GLG News by Biofuels Experts

Jay ThompsonPresident and General ManagerTransportation Business Associates

Trucking hours-of-service regulations "final rule redo" released with negative implications

December 30, 2011

Analysis of:Hours-of-Service (HOS) Final Rule (December 2011) | www.fmcsa.dot.gov

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released its trucking hours-of-service (HOS) regulation in response to a lawsuit agreement from the 2003 HOS Regulation limitations. The new rule will cost the most productive truck drivers in pay and logbook “gotchas,” cost trucking companies in productivity (profits) and cost shippers more. All of this is passed on to us consumers. The new rules take effect in mid-2013, but the 2003 Regulation-related lawsuit will most probably be reconstituted anyway.

Jay ThompsonPresident and General ManagerTransportation Business Associates

The driver pay lawsuit against Swift Transportation highlights a well-known issue

September 16, 2011

Analysis of:Arizona Supreme Court lets drivers' case against Swift go to trial | www.ccjdigital.com

Truck driver pay within the freight industry is based on work performed. The metric used by 90% of firms is length-of-trip “miles” – but there are different approaches used in employment contracts. Driver pay makes up the largest company expense (25% of revenue) so a few percentage points of pay increases and back-pay costs can be huge. This suit will cost Swift Transportation legal fees – and will result in more detail in driver contracts.

Jay ThompsonPresident and General ManagerTransportation Business Associates

Will Freightliner's 2015-2018 greenhouse gas fuel mileage pitch equal more sales?

September 7, 2011

Analysis of:Freightliner Says Fuel Economy, Uptime Prime Directives for 2011 and Beyond | www.truckinginfo.com

Truck-maker Freightliner recently laid out its thoughts on how it will stay ahead of the recently announced Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) greenhouse gas emissions and fuel efficiency standards for medium - and heavy-duty engines and vehicles. The plan is great for marketing and engineers, but not necessarily for sales.

Jay ThompsonPresident and General ManagerTransportation Business Associates

Daimler Freightliner 2015-2018 Fuel Mileage Pitch Underway

August 19, 2011

Analysis of:Freightliner Says Fuel Economy, Uptime Prime Directives for 2011 and Beyond | www.truckinginfo.com

Truck-maker Freightliner recently laid out their thoughts on how they will stay ahead of the recently announced Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium - and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles.” It’s great for marketing and engineers, but how about sales?

Gary DrimmerChief Executive OfficerWorld Ag Associates LLC

Moderate Drought Now Impacting US Soybeans After Run Up in Corn and Wheat

August 18, 2011

Analysis of:U.S. Drought Monitor August 16 | droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Soybeans are in their pod filling stage. For the past 3 weeks there has been an area impacting some of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana with "abnormally dry" to "moderate drought". This will have an impact on yields.

Jay ThompsonPresident and General ManagerTransportation Business Associates

Fuel Mileage Rules For Big Trucks Is Another Thing On The Table

August 12, 2011

Analysis of:Early Reaction to Truck Efficiency Standards Mostly Positive | www.truckinginfo.com

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the Notice Of Rule Making titled “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles.” Calls about what we think are rolling in, so we’ll offer comments as it moves along. I sped-read the almost 1,000 pages. I know I am a glutton for punishment and in the minority, but the source article is right - we better read it first…

Jay ThompsonPresident and General ManagerTransportation Business Associates

Roadrunner Transportation Systems Is One To Watch More Closely

August 8, 2011

Analysis of:Roadrunner Transportation Systems Reports 2011 Second Quarter Results | www.marketwire.com

Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc. reported their 2nd Qtr. results where revenue was up over 30% to $208MM and operating income was up over 50% to $12.5MM. This is one we are watching because of the companies we liked - they are rolling up - leveraging solid and growing sectors.

Joe VictorBusiness Development SpecialistMinneapolis Grain Exchange Inc.

Tour Yields versus Actual Harvest Results

August 5, 2011

How does the Wheat Quality Council tour of hard red spring and durum yields compare to USDA January Annual yield results?Do remember the tour takes place while the hard red spring and durum wheat crops are still growing and USDA measures yield after the harvest,

Jay ThompsonPresident and General ManagerTransportation Business Associates

Second Quarter Logistics Profits Still Positive

August 5, 2011

Second quarter truck, rail and logistics providers 2nd Quarter numbers are still positive with expected nuances with individual companies. Our new colleague in these missives - Mr. James Bisaha - is a welcome addition, to which I’ll make some comments about his noted companies and others.

Joe VictorBusiness Development SpecialistMinneapolis Grain Exchange Inc.

2009 is the One Other Year

July 22, 2011

Does the low percent of Hard Red Spring wheat heading have an impact on end stocks to use and price? This present MGEX Weekly Wire discovered there was one other year when the percent of wheat heading was less and presents timely data.

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