Tag Archive for: Calhoun Truck Lines

Small Increases in US Economy Makes for Good Laborers

/in /by

As the economy goes, so goes the workers. That may not be the right phrasing, but it sure makes a heck of a lot of sense for trucking companies like Calhoun Truck Lines.   Calhoun Truck Lines

You see, in the intermodal trucking business, without cargo traffic to haul and deliver from point A to Point B and points in between, our workers are idle. And we’d rather have our trucking employees out on the roads working cargo loads and distributing goods across the Midwest than being without cargo loads.

So it’s good news that the Federal Reserve is seeing some of the same things our drivers and our analysts are seeing across the region. That is, there’s been a spike in intermodal trucking services this past summer due to upswings in other key industries like auto sales and more.  

The Federal Reserve announced that the U.S. economy expanded somewhat in July and August, with an accompanied steady to moderate growth in trucking and logistics services.  This news comes from the Fed’s ‘beige book’ on U.S. economic conditions. Most of the Fed’s 12 districts reported higher retail activity, including automobile sales, an important factor in they way we measure our business output.  

This is encouraging news. Our independent trucking company relies on growth indicators from the economy as signs to grow our driver numbers, increase management tasks, and seek out additional cargo loads. Since the U.S. logistics system is made up of different industry segments and businesses working in intermodal transportation, it’s important that these companies help move the nation’s standard shipping containers and trailers to aid in our economic recovery.  

Intermodal trucking and rail firms, ocean carriers, port authorities, logistics companies, and suppliers are all on the front lines of our economy. Let’s remember to remember all the workers who are out in the nation’s thicket, trying to get this country moving again.  

The start of a recovery is a great position to be in. As an independent trucking firm delivering intermodal cargo in the Midwest, we will make this blog a place where you can learn what’s happening from our drivers, our customers, and our management in the months ahead.

American Trucking Association’s ATA Management Conference & Exhibition This Week In Las Vegas

/in /by

One of the most important trade shows of our industry is taking place this week in Las Vegas – American Trucking Association’s ATA Management Conference & Exhibition.  

In his opening keynote address, ATA President Bill Graves discussed the theme of ‘American Crossroads’. Graves said, “Our industry is not at a crossroads as much as today’s trucking companies”. It was his overall view that the U.S. trucking industry is moving forward and it is up to American trucking companies to decide what direction to take when faced with decisions on technology, safety, the driver shortage, and other pressing industry issues. The ATA president drew a comparison to the transition into deregulation and said, ” those unwilling to embrace change will not survive.”

In identifying trucking’s challenges, Graves pointed his finger squarely at Washington.

“Three of our nation’s biggest problems are the sluggish economy, a very dysfunctional federal government and the people of this nation who lack confidence that the economy will get better and that our government as its currently assembled in Washington isn’t capable of getting the job done,” he said.

Concurrent with the conference, the ATA announced an initiative with Truckers Against Trafficking aimed at how professional truck drivers can help combat illegal human trafficking while on the job. The group seeks to educate, equip, empower and mobilize truckers to help combat trafficking by being more alert at what happens in our travel rest stop areas, travel plazas and more.

Calhoun Truck Lines is one of the thousands of trucking and transportation industry executives attending this week. We’ve already seen trade show floor exhibitors like Freightliner, Mack Trucks, Volvo, Bose and others, as well as government agency officials and trucking industry suppliers.

Besides a slew of exhibits showing trucks and supplier tools for truckers, there is also a high tech component, with booths offering  phone, GPS devices and other tech gadgets on display you can imagine that would be useful for long-distance driving.

There are a number of discussion panels covering a range of trucking-related issues, including taxes, communications technology and the U.S. economy, all happening at the conference. Many of these panels are of great interest to Calhoun, especially regulatory issues that affect our work as one of the Midwest’s leading intermodal shipping and transportation company.

We’ve got on our agenda this week to attend seminars from government officials and other trucking experts, as they provide information on truck leasing, natural disasters, lawsuits, regulations and additional subjects. The Calhoun Truck Lines team wants to learn more about regulations and how changes in industry regulations will translate into changes in daily intermodal traffic business.

