‘Better Year Ahead’ Despite Flat Trucking Conditions Index

Source: FTR

FTR has released its Trucking Conditions Index for January, showing a nearly unchanged reading of 2.7 compared to December's 2.9.

FTR expected January to be the low point of the year for trucking conditions as it projects an uptick in 2017 as the year progresses. Productivity and capacity are projected to take a hit as a result of the upcoming ELD mandate but FTR said that early adopters will be ahead of the curve.

A big issue for the upcoming year is the longstanding driver shortage, which could cause companies to struggle to meet overall demand for new drivers. If capacity fails to meet demand, truckers would be able to raise prices, but the full impact will likely not be felt until late 2017 or into early next year.

“It's looking like 2017 will be a better year for the trucking industry. This late recovery is consumer-driven, which is relatively light on increasing freight demand, but we will see modest growth,” said Jonathan Starks, FTR chief operating officer. “More importantly, the industry is really beginning to face up to the costs and changes from ELD implementation.”

While the trucking industry is feeling optimistic with the new Trump Administration in power, FTR cautioned that there are some risks associated with the economic proposals being considered by the president and by Congress.

“We are also closely tracking government policies and actions,” said Starks. “The main concern continues to be the possibility of trade wars, which could have immediate and detrimental impacts on freight transportation.”

Analysis: Mining for Economic Gold

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Online List Tracks Carriers in Compliance with Upcoming Food Safety Rule

Image via UFSTP website

TransComply, the manager of the Uniform Food Safety Transportation Protocol, has launched an online public listing of motor carriers that have complied with all the requirements for participation in the program.

The carriers are listed at www.ufstp.com/verify. The listed companies have committed to the standards expected for the new U.S. Food and Drug Administration rule on sanitary transportation of human and animal food. The UFSTP helps shippers, brokers, warehouses and others to find compliant businesses, said TransComply.

April 6 is the initial compliance date for the rule, which was mandated by the Food Safety Modernization Act. As of March 20, more than 200 carriers have applied for participation in the UFSTP, with more interest as the April deadline approaches, according to TransComply.

To be confirmed as compliant, a carrier must satisfy the program's requirements:

TransComply maintains the UFSTP agreement and certificates of insurance on file for each confirmed UFSTP carrier and monitors FMCSA authority and insurance coverage. Carriers that fail to meet the standards for ongoing participation are removed.

Shippers and brokers can use UFSTP participation as a vetting tool or to incorporate the UFSTP agreement's terms into contracts and load confirmations by reference.

Small carriers-- those generating less than $27.5 million in revenue-- have an extra year to comply with the FDA rule. However, shippers that must comply by the earlier date are asking that all carriers, regardless of size, confirm their compliance with FDA standards, according to TransComply.

"Small carriers are beginning to realize that even if they don't have to ...Read the rest of this story

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