Reliable Trailer Systems Joins HDA Truck Pride

Indianapolis, Ind.-based Reliable Trailer Systems has joined the HDA Truck Pride network of independent parts and service providers.

Reliable Trailer Systems began as a trailer sales and repair location, later expanding to include truck repair and parts sales as part of a full-service strategy. The company has recently purchased a new facility that is twice the size of the original location and will be fully relocated by December.

“There are seven major interstates passing through Indianapolis. We are well-positioned for continued growth in the trucking industry,” said Tom Beale, founder of Reliable Trailer Systems. “We offer an independent source for truck and trailer repairs and our new facility will allow us to continue to service the parts business with additional retail space. We are proud to continue to service the Indianapolis market as a member of HDA Truck Pride.”

In addition to their main facility, Reliable Trailer Services boasts working relationships with large and small customers. The company expects the expansion to the new facility will allow it to better serve the market.

“We are pleased to welcome Reliable Trailer Services to HDA Truck Pride,” said Tina Alread, director of sales at HDA Truck Pride. “Their facility expansion initiative to enhance the service and value they bring to their customers is exceptional and we are proud to add them to our national footprint.”

Related: HDA Truck Pride Adds RTS Rig Parts and More

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Yokohama Adds Four Sizes to 104ZR Tire Line

Yokohama Tire Corporation has added four new sizes to its 104ZR all-position/steer tire lineup designed for urban and regional applications.

The new sizes added to the 104ZR line include 225/70R19.5, 245/70R19.5, 265/70R19.5 and 285/70R19.5. The tire is still available in its original sizes as well: 295/80R22.5, 9R22.5, 10R22.5, 11R22.5 12R22.5 and 315/80R22.5.

“The 104ZR is a true workhorse that's designed to deliver longer treadwear, low rolling resistance and even wear, making it especially ideal for high scrub applications,” said Tom Clauer, Yokohama Tire manager of commercial and OTR product planning.

The 104ZR features a five-rib, full-depth tread pattern that is designed to deliver a smooth and quiet ride. A serpentine groove pattern reduces premature shoulder step-down and irregular wear to preserve overall tread life.

The tire also uses Yokohama's Zenvironment technology which predicts casing growth and helps with stabilized performance over the life of the tire, longer casing life and improved retreadability. The 104ZR is made of specialized compounds which are strong and pliable, improving treadwear and low-rolling resistance.

Block-shaped stone defense ribs prevent stones from traveling to the bottom of the grooves, reducing casing damage by up to 25% to improve durability and retreadability. Also, an ultra-wide top steel belt increases rigidity across the entire tread surface to improve durability and avoid casing damage.

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Not driverless trucks, ‘superhuman’ drivers

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Tighter Capacity Fuels Improved Trucking Conditions

Source: FTR

The FTR Trucking Conditions Index saw an increase in August fueled by tighter capacity brought about by looming regulations.

The TCI increased to a reading of 6.76, continuing a steady rise that is expected to hold sway throughout 2017. Tightening capacity results in better pricing and margins for trucking companies.

“The July and August increases in the Trucking Conditions Index were led by positive changes in capacity utilization and fuel prices,” said Jonathan Starks, FTR's COO. “Fuel prices look to have stabilized during the fall and are unlikely to have a big impact on transportation markets until oil prices move substantially away from $50 per barrel.”

The improvement is largely from the supply side, said FTR, as the current economy and freight markets are in a slow growth phase with unclear direction. FTR expects the TCI to peak in early 2018.

Despite weak reports from truckload carriers, there have been moderate improvements to overall fleet utilization - a trend that FTR believes will remain subdued until mid-2017 when more fleets act to comply with the electronic logging device mandate.

“The third quarter is likely to be the nadir for weak reports and we should begin to see economic improvement, easier year-over-year comparisons, and better overall market conditions as capacity tightens up due to regulations,” said Starks.

“Spot market conditions are beginning to affirm this," he added, "with the dry van market on Truckstop.com showing positive year-over-year comparisons for both load volumes and rates.”

Related: Tighter Utilization Boosts Intermodal Competitive Index

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Earnings Watch: Saia Earnings Up, C.H. Robinson Down

As more trucking companies report third quarter earnings, most are showing profits are down from the same time a year ago – but there are a few exceptions.

The less-than-truckload feet Saia Inc. (NASDAQ: SAIA) reported net income increased to $13.8 million from $11.8 million. Earnings per share increased to 54 cents from 46 cents, 4 cents better than a consensus estimate from analysts.

Revenue moved down just 0.2% from a year earlier to $316 million, while operating income increased to $22.6 million from $19.8 million.

"Third quarter operating results reflect our continued pricing discipline and our company-wide efforts aimed at achieving operating efficiencies across all areas of our network," said Saia President and CEO Rick O'Dell, citing year-over-year improvements in dock, city and linehaul productivity.

He said freight rates increased an average of 5.7% on contractual renewals in the quarter. In early October the Georgia-based company implemented a general rate increase of 4.9%.

During the quarter LTL shipments per workday fell by 1.2%, and LTL tonnage per workday declined by 2.9%, while LTL yield increased 3.7%.

"Though the economic environment continues to offer only tepid growth, I was encouraged to see our LTL shipment trend turn positive in September for the first time since February," O'Dell said.

In contrast, earnings for third-party logistics provider C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (NASDAQ: CHRW) fell by 7.5% to $129 million in the third quarter from the same time a year ago, while revenue declined 5.1% to $558.5 million due to lower freight rates.

Earnings per share totaled 90 cents in the most recent quarter, 7 cents short of Wall Street expectations and down from 96 cents a year earlier.

“We expected a challenging pricing environment in 2016 as shippers focus on reducing their transportation costs," said John Wiehoff, CEO and chairman. "Despite the decrease in ...Read the rest of this story

The pain and possible gain from trucking regulations

There's no doubt a tremendous number of “big ticket” regulations coming together to hammer the trucking industry in some truly enormous ways: the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate; speed limiting devices; the now-official Phase 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) rules that will read more

Modagrafics introduces new Rapidus fleet graphics app

Large format fleet graphics provider Modagrafics introduced a new tool for monitoring and coordinating the installation of fleet graphics across multiple locations.

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