tempered optimism at NASSTRAC

When 300-plus logistics professionals gathered in Naples, Fla., in May for the National Small Shipments Traffic Conference's annual meeting, two themes hung in the air: a genuine conviction that business is picking up and continued worries that business growth will aggravate the lingering problems of fuel costs and driver shortages.

Though the fuel-price problem remains largely out of their control, carriers are taking steps to address the driver shortage. Both Schneider National and FedEx Freight have launched programs aimed at recruiting young drivers. Given the high demand for a limited number of candidates, the carriers consider the youngsters to be their best bet.