Truckers Rush To Adopt Technology To Survive High Fuel Costs By Stephan Karczag, Cheetah Software Systems

FUEL PRICES. As if the average LTL transportation provider doesn't have enough to worry about. Escalating cost of operations, competition eroding margins, the big guys taking over or buying out the mid-size and smaller markets, all concerns pounding down on the LTL (less than truckload) and Delivery markets.

Even the larger LTL companies are being affected. Fed Ex Freight and UPS both raised their rates again due to increasing costs of business operations.

Suspicions of price gouging by oil companies have Congress and local governments initiating investigations to appease the growing concern of constituents over fuel prices.

The cost of diesel fuel (US national average) is soaring, threatening to hit $4.00 a gallon this year.

Solutions to the fuel crisis now upon us vary from state to state. California, where fuel costs top the national averages, is spearheading a push for tougher fuel economy standards as the solution for escalating prices. The California legislature is also pushing to implement a requirement for all diesel sold in the state to contain at least 2% biodiesel this year and at least 5% by 2010.