Calhoun Truck Lines at ATA Management Conference

/in /by

The American Trucking Association’s ATA Management Conference & Exhibition this week continues to yield many benefits for those in attendance. Businesses in trucking, intermodal shipping, suppliers to the trucking and shipping industry and other interested participants are finding much to share between each other at the conference.

On Tuesday (Oct. 8) at the show, Stuart Varney of Fox News’ Varney & Company program moderated an interesting ATA conference panel discussion that focused on the economy, the outlook up to the presidential election, and its impact on the intermodal transportation industry. The panel consisted of Bob Costello (chief economist ATA), Gregory Daco (HIS Global Insight), and Lawrence Yun (National Association of Realators). The panelists shared a variety of viewpoints, with the general consensus from the group that the U.S. economy is still in slowdown mode, and will not be able to accelerate until more certainty is established in Washington and our country has a decision on presidential leadership.

The panel discussed the often-used phrase ‘the fiscal cliff” as well. Greg Daco said he anticipated that any real movement on the fiscal cliff would likely “get kicked down the road six ATA Management Conference & Exhibition Calhoun Truckingmonths” after which point Congress will know what measures to put into place after the November elections. He said he feels that Congress will not allow America to go off this ‘cliff’. The panel also spent time talking about Europe and the fiscal crisis they face there as well. Daco suggested that the single biggest issue impacting our U.S. economy (aside from the fiscal cliff) is the health of foreign economies. He also remarked that Greece will ultimately drop out of the Euro in the second half of next year.

ATA’s Bob Costello made a very interesting comparison between the impact the price of diesel has had on our industry and how the price of equipment will have a similar impact over the next five to ten years.

“Equipment is becoming the new diesel in our industry,” Bob said, taking the stance that industry regulations are driving up the cost of equipment and smaller fleets are turning to leasing instead of buying. He said that it’s imperative that truck fleets continually improve the quality of their equipment to attract more drivers to their company. Unfortunately, many small carriers will have a difficult time obtaining proper financing for purchasing better trucks, unless current borrowing conditions improve.  They will also likely find it more difficult to compete for a limited driver pool in the future.

One last impression from the panel was a spectator asked Fox’s Stuart Varney for his prediction of  the upcoming presidential election. Not surprisingly, Varney said that he thought Romney would win the presidential election by five points.

Calhoun Truck Lines is one of the thousands of trucking and transportation industry executives attending the ATA conference this week. We’re learning much from the panels about trucking-related issues, intermodal shipping and the U.S. trucking industry.

Calhoun Truck Lines Attends American Trucking Association’s Management Conference & Exhibition

/in /by

For the second year running, Calhoun Truck Lines will field a team to attend the American Trucking Association’s ATA Management Conference & Exhibition this October.  

Industry magazine Transport Topics highlighted a few of the key areas attendees can look forward to participating in during the Oct.7-10 event in Las Vegas. Economic growth as measured by intermodal shipping and truck traffic on the roads will be a focus for many attendees.  

ATA President Bill Graves will provide an annual State of the Industry address and how it relates to increases in intermodal shipping and transportation for companies like Calhoun Truck Lines; former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour will share his thoughts on the current political forecast in a contentious political year, and Fox Business Network host Stuart Varney will host a panel of experts including ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello for its annual “All Eyes on the Economy” panel.  

The Calhoun Truck Lines team will be focused on learning more about regulations and how changes in industry regs translate into changes in daily business practices. This is an important consideration whih will help to drive the 2013 business agenda in intermodal traffic.  

And the conference is coming on the heels of 2012’s National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, in which our nation’s truck drivers were given the righful awareness they deserve.

From the ATA site:
– Over 80 percent of U.S.  communities depend solely on trucking for delivery  of their goods and commodities, including medical supplies at your pharmacy, the clothes in the  shopping mall and the food on your grocery store  shelves.
– Trucking industry is the safest  in its history. Truckers have a major responsibility bringing life’s essentials to American  communities from Maine to California. And while the miles traveled by  America’s 3.5 million truck drivers have steadily  increased — more than 400 billion miles in 2005 alone — the industry has never been safer.  

