Bulk Transporter's Best of 2009

Top 2009 Stories

Welcome to Bulk Transporter’s roundup of the Top 10 news stories of 2009 as determined by our online readers and subscribers to Bulk Logistics Trends our weekly email newsletter. These are the stories that got the most hits over the past year.

The stories that made the Top 10 had a very clear impact on companies that transport and store liquid and dry bulk cargoes. It’s not surprising that the wetlines issue topped the list this year, and it showed up a second time further down. This issue will have a significant impact on the tank truck industry, and Bulk Transporter covered it in detail throughout much of 2009.

Other key issues included merger and acquisition activity, fuel prices, future of NAFTA, rest areas for truck drivers, and storage terminal safety.

We’d like your comments on the Top 10 list. Were these the stories you think were important to the bulk logistics sector in 2009? What should have been on the list and why? Contact us at Facebook or by email.

No. 1

Congress issues draft legislation
that would ban tank trailer wetlines
Jun 23, 2009 2:34 PM

Petroleum haulers and other tank trailer owners got good news and bad news on the wetlines issue from the US House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee...

No. 2

Trimac plans to purchase assets of StarTrans Inc
Oct 12, 2009 12:20 PM

Trimac Transportation has formed a new operating entity, Trimac Dry Bulk Group Inc, and that new entity has entered into an asset purchase agreement with StarTrans Inc for purchase of the business and certain of the assets of StarTrans...

No. 3

DOE lowers forecast
for 2009 diesel price
Mar 12, 2009 1:21 PM

The Department of Energy (DOE) continues to lower its projected average price for diesel in 2009--the latest report estimating $2.19 per gallon...

No. 4

President Obama blinks
in NAFTA truck dispute
Mar 17, 2009 1:45 PM

President Obama has tasked the Department of Transportation (DOT) and others to propose legislation to meet the NAFTA agreement that mandates allowing Mexican-licensed trucks to travel beyond commercial zones along the US-Mexico border. ...

No. 5

2009 diesel price to average $2.28
Feb 10, 2009 1:38 PM

Diesel consumption in the United States is forecast to continue on a downward trend in 2009 while the price is expected to average $2.28 per gallon, according to Department of Energy (DOE) data...

No. 6

Wetlines mandate on House Democrats' agenda
May 6, 2009 10:27 AM

A move to mandate the removal of flammable materials from cargo tank loading and unloading lines is again making its way through the halls of Congress, according to John Conley, National Tank Truck Carriers president...

No. 7

Canada to introduce biodiesel mandate by 2012
Feb 12, 2009 1:22 PM

The Canadian government has announced that it will introduce a national on-road biodiesel mandate not before 2010, but no later than 2012, according to information from the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA)...

No. 8

CF Industries confirms
fatal ammonia release
Nov 25, 2009 1:55 PM

CF Industries Holdings Inc confirmed that a fatal release of anhydrous ammonia occurred during loading operations at its ammonia terminal at Pine Bend MN...

No. 9

Virginia modifies plan
to close safety rest areas
May 26, 2009 11:52 AM

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced a modification of its original plan to close 25 of the state’s 41 Interstate Highway rest areas. This decision comes as part of a cost-cutting plan to address a budget shortfall...

No. 10

Oiltanking, Dow
conclude purchases
Feb 17, 2009 4:06 PM

Oiltanking GmbH, Hamburg, Germany, and The Dow Chemical Co, Midland MI, have concluded purchase agreements for Dow's Joliet IL and Cartagena, Colombia, marine terminals...