Shippers, Economy Feel Pressure of Trucking Costs
After listening to a two-hour briefing on proposed ergonomics rules, tougher diesel emissions standards and changes in driver hours of service, a top federal transportation official had just one question for the staff experts at American Trucking Associations: “What does it all mean in terms of increased cost to shippers?”
With trucking accounting for 70% of federal transportation expenditures — estimated to be $16 billion annually — and 80% of transportation expenditures for the entire country, any increase in freight rates could have a significant impact on the nation’s economy.
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It’s a question shippers and carriers are asking with increasing urgency. While business is booming, and freight haulers are struggling with increases in expenses, there are fewer opportunities on the horizon to cut costs and boost productivity.
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The recent meeting between ATA and federal officials is the latest example of how the interests of trucking and shippers are increasingly linked.
