The third quarter of 2013 ended much like the rest of the year for the trucking industry, with basically flat earnings and a gain of just 2.8 percent overall. The new hours of service regulations did have an impact on earnings, but not all the carriers reported exactly how much. Werner reported the regulations reduced…
On Thursday, October 31, Congressional Representatives Richard Hanna (a Republican from New York), Tom Rice (a Republican from South Carolina) and Mike Michaud (a Democrat from Maine) introduced the TRUE Safety Act, which would halt the new Hours of Service (HOS) regulations imposed on truckers beginning on July 1st of this year. According to the…
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is cracking down on lax medical examiners’ regulations in hopes of getting unsafe truck drivers and bus drivers off the road. Currently, almost any medical professional, including general practitioners, nurse practitioners, chiropractors, and others, can issue a medical certificate to truck drivers. The drivers only have to get…
The construction industry, including the builders of residential housing, commercial construction, and the sector of civil engineering, showed the strongest increase in new purchase orders since December of 2007, according to the Markit/CIPS Purchasing Manager’s Index. The index stood at 59.4 for the month of October, following a peak of 58.9 for September. An index…
As more electric car options are made available to consumers and fleet vehicle operators, several things are becoming clear. First, the cost of these automobiles (though often offset by government subsidies) is still higher than the cost of gas powered vehicles. Second, the electric cars may not be as beneficial to the environment as portrayed…
Globally, about 40 percent of the food humans grow end up wasted before it reaches the table of a hungry family. Much of the waste occurs in third world countries, where the supply chain infrastructure is insufficient to harvest, prepare, and ship foods quickly enough to prevent deterioration. Until recently, much of this food waste…
In the aftermath of the Rana Plaza collapse, which killed more than 1,200 garment factory workers and injured hundreds more, clothing retailers in the United States, Europe, and other developed countries are trying to find ways to get feedback directly from workers regarding their working conditions, pay, and general treatment.
A survey just conducted by BCG, the Boston Consulting Group, of 200 U.S. executives revealed that 54 percent of companies are either already in the process of moving their manufacturing operations back to U.S. soil or are seriously considering doing so within the next few years. This is up from the 37 percent of companies which…
Specialty Retail Group (SRG) is a menswear retailer based in the UK, which serves both the UK and Ireland with menswear. The company primarily specializes in suits, which account for half their annual revenues. They operate 80 stores, employing 600 workers, as well as a headquarters and warehouse, which employ an additional 100 workers. This…
The past three years weren’t good for corn production, but 2013 has yielded a record 13.8 billion bushels and only half of it has yet been harvested. The weather hasn’t helped, varying from wet to dry, so in addition to dealing with an overabundance of crops, logistics is stressed with separating corn with differing levels…