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“Dan Goodwill is a well known consultant in the transportation sector and a published and prolific writer on current topics related to the industry. Dan's associates also contribute on a regular basis.”

Transportation Industry Articles - Freight Management and Transportation Consulting Services

In a recent Stifel report, it was noted that the “mother” of all capacity shortages is expected to hit the United States in 2017 as a series of government regulations reduces the supply of fleet equipment by five to fifteen percent. Despite the efforts of carriers to raise pay, upgrade facilities and improve the lifestyle of drivers, annual turnover stubbornly remains at close to one hundred percent in many fleets. On the rail side, a huge upswing in the movement of energy products by this mode has had a deleterious effect on intermodal capacity and service. Wise shippers realize that trying to secure carriers on the spot market is a risky endeavor since this leaves them open to capacity shortages and rate volatility.

Developing a Core Carrier Program

1. The Economy – Two Steps Forward/One Step Back US GDP grew by over 3% in 2014, its best showing in several years. A rise in employment levels, coupled with an increase in consumer spending, helped lift the American freight market. The long, slow post Great Recession recovery finally kicked into a higher gear, driving an upswing in freight activity.

The Top Freight Transportation Stories of 2014

 For many years, industry experts have been predicting a consolidation in the Canadian freight industry. During and after the Great Recession, the decibel level of these warnings increased as most trucking companies faced the challenges of reduced freight volumes, sinking rates and the difficulty of managing a business during recessionary times. 

•The Incredible Shrinking Canadian Freight Carrier Industry

Freight rate increases are coming this year. The economy is on the upswing. Truck capacity is tightening as driver shortages, government regulations, cost overruns from a very challenging winter and carrier financial prudence all push freight rates in one direction – higher. What can shippers do to mitigate the impact? A lot.

 Mitigating Freight Rate Increases

  • One of the most enjoyable aspects of our work as consultants is that my colleagues and I have an opportunity to visit companies in a variety of industries. We typically are engaged to help businesses that have issues with freight management. While some of our clients may be best-in-class when it comes to manufacturing or retail, they are often not as skilled in managing freight transportation.Is your Transportation Strategy in Alignment with your Business Strategy?