Does it actually matter who is elected in November?

It's no secret that the majority of the industry supports Trump. But will the next president really matter for the trucking industry? Definitely food for thought in today's top story. Send me an email with your thoughts. 

Today's Lineup
🔷 Top issues in trucking? Carriers and drivers disagree.
🔷 Strategies to attract and retain Millennial truck drivers
🔷 The best LTL carriers, according to shippers
🔷 Meet the shiny new next-gen Freightliner Cascadia
🔷 Half of fleets are missing rear-impact guard labels

Does it really matter who is elected in November?

The presidential election is less than a month away, but will the results actually matter for the trucking economy? According to one executive, maybe not. 

“Presidents get way too much credit and way too much blame for the economy,” said Bob Costello, chief economist of the American Trucking Associations. Do you agree or disagree?

Why this matters: The majority of owner-operators have expressed they’ll vote for Trump, but the election’s outcome may not dramatically sway the state of the industry or economy.

Get more details at Trucking Info.

The debut of the next generation Freightliner Cascadia

During a trucking management conference this week in Nashville, Tennessee, Daimler Truck unveiled its latest and greatest: the fifth-generation Freightliner Cascadia. The truck features everything from advanced safety features to improved aerodynamics. Check out the big reveal in this short video. 

• DRIVER RETENTION: How fleets can engage Millennial truck drivers
• ‘THE REAL DEAL’: Founder of female driver community wins award
• TRUCKING ERA: Dreamliner acquires TSwift transportation provider
• TOP LTL: Survey names best LTL carriers according to shippers

Carriers and drivers diverge on the top trucking issues 

It’s all about perspective, and that’s clear in the American Transportation Research Institute’s latest annual report on the top issues in trucking. 

 Carriers’ No. 1 concern is the economy, followed by lawsuit abuse and the driver shortage. Drivers, meanwhile, are most worried about parking. Second on the list was compensation, and third was the economy. 

Why this matters: Carriers and drivers operate in the same industry but from different viewpoints. It’s no surprise that the economy is top of mind for business owners, while drivers are concerned with day-to-day operational challenges. The key is to address both. (FreightWaves)

Fleet execs tackle the headache of toll management

Road tolls for trucks can quickly add up, creating a big cost center for carriers. But what might be an even bigger challenge: managing the tolls. States and agencies have different systems and types of invoices, and some managers say it’s a mystery how much they’re actually paying in tolls.

Why this matters: Admin costs can take, well, a toll on smaller businesses, and managing them is critical to keeping expenses at bay. (Transport Topics)

Half of fleets are missing rear-impact guard labels

With winter weather coming up, rear-impact guard labels on the back of trailers are prone to falling off. Pitt Ohio’s VP of Safety estimated about half of trucks on the road have had their labels fall off.

Why this matters: Regulators have delayed label enforcement because of the logistics of ensuring labels stick to the trailers. Enforcement could take too much trailer capacity out of service, making it difficult for fleets to operate. (Trucking Dive)

Roads start to reopen after back-to-back hurricanes

After Hurricanes Helene and Milton wreaked havoc on parts of the Southeastern U.S., recovery efforts are underway and roads are beginning to reopen. In North Carolina, more than 600 roads are open again, including parts of I-40. 

Why this matters: Closed roads create disruption for communities and trucking fleets, including those delivering critical relief supplies. (Land Line Media)

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The Inside Lane is curated and written by Shefali Kapadia and edited by Bianca Prieto.