Havis releases ELD mandate guide

Havis has released a new whitepaper to help fleet managers strategically plan their implementation of the new Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate.

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Sleek Fleet solution to connect truck drivers with shippers

Sleek Fleet announced the official launch of its web- and mobile-enabled freight marketplace solution designed to directly connect owner operators with loads from shippers.

Sleek Fleet explained it maintains a database of verified drivers, with full driving histories, insurance information and more, and handles all transactions, paying drivers within four hours of proper paperwork submission.

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Doft integrates with PostEverywhere to simplify freight posting

Silicon Valley truck-sharing startup Doft (do freight transportation) announced it is integrating with online load-posting platform PostEverywhere. “This new integration will now give customers of both companies a more simplified freight posting process, improving the lives of truckers and shippers and pushing the entire trucking industry to new heights,” the company explained.

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A high-end bedbugger and the Buddhist view of attachment

It's difficult to decide what's more impressive about trucker Finn Murphy – that he's figured out how to make five to seven times more than the average truck driver or that he's just published a book with a major book company about his driving career and received laudatory attention ranging from the New York Times to the literary magazine

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10 Things Drivers Do to Get Pulled Over

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In my experience as a state patrol sergeant, the following are driving behaviors or situations that “stood out” from the norm. Not every violation mentioned below necessarily results in a citation, but it will, at a minimum, be a reason for a traffic stop and a possible warning. And many of the violation warnings will be evaluated in FMCSA's safety measurement systems.

When considering the perception and reaction time of 1.5 seconds, less than 2 seconds exists for the driver to see, acknowledge, and act by steering or braking to avoid a crash. When trucks are following less than a truck length behind another, it's obviously too close and an easy traffic stop. Of course, much more distance is needed to just fulfill the perception and reaction time and to meet most states' following distance laws.

Most commercial motor vehicle officers would prefer to have a reason for a CMV stop rather than random inspections. Speed is rather easy to find and typically coupled with the above following too close. Again, many stops may just be a warning, but the driver “gave reason” for the traffic stop, and now it's an opportunity to review the driver's credentials and the vehicle's equipment.

Not all lane deviations are unsafe or prohibited by state traffic laws, but for those that are, it's an easy stop. For the others, significant deviations raise reasonable concerns relating to the driver's possible illness, fatigue, or impairment. Typically, once it's observed that it was not simply a “push of the wind,” officers will initiate a traffic stop for deviations from the traffic lanes that are not typical or stand out from the norm for the conditions and roadway surface. These stops frequently result in the observance of driver distraction with onboard electronics – ...Read the rest of this story

Marten Transport Pushes Second Quarter Profit Higher

Marten Transport Ltd. on Thursday reported its second quarter net income increased 7.2% from a year earlier to $9.1 million, or 17 cents per share, 2 cents better than analysts' expectations.

This compares to income of $8.5 million, or 16 cents per share, for the second quarter of 2016 for the temperature controlled carrier based in Wisconsin.

Operating revenue increased to $171.5 million for the second quarter of 2017 from $166.1 million a year earlier. Operating revenue, net of fuel surcharges, improved 2% to $155.9.

Total revenue in the company's dedicated and intermodal operations rose 5.7% and 7.5%, respectively, during the quarter from a year earlier. Dedicated revenue totaled $41.5 million while intermodal was $19.1 million.

Total truckload revenue increased 0.9% to $94.9 million as brokerage revenue improved 6.6% to $15.9 million.

“We are encouraged by our growth in revenue and profitability driven by our continued disciplined execution of Marten's unique multifaceted business model,” said Randolph L. Marten, chairman and CEO. “Excluding the one-time facility disposition gain in our first quarter of 2015, we earned the highest net income in our history in this quarter and achieved our best operating ratio, net of fuel surcharges, over the last ten quarters.

Marten reported a consolidated operating ratio of 90.9% in the second quarter of this year compared to 91.1% a year earlier.

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GCR Tire & Service Appoints Hoeft COO

GCR Tires & Service, a business unit of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. providing commercial tires and service, today announced that Steve Hoeft will join the organization as chief operating officer.

Hoeft will be based in Nashville and will lead the operations function of GCR, driving standardization, process improvement and systems leadership across more than 200 GCR store locations in North America.

Steve Hoeft joins GCR Tires & Service as COO. Photo: GCR Tire & Service

Hoeft joins Bridgestone from Execution Specialists Group, where he led consulting practice areas, including strategy development and implementation, operations and sales resource alignment, supply chain management and inventory rationalization.

Prior to his time with ESG, Hoeft was senior vice president and general manager of U.S. operations and product development for Brinks. In that role, he was responsible for all U.S. field operations, leading 7,000 teammates with a focus on customer satisfaction, revenue growth and quality of service.

Hoeft previously worked for Advance Auto Parts in roles of increasing responsibility, including vice president of commercial operations and market growth strategy, regional vice president of operations, and vice president of sales and national accounts.

Hoeft holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Cleary University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

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