The small trucker is tremendously important to the supply chain and the entire U.S. economy.  Small carriers - those with less than 50 trucks-bring almost 600,000 trucks to the marketplace according to numbers compiled by Avery Vise that are from the FMCSA.  These are trucks that travel more than 100 miles per delivery and does not count local delivery trucks.  These smaller carriers represent 42% of the carriers available.  Carriers with nine trucks or less supply 315,000 trucks to the marketplace, which is as much capacity as the truck lines with more than 1,000 trucks in their fleets.  Small carriers are the blood cells coursing through the veins of this nation, delivering everything we need for a civilized society.  They never get their full due and they are constantly harassed by over-regulation and tough working conditions.  They are resilient and strong and we should all remember them during this holiday time for the hard work they do to keep all the Christmas gifts and food for holiday meals heading to their destinations. 

In the produce and perishable food industries the small carriers are even more critical.  Transportation of produce is dominated by the small carrier and especially the Owner/Operator who has years of experience necessary to handle sensitive items.  Connected by a knowledgeable network of brokers and transportation professionals the system serves the country well to make daily deliveries of produce from around the world.

Over the past few years I have witnessed the government, supported by large trucker organizations push regulations on the trucking industry to "even the playing field."  The regulations present a huge challenge and make it hard on the smaller carriers, they are in competition for freight with larger carriers.  But our capitalist system is based on competition and the small companies have a right to compete just as much as the big guys.  This push for regulation lead to the supremely flawed CSA scores that have never worked well and never will work because the government simply cannot perform all the inspections necessary to have a fair system.  When you can only inspect less than 5% of the trucks per year, with a system that compares 100% of the truck lines, you have a system that is designed to fail from the beginning.  Let's hope the new head of DOT and FMCSA will finally see the light on a horrible system, that has been unfair to the small carrier, and they will end it once and for all.

The nation's small truckers have over 500,000 loads on the road at any one time.  Imagine if they were eliminated.  Transportation rates would skyrocket, produce would rot before getting to market and we would all see higher prices for goods and food.  The government and large carriers need to get off their backs and let them do the great work they do every day.  Here at the Allen Lund Company we will continue to support them every way we can.  At our dinner tables we will raise a glass and toast the heroes of the highway.  God Bless you!