September 20, 2011 – FleetOwner.com reports on TCP’s recent announcement of the addition of Jim Parham as a managing partner of the firm. Parham has over 40 years of experience in the industry, including 25 years as President of Jim Parham & Associates. Read the full article here.
September 29, 2011 - The Journal of Commerce reports online that truckload carriers are taking accessorial charges (one-time fees for special services) to shippers. The article cites findings from TCP’s recent survey which asked carriers about a variety of industry issues, including renegotiation of accesorials. The article mentions that companies like UPS and FedEx Express have long used these charges and 68% of the carriers surveyed plan on renegotiating these fees as well. Click here to read more.
September 28, 2011 – Despite a decline in tonnage, FleetOwner.com reports some interesting news for the trucking industry. According to chief ATA economist Bob Costello, the number of trucks operating is down and carriers are having trouble recruiting drivers, which is keeping “tonnage in check.” The decrease in tonnage however is in line with historical trends and over half of carriers from TCP’s Third Quarter Business Expectations survey said that their rates did increase over the last three months. Read the full article here.
September 21, 2011 – In May of 2011 almost 80% of carriers surveyed expect business volumes to increase but this number shrank down to only 48% of carriers in TCP’s recent survey. Both Batts and Mikes were quoted in TruckingInfo.com’s article. Read the full article here.
September 21, 2011 – TheTrucker.com cites the TCP Third Quarter Business Expectations Survey which suggests that the uncertainty in the economy is affecting carriers’ outlook in business volumes. Read the full article here.
August 8, 2011 – Transport Topics reports on the recent acquisition of Specialized Transportation Inc. by CRST International, a move that greatly expands the services the company is able to offer. Batts discusses how the aftermath of the Great Recession is causing carriers, like CRST International, must think differently about business practices in order to be competitive in today’s market; read more here.
August 4, 2011 – Richard Mikes is quoted in an article in the Commercial Carrier Journal regarding the increase of carriers – particularly smaller carriers – that are eager to sell. While in 2006 and 2007 the climate was a “seller’s market,” the number of carriers willing to sell now makes it a “buyer’s market.” To read more about the current mergers and acquisitions market in the transportation industry, click here.
June 27, 2011 – Transport Topics reports that in the first quarter of this year, driver turnover “reached the highest level in nearly three years” for larger fleets ($30 million in revenue or more). Mikes points out that smaller fleets are more inclined to have less turnover as they “tend to have shorter lengths of haul, which gives drivers more time at home.” To read more about the recent increase in driver turnover, click here.
June 16, 2011 – Fleet Owner: Trucking looking up over the next year. Read the full article.
June 15, 2011 – Trucking Info: Carrier expectations survey still stong. Read the full article.
June 15, 2011 – Automotive World: The recent Second Quarter Business Expectations Survey from Transport Capital Partners (TCP) has reported that more than 80% of the US freight hauliers/carriers responding were expecting volume increases... Read the full article.
May 5, 2011 – In an article from dcvelocity.com, the recent TCP survey is quoted. The nation's leading shipper executives didn't rise to the top of their profession by accident. It took resourcefulness and determination, honed by decades of experience and results, to get to where they are. Read the full article.
April 25, 2011 – Carriers going without brokers article on FleetOwner.com quoted TCP on the recent survey in 2011. Read more.
April 28, 2011 – The Trucker.com - America's Trucking Newspaper quoted TCP on the recent survey. Read more.
February 10, 2011 – White paper covering the current industry trends. Read more.
December 20, 2010 – Transport Topics reviews two recent surveys that indicate a slowing in freight demand as well as “continued capacity constraints.” TCP’s fourth quarter Business Expectations survey showed that 34% of the fleets surveyed are planning to add equipment in the next 12 months but this is primarily replacement of aging equipment. To read more about TCP’s recent survey and industry trends such as driver additions, click here.
December 16, 2010 – Truckinginfo.com covers the recent survey conducted by TCP which shows that carriers are worried about labor shortages. Read more.
December 15, 2010 – Fleetowner cites the recent TCP Business Expectations Survey in its article geared towards the issues that carriers will face in 2011. These issues include driver shortages and small fleet survivability. Read the full article here. Read more.
December 13, 2010 – The fourth quarter Business Expectations Survey was cited in Transport Topics recent article about a 148% gain in truck orders. The survey showed that many carriers are “shifting to a more aggressive tractor replacement plan.” TCP partners were in the article, to read click here.
December 10, 2010 – In a article by OverDrive.com the recent survey by TCP is discussed, referencing the trends the industry survey has shown over the last two years. While optimism has waned in the last two quarters, carriers have still become more optimistic that volumes and rates will increase in 2011. Read the full article here. Read more.December 8, 2010 – Truckinginfo.com covers the recent survey conducted by TCP which shows that carriers are moving to more aggressive equipment acquisition and replacement plans. Read the full article here. Read more.
December 8, 2010 – Truckinginfo.com covers the recent survey conducted by TCP which shows that carriers are more eager to replace their aging fleets, but do not plan on adding capacity. Read the full article here.
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December 8, 2010 – TheTrucker.com highlights the good news for truck makers. The recent TCP survey shows that forty percent of responding carriers said that they would acquire (or replace) more than 10% of their fleet. Read the full article here. ”
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December 8, 2010 – Today’sTrucking.com covers how according to TCP’s recent survey, capacity is lagging behind fleet expansion. Read the full article here. ”
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December 6, 2010 – Citing TCP’s recent survey, Automotiveworld.com highlights that carriers are optimistic for 2011.Read more.
December 3, 2010 – While TCP’s spring Business Expectations survey showed higher optimism from carriers, sixty-six percent still anticipate volumes to increase over the next year. Read more.
