flatbed

Trucking companies take proactive stance to thwart theft during holiday season

Cargo theft makes headlines each holiday season, driven by increased shipments, high demand and product shortages. Recent data from CargoNet shows cargo theft losses rocketed to $19 million in the first quarter of 2022 in the United States and Canada, a 73% increase over the same period in 2021.

Thieves are evolving their tactics and utilizing technology to target trucks with goods that can easily be sold off-market for a quick dollar. While the majority of the population enjoy long weekends and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-companies-take-proactive-stance-to-thwart-theft-during-holiday-season

Protecting our most valuable asset: America’s truck drivers

When it comes to truck driver safety, one might assume that the majority of injuries are the result of vehicle crashes, but this is not the case. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that from 2016-2020, slips, trips and falls were the leading source of injuries to truck drivers. And according to the National Safety Council, work-related injuries and illnesses involving days away from work due to slips, trips and falls are on the rise. From 2018-2020, the average number of reported cases per...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/protecting-our-most-valuable-asset-americas-truck-drivers

S&P upgrades flatbed operator Daseke’s debt rating after Moody’s holds the line

Several months after Daseke expressed disappointment that one of the leading debt ratings agencies didn’t increase its rating, the flatbed operator got its wish when another one did.

When Moody’s conducted a review of Daseke (NASDAQ: DSKE) earlier this year, it came out with a report that said the outlook on the company’s debt was “stable,” which means conditions were not in place to suggest an upgrade or downgrade. Daseke officials at the time were not happy, noting that its flatbed rates were...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/sp-upgrades-flatbed-operator-dasekes-debt-rating-after-moodys-holds-the-line

Robust commercial vehicle training programs help reduce over-the-road incidents

Commercial vehicle crashes often make front page news, but these accidents  — and resulting injuries and fatalities — are actually on the decline. The exact driving force behind this reduction in crashes is difficult to determine, but it can likely be attributed to a number of combined factors, including pandemic-related drops in traffic, improved safety technology on trucks and increased training efforts by carriers.

Nationally, the number of reported large truck crashes dropped from 164,731 in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/robust-commercial-vehicle-training-programs-help-reduce-over-the-road-incidents

Specialized brokers provide leg up in strained flatbed market

Flatbed trucks move down the road. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

The outlook remains positive for both the housing and general construction markets. This market strength — paired with the relatively small number of flatbed carriers — means flatbed capacity is in high demand and difficult to secure. As shippers navigate this strained environment, they should consider whether their current 3PL partners are best suited for their needs. 

“Flatbed shipping is specialized. There are many more variables in terms of types of trailers and the required securement...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/specialized-brokers-provide-leg-up-in-strained-flatbed-market

Why is flatbed trucking so dangerous?

The cab of commercial truck that has been smashed by a flatbed load

Mike’s first flatbed delivery was about 20 years ago when he transported a load of granite tombstones during a cold, snowy day and night in Minnesota. Having just finished driver orientation and training for a flatbed carrier, he was looking to make money right away. 

Hauling that load of tombstones paid well but …

“Nobody told me what it was going to be like,” said Mike, who spoke to FreightWaves on the condition of not using his last name. 

“I went there totally unprepared. It was a difficult...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/flatbed-trucking-driver-deaths

Daseke, responding to Moody’s report, says rates steady to rising

Daseke is seeing higher flatbed rates even as dry van numbers are coming down, a significant issue on the heels of a ratings agency’s review of the company and its view of the company’s figures.

The flatbed rates that Daseke is seeing are stable to higher, according to CEO Jonathan Shepko, who spoke to FreightWaves in response to questions about a recent report by the Moody’s debt rating agency.

Moody’s recently said the outlook for Daseke (NASDAQ: DSKE) was “stable.” The opinion does not impact...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/daseke-responding-to-moodys-report-says-rates-steady-to-rising

Truck driver killed in Louisiana after load crashes through cab

A truck driver was killed in Louisiana on Monday when a heavy load he was transporting on a trailer came loose and smashed into the trailer cab.

Jason Gilbert, 52, of Gray, Louisiana, was pronounced dead at the scene of the single-vehicle accident, which occurred just after 8:30 a.m. on U.S. Highway 90 and Bayou Gauche Road, about 30 miles west of New Orleans, authorities said.

“The trailer was carrying a heavy load and as the [tractor-trailer] approached the Louisiana 306 intersection, it slowed...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/flatbed-driver-killed-in-louisiana-accident

Check Call: Don’t fear the flatbed

people gathered around a desk of computers. Check Call news and analysis for 3pls and brokers

Hot Take

Image: Makeameme.com

It’s everyone’s favorite type of freight to watch get delivered: flatbed. I cannot tell you how many hours I have lost watching wind turbine propellers and massive I beams maneuver through tight turns with a driver that is quite literally made for this job.

Turns out flatbed moves are some of the more complicated freight moves. Every shipment is different, with its own set of rules and regulations, which means there is always one person in the office who handles the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/check-call-dont-fear-the-flatbed

Environmental, social, governance initiatives differentiating fleets — Net-Zero Carbon

JLE Industries CEO joins FreightWaves to chat about ESG as a differentiator among fleets.

On this episode of Net-Zero Carbon, Evan Pohaski, CEO of freight carrier JLE Industries, joins Tyler Cole, director of carbon intelligence at FreightWaves, to discuss environmental, social and governance opportunities in the flatbed sector. 

JLE is leading the charge for carriers through emission-reduction pilot projects and improved visibility solutions. Pohaski and Cole unpack how ESG initiatives can be used to separate the leaders from the laggards in freight and logistics.

“Sustainability for...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/environmental-social-governance-initiatives-differentiating-fleets-net-zero-carbon

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