Heavy traffic: deregulation, trade, and transformation in North American trucking

In addition to examining the historical and political context of each era from the depression decade to the 1990s, the author meticulously documents the economic climate with data on industry operating ratios, currency exchange rate influences, tax policies, and rich detail on individual trucking companies. North American trade growth and the resultant growth in trucking are outlined. The first five chapters reveal a good deal about the economies and policy approaches of twentieth century Canada and the U.S. In chapter six, "After Deregulation," Madar unsuccessfully argues that just-in-time shipping and other satellite and Internet logistics technologies will bring deregulated carriers and customers into pricing harmony. Indeed, rather than being deregulated, this growing industry has become regulated in other ways, which leads me to conclude that the author had oversimplified the current political and economic environment of trucking. This blind faith in cyber-integration, without regard to Canadian and U.S. regulations concerning safety standards for drivers and vehicles, customs, and immigration (and now national security), seems unfounded. Border infrastructure and pollution issues are other realities that receive little of Madar's attention.