September 23, 2010- Truckinginfo.com cites Richard Mikes, TCP managing partner, in an article about the impact of regulatory uncertainty on the future business plans of fleet managers. Read more.
September 15, 2010 – DC Velocity writer, Mark B. Solomon, discusses TCP’s finding regarding the change to the “Practical Miles” trucker pay formula from the more traditional “Shortest Miles” formula. Read more.
September 15, 2010 – An article from Truckinginfo.com notes TCP survey results that project an increase in merger and acquisition activity as carriers attempt to maneuver a changing transportation industry.
Read more.
September 15, 2010 – The Journal of Commerce Online discusses TCP’s research which shows that truckload rates are on the rise industry wide, although larger carriers seem to be experiencing greater increases than smaller carriers. The article calls the finding, “a sign there may still be life in trucking’s fall peak season.”
Read more.
September 10, 2010 – Truckinginfo.com displayed the survey results for TCP’s Business Expectation Survey, quoting Lana Batts, managing partner for TCP, about the specific ways carriers intend to add capacity in the next year. These plans include the use of both independent contractors and used trucks, despite high cost and limited availability. Read more.
September 10, 2010 – The Trucker.com captured TCP’s third quarter survey results in an online article entitled, “Carriers: freight volume to increase in next year, but capacity won’t.” The article quotes both Lana Batts and Richard Mikes, TCP managing partners. Read more.
September 9, 2010 – FleetOwner highlights TCP’s Third Quarter Business Expectation Survey’s findings that carriers expect to see volumes and rates increase in the coming year. The article also discusses the survey results which show hesitation of both large and small carriers to add capacity in the next twelve months.
Read the full article.
August 23, 2010 – A recent article of Transport Topics notes that interest in used trucks is growing and that new vehicles only accounted for 23% of 2010 registrations. Mikes discusses how the increase in the price of new equipment puts pressure on carriers to raise rates. To learn more about the recent equipment trend, click here.
August 23, 2010 – Mikes is quoted in an article of Transport Topics discussing the recent decision of three truck fleets to provide public share offerings. For more than five years the industry has gone without a stock sale. All three carriers plan to repay debt with the proceeds. Click here to read the full article.
July 2010 – BulkTransporter.com recently reported TCP’s findings about variation in carriers’ interest in technology for the upcoming year. The article quotes TCP partner Richard Mikes on how increases in freight have evoked interest in credit availability and various types of equipment. Read the full article.
June 30, 2010 – Refrigerated Transporter also points out TCP’s finding that there is a trucker shortage. While larger carriers have a more difficult time recruiting new drivers, an increased focus on improving recruitment efforts is evident throughout the industry. Read the full article.
June 30, 2010 – An article by Truckinginfo.com says that TCP’s most recent Business Expectations Survey reports important findings about the effects of the improving economy on the transportation industry. The article focuses on carriers’ increased interest in mergers and acquisitions. Read the full article.
June 28, 2010 – According to TodaysTrucking.com, TCP’s Business Expectations Survey offers much insight into the current supply and demand dynamics of drivers in the trucking industry. While trucker recruiting is a growing problem during this shortage, truckers are in a favorable position. Read the full article.
June 25, 2010 – In the article “Next Exit: Driver Shortage?” Getloaded.com discusses the predicted scarcity of truck drivers and the implications of this condition for the industry. The author highlights TCP’s findings that industry professionals are focusing on recruiting drivers and are using fewer brokers. Read the full article.
June 24, 2010 – Truckinginfo.com discusses TCP’s Business Expectation Survey’s finding that there is currently a driver shortage due to increased amounts of truck freight. The article notes carriers’ reported decrease in dependence on brokers and a supply-demand dynamic that favors truckers. Read the full article.
June 23, 2010 – BulkTransporter.com outlines TCP’s Business Expectations Survey for 2010’s second quarter. The article focuses on truckers’ strong optimism for the near future of the industry. Read the full article.
June 23, 2010 – Kevin Jones of TheTrucker.com reports TCP’s latest Business Expectations Survey’s findings about how carriers are responding to the current driver shortage. Because of this shortage, carriers are working to improve driver recruiting efforts. Read the full article.
June 11, 2010 – Truckinginfo.com discusses TCP’s industry survey, pointing out that truckers are optimistic about the upcoming year. Quoting TCP’s Mikes and Batts, this article provides statistics from the survey that show truckers’ overwhelmingly positive predictions for their businesses. Read the full article.
May 24, 2010 – The Nebraska Trucking Association used managing partner Lana Batts’ words as their “quote of the week.” In this passage, Batts explains what will likely happen in the transportation industry when the economy improves. Read the full article.
May 4, 2010 – Schilli Transportation News, a news resource from Schilli Transportation Services, notes TCP’s findings that 445 bankruptcies occurred in the trucking industry in the last quarter of 2009 and that over 170,000 trucks have become inactive over the past year and a half due to bankruptcies. Read the full article.
April 12, 2010 – Mikes is quoted in a recent Transport Topics article which highlights the growing interest in mergers and acquisitions in the transportation industry. Factors such as the improving economy and greater business potential have accelerated the mergers and acquisitions market. To read more about recent acquisitions and the growing trend, read the full article.
April 9, 2010 - Truckininfo.com cites Transport Capital Partner’s Business Expectations Quarterly Survey in “Half of Truckload Carriers Unprepared for CSA 2010.” Managing partners Richard Mikes and Lana Batts comment on the carrier unpreparedness. Read the full article here.
April 9, 2010 - TCP Managing Partner Lana Batts responded to the Department of Transportation’s “America’s Marine Highway” program in “Marine Highways Not Seen As Big Competitor to Trucking.” Batts asserts the trucking industry is safe unless “unless you can figure out how to get the barge to pull up to the dock at Wal-Mart.”
