Commerce Express Weekly Road Map:
March 26th, 2024
Keeping you informed on the latest news/insights in our industry.
Congestion –
The Total Solar Eclipse is expected to bring in lots of traffic and with that comes the potential of lengthy traffic jams.
Some state transportation officials are advising truckers to consider staying off the roads on April 8th or 9th, when the eclipse will stretch from Texas to Maine.
The Arkansas Deportment of Transportation expects 1.5 million people to travel to Arkansas to catch a view, plus an additional 500,000 locals are predicted to travel from their homes to take part in viewing the eclipse. Their DOT says traffic could be so significant “that the day may be mostly unproductive for freight vehicles,” and they should ask truckers to take a “voluntary holiday.”
Trucking –
- As of March 25th, the national average price of diesel was $4.034 a gallon.
- Up slightly at six-tenths of a cent from the previous week.
- Minnesota plans to add 16 more truck parking spots along I-94
Rail –
- Members on the transportation committee in the U.S. House are looking to their colleagues to help advance rail safety actions.
- This comes as efforts to pass the Railway Safety Act continues, read more here.
- Federal Transit Administration opening public comment – till May 24th – on a proposed rule to improve rail transit worker safety.
- Port of Vancouver has been dealing with some rail container backlogs for a couple months.
- While some improvements have been made in recent weeks, it’s likely that it will take some time for the backlog to clear.
- BNSF is also working through some rail container backlog in Southern California.
- This is largely due to the increase of container volume on the USWC, as less volume has been going through the Panama Canal.
Florida Truck Bill Targets Predatory Towing Awaits Governor’s Decision
House Bill 179 has passed through the House and Senate in Florida and has made it’s way to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis desk. Governor DeSantis is expected to sign it into law, which would go in effect in July.
The legislation includes some new requirements to set and publicize rates, have detailed and itemized invoices, require towers to accept multiple payment options, and offer a dispute resolution process for consumers and carriers to challenge excessive fees, Transport Topics reports.
Many trucking stakeholders applaud this successful legislation. “A huge victory for trucking in Florida, the trucking industry nationally, who have seen invoices as high as $200,000, and the motoring public, who fall victim to predatory towing companies,” Alix Miller, Florida Trucking Association CEO said on the matter.
You can read more about this legislation, here.
Trailer Orders in February Fall YoY, But Up From January This Year
In February, U.S. trailer orders declined from February last year, according to preliminary data from ACT Research but rose from January this year.
“Net orders remain challenged by a backdrop of weak profitability for for-hire truckers. Anecdotal commentary from trailer manufacturers and suppliers through the past several months have indicated this slowing, as they have shared that orders are coming, but at a more tepid pace when compared to the last few years,” says Jennifer McNealy, Director of Commercial Vehicle Market Research at ACT.
The data showed orders dropping 21% to 20,500 units from 25,800 in February last year, but increased nearly 50% (49.6% to be exact) from the 13,700 units order in January.
Commerce Blog
The idea of envisioning a decarbonized trucking industry may be free but making it a nationwide reality will require intimidating investments, reconceived infrastructure, and uneasy alliances. While those requisites are expected by even the staunchest of advocates, a consortium of trucking stakeholders claims this ambitious venture will cost a lot more than any proponent has shared.
The Clean Freight Coalition (CFC), whose members include the American Trucking Associations, motor carriers, truck dealers, and truck stop operators, allege that the accelerated push from President Joe Biden’s administration to decarbonize the industry will cost nearly $1 trillion.
Capacity at Port of Thunder Bay is Expected to See Improvements
Canada is investing C$6.7 million (from their trade corridors fund) on two projects that will help improve and increase capacity at the Port of Thunder Bay.
“Strategically located at the furthest inland port in Canada, this premier intermodal facility is a vital supply chain link for international imports of breakbulk, project cargo and bulk, serving the prairies and Northern Ontario,” says Chris Heikkinen CEO at the port.
One part of the funds will be spent on redeveloping the current waiting area where trucks carrying freight wait for unloading at Keefer Terminal. The other part of the funds will improve capacity by upgrading the Keefer Terminal wharf by expanding the cargo laydown area, developing electrical infrastructure for the new laydown area and enhancing rail crossing infrastructure – Transport Topics reports.
Total Weekly U.S. Rail Traffic for the Week Ending March 16th, 2024:
- Total weekly U.S. rail traffic was 474,596 carloads and intermodal units, seeing a 6.7% increase from the same time last year – per AAR data.
- Weekly U.S. intermodal volume was 255,010 containers and trailers, seeing a 13.8% increase from the same period last year.
- Grain, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products all saw increases. While coal, metallic ores and metals, and forest products all saw decreases.
- For the first 11 weeks of this year, North American rail volume was at 7,138,853 carloads and intermodal units – seeing a 1.8% increase from last year.
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