Minnesota truckers pick up airfreight slack

“Truckers are responding with compassion and creativity to this very difficult situation,” said Minnesota Trucking Assn. President John Hausladen. “They are rerouting trucks and adjusting pickup and delivery schedules to accommodate the very fluid needs of our customers on the East Coast. These companies have the people, equipment and dedication to handle whatever is needed to safely and efficiently move this nation’s vital freight.”

In the wake of Tuesday’s terrorist bombings of the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Minnesota’s trucking industry has stepped in to ensure that mail and time sensitive packages continue to move across the country, Hausladen said. Minnesota truckers have put extra equipment on the streets to handle an increased demand in the movement of mail from the Twin Cities.

Industry firms estimate that 20 trucks a day are moving mail from Minneapolis-St. Paul that would have normally traveled by air. Trucking companies who specialize in mail are subcontracting with other trucking firms to meet this short-term increase in demand. he added.