GLG News by Mr. Jay Thompson, President and General Manager
GLG News is now G+ Insights
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G+ is a community for professionals, academics and entrepreneurs to connect through online discussions and in-person meetings. You will continue to see G+ Insights (formerly GLG News) here as well as on the G+ website, where you can share and discuss the G+ Insights you read.
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May 7, 2009
Truck Orders Fall in April | joc.com
Trucking company planning continues to be mirrored in new truck sales - run with what we got. While freight demand is one big factor in the decision to not buy trucks now, others like the driver glut and a lack of financing add notably to it. It’s still about previously noted F-words (freight, financing, folks & fuel)! The other one - focus - is seems to be clearer now.
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Why Trucking Capacity Won’t Drop Much More - It’s Math & Looking Ahead
May 1, 2009
Trucking industry's hard times aren't hard enough? | www.forbes.com
Those expecting much more capacity adjustments with current freight demand will be disappointed, as the exiting capacity is mostly out of the system for a variety of reasons. Today it’s more about traffic lane rationalization anyway. Our colleagues raise good points on the shippers’ side, so I’ll stick to current planning and expectations by truckers.
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Trucking Insurance Tells Us About The Freight Marketplace & Trucking Companies
April 28, 2009
Rate Climbs | www.riskandinsurance.com
Trucking company insurance costs are staying low, which tells us about the freight industry, trucking company safety and some insight into trucking company financial strength.
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Cummins Drops Their Aftermarket APU Product - Others Will Follow
April 21, 2009
Cummins Drops ComfortGuard APU | www.truckinginfo.com
We wrote in January about Rigmaster ceasing operations leaving Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) owners like us without any support. We also commented about the probable outcome of other brands including Cummins ComfortGuard APU. That has occurred setting the stage for another look at the rest of the market.
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Private Fleets Face Some Issues Not Experienced By For-Hire Ones - A Big One Is Labor
April 17, 2009
Weyerhaeuser to close trucking facility | www.bizjournals.com
There is always a question regarding the marketing value of hauling your own stuff versus the profitability of the operation. Then there are onerous States to do business in - like Oregon - along with other liabilities. Our colleague Mr. Adams raises excellent points, so I will color it with some history and experience therein.
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Ryder System Has A Good Business Model & Offers Indicator Of Freight Trends
April 14, 2009
Ryder Revises First Quarter Earnings Outlook | www.marketwire.com
While the current freight slump is affecting Ryder Systems’ largest segment of business, their numbers offer insight into current freight levels and the potential of contract maintenance & repair programs. They are also a leading indicator to general economic activity.
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Leading Indicators - A Few More Reasons We Look To Be At The Freight Bottom (Hint - Oil Prices?)
April 9, 2009
March Economic Numbers: Unemployment Up, Factor Orders Rise | www.truckinginfo.com
Trucking is used by many as a leading indicator for general economic activity. Of course, freight planning activity leads that. The real driver of economic activity is consumer spending. Then there is the oil issue. So what does this and history tell us?
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April 7, 2009
Caterpillar, Navistar Sign Deal for Cat Vocational Trucks, Global On-Highway Venture | www.truckinginfo.com
Last June, Caterpillar and Navistar signed a memorandum of understanding regarding pursuing a strategic alliance in producing Cat-branded trucks for the severe-duty market in the US and then the global market. It was the same time frame that Cat said they were not offering an EPA 2010 Cat-branded engine line. We wrote also in June that this made sense and noted a few potential repercussions. It’s official, so here is an update.
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April 3, 2009
Trucking industry stakeholders, LaHood discuss Mexico truck program ideas | www.thetrucker.com
National policy driven by political paybacks - and a hatred of the previous administration - leaves us with another mess to clean up with our major trading partner - Mexico. That is the story of the cross-border trucking program with Mexico that will be restored before Obama’s visit there in mid-April. In the mean time, Mexico exercised their rights under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and imposed sanctions on 90 products - that hurts jobs in the US.
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FedEx Wins Another Teamster-Contractor Legal Battle - Kind Of Good News, But On To The Next One
April 1, 2009
Washington State Court Backs FedEx Contractor Model | www.postchronicle.com
FedEx wins one regarding Independent Contractor classification in Washington State. That still leaves the big Federal Court battle in Indiana, Card Check lobbying and other State filings that FedEx must continue to fight. These battles have major implications not only for the 15,000 FedEx contractors, but also for all other fleets with hundreds of thousands of Independent Contractors.
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March 29, 2009
Trucking firm buys West Nashville terminal - MVT plans to expand despite slowdown | www.tennessean.com
Just over a month ago, we wrote about 200-unit truckload (TL) carrier Shippers Transport of El Paso / Nashville shutting down. We also noted that Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT) of Las Cruces, NM would be one of the potential fleets that could easily fill the void. That is happening - and offers another example of how easily capacity is addressed and how some are seeing bright spots.
