Mutually Beneficial Antidote

13 years ago

On several occasions, I have commented about a looming truck capacity shortage. A soft North American economy, coupled with political uncertainty and concerns about Europe and China, are discouraging carriers from making investments in their fleets. Truckers are seeking to maximize the utilization of their existing assets and improve yields, particularly with rising equipment costs, […]

A Driver’s Perspective on the Current State of the Trucking Industry

13 years ago

I have been writing a blog on the transportation industry for five years. During this period I have received hundreds of postings and e mails from readers. Every now and then I receive an e mail that stands out. This week I received a thoughtful and interesting e mail and article from a truck driver, […]

Harper’s Vision for Canada has Major Implications for Transportation Companies

13 years ago

Over the past two months Stephen Harper has presented a clear and compelling vision of where he wishes to take Canada during his tenure as Prime Minister. First there was the border Security and Trade Agreement with the United States that he and President Obama announced to the world in December. He followed this announcement […]

Innovation in Freight Transportation – Paper Pallets

13 years ago

As I reach my 30th anniversary in the freight transportation industry, I continue to be struck by the lack of innovation in this business. While we have had some changes over the past three decades (e.g. transition from 48 to 53 foot trailers and containers, scheduled train service, the rise of international freight transportation, speed […]

What will the new U.S. / Canada Border Security and Trade Agreement do for Shippers and Truckers?

13 years ago

For the past decade, the Canada-U.S. model of economic integration has been deteriorating – – a victim of a border chocked with traffic, an overreaction to the 9/11 attacks, steep fees and erratic regulation. FAST trade has become thick trade. Canada – U.S. trade peaked in 2000 and has stagnated since. Between 2001 and 2010, […]

Business Strategies to Lead your Freight Transportation Organization in 2012

13 years ago

We enter 2012 with a lot of unknowns. Will the European debt crisis be resolved effectively and expeditiously or will it lead to another recession? Will the American economy that is showing some signs of improvement, be able to strengthen during a U.S. election year that will likely produce more political gridlock? Will the expected […]

Some Key Economic Trends in 2012

13 years ago

As we enter the New Year, it is time to reflect on the events of the past year and try to anticipate some of the drivers of the economy in the months ahead. In this blog, I will take a look at some of the key economic trends in 2012. In the following blog, I […]

2011 – Surface Transportation – The Year in Review

13 years ago

Freight Transportation Adjusts to a Resetting World Economy The year 2011 was another momentous one that was shaped by events on all continents of the world. Uprisings in the Middle East and the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak and Muammar Gadhafi, the European debt crisis, the Occupy Wall Street Movement, the assassination of Osama Bin […]

Wal-Mart’s About Face

13 years ago

Wal-Mart launched a program in mid-2010 to reduce costs and deadhead miles, leverage the retailer’s logistics skills and scale, and improve visibility and control of its merchandise by taking control of deliveries of inbound freight. The company believed it could find opportunities to do the work better and at a lower cost than vendors could […]