Recently, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association made changes to the language on the back of Bills of Lading. The first point to make, and to be sure is understood, is that a Bill of Lading is a legally binding document. The changes address many areas of the Bill of Lading and have the potential to impact anyone using this standard form. We will highlight the changes for you in summary form below to educate and hopefully help you protect your company's interests. 

Uber unmanned cars are being tested in Pittsburgh this month. Uber will allow customers in downtown Pittsburgh to summon self-driving cars from their phones, crossing an important milestone that no automotive or technology company has yet achieved. Customers will request cars the normal way, via Uber's app, and will be paired with a driverless car at random. Trips will be free for the time being, rather than the standard local rate of $1.30. Specially-equipped Ford Focus and Volvo SUV's will be equipped with driverless technology and a physical driver to take over if necessary, but the driver's presence is more to ease the passengers and satisfy legislation.   

In February, we blogged about the Hyperloop. The Hyperloop is a conceptual train-like design to provide ultra-high-speed transportation for passengers and freight. The concept is the brainchild of Elon Musk, and the fuselage would travel inside a pressurized tube on a cushion of air.  Hyperloop technology is fast-tracking into the freight sector. Hyperloop One Inc., is one of two companies racing to build the futuristic speed-of-sound transportation technology.

History of the System

The commercial freight transportation industry faces regulatory trends that have the potential to worsen the capacity crisis, increase transportation rates and harm carrier productivity at a time when carriers are operating at tight margins.  

Daimler Chrysler’s V.P. of Product Development, Wolfgang Bernhard, and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval are introducing the world’s first officially recognized self-driving truck. The truck they're introducing to the American public is the Freightliner Inspiration, a “tech-ed-up version” of the Daimler Chrysler 18-wheeler sold around the world.  According to Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, it will make long-haul road transportation safer, cheaper, and better for the planet. 

The Hyperloop is a conceptual train-like design to provide ultra high-speed transportation for passengers and freight. The concept is the brainchild of Elon Musk, and the fuselage would travel inside a pressurized tube on a cushion of air.

2016 will roll out several changes in transportation protocols, and every shipper needs to understand and prepare for the modifications. Current security challenges, along with an upcoming election year, mean that many additional changes are likely coming. Here at the top 5: 

The U.S. trucking industry is pressuring Congress to allow men and women as young as 18 to drive 80,000 pound commercial trucks inter-state on U.S. highways. Federal regulations currently require that drivers be at least 21 before they can drive commercial trucks across state lines. This plan, before the Senate, and is part of highway legislation and would greatly increase the number of teenagers behind the wheel of big rigs. The pressure and importance of this issue is in response to the continuing driver shortage.

In 2015, China devalued the Yuan nearly 2% hoping to stimulate growth and exports.  This year, the currency is down 2.9 percent versus the dollar. Purchasers of Chinese exports are enjoying lower net prices when buying in dollars.