The survey revealed that the number of carriers saying they are using more brokerage services doubled from 15 percent in August 2011 to nearly 33 percent in February 2012, with 67 percent saying they are using fewer brokers.

The PCI was up 0.3 percent in March, following February’s 0.7 percent gain. This cumulative 1.0 percent increase does not offset January’s 1.7 percent decline to start the year.

ACT reported that preliminary net orders in March for heavy-duty Class 8 vehicles in North American markets will come in around 20,000 units, while FTR Associates pegged it at 19,682 units.

In an unusual move that likely is dead on arrival in an election year, the trucking industry is asking Congress to raise the federal fuel tax on diesel in exchange for dropping a 12 percent federal excise tax on large trucks.

The TCI, which reflects tightening conditions for hauling capacity and is comprised of various metrics, including capacity, fuel, bankruptcies, cost of capital, and freight, was 5.9 in February, down from January’s 6.1 and December’s 7.0.

After more than 35 years in the industry, I thought I had seen it all. However, I spent a few days last month with some University of Tennessee (UT) colleagues as well as industry and government leaders discussing the evolution of strategic sourcing and collaborative contracting.

With capacity already tightening and increasing federal regulations threatening to exacerbate the driver shortage, dedicated trucking is going to continue to grow at double-digit percentage rates—and help shippers get a good night’s sleep in the process.

Data from Transport Capital Partners’ (TCP) quarterly Business Expectation Survey found that while the economy is rebounding, that is not necessarily a panacea for trucking carriers to increase capacity.

Truck tonnage volumes showed growth in February based on data released today by the American Trucking Associations (ATA).

The CSA/SMS methodology and measurement system is fatally flawed. Only a small fraction of carriers are measured, and of those that are, an astonishing 56 percent are deemed to warrant further intervention because of high scores.