BOLT (Breakthrough One-Key Lock Technology) offers security to simplify the workday for drivers of heavy duty work trucks, including International Pro Star, International 4000 Series, International Terra Star, Mitsubishi Raider, Sterling Condor, Volvo VN Series as well as Freightliner Century and Columbia models, the company said.
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In 2006 aerodynamic devices had not penetrated the trailer market much at all. What a difference a decade makes. During July, I spent a few weeks working at a few companies in Colorado - one week spent at Rocky Mountain Institute a partner in our trucking efficiency work. My wife and I decided to drive the 2,200-mile roundtrip on I70 from Indianapolis to Denver. So, what did we do on that long lonely highway to pass the time? Of course we did, we counted the aerodynamics devices on 5,000 tractor trailers. And what we found even surprised me.
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So the annual list of the 10 most stolen vehicles compiled by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) came out today and once again, pickup trucks made by the “Detroit Three” rank high on the list.
But not just any pickup truck models, mind you; older model pickups, ones 10 years or older to be exact, are the ones vehicle thieves focused on in 2015.
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Daimler Trucks North America will start production on its entry into the medium-duty market in October. The DD5 was unveiled to trucking press in late July. Editor in Chief Deborah Lockridge was there and has these photos.
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It's well known that obstructive sleep apnea or “OSA” is considered a major health risk for truck drivers. Indeed, a recent survey of 800 commercial vehicle operators by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) revealed almost one-third of them (28%) suffer from mild to severe sleep apnea – a number that could actually be higher, the group stressed, since sleep apnea is often unrecognized and undiagnosed.
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Chris Zondlo, SPD safety coordinator (2nd from left), receives a Great West Safety Award from Great West's Kevin Skow (far left), and the WTA's Safety Fleet of the Year Award from Jason Berry, Washington State Patrol assistant chief (2nd from right) and Tom Walrath, of T.E. Walrath Trucking and WTA president (far right). Photo: Daseke
">Chris Zondlo, SPD safety coordinator (2nd from left), receives a Great West Safety Award from Great West's Kevin Skow (far left), and the WTA's Safety Fleet of the Year Award from Jason Berry, Washington State Patrol assistant chief (2nd from right) and Tom Walrath, of T.E. Walrath Trucking and WTA president (far right). Photo: Daseke
">Arlington, Wash.-based Smokey Point Distributing, a Daseke company, has been named the Washington Trucking Association's “Safety Fleet of the Year” in the common carrier (over 5 million miles) category.
“We take safety to heart and we're very honored to be named the top carrier in our state,” said Lee Michaud, SPD executive vice president. “We've had a fantastic year – first being awarded our fifth straight Platinum Safety Award by our insurance provider, then being recognized by the Truckload Carriers Association as the top fleet in safety (15 million to 24.99 million mile category). This award from our home state means a great deal to us.”
According to Mike Southards, WTA safety director, the Washington State Patrol named the ultimate winner. “We forward the nominations to the State Patrol and they select our winners as an independent third party,” he said. “We were very excited to see SPD win the award– it was well-deserved. SPD represents our state and our industry in a very positive light. They've grown to become one of the largest carriers in Washington and they have a phenomenal outfit, both in management and in drivers.”
In 2015, SPD's national network of terminals grew to have more than 300 drivers as well as nearly 400 open-deck trailers. The company said it is “on pace to have another solid growth year in 2016.”
SPD's Michaud said the carrier had zero chargeable accidents in Washington during 2015, along with an accident rate of just .29 occurrences per million miles in 2015, putting it well below the industry average.
“Safety begins with a meticulous maintenance program and culminates with our drivers who truly care about the loads they haul,” said Michaud. “Everything has to work together and it does. We're very proud of our CSA federal safety scores, which are among the top tier in the industry. And our drivers– they're our cornerstones.
“We stay true to our culture of celebrating their professionalism and individualism; we trust and respect what they do and how they represent Smokey Point,” he added. “It's a recipe that works for us and it's one of many reasons why our turnover rate is one of the lowest in the industry. We're family here and we love what we do. And we do it with a safety-first mentality.”
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