The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for much of the Southern United States and Eastern United States in anticipation of a line of snow and ice extending from Texas to the Atlantic Coast. It was expected to hit early Tuesday morning. A secondary front is expected between Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing…
An upturn in consumer spending combined with greater investments by companies is expected to drive up demand for trucking during the course of 2014, according so new economic analysis reports. Bob Costello, a chief economist who works with the American Trucking Association, expects the number of truck loads to grow by 2.3 to 2.7 percent…
As crude oil shipments across railways and along waterways ramp up due to increased shale oil productivity, lawmakers in the state of Washington take a look at what additional safety measures might need to be put into place to safeguard the public. Devastating railroad accidents involving crude oil shipments in Canada and North Dakota have…
As much of the country battles extreme cold and snow, trucking companies, port operators, freight train managers, and air cargo transporters struggle with delays and severe operating conditions. Much of the Midwest, particularly the Chicago area, and New England have battled snow and ice, as well as below normal temperatures. This is delaying freight shipped…
Last week, President Obama delivered his State of the Union address. In it, he mentioned a number of things, including his intentions to move forward to fix the deteriorating condition of the nation’s infrastructure, particularly when it comes to the roadways, bridges, and passageways that the nation’s truckers depend on to make a living. Some…
As the economy plods on at a sluggish pace, online retailers are seeking to prompt people to part with their money more readily by dangling incentives such as cheap same day delivery services. Most of the major online giants are in on the action, each seeking to outdo the others with their services, convenience, and…
The U.S. Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index released by Markit, a financial data and analysis firm, indicates a slight dip in the manufacturing sector for January. However, analysts and economists do not fear it is cause for concern. According to reports, the manufacturing sector remains strong and growing, and the latest numbers indicated some temporary blips in the areas…
The American Trucking Associations’ seasonally adjusted Truck Tonnage Index in the for-hire sector increased by 0.6 percent following a 4.7 percent gain in November. This last bump pushed the year 6.2 percent higher for the best performance since 1998. December’s index was 131.7, compared to its level of 130.9 in November. Without the seasonal adjustments, the index…
The Federal Reserve Board announced the year-end growth numbers for the manufacturing sector this week. They reported positive gains for the industry overall, as well as many specific sectors within the industry. Manufacturing production rose .4 percent in December, following .6 percent gains for the months of October and November, marking the fifth straight month with positive…
Federal regulators met with representatives from the railroad industry, oil industry, pipeline industry, and other interested parties last week to discuss possible solutions to the growing concerns over railway safety. In the past several months, four major accidents involving trains filled with crude oil have endangered lives and property. Since the pipeline infrastructure in North America is…