News

Refrigerated trailers—known fondly as reefers in the trucking industry—are currently a scarce commodity even as vaccine manufacturers gear up to distribute medicines which will need low-temperature storage while being transported across the U.S. Averaging only about 16% for all of 2019, the national reefer rejection index (ROTRI) now stands at 48%, its highest level ever.

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Apex Capital
With more than 70 percent of goods in this country being moved by road, truckers are incredibly valuable to our daily lives. And truckers could work with many middlemen before they rev up their rigs and get that load to its destination. One of those middlemen is a freight broker.

What exactly does a freight broker do? How is a freight broker different from a 3PL? What is its relationship with a shipper and with carriers? We answer these questions and give truckers some tips on how to find great loads with a freight broker and even without one. READ MORE HERE

Apex Capital
Trucking companies, like all other businesses, experience the ups and downs of the marketplace. That’s inevitable. Call it the nature of the beast. This year’s pandemic put a strain on all businesses, including trucking companies. The freight market has certainly been unstable.

So how do trucking companies survive the economic shifts of the industry and business in general? Is there a magic formula to stay afloat during an uncertain economy? We have some tips and thoughts from account executives at Apex Capital Corp who guide trucking company owners every day, as well as from a man who runs his own trucking company. READ MORE HERE

https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/PPP%20Loan%20Forgiveness%20Application%20Form%203508S.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3I0SUhfSMp-V-s1Mz2IfXbB0zTdROepFXcKCtqkdqUfk1NPsNw6kyCpP8

https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/PPP%20Loan%20Forgiveness%20Application%20Form%203508S%20Instructions.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3Lt3GEhOCDYzu5pCbvUIwJLtq3TdVH6P2Q8ahLgBWi_GGoPCXEgaks6Lg

Originally convicted of conspiracy, wire fraud, and witness tampering, former Flying J President Mark Hazelwood and two of his staff members are now free after a Tennessee court threw out their convictions, ruling that a secret audio recording of Hazelwood using racial slurs should not have been heard during his trial.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled 2-1 to overturn the conviction of Hazelwood, former Vice President Scott Wombold, and former regional account representative Heather Jones. The three had been found guilty in 2018 of a scheme that involved falsely promising fuel rebates and believing that truckers would be “too unsophisticated to catch on.”

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Apex Capital
We have been networking since we were kids playing ball with the buddies in the neighborhood field. Back then we just called it a friendly game with the local pals. But as an adult, we network to get a job or to find potential customers. When you own a trucking company, networking is extremely important. Networking is your key to customers and your ticket to lucrative  hauling.

Is networking still new to you? Or are you still unsure exactly where and how to network? Well, you’re in luck because these days the networking possibilities are truly endless thanks to the internet and social media. Always remember that networking is all about connecting with people, even if it’s virtually. We have some networking tips for you, including what could get you the most results for your time and effort. READ MORE HERE

Slated to be heard via videoconference on Oct. 28, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is holding a listening session on three current petitions regarding broker transparency. 

Two of the petitions, from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC), allege a lack of broker transparency and want the FMCSA to strengthen broker reporting requirements, while the third has been submitted by the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) which represents brokers.

On its website, FMCSA announced it “would like to hear from members of the public on their views on the regulation of property carrier brokers in general and on three pending petitions concerning specific property carrier broker regulation issues.”

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The 25 World’s Best Workplaces stood out for creating globally exceptional employee experiences, high-trust relationships and workplaces that are fair and equal for all. The Volvo Group’s ranking is especially impressive given the historic challenges of the past year

“Every day and across all of our 12 great brands, our employees are engaged in developing sustainable future solutions that are essential for any society to prosper,” said Martin Weissburg, president of Mack Trucks and Chairman of Volvo Group in North America. “Connections and meaningful work inspire people to work harder for their colleagues and their customers. It’s what motivates our team to go that extra mile.”

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Hydrogen-Powered Truck Will Offer Heavy-Duty Capability and Clean Emissions

NOVI, MI – With the rapidly expanding interest in heavy-duty electric trucks, Hino Trucks and Toyota
Motor North America (TMNA) have agreed to jointly develop a Class 8 fuel cell electric truck (FCET)
for the North American market.

The companies will leverage the newly developed Hino XL Series chassis with Toyota’s proven fuel
cell technology to deliver exceptional capability without harmful emissions. This collaboration
expands upon the existing effort to develop a 25-ton FCET for the Japanese market which was
announced earlier this year.

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TCS Fuel
If you own a trucking company, you haul loads, and you purchase fuel to haul those loads, then you pay fuel taxes. It’s as simple as that. That means International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) reports are part of your regular paperwork to stay compliant with trucking industry regulations.

Putting together quarterly IFTA tax reports could be cumbersome and confusing. You need fuel receipts, mileage records, and trip reports. But who has time to keep track of all those details when you’re making your living on the road? If you have a TCS Fuel Card, filing IFTA reports can actually be easy and convenient. We tell you all about IFTA, including filing deadlines, and the TCS client advantage. Read more here.