Read the full article here.
April 9, 2010 - Logistics Management quoted Managing Partner Lana Batts in their article “Trucking News: FMCSA delays new truck driver rating system.” Batts critiqued the Department of Transportations approach and commented on the new CSA. Read the full article here.
April 1, 2010 – In “Carriers Still Slow to Buy New Equipment: TCP Survey,” Bulk Transporter highlights TCP’s Business Expectations Survey’s finding that about half of carriers do not plan to buy new trucks very soon and discusses related findings. Read the full article here.
April 2010 – In Successful Dealer’s April 2010 Industry Report, Denise Rondini points out findings from TCP’s Business Expectations Survey, focusing on how surveyed carriers do not plan to be quick to buy new equipment in the near future. Read the full article here.
March 26, 2010 - In “Carriers Hesitant to Add New Equipment,” Truckinginfo.com uses information from the Business Expectations Quarterly survey to assert that 56% of carriers expect to grow by adding new capacity from company-owned equipment rather than independent carriers. The article quotes managing TCP partners Richard Mikes and Lana Batts. Read the full article here.
March 22, 2010 – In an article about the recent bankruptcy of a trucking company in Arkansas, The Journal of Commerce quotes TCP’s Lana Batts about the future of financing trucks. Read the full article here.
March 18, 2010 – Post Business of NashvillePost.com summarizes TCP’s survey of trucking companies’ executives’ thoughts on remaining in or backing out of the trucking industry due to slow business in the recession. The article quotes TCP managing partner Lana Batts on the study’s finding that small carriers lack optimism in the current market. Read the full article here.
March 18, 2010 - Commercial Carrier Journal Digital in their article “TCP Survey Shows One in Four Carriers Pondering Quitting” cites the recent TCP Business Expectations Survey. Managing Partners Lana Batts and Richard Mikes commented on the results agreeing that the industry is prime for a flood of acquisitions.
Read the full article here.
March 17, 2010 – In the article “TCP Survey Shows One in Four Carriers Consider Selling,” TodaysTrucking.com summarizes TCP’s Business Expectations Survey results, focusing on the findings that many surveyed carriers have confidence in the coming year while about 25% of carriers are thinking about leaving the industry over the next year and a half. Read the full article here.
March 17, 2010 – In "One Fourth of Carriers Looking at Leaving the Industry," TruckingInfo.com reports results from Transport Capital Partners' (TCP) Business Expectations Survey. The survey, conducted quarterly, indicated that carriers have become more confident in rates and volumes, but their hopes for long term survival are not so optimistic, with one in four considering selling if conditions don't improve in the next six months.
Read the full article.
March 11, 2010 –Today’s Trucking quoted Transport Capital Partners (TCP) in the Featured News article “‘Inverse Perfect Storm’ Brewing in Trucking: Analysts” about results from the most recent Business Expectations Survey, conducted quarterly by TCP. John Burton with ACT Research Co. (ACT) reports similar results from his company’s surveys: carriers and industry vendors think capacity is tightening in February but should improve in the second half of 2010 and in 2011. Read the full article here.
March 9, 2010 - TruckingInfo.com’s article, “TCP Assists in HB Holdings’ Acquisition of McGriff Transportation” features TCP’s acquisition services. Managing Partner Miller Welborn was quoted. Read the full article here.
March 8, 2010 – TruckingInfo.com’s “TCP: Capacity Crunch, Improved rates Are in the Card” quotes Lana Batts, managing partner for Transport Capital Partners (TCP) on projections for the industry in the next year. The article quotes Batts during a conference call hosted by Stifel Nicolaus March 5th. Her responses were based on results from the most recent Business Expectations Survey, conducted by TCP each quarter. Read the full article here.
February 1, 2010 – In an article about current trends in financing in the transportation industry, Heart Logistics quotes TCP partner Steven Dutro on his assessment of today’s credit environment in the industry.
Read the full article here.
January 11, 2010 –Heavy Duty Trucking quoted Lana Batts and Richard Mikes, managing partners for Transport Capital Partners (TCP), in two articles in its January 2010 print publication. “Trucking technology company consolidation is a trend” quotes Batts as saying more “wallet share acquisitions” are likely to increase in the transportation industry during the next few years. “Survey: Carriers optimistic, but still feel cash pinch” reports the findings of TCP’s fourth quarter Business Expectations Survey, quoting both Mikes and Batts about the outlook trucking companies reported in the past three months. Read the full article here.
January 4, 2010 – Expediters Online reported their expectations for 2010 in “What Does 2010 Hold for Trucking,” and quoted Transport Capital Partners’ (TCP) managing partners’ about executives’ expectation for freight volume to improve in the next seven to 12 months. Read the full article here.
January 2, 2010 - Logistik News, a German online news publication for the transportation industry, posted the article, “Trucking news: Transport Capital Partners survey shows an optimistic outlook heading into 2010” from Logistic Management. The article reports on Transport Capital Partners’ (TCP) fourth quarter Business Expectations Survey and its hopeful look for the New Year to see increases in rates and volumes for carriers. See the posting here.
December 31, 2009 - The December issue of Arkansas Trucking Report, a publication of the Arkansas Trucking Association, quotes Steven Dutro, manaing partner for Transport Capitla Partners (TCP) and Jim Schnoes, director for TCP, in “Brother Can You Spare a Loan?” Dutro and Schnoes contribute insights about long-term survival of the recession for trucking companies. Read the full article.
December 29, 2009 - SupplyChainBrain posted a summary of an article on TodaysTrucking that quotes Richard Mikes and Lana Batts, managing partners for Transport Capital Partners (TCP), about the results of the fourth quarter Business Expectations Survey. "40 Percent of Truckers Don't See Upturn Until 2011" reports that the outlook for volumes and rates has increased, but carriers still hesitate to say conditions will return to "normal" in 2010. Read the full article.
