Today's Trucking Staff

Research Links Personality Traits to Truck Driver Turnover

SOUTH BEND, IN - Preliminary results from a study show certain personality traits of truck drivers are predictive of turnover and safety performance. The research project with the University of Notre Dame began two years ago. It includes some carrier clients of the driver retention company Stay Metrics and 450 drivers from company fleets, which provided data for the study. Drivers completed an in-depth, online survey developed by professors Timothy Judge and Mike Crant from the Mendoza College of Business at University of Notre Dame. The survey was used to assess their personality traits while carriers provided safety scores and turnover data on the drivers throughout the course of the study. Their full study is currently in the peer review process and is expected to be published in academic journals within 12 to 18 months. Meanwhile, Dr. Judge, who is Stay Metrics' director of research, has used the results from the study to create two predictive models that link key personality traits of drivers to turnover and safety, respectively, according to Stay Metrics. Each model uses a predictive index based on four personality traits that strongly correlate with turnover and safety.

Allied Van Lines Creates Moving Industry Scholarships

EDMONTON, AB -- Allied Van Lines Canada plans to launch a 2015 scholarship to financially support and provide aid to those in the fields of logistics and similar majors related to careers in the moving services industry.

Champlain Bridge Work, Detours Set for This Weekend

LONGUEUIL, QC - Two major work blitzes are set happen at the Champlain Bridge two out of the three next weekends, resulting in big detours for those wanting to travel between Montreal and Brossard.

Cooper Tire Debuts Roadmaster Fleet Service Network

FINDLAY, OH -- Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. has announced its new Roadmaster Fleet Service Network, offering around-the-clock emergency roadside tire replacement and repair for eligible commercial trucking fleets that are part of the Roadmaster national account program.

Sir Paul Gets ’em Trucking at Freightliner Concert

PHILADELPHIA, PA - One of the two last surviving members of the Beatles proved you are never too old for rock and roll or trucking. Sir Paul McCartney wowed around a thousand people during the annual Freightliner dinner and concert on Monday night held during the American Trucking Associations Management Conference and Exhibition that wrapped up Tuesday in Philadelphia, PA.

Canada’s Searcy Trucking Wins Volvo Trucks Safety Award

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Searcy Trucking Ltd. was awarded one of two 2015 Volvo Trucks Safety Awards this week at the American Trucking Associations Management Conference and Exhibition in Philadelphia, PA.

PIT Group Boosting U.S. Testing Presence

PHILADELPHIA, PA and MONTREAL, QC - A Canadian engineering and research group for the North American trucking industry announced at the 2015 American Trucking Associations' (ATA) Management Conference and Exhibition this week the opening of a U.S. office and a significant increase in its presence in the United States. Performance Innovation Transport (PIT) Group is opening an office in Atlanta, GA and is adding the U.S. as the location for road testing of its technology certification process known as Energotest. Using stringent SAE/TMC testing protocols, PIT Group will now hold two Energotest events in Canada and two in the U.S. each year. "PIT Group has become the benchmark for precise, verified and unbiased data on the return on investment fleets can expect from green technologies in Canada," said Yves Provencher, director of PIT Group. "With the continual need to improve competitiveness and the increase in environmental compliance restrictions, the demand for green technologies has never been stronger. Our U.S. office will enable us to offer the level of service and experience we've been providing Canadian fleets and that U.S. fleets expect."

Average Canadian Diesel Cost Unchanged, U.S. Declines

LONDON, ON and WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The national average price of diesel remained steady in Canada this week while it resumed moving lower to the south.

Truck Cargo Thefts Trending Downward

JERSEY CITY, NJ -- Cargo thieves in the U.S. and Canada stole more than US$22.5 million in cargo in third-quarter 2015, according to the newly released figures from theft prevention and recovery services provider CargoNet.

U.S. Trucking Conditions Continue Improving

BLOOMINGTON, IN - A measure of the U.S. trucking industry has been steadily rising over the past three months and is expected to remain in the current range through the end of the year.

VIPAR Conference Focuses on Young Leaders

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL - A special gathering of the next generation of many of the industry leaders is part of the 2015 VIPAR Heavy Duty Annual Business Conference going on now through Oct. 23.

Volvo Trucks Launches Certified Uptime Centers

GREENSBORO, NC -- Volvo Trucks will begin introducing Volvo Certified Uptime Centers within its dealer network in 2016 in an effort to maximize customer uptime.

Number 1 Trucking Issue, Survey Says is…

PHILADELPHIA, PA --The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) on Sunday unveiled its list of the top ten critical issues facing the North American trucking industry and the top one was a familar one. For the third year in a row, this research arm of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) found U.S. hours-of-service (HOS) rules as the top industry concern. For the past two years, major HOS impacts on supply chains were the impetus behind the first place ranking, according to ATRI. In this year's survey, carriers and drivers voiced their concern over the uncertain future of the current suspension of the rules. The complete results of the annual survey of over 4,000 industry stakeholders were released at the ATA's Management Conference and Exhibition in Philadelphia, PA, the nation's largest gathering of motor carrier executives.

Bison Opens New $25 Million Terminal

MISSISSAUGA, ON - One of the largest trucking fleets in Canada has opened a more than $25 million expansion of its Mississauga terminal. Bison Transport says the investment in the 19,000 square foot facility will help with expected future growth, including plans to double its fleet size in Ontario within the next two years.

Canada, U.S. Economies Vastly Different ATA Panel Says

PHILADELPHIA, PA - While Canada was naturally not the main topic of conversation during a discussion of trucking and economics during the American Trucking Associations' Management Conference and Exhibition in Philadelphia, PA, on Sunday, one leading economist gave his thoughts about it.