Top 50 Trucking Companies

Heartland Express, one of the most profitable truckload carriers in the nation, acquired fast-growing Gordon Trucking for $300 million in cash, assets and debt.

YRC Worldwide is asking its Teamster employees to extend their current wage concessions beyond 2015 to help secure restructured financing from its lenders.

Vitran is putting a buffer between its profitable Canadian trucking operations and any unwelcome suitors, adopting a “shareholder rights plan” designed to slow or ward off any unsolicited bids.

Trucking’s early third quarter earnings reports looked better than might be expected in a sluggish and inconsistent economy. That’s largely because the first publicly owned motor carriers past the quarterly post took advantage of opportunities to move more freight by intermodal rail, diversified their over-the-road services and, most important, protected profit margins in the quarter.

Con-way increased net profit 21 percent year-over-year in the third quarter to $30.6 million, despite a slight drop in overall revenue from a year ago to $1.4 billion.

After months of difficult negotiations over regional supplements, ABF Freight Systems has a new five-year contract with the Teamsters and a 7 percent wage cut, effective Nov. 3.

Fresh from a network restructuring and leadership changes, YRC Worldwide will sit down with the Teamsters next month to discuss the LTL operator's future, including its debt obligations.

Using in-cab and back office technology, Schneider National has measured a 3.1 percent drop in productivity since new truck driver hours of service rules took effect July 1.

Werner Enterprises reported its net income in the third quarter of 2013 was $21.3 million, sliding 15 percent year-over-year from $25.1 million.

A battle may be brewing for the Canadian business of trucking operator Vitran, which this month sold its ailing U.S. less-than-truckload business.

Trucking company Vitran is on a route back to Canada across Detroit's Ambassador Bridge.

James Welch, CEO of YRC Worldwide, is taking charge at YRC Freight, replacing President Jeff Rogers, who left the less-than-truckload carrier abruptly.

A federal court in late August left ABF Freight System with a clear choice: the less-than-truckload carrier could drop its struggle to wring $750 million in damages from the Teamsters union and YRC Worldwide, or try to appeal again after having its lawsuit challenging three rounds of union concessions at its competitor dismissed three times in as many years.

ABF Freight System’s $750 million lawsuit against the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and YRC Worldwide has again been rejected by a federal court.

Teamster employees at ABF Freight System approved five regional supplements, but two side agreements are still on the table.

The nation’s largest refrigerated truckload carrier is raising pay for company drivers and owner-operators following a “stronger fiscal performance.”

YRC Worldwide's stock has been on a wild ride the past few months, but the trucking operator is steadily narrowing losses and striving to make long-term improvements in LTL operations.

Schneider National is adding 200 truck drivers in Arizona and opening a facility in Phoenix.

Two years into a reorganization that has sharply reduced net losses and led to operating profit, YRC Worldwide is confident enough to consider its first major public stock offering in years as a means of cutting long-term debt from its books.

ABF Freight System and the Teamsters union extended their current contract through Aug. 31, as the less-than-truckload carrier and union work on supplemental agreements rejected last month by ABF’s Teamster employees.

Ryder System today reported its profit in the second quarter of 2013 was $62.2 million, jumping 33.2 percent from $46.7 million in the second quarter of 2012.

Heartland Express reported net income in the second quarter of 2013 was $19.1 million, increasing 5.0 percent or $0.9 million from $18.2 million in the same period last year.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services reported net earnings in the second quarter of 2013 were $87.70 million, improving 9 percent compared with $80.45 million in the second quarter of 2012.

JOC Senior Editor William B. Cassidy interviews Jack Holmes, president of UPS Freight, and hears his views on consolidation in the less-than-truckload industry.

Although further consolidation might benefit some less-than-truckload motor carriers — YRC Freight, for example — mergers are no panacea for the challenges facing LTL trucking. There may be smarter routes to growth that trucking companies, along with shippers and logistics partners, should explore.

JOC Senior Editor William B. Cassidy interviews William Logue, president and CEO, FedEx Freight.

JOC Senior Editor William B. Cassidy interviews James Welch, CEO of YRC Worldwide, and hears his views on consolidation and pricing in the less-than-truckload industry.

JOC Senior Editor William B. Cassidy interviews David Congdon, president and CEO of Old Dominion Freight Line.

Members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have voted to approve a national master agreement with ABF Freight System, Inc., although some local/area supplemental agreements were rejected.

Schneider National is installing new tracking technology across its fleet of van trailers and intermodal containers.

UPS has a new national master package contract, but Teamsters in many regions threw up roadblocks by voting down key supplemental agreements and a UPS Freight contract, forcing a new round of negotiations.

Con-way Freight will raise its less-than-truckload base rates 5.9 percent on average June 24, along with minimum charges and accessorial fees.

The latest round of general rate increases points to higher contractual pricing to come as LTL carriers seek to regain lost pricing levels.

FedEx Freight will raise its general tariff rates 4.5 percent on average July 1, following a route blazed by UPS Freight and ABF Freight System in May and June.

UPS Freight today announced a general rate increase of 5.9 percent for non-contractual shipments in the United States, Canada and Mexico.