OVERVIEW
Have you ever wondered how you were able to get fresh produce during hard seasonal hits or how some customer were able to purchase a Christmas tree in Texas? It is likely that the trucking industry played a huge role in making those things happen. The truck industry became a competitive market place with many challenges that are based upon the economy, the weather, and new technologies. As the rise of demand for goods sent to more rural places, and as the demand for the timely delivery of goods raised the demand of the truck transportation industry sky high. Because the truck transportation industry is a competitive market, the economy plays a huge factor on whether or not companies survive. Many companies now have to place fuel cost, truck repairs, and advancements in place, not to include keeping the truck unions and employments satisfied. There are many additional factors that have also placed on the rise and downward trends of this industry. Some of the factors are wars, economic depressions, government regulations, state regulations, and driver regulations. To keep a completive advantage in this industry, there is new technologies to consider such as new technologies in tires, engines using biofuels, and etc.
HISTORY TRUCK TRANSPORATION INDUSTRY
Prior to the rise of the trucking industry was a time of transporting goods and services by railroad. However, the railroad industry was limited in flexibility and reach to outside areas. Slowly, after the inventions of the internal combustion engines lead to the distribution of goods and services via automobile. During the early twentieth century, there were hundreds of trucks manufactures, but only a couple stood out: Mack, Peterbilt, Chevrolet, and International, which adapted to the market to help build a better future for the truck transportation industry. After the invention of the engine and the manufacturing companies emerged many people started to take advantage of the market place. Drivers soon started to produce their own trucking companies which used multiple trucks or a single truck. With the railroad not being able to get to these rural areas the trucking industry emerged as the truck drives traced over cobblestone and dirt roads to longer distances, such as New York to Philadelphia. Soon larger companies began to emerge and have fleets of trucks that can ship goods and services quick between major United States cities. However the first major big boom to the trucking transportation industry in the United States was during the postwar of the 1920s.
The United States began a period of uninterrupted prosperity an economy expansion during the 1920s, coining the term, the roaring twenties. Automobiles and construction became the most important and excessively relied industries in the nation as a result of the assembly line and other innovations. However, the prosperity depended only on these few basic industries, thus,
After 1830, the construction of railroads and macadam turnpikes began to bring improved transportation facilities to come American communities, but the transportation revolution did not affect most rural roads until the twentieth century. Antebellum investors, public and private,...
The developments in transportation changed the American economy and society from 1820 to 1860 in ways of an increased land value, faster traded goods, new cities, and a deeper sense of nationalism. Before these changes came about, the US economy and society was based on an agrarian setting. After this time frame, American Society turned into a capitalist marketplace. In the northern US, there were few changes in terms of industry because they were involved in an industrial revolution. However, the new Transportation Revolution blasted the West into an agricultural empire that provided consumable exports to the other parts of the country.
Some of these inventions such as the refrigerated railroad cars and the cigarette-rolling machine, formed a basis for new industries and fortunes. As the country expanded and industrialized, increasing emphasis was placed upon mass production and mass distribution. By speeding up production and increased the output of goods, and an industry could lower costs and maximize profits. As a result of mass production, factory owners often found themselves able to produce more goods than the market would absorb, therefore they needed to increase consumer
The 1920's were a time where North America became modernized. Whether it was the music, the culture or the growth in technology, this time era is known to most people as the point where America advanced itself to become a world renowned country. An advancement that will be focused on is the Ford Model T. During this time owning a car was a symbol of wealth. Henry Ford, the creator of the Model T, made a system that revolutionized the automobile industry as we know it today. Henry Ford made it possible for people with an average income to own a motor vehicle by creating the assembly line and the theory of mass production. "The horse, which had been the chief means of land transportation for 3,500 years, had given way to the automobile, and the country's largest industry had been born." (Gordon)
The United States was also in the process of industrialization. Industries were built and electricity was the new form of power. Electric lights became available and the first movies were made. "By 1916, 21,000 movie houses were testimony of a new industry" (Hacker and Zahler 99). Automobiles became prevalent and that caused the need for roads to be built: "The early growth of the automobile industry wakened a new and much stronger demand for surfaced roads" (Hacker and Zahler 101). Henry Ford was a major contributor in propelling the automobile industry. He improved the assembly line and mass production of parts. "By 1914, the automobile industry had developed such characteristic features as standardization of parts, minute subdivision and mechanization of labor, and even the assembly line in manufacturing" (Hacker and Zahler 100). The United States experienced great social and industrial change on a national scale as well as international scale.
