Cargo thefts fell for the third consecutive year in terms of reported incidents, but the value of the stolen goods rose 13.3% to $114 million, according to 2016 data from CargoNet.

C.H. Robinson Worldwide began the third-party logistics reporting season with a 3.4% decline in profits for the fourth quarter compared with 2015 but fared better than the forecast outcome from industry analysts.

USA Truck CEO Randy Rogers has been let go after only one year in the job and replaced by recently hired Chief Financial Officer James Reed, according to an announcement from the company's chairman of the board that highlighted the need to change approaches at the struggling truckload carrier.

Several large truckload companies suffered from inconsistent fuel prices and lower freight revenue per truck, leading to steep declines in net income in the fourth quarter, but executives remain cautiously optimistic that industry conditions will improve in the second half of 2017.

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry has sued Lakeville Motor Express, LME Inc. and Finish Line Express, charging that the companies committed fraud and wage theft when Lakeville closed its doors without notice shortly before Thanksgiving.

Knight Transportation Inc. reported profits plummeted 24% in the fourth quarter, blaming the results on low gas prices, a poor used-truck market and two class-action lawsuits.

Truck tonnage decreased 0.7% in December, the third and final year-over-year decline in 2016 in the monthly index from American Trucking Associations, but analysts and economists remain optimistic that 2017 will a better year for the industry.

The fourth quarter marked a turnaround for railroad companies from the lackluster year, according to earnings released last week, while a potentially major shakeup could result in an interesting 2017 for the industry.

For several top North American container ports 2016 was a record-setting year, and industry analysts are cautiously optimistic that 2017 will be even better despite the uncertainty in Washington that comes with a new presidential administration.