FORWARD AIR AND OMNI LOGISTICS SEAL BUSINESS MERGE

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Forward Air completed its acquisition of Omni Logistics recently after the expedited surface transportation provider and global freight forwarder reached a newly agreed upon merger agreement. Plans for the merger were announced last August, but were put on a hold by a series of fights between activist investors, shareholders and the companies themselves. The deal will now allow the two companies to integrate their international and North American operations, adding more high-value freight into Forward’s less-than-truckload (LTL) network. Read more…

TRUCK DRIVER RECOGNIZED FOR FIRST MILLION MILES ON THE JOB

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Pauline Jochim was recently recognized by Truckstop.com for achieving her first million miles as a professional truck driver. According to Pauline, her love of driving stemmed from her family’s passion for racing: “When I was a kid, I grew up in race shops, and we did a lot of dirt track racing… I remember, some of the places we’d go, we always saw those semis.” Read more…

SURVEY SEEKS VIEWS ON BARRIERS TO WOMEN PURSUING TRUCKING JOBS

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The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has sent out a new survey to help shine light on what both women and men truck drivers believe to be the obstacles to entry for female truck drivers. ATRI said the survey will also help learn about other challenges that truck drivers encounter while training, on the road, and at parking facilities. The research will take those responses from both men and women drivers to identify and contrast the special challenges faced by female drivers. Read more

UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS TO INVEST 50 MILLION IN GREATER ROANOKE AREA

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Universal Logistics is expanding in the greater Roanoke area with a new industrial building located on Lee Highway in Botetourt County, creating 45 new jobs. Universal’s CEO Tim Phillip states: “our expansion in the Roanoke region represents an exciting phase for Universal’s heavy truck division as we fortify our commitment to delivering top-tier services within the logistics and transportation sectors… our investment not only signifies our dedication to growth, but also underscores our pledge to contribute meaningfully to the local economy while creating employment opportunities for the community.”Read more…

TRUCK DRIVER STILL FLOURISHING AFTER THIRTY YEARS

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Thomas Sholar, 69, who started in construction in the Houston area, began his truck driver journey all the way back in 1992, and continues to enjoy the ride to this day: “I guess I won’t retire until it stops being fun,” he says, after more than three decades behind the wheel of his big rig. Sholas has been recognized for his accomplishments both on and off the road with the TCA’s 2023 Driver of the Year away, one of five truck drivers to receive the award.Read more…

MONTHLY TRUCKING EMPLOYMENT REPORT SHOWS STEADINESS

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After several months of volatility in truck transportation employment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported November jobs numbers that showed some changes: “the seasonally adjusted truck transportation jobs total for last month was 1,581,300, an increase of 700 jobs. But it comes after a four-month stretch in which July jobs dropped 6,900; August jobs fell 30,700 (fueled by the closure of Yellow Corp.); September jobs climbed 14,000 positions as some of the Yellow loss reversed itself at other carriers; and October recorded a drop of 3,600 jobs.” Read more…

WHITE HOUSE PLANS TO STRENGTHEN THE LOGISTICS INDUSTRY

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Forklift is lifting a wooden pallet in a warehouse. 3d illustration

President Joe Biden recently convened the first meeting of his newly launched Supply Chain Resilience Council after years of the industry speaking about the matter. The goal of the new council is to “strengthen America’s supply chains” and “lower costs for families.” There are 30 actions the council has in mind to “improve access to medicine and needed economic data and other programs tied to the production and shipment of goods.” Read more…

DRIVER SHORTAGE REACHING CRITICAL STATE

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There is a major truck driver shortage happening at the moment, and it’s predicted to reach a record high next year, which in turn will have a massive impact on supply chain costs. With that being said, it’s now more important than ever for trucking companies to incentivize the job and to obtain more than one million new drivers over the next decade to replace those planning to leave the industry. Read more…

$25K DONATED TO SUPPORT DRIVER TRAINING

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The trucking industry’s most magnanimous arm, The Trucking Cares Foundation (TCF), has donated $25,000 to the Center for Employment Training (CET), an organization that offers education and real-life training to prospects seeking jobs in high-demand fields. TCF Chairman Phi Bird states: “CET’S mission is to equip individuals with skills that will enable them to obtain careers leading to self-sufficiency in high-demand occupations and prepares them for a lifetime of success.” Read more…

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE LOGISTICS INDUSTRY IN 2023

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As 2023 nears its end, looking back may require sifting through many negatives of the past 12 months in logistics such as “strikes, bankruptcies, security incidents, weather events,” and more, but there are also many positives that stand out as well. It’s clear that the logistics industry “is an incredibly connected network of companies and individuals who are extremely passionate” and “will work countless hours to move this industry forward.” Read more…