MY ETT News

Court upholds L.A. port Clean Truck program

Mryan — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:34:43 +0000

A U.S. District Judge cleared the air last week, allowing for the Port of Los Angeles to move forward with its Clean Truck Program. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) had challenged the move, contending the program did not comply with federal laws governing interstate commerce and transportation safety. Port officials expressed optimism that the ruling would make it possible for them to expand the port, while enforcing emissions standards. But they are waiting for the go-ahead from the Los Angeles Harbor Department on when enforcement may be. Compliance schedules may be extended. The next meeting of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission currently is anticipated to take place on Sept. 16 or 23.

U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder last week ruled in favor of the City of Los Angeles and the Port of Los Angeles in a lawsuit brought by the American Trucking Associations over the port’s Clean Truck Program. The court late Thursday, Aug. 26, awarded judgment in favor of the city and ruled that the Concession Agreement provisions are enforceable. “We are disappointed with the decision, and believe it is clearly erroneous as a matter of law,” ATA said in a statement.

Snyder rejected ATA’s arguments that the plan was not in compliance with federal laws regarding interstate commerce and transportation safety. Snyder ruled that the agreement’s employee provision would protect the port’s financial investment in subsidized vehicles and ensure that drivers have the available funds to maintain the new, cleaner truck fleet. The 57-page ruling said air pollution from trucks had jeopardized the port’s future as a commercial enterprise, with emissions-related lawsuits stalling its growth.

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Consumer Confidence Improves in August

Mryan — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:22:40 +0000

Recent consumer confidence gauges are showing mixed messages. One CBS News Poll showed a growing number of Americans felt the economy was worsening, while the latest Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan monthly consumer index show improvements. The final index reading for August showed an increase, 68.9 up from 67.8 in July, which was the lowest since November. Consumer confidence is tied to more consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of the economy.

Consumer confidence improved this month, according to the latest Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan monthly consumer sentiment index released Friday.

The final index for the month rose to a 68.9 reading from 67.8 in July, which had been the lowest since November.

The preliminary reading two weeks ago was 69.6, which economists had predicted would be the final reading, Bloomberg reported.

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Intermodal Traffic Hits Second Straight Weekly High

Mryan — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:18:29 +0000

The latest numbers from the American Association of Railroads may bode well for te overall state of the economy. Considered an important economic indicator, railroad volume hit its second straight weekly high. Intermodal traffic was up more than 24 percent over the same week last year, while container traffic was up almost 3 percent compared to the same time period. U.S. railroad volume was up 6.2 percent from the same week last year, but 11 percent off the comparable week two years ago, AAR said in its weekly report. Intermodal traffic, which tends to be higher-valued merchandise than bulk commodities, uses trains for the long haul and trucks for the shorter distance at either end of the trip.

Weekly intermodal traffic hit a 2010 high for the second straight week, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday.

Traffic for the week ended Saturday rose to 236,404 trailers and containers, up 24.2% from the same week last year and 2,367 units higher than the previous week.

Containers jumped 24.2% to 202,475 units, while trailers rose 12.4% to 33,929 units. The total level was 2.6% higher than the same week two years ago.

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Fleet execs discuss cost, productivity challenges

Mryan — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:10:00 +0000

Sharing what they learned from challenging economic times was the spirit of a panel discussion at the Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference last week in Dallas. Various fleet executives shared their strategies, which ultimately helped them survive, as well as what they’re preparing for in the future. One of the biggest lessons–and maybe even silver linings–from the recession is that it forced carriers and other businesses to trim all the fat from their operations. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t more challenges ahead. The executives agreed that the driver shortage would continue to be problematic, exacerbated by regulations like CSA 2010. Providing drivers with amenities like electronic on-board recorders will also be key in protecting their safety, as well as the company’s.

A panel of fleet executives talked about the changes they made to their operations during the recent recession, what they are doing today during the transition and what they see for the future in terms of the cost and productivity challenges they will face.

Max Fuller, co-chairman of U.S. Xpress; Leo Suggs, chairman and chief executive officer of Greatwide Logistics Services; and Tom Kretsinger, president and CEO of American Central Transport, shared their strategies and ideas in a panel discussion moderated by Avery Vise, editorial director of Commercial Carrier Journal, Successful Dealer and Truck Parts & Service during the Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference.

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Tonnage up, but concerns cloud economic picture

Mryan — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:00:50 +0000

Trucking industry analysts have voiced repeated assurances that the economy is getting better. Even improvements, though slight, are regarded as the slow but steady trend to recovery. But a recent CBS News Poll indicates that not all Americans feel so optimistic. Their outlook, according to the data, shows 34 percent believe things are getting worse. The housing market has fallen into the summer months, and banks and lending institutions continue to be tight with credit. Such a picture has prompted financial analysts to predict another stimulus program by the September Federal Reserve Meeting. That is, of course, unless the economy sees major improvement.

While the American Trucking Assns. (ATA) reported a rise in its for-hire truck tonnage index in July, that’s been one of the few economic highlights this week as a new CBS News Poll reports Americans are becoming more pessimistic about the economy.

The poll, which surveyed 1,082 adults by telephone from Aug. 20-24, found that 34% of Americans believe the economy is getting worse. That number is up from 24% last month. More importantly, only 20% believe the economy is getting better.

