So I had the good fortune to chat with a good number trucking company personnel this week at the McLeod Software 2017 User Conference in Atlanta and none-too-surprisingly, electronic logging devices (ELDs) proved to be the “talk du jour” of the show.
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...Read the rest of this storyBaron has introduced its Baron Weather API for Fleet, a range of weather data that can be integrated into network fleet platforms. According to the company, the Baron Weather API was developed for fleet management tracking platforms, transportation management systems for pre-planning, and mobile driver applications.
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...Read the rest of this storyOmnitracs completed its acquisition of Shaw Tracking, a Shaw Communications subsidiary that provides fleet management solutions in Canada. This further expands Omnitracs' customer base in North America, the company noted.
Shaw Tracking will be integrated into the Omnitracs product and service portfolio. The combined organization is positioned to assist the Canadian market throughout an entire load lifecycle. Mike Ham will lead the organization as vice president and general manager of Omnitracs Canada.
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...Read the rest of this storyA Celadon Driving Academy student practices his driving skill on a TransSim simulator. Photo: Celadon
Days after it announced it was selling off its flatbed division, Indiana-based Celadon said it's getting out of the driver training business.
Celadon Trucking Services said it will exit its three Celadon Driving Academy locations in Indianapolis, Laredo, Texas, and Richmond, Virginia, later this year. One of Celadon's third-party driving school partners plans to establish accredited driving schools at each of the three locations. Celadon says while it will continue to need new drivers, it has decided a third-party model is more effective. It notes that most over-the-road trucking companies use a network of accredited driving schools rather than running their own.
“Highly qualified professional truck drivers are the lifeblood of our organization,” said President and CEO Jon Russell in a news release. “After a thorough review, we determined that using third-party programs and making additional investments in driver compensation and advanced training would afford a better investment of resources than continuing to operate the schools ourselves. We are trucking specialists, and we will focus on our core business."
It's the latest in a number of moves the struggling company has made this year to deal with mounting losses.
In May, Celadon announced changes in its top management and a new line of credit, as it said it expected to report a $10 million operating loss from the first quarter.
Also in May, the New York Stock Exchange said problems with Celadon's financial reporting could result in the company's stock being delisted.
In July, Celadon Group named Paul Svindland CEO, succeeding Paul Will.
Celadon founder Steve Russell died in April of 2016.
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...Read the rest of this storyBlackBerry and Fleet Complete announced today that they have entered into a reselling partnership that will expand Fleet Complete's current fleet tracking and monitoring solution.
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...Read the rest of this storyAmerican Trucking Assns.' advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 7.1% in August, following a 0.5% gain during July. In August, the index equaled 149 (2000=100), up from 139.1 in July.
Compared with August 2016, the SA index increased 8.2%. In July, the index rose 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. Year-to-date, compared with the same eight months in 2016, the index is up 2.1%.
As part of this report, ATA also revised its July increase in the index upward to a 0.5% gain from the previously reported 0.1% increase.
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...Read the rest of this storyAs the “traditional” make-up of the U.S. truck driver population is rapidly aging and heads for retirement new efforts must be made to attract younger and “non-traditional” candidates to the job of piloting commercial vehicles for a living, according to a panel of trucking executives at the McLeod Software 2017 User Conference in Atlanta this week.
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