Selected COVID-19 and trucking industry news that may impact your business.
As of April 28, 2020:
Five Michigan rest areas close temporarily; four new truck stops open
Overdrive
The Michigan Department of Transportation is closing five welcome center facilities for the next two weeks due to maintenance staff layoffs. The closed locations are: Sault Ste. Marie, Monroe, Coldwater, New Buffalo and Detroit. Read More
FMCSA adds more locations for distributing masks to truckers
Land Line
More locations will receive masks to distribute to truck drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration confirmed over the weekend. Spurred by the efforts of OOIDA, about 800,000 masks will be given to truck drivers for free at locations across the country. Read more
Execs at major fleets take salary cuts as part of COVID-19 cost cutting
CCJ
Executives for at least three major fleets that operate heavily in the for-hire truckload segment have agreed to take temporary salary reductions as a means to cut costs during the economic stall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More
Coronavirus challenges communication between carriers and drivers
CCJ
Drivers with American Central Transport were under the impression that folks back at the office were part of an exclusive club with plenty of masks and gloves in the midst of a growing pandemic while they were getting left out in the cold. Read More
As states re-open, truckers hope for improvement
FleetOwner
Truckload volumes remain well below seasonal levels both in terms of loads offered and loads moved, and did little to prevent spot rates from sliding further into dangerously low territory for owner-operators and small carriers. Read More
Freight Economy Rebound May Be Underway. Carrier Bankruptcies and Unseated Trucks Will Drive Next Spot Rate Surge
FreightWaves
Freight volumes are slowly coming back to trucking market, but it will take a while before volumes in the contract freight market are significant enough to drive higher spot rates. There is a potential capacity shortage by the end of the year, caused by unseated trucks and trucking bankruptcies. Read More
Driver morale rising, but pay questions persist
FreightWaves
More drivers are talking about pay concerns and overall morale as they navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new data published by Workhound. Read More
NCDOT Looks to Drones as Coronavirus Relief Tool
Transport Topics
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is preparing to launch a public-private partnership that will use drones in coronavirus-related relief efforts. Read More
Commentary: Adapting to operational changes during COVID-19
CCJ
Everyone has been affected by COVID-19, and it has spurred significant challenges for transportation fleets. The transport of food and health/sanitary items such as cleaning supplies and paper towels have also placed new strains on the supply chain. Motor carriers are having to scrutinize significant preventative measures needed to ensure the health and safety of customers, drivers and everyone that is in contact with goods that are transported and delivered. Read More