Deep Dive
Industry insights from our journalists
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George Frey via Getty Images
Why gas tax breaks could 'do little to nothing' to help trucking companies
Despite temporary relief in some states, truckers worry the International Fuel Tax Agreement will negate any savings.
Colin Campbell • March 28, 2022 -
1933bkk via Getty Images
'A lonely profession': How COVID-19 took a toll on drivers' mental health
Two years into a pandemic that's left many drivers isolated, industry experts urge new support systems and more open dialogue.
Katie Pyzyk • March 16, 2022 -
Courtesy of Johnsonville
High trucking rates prompt food shippers to wade into logistics
A deluge of freight pushed up prices as shortages of tractors, trailers and replacement parts have kept capacity tight.
Shefali Kapadia • Feb. 14, 2022 -
Courtesy of Hyzon
Battery-electric vs. hydrogen trucks: The debate heads into 2022
As fleets eye a future with zero emissions, industry remains undecided whether BEVs or FCEVs will come out ahead.
Jim Stinson • Jan. 25, 2022 -
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
Regulations, costs dissuade truck carriers from hauling in the Northeast
Connecticut was once one of the crown business jewels of the Northeast. Now, the state is steadily losing people and, with them, businesses.
Jim Stinson • Jan. 14, 2022 -
Tryaging via Getty Images
Lofty used truck prices forge a divide between large sellers and small buyers
Prices for used trucks, at times exceeding new Class 8 prices, test the financials of owner-operators and small fleets.
Jim Stinson • Dec. 22, 2021 -
Adeline Kon/Transport Dive
Did FMCSA Clearinghouse shrink the driver pool and challenge recruitment?
The answer depends on who in the transport industry you ask.
S.L. Fuller • Nov. 29, 2021 -
Courtesy of Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach
Trucking's role in untangling the web of West Coast port congestion
The driver shortage has become a "scapegoat" for bottlenecks as empty containers, low yard productivity, limited space and unavailable chassis converge.
Jim Stinson • Nov. 22, 2021 -
anyaberkut via Getty Images
Driver referrals in the age of social media: A modern twist on recruitment
Peer engagement demystifies the industry and creates solidarity among truckers, which can make the job more attractive.
Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 19, 2021 -
Retrieved from Werner on July 06, 2021
Dedicated business booms for fleets as shippers avoid the pricey spot market
With capacity tight, companies are considering the benefits of a private fleet. But, as one Werner executive said, operating one is easier said than done.
Jim Stinson • Oct. 19, 2021 -
Getty Images
The rise of LTL: How e-commerce changed the middle mile
Businesses are shipping smaller quantities of freight more frequently, and it's a pricey business for everyone involved.
S.L. Fuller • Oct. 6, 2021 -
Retrieved from Flickr user Guilhem Vellut on November 13, 2020
What 3G's sunset means for supply chain visibility tech
Trucking is overwhelmed with cargo, and swapping out devices means pulling trailers off the road.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Sept. 13, 2021 -
Courtesy of XPO.
From sapling to pure-play LTL: The story of XPO Logistics under Jacobs
Bradley Jacobs is a relentless numbers man and a serial entrepreneur. And he's one thing neither XPO nor GXO can replace.
Jim Stinson • July 30, 2021 -
Courtesy of USA Truck
Transport execs confront high-stakes decision: remote, office or hybrid work?
USA Truck's business boomed as employees worked from home during the pandemic. Bringing them back means weighing safety, culture and productivity.
Shefali Kapadia • June 23, 2021 -
Photo illustration by Adeline Kon/Transport Dive; photograph by David McNew via Getty Images
More frequent, severe wildfires threaten California's growing logistics network
Fires can clog and cut off freight arteries, creating choke points for inventory traveling via truck and rail.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • June 1, 2021 -
Photo illustration by Adeline Kon/Transport Dive; photograph by Mario Tama via Getty Images
As storms become more frequent and volatile, some ports plan for the risk — but most do not
The interconnectedness of ports leave assets such as warehouses, trucking networks and railroads vulnerable to disruptions from climate change and rising sea levels.
Matt Leonard • June 1, 2021 -
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Trucking has no fear of a bubble in 2021
An amalgamation of trucking-market factors has broken the traditional formula for boom and bust.
Jim Stinson • April 26, 2021 -
Permission granted by Johnson & Johnson
4 tools to fight fraud, cyberattacks in the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain
Sensors can share in real time if tractor-trailer doors open unexpectedly when transporting vaccines.
Deborah Abrams Kaplan • April 14, 2021 -
Courtesy of South Carolina Ports Authority
Congested West Coast ports bring the heat to TL spot rates
Delayed off the coast of the Golden State are a mix of consumer and industrial needs that are likely to keep capacity tight and truckers busy.
Jim Stinson • March 31, 2021 -
Pixabay
Sleep apnea: A slow killer lurks among OTR truck drivers
Fatigue management and safety programs are taking root in the freight business, as trucking firms address the issue without federal regulators.
Jim Stinson • Feb. 25, 2021 -
Courtesy of Old Dominion Freight Line
How Old Dominion's service-center strategy drives LTL success
The trucking firm faces two large obstacles in its growth path: obtaining land near population centers and ensuring freight doesn't gum up the works.
Jim Stinson • Feb. 18, 2021 -
Courtesy of Mack Trucks
Fleets forge ahead on tech, but some bide time on electric refuse trucks
Companies are weighing imminent investments in customizable technologies, aiming to make operations safer and more efficient while lowering environmental impact.
Maria Rachal • Feb. 4, 2021 -
The gas tax was already broken. The pandemic could end it.
Oregon's transportation department is leaning on funds from taxes on trucks, as passenger cars stay off roads and cause gas tax revenues to drop.
Jason Plautz • Nov. 6, 2020 -
Truck vs. train: Which has the upper hand as spot rates soar?
Shippers consider lead times and freight types when selecting over-the-road, rail or intermodal.
Jim Stinson • Oct. 15, 2020 -
Courtesy of Werner
The driver shortage: A big piece of the tight capacity puzzle
Retirements, career changes, and delays at licensing bureaus and training schools are clogging up the talent pipeline.
Jim Stinson • Sept. 11, 2020
