ATA CEO Sees Good Days Ahead for the Industry
Tampa, FL, April 21, 2012 --(PR.com)-- American Trucking Associations President and CEO Bill Graves is optimistic about the future of trucking and expects that the increased use of natural gas as truck fuel will bring major changes to the industry. However, the former two-term Kansas governor expressed concern over the apparent inability of Congress to agree on a transportation bill and the higher Interstate speed limits being posted in some states.
Graves spoke at the 14th Annual Pegasus TransTech User Conference in Clearwater Beach, Fla., Wednesday. Pegasus TransTech is the leading provider of technologies that speed the flow of critical trucking documents and back office processes for transportation carriers and brokers.
Graves said that carrier CEOs were currently in a “cautious, go-slow mood.” At present they were not anxious to buy new equipment or launch any major expansions, he explained.
Nevertheless, Graves noted, those carriers who survived the depths of a recession that greatly reduced the ranks of truckers and thus of available capacity, are in an excellent position to prosper when the economy finally rebounds.
“The people who are still here will do well,” he said.
However, Graves cautioned that the return to a robust economy will probably have to wait for the elections in November.
Graves said that the barriers to wide adoption of natural gas as a mainstream fuel are being addressed. For example, he noted, Pilot Flying J has announced it will begin making natural gas available within its network of truck stops. Graves also said that as more companies are deploying natural gas powered trucks, resale of used units presents less and less of a challenge.
Virtually every manufacturer offers natural gas models, he said, and trucks that burn natural gas as opposed to diesel endure less wear and tear, thus retaining value.
“This will change the landscape,” Graves said, adding that for the first time, there will be serious competition between suppliers of diesel and of natural gas.
However, he noted, Congress appears unwilling to pass tax credits that would spur fleets to adopt natural gas. Despite that, Graves is optimistic about the future of natural gas in trucking.
“This is going to work,” he said.
Graves outlined the ATA’s safety initiatives, including mandatory speed-limiters on trucks. At the same time, he said, a number of states have raised their speed limits.
Kansas, where Graves served two terms as governor, recently boosted its maximum speed on the Interstates to 75 mph, he noted. Since many cars travel at, say, 8 mph over the limit and trucks are often limited by fleets to 65 mph or lower, speed differentials can be a safety problem.
Despite the challenges the industry faces, Graves concluded, trucking’s future looks bright.
“I’m as optimistic as I can be,” he said.
About Pegasus TransTech
Pegasus TransTech Corporation helps transportation companies go paperless, improve operating efficiency, speed cash flow, increase profit, and drive consistent, repeatable results by strategically creating images, electronic forms, and enterprise workflow solutions.
TRANSFLO® software provides the back office solutions for document management and electronic workflow. Pegasus TransTech’s scanning products TRANSFLO Express® truck stop scanning, TRANSFLO Now!™ anywhere in-cab scanning, and TRANSFLO Now Mobile provide same-day access to delivery documents which speeds driver pay and the carrier’s billing cycle. TRANSFLO $Velocity is the electronic, consistent method for carriers to submit invoices and load documents to participating brokers to get paid faster.
For additional information, please visit www.pegasustranstech.com or call 800-783-8649. Email info2@pegasustranstech.com.
Graves spoke at the 14th Annual Pegasus TransTech User Conference in Clearwater Beach, Fla., Wednesday. Pegasus TransTech is the leading provider of technologies that speed the flow of critical trucking documents and back office processes for transportation carriers and brokers.
Graves said that carrier CEOs were currently in a “cautious, go-slow mood.” At present they were not anxious to buy new equipment or launch any major expansions, he explained.
Nevertheless, Graves noted, those carriers who survived the depths of a recession that greatly reduced the ranks of truckers and thus of available capacity, are in an excellent position to prosper when the economy finally rebounds.
“The people who are still here will do well,” he said.
However, Graves cautioned that the return to a robust economy will probably have to wait for the elections in November.
Graves said that the barriers to wide adoption of natural gas as a mainstream fuel are being addressed. For example, he noted, Pilot Flying J has announced it will begin making natural gas available within its network of truck stops. Graves also said that as more companies are deploying natural gas powered trucks, resale of used units presents less and less of a challenge.
Virtually every manufacturer offers natural gas models, he said, and trucks that burn natural gas as opposed to diesel endure less wear and tear, thus retaining value.
“This will change the landscape,” Graves said, adding that for the first time, there will be serious competition between suppliers of diesel and of natural gas.
However, he noted, Congress appears unwilling to pass tax credits that would spur fleets to adopt natural gas. Despite that, Graves is optimistic about the future of natural gas in trucking.
“This is going to work,” he said.
Graves outlined the ATA’s safety initiatives, including mandatory speed-limiters on trucks. At the same time, he said, a number of states have raised their speed limits.
Kansas, where Graves served two terms as governor, recently boosted its maximum speed on the Interstates to 75 mph, he noted. Since many cars travel at, say, 8 mph over the limit and trucks are often limited by fleets to 65 mph or lower, speed differentials can be a safety problem.
Despite the challenges the industry faces, Graves concluded, trucking’s future looks bright.
“I’m as optimistic as I can be,” he said.
About Pegasus TransTech
Pegasus TransTech Corporation helps transportation companies go paperless, improve operating efficiency, speed cash flow, increase profit, and drive consistent, repeatable results by strategically creating images, electronic forms, and enterprise workflow solutions.
TRANSFLO® software provides the back office solutions for document management and electronic workflow. Pegasus TransTech’s scanning products TRANSFLO Express® truck stop scanning, TRANSFLO Now!™ anywhere in-cab scanning, and TRANSFLO Now Mobile provide same-day access to delivery documents which speeds driver pay and the carrier’s billing cycle. TRANSFLO $Velocity is the electronic, consistent method for carriers to submit invoices and load documents to participating brokers to get paid faster.
For additional information, please visit www.pegasustranstech.com or call 800-783-8649. Email info2@pegasustranstech.com.
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Pegasus TransTech
Kristine Bowman
813-386-2346
www.pegasustranstech.com
Kristine Bowman
813-386-2346
www.pegasustranstech.com
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