As this picture clearly shows, I reached the pinnacle of fashion at a very young age, and it’s been all down hill ever since.

A big thanks to my sister for discovering this long-lost treasure in my mother’s garage last weekend, and then posting it on Facebook.

From the 70s to today…

Ryder launched “Ryder Locator” this week, a free smart phone application for iPhone, Blackberry, and Andorid devices that helps customers “easily and quickly find their nearest Ryder truck rental, maintenance, or fueling location in the U.S. and Canada.” Users can filter searches by location (city, state, and/ or zip code) or service offering (rental, maintenance, or fuel), and they can get turn-by-turn directions via a user-friendly map, or use one-touch calling to speak with a Ryder employee. Customers can also use the app to get 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.

Granted, this app is not rocket science, but it shows that transportation companies are keeping pace with mobile trends and taking a page out of the customer service playbook of B2C companies.

Driver retention is an important objective for all trucking companies, and Con-way unveiled two programs this week aimed at supporting the company’s driver retention and recruitment efforts. Here’s a brief overview from the press release:

Through Destination Ownership, qualified company drivers will have an easier means of securing profitable owner-operator careers. The program allows drivers to purchase a Con-way Truckload trade truck at a low outright cost or through an affordable leasing program. Trucks purchased through Destination Ownership include an extended warranty to cover most engine issues. A transmission warranty is also available at an additional cost.

 

A second initiative, Guaranteed Team Pay is designed to prevent week-to-week disparities in team drivers’ available miles. Intended to minimize the negative impact of dwell time and inconsistent miles, the program guarantees team drivers reliable pay periods. Eligible drivers who adhere to the program guidelines will receive payment for a minimum of 5,000 miles per week, even if their miles don’t hit that benchmark. Guaranteed Team Pay will be officially implemented March 4 following a 10-week pilot study.

The for-hire trucking industry added 5,300 jobs on a seasonally-adjusted basis in January 2012, according to the most recent employment figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And employment in the industry is up 4 percent compared to January 2011. On the flip side, however, the turnover rate for truckload drivers at large fleets rose to 89 percent in the third quarter of 2011, the fourth straight quarterly increase, according to the American Trucking Associations. Can trucking companies hire new drivers faster than they’re losing them? Or better yet, can they slow down the turnover rate? This is an ongoing challenge for the industry, which is why Con-way and other trucking companies will continue look for the right balance between driver pay, benefits, and other incentives to attract — and keep — the best drivers. And why shippers should expect these efforts to translate into higher rates down the road, assuming shipping volumes continue to increase too.

If you’re in the process of negotiating ocean contracts, get ready for a tougher negotiating stance from carriers. According to a press release issued yesterday, “member carriers in the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) have reaffirmed their commitment to restore rate levels going into 2012-13 contract talks.” The press release goes on to say:

TSA carriers are recommending a second, across-the-board guideline rate increase of US$300 per 40-foot container (FEU), effective March 15, 2012, following on an initial increase successfully implemented on January 1. The March general rate increase (GRI) is intended to bring Asia-U.S. freight rates back up to near 2011 contract levels, establishing a baseline for upcoming contract negotiations. TSA cited recent investor filings and press reports affirming industry losses, and stress that a further increase is critical to carrier viability going forward.

But I thought there was excess capacity in the industry, with even more ships being delivered this year? Not so fast, says TSA executive administrator Brian M. Conrad. “While there may be excess global capacity,” Conrad says in the release, “infrastructure constraints continue to limit vessel size and utilization.” He also adds that bunker fuel prices “have exceeded $700 per metric ton since the beginning of the year, and West Coast prices in particular are approaching the record levels seen in mid-2008.”

Ah, some fun times ahead, with lots of spreadsheets, coffee, and pencil sharpening.

Have a great weekend!

(Note: Con-way and Ryder are ARC clients)

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