We couldn’t have put it better!  

Expectations are high that the industry will find ways to be more responsive to the needs of truckers working within our ranks. ATA’s President and CEO Bill Graves thanked truckers directly and publicly on the ATA home page:  

“I’d like to say thank you to the 3.1 million professional truck drivers who deliver America’s freight, safely and securely, every day. As a result of your commitment, our nation’s highways are the safest they have ever been, our grocery store shelves are stocked, our hospitals have the medicine people need and our homes are filled with life’s essentials. As a nation, we owe a great deal to you, the professional truck driver, as well as all of your families who support you while you are on the road.”

Looking forward to the ATA Management Conference and Exhibition – see you there!

Make Way for Intermodal Transportation Growth

/in /by

As the economy starts to move again after several years of flat or stagnant growth, intermodal transportation companies are riding the momentum in increased product shipments from U.S manufacturers and service companies.   
intermodal transportation, Calhoun
According to recent figures from the Intermodal Association of North America’s Intermodal Market Trends and Statistics report, U.S. growth of container volume grew nearly 13% over 2011’s Q2. It was the second strong growth quarter in a row, just below 2012’s strong first quarter increase of 14% in container volume. International intermodal shipping volume for U.S. container imports also grew 4% in 2012’s second quarter, the best quarter in a year for international.  

This is the type of encouraging business results for our nation’s economy, especially heading into an election year cycle. From port shipments and deliveries on both East and West Coasts, to intermodal trucking companies in the Midwest, business is looking up for the U.S. logistics industry.    

The last four years in intermodal transportation have been depressing, as trucking companies faced driver shortages and high fuel costs. But 2011 showed a slight uptick in growth, which now has blossomed into the encouraging 2012 numbers seen at top. The reasons vary. Intermodal shipping offers cost savings from solid pricing, less handling costs, environmental benefits and better industry safety. Plus, the truckers have returned to the roads, and can again resume making a living from the increased shipments.  

The U.S. logistics system is a complicated one, compiled of different industry segments and businesses working in intermodal transportation. Industry participants include intermodal trucking and rail firms, ocean carriers, port authorities, logistics companies, and suppliers firms offering leasing, warehousing and other services. Collectively, these companies help move the nation’s standard shipping containers and trailers. Individually, each outfit works to provide better operations, better use of existing infrastructure, and better service to their own corporate customers.  

A key benefit of these companies working together in intermodal transportation is that they help reduce transportation costs on particular modes of transport, while also lessening congestion on sea, air and roadways. Moreover, each particular mode of transportation brings with it its own advantages.  

Intermodal trucking companies establish arrangements with railroads to benefit both by helping to secure containers, decrease costs and improving overall service efficiencies.  Studies have shown that using trains in rail transportation for shipping goods has shown to reduce highway accidents and lower its carbon footprint.  

But in some instances, there are advantages for some companies in using trucking mode of transportation. Intermodal trucking firms can be more flexible and time sensitive to good shipments in particular regions of the country. They also can utilize a smaller, more efficient fleet for smaller shipments.  

Overall, shippers can rely on U.S. intermodal transportation companies for reliability, safety and efficiency. When more companies move their freight to intermodal forms, the U.S. logistics industry will prove to be resilient in the face of ongoing competition.

Calhoun Truck Lines President Speaks on MPR

/in /by

Calhoun Truck Lines president Brent Bois recently spoke to Minnesota Public Radio’s Economic Lookouts on the Public Insight Network about how Calhoun Truck Lines is recovering from the economic downturn. Calhoun Truck Lines, like many other companies, became “leaner” during the recession by having to lay off some employees, however they have recently began hiring as well as adding a new location in Indianapolis.

Trucking is a highly regulated industry and while Bois is in favor of effective regulation, such as Compliance Safety and Accountabilty, which has changed the company for the better and made them a safe fleet, he does say there are some regulations that can be reformed. Additionally there are about 10 different agencies regulating the trucking industry which can pose challenges. 

