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September 23, 2004 7:01 AM, EDT

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TLANTA — Tightened capacity, outdated infrastructure and driver shortages will be key issues hampering less-than-truckload carriers in the coming year, analysts and less-than-truckload industry executives said at a shippers’ conference here.

“The issue of infrastructure is critical,” said James Staley, chief executive officer of Roadway Group. “That is our factory.”

Staley said some states were moving to toll roads as a way to fund improved infrastructure, a trend that concerned carriers because it would increase costs. However, he said, “Ultimately, that gets passed back to the consumer one way or another.”

Staley was among the industry experts who spoke on an LTL panel session Sept. 13 at the fall meeting of the National Small Shipments Traffic Conference, or Nasstrac.

For the full story, see the Sept. 20 edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.