Cargo thefts in the United States dropped 15% last year to 649 incidents while the average value per theft stayed virtually unchanged at about $146,000, according to the SensiGuard Supply Chain Intelligence Center’s Cargo Theft Annual Report.

Truck tonnage rose 8.8% in January on a year-over-year basis, according to American Trucking Associations’ monthly for-hire truck tonnage index.

A recent study found that driving simulators can be as effective in training truck drivers as a live teacher for tasks such as braking and shifting gears.

The driver shortage appears to be getting worse, with fleets launching new and enhanced compensation programs. These include Boyd Bros. Transportation trying a weekly salary, a sizzling $50,000 team bonus program from U.S. Xpress Enterprises, and a host of other deals to recruit and retain qualified drivers.

Industrial parts supplier Dana Inc. reported Feb. 13 its fourth-quarter and full-year 2017 results, stating a net loss of $104 million in the fourth quarter compared with income of $485 million in the same period in 2016.

The growth in e-commerce is driving up demand for smaller industrial spaces nearer to cities so fulfillment firms can quickly get their products to customers, but it remains to be seen if fulfillment centers will start operating in suburban neighborhoods.

Greeneville, Tenn.-based Forward Air Corp. reported Feb. 7 fourth-quarter net income of $35.4 million, or $1.18 earnings per share, compared with $12.7 million, or 42 cents, in the fourth quarter a year ago.

Less-than-truckload carrier YRC Worldwide reported Feb. 1 a fourth-quarter net loss of $7.5 million, the same loss amount reported in the fourth quarter a year ago.

Cargo thefts fell 36% in the fourth quarter of 2017, a continuation of a steady drop as fleets addressed the issue and states with large cargo hubs devoted more law enforcement manpower to the problem, according to CargoNet.

Contract negotiations between UPS Inc. and the Teamsters Union began in January with the union and the package delivery firm taking a measured approach to reaching a deal before the July 31 deadline.