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A gangbusters year marked by soaring freight rates and frenzied order and sales activity for equipment ended on a soft note, as December saw reported declines in both truck tonnage and trailer orders. It had to happen eventually, but some may feel cheated that the industry didn’t get to close out this otherwise stellar year on a high note.

Trucking industry shareholders will remember 2018 fondly. The prospects for next year are pretty bright, too.

In the news business, if journalists believe a story has some long-term relevance, we say the story “has legs.” The term is meant to suggest that a topic could carry forward for a while, or that an article could be published at a later date, since the content has lesser risk of growing stale.

The trucking industry has been through quite a period of transformation during the past 12 months. Perhaps it’s time to take a breather — and take stock of where we are. As 2018 draws to a close, things aren’t as hectic as they were one year ago, but change still persists.

The Nov. 26 announcement from General Motors Co. that it plans to shut down five factories and lay off thousands of workers sent shock waves through the government and business communities, and with good reason.

With the midterm elections settled, now is an excellent time to begin working on legislation to fund the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.

The themes of partnership, outreach and unity were present throughout speeches and presentations at this year’s American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition. Cooperation between ATA and the federal government was a central tenet.

A character on the 1980s television police drama “Hill Street Blues” had a great catchphrase: “Let’s Be Careful Out There.” They’re also words that ring true today for those who make their living traveling the highways.

It’s no secret that finding and retaining good truck drivers is a challenge for fleets, but recent reporting has taught us that there are simple options for improving drivers’ quality of life on the road.