Eric Starks

Journal: Truck Gauge

A big fracking deal Hydraulic fracturing brings threats and opportunities for carriers A couple of months ago, a dry van operation in Ohio bought several specialized tank trailers to support the booming gas and oil extraction taking place in the huge Marcellus shale bed. The operation demands ...

By Avery Vise Published January 3, 2012

2012 Economic Outlook

Managing the Moving Parts With freight demand for 2012 unclear, carriers’ financial fates may rest on how they handle recruiting, rates and costs. Gone are the days – if they truly ever existed – when a trucking company’s success or failure rested solely on overall freight volume. ...

By Avery Vise Published January 1, 2012

Finances

Tonnage nearly flat in November ATA index is up 5.9 percent over 2009 period After rising 1.9 percent in September and 0.9 percent in October, the American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index was practically flat in Novemeber, slipping 0.1 percent. The latest reduction ...

By CCJ Staff Published January 1, 2011

More with less

Don’t count on another 2004 or 2005, but a steady economic recovery and ongoing capacity constraints could make 2011 a good year. Coming out of the Great Recession, just about any improvement in or even leveling off of business conditions feels like good times. For many ...

By Avery Vise Published January 1, 2011

Journal

Court upholds L.A. port concession rules Disappointed ATA calls decision ‘clearly erroneous’ U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder in late August ruled in favor of the City of Los Angeles and the Port of Los Angeles in a lawsuit brought by the American Trucking Associations over the port’s ...

By CCJ Staff Published October 1, 2010

Avery Vise

Strength in numbers Signs point to a continued recovery in trucking At the time, 2007 and much of 2008 seemed like bad times in trucking, but they were great compared to 2009. All the key metrics turned sharply negative in the summer of 2008. Inventories relative to ...

By Avery Vise Published September 1, 2010

Jeff Crissey

Taking the bad with the good As freight demand improves, driver shortage looms large During last month’s CCJ webinar, “The Outlook for Trucking,” FTR Associates President Eric Starks gave a market overview that only can be described as positive, especially when set against the backdrop of recent ...

By Jeff Crissey Published June 1, 2010