LAS VEGAS. The U.S. has entered a period of sustained but slow economic growth that bodes well for trucking, according to economists at the 2012 Heavy Duty Dialogue. Representing a consensus opinion among the speakers at this one-day conference for truck manufacturers and suppliers, Dr. Jeff Rosensweig of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, said the country will “most likely” experience GDP growth of 2 to 2.5% this year, although the potential remains that it could reach 3 to 4%. While a double dip recession still remains a possibility, he put the likelihood of a return to negative growth at just 25%. Continue Reading

There’s been a lot of interest in natural gas as an alternative fuel for some types of trucking, largely because of its attractive price compared to diesel. But a study released by the U.S. Department of Energy says if natural gas exports continue to increase, it could cause prices here in the U.S. to rise by between 36% and 54% by 2018. Continue Reading

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. unveiled the route plan for the first phase of 150 new LNG fueling stations along what it’s calling “America’s Natural Gas Highway.” Continue Reading

The Women In Trucking association has created a blog in an effort to connect with its nearly 1,800 members. Continue Reading

Oil prices rose yesterday on renewed concern that Iran will try to make good on its threat to disrupt oil shipments moving through the Strait of Hormuz, shipments which account for about 20% of the world’s oil. Bloomberg reported that crude oil for February delivery increased by 93 cents, or 0.9%, to $102.24 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while West Texas Intermediate oil traded on the Nymex has increased by 20% in the past three months. Continue Reading

FTR Associates on Thursday, Jan. 5, released preliminary data showing December Class 8 truck total net orders for all major North American OEMs reaching the second-highest level in three years at 29,777 units. December orders were up 46 percent month over month, with a year-over-year increase from December 2011 of 11 percent, reversing the decline of disappointing November order activity. Class 8 orders for the final three months of 2011 annualize to 312,000 units. Continue Reading

The for-hire trucking industry added 5,100 new payroll employees in December — the most in one month since March, according to preliminary numbers released Friday, Jan. 6, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The gain comes on top of small upward adjustments for October and November. Continue Reading

A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration official in New York has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for accepting bribes from trucking companies to postpone safety inspections. Continue Reading

TravelCenters of America said Wednesday that it will purchase and install cardless fueling technology at all of its locations nationwide. Continue Reading

Government could learn a lot from trucking
When it comes to cooperation and collaboration, I’d put trucking industry suppliers up against just about anybody. Not that they aren’t fierce competitors, far from it. Companies can be as tenacious as hockey teams when it comes to drive and the will to win. The truly amazing thing, however, is that they also find ways to work together for the good of their common customers, somehow managing to create win-win solutions. Continue Reading