Current events in United States trade policy have once again thrown the global supply chain into turmoil as President Donald Trump’s moves to impose and then partially suspend some tariffs have resulted in significant disruption and uncertainty for many businesses operating in North America. According to Freightos Baltic index, that unsettling feeling has extended to ocean container rates, already in the midst of the traditional early-year lull.
According to a report by factoring service altLine, a dire shortage of an estimated 24,000 truck drivers is leaving many trucks empty, costing the freight industry $95.5 million every week. According to the report, “the industry could generate $47.4 billion in annual revenue if all registered trucks were operational.”
Common seasonal decreases in freight combined with the pending threat of tariffs had a negative impact on truck driving jobs in February, with potentially more job losses to come. According to the most recent numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “nearly 2,000 trucking jobs were eliminated from the economy in February. That continues the trucking industry’s purge of excess drivers following a surge of new motor carriers in the wake of the pandemic. Since January 2023, employment in trucking has decreased in all but five months.” Read more…
Lofta is partnering with the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA) to broaden the availability of streamlined at-home sleep apnea testing and treatment for professional truck drivers. Megan Magensky, PTMA director of communications, extolled: “We’re excited to have Lofta supporting the association… their commitment to PMTA shows they are interested in promoting the trucking industry holistically… their platform is focused on prioritizing driver health and safety, which aligns with PMTA’s mission.” read more…
UPS CEO Carol Tomé, in discussing the company’s strategic shift, discusses reducing its over reliance on Amazon while prioritizing profitability and high-growth sectors; she also expounds on “UPS’s focus on small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), healthcare logistics, and international trade, alongside a $1 billion cost-saving initiative.”
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246 professional truck drivers are being lauded by XPO for achieving million-mile safe driving milestones in 2024. CEO Mario Harik exclaims: “I want to congratulate our 246 drivers who reached one million or more consecutive accident-free miles last year… I am grateful for everything they do to serve our customers and keep our roads safe, and I look forward to recognizing many more drivers in the coming year.” Read more…
Conversion Interactive Agency and People. Data. Analytics.(PDA) have released their joint Q4 2024 Driver Recruiting & Retention Data Download Report showing a decrease in truck drivers’ wages. Kelly Walkup, CEO of Conversion, states: “As the freight economy rebounds, driver recruiting is becoming even more competitive… to win in this environment, carriers must embrace technology and tools to improve efficiency and reduce costs while addressing driver needs head-on.”Read more…
America’s leader in contract logistics, DHL Supply Chain, recently announced the acquisition of Inmar Supply Chain Solutions, a division of Inmar Intelligence and a leading returns solutions provider for the retail e-commerce industry. The strategic acquisition will make DHL Supply Chain the largest provider of reverse logistics solutions in all of North America.
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With the new year upon us, it is a fantastic time for current and prospective drivers to find a new truck driving job. As 2025 begins, “signs indicate that the trucking industry is entering a new — and hopefully profitable — part of the supply-demand cycle. For the past couple of years or so, the industry has been stuck in a downward trajectory because of overcapacity.”
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Kenworth teamed with Fastport and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program for the ninth consecutive year to find America’s number one rookie military veteran who made the successful transition into a civilian truck driving career: “distinguished Army veteran Cory Troxell, who drives for Stevens Transport, received this year’s ‘“Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence”’ award during a recent special ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. where crowds gathered to see the Kenworth T680 parked outside.”Read more…