Bois says that moreso than any regulations, the a lack of drivers due to the recession hurt the industry by losing about 225,000 trucks.

Listen to the full interview here: http://bit.ly/S7RV92

Five Steps to Using Intermodal Transport

/in /by

Everyday across the USA, trucks, ships and other shipping vehicles get used for the purpose of intermodal transport. If you’re new to the intermodal shipping field, maybe a few background insights will help you better understand this transportation method.

Intermodal transportation is generally defined as a shipping method in which two or more modes of transport are used. This could describe, for example, a shipping scenario where goods within containers are loaded from a truck to a ship for water transport to another port, and then back on truck again for final delivery to destination. Or the goods can be moved from a train to a truck for final shipment.

intermodal transport Calhoun Truck LinesCreating a smooth intermodal trucking system requires adherence to schedule operations, and a strict focus on quality and service. Calhoun Truck Lines spends a great deal of our energy on both of these attributes. To help you better figure out if our services are suitable for your goods, consider the six tips listed below in making intermodal shipments.

  • Choose the arrival and destination locations for your shipped goods
  • Make note of the cargo’s sizes ie. dimensions, weight and other specifics
  • Make plans for any special services like delivery notifications, blind shipments, etc.
  • Compare a variety of truck, rail and air quotes in real time from top carriers
  • Check transit times, prices and any other options for guaranteed delivery
  • Book your cargo delivery with Calhoun Truck Lines and review your shipping information

Moving your cargo from point A to Point D (and points B and C in between) is the heart of our business. And to sweeten the deal, we’re also an industry recognized SmartWay Transportation partners with the U.S. EPA. This means that, as a partner, we agree with certain government standards to:

  • Assess freight operations;
  • Calculate fuel consumption and carbon footprint; and
  • Track fuel-efficiency and emission reductions annually.

So, if you’re a customer that needs an excellent intermodal shipping partner, consider Calhoun Truck Lines. We’re one of the Midwest’s largest intermodal transportation companies, supplying intermodal trucking services from five facilities to help clients in Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, Minneapolis and Omaha.

Driver Safety with Calhoun Truck Lines

/in /by

In the intermodal trucking business, getting the cargo to one’s destination on time and in budget is probably the most important need for a client. On its heels, though, is the safety and focus of our truckers while delivering intermodal cargo in the Midwest.  

At Calhoun Truck Lines, we take safety of our truckers and the cargo very seriously. We work with all our drivers in the Federal Motor Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety and Accountability (CSA) BASIC program. It’s a program designed to provide a threshold of safety for intermodal trucking companies and their drivers. It is Calhoun’s goal to go above and beyond the minimum threshold of safety and reduce driver violations.   

Below are some of the requirements we have laid out for our drivers under the different categories in the CSA BASIC program. You can be assured we are actively focused on creating policies and actions to accomplish these goals.  

Unsafe Driving

  • No cell phones or other use of electronic equipment while driving
  • Provide continuing education on managing driver speed and space
  • Test drivers for proper backing techniques
  • Provide extreme weather driving education and best practices  

Fatigued Driving

  • Hours of Service training for dispatchers and drivers
  • Audit all driver logs and maintain consistent records
  • Consult with industry experts for improved training
  • Continuing education at all quarterly safety meetings  

Driver Fitness

  • Track driver CDL expirations
  • Random drug testing
  • Mandate pre-employment drug testing
  • Monitor mandatory annual driver physicals  

Vehicle Maintenance

  • Random DOT truck inspections (in addition to the required annual inspection)
  • DVIR received daily from all drivers
  • Maintain and manage the maintenance of leased chassis
  • Mandate monthly maintenance reports from all drivers  

Cargo-Related

  • Zip-tie Policy for container securement
  • Continuous hazmat training for managers, dispatchers, and drivers
  • Continuous education on equipment inspections and cargo securement for all drivers  

Crash

  • Follow Great West Casualty’s guidelines for accident reporting
  • Equipment control education (during orientation and quarterly) for all drivers
  • Participate in the Great West Casualty “Value Driven Driving” program    

As a Midwestern leader in intermodal trucking, Calhoun Truck Lines is committed to being proactive about truck driver safety. Our company stays up to date on all communications from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. In the states in which we operate, we work directly with drivers to ensure Department of Transportation compliance and support our field operations to enhance working relationships with our truck fleet.

