Tag Archive for: intermodal trucking

American Transportation Research Institute Releases New Report

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During the recession of 2008-2011, costs rose for the trucking industry. Transportation costs and fuel costs were higher, leading to a gradual increase in the costs of operating an intermodal trucking company like Calhoun Truck Lines.

Fortunately, a new report shows that the costs has eased somewhat in 2012. Overall average costs to operate a truck fell 4 percent in 2012, down from a 10 percent increase from 2010 to 2011. The report, titled “An Analysis of the Operation Costs of Trucking 2013 Update” showed that while the average costs of operation for a truck fell slightly, increasing fuel prices and more pressure to raise truckers’ pay is contributing to a higher level of costs for the trucking industry.

Costs per mile fell to $1.62/mile from 2011’s $1.71/mile. The study showed that costs for those LTL (less than truckload) carriers dropped to nearly $180/mile, from 2011’s $1.93/mile.

While the lower average costs would initially indicate a forward progress for trucking, these are being offset with high costs of operation for other areas. Higher fuel costs, increased tire costs, and costs of traveling through tolls are still higher.

ATRIFor most carriers, the majority of costs still come from fuel costs and driver wages. All of this comes at a time when many trucking companies are looking at the cost-savings benefits to switch to natural gas, writes the Dallas Business News. The industry is always seeking qualified drivers, and Calhoun Truck Lines is no exception. High fuel prices, more freight needs, tighter regulations on the trucking industry, and an older workforce adds up to higher costs across the board for truckers.

The American Transportation Research Institute manages this study on an annual  basis, contributing essential economic research to encourage trucking firms to manage their trucking fleets and fuel costs accordingly.

 

New ATA Report Shows Trucking and Intermodal Growth through 2024

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Because of our unique perspective on intermodal transportation and cargo delivery, Calhoun Truck Lines is able to offer news and more at this blog, featuring our thoughts on overall trucking outlook, transportation issues, cost of diesel, driver hires and more. So we’re glad to read that our industry association, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has just released its U.S. Freight Transportation to 2024 Report  report that focuses on growth aspects of trucking for the next decade.

ATA-ForecastThe report highlights the continuing importance of trucking and intermodal transportation in the United States. Among the highlights from the report include:

  • Larger share of tonnage – Trucking’s share of tonnage will continue to rise over the next decade, moving to an expected 70.8% by 2024 from 68.5% in 2012.
  • Higher Year-on-Year freight revenues – By 2024, overall freight revenue will grow nearly 64% to $1.3 trillion each year for the next 10 years.
  • More growth for truckloads – Volumes will grow 3.2% through 2018, and in smaller percentages for the following years.
  • Rail freight to Grow – The fastest growing freight mode will be intermodal rail. It’s expected to grow about 5% a year to 2018, then a bit less through to 2024.

At Calhoun Truck Lines, we are excited to hear more about growth issues in our industry. We consider it an important area of our nation’s economy. Calhoun Truck Lines’ operational facilities at our five Midwest trucking facilities are fully equipped to handle intermodal trucking needs. Contact us for more info on our business at https://calhountrucklines.com.

Trucking Industry Maintains its Prominence in US Economy

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As one of the Midwest’s leading trucking firms, we know the importance of maintaining a strong and profitable presence in our local economy. We work hard, give our drivers plenty of work and contribute to the overall nationwide economy with our transportation and trucking services for intermodal cargo across the country.  

And Calhoun Truck Lines is just a small part of the overall impact that trucking companies and the trucking industry bring to the American economic engine. Recently, our leading industry association – the American Trucking Association – delivered a new report that underscores the importance of the trucking industry.  
trucking company, Calhoun Truck Lines
The ATA American Trucking Trends 2013 shows that the overall trucking industry continues to be a strong economic engine for the nation, and indicates that trucking remains the main mode of US freight transportation. Using trucks to deliver goods around the country is a mainstay of our service and one that we look to grow at Calhoun Truck Lines.   

Some of the biggest facts seen in the new Trends report included:

Employment  

  • Trucking companies, intermodal companies, and others trucking related services and industry-related companies employed nearly 7 million workers in 2012.   
  • Most trucking companies are small businesses, notes the report. About 90% of trucking firms operate six or fewer trucks. Only 2.8% of fleets operate more than 20 trucks.   

Shipments  

  • Trucks were responsible for moving nearly 70% of all U.S. trucked shipments in 2012. That’s almost 9.5 billion tons of freight last year. Those numbers show increases from 2011’s numbers.   
  • Trucks in the 6-8 class traveled 137 billion miles in 2011, almost a five percent increase form the earlier year.   

Revenues         

  • U.S. trucking industry gross freight-related revenues totaled some $642 billion. That’s 80% of the freight bills across US trucking companies, according to ATA.  
  • Trucking companies paid 10% more taxes in 2011 than in 2009, amounting to $36.5 billion in federal and state highway user fees and taxes in 2011.   

Some challenges exist for trucking networks. The ATA noted issues like our nation’s infrastructure in need of repairs, issues for supply management and logistics teams, and the continuing worry of not enough drivers to carry our fleets across the country. But Calhoun Truck Lines remains confident that we can overcome some of these challenges and continue to play a prominent role in our country’s economic future.

Small Increases in US Economy Makes for Good Laborers

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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.

Five Steps to Using Intermodal Transport

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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

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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

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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

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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!

Calhoun Truck Lines Improves Driver Turnover Rate!!!

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The first half of 2012 has been successful in a number of areas for our company.  One area in particular is the low turnover rate within our fleet of intermodal trucking owner operators.  Our year to date driver turnover rate is at 28% compared to the national average of 71% for fleets with less than 30 million in sales (the highest since 2008).

The spike in the driver turnover rate nationwide  is a good sign for the economy according to Bob Costello, Chief Economist for the American Trucking Association.  Costello also said that this is a sign of trucking companies jostling each other to lure the drivers with the best safety records.

This type of information is exciting for all of us at Calhoun Truck Lines.  Our safety rating is better than it’s ever been and our driver turnover rate is well below the national average.  This helps make our company a great option for safety conscious drivers looking to make good money and be home every night.  We have excess freight for our drivers to haul and the resources available to help them succeed in running their business.  For more information on our services and driving options go to www.calhountrucklines.com.

Recognizing our Calhoun Truck Lines Drivers…

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I would like to take a minute and recognize the performance and longstanding services provided by one of the Calhoun Truck Lines drivers.  

Calhoun Truck LinesMaurice Jones has been connected with our company and hauling freight for our Chicago terminal since 2003. He left mid-year 2005 and returned in 2009.  Maurice will be the first to tell you how good of a driver he is, and he can certainly back it up according to Debbie Torres (our Chicago terminal manager).  He always allows extra time for delays at rail yards giving him the ability to make his appointment times and keep our customers happy.  When things do not go according to plan Maurice keeps good communication with dispatch in an attempt to maintain a high level of service with our customers.  After surviving an accident in 2010 (no fault of his own) Maurice continues his professional approach to hauling containers and has found success with our lease purchase program.

I’ll never forget the day in 2004 when I got to hear a couple tracks from MJ’s self produced hip hop album and can honestly say that his West Coast style was pretty solid.  However, I’m happy he decided to continue his career as a driver and that he chose to return to UTS.  

Thank you Maurice for your continued service with our company and dedication to your profession.

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