Driver issues

The numbers behind April’s nearly 90,000 job losses in trucking

With a staggering 88,000-plus jobs lost in the trucking sector in April, the question becomes whether the change is temporary or more structural.

Since trucking is an industry in which barriers to entry and exit are so low, calling anything a “structural” change is always a bit risky. One need only look back at the wailing of 2018 that a driver shortage had the possibility to seriously cramp the nation’s economy for a long time to come. The Outbound Tender Rejection Index in SONAR, the leading...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-numbers-behind-aprils-nearly-90000-job-losses-in-trucking

Commentary: Rise above the rhetoric

HIghway semi

The views expressed here are solely the author’s and do not necessarily represent those of FreightWaves or its affiliates.

Last week I was invited to be a guest on the popular Road Dog Trucking program on Sirius XM radio with Mark Willis, always a gracious host. My favorite part of appearing on the show is the opportunity to dialog with professional drivers who call in from across the country.

The topic this time was the recent feud between brokers and truckers over depressed truckload rates. The...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/commentary-rise-above-the-rhetoric

EVO, trucking firm that hauls for USPS, asked to give back PPP funds

A publicly-traded Phoenix-based trucking company that received $10 million under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been asked to give it back.

The company, EVO Transportation and Energy Services, mostly hauls for the U.S. Postal Service. Much of its fleet appears to be powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). The company’s 10-K filing for 2018—the most recent 10-K submitted—said the USPS accounted for 95% of the company’s revenue.

In a letter sent Friday to EVO’s Chief Executive Officer...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/evo-trucking-firm-that-hauls-for-usps-asked-to-give-back-ppp-funds

Trucker Path partners with Motel 6 to offer 12% discount to drivers during COVID-19 pandemic

Motel 6 is partnering with Trucker Path to offer a discount on room rates as a way to say thank you to truck drivers hauling essential goods during the coronavirus pandemic.

Motel 6 is offering a 12% discount to truck drivers who book a room at one of its 1,400 hotels through the Trucker Path app.

“At Motel 6, we are committed to leaving the light on for drivers who are bravely continuing on their routes, bringing much needed medical supplies, food and goods to communities across the U.S.,” said...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/trucker-path-partners-with-motel-6-to-offer-12%-discount-to-drivers-during-covid-19-pandemic

Brokers push back against Trump’s price-gouging claims

Representatives of the truck brokerage industry swiftly refuted President Donald Trump’s allegations of price gouging against small-business truck drivers after the President took sides with the drivers on the issue.

Trump, who tweeted his support for the drivers during last week’s “May Day” demonstration rally held by truckers near the White House, maintained that they are being “price gouged” when asked today (May 8) about the allegations – and what he plans to do about it – by a co-host of...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/brokers-push-back-against-trumps-price-gouging-claims

Trucking industry unites to provide hand sanitizer, masks for drivers

Ingrid Brown, a 40-year trucking veteran, says she was just “venting on social media” in mid-April about the struggles truck drivers were experiencing to find personal protective equipment, including face masks and hand sanitizer, at truck stops and other places out on the road, when she quickly discovered industry executives were paying attention and wanted to help.

Brown said she has been working with executives at International Truck, Triumph Business Capital and TriumphPay to develop a plan...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-industry-unites-to-provide-hand-sanitizer-masks-for-drivers

BLS report: six years of trucking sector job gains have disappeared

The number of workers in the truck transportation sector plummeted in April to levels not seen since 2014.

According to the unemployment figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) this morning, May 8, 1,435,600 people were employed in the truck transportation sector of the Transportation & Warehousing “super sector.” That is down 88,300 from March. Both March and April figures are preliminary.

The last time the BLS reported that few workers in the truck transportation sector was at...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bls-report-six-years-of-trucking-sector-job-gains-have-disappeared

DOT doubles progress in human trafficking fight

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) more than doubled a goal staked out earlier this year to get 100 pledges in 100 days to raise awareness of human trafficking in the transportation sector.

Over 200 companies and organizations answered the call for the effort that DOT Secretary Elaine Chao made in January. Those that have signed on to the effort “are joining the Department to ensure that America’s transportation systems are not hijacked to facilitate human trafficking,” said U.S....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dot-doubles-progress-in-human-trafficking-fight

OOIDA asks Congress to mandate brokers supply deal data to carriers

The continuing anger on the part of independent owner-operators targeting the broker community for low trucking rates has now led to the owner-operators’ trade group asking Congress to amend a current federal law governing broker-carrier relations.

In a letter sent Wednesday to all 535 members of Congress, Todd Spencer, the president and CEO of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, asked for what the organization called “two simple solutions” to federal regulations under title 49,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ooida-asks-congress-to-mandate-brokers-supply-deal-data-to-carriers

FreightWaves LIVE @HOME: Truckers praise Driver Appreciation Award winners

What makes a driver feel appreciated?

Clean bathrooms, water, snacks, short wait times and simple courtesy are what many drivers responded to on the survey by FreightWaves for its Driver Appreciation Award.

Winners were named Wednesday for the Driver Appreciation Award during FreightWaves LIVE @HOME. The winners of the driver appreciation survey highlights leaders in the supply chain who value and respect truckers.

In alphabetical order, the companies that went above and beyond to make drivers...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-live-home-truckers-praise-driver-appreciation-award-winners

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