In-House Truckers Face Capacity, Cost Issues

rivate fleet operators are beginning to confront some of the same challenges facing for-hire carriers in terms of capacity, rising costs and a growing shortage of qualified truck drivers, according to industry officials and fleet managers.

To address these issues, managers of shipper-owned truck fleets are taking steps to, among other things, improve the efficiency of pickup and delivery operations and invest more in technology to boost driver productivity and equipment utilization.

“Current market conditions continue to be challenging,” said Harry Haney III, associate director of transportation operations for Kraft Foods in Madison, Wis. “Our over-the-road fleet handles a relatively small percentage of Kraft’s total business, but faces the same conditions as our carriers.”