Top 50 Trucking Companies

A weak market for industrial equipment is hurting the flatbed business of Landstar System, according to the trucking company’s chairman, president and CEO.

Changes to truck driver hours-of-service rules now just a month away will have little to no impact on Landstar System’s existing business, and may even bring the nation’s fourth-largest truckload carrier more freight, a top executive says.

LTL Carrier YRC Freight began implementing a change of operations that will close 29 terminals, restructuring its nationwide network to gain efficiency.

As temperatures rise across the country, consumers will be moving outdoors and heading to stores. Supressed demand may translate to a rush to find trucks in late May, said Derek Leathers, Werner Enterprises' president and COO.

Expedited carriers are diversifying services, adding technology and seeking new customers in an age of ‘deferred delivery.’

Revelations this week that YRC Worldwide had considered acquiring Arkansas Best, parent of ABF Freight System, earlier this year seemed to help both companies on Wall Street.

NFI has announced five promotions and additions to its senior management team.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters blasted YRC Worldwide’s recent attempt to open acquisition talks with Arkansas Best, charging the less-than-truckload carrier with “interference in the collective bargaining process.”

YRC Worldwide was — and still is — interested in acquiring not just rival trucker ABF Freight System but its $2.1 billion parent company Arkansas Best, which includes Panther Expedited Services, YRC Worldwide CEO James Welch said.

A. Duie Pyle has acquired a 60-door service center in Elkridge, Md.

Arkansas Best rejected an offer by YRC Worldwide, its largest unionized less-than-truckload rival, to purchase either ABF Freight System or the entire company.

Roadrunner Transportation Systems on April 30 announced two acquisitions.

Dan England, chairman of C.R. England, has announced a reorganization and new titles for members of the senior management team, following the death of former CEO Wayne Cederholm on April 9, 2013.

Arkansas Best today reported a net loss of $13.4 million in the first quarter of 2013, improving from a net loss of $18.2 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Universal Truckload Services reported net income in the first quarter of 2013 totaled $11.4 million, compared with net income of $14.4 million and pro forma net income of $10.4 million in the same quarter of 2012.

YRC Worldwide and its mechanics may have dodged a bullet by reaching a tentative contract agreement and avoiding a potentially costly and disruptive lockout.

YRC Worldwide reached a tentative contract agreement with the International Association of Machinists, avoiding a potentially disruptive lockout of about 200 mechanics at several YRC Freight and Holland terminals.

YRC Worldwide plans to lock out a small group of mechanics represented by a machinists' union that so far has refused to accept wage and benefit concessions agreed to by Teamsters employees as early as 2009.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services reported its net income in the first quarter of 2013 was $73.3 million, rising 8 percent compared with $67.7 million in the first quarter of 2012.

Slower economic growth and flagging freight volumes didn’t keep the nation’s largest trucking companies from setting a revenue record in 2012.

When it comes to delivering freight, speed is important, but in an uncertain economy, money often matters most. Shippers are turning to slower, lower-priced transportation options, both international and domestic, deferring delivery of freight and better managing inventory pipelines to cut transportation costs.

YRC Freight is smaller today than either of its predecessor carriers — Yellow Freight and Roadway — but still not small enough.

FedEx today reported net income in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, ending Feb. 28, 2013, was $361 million, dropping 31 percent from $521 million in the same quarter in the previous year.

As one of three increasingly profitable YRC regional carriers, New Penn is contributing to its parent company’s revival.

Close attention to detail such as shipment mix and safety costs helped deliver a $24.1 million annual operating profit for YRC Worldwide, the trucking operator's first full-year operating profit since 2006.