Love’s Travel Stops

EFS chat recap: Managing private fleets during challenging times

A screenshot of a man sitting in an office.

FIRESIDE CHAT TOPIC: Managing private fleets

DETAILS: FreightWaves market analyst Zach Strickland chats with Brent Bergevin about how Love’s grappled with managing private fleets in the last 12 months, including how Love’s overcame challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and February’s severe winter weather conditions.

SPEAKER: Bergevin is the vice president of transportation for  Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores.

BIO: Bergevin oversees Gemini drivers, truck maintenance, logistics,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/efs-chat-recap-managing-private-fleets-during-challenging-times

Truck Talk: Pancakes and chicken edition

Welcome back to Truck Talk. Subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Friday. 

This week, we’re looking at TravelCenters of America resuming conversion of restaurants to International House of Pancake outlets; Bosch’s new semiconductor plant that, while impressive, is too late to help with the current chip shortage, and a very busy week at Mack Trucks.

With sprinkles on top

The deal to convert up to 94 TravelCenters of America restaurants into International House of Pancakes outlets preceded CEO...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/truck-talk:-pancakes-and-chicken-edition

Ryder offers up to 6 hours off work for COVID vaccine

Ryder System Inc. (NYSE:R) said Monday it will offer up to six hours of paid time off (PTO) to any employee who receives two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Miami-based transportation and logistics company, which employs about 40,000 people, said the PTO program will cover three hours of time off for the first vaccine and an additional three hours for those treatments requiring a second dose to complete the process. 

Jonathan Mayor, a Ryder spokesperson, said the initiative is designed for...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ryder-offers-up-to-6-hours-off-work-for-covid-vaccine

The Daily Dash: DB Schenker’s US plans; Variant’s growth

DB Schenker eyes US trucking market

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, DB Schenker, a leading global logistics player, has its eye set on conquering the U.S. Plus, U.S. Xpress’ CEO sees big things coming for its Variant division, and flatbed operator Daseke reports earnings and issues a mixed outlook for 2021.

A new North American player?

After decades operating a major international freight and warehousing business in the U.S., the logistics division of German rail...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-db-schenkers-us-plans-variants-growth

Love’s joins companies incentivizing workers to get COVID vaccine

Editor’s Note: Updates 5th paragraph with Pilot Company statement

The Love’s Family of Companies is paying a $75 bonus to its 28,000 employees to get the COVID vaccine. The truck stop operators joins businesses offering paid time off to allow workers in close contact with customers to get inoculated.

Oklahoma City-based Love’s operates more than 500 truck stops and travel plazas in 41 states. They are deemed essential businesses during the coronavirus pandemic because they serve truck drivers...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/loves-joins-companies-incentivizing-workers-to-get-covid-vaccine

FreightWaves Truck Talk: A ‘SPAC-tacular’ new year

Welcome to FreightWaves Truck Talk, a weekly newsletter adding perspective, context and commentary to industry news and trends. 

The SPAC train keeps on rolling. Odeon Capital is keeping track of the growing hunting party of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). It counts 149 suitors seeking business combination targets. Odeon Capital analyst Alex Arnold puts the collective bankroll of blank checks at $57 billion. SPAC Insider lists 248 SPACs filed in 2020. In the first week of the...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/freightwaves-truck-talk-a-spac-tacular-new-year

Drivers risk empty fuel tanks along Gulf Coast after Laura

Forced shutdowns of truck stops across Texas and Louisiana due to Hurricane Laura-caused power outages and mandatory evacuations have increased the risk of truck drivers left stranded without fuel.

Major truck stop chains Pilot Flying J, Love’s Travel Stops and TravelCenters of America all reported locations that were closed and without power for both food and fuel as of 11 a.m. CDT Thursday. Roady’s Truck Stops, a large independent chain, was checking on the status for a handful of locations in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/drivers-risk-empty-fuel-tanks-along-gulf-coast-after-laura

Truck stops close shop ahead of Hurricane Laura

Truck stops along the U.S. Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana are preparing for a potentially devastating hurricane by closing locations ahead of the storm.

“Love’s is monitoring the latest developments as Hurricane Laura nears landfall in the Gulf Coast area,” Love’s Travel Stops posted in a bulletin issued at 12:15 pm EDT.

“We are taking precautions and increasing fuel and food deliveries today to stay stocked as people are evacuating. Our store and support teams are prepared to serve Customers...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/truck-stops-close-shop-ahead-of-hurricane-laura

The Daily Dash: Border skirmish, drone delivery and is it time to say goodbye to diesel?

Mexican truck crossed the U.S. border

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, the U.S. International Trade Commission has been asked to investigate whether Mexico-based cross-border trucking operations are hurting U.S. long-haul truckers. Plus, Workhorse Group continues to advance drone delivery technology, Canadian truckers are being scammed and Anheuser-Busch makes a big shift to natural gas.

Trouble south of the border?

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-daily-dash-border-skirmish-drone-delivery-and-is-it-time-to-say-goodbye-to-diesel

Love’s offers AscendTMS free to its factoring customers

Love’s Family of Companies has signed a co-marketing agreement with InMotion Global to make available to all its factoring customers the AscendTMS transportation management system software at no cost.

The agreement will give all Love’s Financial customers access to a full premium subscription of the AscendTMS for free. This includes carriers, freight brokers and third-party logistics providers, the companies said in a joint release.

“AscendTMS is already the most widely used TMS software in North...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/loves-offers-ascendtms-free-to-its-factoring-customers

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