Governor Glenn Youngkin was in Pulaski County recently to help announce an expansion for third-party logistics provider Patton Logistic which will add a 100,000-square foot warehouse and create 25 new jobs. Youngin exclaimed: “Once again, a company that’s been in Virginia is betting on Virginia, right here in Pulaski County,” as he touted Virginia’s distinction as the top state for business according to CNBC.
With the vagaries of the regulatory environment, the trucking industry is utilizing new approaches regarding the power of cognitive testing when it comes to evaluating impairment risks. According to Marilyn Surber, vice president of sales and marketing for Driver’s Legal Plan, “a commercial driver typically makes nearly 18,000 decisions every day… what (do) we know about that driver’s mental state and their cognition and their actual physical ability to do that job on any given day, when they get behind the wheel to make those 18,000 decisions that determine so much for all of us in this room?”
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The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PMTC) and the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA) have recently announced that they are partnering to show truck drivers that “we appreciate you every day.” Throughout April, at participating PA Turnpike service plazas, truckers can get “free beverages, special coupons, snacks, bottled water and receive updates on Open Road Tolling conversion. Truckers can also enter a raffle for the chance to win a Yeti Travel Water Bottle. ”
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…
