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Overdrive Extra: Page 69
Overdrive Extra
Chalk it up as a decent quarter
There was a mixed bag of trucking-related economic reports Friday, though the good seems to outweigh the bad. The American Truck Dealers, citing trade press reports, notes that third-quarter earnings reports from fleets show freight volumes appear to be rising, though revenues aren’t keeping pace. Also, U.S. truck tonnage fell 7.3 percent in September from […]
October 30, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Landstar optimistic in spite of lower earnings
Landstar System Inc., reported its share of lower revenue and income numbers in its third-quarter earnings statement, but the nation’s largest owner-operator carrier also sees a turnaround taking shape. The company earned $20 million from revenue of $501 million in the quarter that ended. Sept. 30. Comparable net income a year ago was $33 million […]
October 15, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Trucking experts expect very slow rebound
“The economy has bottomed out, but it is going to be slow going in the months ahead.” That was the consensus of speakers at this week’s annual management conference of the American Trucking Associations, in Las Vegas, says ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello in his weekly newsletter. One of those speakers, Sara Johnson of HIS […]
October 9, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Latest report bodes well for freight
More good news for manufacturing. A month ago, Institute for Supply Management data showed that manufacturing grew in August, for the first time since January 2008. ISM reported today that September gave an encore performance. “While the rate of growth moderated slightly when compared to August, the recovery broadened as the number of industries reporting […]
October 1, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Dollars and Sense: A little-known sales venue
They’re still not widely used by owner-operators, but auctions offer some advantages over traditional means of trading equipment.
October 1, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Dollars and Sense: Clearing up fuel taxes
Because owners of Class 8 vehicles have to reconcile the amount of fuel burned in a state with the amount of fuel purchased in that state, the state tax owed could be more or less than the tax paid at the pump.
October 1, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Dollars and Sense: Expect more pain before any gain
I predict some pickup in freight and rates in this fourth quarter, but the real upward climb will not begin until the second quarter of 2010.
September 9, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Manufacturing numbers strong for August
Lots of good news for trucking in today’s report from the Institute for Supply Management. Economic activity in manufacturing expanded in August, following 18 consecutive months of contraction, according to the nation’s supply executives polled for the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. The August numbers also show the overall economy grew for the fourth consecutive […]
September 2, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Dollars & Sense – September 2009
Many economic indicators show the economy may have hit bottom during the summer. Most analysts seem to agree. However, history shows that …
September 2, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Manufacturing numbers strong for August
Lots of good news for trucking in today’s report from the Institute for Supply Management. Economic activity in manufacturing expanded in August, following 18 consecutive months of contraction, according to the nation’s supply executives polled for the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. The August numbers also show the overall economy grew for the fourth consecutive […]
September 1, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Small-business lending bounces back
Borrowing money isn’t the best thing for an owner-operator to do in a down economy like this. But if you must – or plan to do so as soon as the recovery becomes more evident – it’s good to know how the market is changing. Small-business lending was dead in the water last year as […]
August 28, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Building a rainy day fund
In recent months I’ve covered steps to help you survive the downturn in the economy: • Set clear written goals. • Focus on the bottom line. • Eliminate or minimize debt. Focusing on the bottom line requires looking at your profit and loss statement, and it’s time to do that again for the next step: […]
August 20, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Factories busier in July
Industrial production increased by a half-percent in July, the Federal Reserve announced today. While housing and other indicators with relevance to truck freight have shown twitches of life in recent months, this marked the first monthly increase in this measurement since December 2007 (not counting a hurricane-related rebound in October 2008). The manufacturing component of […]
August 14, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Small business still hurting
If you’ve caught the business news in recent days, you know there have been some positive signs. Home prices and sales, employment and other indicators are looking better, possibly meaning a bottoming out of the downturn. But when it comes to small business and credit, it’s still a mess, reports CNNMoney.com: “Bank lending is down, […]
August 7, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Dollars & Sense – August 2009
In recent months I’ve covered steps to help you survive the downturn in the economy: · Set clear written goals. · Focus on…
August 4, 2009
Overdrive Extra
70 years in one minute
I was fortunate to be invited to Peterbilt’s 70th anniversary celebration at the Denton, Texas, headquarters this week. As part of a presentation to dealers and customers, the company presented this cool little video that shows many of the truck models morphing into each other, reflecting the changes over seven decades. Also, note the top […]
July 31, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Landstar shows how to make it work
Anyone who thinks the owner-operator business model can’t rebound from the prolonged downturn, rising costs and other factors should take note of Landstar System. The nation’s largest owner-operator carrier reported its second-quarter earnings Wednesday. Of course, business was down, as it has been everywhere. Revenue dropped 30 percent from a year ago, and earnings dropped […]
July 16, 2009
Overdrive Extra
Putting safety news in context
The good report last week on 2008’s highway fatality numbers, including truck-related deaths, was a bit incomplete because of the highly unusual drop in vehicle miles traveled (VMT, in government-speak). Of course, that decline was due to months of outrageous fuel prices during late 2008. The press release from the American Trucking Associations conveniently failed […]
July 8, 2009
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