December 29, 2009 - Transport Capital Partners' (TCP) Managing Partners Lana Batts and Richard Mikes are quoted in TruckingInfo's "Fleet Equipment Purchase Plans Stabilize" about results from the firm's fourth-quarter Business Expectations Survey. Results show that carriers are stabilizing on fleet replacement, with a pre-buy unlikely and more interest in buying and selling shown this quarter than previous months. Read the full article.
December 22, 2009 - Today's Trucking's "Cash Shortage Still Squeezing Trucking" reports on results from Transport Capital Partners' fourth quarter Business Expectations Survey. Among other statistics, the survey showed that due to cash shortages, one in eight carriers have given serious consideration to leaving the industry if rates do not improve soon. Read the full article.
December 16, 2009 - Transport Capital Partners' Managing Partners Lana Batts and Richard Mikes were quoted in Bulk Transporter's "Carriers facing cash squeeze as receivables drag: survey." The article reports the findings of TCP's fourth quarter Business Expectations Survey, which collects the insights and opinions of carriers nationwide in order to report on the state of the industry. Read the full article.
December 14, 2009 - Motor Carriers of Montana, a trade association dedicated to the furtherance of the trucking industry's goals and interests in Montana and the United States, included a full report on results from Transport Capital Partners' (TCP) fourth-quarter Business Expectations Survey. The survey indicated that carriers' optimism for better rates in 2010 has increased in comparison with expectations in the third quarter of this year. Read the full newsletter.
December 15, 2009 - The United Kingdom's SupplyChain Digital reports the results of Transport Capital Partners' (TCP) fourth quarter Business Expectations Survey in "Transport Capital Partners survey reports optimistic trucking companies." In the article, TCP Managing Partner Lana Batts offers her opinion of the volume and rate recovery timelines. Read the full article.
December 14, 2009 – Logistics Management featured Transport Capital Partners’ (TCP) quarterly Business Expectations Survey in “Trucking news: Transport Capital Partners survey shows an optimistic outlook heading into 2010.” The article quotes Lana Batts, managing partner for TCP, about the results and her observations regarding the outlook for the trucking industry in 2010. Read the full article.
December 11, 2009 - Trucking Info's article "TCP: Fleets are Optimistic Going Into 2010" highlights the results of Transport Capital Partners' fourth quarter Business Expectations Survey. Managing Partners Richard Mikes and Lana Batts discuss the increase in carriers' optimism. Read the full article.
December 11, 2009 - Transport Capital Partners (TCP) Managing Partners Richard Mikes and Lana Batts were quoted extensively in Today's Trucking article titled "U.S. trucking upturn won't happen until '11." Mikes and Batts discuss the results of TCP's quarterly Business Expectations Survey and their expectations for the trucking industry in 2010 and 2011. Read the full article.
September 15, 2009 – Supply Chain Digest’s article “Transport Capital Partners survey suggests recession nearing end” reports TCP’s third quarter Business Expectations Survey findings. Lana Batts, a managing partner for TCP, is quoted about buying trends during the current recession in the transportation industry. Read the full article.
September 14, 2009 – Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) posted the article “Transport Capital Partners Survey: Fleets Cautious on Equipment and Expansion” to report TCP’s recent survey findings in the third quarter Business Expectations Survey, conducted in order to report on the current state of the transportation industry. Richard Mikes, a managing partner for TCP, is quoted about carriers’ hesitations to sell as the economy continues to improve. Read the full article.
September 14, 2009 – In the article “Trucking news: Transport Capital Partners survey indicates end of the recession may be near,” Logistics Management reported results of the third quarter Business Expectations Survey, with statistics that show that a bottom may have been reached in the recession. The article quote Lana Batts, managing partner for Transport Capital Partners (TCP), about the recovery process and how carriers are responding to current economic conditions. Read the full article.
September 11, 2009 – An article on TheTrucker.com, “TCP Survey: ‘Light at the End of the Tunnel’ for Trucking,” quotes both Lana Batts and Richard Mikes, managing partners for Transport Capital Partners (TCP), about their findings through the quarterly Business Expectations Survey the firm conducts. Read the full article.
September 11, 2009– Today’s Trucking quoted Richard Mikes, managing partner for Transport Capital Partners, in “Truck analysts say climb back from recession will be slow.” The article included results from TCP’s Business Expectations Survey, conducted quarterly, about equipment purchasing and fleet acquisitions in the current economy and other state-of-the-industry topics. Read the full article.
August 18, 2009 - The SupplyChain Digest article “As Truckload Rates Continue Freefall, Middlemen Actually See Margins Grow” quoted Lana Batts, a managing partner at Transport Capital Partner (TCP), about the economic outlook of the transportation industry this year. Many of Batts’ data has been collected via TCP’s quarterly Business Expectations Surveys. Read the full article.
July 27, 2009 - Lana Batts, managing partner for Transport Capital Partners (TCP), was quoted in SupplyChainDigest’s article “Truckload Market Sees Bottom Having Arrived, but Fundamentals are Still Rotten.” Batts’ quotes for the article were taken from a recent phone interview conducted by John Larkin with Stifel Nicholas.
Read the full article.
June 30, 2009 - Transport Capital Partners’ (TCP) findings from its second-quarter Business Expectations Survey were quoted in a presentation from Newport Communications (publisher of Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine). The “Economy and More” presentation noted that TCP’s survey shows truckers’ expectations improving, as indicated by outlook on freight volumes, rate stability, insurance renewals, etc. View the full presentation here.
