Einride launches next-gen autonomous electric transport vehicle

Einride launches next-gen autonomous electric transport vehicle

Sweden’s Einride, a freight mobility company, recently launched its groundbreaking Pod, a fully autonomous electric transport vehicle. In 2019, Einride became the first company in the world to drive a fully autonomous and electric heavy transport vehicle on a public road and has been testing and operating Pods at select customer sites in Sweden over…

Vision Zero for trucking facing monumental challenges

Vision Zero for trucking facing monumental challenges

Vision Zero, the idea of eliminating highway fatalities and serious injuries, faces an uphill battle when it comes to heavy trucks operating on America’s streets and highways. A case study conducted by VisionZero.org looked at early adopter cities such as New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco to review what safety improvements have occurred after the…

Drivers and brokers on opposite sides of proposed FMCSA transparency rule

Drivers and brokers on opposite sides of proposed FMCSA transparency rule

Truck drivers and brokers have lined up on opposite sides when it comes to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) proposed broker transparency rule. FMCSA opened the comment period for the proposed rule after receiving petitions from the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and the Small Business Transportation Coalition (SBTC). The issue at…

Driver shortage and increased demand pushing driver pay higher

Driver shortage and increased demand pushing driver pay higher

For years, the trucking industry has been sounding the alarm about a driver shortage, talking about a deficit of drivers numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Those warnings have arrived at the industry’s doorstep. With a pandemic-induced rise in online shopping, trucking companies are seeing increased demand for truck capacity and are having to sweeten…

ATA supports DOL proposal clarifying definition of “employee”

ATA supports DOL proposal clarifying definition of “employee”

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) strongly supports a proposal by the U.S. Department of Labor that would clarify the definition of an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act as it relates to independent contractors. “The Department’s proposal aims to bring clarity and consistency to the determination of who’s an independent contractor under the Fair…

Autonomous trucking startup Ike links with three major firms

Autonomous trucking startup Ike links with three major firms

SAN FRANCISCO – Ike, a two-year-old autonomous trucking firm, signed partnerships with three major trucking firms to deploy self-driving technology, according to the company. Ink has joined with Ryder Systems, DHL, and NFI to deploy autonomous technology. “The customers we are announcing today, Ryder, DHL, and NFI, have spent decades building massive logistics networks that…

Truckload pricing poised to surge in 2021, say industry experts

Truckload pricing poised to surge in 2021, say industry experts

At a recent investor conference, leaders from four of the nation’s top trucking firms indicated that strong demand and a tight supply situation are pointing to truckload pricing surging in 2021. Steve Bruffett, chief financial officer at Schneider National, said the company’s current load tenders could fall by 10-15 percent and it would still have…

Owner-operators say freight volume and rates are biggest concerns

Owner-operators say freight volume and rates are biggest concerns

An early July survey conducted by American Truck Business Services (ATBS) found that falling freight volumes and rates have been the biggest impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey of more than 300 owner-operators was designed to shed light on how the pandemic has affected owner-operators. When it comes to financial aid, the survey found…