ELD, Driver Safety & Wellness Among ATA Announcements

ORLANDO – An electronic logging device, a driver security system and a new driver wellness app were among a series of brief trucking product and service announcements Saturday ahead of the official start of the American Trucking Associations' annual Management Conference and Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center.

Pedigree Technologies introduced a third electronic logging device for its Chrome Solution product line, known as Cab-Mate One. The plug-and-play device takes 10-minutes or less to install, according to the company, and is built on the company's propriety Chrome Solution platform. It is targeted toward both large and small fleets.

The two other ELDs in the product line are Cab-Mate Open and Cab Mate Connect.

On the technology/driver health side, Rolling Strong, a provider of driver wellness programs for transportation companies and their drivers, as well as owner-operators, announced a new mobile app that enables commercial drivers to focus on making healthy lifestyle choices on the road.

“The subject of the health and wellness of truck drivers is always being discussed but until now no one has truly come up with a solution that is readily available and fun to use,” said Steve Kane, president of Rolling Strong. “Our new mobile app is designed to help drivers take control of their health, encourage them to adopt healthy lifestyle habits and connect with other health minded drivers for support. It is also designed so fleets can support drivers in their health and wellness efforts.”

The app is available in both iOS and Android formats.

Another service of benefit to both drivers and fleets was also introduced by SafeKey Corp. The provider of professional driver and cargo safety systems, introduced SafeKey Protector, its new driver personal safety system.

It features around-the-clock public safety agency response to driver security, medical and safety emergencies with just ...Read the rest of this story

FlowBelow Offers Aero Product for Trailer Tandems

ORLANDO – FlowBelow Aero is adding a trailer-based aerodynamic product for the trailer tandem and is expanding its OEM offerings in the aftermarket with the launch of its Elite Dealer Program.

At the American Trucking Associations' Management Conference & Exhibition, company officials announced that the new Trailer AeroSlider system, unveiled earlier simply as a concept, is now in production and available for fleet and dealer orders.

FlowBelow says the Trailer AeroSlider is the first aerodynamic product of its kind that is mounted directly to the sliding trailer suspension and that travels with the suspension.

The system uses FlowBelow͛'s quick-release͛ trailer wheel covers in combination with a fairing between the trailer wheels and aerodynamic mud flaps behind them. Each of the components work together as a system to address the complex airflow around the trailer wheels and the wake behind the trailer.

The system is designed to complement other trailer-mounted aerodynamic devices such as trailer skirts and tails and offers additive fuel savings depending on the combination of devices implemented.

In addition, the new dealer program will bring the company's wheel covers and Tractor AeroKit system to an even broader scope of fleet customers in North America.

Dealers in the program will be able to offer all available options and configurations of FlowBelow products on new or used trucks sold as well as trucks already in service.

Benefits to fleets and owner-operators, according to the company, include increased access to products and replacement parts, support from their existing dealer, and in some cases economic benefits such as a residual value when trading in trucks with FlowBelow technology already installed.

Related: FlowBelow Offers Quick-Release Aerodynamic Fairing Option

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SafeKey offers new personal ‘Protector’ safety device for drivers

ORLANDO. SafeKey Corp. said it has launched the new SafeKey Protector, a personal safety system for drivers in the event of security, medical, and other emergencies.

“Drivers are one button from help when they need it most,” said Tom Richardson, head of business development for SafeKey. “Our technology also improves recruitment of and retention of professional drivers while helping prevent cargo theft.”

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ELD Mandate Enforcement Highlights ATA Educational Session

If you look at the lower right-hand corner of this display of the ERODS system that will be used to read ELD data files, you will see dots that indicate the truck was moving despite the driver logging the time as sleeper berth.

ORLANDO — In a sometimes-lively educational session at the American Trucking Associations 2017 Management Conference & Exhibition Saturday, a panel of regulatory, enforcement and fleet personnel fielded questions on enforcement and other aspects of the electronic logging device mandate that goes into effect Dec. 18.

“In today's environment, you cannot pick up a periodical or go through 10 emails without someone offering a webinar about the ELD mandate,” said Jim Ward, president and CEO of D.M. Bowman Inc., a 400-truck fleet that has been on electronic logs since 2013. Pointing out that the overwhelming majority of the country's trucking operations are small fleets, “it is a huge impact on a number of small businesses.”

Joe DeLorenzo, director of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Office of Compliance and Enforcement, went over some of the common questions, such as exemptions. But much of the discussion centered around what will happen at roadside come December.

Both DeLorenzo and Colin Mooney, executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, stressed several times that the ELD rules do not change the underlying hours of service rules.

“A lot of folks are tying ELDs to the hours of service rules themselves,” Mooney observed. Many of the drivers and others objecting to the ELD mandate claim it will end the “flexibility” they currently have with paper logs. But in the eyes of the law, that “flexibility” is simply cheating.

“Enforcement's ready to enforce the rules,” Mooney said. “All we're doing is moving from a paper to electronic format. However, for some it will be their first introduction to hours ...Read the rest of this story

Panel: ELDs don’t change HOS rules or enforcement

ORLANDO. As the December 18 deadline for the electronic logging devices (ELD) mandate to go into full effect, a panel discussion here at the American Trucking Associations (ATA) 2017 Management Conference & Exhibition (MC&E) sorted through a variety of issues and opportunities related to the technology.

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New app from Rolling Strong designed to tackle driver health ‘epidemic’

ORLANDO, FL. Rolling Strong has launched a new mobile app aimed at helping commercial drivers improve their health and wellness while on the road.

During a press conference at 2017 American Trucking Associations Management Conference & Exhibition, Rolling Strong CEO Steve Kane called driver wellness “an epidemic.”

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FlowBelow launches dealer program, offers new aerodynamic trailer system

ORLANDO, FL. FlowBelow Aero Inc. announced the launch of its Elite Dealer Program, which the company said would bring its quick-release wheel cover and Tractor AeroKit system to more customers.

Company officials made the announcement at American Trucking Associations' annual conference. FlowBelow's products are already available for factory order on Freightliner, Kenworth, and Peterbilt trucks.

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