Intrenet Inc. installed a new management team at Eck Miller Transportation on April 18 after the sudden defection to a competitor of the carrier’s three top executives.

Overnite Transportation Co. reported that revenue increased by 6.4% in the first quarter of 2000, and earnings — although down sharply from a year ago — have recovered from a $13.7 million operating loss in the final quarter of 1999.

Intrenet Inc. installed a new management team at Eck Miller Transportation last week after the sudden defection to a competitor of the carrier’s three top executives.

In the midst of a tense Teamsters strike, Overnite Transportation Co. reported that revenue increased by 6.4% in the first quarter of 2000, and earnings have recovered from a $13.7 million operating loss in the final quarter of 1999.

Higher fuel prices obviously increase the cost of trucking. But how much? Martin Labbe Associates crunched the numbers and, according to their formulas, it comes out to an increase of between 5 and 6 cents per mile.

Older truckers earning Social Security may want to drive more each year because of a change in the law that will let them earn more outside income each year, and that could spell relief for some parts of the trucking industry.

Truckers overwhelmed by high fuel costs are falling behind in payments on their vehicles, and finance companies are seeing an increasing number of “voluntary repossessions” in which equipment is returned to lenders because operators think they can no longer make money by driving the truck.

Truck sales are softening yet deals are harder to put together. Parts and service work is falling short of expectations, and dealer profits declined by one-third in 1999 despite a 25% increase in sales.

Another Canadian transportation firm is stepping up its acquisition program.

Higher fuel prices obviously increase the cost of trucking. But how much?