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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...Read the rest of this storyORLANDO, 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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...Read the rest of this storyORLANDO, 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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...Read the rest of this storyHDT File Image
">HDT File Image
">Several fleets have announced pay and benefit increases for drivers as the industry keeps trying to address the driver shortage.
Driver turnover remains at extremely high levels-- 90% at large truckload carriers, according to the latest American Trucking Associations report– and fleets are working hard to curb it. A recent report on operational costs shows that fleets currently spend more on driver wages and benefits combined than they do on fuel costs.
The push to retain drivers is evident in recent announcements from Boyd Bros. Transportation, Pride Transport, Roehl Transport, Hornady Transportation, A&R Logistics, Epes Transport System, Kenan Advantage Group, and Ozark Motor Lines. All of these fleets have focused on incentivizing drivers to sign and stay on board.
Boyd Bros. Transportation announced a 4-cent per mile pay increase for company drivers in September. The new pay package also includes a $900 per week pay guarantee.The increase is available to company drivers of all levels.
“Our drivers make much more than $900 per week,” stated Boyd Bros. CFO Dwight Bassett. “We just wanted to take away financial concerns so that drivers can focus on what they do best, drive. We are also eliminating the perceived risk that typically accompanies the start of a job with a new company.”
Pride Transport has implemented a new point-to-point pay program that pays drivers for the distance of the leg they drive and not just the total length of a load. Pay under the new program comes out to a higher per mile– up to 55 cents per mile, according to the company.
This program includes pay for deadhead miles at up to 20 cents more per mile than base pay. Company drivers at Pride Transport can also earn a $2,000 sign-on bonus, opportunities for safety and MPG bonuses, in-cab DirecTV, affordable ...Read the rest of this story
Photo: J.J. Keller & Associates
">Photo: J.J. Keller & Associates
">Unless your drivers are exempt from logging their hours of service, your fleet must transition to operating with electronic logging devices (ELDs) or automatic on-board recording devices (AOBRDs) by Dec. 18, 2017.
The path to operating with ELDs should include retraining drivers and supervisors on the hours-of-service limits, tightening up hours-of-service compliance and auditing, developing and training on ELD policies and procedures, and training on the ELD system itself. Will your new policies and procedures pass FMCSA's scrutiny as adequate safety management controls — not the least of which is detecting and correcting any cheating of the system?
A step that can't be overlooked is creating effective policies and procedures for the new operating environment. Remember, to minimize stress and uncertainty, the best policies are ones that are easily understood, provide a measurement mechanism, and have clear consequences for noncompliance. However, coming up with policies for a new way of operating and for sustaining a different culture can be hard to do.
When developing the new policies, your goal should not be to explain every possible situation. You are aligning policies with regulations, stating expectations regarding what you will and will not allow, and clearly outlining what will happen if the policy is not followed. One example of a clear policy is to state that “compliance with the hours-of-service regulations is a condition of employment.” The details and the different situations that might come up can reside in the procedures that support the policy.
To support compliance with the electronic logging-related policies, you must develop procedures. Here is a list of core procedures you would want to consider:
Define how and when drivers are to be trained on hours-of-service regulations and the operation of the ELD initially, and on an ongoing basis.Document who will have authority to do which actions ...Read the rest of this story
With the electronic logging device rule about to kick in, there is a lot of information out there that's vital for fleets to stay compliant. That's why Heavy Duty Trucking has launched the ELDs-Time to Comply channel on its Truckinginfo.com website. The channel presents in one handy place every news story, feature article, and video our award-winning editors produce on the electronic logging device mandate.
Covering ELDs from every level, from the legislative side in Washington D.C., to the latest offerings from technology companies, to industry reactions, to informative explanations from a fleet perspective, HDT's ELD channel contains everything our readers need to stay up to date on all aspects of the new and far-reaching rule.
As we stay on top of the latest ELD news and products, the channel will be regularly updated to remain a vital source of information for every commercial fleet.
Find ELDs- Time to Comply in our Channel Navigation bar at the top of our home page or go to Truckinginfo.com/channel/elds-time-to-comply.aspx.
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...Read the rest of this storyPhoto of LiftLab courtesy of ALI
">Photo of LiftLab courtesy of ALI
">The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) officially opened its new headquarters and LiftLab in Cortland, N.Y., on October 12, with a grand opening celebration attended by ALI members, lift inspectors, suppliers, and other guests from the vehicle lift and workplace safety industries.
The growth of ALI lift safety initiatives like the ALI Lift Inspector Certification Program drove the need for a larger multipurpose facility.
The new 8,500-square-foot headquarters at 3699 Luker Road is more than four times larger than the organization's previous Cortland office. It includes 3,475 square feet of renovated office and conference space, as well as a modern classroom that complies with nationally recognized examination requirements for up to 20 participants.
What really differentiates the facility is its new LiftLab. ALI member manufacturers have provided and installed 12 vehicle lifts in the expansive LiftLab area. They range from the smallest motorcycle lift to the most common two-post style, all the way up to heavy-duty inground and mobile column lifts. This is the only facility in North America that brings together such a wide range of operational lifts from various manufacturers and makes them available for hands-on industry training.
The following lifts are installed in the ALI LiftLab:
Light-duty two-post surface-mounted lift, 10,000 lbs. rated capacity.Light-duty low-rise frame-engaging lift, 10,000 lbs. rated capacity.Heavy-duty two-post surface-mounted lift, 16,000 lbs. rated capacity.Set of four wireless heavy-duty wheel-engaging mobile units (mobile column lifts), 54,000 lbs. total rated capacity.Heavy-duty inground lift, 60,000 lbs. rated capacity.Heavy-duty scissors lift, 30,000 lbs. rated capacity, equipped with wheels-free device.Heavy-duty two-post surface-mounted lift, 15,000 lbs. rated capacity.Light-duty scissors lift, 9,000 lbs. rated capacity.Heavy-duty four-post surface-mounted lift, 14,000 lbs. rated capacity, equipped with wheels-free device.Light-duty motorcycle lift, 1,000 lbs. rated capacity.Light-duty inground lift, 10,000 lbs. rated capacity.Set of four wireless heavy-duty wheel-engaging mobile units (mobile column lifts), 74,000 lbs. ...Read the rest of this story
