Utah Trucking Association Newsletter; September 26th, 2024


Upcoming Events:

  • October 9th, 2024: Mascot Miracles Foundation Golf Tournament
  • October 18th, 2024: Autumn Shotgun shoot
  • October 22nd – 23rd, 2024: Nevada Trucking Association Mongoose Method Training
  • November 1st, 2024: Driver Awards Banquet

Announcements:


Congratulations to the 2024 Souther Utah Trucking Association Scholarship Recipients!


Thank You to All Who Came Out in Support of Truck Driver Appreciation Week.


Events and Announcements:  



Friday, October 18th, 2024


Utah Trucking Association Members Will Receive Membership Pricing For This Event.

Good Day Patriots,

Please join us as for the next 2-Day Mongoose Method Training, a comprehensive program designed to equip safety directors, risk managers, and legal professionals with the tools they need to navigate litigation defense effectively. 

Abusive lawsuits have hamstrung the trucking industry and driven up insurance costs to a point where they are outpacing inflation and driving our smaller carriers out of business.

Over our two day event, we will provide you with the tools to proactively defend your company. 


Resources:


Samba Safety




News:


Truck driver detention costs industry $15 billion in 2023: ATRI

Truck driver detention at customer facilities cost the U.S. for-hire trucking industry $11.5 billion (all numbers US) in lost productivity and another $3.6 billion in direct expenses in 2023, according to a new report by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). The report—which surveyed 587 truck drivers and 245 motor carriers—highlights the operational and economic impacts of truck drivers being held at customer facilities for extended periods. Among the fleets surveyed, 30% were truckload fleets, 24% were refrigerated carriers, and 42% were specialized fleets.


Traffic Fatalities Fall 3.2% in First Half of ’24, NHTSA Says

Early estimates of overall traffic fatalities for the first half of 2024 declined by roughly 3.2% compared with the first half of 2023, according to a new report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


Essential Strategies to Avoid Overpaying for Fleet Fuel

Managing fleet fuel expenses is crucial for optimizing operational costs and ensuring efficiency. To avoid overpaying for fleet fuel, operators need to adopt key strategies that address multiple aspects of fuel management.


How Private Fleets are Managing Today’s Hidden Fees

Understanding secondary and hidden fee differences is important as organizations with fleets pay closer attention to their total cost of ownership and financial bottom line.


Truck Market Remains Weaker than 2023, but Increased Last Month

Class 8 preliminary net orders in August totaled 13,400 units, up 2% month-over-month, but down 16% year-over-year, according to FTR Transportation Intelligence. Orders for the past 12 months total 271,000 units. ACT Research reported that preliminary Class 8 orders in August were 16,400 units, up month-over-month but down 16% year-over-year.


Wabash Hit with Nearly Half-Billion-Dollar Nuclear Verdict

Trailer maker Wabash says it is evaluating “all available legal options” in response to a nuclear verdict it was handed totaling US$462 million. The jury verdict was in response to a 2019 crash, in which a vehicle driven at a high speed by an impaired driver ran into the back of a 2004 Wabash trailer.


What Would a Fed Rate Cut Mean for Trucking?

A much-awaited Federal Reserve interest rate cut could be on the table this week as the U.S. central bank meets to consider revising its policy interest rate amid cooling inflation. But what would that mean for the sluggish trucking freight economy?


Colorado Expands Mandatory Chain Laws, Limits Trucks’ Left Lane Use

If your trucking travels will take you through Colorado this winter, be aware of recent changes to that state’s chain laws. This past year, the Colorado Legislature voted to expand the areas covered by existing state chain laws. The law went into effect Aug. 7.


Trucks Moved More Than 11 Billion Tons of Freight in 2023: ATA Report 

The trucking industry had a challenging year in 2023, but it had weathered the storm, moving more than 11 billion tons of freight during the year.  The 11.4 billion tons is slightly down from the 11.46 billion tons transported in 2022. Despite the reduction in freight volume, the industry saw revenues rise to $987 billion, up from $940.8 billion the previous year. U.S. trucking companies employed 8.5 million people in 2023, including 3.55 million professional drivers.


Study: Driver Wages Have Increased in Spite of Downturn in Freight Market

A new study shows that despite the currently challenging freight market, driver wages across the industry continue to increase since the end of the Covid pandemic.  By offering greater tenure bonuses to their current driver force, many fleets appear to be shifting their workforce priorities from recruitment to retention.


Lawmakers Sign on in Support of Bill to Address Cargo Theft

A piece of legislation designed to address the rise in cargo theft across the United States is gaining more support. Introduced in June by Rep. David G. Valadao, R-Calif., the Safeguarding our Supply Chains Act aims to reduce the growing trend. The heart of the bill is simple: to improve communication between federal agencies and state and local law enforcement in an effort to curb cargo theft, particularly in regions experiencing “high volumes of organized crime.


August US Class 8 Retail Sales Fall 11.4% Year Over Year

U.S. Class 8 retail sales fell year over year in August, resuming a pattern after an anomalous July saw a first increase in 11 consecutive months. Sales also fell on a month-on-month basis in August.Truck sales in August fell 11.4% to 20,671 vehicles from 23,342 units last year. Sales also decreased 3.4% from 21,398 units reported in July. Year-to-date sales were down 13.6% to 155,576 units from 180,106.


Road check Finds U.S. Vehicle Violations Slightly Higher Than North American Average

Commercial motor vehicle enforcement personnel in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. conducted 48,761 inspections during this year’s International Road check in May, finding 13,567 vehicle, 2,714 driver and 163 hazardous materials/dangerous goods (HM/DG) out of service (OOS) violations, and placing 9,345 commercial motor vehicle combinations and 2,290 drivers out of service.


ATRI Surveys Drivers on Changing Demographics

The American Transportation Research Institute announced a new survey to evaluate truck driver demographics and changes over recent decades. The 20-question survey asks drivers to share the class of CDL they hold, the types of commodities they haul and questions relating to their race, gender, experience, earnings level, company size and other demographic data.


International Trucks Says Goodbye to Navistar Name

It’s the end of an era for Navistar International — and the beginning of a new one — as the Traton subsidiary announced a rebrand and name change to International. On Sept. 25, Navistar Inc. announced its plan to rebrand and change its name to International Motors LLC effective Oct. 1. Two brands will remain separate: IC Bus and Fleetrite.


5 Things Truck Drivers Want You to Know

For National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, we collected some takeaways from ride-alongs and driver interviews this year. In that spirit, for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Trucking Dive presents five key takeaways — in no particular order — from ride-alongs and interviews with drivers this year.


FMCSA’s Regulatory Guidance Under Review

The time is now for truck drivers to tell the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration which of its regulatory guidance documents need changes. The public has through Thursday, Sept. 26 to submit comments to the agency. Specifically, FMCSA wants to know if any of its existing guidance documents need “updated or eliminated.


Trucking Tonnage Rises Again, Hints at Market Recovery

Freight tonnage climbed sequentially for the second consecutive month in August, signaling a potential upward trend in the trucking industry.


Thank You To Our Advertising Sponsors! 

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