CCJ

August 2014

Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal

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60 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | AUGUST 2014 A s the trucking industry puts more distance between itself and the recession of 2008-09, for-hire trucking companies continue to exhibit growth and increased profitability in an otherwise slow-growing economy. But there remain plenty of regulatory headwinds for carriers to navigate and maintain productivity and profi t- ability, including the implementation of the new hours- of-service rule last year as well as the looming electronic log mandate expected to take effect in mid- to late 2016. Other potential regulations threaten to limit the number of available drivers, exacerbating an already severe short- age. Meanwhile, more stringent engine emissions standards and the potential for mandatory active safety systems in the future only will add to the cost of trucks and tractors. By the numbers Capacity among the industry's largest fleets remained relatively flat, with fleets in the CCJ Top 250 accounting for 606,274 total power units compared to 607,798 in last year's ranking. It is worth noting that package giants UPS and FedEx account for 106,287 – or 17.5 percent – of the power units in the CCJ Top 250. With strong truck order activity reported by OEMs in recent months, all signs point to fleets adding capacity this year in a healthy freight environment. Operating revenues in 2013 rose 5.1 percent from 2012 for companies that self-reported revenues last year and this year, bolstered by rate increases by many large carriers. With the exception of the fl atbed/specialized/heavy haul carriers, all segments saw revenue gains in 2013. Carriers in the refrigerated segment posted a 10.9 percent jump in operating revenues collectively, followed by tank/bulk commodities at 10.1 percent. Motor vehicle and intermodal haulers also posted better-than-average increases in operating revenues. Even though the driver shortage continues to negatively impact fl eet growth, carriers in this year's CCJ Top 250 ac- counted for 715,421 drivers (both company drivers and in- dependent contractor drivers), a 3.9 percent increase from last year. It bears watching whether strong driver additions can continue in the months and years ahead. Any way you slice it, statistics show strong growth for North America's largest for-hire trucking companies MOVING ON UP BY JEFF CRISSEY

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