Page 10 - ATR 1 2012 web 2

NEwS IN BrIEf

DIcTaTorS, oIl aND Always informed, frequently opin- up between 5 and 6 percent. However,
ENErgy ScaMS ionated and entertaining, Economides projecting for the year based on January
Will depen- will give attendees a new perspective on figures can be risky. If anything, the
dence on foreign the myths and realities of the world’s consultants believe the rates will go
oil ultimately be energy situation. even higher, not lower.
the demise of the
United States? Is
there really an
energy shortage?
economides Are ethanol, biodie-
sels, the sun and strong winds our best
options for replacing petroleum? When
will the world run out of oil? Should
trucking companies embrace natural
gas technologies or stay with diesel?
Will natural gas fracking destroy the
Arkansas water supply?
Dr. Michael Economides, one of
the world’s foremost experts on energy,
will tackle those questions and more at
the 2012 Arkansas Trucking Association
Business Conference & Vendor
Showcase, May 16-18 in Hot Springs,
Arkansas.
Editor-in-Chief of Energy Tribune,
Economides is among America’s lead-
ing energy analysts. A consultant,
educator and PhD petroleum engi-
neer, Economides has done technical
and managerial work in more than gooD NEwS BaD NEwS Among the strongest sectors is the
70 countries and is a professor at the Trucking companies prepare. flatbed market, which due to significant
Cullen College of Engineering, at the Shippers beware. The price of shipping numbers of closures, is reporting rates
University of Houston. In addition to goods via truck will continue to go up. averaging 9 percent higher than a year
authoring numerous academic articles Analysts at TransCore Freight Solutions ago. Analysts say the increases are not
and textbooks, he is also the co-author in Portland, Oregon, report freight rates due to any strong resurgence in the
of “The Color of Oil: The History, the within the truckload sector will likely housing market or construction, but
Money and the Politics of the World’s mirror the 6.5 percent increases in pric- rather a tightening of capacity (supply
Biggest Business, From Soviet to Putin ing the sector reported in 2011. of trucks) due to a smaller number of
and Back,” and his latest book, “Energy: The consultant firm tracks rates companies operating flatbed trailers.
China’s Choke Point.” He appears on 18,000 traffic lanes within 135 U.S.
regularly on national TV and radio pro- markets and Canada. Conservative
grams. estimates indicate contract rates will go 

10 arkansas truCking rePort | issue 1 2012