Trucking companies need a way to monitor driver behavior, even as they struggle to cope with a rising number of potential distractions in the cab, says Bill Shepard, co-founder of Geo-Point Partners LLC.

Truckload motor carriers see demand picking up and are optimistic that 2010 will mark a strong recovery for the sector, says Kevin Burch, chairman of the Truckload Carriers Association and president of Jet Express.

Activity-based costing (ABC) is an important financial tool for trucking companies, says Paul Dugent, vice president of pricing and traffic at Estes Express Lines. The cost elements allocated to customers through ABC are used to help determine the price of services, though pricing "is more art than science."