Plus: The CBS investigation truckers are talking about | AI is good news for drivers
Rates are rising and capacity is shrinking, but that doesn't automatically mean easy money for trucking firms. We're sharing views from industry execs on where the market is headed and how trucking business owners can make adjustments based on the numbers.
Meanwhile, a CBS News investigation that called out C.H. Robinson is causing a stir on social media.
Before we dive in, check out this heartwarming note from a child care center. Kids still love when truckers honk their horns!
⬇️ $5.351
AVG. COST OF DIESEL PER GALLON IN U.S. AS OF 4/27, DOWN -0.052¢
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
Logistics drama! A CBS News investigation into chameleon carriers pointed to C.H. Robinson—and an exec at the firm responded, creating a spirited debate on LinkedIn. Read the investigation here, and CHR's response + comments here.
Drug change. The government has reclassified marijuana as a Schedule III substance. This article breaks down what the shift means for the trucking industry.
A trucker's story. Meet Gord Magill, who drove for nearly three decades in North America, Australia and New Zealand until he lost his last trucking job two years ago.
Coming this summer. The world's largest truck stop, Iowa 80, will hold a Jamboree in July, complete with a cookout, truck beauty contest and much more.
Why AI is an opportunity, not a threat, to trucking
Kris Edney has been a truck driver since he was 18, and he's heard plenty of chatter about his and other blue-collar jobs becoming irrelevant due to tech and AI.
But Edney's take? The reality is the complete opposite. As AI's growth leads to an increasing build-out of data centers, plumbers, construction workers and truck drivers are needed to help bring those facilities to fruition.
"There are jobs computers just can’t do," Edney writes.
Why this matters: AI isn't a threat to trucking. In fact, it could even be a business opportunity. With data centers undergoing a massive construction boom, fleet executives have a chance to lock in contracts to haul the freight needed to build those facilities. (USA Today)
EMPLOYER RULE: Labor Dept. publishes rule that could impact trucking employer status
TIGHT MARKET: Industry once again facing driver shortage, ACT says
CHAPTER 11: Small and asset-light fleets filing for bankruptcy
PARKING SPREE: Truck Parking Club expands to reach 5,000 locations
SUIT FILED: Trucking owner sues Washington state over small biz tax
TOLL DUE: Ohio names trucking companies owing thousands in tolls
"That's going to be the key to survive and to thrive right now, is to make quick adjustments based on real numbers."- Mike Hosted, vice president of ATBS
Freight rates are finally ticking up, in a promising sign that trucking is climbing out of its long recession. But Hosted warns that doesn't mean easy money. He shares what's driving rates up, what might be next and how business owners can maintain healthy balance sheets. (Overdrive)
Regulatory shifts push more capacity out of trucking
Knight-Swift's CEO, Adam Miller, said the industry has "more reasons to be optimistic." On a recent earnings call, Miller said CDL school crackdowns are tightening capacity, and he sees the initial signs of increasing demand.
Why this matters: As one of the nation's largest trucking companies, Knight-Swift often has a forward-looking perspective on where the industry is headed. Experiences can differ for big versus small carriers, but for now, Miller sees the glass half full. (Trucking Dive)
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The Inside Lane is curated and written by Shefali Kapadia and edited by Bianca Prieto.
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