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Taxes / Regulations Affect Truckers Decisions - Gives Insight To Coming Regulations, Taxes & Costs!
March 25, 2009
NE lawmakers push bills to help trucking industry | www.fortmorgantimes.com
Ever notice where trucking firms base their trucks? Not in Colorado! Why? Mostly taxes and fees! Wyoming, Nebraska and Utah are most popular for Colorado fleets. Some (few) legislators get it and are looking to give tax breaks to get truckers to move in. It gives insight into the effect of taxing on business decisions.
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Navistar Makes Their 15-Liter Maxx(Cat)Force Official - EGR v. SCR Claims Follow….
March 20, 2009
Navistar announces 15-liter diesel | fleetowner.com
Two months ago almost to the day, we authored an article here about the 15-Liter Caterpillar engine being resurrected to be a Navistar-branded engine. That follows our June article when Caterpillar announced their pullout from the 2010 market plus the JV with Navistar - mentioning the same. Of course, all of this was unofficial until this week at the giant Mid American Truck Show (MATS) in Louisville. Cummins’ also announced they would offer a 12-Liter version of their ISX, too. The playing field is now set!
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March 16, 2009
J.B. Hunt Selling Some Truck Equipment | www.ttnews.com
JB Hunt - the $3.7B Intermodal & Truckload carrier - continues to adjust operations in a slowed freight market - moving more toward an asset-light and Intermodal focus. The reference article allows for a look at a successful model, along with interesting comments about truck engine emissions costs.
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The Price Of ’10 Diesel Emission Technology Versus Overall Cost = Real Question, But Answer Is…
March 10, 2009
Volvo: SCR will cost $9,600 | fleetowner.com
The announced price increases of about $10 Grand by Volvo for the 2010 emission technology goes into a bigger calculation on what, when and where to buy (or why). My colleague Mr. Moser raises good points regarding Volvo pricing, customer options and potential outcomes. I’ll offer an overview of current user sentiment.
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Landstar Asset-Less (Asset-Light) Trucking Model - Why No Real Surprises Today Or Tomorrow…
March 4, 2009
Landstar System Reports FOurth Quarter Earnings Per Share of 47 Cents | www.google.com
The asset-less and asset-light models can deliver pretty consistent profits - generally no big numbers to the upside or big to the downside. My savvy colleague Mr. Schultz offers in part that Landstar is an indicator of freight levels and profits therein (I agree). This also allows for a closer look at the Agent operating model rolling ahead - while thinking about it within the other trucking model templates.
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Schneider National Defying Truckload Carrier Trends - Takes Advantage Of Slowing Marketplace
March 3, 2009
Schneider reports revenue gains for 2008 | www.thetrucker.com
While most truckload (TL) carriers are downsizing, Schneider National - the largest US TL carrier - reported a growth in revenue, achieved target profits, paid down debt and ended with one of the strongest balance sheets in company history. This allows for a look at what the largest truckload are doing in spite of the slowing freight marketplace in 2009.
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February 25, 2009
Arrow Truck Sales to Announce Winner of Back On The Road™ 2009 at Mid America Truck Show | www.arrowtruck.com
There are hundreds of thousands of good late model used trucks in the market - on truck lots and parked at fleets. With thousands more trucks coming off lease / financing programs from the 2005-2006 time period and residuals holding well, a good marketing program may help. The referenced article shows how OEM’s get a big marketing bang by giving a free truck to the very large and profitable profit independent contractor segment, it also allows for a glimpse into fleet sales with other free programs.
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Shippers Transport Shuts Down - Truckload Carrier A Casualty Of Known Pitfalls / Offers Some Lessons
February 23, 2009
100 lose jobs when trucking company shuts down | www.elpasotimes.com
Two-hundred truck carrier - Shippers Transport - ceased operations last Friday after 18-years - primarily in the dry Truckload (TL) sector, but also doing Less-Than-Truckload (LTL). My colleague Mr. Schultz correctly asks in his recent article “…who is next?” so this offers an opportunity to look at a real example and explore some potential reasons why?
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Overall Intermodal Shipments Off While Truckers Pick Up Some Market Share - In The Short-Term
February 17, 2009
FTR Analysis Shows Intermodal Losing Market Share in Q4 2008 | www.truckinginfo.com
FTR Associates reports that Intermodal has lost a little long-haul market share to trucking in the 4th Quarter ’08, as compared to the 3rd quarter. My friends at FTR allow for a discussion on how freight switches modes and some of the reasons.
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