Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024:
Market conditions declined for carriers, improved for shippers in September
Trucking market conditions for motor carriers declined in September from August, according to FTR’s Trucking Conditions Index (TCI), while conditions for shippers improved more into positive territory, the firm’s Shippers Conditions Index (SCI) found.
FTR’s TCI hit -2.47 in its September slump from August’s -1.39 reading. FTR said weakness in the principal freight dynamics – rates, utilization and volume – offset lower fuel costs and slightly less unfavorable financing costs during the month.
The TCI has been positive only twice – in May and June of this year – since April 2022, but FTR’s forecast envisions consistently positive readings through at least a two-year forecast horizon.
“Aside from a near-term boost mostly related to falling diesel prices, we have not changed our Trucking Conditions Index forecast significantly in the wake of the election,” said Avery Vise, FTR’s vice president of trucking. “The outlook continues to be more favorable for carriers than what they have experienced for well over two years. Our analysis indicates gradual but steadily rising capacity utilization leading to stronger freight rates in 2025.”
With the election of Donald Trump in mind, Vise said FTR will “be watching closely to see exactly what trade and other economic policies are implemented and over what time frame. Some freight disruptions are likely due to tariffs and other factors, but it is not yet clear that those actions will do more than shift the timing of activity.”
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index improved in September to 4.6 from the 2.9 reading in August due to lower fuel costs, looser capacity and lower freight rates, the firm noted. The SCI was at its strongest level of the year in September, but FTR still expects readings to be weaker and closer to neutral through the two-year forecast period.
“The fact that September’s index is the strongest since last December is not a sign that shippers’ market conditions are steadily improving,” Vise noted. “September and May were modest outliers this year in a market that is at least becoming more balanced. We expect that trend to continue and for SCI readings to be mostly negative to neutral in 2025 and 2026. However, markets in transition tend to be volatile, so further outliers are likely and possibly in both directions. The supply chain implications of tariffs are a wild card for 2025 especially.”
[Related: October trailer net orders see modest uptick amid year-over-year decline and market challenges]
Drug screening firm begins oral fluid specimen collector training
Following the approval from the Department of Transportation in 2023 to allow oral fluid drug testing as an alternative to urine testing, DOT-regulated employers will eventually be allowed to conduct drug testing using either method.
Oral fluid testing is on hold, however, as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must first certify two labs for oral fluid testing. DOT’s move last year essentially cleared a hurdle to allow oral fluid drug testing once certified labs are available.
National Drug Screening, Inc. (NDS), a provider of drug testing services and training, announced this week its new DOT-compliant Oral Fluid Specimen Collector Training program, which will be available beginning Dec. 5, per DOT guidelines. This training will equip collectors with the necessary skills to conduct DOT oral fluid drug tests in compliance with the DOT’s latest guidelines, approved for workplace drug testing as of June 1, 2023.
While collector training may begin, testing cannot begin until HHS certifies two labs for oral fluid testing. The introduction of oral fluid testing by the DOT provides a viable alternative to traditional urine testing, offering a non-invasive approach that reduces privacy concerns and minimizes tampering risks. As oral fluid collections are directly observed, they improve detection accuracy for recent drug use and are particularly beneficial in situations where privacy or direct observation is a requirement, NDS said.
NDS’ training will include live, in-person sessions, as well as live, online event options, and computer-based on demand courses. All of these training programs will prepare collectors for the DOT’s oral fluid testing requirements. The training also incorporates practical experience with the required mock collections, essential for compliance with DOT regulations.
For those seeking in-depth, hands-on training, NDS will offer one-day live events that will be available in cities nationwide. Sessions run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and include qualification training, live mock collections, and comprehensive instruction on DOT protocols for oral fluid specimen collection. Space is limited, so early registration is recommended to secure a spot in the training program.
Interested parties can register for National Drug Screening’s DOT Oral Fluid Specimen Collector Training now. In addition to individual and small-group sessions, custom programs are available for larger organizations.
[Related: DOT expands drug testing options to include oral fluid]
Estes raising diabetes awareness with new trailer wrap
A new trailer wrap is part of Estes' charitable giving program, Open Heart, Open RoadEstes
November is American Diabetes Month, and to promote the cause, Estes Express Lines (CCJ Top 250, No. 11) unveiled a custom trailer wrap with the American Diabetes Association to raise awareness in the fight to end diabetes.
The vehicle graphics are part of Estes' charitable giving program, Open Heart, Open Road. Through the monetary and trailer decal donations as part of their annual employee-directed giving campaign, Estes supports organizations like the ADA to continue making an impact in the communities where they live, work and serve.
"By leveraging our presence on roadways all over the country, we're able to raise awareness and reach more people about important causes, like diabetes," said Webb Estes, president and COO of Estes. "We look forward to seeing the impact of this new program and letting everyone know about the causes and nonprofits that Team Estes supports and believes in."
With someone new diagnosed in the U.S. every 26 seconds, diabetes has become one of the fastest growing chronic diseases in the world. A QR code on the back trailer door will offer opportunities for passersby to learn more and join the fight. The wraps will remain on the trailers after November continuing to raise awareness, likely for years down the road.
"American Diabetes Month is the perfect time to roll out this unique way of raising awareness about diabetes,” said Rhodes Ritenour, chair of the ADA's Board of Directors. “We're grateful to Estes Express Lines for joining us in the fight to improve the lives of people affected by diabetes – and ultimately to find a cure.”
In addition to the American Diabetes Association, the following Open Heart, Open Road nonprofits will be promoted on Estes trailers in the next year:
- Alzheimer's Association
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- ASPCA
- American Cancer Society
- National Forest Foundation
- Special Olympics
- Active Minds
- Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
- Operation Homefront
The wraps are scheduled to appear in various markets throughout the country, including Estes’ home market of Richmond, Virginia.