June 23, 2009 - Transport Capital Partners (TCP) was featured in Logistics Management in the article “Trucking News: Transport Capital Partners survey points to heightened future expectations for trucking market.” The article reported in detail the findings from TCP’s second quarter Business Expectations Survey. Read the full article. The article was also posted here.
June 15, 2009 - Transport Capital Partners (TCP) was featured in Transport Topics in the article “Optimism Grows Among Fleet Owners about Economic Recovery, Survey Finds.” The article gave full coverage to TCP’s second quarter Business Expectations Survey findings, released in early June. Read the full article.
June 11, 2009 - Truckinginfo.com and ExpeditersOnline.com featured results from Transport Capital Partners’ (TCP) second quarter Business Expectations Survey in the article “Truckers have rosy economic outlook.” According to the survey, the industry expects conditions such as freight volumes, rate stability, insurance renewals, credit and mergers and acquisitions to improve in the next 12 months. Read the full article. The article was also posted here.
May 5, 2009 - The Iowa Motor Transportation Association (IMTA) featured an article by Richard Mikes, managing partner for Transport Capital Partners (TCP), in its Spring 2009 issue of its magazine Lifeliner. The article “Trucking in Turbulent Times” discusses the current condition of the transportation industry, advises carriers on ways to endure, and uses findings from TCP’s Business Expectation Survey conducted in February. Read the full article here.
April 20, 2009 - Transport Topics quoted Lana Batts, managing partner for Transport Capital Partners (TCP), in the article “After the Recession Ends…” Batts reports her insights during this economic downturn and provides recommendations for carriers on how to survive. Download a PDF of the article here.
April 1, 2009 - Transport Capital Partners’ survey results are featured and discussed in the recent FleetOwner article, “The Good News Famine.” The article focuses on the positive news and attitudes still found despite the current state of the economy. Read the full article here.
April 1, 2009 - Richard Mikes spoke at two Iowa Motor Truck Association (IMTA) meetings on March 24 and 26th on the topic “Where Do We Go From Here? Capturing the Value of Change.” He discussed three primary areas: (1) Supply chain implications, involving trends toward more plant and distribution centers, closer national and international sourcing, and a modal mix shift favoring trucking; (2) Global and international recessions, with consumer confidence at its lowest levels, the resultant “fear factor,” and the likelihood that this recession will mirror the early ‘80s; and (3) Impact upon trucking, including results from the recent TCP survey that indicated the severity of rate pressures, high number of carriers considering buying or selling, carrier cost adjustments, the likelihood of capacity restraints with volumes rising in late 2009 or early 2010, and strategies being set for future prosperity and growth by carriers who seize opportunity now.
March 30, 2009 - Lana Batts, managing partner of Transport Capital Partners, was quoted about the new trend of shippers trying to change fuel surcharge formulas in the March 23rd issue of Transport Topics. Read the full article here.
March 24, 2009 - The Journal of Commerce Online recently published an article in which Transport Capital Partners is quoted on the effects of the recession on trucking. Read the full article here.
March 20, 2009 - Lana Batts, managing partner of Transport Capital Partners, was quoted about the new trend of shippers trying to change fuel surcharge formulas in the March 23rd issue of Transport Topics. Read the full article here.
March 13, 2009 - An article on FleetOwner.com used Transport Capital Partners’ report of their findings from the Truckload Carriers Association Annual (TCA) conference for the article “Truckload experts see carriers thinking outside the box." Read the full article here.w
March 12, 2009 - Lana Batts, managing partner for Transport Capital Partners, LLC, moderated an experienced panel on Intermodal Truckload at the Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) Annual Convention, held March 8-12 in Orlando. Some of the topics discussed were deepening freight recession in the short-term and future increases in fuel prices and driver shortages in the long-term. Panel participants included: James Hertwig, president of CSX Intermodal; John Hickerson, sr. vice president and chief marketing officer of FFE Transportation Services, Inc.; and Patrick Quinn, president and co-chairman of U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc. Download the press release here.
March 11, 2009 - Richard Mikes will be the featured speaker at the Iowa Motor Truck Association Meeting on March 24, 2009. His presentation is titled, “Trucking in 2009: Insight, Observations, and Predictions”.
March 11, 2009 - Steven Dutro spoke to a regional meeting of the Colorado Motor Carrier Association on the topic “Making It Through the Recession." The presentation covered a broad perspective on the current recession, ways carriers can help themselves, and an update on the credit markets and various sources of credit.
March 10, 2009 - Transport Capital Partners recently conducted a Business Expectations Survey of carriers nationwide in Feb 2009. Download the results here.
March 9, 2009 -Lana Batts, managing partner of Transport Capital Partners, was quoted in an article in the March 9th issue of Transport Topics in the article “More Fleet Failures Expected as Carriers’ Rates, Volumes Fall.
Read the full article here.
March 5, 2009 - An article in Fleetowner titled “Carriers consider leaving industry” reports the findings of Transport Capital Partners (TCP) Business Expectations Survey concerning this topic. Read the full article here.
February 23, 2009 - Richard Mikes, managing partner of Transport Capital Partners, was quoted in the article “Some Firms Cut New-Driver Pay as Freight Demand Stays Low” in the February 23 issue of Transport Topics. Read the full article here.
February 23, 2009 - Transport Topics recently quoted Richard Mikes regarding new driver's pay. The article also references the national Business Expectations survey conducted by Transport Capital Partners. Read the entire article.
February 18, 2009 - Outsourced Logistics posted an article, "Fuel, Freight and Future Questions for Motor Carriers," which included Lana Batt's comments during a conference call hosted by Stifel Nicolaus. Read the entire article.
December 2, 2008 - Bulk Transporter posted an article, "Carriers adjusting to the new economy," which included the results of Transport Capital Partner's most recent survey on the topic. View the entire article.
