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Truck makers are beginning to introduce battery-electric models, but successfully deploying this new breed of commercial vehicle requires fleets to manage a bevy of new considerations, including installation of charging equipment, coordination with utility companies and exploring government incentives.

Trucking and logistics companies that have been investing in technology to improve their operations also have been well-positioned to handle the disruption caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, McLeod Software’s CEO said.

Professional truck drivers and other workers in the transportation industry have always performed indispensable jobs, but many have gone above and beyond the call of duty during the coronavirus pandemic. This special commemorative microsite, Trucking’s Frontline Heroes, captures the stories of these workers who have made personal sacrifices to help fuel the nation’s response to COVID-19.

Trucking technology supplier Omnitracs has agreed to acquire SmartDrive Systems, one of the transportation industry’s largest providers of onboard cameras and video-based safety systems.

Through financial and logistical challenges, the companies on this year’s Transport Topics Top 100 Private Carriers list have been finding ways to navigate this turbulent time while ensuring that shipments continue to reach their destinations.

Trimble Transportation has set out to create a more seamless and transparent supply chain by enabling closer collaboration among carriers, shippers and third-party logistics providers.

Self-driving truck developer TuSimple has partnered with four major transportation companies to launch a logistics network for its highly automated trucks, marking a new phase in its push to bring its technology to market in the coming years.

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed 2020 into a challenging and unprecedented year for the trucking industry, but at least for now, Transport Topics' annual ranking of the largest for-hire carriers in North America remains fairly stable.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted supply chains and caused severe business challenges for many fleets, but it also will be remembered as a time when the trucking industry’s essential role within our society has never been clearer.