The proposal adds some teeth to FMCSA’s oversight of household goods brokers by incorporating civil penalties required by SAFETEA-LU. Specifically, the proposed regulations would specify minimum penalties for household goods brokers that operate without the necessary FMCSA registration or make estimates without the necessary contracts with household goods motor carriers in effect. FMCSA also would increase the amount of surety bond or trust fund currently required for household goods brokers to $25,000 from the current $10,000.

For a copy of the notice of proposed rulemaking, visit this site and search Docket No. 17008.

CCJ Hot Spots: Encore performance for Midwest
For the second consecutive month, the states of Illinois, Ohio and Indiana led the nation in January in spot-market freight opportunities. In cooperation with freight-matching leader TransCore, we highlight the nation’s three hottest states – those where the outbound load-to-truck imbalance is most in favor of the carrier.

We then pair these states with market rate data to identify the three best outbound paying lanes by each of the three most popular equipment types – van, reefer and flatbed. And like the three origin states, each of these destination states have positive load-to-truck ratios. Load-to-truck ratio and market rate data are courtesy of TransCore. The goal is to highlight not only the best states for spot-market freight but also the best outbound opportunities from those states.

Carrier News
Schneider National has been granted authority to operate as a domestic carrier and logistics services provider in the People’s Republic of China. Schneider Logistics (Tianjin) Co. Ltd. has been established under the new authority and will offer domestic transportation, logistics (warehousing, cross-docking and third-party logistics) and other related services through organic growth and acquisitions.

Ruan Transportation Management Systems acquired Jim Aartman Inc., a California trucking company that primarily hauls dairy products across the nation. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Aartman operates in 13 locations in California, Oregon, Nevada, Indiana, Florida and New Mexico with 950 employees.

Private equity firm Fenway Partners has acquired a majority interest in Gemini Traffic Sales, a regional less-than-truckload and nationwide full truckload carrier specializing in the transportation of time- and temperature-sensitive products. Gemini represents Fenway’s first all-temperature-controlled trucking investment and its 17th acquisition in transportation and logistics space. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Performance Transportation Services Inc. announced that it has met all requirements to emerge from Chapter 11 protection, and that it has implemented its court-approved plan of reorganization. The Detroit-based transporter of automobiles, which filed for Chapter 11 protection in January 2006, said secured creditors will be fully repaid in cash and shares under the plan.

Saia acquired Waunakee, Wis.-based LTL carrier Madison Freight Systems, which provides 100 percent direct coverage to the state of Wisconsin and limited coverage in Illinois and Minnesota. Founded in 1943, MFS has five terminals and 200 employees; its operations will be integrated into Saia’s direct service in Wisconsin.

Werner Enterprises promoted Gregory Werner to chief executive officer, succeeding C.L. Werner, who founded the company as an owner-operator in 1956. Gregory Werner also will retain the position of president, which he has held since 1997. C.L. Werner, the company’s largest shareholder, will remain chairman.

USA Truck promoted Jerry Orler to chief executive officer and president. Orler, who succeeds Robert Powell as CEO, was one of the founders of the Van Buren, Ark.-based company in 1989. Powell will remain chairman.

Boyd Bros. Transportation Co. promoted Richard Bailey to president from chief operating officer and chief financial officer. Gail Cooper remains chief executive officer, and Chris Cooper has been promoted to COO from vice president and general manager.

FFE Transportation Services named John Hickerson division president of American Eagle Lines, FFE’s 500-truck dry truckload fleet. Hickerson, who also will lead FFE’s freight brokerage operation, previously was chairman and CEO of Pacer Transport.