For-Hire Trucking Index Shows 7th Straight Positive Reading

Following a three-year high in the previous month, April's volume grew slower according to the latest release of ACT Research's For-Hire Trucking Index.

Despite the slowdown, ACT indicated that there was evidence of acceleration in the growth trend and April marked the seventh straight month of positive price index readings.

“Business was definitely better in April and we expect it to continue to improve. We are losing more drivers to local jobs and the oil and gas industry. Good sign that the economy is improving,” one fleet noted to ACT analysts.

Purchase intentions are elevated, with 65% of fleets planning purchases in the next three months.

“This is the strongest back-to-back reading since the third quarter of 2015,” said Kenny Vieth, ACT Research's president and senior analyst. “Fifty-three percent of purchases planned will be new, with 5% reporting plans to lease the equipment. Four percent of the fleets not planning to purchase equipment reported plans to lease current inventory.”

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NPTC Awards Fleet and Driver Honors

Winners of the Private Fleet Leadership awards. Photos: NPTC

The National Private Truck Council honored the winners of several fleet and personnel awards at its recent Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition in Cincinnati, including the Private Fleet Leadership awards, Fleet Safety awards, and the Driver Hall of Fame.

The Private Fleet Leadership awards recognized six private fleet professionals for their contributions to the private fleet community. The award honors individuals who have positively impacted the NPTC, their profession, and the private fleet community:

The NPTC/Lytx Fleet Safety Awards were also handed out at the annual conference. These recognize NPTC member companies that prioritize safety in private fleet operations.

There were several winners based on the size and type of fleet:

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XPO Expands Chicagoland Last-Mile Network

Photo: XPO Logistics

XPO Logistics has announced an expansion of its last-mile logistics network in the Chicagoland area, effectively doubling the capacity of the company's market delivery center in Chicago.

The new facility in Bolingbrook, Ill., has 100,000 square feet of capacity and will serve retailers, e-commerce companies and manufacturers of heavy goods.

“We've seen a strong increase in demand for our services as consumers gain confidence in making major purchases online,” said Charles Hitt, president of XPO Logistics' last-mile business unit. “Our strategic expansion in the Chicagoland area gives us the capacity to handle our customers' growth and flex with their seasonal requirements.”

XPO operates 46 market-delivery centers in the U.S. Each site provides a range of services, including storage, assembly, packing, quality control, scheduling, and returns management. XPO said it facilitates over 12 million last-mile deliveries annually.

“When we arrange a delivery to someone's home, we become a brand ambassador for the retailer or e-tailer,” said Hitt. “It's our job to ensure a satisfactory consumer experience. We manage this through sophisticated technology and constant engagement with the independent contractors who perform these deliveries.”

Related: XPO Logistics Wraps Rebranding of LTL Operations in North America

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Kinedyne Designates May as Cargo Securement Awareness Month

Photo: CVSA

With the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's annual International Roadcheck less than a month away, cargo-control provider Kinedyne has designated May 2017 as the First International Cargo Securement Awareness Month.

The organized event is meant to draw attention to the role that proper load securement plays in commercial shipping and to help fleets prepare for the CVSA International Roadcheck, which takes place June 6-8 across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

This year's Roadcheck will emphasize cargo securement-- meaning that inspectors will focus on this issue during the event. Cargo securement was emphasized in 2015's Roadcheck as well, resulting in almost 2,500 cargo securement-related citations.

Kinedyne is sponsoring the first Cargo Securement Awareness Month and is offering a webinar, free training and other methods to help prepare fleets for Roadcheck.

“Kinedyne wants to remind everyone that conforming to good safety practices is the responsibility of every fleet and owner-operator in North America,” said Paul Wolford, vice president of sales and marketing for Kinedyne. “It is also the responsibility of every vehicle owner/user to establish programs to train operators, inspection, and maintenance personnel in accordance with all applicable standards, regulations, and laws.”

On May 30, Kinedyne is hosting a free cargo securement regulation training webinar. Titled "A Survivor's Guide for Cargo Securement Inspections During International Roadcheck 2017," the webinar will go over Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations to help reduce infractions during the 2017 Roadcheck.

The webinar will be a comprehensive instructional presentation that provides attendees with an in-depth understanding of FMCSA regulations and how these impact International Roadcheck conformity. Kinedyne will also touch on content dealing exclusively with the Canadian market and with regulations set forth by that country's National Safety Code Standard 10 - Cargo Securement (NSC10).

To find out more about the webinar or to register, click here.

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