Four of the nation’s top market analysts discuss how the pandemic is making an impact on volumes, rates, PSR implementation and service in an effort to help shippers gain some visibility for the remainder of 2020 and beyond. jberman@peerlessmedia.com

Saying that we are living in strange and surreal times could very well win the award for “most obvious phrase of the year,” to be sure. But it really is true. How could it not be, right? While we have all run the gamut of the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic from just about every perspective, including emotional, personal, financial, family, and, of course, on a professional and business level, it goes without saying that the impact of COVID-19 has been significant and severe. jberman@peerlessmedia.com

Coming off of a month that saw Class 8 truck orders at its lowest level in years, preliminary North American Class 8 truck orders in May saw improvement compared to April but still remain at a low level, according to data issued respectively this week by freight transportation consultancy FTR and ACT Research, a provider of data and analysis for trucks and other commercial vehicles. jberman@peerlessmedia.com

Rail carloads—at 740,171—were down 27.7%, or 282,965 carloads, and intermodal containers and trailers in May—at 912,922—were off 13%, or 136,241 units, annually. jberman@peerlessmedia.com

California’s leading outbound ocean cargo gateway had some good news to relate this week, as meat exports to Asia surged at the Port of Oakland. jberman@peerlessmedia.com

As the clock continues to tick on the current surface transportation authorization, the FAST (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation) Act, which is set to expire on September 30, 2020, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) this week released text for a new long-term authorization, entitled Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act. jberman@peerlessmedia.com

Coming on the heels of its biggest competitor, Atlanta-based UPS recently announcing plans to implement COVID-19-related Peak Surcharges, effective May 31, FedEx, in no small surprise, responded in kind yesterday, rolling out their own temporary COVID-19-related peak surcharges, which went into effect on Wednesday, June 8. jberman@peerlessmedia.com

There is a new trend increasingly seen in third-party logistics (3PL). Major 3PLs and brokers are evolving from pursuing "one and done" implementations of third-party transportation technologies. jberman@peerlessmedia.com