Commentary: Off-Peak Deliveries Can Make a Difference

Photo: U.S. DOT

Suppose they had a rush hour and nobody came.

As strange as the concept sounds, this essentially describes the ultimate goal of off-peak deliveries – the route planning strategy that schedules shipments at times when there is less traffic on the road.

There are significant savings to be realized by those who embrace the idea. Fuel economy improves because of reduced idling in traffic; equipment is better utilized because of shorter transit times; Human Resources budgets can be eased when employees are not paid just to sit in traffic or wait for freight. Shippers, for their part, potentially realize savings through lower delivery costs. If enough companies embraced the strategy, congestion during other time periods would improve. The rush hours would ease.

Ontario's Peel Region wants to measure exactly how extensive the savings can be, and is in the midst of recruiting carriers and shippers to participate in a related six-month research project.

Carriers have a lot to gain by participating in the study. The battle against congestion is particularly relevant in this locale. Indeed, calling the region a transportation hub would be an understatement. Peel roads and highways handled 24.2 million truck trips in 2012, and four out of every nine jobs in the region are linked to industries that depend on moving goods. This is the home of Pearson International Airport, two intermodal yards, and some of the busiest highways in the nation.

The results of Peel's research will likely be positive, too, because off-peak deliveries have proven their worth before.

In 2009 and 2010, 25 New York City businesses and eight fleets embraced deliveries between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. Trips during that period were twice as fast as those completed between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Trucks that traditionally faced $1,000 in parking fines per month were left without any ...Read the rest of this story

Canada Approves Ambassador Bridge Expansion on Border

Photo: Jim Park

Canada has issued the final permit needed for the Ambassador Bridge expansion project to continue.

Matthew Moroun, with the Detroit International Bridge company, says the permit allows the company to proceed with the investment in international infrastructure.

The new Ambassador Bridge will be the longest cable stayed bridge in North America, and will be constructed next to the current Ambassador Bridge, which has connected Canada and the United States since 1929.

The privately-funded, billion-dollar bridge will have six lanes, three in each direction, including NEXUS, FAST, and bus lanes. It will also have new and expanded Canada Border Service Agency commercial inspection facilities, including 12 additional commercial inspection booths.

Moroun says the project has faced challenges in getting to this point.

“We know there are those who never thought our permit would be approved,” he said. “Hopefully, now we can all come together and take pride in watching a new bridge rise across the shared border between our great nations.”

U.S. permits were received more than a year ago, in the spring of 2016.

This article by the staff of award-winning Canadian publication Today's Trucking appears here via a cooperative editorial-sharing agreement between HDT and TT.

Related: State Department Issues Permit for New Bridge Between U.S. and Canada

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Test Drive: Volvo’s Not-So Vanilla VNL

The Volvo VNL 640 tractor tested by Jack Roberts featured a 70-inch high-rise sleeper, a 424-hp D13 Volvo engine with compounded turbocharger and predictive cruise control. Photos: Jack Roberts

Volvo's original VNL tractor, which debuted in 1996, was a cutting-edge design that set a standard for Class 8 aerodynamics still in place today. Which is one reason the company's first new Class 8 on-highway design in 20 years bears more than a passing resemblance to its predecessor; why fix something that ain't broke, after all?

But, exterior styling aside, a lot of other developments have occurred over the past two decades. And it's obvious that even more are rapidly approaching. This new VNL reflects many of those current and future trends. Volvo took everything it has learned about tractor aerodynamics, powertrains and driver comfort and safety over the past 20 years and distilled those lessons into this new truck. And the results are impressive.

Volvo is, of course, synonymous with safety. So it's no surprise to be greeted by wide, serrated steps and generous, tactile-coated grab handles when you climb up into the VNL cab and into the plush driver's seat. Entry into the cab is made easier by the fact that Volvo's new, Position-Perfect steering wheel is pivoted up and almost entirely out of your way. Once you're settled in, simply depress a foot pedal to the right of the steering column. All the way down and you can quickly set the reach and height of the steering wheel. Pressing the pedal halfway down allows you to tilt the angle of the wheel just so, for a comfortable and safe drive.

Out in front, the VNL offers an impressive, panoramic view out over its sharply dropped front hood. The narrow, dramatically sloped hood is great for both forward visibility and aerodynamics. ...Read the rest of this story

Mahle Kit Offers Diagnostics for Commercial Vehicles

Mahle Service Solutions' TechPro Diagnostic Systems VDS Combo Kit includes components to diagnose and repair commercial vehicles and is aimed at mixed fleets and municipalities that service a variety of vehicle sizes.

A one-year subscription for the VDS Combo Kit allows users to activate and use both the VDS1000 and VDS1000HD diagnostic software and includes regular software updates.

The TechPro Commercial Diagnostic System VDS1000HD from Mahle Service Solutions, powered by JPro, provides can help fleets analyze, diagnose and repair commercial vehicles.

The VDS1000HD provides more than 54,000 heavy- and medium-duty fault codes with detailed OEM level component and trailer descriptions. Users can view and print log files, obtain fault management information, store and save data, and review total vehicle health status.

The VCI1000HD adapter is fully RP1210c and J1939 type 2 compliant allowing technicians to connect with other original equipment diagnostic software systems. Additionally, the VDS1000HD offers expansive bi-directional testing capabilities such as manual DPF regens, cylinder cutout tests, and idle shutdown enable/disable - at an affordable price point.

The VDS1000HD can run diagnostics on the aftertreatment system, with graph interpretations, and checklists to aid technicians throughout the diagnostic process.

Mahle's TechPro Automotive Diagnostic System VDS1000 is designed to be a versatile, software-based tool to help analyze, diagnose and repair light vehicles to maximize technician productivity. The TechPro VDS1000 can decode a vehicle identification number with one click. A scan of vehicle-wide diagnostic trouble codes on all modules takes 30 seconds or less with the Bluetooth-enabled vehicle communication interface.

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Southeast Ports Shutting Down Ahead of Hurricane Irma

In a move that will ripple through the supply chain, ports in the Southeast U.S. are shutting down ahead of Hurricane Irma.

As the Journal of Commerce reports, ports from Miami to Charleston are in the massive hurricane's projected path, many in mandatory evacuation zones, and are closing their gates.

In Florida, with reports of fuel shortages amidst the massive evacuation, fuel distribution is being expedited at all phases of delivery. The governor has arranged for military vessels to escort fuel ships to the docks and law enforcement escort of fuel trucks to stations.

Motor carriers are being encouraged to continue moving as much freight as possible out of the Southeast before the storm hits, JOC reports. Several trucking companies told the paper that their capacity is spread thin, especially so soon after Hurricane Harvey, with equipment having been sent to the Gulf Coast for relief efforts.

Larry Gross, a senior transportation analyst at FTR, told JOC that if the damage is confined to South Florida, it won't be as bad as Hurricane Harvey shutting down the Houston ports was. But if the storm hits the ports of Jacksonville, Savannah, and Charleston, the orerall supply chain impact will be worse.

Florida and Georgia have both issued evacuation orders for areas east of I-95, where major ports are located, and an evacuation order in South Carolina is likely Saturday.

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Rotary Lift expands mobile column lift line-up

Rotary Lift announced it has introduced the Mach 14 Flex powered by RedFire, a wireless, remote-controlled mobile column lift with a rated lifting capacity of 14,000 lbs.

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Swift stockholders approve Knight merger

Swift Transportation Company announced that its stockholders approved a merger with Knight Transportation Inc. during a recent special meeting.

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