Top 2017 Freight Carrier & Shipper News

During the past year, the trucking industry has seen its fair share of news with growth, legislation, and concerns with the industry’s future. Here are some of the top news pieces from 2017 that carriers and shippers should be aware of.

Delay in Implementation of ELD Sought

The ELD Extension Act of 2017 was put before Congress in July 2017 to delay the roll-out of the ELD Mandate for two more years.

• The burden on the trucking industry and lack of readiness on both sides, including enforcing the use of ELD have been a major concern for law enforcement and the industry.
• The FMCSA has put through an implementation timeline of compliance in three phases.
• Phase 2 began on December 18, 2017, with the voluntary compliance of carriers and drivers subject to the ELD rule ahead of future full compliance.

New EPA Regulations

Questions remain on what will be done with tractor-trailer emission regulations that were due to be finalized during 2017. It is unknown whether these new regulations will be stalled or rolled back at the agency level or through Congress. These standards were to be implemented over the next decade at a time when news awaiting future U.S. infrastructure projects is anticipated.

Shortage of Truck Drivers Still Growing

One of the biggest issues facing the trucking industry during 2017 and beyond is the shortage of drivers. It was expected that by the end of 2017 there would be a shortfall of 50,000 drivers and that number is expected to grow to more than 175,000 by 2026. The biggest issue with the shortage of drivers is the inability for shippers to efficiently get their cargo where it needs to be. The result is often higher prices that are passed on to consumers.

Driverless Trucks on the Road

In early October 2017, autonomous trucks from the startup Embark began hauling Frigidaire refrigerators from a warehouse in El Paso to a Palm Springs, CA distribution center. This pilot program made a 650-mile trip along Interstate 10 with a human co-pilot going along for the ride to monitor the trip. Elon Musk introduced his version of an autonomous truck, along with other big names like Google’s Waymo and Uber devoting efforts toward driverless truck technology.

Autonomous trucks have been seen as a way to:

• Reduce accidents
• Circumvent rules that human drivers are subject to
• Address the truck driver shortage

Welcome to the Future of Trucking with CargoBot

Although this news about the future of the trucking industry may not all be favorable, there are companies such as CargoBot that are trying to ensure a brighter future for the industry by increasing opportunities for carriers and shippers to become successful.

As a carrier, CargoBot can provide the tools needed through the power of technology to connect directly with shippers who have loads to move. CargoBot benefits shippers as well by allowing them to move shipments in an efficient and reliable manner while eliminating intermediary costs. Learn more about how CargoBot is becoming a part of the future of the trucking industry.