It's not them, it's you.
Culture changes and learning to how to embrace the next generation of truck technicians is the best way combat the industry's technician shortage.
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...Read the rest of this storyNet trailer orders rebounded in August to 14,600 units, up 9% month-over-month from July and up 4% year-over-year, according to data tracked by FTR Transportation Intelligence.
ACT Research added that, as August tied March for the longest OEM work schedule of the year – some three days longer than July – trailer makers “capitalized” on the additional work days by eking out a sequential increase in U.S. trailer builds.
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...Read the rest of this storyAs the shortage of truck drivers continues to grow – based on current trends lines of freight demand versus truck driver availability, a potential shortfall of 239,000 drivers may develop by 2022 – motor carriers are trying to figure out how to convince more “new blood” to take up piloting big rigs for a living.
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...Read the rest of this storyPhotos: Shell Rotella
">Photos: Shell Rotella
">Shell Rotella's T6 Multi-Vehicle 5W-30 full synthetic oil is designed for versatility, meeting the API CK-4 specification for Class 8 Trucks as well as API SN specification for gasoline trucks and vans.
The oil is aimed at owners of mixed fleets with Class 6-8 diesel trucks and gasoline powered pickup trucks and vans. To do this, Shell designed and tested the T6 MV 5W-30 for needed wear, oxidation and depsoit control needed in modern commercial diesel engines while also exceeding the requirements for the API SN performance category of gasoline engines.
“With Shell Rotella T6 Multi-Vehicle 5W-30, it is now possible for hard working fleets or businesses that run diesel and gasoline powered engines to carry a single oil that offers numerous benefits,” said Megan Pino, Shell Rotella global brand manager. “The full synthetic oil has been engineered to provide protection under the most severe engine conditions for both diesel and gasoline engines.”
The oil contains Shell's Triple Protection Plus technology, combining additives and synthetic base oils to protect against wear, deposits, and oil breakdown, while also offering better fuel economy with it's lower viscosity. T6 MV 5W-30 oil demonstrated strong oxidation resistance in the Volvo T-13 oxidation test, according to Shell, controlling acid build up, preventing oil thickening, and exceeding the API CK-4 limits for oxidation.
The T6 MV 5W-30 Full Synthetic oil is designed to work better at low temperature oil flow when compared to Shell's own T4 Triple Protection 15W-40. Through testing, Shell says the T6 MV 5W-30 oil had better cold cranking properties and low temperature pumpability than the T4 oil at -30 and -35 degrees Celcius, respectively.
"I think we've been able to demonstrate that there's no loss in performance, in durability, between having our 15W-40 T4 Triple Protection compared to our T6 MV 5W-30," ...Read the rest of this story
Source: FTR
">Source: FTR
">FTR's Trucking Conditions Index for July remains in a positive range with a reading of 5.75 reflecting tightening capacity, rising spot rates, with further impact this fall and winter from the implementation of electronic logging devices.
The TCI measure has not risen higher because it's driven in large part by contract market conditions and not the spot market segment, which is currently being pushed higher. Contract prices are expected to increase in 2018 as capacity further tightens which will move the TCI up through the year.
“The combination of multiple hurricanes, strengthening spot market conditions, and the final push towards ELD implementation means trucking is ready to shift into a higher gear," said Jonathan Starks, COO at FTR. "Fleets are finally starting to talk positively about market conditions after being stuck in a relatively sluggish environment for more than a year.”
Related: Truckload Linehaul, Intermodal Rates Growing Stronger
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Newly released figures show the market for truckload freight shipments is improving and the intermodal sector has completed nearly a year of increasing rates while the outlook for both has improved.
After being negative for 13 months in a row, the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index has not only been positive now for five straight months, but it is also increasing in magnitude, according to Analyst Donald Broughton with Broughton Capital.
The August index improved by 2.6% from the same time a year ago to a reading of 124.6. While this is 0.6% below the reading from the month before, there is a belief it will get better.
In just the last 60 days, Broughton's pricing forecast has improved for 2017, from a range of a 1% decline to 2% improvement, to a newly expected 1% to 3% increase. That's because the current strength being reported in spot rates is leading him to believe contract pricing rates should keep truckload rates in positive territory through the end of the year.
The Cass Truckload Linehaul Index measures market fluctuations in per-mile truckload pricing that isolates the linehaul component of full truckload costs from others, such as fuel and accessorials, providing a reflection of trends in baseline truckload prices.
Intermodal Pricing Measure Posts Another Year-Over-Year GainMeantime, the Cass Intermodal Price Index rose 1.3% in August from the same time a year ago to 127.1, which was a slight improvement from July's anemic 0.6% increase and is at its highest level since May.
This marked the 11th consecutive month of year-over year increases; however, pricing momentum continues to be relatively muted, according to Broughton.
The absolute nominal value of the index established its most recent peak in March at 135.4, as the national average cost of diesel fuel flirted with $2.60 a gallon, and has sequentially trended lower since, as ...Read the rest of this story
