Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025:
ATRI seeks input on hiring practices for truck drivers with criminal convictions
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has issued a call for motor carriers to participate in a new survey examining hiring practices for truck drivers with prior criminal convictions.
As the trucking industry tackles truck driver workforce challenges, ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee (RAC) prioritized this study to explore underrepresented hiring pathways, including individuals with criminal histories.
The survey examines motor carrier hiring practices, decision-making factors, and workforce reintegration strategies, with optional follow-up research interviews for further insights. All responses will remain strictly confidential, ATRI noted.
“As the industry continues to seek out solutions to its various workforce challenges, there is a new emphasis on the possibilities of hiring truck drivers with criminal histories,” said Robyn Smith, Director of Driver Relations for May Trucking Company. “However, there is limited data on how to successfully integrate these individuals into motor carrier operations. ATRI’s research will provide value insight to help the industry balance safety, compliance, and workforce development.”
Motor carriers are encouraged to participate in the survey online here.
Overhaul warns of in-transit theft activity
Cargo theft tracking firm Overhaul is warning the trucking industry of a new cargo theft tactic from thieves, which involves the pilferage of cost-dense consumer electronics while in transit.
This situation does not appear to involve the daring entry method known as the “Romanian Roll” or “Romanian Gymnast,” an event seen in Europe where thieves enter moving trailers from the hood of another vehicle. However, it is believed that suspects are entering trailers at brief stops, such as traffic signals, and performing a thorough pilferage of small, cost-dense items while the vehicle is in motion.
Once suspects have loaded up large bags with cargo, they will communicate to an accomplice, who will be driving a nearby vehicle, before exiting the trailer at another brief pause.
In some instances, opportunities to exit the trailer have been limited, and said accomplices have resorted to pulling in front of the tractor and slowing or stopping to the point where suspects in the trailer can safely exit.
This method has been observed in both the East Coast and West Coast areas of the United States, although at this time there is no indication that the incidents are connected.
This tactic targets cost-dense items where a small volume of cargo can equal a large monetary value, meaning that traditional, large-scale pilferage is not necessary to drive profit.
Overhaul recommends that shippers of small, cost-dense items be vigilant for signs of surveillance at all origin locations. Additionally, drivers should stay alert for any indications of being followed.
If a driver suspects they are being followed, they should first slow down to 15 mph below the speed limit for 10 minutes. If the vehicle is still following, exit and then immediately re-enter the highway. If the tail persists, contact dispatch and/or your remote monitoring center before stopping in a well-lit and populated area to call police. Stopping at a police station (during business hours) is a good option.
Drivers should also maintain communication with dispatch and/or their remote monitoring center when traveling through or stopping in a high-risk area. An immediate escalation with a path to effective law enforcement engagement is critical to driver safety and recovering stolen cargo.
JB Hunt Intermodal celebrates 35 years in business
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (CCJ Top 250, No. 3) recently achieved a major company milestone as its intermodal service surpassed 35 years of operations.
On a February morning in 1990, the first J.B. Hunt intermodal load departed Chicago via the industry’s first collaboration between trucking and railroad companies, bringing to life the vision of company founder Johnnie Bryan Hunt and Santa Fe Railway President (now BNSF Railway) Mike Haverty. The two named the service Quantum, a testament to its innovative approach and potential significance.
“Intermodal started as an idea to bring two services together and create a customer-focused, efficient solution,” said Shelley Simpson, president and CEO of J.B. Hunt. “This dream was brought to life by teams working closely together, never losing faith in the belief of a better way to move freight, one rooted in integrity, respect, safety and excellence. It changed freight transportation forever and set the company on a path of continued innovation, sparking 35 years of growth and expansion.”
Starting with just 150 trailers, J.B. Hunt Intermodal (JBI) is now the largest intermodal service in North America, the company said, with a company-owned fleet that includes more than 122,000 containers and 6,500 tractors. The company’s innovative concept of double-stacking containers reduced load/unload timing and generated efficiency, which drove growth and adoption among customers.
By 2000, intermodal service had expanded to become its own business unit within J.B. Hunt, providing the opportunity to strategically focus on service quality and operational excellence. JBI would become the company’s largest revenue source in 2003, which it remains today.
In 2010, JBI moved more than one million loads in a calendar year for the first time in company history, only to surpass that milestone in 2018 when the company moved two million loads in a year. Most recently, JBI set historic company records for quarterly, monthly and weekly intermodal volumes in 2024.
Throughout JBI’s 35-year history, the company has forged relationships with all major North American rail providers that it still builds on today. The company has worked closely with each to improve the operational efficiency of its service, including the addition of features such as onsite terminals and express gates.
Diesel Laptops expands into remote vehicle monitoring, predictive AI with acquisition
Diesel Laptops announced Feb. 10 the acquisition of Preteckt, adding a powerful pillar, Remote Vehicle Monitoring and Predictive AI, to its expanding suite of solutions, the company said.
Diesel Laptops' acquisition of Preteckt strengthens its position in commercial vehicle diagnostics. By integrating Preteckt's advanced AI technology, machine learning, and predictive maintenance, Diesel Laptops said it is poised to bring real-time monitoring and proactive repair planning to the entire commercial trucking industry.
"For years, I've said that the future of our industry is in 24/7 vehicle monitoring, with diagnostics and repair plans developed proactively," said Tyler Robertson, CEO of Diesel Laptops. "We already do this today for in-shop customers, but this acquisition allows us to expand that capability to the millions of commercial trucks on the road that keep America moving."
Preteckt has built its expertise in predictive maintenance for the transit and coach bus sector. Diesel Laptops is set to take the technology further, systematically expanding its capabilities into additional markets. The integration of Preteckt's software into Diesel Laptops will be a key focus in the coming months, the company said, ensuring seamless innovation and impactful advancements in commercial vehicle diagnostics.
ITS debuts trailer pool, drop trailer offering
ITS Logistics this week unveiled DropFleet, a premium trailer pool and drop trailer solution.
DropFleet delivers cost-effective dedicated capacity and flexible, on-demand transportation anywhere by combining power-only services with ITS trailers, the company said.
Tailor-made for businesses with complex and time-sensitive supply chains, DropFleet provides value for those in the ecommerce, automotive, retail, manufacturing, and technology sectors. As a leader in freight brokerage, ITS Logistics is leveraging its flexible and scalable hybrid capacity model to address some of the most pressing challenges in the logistics industry, including dramatic fluctuations in demand, peak season surges, asset visibility, and carrier management.
“Over 40% of our volume includes dense, complex drop trailer projects,” said Josh Allen, CCO of ITS Logistics. “We designed DropFleet as a dynamic, asset-smart solution that provides our customers with a reliable and universal service capable of meeting their unique supply chain needs.”
ITS has implemented the offering for some of its most demanding clients, including a top 10 automotive manufacturer that employs a fleet of 200 specially-modified ITS trailers across 70 daily lanes. By leveraging an asset-lite approach to keep trailers on site, the company has resolved live loading challenges, streamlined operations, and achieved a 98% on-time delivery rate.
“We’ve seen increasing demand from customers for these flexible solutions that provide them more control over their supply chain operations,” Allen added. “DropFleet is a direct response to that demand. We’re excited to continue improving and scaling this offering with AI-driven technology, a highly vetted carrier network, a rapidly expanding footprint, and an experienced team to set a new standard for drop trailer and trailer pool services.”