Moving Goods Across the Midwest

/in /by

In many ways, the trucking industry mirrors our nation’s economy. In good times, there is a lot of trucking traffic on our roads, and intermodal traffic increases are frequently seen. In recessionary times, there can be instances of fewer truck loads and fewer drivers, owing to less production of goods and services.  

That’s the scenario that Calhoun Truck Lines has seen over the last several years, as most of our business indicators have been down or flat because of the recession. More than 150,000 jobs in the overall trucking industry vanished, even with the continuing demand for drivers. One industry report notes that the intermodal trucking industry will need to fill these vanished positions and more in 2012.  

intermodal trucking Calhoun Truck LinesBut with a slightly improving economy in an election year, and a handful of good reports showing increased trucking traffic, we continue to be optimistic about moving goods across the Midwest in 2012.  

One of the more positive indicators we’ve seen for increased intermodal traffic is the decreasing fuel costs for diesel fuel over the last few months. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, costs of diesel fuel have decreased almost uniformly across the United States in 2012, compared to rates in 2011. In other words, prices throughout the Midwest for diesel fuel are almost 25 cents less that what they were at this time in 2011. That’s good news for companies like ours that depend on this basic fuel cost to do business at a reasonable price for the service we provide.  

However, fuel costs continue to be an uncertain animal to tame. Many of the factors involved in pricing the costs of fuel and the raw prices for oil are, of course, out of our hands and in the hands of world and political factors. And because of the turmoil in the Middle East, there’s always a chance that the fluctuations for diesel will continue to impact our costs.  

In fact, eTrucker, one of the leading websites for truckers, noted this past week that for the first time since April, diesel costs have slightly increased (but are still down from last year at this time, as noted above). Having lower fuel costs gives Calhoun Truck Lines a strong chance to be competitive in intermodal trucking and shipping. We’re hopeful that our economy will continue to improve and fuel prices will once again reach stability for businesses everywhere that depend on transportation.

Intermodal Traffic Shows Growth in June

/in /by

In the first six months of this year, Calhoun Truck Lines has seen encouraging signs that our economy is getting back on its feet, if the increase in intermodal traffic is any indication. The Association of American Railroads recently announced that June was a good month for intermodal rail traffic across the United States. The association’s senior VP was quoted:  

“U.S. intermodal originations in 2012 through June are slightly ahead of 2006’s record pace, setting up the very real possibility that 2012 will be the highest-volume intermodal year ever for U.S. railroads,” said AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray.  “The recovery in intermodal traffic since the recession has been remarkable and is due in large part to railroads’ huge investments in their intermodal business that have improved rail intermodal’s reliability and efficiency.”  

intermodal traffic Calhoun Truck LinesTransport Topics, which covers trucking and freight transportation news, wrote about the increases being higher than any other in the past six years. The magazine’s article cited: “U.S. intermodal traffic rose 5.2% in June from a year ago and was the highest weekly average for the month of June on record, the Association of American Railroads said. Volume rose to 996,022 units, and June’s average weekly volume of 249,006 units was the third highest for any month on record, trailing only August and October of 2006, the rail trade group said.”  

Rises in intermodal traffic and transfers between train and trucks are usually a good sign of increased production of goods and services being shipped, and as such, lead to production increases forecasts across the board. CBS News also covered the growth news and wrote:  

“Transfers between trains and other means of shipment, like trucks or ships, rose 5.2 percent. Intermodal shipments are mostly comprised of retail goods like clothing or products from overseas, shipped in giant containers. They’re getting a boost from railroads’ efforts to take more business away from trucks by improving their speed and efficiency.”  

We’re excited for the second half of 2012, as Calhoun Truck Lines looks to continue to provide premier trucking services throughout the Midwest, and grow our corporate culture to further goodwill for those we serve, employ, and with which we partner. Stay tuned!

© Copyright – Calhoun Truck Lines