Value of U.S.-NAFTA Freight Rises for 7th Straight Month

U.S.-NAFTA freight value percent change from previous year over the last 24 months. Graphic: U.S. DOT

A rise in the value of cross-border trucking freight between the U.S. and the other two North American Free Trade Agreement partner counties helped push total value of commodities higher for the seventh straight month in May, according to a new Transportation Department report.

U.S.-NAFTA freight totaled $98.2 billion for the month as all five major transportation modes carried more freight by value compared to a year ago, resulting in a 9.4% increase.

The value of commodities moving by pipeline increased 60.3%, vessel by 28.4%, air by 8.7%, rail by 7%, and truck by 5%.

The increase in the value of freight by pipeline and vessel more closely reflected a greater volume of mineral fuels moved rather than an increase in the price of those commodities, according to the department. In contrast with recent months, there was only a modest year-over-year increase during May in the price of mineral fuels, totaling 3.8%.

Trucks carried 63.4% of U.S.-NAFTA freight and continued to be the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners. Trucks accounted for $32.2 billion of the $53.5 billion of imports, or 60.2%. and $30.1 billion of the $44.7 billion of exports, or 67.3%. Rail remained the second largest mode by value, moving 15.5% of all U.S.-NAFTA freight.

From May 2016 to May 2017, the value of U.S.-Canada freight flows increased by 11.4% to $51.2 billion as the value of freight on all five major modes increased from a year earlier.

The value of freight carried on pipeline increased by 66%, vessel by 26%, rail by 9.8%, air by 9.7%, and truck by 5.4%.

Trucks carried 57.8% of the value of the freight to and from Canada. Rail carried ...Read the rest of this story

Now we’re parking — automatically

Most of the hype for automated driving deals with driving down the road with the eyes diverted from the road, hands off the steering wheel, and the driver relinquishing control.

read more

Fleetmatics: Using GPS and tracking to help prevent vehicle theft

read more

SRTs vs. hourly shop rate

Shops bill for their labor hours using either Standard Repair Times, by establishing their own estimated repair times, or actual technician repair time.

Truck makers, component suppliers and even third party publishers offer SRT guides to help establish acceptable times for specific repairs. Standard repair times for a specific repair can vary based on what method the source used to develop the standard. In addition, manufactures typically have a separate SRT established for their dealer warranty time reimbursement.

read more

Mitsubishi Fuso begins eCanter electric truck production

The eCanter all-electric medium-duty truck designed by Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) is now starting what's being terms “short-series” production at the OEM's factory in Tramagal, Portugal, for the U.S. market.

MFTBC, a division of Daimler Trucks Asia, added that the Fuso eCanter is produced alongside its conventional Canter “light” medium-duty unit at the Tramagal plant. Only the electric-powertrain-specific components will be installed in specific boxes along the production line, the OEM pointed out.

read more

Kenworth introduces cargo van lease program

Kenworth and PACCAR Financial have partnered to introduce a cargo van lease program in the United States. The new program is for fleets and truck operators that purchase Kenworth T270 Class 6 conventional models in a cargo van specification equipped with a 26-foot Morgan van body and a liftgate.

The Kenworth program offers a 60-month term on a fair market value (FMV) lease with monthly payments of $885.

read more

CarriersEdge defensive driving training module available in Spanish

CarriersEdge announced that one of its online training courses for keeping truck drivers safe is now available in Spanish.

The Defensive Driving training suite includes one full two-hour course covering the traffic, road and weather challenges that truck drivers face every day, as well as seven refresher modules on specific topics.

read more