1. Are your customers making strides to reduce dock time given the new hours of service?

   83% said yes
   17% said no
    

2. Has your company changed your detention rules based on the new hours of service rule?

   81% said yes
   19% said no
    

3. Do you believe that your customers realize the impact they have on driver retention?

   26% said yes
   74% said no
    

4. Have you been able to defray the extra costs associated with the time spent on fee negotiation and other internal costs relating to the unloading process?

   15% said yes
   85% said no
    

5. In your opinion, have your customers increased or decreased their dependency on brokers?

   75% said increased
   25% said decreased
    

6. Are your company drivers and / or owner operators currently stepping up equipment buys to beat government – mandated deadlines for cleaner burning engines, due in 2007?

   71% said yes
   29% said no
    

7. Efforts to lower the age for commercial drivers are met with support from those that feel we are losing the younger workers to other careers before they’re eligible age for CDL. Others contend that it is better to bear the pain of shortage rather than the increased risk of younger drivers. Which side of the argument do you currently favor?

   41% said favor lowering the age
   59% said favor maintaining the present age limit
    

8. Efforts to increase size and weight of commercial vehicles are supported by those who view this as an effective way to combat driver shortage while others contend this would pose a higher safety risk. Those who argue against increased size and weight fear lack of compensation for extra freight hauled.

   17% said increase size and weights
   83% said do not increase size and weights
    

9. Does your company require loaded trailer doors to be locked in addition to using trailer seals?

   49% said yes
   51% said no
    

10. Most companies have three ways to grow: increasing revenue with existing customers, adding services to the company’s ‘menu’ or acquiring other business. Which (if any) has your company done over the last year? (Please check one response that would apply to your company)

    95% said increased revenue
    78% said added services
    35% said acquired other business
    2% said none of the above
     

11. Some shippers have experienced sizable rate increases over the last two years, yet report declining service levels. Has your company experienced any declines in on-time service with customers you took increases with?

    40% said yes
    60% said no
     

12. How do you measure equipment detention? (Please check one response that would apply to your company)

    9% said 30 minutes to an hour
    27% said over 1 hour but under 2 hours
    63% said 2 hours

13. In periods of tight capacity, how do you allocate your available equipment on a daily basis? (Please check one response that would apply to your company)

    2% said first come; first served
    87% said core customers receive priority
    4% said based on customers’ forecasted volumes
    7% said other
     

14. What percent of freight do you commit to exceeding your capacity level? (Please check one response that would apply to your company)

    17% said never
    45% said under 10%
    38% said 10% - 20%
    0% said 21% - 25%
    0% said over 25%
     

15. What is the average lead time for load tenders overall within your company? (Please check all the responses that apply to your company)

    0% same day
    60% said 24 hours
    40% said 48 hours +
     

What is the ideal time period in which customers should offer loads to ensure the likelihood of capacity? (Please check one response that would apply to your company)

0% same day
10% said 24 hours
90% said 48 hours +
 

16. There have been numerous changes in the transportation sector over the last two years. The trucking industry is experiencing capacity declines with increasing freight demand, insurance premium increases, driver turnover, federally mandated engine emissions laws, fuel pricing volatility and the H.O.S changes impacting driver productivity. What is your company doing to mitigate these impacts? (Please check all responses that would apply to your company)

    95% said pass costs on to customers
    88% said reducing empty (deadhead) miles
    70% said increasing use of drop and hook freight
    55% said promotion of continuous move to drive revenue for all miles
    50% said improve accuracy of hitting appointment windows
    18% said encouragement of collaboration amongst multiple shippers to link freight net-works together
    Other: Technology improvements such as profitability models, larger allocation of capacity to dedicate business and more regional focus. (One carrier reported “It’s our secret!”)
     

17. Is your company planning any major equipment purchases / leases (tractors and/or trailers) for 2006?

    83% said yes
    17% said no
     

18. Do you believe the CEO's and other top manufacturing managers have a firm grasp of the logistics issues that traffic managers encounter today vs. the on-going demands from 'Wall Street'? (Please check one response that would apply to your company)

    5% said yes
    43% said somewhat
    52% said no
     

19. Does your company utilize trailer tracking devices with features such as cargo sensors or continuous visibility of trailer location?

    38% said yes
    62% said no
     

20. With regard to the shippers response to the new hours of service, have you seen an increase of drop lot capabilities?

    54% said yes
    46% said no
     

What primary steps has your business undertaken to mitigate dwell time?
Communicate delays (dwell) to customer while it’s happening. Greater use of drop trailers. Continuous training with operations / dispatch for better planning and synchronized appointments. Decreasse dependency with customers who won’t improve dwell times.. Automated systems to warm of excess dwell time

21. Many conclusions can be drawn about the past economic trucking environment of 2005 including increases in private carriage and non-asset based transportation providers, construction jobs, newly created manufacturing jobs etc …, in your opinion, which statement best fits your company’s prediction: My company will experience _______________ in 2006!

    43% said more of the same conditions
    57% said about the same conditions
    0% said less of the same conditions
     

Most companies were affected by the hurricanes last year. To what extent is your company still feeling ANY effect of the storms? ( 0 – 100% )

20%
 

22. Have any of your long-term customers recently shifted some or all of their transportation management to a third-party logistics provider (3PL)?

    45%said yes
    55% said no

    If so, did the shift cause your firm to gain or lose business?

    20% said gain
    80% said lose
     

Comments about the survey?

Dock time – conversations and studies take place, but so far, no specific actions to decrease dock time. The consignees were bad before HOS reform have not improved. 6-8 hours of dock time is not unusual. Some improvement in the way of drop trailers at limited locations. Comment on questions 1, 3 and 18 – a lot of “stylish” talk, but business is still the same. No real change in operations for improvement. It is still the trucker’s problem. Price still rules. Pressure remains never higher for carriers to be innovative and embrace technology that makes sense and brings forth value added service to the customer.