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LONG BEACH, Calif. — After a banner year in 2018, the intermodal industry is being challenged by a variety of issues, but it remains resilient despite uncertainties.

Many carriers allow truck drivers to bring along a cat or dog as a companion. For fleets, the benefits seem to outweigh the costs.

The diesel technician shortage is a concern within the trucking industry, and technical schools said they’re reaching out to students as early as seventh grade and connecting with adults who want to work with their hands.

Creating a clear path for career advancement to help attract and retain diesel technicians is key to growing trucking's pool of future leaders, industry experts said.

Motor carriers are investing in training, technology and ongoing education to help ensure their drivers conduct thorough pre- and post-trip inspections, which are essential for complying with federal safety standards and minimizing vehicle downtime.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is focused on improving infrastructure and creating common-sense regulations, and open communication with the trucking industry enhances the government’s efforts.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ratification of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is the proposed replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement, is critical to uninterrupted, timely border crossings, trucking executives said here during American Trucking Associations’ Mid-Year Management Meeting.

Dealerships and fleets are changing stocking patterns for replacement parts and adding inventory as they work to minimize truck downtime amid widespread shortages of some truck parts.

Some companies are embracing daycabs and hotel stays for drivers, rather than sleeper cabs. Benefits include safety and better sleep.

With shippers and receivers demanding tighter delivery windows, trucking companies are utilizing a range of technologies to more accurately predict when drivers will ­arrive at destinations.