Perspective

Asset tracking has always answered the question: “Where’s my truck?” It still does, of course, but some cloud-based, third-party software providers now merge widely scattered tracking resources to provide unparalleled visibility for shippers, brokers, carriers and third-party logistics companies, or 3PLs.

I cannot ignore the impact of my experience, and I concede it may result in a bias in this response to USA Today’s June 16 front-page article, “Rigged.”

Tax reform and spurring economic growth are at the top of the agenda on Capitol Hill. But when it comes to a harmful tax in the commercial truck retail market, there is none greater than the federal excise tax. This year, with the political climate ripe for tax reform and an infrastructure bill, American Truck Dealers, a division of National Automobile Dealers Association, is aggressively pursuing a measure to repeal the FET that is advancing on Capitol Hill.

The trucking landscape is changing. For-hire carriers are increasingly offering dedicated freight management and brokerage services. Corporate pressure to reduce costs is driving private fleets to operate as for-hire carriers. For-hire carriers are acting as third-party logistics providers, or 3PLs, including incorporating brokerage. And, of course, traditional non-asset-based providers are acquiring assets to guarantee service.

Transparency is a valuable and sought-after trait for all of today’s top industry players, especially now that things such as business integrity and proactive problem-solving sometimes are baseline requirements of today’s consumer.

We keep seeing signs that things are looking up for the trucking industry. Most of the relevant economic indicators are favorable for trucking. Commodities are getting stronger, oil rig counts are increasing and the housing recovery is persisting. At the same time, small businesses are feeling a greater sense of optimism, and improvements to the tax code may boost entrepreneurialism. Low unemployment rates ultimately will lead to higher wages, giving consumers more money to spend and putting more goods on trucks.

The recent announcement that Knight Transportation and Swift Transportation are merging is a much bigger and industry-changing event than realized. It comes on the heels of another major development: the public offering by Schneider. In three years, these two deals will be viewed as having set in motion a number of mergers and acquisitions at a pace never witnessed before in the truckload and intermodal industry.

There is nothing fun about not getting paid for the loads you have hauled. But unfortunately, every small trucking company and owner-operator will encounter clients who sometimes take 45 to 60 days — or longer — to pay.

Trucking can always use more technology. That’s one reason we see so many tech startups in the industry these days.

The American trucking industry depends on drivers: a simple statement but one that bears repeating. As president of American Trucking Associations, I have the great privilege of representing 3.5 million professional truck drivers, working on their behalf in Washington to make our industry better, to make their jobs easier.