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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 - 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 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.

March 28, 2013 - 35% of Carriers Use Electronic Logging

As reported by Transport Topics, more carriers are using electronic logging on their trucks than in the past. According to a survey by Transport Capital Partners, 35% of carriers have electronic logging on their whole fleets, up from 25% last May. A majority of truckers are using or testing electronic logging, while 10% said they were considering the new tool, but have yet to implement it.

Read the full report here.

March 27, 2013 - E-Logging, CSA Scores, and Capacity All on the Rise

Citing the Business Expectations Survey, conducted quarterly by Transport Capital Partners, Truckinginfo.com reports that carriers are increasingly installing e-log systems on their fleets. The survey shows that 35% of carriers have implemented e-logging systems on their entire fleet. Just 10% of survey responders report that they have yet to begin implementation.

Another trend from the survey indicates that carriers are making efforts to improve CSA scores, but not without expense. “The cost of compliance, along with decreasing productivity, the corresponding decrease in driver earnings, and the planned tightening of hours-of-service rules are part of the regulatory burden which has both directly and indirectly impacted carriers,” said TCP partner Richard Mikes.

Read the full article at Truckinginfo.com.

March 20, 2013 - Tonnage Up, Optimistic Capacity Expectations from Carriers

FleetOwner.com reports on the results of the Transport Capital Partners Business Expectations Survey. The first quarter 2013 survey found that carriers are optimistic in their plans to increase capacity in the year ahead. Just over a third of carriers surveyed plan to add 5% or less in capacity, while 20% of carriers plan to increase by 6-10%.

The article also discusses the American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index for February. The report shows that tonnage has increased four months in a row – something that has not happened since late 2011.

Bob Costello, ATA chief economist, is also optimistic:

“Fitting with several other key economic indicators, truck tonnage is up earlier than we anticipated this year. While I think this is a good sign for the industry and the economy, I’m still concerned that freight tonnage will slow in the months ahead as the federal government sequester continues and households finish spending their tax returns. A little longer term, I think the economy and the industry are poised for a more robust recovery.”

If you are a carrier interested in participating in future surveys, please sign up for our industry releases.

To learn more about carriers’ expectations for capacity increases, read the full article.

March 20, 2013 - Dutro Quoted About Capacity Expectations

Steven Dutro, TCP managing partner, was recently quoted in an article by Transport Topics about Transport Capital Partners’  First Quarter 2013 Business Expectations Survey. The survey that found that almost two-thirds of carriers plan to increase capacity in the next 12 months. TCP believes that the increases in capacity will most likely be intermodal, dedicated carriage, and other specific business lines.

“Going into the recession, publicly owned carriers cut trucks 20% to 25%, and they have not added back more. Most trucks are being sold as replacements,” Steven Dutro, TCP partner, said in a statement.

For more information about the survey, visit the survey page: https://transportcap.com/industry-survey.

To read the full article, click here.