November 3, 2008 - Transport Topics recently published an article by Steven Dutro, "Carriers in the New Lending Enviroment". View the entire article.
November 1, 2008 - Traffic World quoted Lana Batts on the how the credit crunch is also affect efforts to privatize the nations highways and bridges. She noted that the same factors impacting the housing credit (less money, higher rates, more difficult covenants) are also impacting efforts of USDOT and state DOT efforts to secure private equity investment in highways and bridges. Money has become more difficult to secure because highway officials can neither guarantee revenues nor expenses.
October 20, 2008 - Transport Topics quoted Lana Batts on the credit crunch. She noted that banks are becoming concerned whether shippers will be able to pay their bills to carriers. As a result, they are concerned whether carriers' account receivable are as solid as they once were. She noted that the issues to be "when" a carrier was paid; the issue is now becoming "if" they will be paid.
November 1, 2008 - Traffic World quoted Lana Batts on the how the credit crunch is also affect efforts to privatize the nations highways and bridges. She noted that the same factors impacting the housing credit (less money, higher rates, more difficult covenants) are also impacting efforts of USDOT and state DOT efforts to secure private equity investment in highways and bridges. Money has become more difficult to secure because highway officials can neither guarantee revenues nor expenses.
October 20, 2008 - Transport Topics quoted Lana Batts on the credit crunch. She noted that banks are becoming concerned whether shippers will be able to pay their bills to carriers. As a result, they are concerned whether carriers' account receivable are as solid as they once were. She noted that the issues to be "when" a carrier was paid; the issue is now becoming "if" they will be paid.
October 17, 2008- Transport Capital Partners released oberservations on the current lending enviroment and credit market for trucking. View the entire article.
October 13, 2008 - Transport Topics quoted Lana Batts on the tight credit markets. She noted that while there are still some people who are willing to work with truckers on financing, the list is getting shorter and the qualifications are getting tighter.
October 9, 2008- Transport Capital Partners released oberservations on the recent ATA Annual Meeting. View the entire article.
October 3, 2008 - Transport Capital Partners is pleased to have assisted in a transaction between U.S. Xpress Enterprises and Smith Transport, Inc., in wich U.S. Xpress will acquire 47 percent interest in Smith Transport. View the full article.
September 19, 2008 - Transport Topics quoted Lana Batts on the growing cash crunch. She noted that shippers are extending the time the pay carriers. The problem is made worse because carriers have to pay their fuel costs on a daily basis, but are being paid by the shipper until 45 days later. She noted that even if a carriers receives 100% fuel surcharges from 100% of its customers, it is still about 20% in recovering its increased fuel costs because of billed versus actual miles, out of route miles, empty miles, and idling.
July 25, 2008 - The Chattanooga Free Press quoted Lana Batts. “You had the most perfect storm that could have ever been created. It has just been a compounding over and over and over again,” said Lana Batts, former president of the Truckload Carriers Association and managing partner with Transport Capitol Partners, a mergers and acquisitions company.
July 23, 2008 - Transport Capital Partners attended the Truckload Carriers Association's annual Refrigerated Division Conference in Monterey, CA in early July. Listening to several presentations, participating in workshops, and visiting with attendees provided diverse insight into direction of the refrigerated industry. View the full article on TCP's observations of this conference.
July 10, 2008 - Transport Capital Partners released an analysis and results of their most recent fuel survey. View the full article with results.
May 14, 2008 - On Wednesday, May 28, 2008 Lana Batts had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion sponsored by Stifel Nicolaus on the "Impact of Fuel Prices on Supply Chains." Lana was joined by Dr. "Chip" White of Georgia Tech, Tom Jones of Ryder Systems, and Terry Matthews of J.B. Hunt. Download the pdf from the panel discussion to read key points on how rapidly rising fuel prices are changing distribution patterns.
May 14, 2008 - Transport Capital Partners announced the acquisition of James Brown Contracting, Inc by Navigation Capital Partners in a press release on May 14, 2008. Transport Capital Partners assisted in the sale of the dedicated freight carrier to the Atlanta based Equity Company. With 500 trucks and more than 3,000 trailers, Brown is the leading dedicated freight transportation provider to the paper and packaging industry.
May 12, 2008 - Transport Topics quoted Lana Batts on the reported increase in empty miles in the trucking industry. She noted that as long haul carriers move to more regional markets, the number of empty miles increase, the number of turns increase, and dwell times increase in significance. She noted that "you can no longer measure productivity in miles, you also need to measure it in hours".
May 9, 2008 - Sirius Radio featured Lana Batts on a half hour program on the opportunities for women in trucking. She noted that in addition to an increasing number of women truck drivers, women were also becoming a force in dispatch and sales.
April 14, 2008 - Transport Topics quoted Lana Batts in a lead article on rising fuel costs, entitled "Fleets Seek Fuel Savings." She noted that that the difference between the miles that carriers actually consume fuel is quite different from what is published in the commercial miles guides.
April 2008 - DC Velocity, a leading publication for Distribution Management, published a letter to the editor in its April issue from Lana Batts concerning raising fuel prices. Lana strongly objected to an editorial which claimed that carriers were making money off their fuel surcharges. She noted that carriers only cover about 75 to 80 percent of their gallons with their surcharges because of (1) the differences in billed miles versus actual; (2) empty and out of route miles, (3) refrigeration unit fuels, (4) congestion, and (5) idling.
March 12, 2008 - TruckerToTrucker.com quoted Richard Mikes in an article, "Is Private Equity Helping or Hurting Trucking?" Read the full article here.
November 26, 2007 - Transport Topics quoted Lana Batts in two separate articles on consolidations in the truckload industry, noting in 2008, "There will be some mergers and acquisitions with good companies being bought, but bad ones will just drop out."
