Editorial

Did the Next Big Thing in trucking recently drive across a stage in California?

In less than a month, the business of trucking will change. That’s the consensus of most when it comes to the federal mandate for use of electronic logging devices for the majority of truck drivers. The law is set to take effect Dec. 18, and we believe it’s a good thing for the industry.

“Tighten Up” is the title of a catchy 1960s ditty by Archie Bell & The Drells from Houston, Texas. It’s also an apt description of the atmosphere in the trucking industry heading into 2018.

There’s no shortage of issues that will shape the future of trucking.

One thing was clear after the latest round of talks aimed at renegotiating terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement ended in Washington, D.C., last week. We aren’t very close to a new deal on NAFTA.

If you have a copy of the Oct. 16 extra-large issue of Transport Topics, there’s a decent chance you’re attending American Trucking Associations’ annual Management Conference & Exhibition in Orlando since that is the special edition that is distributed at the event. Either that, or you’re a regular subscriber. In either case, we’re grateful for your interest in being up-to-date on what’s going on in the trucking industry. And there’s a lot going on.

One of the nation’s highest-profile investors has decided that he needs to put some money into trucking, a move based on the assumption the industry is a hotbed of activity right now.

The inaugural North American Commercial Vehicle Show was marked by big swings from truck manufacturers, both in terms of their displays, and in what they had to say.

A parallel can be drawn between Greek mythology and the predicament trucking managers face in recruiting and retaining drivers.

Showing appreciation for truck drivers is always a good idea but never more so than now, with east Texas still drying out after Hurricane Harvey and Florida bracing for the wrath of Irma.