Click Picture to PlayThursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Truck Tonnage Jumps 7.5%
From Transport Topics Online
Updated: 4/28/2010 10:00:00 AM
Truck Tonnage Jumps 7.5%
U.S. truck tonnage jumped 7.5% in March from a year ago, the fourth straight year-over-year increase, American Trucking Associations said.
The increase was the biggest since January 2005, and in the first quarter tonnage rose 4.9% from the same period last year, ATA said late Tuesday in its monthly seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage index.
The index rose 0.4% in March from February, following a revised 0.3% downturn in February from that had originally been reported as a 0.5% decline.
The not seasonally adjusted index — the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment — equaled 116.4 in March, a 19.1% jump from February.
ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said that he is getting more optimistic about the motor carrier industry’s recovery.
“Freight is moving in the right direction and I continue to hear from motor carriers that both the demand and supply situations are steadily improving,” he said in a statement.
Costello attributed the first-quarter improvement in tonnage to the growing economy and to a slight inventory build after some sectors slashed inventories by too much in 2009.
“For most fleets, freight volumes feel better than reported tonnage because the supply situation, particularly in the truckload sector, is turning quickly,” he said.
Updated: 4/28/2010 10:00:00 AM
Truck Tonnage Jumps 7.5%
U.S. truck tonnage jumped 7.5% in March from a year ago, the fourth straight year-over-year increase, American Trucking Associations said.
The increase was the biggest since January 2005, and in the first quarter tonnage rose 4.9% from the same period last year, ATA said late Tuesday in its monthly seasonally adjusted for-hire truck tonnage index.
The index rose 0.4% in March from February, following a revised 0.3% downturn in February from that had originally been reported as a 0.5% decline.
The not seasonally adjusted index — the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment — equaled 116.4 in March, a 19.1% jump from February.
ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said that he is getting more optimistic about the motor carrier industry’s recovery.
“Freight is moving in the right direction and I continue to hear from motor carriers that both the demand and supply situations are steadily improving,” he said in a statement.
Costello attributed the first-quarter improvement in tonnage to the growing economy and to a slight inventory build after some sectors slashed inventories by too much in 2009.
“For most fleets, freight volumes feel better than reported tonnage because the supply situation, particularly in the truckload sector, is turning quickly,” he said.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Economy Growing?
Fed Report Shows Improved Transport Activity
The U.S. economy improved in most of the Federal Reserve’s 12 districts in March, with the transportation sector improving in most areas, the Fed said.
Overall economic activity increased somewhat across all districts except St. Louis, which reported “softened” conditions, the Fed said in its latest “beige book” report released Wednesday.
Freight transport executives in the Cleveland district said shipping volumes continued to show gradual improvement and that they expected that to continue, although “profit margins remain constrained due to overcapacity and rising fuel costs, which have to be absorbed into the current rate structure.”
Kansas City saw a steady rebound in manufacturing and transportation activity, resulting in some new hires. While sales improved, some firms noted concerns about rising fuel costs.
Reports from Dallas-area transportation service firms were generally positive, with strong overseas demand pushing up intermodal cargo volumes. Parcel shippers also saw a pickup in demand.
A handful of firms said they planned on partially reinstating employer matches to employee 401(k) plans or on giving small pay increases, the Fed said.
The Fed releases its beige book report eight times a year. Wednesday’s report, which covered the period of Feb. 23 through April 4, was prepared by the Minneapolis Fed
The U.S. economy improved in most of the Federal Reserve’s 12 districts in March, with the transportation sector improving in most areas, the Fed said.
Overall economic activity increased somewhat across all districts except St. Louis, which reported “softened” conditions, the Fed said in its latest “beige book” report released Wednesday.
Freight transport executives in the Cleveland district said shipping volumes continued to show gradual improvement and that they expected that to continue, although “profit margins remain constrained due to overcapacity and rising fuel costs, which have to be absorbed into the current rate structure.”
Kansas City saw a steady rebound in manufacturing and transportation activity, resulting in some new hires. While sales improved, some firms noted concerns about rising fuel costs.
Reports from Dallas-area transportation service firms were generally positive, with strong overseas demand pushing up intermodal cargo volumes. Parcel shippers also saw a pickup in demand.
A handful of firms said they planned on partially reinstating employer matches to employee 401(k) plans or on giving small pay increases, the Fed said.
The Fed releases its beige book report eight times a year. Wednesday’s report, which covered the period of Feb. 23 through April 4, was prepared by the Minneapolis Fed
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
1 person hurt as train pulling safety caboose collides with tow truck
1 person hurt as train pulling safety caboose collides with tow truck in Jacksonville
Posted: April 8, 2010 - 1:50pm
A train engine pulling a caboose used to promote railroad crossing safety collided with a tow truck in North Jacksonville this afternoon, injuring the tow truck driver, police and fire officials said. The accident occurred about 1:15 p.m. in the 9200 block of North Main Street across from the Preferred Materials concrete plant. A tow truck from Abe's Wrecker Service was leaving a junkyard and crossing a train track when it was struck by the northbound engine and caboose, said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Lt. Allen Eason. There was no crossing arm at the site, but there was a sign warning motorists about the track. Eason said the tow truck driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The man, taken to Shands Jacksonville hospital, has not been identified.
The CSX engine was pulling an Operation Lifesaver caboose. Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness of railroad crossing hazards, said Gary Sease, a CSX spokesman. A message on the caboose read: Look. Listen. Live. The engine and caboose were headed to work switching trains. No one on the engine was injured and no one was in the caboose.
The CSX engine was pulling an Operation Lifesaver caboose. Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness of railroad crossing hazards, said Gary Sease, a CSX spokesman. A message on the caboose read: Look. Listen. Live. The engine and caboose were headed to work switching trains. No one on the engine was injured and no one was in the caboose.
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Thursday, April 8, 2010
AutoNation CEO: “Fat V” Recovery for Auto Sector
Published: Thursday, 1 Apr 2010
1:26 PM ET Text Size By: Brooke Sopelsa
Writer/Producer, CNBC.com
The automotive sector was handed major setbacks during the recession, but Mike Jackson, CEO of AutoNation, said the industry is in store for a “Fat V” recovery.“We plunged from 16 million (vehicles sold) down to 10 million in two years, and it’s going to take us about four years to get back to 16 million,” Jackson explained.Jackson, who runs the largest chain of auto dealerships in the United States, added that March was an “excellent month” at the retail level.“I think March is going to break through 12 million units,” he said.He noted that 12 million is still a “depression-level number” but said the rise from last year’s sales is a confirmation of the recovery. He also said incentives would enhance March's sales results.
1:26 PM ET Text Size By: Brooke Sopelsa
Writer/Producer, CNBC.com
The automotive sector was handed major setbacks during the recession, but Mike Jackson, CEO of AutoNation, said the industry is in store for a “Fat V” recovery.“We plunged from 16 million (vehicles sold) down to 10 million in two years, and it’s going to take us about four years to get back to 16 million,” Jackson explained.Jackson, who runs the largest chain of auto dealerships in the United States, added that March was an “excellent month” at the retail level.“I think March is going to break through 12 million units,” he said.He noted that 12 million is still a “depression-level number” but said the rise from last year’s sales is a confirmation of the recovery. He also said incentives would enhance March's sales results.
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