Geotab Integrates Service with McLeod Software’s LoadMaster

Geotab announced that McLeod Software's LoadMaster Enterprise Symphony Mobile Communications solution is now available on the Geotab Marketplace.

The combination integrates with Geotab Drive and allows fleet owners to manage on-time deliveries and driver availability, while also helping them achieve regulatory compliance.

Geotab Drive works with the Geotab GO devices to give dispatchers and managers access to information about a driver's hours of service. LoadMaster integration grants users access to continuous, automated retrieval of each driver's HOS data along with the availability of the driver and their on-duty hours.

With better access to HOS data within the LoadMaster Driver Management screen, fleet managers can manage critical information needed to keep their customers and drivers informed while also helping achieve compliance. With this integration, Geotab Drive users can provide customers with delivery ETAs, avoid route issues, and reduce manual data entry for managers and dispatchers.

Related: ALK's CoPilot Truck Navigation Joins Geotab Marketplace

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

How data can improve your fleet’s efficiency

For some, “data” can be an intimidating term. And the thought of using it for day-to-day decisions seems lofty, impractical or expensive. It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of your business, but important that you utilize your full arsenal of tools – data is your ally, not your enemy. Data isn't just about computer servers and mobile apps. In fact, there is information right at your fingertips that can greatly improve the efficiency of your fleet.

Listen to What Your Equipment Tells You

read more

GM Offers Standard 5/100 Warranty on Gasoline Cabovers

Photo of Chevrolet Low Cab Forward courtesy of GM.

General Motors has begun offering a standard 5-year or 100,000-mile warranty with its gasoline-powered Chevrolet Low Cab Forward trucks to qualified fleet customers, which would make it the only cab-over-engine manufacturer to offer these terms without an extended warranty.

GM began offering the warranty terms with its 2016-model-year Low Cab Forward 3500 and 4500, which are powered by a GM-sourced 6.0L V-8 Vortec gasoline engine that delivers up to 297 horsepower and 372 lb.-ft. of torque through a 6-speed Allison 1000 transmission. The trucks are available in regular and crew cab models.

A qualified commercial customer must purchase five or more vehicles in the past 12 months or own or lease at least 15 vehicles in service. The fleet purchaser must also have a Fleet Account Number (FAN).

GM offers the trucks as rebadged versions of cabovers sold by Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. Isuzu offers the NPR and NPR-HD gasoline cabovers, which are powered by the same GM-sourced engine and transmission powertrain.

Isuzu offers a standard powertrain warranty of 3 years or 75,000 miles and optional 5-year of extended warranties of 100,000 or 120,000 miles.

A third cabover manufacturer, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America will begin offering a trio of 2019-model-year cabovers powered by the gasoline engine in early 2018, including the FE130, FE160 and FE180 under an agreement with Power Solutions International, Inc. (PSI). The manufacturer made the announcement at the Work Truck Show earlier this year, and hasn't announced the warranty it will offer on the trucks.

Hino doesn't currently offer a gasoline-powered cabover in its lineup.

Gasoline cabover warranties typically differ from diesel cabover warranties because the trucks see different usage patterns. Diesel cabovers are typically rack up higher odometer numbers in their first three years or use compared to gasoline trucks. A typical ...Read the rest of this story

Driver iQ’s employment verification service available for carriers

Driver iQ announced its SingleCheck Employment Verification online service is available to motor carriers for processing all direct employment verification requests on current and past drivers.

read more

Cummins readies next-gen, future commercial power

read more

Spot Truckload Posts Inch Higher, Effects of Harvey Still to Come

While Hurricane Harvey hit on Friday, Aug. 25, its effect on supply chains and spot truckload rates won't be fully reflected until a week later, according to the freight matching service provider DAT Solutions, which reported spot truckload rates were stable for the seven day period ending Aug. 26.

It reported there was a continuation of unusually high demand for truckload capacity during the week, falling just 1.8% from the week before, as the number of posted loads increased 1%, according to its load boards

Van load posts increased 6% and truck posts declined 1%; flatbed load posts declined 7% while truck posts dipped 3%; and reefer load posts increased 5% and truck posts fell 2%. Reefer volumes continue to tick up, with reefer demand being especially strong in the Upper Midwest.

Load-to-truck ratios rose 7% for vans, hitting 5.2 to 1, while reefers increased 7% to 10 to 1. The flatbed ratio fell 4% to 26.5 to 1. Of course, all this could change once the current week is in the books with relief supplies heading to the flooding zone.

National average rates were unchanged compared to the previous week, with vans at $1.78 per mile, flatbeds at $2.18 per mile and reefers at $2.07 per mile. All rates include fuel surcharges.

During this time the national average on-highway diesel price added a penny to $2.61 per gallon. Fuel prices are likely to rise more in the coming weeks because so many refineries are offline in Houston, however diesel prices have failed to spike like they did following Hurrican Katrina in 2004.

In Houston, the average outbound van rate was up a penny to $1.69 per mile, with the bulk of activity taking place before the weekend. Looking ahead, spot rates are expected to rise for loads heading into Houston and staging areas for relief ...Read the rest of this story

Manhattan adds to TMS mobile app

Manhattan Associates, Inc. announced new additions to its Transportation Management System (TMS) to allow shippers to utilize the transportation market's sharing economy.

Available as a free download from the Apple App Store or Google Play, Manhattan noted its new TMS Mobile application leverages the ubiquity of smartphones to reduce the barrier to entry and give small and medium-sized contract carriers access to constant, real-time visibility.

read more