Economy

Trucking conditions improved in November as diesel prices leveled off

Steadier diesel prices contributed to improving trucking conditions in November, according to the latest Trucking Conditions Index from industry forecaster FTR. The jump, from 7.75 in October to 10 in…

U.S. confirms Canadian truckers will need to be vaccinated as of Jan. 22

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed Jan. 22 as the date Canadian truckers will need to be fully vaccinated to enter the country. The long-expected move follows…

Truck transportation sector records 8% vacancy rate in Q3

Canada’s truck transportation sector recorded an 8% job vacancy rate in the third quarter of 2021, lagging only behind the accommodation and food service sector, the latest data from Trucking…

Commercial vehicle demand enters 2022 ‘like a lion’: ACT

Demand for commercial vehicles were “materially above expectations” in the first month of 2022, reports ACT Research, and strong fundamentals point to continued high demand. “We start 2022 as 2021…

CTA urges truckers not to interfere with traffic

The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is imploring truckers not to block traffic in protest of vaccination requirements for cross-border truckers that went into effect Jan. 15. There were local media…

U.S. truck tonnage continues upswing

U.S. for-hire truck tonnage grew 1% in December, on the heels of a revised 0.5% increase in November, according to the latest data from the American Trucking Associations (ATA). “December’s…

Schneider to shutter Canadian operations

Schneider Transport has put its Guelph, Ont., property for sale and informed associates it is closing its Canada-based operations. “Today, Jan. 14, 2022, we are announcing a change in the…

Hot spot freight market shifting capacity from big fleets to independents

A hot spot freight market in 2021 resulted in record trucking start-ups in the U.S., shifting capacity from large truckload carriers and making it more difficult for shippers to lock…

Labor shortages slowing production of new trailers: FTR

U.S. trailer orders dropped to 26,500 units in December, down 18% month over month and 42% year over year, with FTR counting 249,000 trailer orders during 2021 as a whole.

Omicron to keep freight markets “tighter for longer”: ACT Research

As the highly contagious Omicron variant of Covid-19 contributes to increased employ absenteeism, transportation markets are likely to remain tight, ACT Research reported in its latest freight forecast. “The freight…

Omicron to disrupt labor for vehicle, parts manufacturers

North American commercial vehicle production could face further disruptions, as the Omicron variant of Covid-19 puts increased strains on staffing across U.S. and global economies, ACT Research reports. “Minimally, the…

Canadian truck driver vacancies surge to record levels: Report

Trucking HR Canada is reporting a “staggering” vacancy rate among Canadian truck drivers, with 22,990 vacant driving jobs in the third quarter of 2021. The numbers represent a 20% surge…

Canada Cartage buys Laurentien Transport

Canada Cartage made its fifth acquisition over the past year, buying Laurentien Transport of Bois-des-Filion, Que. The dedicated contract transport provider specializes in refrigerated freight, serving customers in the grocery,…

Lion Electric takes possession of Joliet manufacturing plant

Lion Electric has taken possession of its new electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Joliet, Ill., and will soon install equipment in expectations of producing its first vehicles there later this…

Class 8 order weakness a result of lengthy backlogs

Preliminary Class 8 orders in December totaled 22,800 units, according to ACT Research, while Classes 5-8 orders dropped to 18,100 units. “For Class 8, with backlogs stretching through 2022 and…