivers and other motorists have the opportunity temporarily to get a hot meal on the road even though most restaurants are closed, Caltrans officials said Monday. Thats because 17 food trucks are operating temporarily at state rest areas across the state.

In a letter obtained by Freight Broker Live, TIA is telling its members how to respond to inquiries from owner-operators and small carriers regarding CFR 371.3. That regulation states brokers must keep records of transactions with motor carriers. One subsection of that regulation gives each party to the transaction, including the carriers, the right to review the record. This provision allows truckers to see exactly what their cut is of the full rate that the shipper paid the broker.

Recently, Ive been thinking a lot about The American Trucking Associations motto: Moving America Forward. Its never been truer than it is today. Everything we need to fight COVID-19 is moved from Point A to Point B by a truck driver. Medical supplies, cleaning products, food, gas, and even the worlds newest hot commodity toilet paper. Without truckers, grocery store shelves and hospital supply rooms would be empty. The result would be chaos.

The 41st Walcott Truckers Jamboree at the Iowa 80 truck stop in Walcott, Iowa, will go virtual this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The show which is scheduled for July 9-11 will now feature online versions of its antique truck show, Super Truck Beauty Contest and the Truckers Best Friend Pet Contest.

TRUCK driver Gary Jackson is a little overwhelmed with the publicity he's receiving after being hailed a hero after stopping a driver of an erratic vehicle with his truck, but he's glad he stopped the driver from causing any carnage.

The 41st Walcott Truckers Jamboree at the Iowa 80 truck stop in Walcott, Iowa, will go virtual this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The show which is scheduled for July 9-11 will now feature online versions of its antique truck show, Super Truck Beauty Contest and the Truckers Best Friend Pet Contest. The Walcott Truckers Jamboree began in 1979. The truck stop is east of the Quad Cities area in Iowa at Exit 284 from I-80.

A final truck driver hours-of-service (HOS) rule released Thursday will give drivers and motor carriers much-wanted flexibility in how they manage driver hours, but may limit their ability to raise prices in the future by giving shippers an extra helping of truck capacity. More flexibility and efficiency in truck utilization creates capacity that supports shipper pricing power. After two years of research, proposals, and comments, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) made t

Diversification and adaptability have kept executives at Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) optimistic throughout the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The company took action early with strong leadership at the beginning of the pandemic and is looking ahead and planning for life after it.

The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration announced final rules Thursday that will relax some of the safety restriction on the trucking industry. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao believes the new rules will give truckers more flexibility to do their jobs.

Two of the safety groups that have been most vocal in opposing the hours-of-service (HOS) changes since they were first proposed in 2018 were still considering on Thursday whether to challenge them immediately after they were rolled out in final form. The public has 30 days to file a petition for reconsideration with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) after the final rule is published in the Federal Register.

Highway safety regulators are changing work rules that limit truck drivers time behind the wheel, shifts they said would give drivers more flexibility without increasing overall daily driving time. The new regulations, which come as truck drivers face tough operating conditions amid the coronavirus pandemic, would save trucking companies an estimated nearly $274 million annually over 10 years, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said Thursday.

Although summer hasn't officially arrived, we've certainly had summer-like weather here in the Coastal Bend. While it's nice to see the sun shining, the dry weather has been hurting our farming industry.

Field of Hope team of staff and FOH graduates living in campus community homes met at a rest stop to feed the ones who are feeding us - and the rest of America, FOH supporters said.

MKC, a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative, has finalized the acquisition of Mid-West Fertilizer, Inc., a full-service agricultural retailer headquartered in Paola, Kansas, effective May 12. The company will operate as Mid-West Fertilizer, LLC. MKC President and CEO Brad Stedman said, "Together, the acquisition strengthens our position in the marketplace and will allow us to expand our services to create additional value for our owners and customers. We see growth of our footprint as a key

You wanted us to help you keep this nation running? We did, we have, we are, were still here. We need the president to answer our call, truck owner Lana Danko said over the cacophony of horns answering protesters signs on Constitution Avenue. The protesters have been demonstrating in D.C. for over a week, putting pressure on officials to enforce transparency laws on brokers.

A final rule that promises to add flexibility to the hours-of-service regulations was announced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Thursday, May 14. The announcement revealed the final plan that started with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Associations push toward hours-of-service reform more than two years ago.

A truck driver has received $3,017 in back wages after being denied emergency paid sick leave while he was experiencing coronavirus symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis. The U.S. Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division found the employer Mahant Trucking based in Avon, Indiana violated the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

Weight exemptions that were granted because of the COVID-19 pandemic should expire as soon as possible, OOIDA said in a letter to leaders of the Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration. At the outset of the COVID-19 emergency, it was prudent for states to increase truck weight limits to allow for the quick transportation of emergency supplies, wrote OOIDA President Todd Spencer. These waivers helped drivers make critical deliveries in a timely mann

Big names like C.H. Robinson would duel with techy upstarts like Uber Freight to see who would be able to control the freight-brokerage market the sometimes costly, cumbersome process in which truck drivers are matched with retailers and manufacturers to move their goods. That forecast ended up prescient for reasons that no one predicted. The coronavirus pandemic has dropped freight rates to their lowest numbers since 2009, and has pushed down how much revenue these brokers can depend

The challenge with buying used semitrucks, unlike farm iron, is that they are employed in a huge variety of transport jobs or may have a murky past. For these and many other reasons, it is most prudent to dig deep into a trucks past before buying even if it is a late-model vehicle. Before bidding or buying, get the vehicles VIN and find out what youre getting into, warns Tim Meyer of the Steffes Group (steffesauction.com).

Kansas harvester Mike Keimig is growing increasingly anxious about whether the foreign seasonal workers he needs to run his nine combines and drive his grain trucks will arrive in time for the start of the winter wheat harvest, which is just weeks away.

Were sanitizing the office twice a day. Areas in the building have been assigned to certain personnel only. Its weird to have to lock the front door for the first time in 29 years. Aside from that its business as usual, said Yves Poirier of Minimax Express. While most people are being asked to stay home, for truckers, it is the opposite. Truckers are out on the road every day.