For the past twenty-five years, I have lived the life of a road warrior. I have traveled to all parts of North America with one of my most important assets, my laptop computer. I have had my laptop stolen, damaged and most recently, taken, in error, by another passenger, as I was passing through Security at an airport. I have learned a few painful lessons along the way. I would like to share some of them with you.

Laptop computers are small, powerful but delicate information processing devices. They have become essential to people in a broad range of industries, organizations and government agencies. Their importance demands a level of respect and attention to detail. There are a set of tasks that every computer owner should perform if they haven’t been taken before.

Personalize your Computer

To distinguish your computer from the millions of laptop computers in use, affix a large sticker or photo to your device. As you look around the Lost and Found department at your local airport, there are dozens of laptop computers that have gone astray. Many computers look alike except for the name of the manufacturer. Since the number of manufacturers has contracted in recent years, there are many Dell and Apple devices in inventory. Make sure to differentiate your computer from the rest of the pack. This is the best thing you can do to avoid having someone pick up your computer by accident as you pass through Security.

Annual turnover of over the road truckload drivers is currently in the range of 95 percent. The cost of replacing a driver is approximately $8000. This high turnover ratio came during a year in which truck drivers in many fleets received multiple and significant bonuses and pay increases. This begs the question of how well many trucking companies truly understand the needs and requirements of truck drivers.

I recently had the privilege of hearing a presentation from Max Farrell and Andrew Kirpilani, Co-Founders of WorkHound (www.workhound.com). Workhound is a real-time feedback platform for frontline workers. Trucking companies that subscribe to the service request their drivers to submit feedback, praise, problems, and ideas through their smartphones. Workhound distills the data daily into actionable, ready-to-use insights that help manage and retain drivers. Drivers feel empowered, knowing that their feedback is acknowledged; the subscriber that listens to and acts on the feedback receives the bottom-line benefit of a happier, motivated team.

What makes Workhound’s approach different from other standard marketing research tools? The answer is that drivers that provide their feedback to Workhound are not limited to responding to a highly structured questionnaire that has built-in biases and specific agendas. Rather, drivers are prompted weekly to share their experiences, any experiences and observations, good or bad. They are free to write about any aspect of their jobs. The link to share their feedback is open 24/7 and the driver can use his or her smartphone to enter their insights. Eighty-seven percent of the drivers in the data base use a smartphone. Workhound continuously monitors the feedback and sorts them into twelve themes.

Companies that receive this feedback are encouraged to respond individually or collectively to the problems that are raised. Workhound’s trucking company customers have 60+ trucks in their fleets. They have a mix of tanker, reefer, dry van, flatbed, and expedited trailers. The data base consists of 77% Company Drivers and 23% Owner Operators.

On January 10, 2019, LevaData, a supply chain AI company, released the results of its 2018 Automotive Survey based on responses from one hundred US-based auto executives. All of the individuals surveyed are senior executives of car manufacturers, car parts manufacturers or are in leadership positions in related industries.

The study was designed to gather feedback on the impact of NAFTA2 or as it has been renamed, the USMCA (US Mexico Canada Agreement), on the North American automotive industry. This industry is of major importance to the economies of three countries that are signatories to this agreement, and specifically to several U.S states (i.e. Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee) and the province of Ontario in Canada.

It should be pointed out that the USMCA has not been approved by the U.S. Congress. Based on the battle over President Trump’s border wall, this may suggest that some sections of the Agreement may be revised before it takes effect. Assuming that the essential structure of the agreement remains in place, here are some insights on how it will shape the industry in the coming years.

Impact of USMCA on North American Vehicle Production

- Starting with less than truckload (LTL) and rail freight, North America’s online freight marketplace is rapidly expanding its services and coverage 

The Freight Transportation Industry

The US and Canadian trucking industries generate about $750 to $800 billion in revenue. When you add in rail volumes, the North American surface transportation industry represents trillions of dollars in revenue. The industry is highly fragmented; there are 750,000 licensed trucking companies in the US, according to the US Department of Transport, of which 90,000 have more than 20 trucks.

Shippers that move freight across North America have always faced the challenge of finding a set of trucking and rail service providers with the precise range of services, geographic coverage and rates that meet their needs. Since no single asset-based transportation provider can meet the needs of all shippers, the trucking industry has long relied on the thousands of third-party brokers, essentially travel agents for the freight transportation industry, who connect shippers and carriers. Over the past few decades, the industry has evolved from phone and fax machine communication to internet, smartphone technology and sophisticated data management.

This has been a remarkable year in history and in the world of Freight Transportation. Here are some observations on the major developments that will shape 2019.

1. The Coming Economic Downturn and Recession

The looming emerging markets credit crisis is expected to grow in both scale and scope. Some emerging markets have come under serious economic and financial stress as a result of foreign-denominated debt and currency depreciations. An emerging markets credit crisis will unfold in 2019.

Most economic forecasters, including various government agencies and big Wall Street banks, expect the American economy to continue growing in 2019. But there is a broad consensus that the pace will slow as the “sugar high” provided by the Trump administration’s $1.5 trillion tax cut and spending increases begin to wear off.