Economic Recovery and the Future of the Freight Transportation Industry – Part 1

Economic Recovery and the Future of the Freight Transportation Industry – Part 1

5 years ago

The recovery of the North American transportation industry is contingent upon the revival of the economies of the United States and Canada. The movement of auto parts, housing supplies, manufactured goods, food stuffs. and a host of other products drive the economy. If there are any impediments to the smooth operation of North American supply […]

What can Companies Do to Prepare for the Coronavirus?

5 years ago

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. In humans, coronaviruses cause respiratory tract infections that are typically mild, such as the common cold, though rarer forms such as SARS, MERS and COVID-19 can be lethal. Most coronaviruses aren’t dangerous. But In early 2020, after a December 2019 outbreak in […]

Where is the Freight Transportation Industry Headed in 2020?

5 years ago

2019 in Review After the hot freight market and record profits of 2018, many trucking companies added trucks and drivers to keep up with the expected shippers’ capacity demands in 2019. An index published by the Institute for Supply Management dropped to 47.2 in December, the lowest reading since June 2009 and the fifth straight […]

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The Top Stories in Surface Transportation in 2019

5 years ago

Here is my annual recap of the major trends that shaped the Surface Transportation industry during the past year. 1. The Reboot – The Trucking Industry goes into a Freight Recession in 2019 After a booming first three quarters of 2018, the trucking industry contracted in the fourth quarter; by mid-April of 2019, it became […]

The 2019 Surface Transportation Summit will focus on the rapidly changing Canadian Freight Industry

5 years ago

The 2019 Surface Transportation Summit will take place at the International Centre in Toronto on October 16. Canada’s leading freight conference will try to make sense of the roller coaster that Canadian shippers and carriers have experienced over the past couple of years. Josh Nye, Senior Economist, Royal Bank of Canada, will kick off the […]

Are we Heading into a Recession?

5 years ago

Whether you obtain your news from TV, newspapers or social media, it is hard to escape the drumbeat of downbeat updates about the North American and global economies. The negative news is puzzling to those people who monitor some of the leading, and still positive, economic indicators. As noted in a recent paper by […]

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Mid-Year Report on the Freight Transportation Industry

5 years ago

These are the major developments shaping the freight transportation industry in North America in the second half of 2019. 1. We are entering a period of Economic Uncertainty Despite a climate of record low unemployment levels, low inflation, a positive ISM manufacturing index and other encouraging economic indicators, the US Federal Reserve cut interest […]

Are We Heading Into Another Freight Recession?

6 years ago

Global Economic Outlook Early this month, the International Monetary Fund downgraded its outlook for growth in the United States, Europe, Japan and the overall global economy and pointed to heightened trade tensions as a key reason. U.S. trade talks with China continue without resolution, and there are indications that the rate of Chinese economic growth […]

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Some Major Trends and Predictions for 2019

6 years ago

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 […]

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Message to PM Trudeau and Minister Freeland: Don’t Let Canada be Bullied on NAFTA

6 years ago

These are distressing times for Canadians. Despite numerous meetings between the Canadian and U.S. (and Mexican) delegations over the past year, NAFTA negotiations reached another impasse on Friday, August 31. It is not surprising. The Americans have negotiated in bad faith. Canada was excluded from the recent negotiations between the U.S. and Mexico. Rather than […]