Trucking and technology at scale: A look at Variant with Josh Smith
On Tuesday, Josh Smith, vice president at Variant and over-the-road operations at U.S. Xpress, spoke to FreightWaves about the Variant program and how technology and operations are vital to success in trucking.
During the interview, Smith highlighted the evolution of the Variant brand and how the organizational structure seeks to make life better for drivers on the road. Smith noted the Variant model is...
Trailer and retail sales remain strong in the new year
Headlines
Preliminary net trailer orders for December broke 40,000 for the fourth consecutive month, which is 155% higher year-over-year. Most orders were for dry van and refrigerated trailers, but flatbed trailers also saw a rebound — a good indicator for the manufacturing industry.
West Coast ports are still seeing huge backlogs of container ships with the Port of LA and the Port of Long Beach having no usable anchorages. Labor shortages at...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/sales-still-booming-to-start-january-midday-market-update
The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.
History
2020 will be memorable for many reasons. One of the most notable events to occur this year is the COVID-19 pandemic and how decision-makers are referencing the Spanish flu from a century ago. Just over 100 years ago, the world was not only at war with a disease but also with each other. World War I was raging, and with its small military, the United States...
The classic “lease versus buy” dilemma isn’t just about houses and cars; it’s also about trucking equipment. Carriers choose to rent trailers for several reasons, including flexibility, cost savings, and keeping their fleets young. Market volatility has also proven to be a strong motivator.
The current coronavirus pandemic has had something of a roller-coaster effect on the market – sending volumes surging in some sectors and plummeting in others. Carriers experienced weeks of tight capacity,...
https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/trailer-leasing-offers-carriers-control-in-a-volatile-market
Those in the market to buy their own truck or trailer often face a binary choice – new or used. It’s a question as old as the highways itself and one that permeates the minds of forward-thinking truckers.
Purchasing a truck fresh off the assembly line has its perks but can be expensive. On the other hand, used trucks lack certain elements of performance and safety but are considerably cheaper. While there are arguably many reasons to lean either way, one should be mindful of insurance costs...
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/in-the-market-for-a-used-truck-or-trailer