November 2007 - Truckinginfo.com published an opinion hotline article written by Lana Batts entitled, "What's Really Normal." In it she noted that it's not the strongest or the most intelligent that survive in turbulent times, but the most responsive to change. A significant part of being responsive to change to fully understanding what activities create costs and assigning them to the right function. For example, a new truck that has two or three different drivers a year can increase maintenance costs 2—3 cents more over a truck with only one driver. Assigning those extra costs to maintenance, rather than retention, only further hides the true cost of driver turnover.
October 9, 2007 - Lana Batts spoke at the annual meeting of the Nebraska Motor Carriers Association in Lincoln, NE on the shifting sands of the trucking industry. She noted that many new realities faced the trucking industry that needed to be factored into the operations of any company, including high fuel prices a fact of life, driver shortages are not going to go away, and that congestion will continue to impact the ability of a carrier to guarantee on-time deliveries.
August 13, 2007- Lana Batts spoke at the PeopleNet Users Conference on "What the Future Holds for Trucking," in Hilton Head, SC. She addressed certain factors that are now a given, such as high, volatile fuel prices, chronic driver retention issues, and highway congestion. She also pointed out positive factors affecting the industry such as increased freight volumes, improved trucks, and new markets.
July 23, 2007 - Transport Topics quoted Richard Mikes in the 2007 "Top 100 Carriers... Private Equity Reshapes Trucking." Mikes was quoted as saying: "Private equity investors are providing an alternative for trucking companies looking to sell their business. It has given trucking more liquidity. The private equity investor is driven by financial parameters." He also addressed trucking owners' uses of debt after the past cycle.
March 20, 2007 - Richard Mikes spoke at the CSX Intermodal Conference in Memphis, discussing the strategic outlook for trucking and intermodal movements. He addressed current regulation, the impact of technology, trucking profitability, cyclical and seasonal impact, rate, tonnage growth and road congestion. The growth of intermodalism will continue in the short and long term as shippers and carriers search for new strategies, she forecast.
March 7, 2007 - Richard Mikes spoke at the annual Navistar Financial Corporation meeting in San Antonio on purchasing and financing decisions. Her presentation included life cycle economics, financing trends, carrier decision methods, operational strategies, and technology trends. She discussed the needs and expectations of carriers for equipment financing over the long term with suppliers.
Spring 2007 -
Spring 2007 – Richard Mikes, managing partner for Transport Capital Partners (TCP), was quoted in the annual Transport Topics 100 For-Hire Carriers in the article “Private Equity Reshapes Trucking As Investors Bolster Top Carriers.” Mikes said that private equity investors are giving an alternative to trucking companies looking to sell their business. Read the full article.
October 30, 2006 - Lana Batts spoke at the American Trucking Association's annual meeting in Dallas, Texas. She discussed recent merger and acquisition activities in the trucking industry, as well as the new inflow of money from private equity companies. She was also quoted in the November 6, 2006, Transport Topics about the presentation. (October 30, 2006)
September 25, 2006 - Lana Batts spoke at the National Accounting & Finance Council's annual meeting in Washington, DC. She discussed what buyers and sellers are looking for in an acquisition.
September 19, 2006 - Richard Mikes spoke to the Ohio Trucking Association about "Establishing the Value of a Carrier." He discussed family succession and estate plans, private carriers as a reflection of publicly traded carriers, and what drives valuation parameters along with equipment dynamics.
June 2006 - Richard Mikes' "History of Trucking" speech at the AMRC is listed in The Researcher, June 2006, page 9. Download a PDF of the newsletter.
May 17, 2006 - Steven Dutro spoke at the Transportation Lawyers Association convention as part of a seminar called "Solving the Insolvency Conundrum: Dealing with Businesses on the Edge of Financial Abyss." The topic covered strategies for protection from customers in financial distress as well as strategies to protect trucking companies in financial distress.
May 3, 2006 - In an article for the Automotive Market Research Council (AMRC) of Marco Island, Fla., Richard Mikes, managing partner for Transport Capital Partners (TCP), wrote a segment on the “History of Trucking,” beginning in the early 1930s. Download a PDF of the article.
May 1, 2006 - Transport Topics published an editorial opinion entitled "Looking for Liquidity in 2006" co-authored by Richard Mikes and Lana Batts. The piece discussed the reasons why certain executives are selling their companies and what types of carriers buyers are seeking.
February 25, 2006 - Lana Batts gave the keynote address before the Annual Landstar Logistics Carriers Conference in Dallas, TX. She discussed "Change, Uncertainty and Profits: How to Thrive in Logistics." (February 25, 2006)
September 22, 2005 - Lana Batts spoke before the Unipro Food Service's Operations Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her speech was entitled "How to Thrive in Uncertain Times."
September 22, 2005 - James Schnoes and Richard Mikes spoke before the Arizona Trucking Association in Tucson, Arizona. The title of the speech was "Life Cycle Costing: Key to Better Asset Management."
August 16, 2005 - Lana Batts was the Keynote speaker for the PeopleNet Communications Annual Users Conference. The title of her speech was "Change, Uncertainty and Profits: How to Thrive in the Trucking Industry."
July 27, 2005 - James Schnoes and Miller Welborn were speakers at the Commercial Carrier University, held in conjunction with the Texas Motor Truck Association's annual meeting in Austin, TX. The topic of their presentation was the value of education and training and how to better utilize the resources of Commercial Carrier University.
June 27, 2005 - Transport Topics quoted Richard Mikes and Lana Batts in an article entitled "Private Equity Funds Increase as Source of Transport Capital." They noted that the use of equity capital by trucking companies is very unique to each specific circumstance. View the entire article.
