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April 14, 2006 9:30 AM, EDT

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persistent shortage of freight-hauling capacity and the reluctance of many fleets to make trailers available for loading and unloading are leading shippers to use more of their own trailers to manage the distribution of their goods, trucking and trailer industry officials said.

“There is concern,” said Scott Nelson, national vice president of sales for GE Trailer Fleet Services in Wayne, Pa. “In a constrained capacity environment, shippers want to control the trailer asset. . . . It gives them flexibility in the event the current carrier cannot meet their requirements.”

For some shippers, Nelson said, not having trailers can be “more disruptive” than not having tractors.

For the full story, see the April 10 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.