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April 17, 2013 - Freight brokerage still important

Freight brokerage is still playing an important role for carriers, reports Bulk Transporter. Despite an increase of brokered freight services in the last three months, 62% of carriers are using fewer brokers than six months ago. Small carriers (under $25 million in revenue) report a higher use of brokers than larger carriers, most likely due to lower lane density and smaller marketing staffs. The article is based on TCP’s recent Business Expectations Survey. Click here to read the full article.

TCP’s Second Quarter Business Expectations Survey will launch on Thursday, May 2nd. If you are a carrier interested in participating, please visit our industry survey page to learn more.

April 12, 2013 - TCP survey says broker usage increases

FleetOwner shares results from Transport Capital Partners’ First Quarter Business Expectations Survey which found that broker usage amongst carriers has increased in recent months. The percentage of carriers using broker freight services increased from 16% in August 2012 to 25% in February of 2013.  TCP Partner Steven Dutro is quoted in the article: “Freight brokers continue to provide loads that improve asset utilization and efficiency as customer demand fluctuates.” Dutro also discusses how the increase in broker services is a reflection of the ebb and flow of seasonal freight. Read the full article.

 

April 10, 2013 - More fleets using elogs to lift CSA scores

More fleets are using electronic driver logs (elogs) to improve CSA scores, Transport Topics reports. The article highlights the results from Transport Capital Partners’ recent Business Expectations Survey that found 34.6% of carriers are using elogs on all of their trucks with an additional 68.1% either testing or using elogs on some of their trucks. TCP Partner Richard Mikes says that the federal Compliance, Safety Accountability ratings program is “one of the drivers” behind the increase in electronic log usage.

The article also discusses how elogs represent a “huge opportunity” for carriers to lower the CSA violations. Additionally, these on-board devices allow carriers to monitor speed and other measurable that help improve operations. Read the full article to learn more about the shift towards electronic logs and carriers concerns for CSA scores.

Are you the owner or executive of a trucking company who is interested in contributing to the next Business Expectations Survey? Click here to learn more.

April 5, 2013 - Survey Finds Split Reaction to 2010 Engines

Transport Capital Partners’ First Quarter 2013 Business Expectations Survey found split reactions to the fuel economy and maintenance costs of 2010 engines versus 2007 engines reports FleetOwner.com. Over half of the carriers surveyed have seen fuel economy improve with 2010 engines, but 40% say that there has been no change. There was an even larger discrepancy between large carriers (over $25 million) and small carriers.

“Carriers differ in their measurement systems and tracking procedures, but the real story here is that very few carriers have seen a decline in fuel economy with the 2010 engines,” said Steven Dutro, TCP partner. “Most of the carriers we talk to have reported overall improvement in mpg in recent years from a combination of technology and training efforts.”

Read the full article.

April 5, 2013 - Varied Feedback on Fuel Economy & Maintenance of 2010 Engines

A recent article by Commercial Carrier Journal discusses the varied feedback from carriers on the fuel economy and maintenance costs of 2010 engines versus 2007 engines. The feedback is from Transport Capital Partners’ First Quarter 2013 Business Expectations Survey. The survey, which launched in the summer of 2007, provides  forward-looking guidance from industry leaders through both sides of the economic cycle. Learn more about TCP’s Business Expectations Survey.

Click here to read the full article and learn more about carriers’ opinions of the 2010 engines.

April 5, 2013 - Mixed Results on 2010 Engines from Truckers

There are mixed results from truckers on the new 2010 engines versus 2007 engines. TheTrucker.com shares findings from Transport Capital Partners’ first-quarter 2013 Business Expectations Survey. Over half of the carriers surveyed say that fuel economy has improved with new engines, but almost 40% report that there has been no change.

“Carriers differ in their measurement systems and tracking procedures, but the real story here is that very few carriers have seen a decline in fuel economy with the 2010 engines. Most of the carriers we talk to have reported overall improvement in miles per gallon in recent years from a combination of technology and training efforts,” states Steven Dutro, TCP Partner.

Read the full article to learn more.

Would you like to share your experiences and expectations with others in the industry? Click here is you are a trucking company executive or owner interested in participating in the next survey.

 

April 4, 2013 - Mixed Reports from Carriers on 2010 Engines

Carrier feedback on 2010 engine performance is mixed according to TruckingInfo.com. Almost half of the carriers surveyed in Transport Capital Partners’ First Quarter Business Expectations Survey report improved fuel economy, but forty percent state that there has been no change. Nearly 60% of large carriers (more than $25 million in revenue) say fuel economy has improved, compared to only 32% of small carriers. “The differences in these responses may simply represent differences in measurement and tracking,” says Richard Mikes, TCP Partner. “Significantly, very few carriers report lower maintenance costs for the 2010 engines, and the majority of carriers we know say these costs have increased.” Read the full article by clicking here.

April 4, 2013 - Trucking Industry Battles over “Hours of Service” Reform

Australian Transport News reports on the ongoing battle in the US over “hours of service” HOS reform.  This battle over HOS reform has led to an increase in the use of electronic logs as TCP’s first quarter Business Expectations Survey recently found. Australia also struggles with heavy vehicle laws. Read the full article.

 

 

April 2, 2013 - Nearly 70 percent of carriers are using or considering elogs

Results from TCP’s first quarter 2013 Business Expectations Survey were highlighted in a recent article by Commercial Carrier Journal. Nearly 70% of carriers surveyed are either already using or considering the use of electronic logs (elogs). Thirty-five percent of fleets are using e-logs on all of their trucks compared to only 25 percent when the question was asked in May of 2012. TCP says that the use of elogs is tied to better CSA scores. The survey also covered the steps carriers are taking to improve their CSA scores, especially since shippers are starting to pay more attention to these scores.  Read the full article to learn more.

The next survey will launch at the beginning of May 2013. Interested carriers can sign up by clicking here.

April 1, 2013 - Carriers shift toward electronic logs

FleetOwner reports on the findings from the first quarter 2013 Transport Capital Partners Business Expectations Survey that found that a growing number of carriers have made the switch to electronic logs (elogs). Thirty-five percent of the carriers surveyed are now using elogs and other carriers are strongly considering. The increase in the number of carriers using elogs may be due to a likely federal mandate. While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has attempted to mandate the use of electronic onboard recorders (EOBRs) in the past, the implementation of new hours-of-service regulations in July might force a rule to finally pass. TCP Partners Steven Dutro and Richard Mikes were both quoted in the article. Read the full article.

The Second Quarter Business Expectations Survey will launch at the beginning of May. Interested carriers can sign up by clicking here.