Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023:
Trucking conditions improved in September but market remains difficult
FTR's Trucking Conditions Index for September showed improvement over August, but it was still lower than the rest of the year prior to August.FTR
The firm noted, however, that market conditions remain quite tough for carriers, and the outlook is for consistently negative readings for the TCI into late 2024.
“The TCI was less negative in September principally because fuel costs did not rise as much as they did in August, but trucking companies saw no real improvement in freight market conditions,” he said. “Although carriers today are seeing some temporary relief due to the recent drop in diesel prices, freight rates look to improve only gradually over the next year.”
Vise added that the industry “continues to struggle with more capacity than is ideal given sluggish freight volume.”
Prospects of a near-term rebound are keeping many operations around or maintaining driver levels, “but that approach amounts to an increasingly high stakes game of chicken,” Vise concluded.
Mack expands Turnkey Solutions program for BEV owners
Mack Trucks has added two service partners to its Turnkey Solutions program.Mack Trucks
These partnerships are two of four that Mack currently has with charging infrastructure development companies.
The Turnkey Solutions program is an end-to-end fleet management service for all aspects of developing infrastructure, including the charging hardware, software, site design, obtaining permits, installation, utility coordination and charging equipment maintenance. Mack has two electric offerings – the Mack LR Electric and the Mack MD Electric.
“Mack Trucks is focused on simplifying the transition to BEV for our customers to help increase the adoption rate of sustainable transportation,” said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “We have our own team dedicated to e-mobility solutions, and through the Turnkey Solutions program, we’ve established a holistic program to support the charging needs of our customers.”
Recognizing that customers interested in transitioning to EV can find it overwhelming to plan for and implement charging infrastructure, Mack developed the Turnkey Solutions program. Customers can choose which partner to bundle charging hardware and services with the purchase of their vehicle from InCharge Energy, Blink Charging, Gilbarco Veeder-Root or Heliox based on their unique needs.
Kenworth launches video series celebrating 100th anniversary
In continuation of Kenworth’s year-long celebration of its 100th anniversary, the company launched has the “Kenworth 100 Stories” video series to commemorate its legacy throughout its first 100 years.
The 100 Stories series is a collection of stories and milestones, as told by customers, partners and employees, that reflect the talents, passion, history and unique brand elements that make Kenworth “The World’s Best.”
New stories will be added to the video library through January 2024, and featured on Kenworth social media and the Kenworth YouTube channel as the centennial celebration winds down and the company embarks on its next 100 years.
“The Kenworth 100 Stories series is an excellent opportunity for participants to share their personal experiences about and connections to Kenworth and its trucks from the past, while also reflecting on the meaning of this consequential 100th anniversary to them,” said Kyle Kimball, Kenworth director of marketing. “A special thanks goes out to all participants who took the time to participate in this project.”
