LTL Freight Quotes Affected by Global Warming while Congress Micromanages the Industry
LTL Freight Quotes
Early Regulations of the Trucking Industry
Before the Motor Carrier Act of 1980, the Trucking Industry was heavily regulated, especially in economic reconstruction during the post-Great Depression era. After its deregulation with the signing of the Motor Carrier Act by President Jimmy Carter, the Trucking Industry, mainly interstate trucking but trickling down to LTL shipping, experienced more freedom to expand their infrastructure and grow as an industry, inevitably keeping LTL Freight Quotes at a low because of the inexpensive cost to maintain the business without Washington’s control.
New Regulations and the Environmental Costs
But times are changing again three and a half decades later with a reversal in deregulation, which will drive LTL Freight Quotes up, and shippers need to be aware of why rates will become more expensive. One of the major modern-day issues affecting everything down to your LTL Freight Quote is global climate change. The EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, is cracking down on pollution and fuel emissions by administering new environmental requirements for carriers. The cost of conforming to EPA standards can be immense, and having to reconfigure entire engines for vehicles will have carriers will compensating by adding the cost to your LTL Freight Quote.
LTL Freight Quotes and Safety Costs
Post-9/11 security regulations and safety concerns also add extra costs to carriers that will drive up LTL Freight Quotes. Increased media coverage on accidents, safety violations, and other misconduct on the road sets the eyes of Congress on the Trucking Industry for stricter laws. Truck drivers with improper credentials causes tightening of security, and another hot issue driving up the rates of LTL Freight Quotes is HOS, or Hours of Service. This is the standard number of hours that a driver can be on the road, and is set to decrease and limit HOS. While this decrease in hours will potentially reduce the number of accidents on the road, some say that it will have drastic economic effects, driving up truckers’ salaries, and eventually LTL Freight Quotes.
The Industry Shortage
Not only is there already a shortage in drivers across the industry as a whole, but there will soon be higher standards for driver education, weeding out less qualified drivers, driving up educational costs, and increasing the time it takes new drivers to get on the road. The current shortage, increased educational costs, and the HOS are three factors that combined will cause an increase in driver salary, which trickles down to the LTL Freight Quote rates. So drivers may be better prepared, but shippers will be paying for it in LTL Freight Quotes.
Controversial Viewpoints
These issue across the board will affect your LTL Freight Quote, and the Trucking Industry is going to be increasingly supervised by government administrations like the FMCSA, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, The Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Homeland Security. Some see it as Washington targeting the Trucking Industry as a cash cow to pump out additional fees and costs, but whether this increase in standards and regulations, aimed at protecting truck drivers and civilians on the road, is for a greater or lesser purpose, the economic ramifications that affect LTL Freight Quotes are something all shippers need to be aware of.
What You Can Do
No one wants their LTL Freight Quotes blasting through the roof. With inevitable increase in LTL Freight Quotes, shippers need to use a trustworthy and reputable LTL Freight Quote service to find the best rates available in the market with the highest quality service. Neglecting the complex political and social arena that affects LTL Freight Quote rates can result in paying more than necessary in shipping costs.
Call us today for a free LTL Freight Quote at 800-940-3598 or complete the LTL Freight Quote for an immediate response.