In the 1920's, corporations started to take better care of their workers than they had in the past. Workers were paid higher wages and worked shorter hours. With more time and money on their hands, workers turned into consumers, which caused an increase in the production of consumer goods. One of the most popular consumer goods is the automobile. To keep up with the high demand, the automobile industry had to create a way to make a lot of cars in a short amount of time, at a low price.
There is no refuting that the railroad companies transformed business operations and encouraged industrial expansion. The raw materials required for construction of the transcontinental railroad directly resulted in the expansion of the steel, lumber and stone industries. (Gillon p.652) The railroad stimulated growth in manufacturing and agriculture providing an efficient manner to ship raw materials and products throughout the country. Which in turn, increased consumerism and introduced t...
Trucking has been a relevant career in the United States ever since the 19th century during WWI the army used trucks to transport goods to the soldiers. People in the towns and cities saw they were good transporter so as roads were built and paved more people start owning them. The Interstate Highway System was a big movement for truckers now they could haul there companies goods farther to other cities. The Motor Carrier Act of 1980 helped drivers who went on strike because of the price of gas to run and operate the trucks. Alex Debogorski was a long haul trucker introduced to trucking when he was looking to earn more money to do for his family. As he drove he realized how good the open road looks as the road meet the sky. Now he is on some of CMT’s episodes of Ice Road Truckers, he said If it wasn’t for his parents and wife he wouldn’t have made it. He also open the door for most of the truckers with criminal records. He helped pas the law that states if your drving record is good you can go in for the long haul.
The trucking industry over the years have changed the type of services and the quality that it has provides to its customers. In today’s industry the focus is on efficiency with the overall beneficiary being the American consumer. Majority of today’s freight is being transported by truck during sometime in the distribution chain. Some of factors the trucking industry is facing today include hours and earnings and safety issues.
Model T’s were everywhere in America, even long after Ford stopped production in 1927. (Henry) While Ford was the number one brand, selling the most cars throughout the early 1900’s, the Model T created a new industry that is distinctly American; the auto industry. Three manufacturers, Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler dominated the American auto industry, and all three companies still produce cars today. The Model T gave birth to the competitive auto market. To this day, car companies in America are constantly racing to innovate, improve, and outsell their competitors. Manufacturing of cars “became the backbone of a new consumer goods-oriented society. By the mid-1920s it ranked first in value of product, and in 1982 it provided one out of every six jobs in the United States.” (history –idk yet) The demand for cars also resulted in a booming petroleum industry, and a high demand for metals, like steel. ( History idk yet) Furthermore, with so many people driving cars, construction of roads was necessary. The popularity of automobiles set off a chain reaction that created new opportunities all across the country. All sections of the modern automotive industry, from marketing to manufacturing, as well industries like petroleum refining, steel production, and road construction, can trace their beginnings to the Ford Model
The economy was dramatically booming during the 1920s which was a time of prosperity. The demand for new production was growing and as a result corporations, larger companies which could produce larger and quicker than factories, formed. These large companies exploited assembly lines which lead to
Peterbilt When our country was at war, the military identified the need for trucks. Trucks were very important because it was difficult to find a way to transport all the supplies, troops, and food. After WW1, this brought an increase in good roads, plus an expanding economy. This helped grow the trucking industry. The 1920’s were the years of innovation.
A good case study surrounding regional economic integration can be found in the trucking industries of the US and Mexico during the establishment of the North
Transportation is vital to a nation's economy. Reducing the costs of transporting natural resources to production sites and moving finished goods to markets is one of the key factors in economic competition. The transportation industry is the largest industry in the world. It includes the manufacture and distribution of vehicles, the production and distribution of fuel, and the provision of transportation services. In the 1990s, approximately 11 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product and an estimated 10 percent of all jobs in the United States were related to the transportation industry.