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Analyst predicts driver shortage, but no double-dip recession

Mryan — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:53:48 +0000

Near-term projections for the trucking industry indicate a slow, steady climb to reaching previous peak sales levels, but not without some new challenges along the way. Specifically, FTR Associates President Eric Starks told industry representatives at the Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference in Dallas that CSA 2010 could ultimately create a driver shortage. Fewer drivers will be able to be processed through the system, which will result in an unprecedented driver shortage by mid-2011. Overall, truck sales and freight volumes continue to improve, though at times at what appears to be stop-and-start rates. Starks dismissed the idea of a double-dip recession given that manufacturing was growing. Instead, he suggested the industry was experiencing a “growth recession,” one in which recovery occured at such a slow rate it seemed the economy wasn’t improving.

“Why do you buy a truck?” FTR Associates President Eric Starks asked a gathering of several hundred fleet, truck maker and supplier executives and others on hand Wednesday, Aug. 25, for the Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference in Dallas. “To move freight” was the answer – in relative unison – from the audience, prompted by a message lit up on dual video screens behind the presenter.

Though he had to ask the question a couple of times to get the crowd really responding, the implied message rang clearly. The concern over the last several years’ freight picture linked every single individual in the businesses represented in the room, and though “substantial downside risks in the marketplace” made positive forecasts difficult to make, Starks said his transportation forecasting and analysis firm’s Trucking Conditions Index suggests the trucking industry broadly “will feel better and better through June 2011.”

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Drop in Class 8 net orders chalked up to seasonality

Mryan — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:50:29 +0000

Like net trailer orders, Class 8 net orders fell 27 percent from June to July this year, but overall sales are trending upward, according to ACT Research’s State of the Industry: Classes 5-8 Vehicles report. Analysts attributed the month-to-month decline in part to seasonality. Medium-duty trucks showed the strongest improvement, up 100 percent from July 2009. As trucking company profitability continues to strengthen, Class 8 sales will
continue to rise.

COLUMBUS, Ind. — A 27% decline in Class 8 truck net orders in July was a reflection of seasonal buying patterns and the momentum of Class 8 demand continues to be positive, according to the latest State of the Industry: Classes 5-8 Vehicles report published by ACT Research.

July net orders were 27% higher than July 2009, the company noted. In July, there were 11,667 net orders for Class 8 commercial vehicles in North America. Net orders of medium-duty trucks rose both month-to-month and year-over-year. Compared to July 2009, medium-duty net orders were up 100%, ACT reports.

Click here to visit Truck News and read the complete story.

Trailer orders stay strong despite dip

Mryan — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:31:22 +0000

Though new trailer orders took a dip from June to July this year, industry analysts remain positive about the overall direction of the market. According to data from ACT Research, Co., last month’s numbers showed a 74 percent improvement over the same time last year. And the largest segment of commercial trailers, dry vans, saw something of a comeback with a 134 percent jump from July 2009. As far as the 9 percent decline in new orders from June to July, researchers say bear in mind the continued effects of a very weak 2009. Despite these tentative numbers, ACT Research showed the demand for used trailers, particularly late models, a strong and improving segment of the market. Pricing for used trailers has rebounded, though supply is an issue since customers are holding on to their equipment longer.

Commercial trailer net orders stayed strong in July this year, according to data compiled by ACT Research Co., with orders up 74% over July 2009 – continuing a healthy rebound from what was one of the worst years in the commercial trailer industry, the firm said.

Though ACT noted that July’s 10,688 net orders for trailers represented a 9% decline from June of this year, the company believes nominal seasonality is the main reason for the drop. In fact, according to its information, the most recent six months of commercial trailer net orders are the best six-month span since the period ending February 2008.

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US truck tonnage rises slightly in July

Mryan — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:41:25 +0000

Truck tonnage continues to rise, albeit slowly, in the United States, but one economist said even moderate gains will have a greater impact on the industry now than in the past. The latest figures from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) show that freight rose 1.5 percent for July, a 7.4 percent improvement from July 2009. This marked the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year increases. Moderate gains like these are expected through the end of the year. Because of the reduction in supply, even slight improvements are actually more meaningful than they may appear.

ARLINGTON, Va. — US truck tonnage rose 1.5% in July, according to the latest figures from the American Trucking Associations (ATA).

The tonnage index was 7.4% better than July 2009, the ATA reports, and was the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year gains.

Tonnage is up 6.7% year-to-date over the same period in 2009.

Click here to visit Truck News and read the complete story.

States scramble for transportation funding sources

Mryan — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:30:43 +0000

With federal funds for road repairs being sliced from state budgets, transportation and government officials are being forced to get creative in order to keep infrastructure viable and safe. Some states, like Pennsylvania, are angling to raise taxes on oil companies doing business there, as well as to increase a variety of license, registration and vehicle fees to raise the $1 billion to help repair the state’s 5,646 structurally deficient bridges and nearly 7,000 miles of highway in “poor” condition. Other states, like Arizona, are lobbying to open up rest areas to commercial businesses to help underwrite operating expenses. To accomplish that, state officials must amend a 1956 federal law banning the commercialization of public highway rest stops. Forced to close rest areas, a growing number of other states are joining with Arizona in hopes of generating much needed funding.

State governments are trying new tactics to generate funds needed to operate, repair, and expand their roadway networks – efforts exacerbated by recent cutbacks in federal highway monies.

Pennsylvania’s state legislature, for example, is wrestling plans to generate $1 billion in extra monies through increased taxes and fees to help it reach a $3.5 billion a year funding level required to keep highways, bridges and transit in a state of good repair, according to research compiled by Pennsylvania’s Dept. of Transportation (PennDOT).

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