May 17, 2005 - Gailyn Larsen participated in a panel at the Industrial Property Summit, sponsored by Cushman & Wakefield and held in Chicago, IL. In his remarks, entitled "Fine Tuning the Supply Chain," Larsen discussed the impact that service hour regulations have on the location of facilities and the need for increased warehouse doors to minimize the truck driver's limited time at shipping and receiving facilities.
April 1, 2005 - Richard Mikes participated on a panel at the Transportation Intermediaries Association's annual meeting in Miami, FL. Mikes commented on the "perfect storm," which is creating the environment for increased merger and acquisition activity in 2005.
March 30, 2005 - Lana Batts participated in a panel at the Mid-America Truck Show, sponsored by Newport Communications and held in Louisville, KY. She spoke about the factors in 2005 that are creating a climate for increased merger and acquisition activity.
February 26, 2005 - Lana Batts gave the keynote address before the Landstar Logistics Carrier Conference, Dallas, Texas. Topic: "The State of the Trucking Industry."
February 19, 2005 - Lana Batts was quoted extensively about the truck driver shortage throughout the Gannett News Service. She said the crisis had been building since the early 1990's and has resulted in "too few drivers, operating too few tractors, pulling too few trailers."
January 17, 2005 - Lana Batts was quoted in Traffic World about the need to pay drivers more. In the article entitled "Double the Money," she said that "the truth is we can't pay them enough to overcome the crummy lifestyle."
January 17, 2005 - Lana Batts was extensively quoted in a Transport Topics article entitled, "TRB Panel Targets Pay to Woo More Drivers."
January 13, 2005 - Lana Batts participated in a panel discussion at the National Academy of Science's Transportation Research Board, 84th Annual Meeting, Washington, DC. Topic: "The Truck Driver Shortage".
January 2005 - Lana Batts was quoted extensively in Heavy Duty Trucking's article about the truckload industry 25 years after deregulation. She also contributed an article on the history of the Truckload Carriers Association, where she was president from 1994-2000.
January 10, 2005 - Steven Dutro was interviewed for a Transport Topics story called "Fleets Use Varied Strategies to Boost Value to Investors." Dutro noted, "Clearly, what some people call the 'capital window' is open. Capital is available from a variety of sources for the trucking industry."
December 21, 2004 - Lana Batts was quoted in Transport Topics for a story concerning "On Board Electronic Recorders". She noted that many of the objections to electronic onboard recording of drivers' logs are no longer appropriate as prices have come down, reliability has gone up, and driver acceptance is high.
October 28, 2004 - Lana Batts gave a speech at Americas Commercial Transportation Research's 30th Commercial Vehicle Seminar, Columbus, IN. Topic: "Truckload Carriers for Sale: A Distress Situation or Window of Opportunity?"
July 16, 2004 - Lana Batts gave a speech at Landstar Logistics' Annual Carrier Conference, Chicago, IL. Topic: "The Role of Logistics When Truck Capacity is Tight."
May 16, 2004 - Lana Batts gave a speech at TransCore's Annual Customer Appreciation Conference, Phoenix, AZ. Topic: "What Do Carriers Want When There is Too Much Freight Chasing Too Few Trailers?"
January 10, 2004 - Steven Dutro was interviewed for a Transport Topics story called "Fleets Use Varied Strategies to Boost Value to Investors." Dutro noted, "Clearly, what some people call the 'capital window' is open. Capital is available from a variety of sources for the trucking industry."
February 2004 - Gailyn Larsen was quoted by the Commercial Carrier Journal in its article, "Merging Byte by Byte." Larsen said, "Many potential buyers and sellers are looking at deals more favorably than in recent years when so many carriers were upside down on their equipment valuations. The biggest impediment to more deals is uncertainty over the effects of the hours-of-service regulations. But beyond that, the economic environment for consolidation is positive."
January 28, 2004 - Lana Batts gave a seminar at TMI-Multimedia's 3rd Annual Recruitment & Retention Conference, Nashville, TN. Topic: "Accident Profiling."
December 10, 2003 - James Schnoes was quoted in Fleet Owner magazine regarding the favorable relative impact of team operations overall and specifically on carrier valuation, given the emerging changes in hours of service regulations. He said, "A small to mid-sized carrier that offers team service is going to be much more attractive to sell under the new rules, because team service is a great way for fleets to hedge their bets in terms of minimizing the impact of the new HOS regulations.
October 20, 2003 - Lana Batts was the moderator of a panel at the American Trucking Association's Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX. Topic: "Achieving Business Process Improvements."
September 11, 2003 - Lana Batts was the keynote speaker at the Toledo Traffic Club, Toledo, OH. Topic: "Transportation of the Last 100 Years and What Will Happen in the Next Century."
July 16, 2003 - Lana Batts gave the keynote address at the PeopleNet User Group Meeting, Minneapolis, MN. Topic: "Making Technology Work for You."
June 11, 2003 - Lana Batts gave a seminar at TransCore, Portland, OR. Topic: "Load Exchange Customers."
Spring 2003 - Transport Topics published an opinion piece written by Lana Batts entitled, "Don't Throw that Paper Away Just Yet."
Spring 2003 - Richard Mikes spoke at Americas Commercial Transportation Research on the topic "Trends in the U.S. Truck Leasing Industry."
March 31, 2003 - At the annual meeting in Charlotte, NC, Lana Batts received the ATA Safety & Loss Prevention Management Council Choice Award in appreciation for her contribution to the trucking industry for the last three decades.
October 12, 2001 - The article “Added Security Will Trim Productivity,” quotes Richard Mikes, managing partner for Transport Capital Partners (TCP), while he served as executive vice president of RUAN Transportation Management Systems. The article was written after September 11, 2001 and reports the effect on the transportation industry. Read the full article here.