An Alliance AutoGas-engineered single-plug connector, no cut or drill fuel system, installed on a Ram ProMaster was recently displayed at the Government Fleet Expo in Nashville, the company announced.
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weBoost, the global leader in cell signal boosters, announced the Drive 4G-X OTR, an all-in-one signal booster kit for truck drivers. The Drive 4G-X OTR is weBoost's most powerful mobile booster, enabling up to 32 times stronger signal on the road so drivers with lengthy travels can stay conveniently connected to those they love and on whom rely.
The Drive 4G-X OTR is carrier agnostic, so the booster will successfully amplify signals for Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T users alike, allowing everyone to stay connected. It simultaneously amplifies voice and data for devices operating on 3G, 4G LTE, or legacy bands. Neither a wired internet connection nor Wi-Fi are needed for the booster to function, and there are no monthly fees.
The Drive 4G-X OTR amplifies existing cell signal from the nearest cell tower to bring extremely capable coverage to truckers anywhere on the road. The result is a reliable cell signal and the capability to receive a dispatch, find a safe rest stop, call home during lunch, stream music or use navigation with ease. Installation is a six-step process and the kit includes the all-new 4G-OTR antenna and mount, the Drive 4G-X signal booster, a slim low profile, secondary antenna, a mounting bracket and a 12V DC power supply.1
The antenna covers cell phone frequencies from 700, 800, 1700 and 1900 to 2200 MHz.
The Drive 4G-X OTR is available for purchase now.
Visit weBoost's commercial truck cell phone signal booster product page to learn more about the Drive 4G-X OTR.
1 Truckers with Cascadia model trucks with molded-style mirrors are recommended to mount the antenna to the top of the cab and may need to purchase additional materials or tools to properly secure.
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Uber, of course, is part of the move to the "Uber-ization" of freight too.
'>Uber, of course, is part of the move to the "Uber-ization" of freight too.
'>Despite all the talk of the “Uberization” of trucking and tons of venture capital poured into startups that promise cheap same-day delivery, companies like FedEx and UPS aren't likely going anywhere soon — but Amazon has been and will continue to be disruptive to the logistics business, according to Richard “Dick” Metzler, chief marketing officer of uShip.
In a conference call hosted by the investment firm Stifel, Metzler looked at the potential impact of the rapidly evolving “sharing economy” in freight transportation and logistics. Although he now works for uShip, one of the first online freight shipping marketplaces, Metzler has a long career at traditional logistics companies such as FedEx Logistics and XPO Logistics.
Metzler's definition of the sharing economy is where on-demand companies aggregate demand online but fulfill that demand through offline services. The classic example are on-demand ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft, where you use an app to get a ride-share instead of a traditional taxi service. If you've bought items directly from individuals online, bought tickets from an online reseller, used online home-sharing services like AirB2B, those are all examples of the sharing economy.
Today, we are seeing the “Uber of everything,” he said, from companies such as Amazon, Google and Walmart to less-well-known operations such as Deliv, TaskRabbit, and Shyp. You can get a hot meal, even a private jet. “You name it, someone has Uberized it.”
In the past couple of years, a lot of venture capital has poured into dozens of startups that aim to take the low-tech business of arranging cargo shipments online. Metzler called it the “fear of missing out” effect and said most of these companies are unlikely to get second rounds of financing.
Metzler pointed out that the “sharing economy” and the “on-demand” economy are not necessarily one and the same, although the two often overlap.
Uber and Amazon both tapped into “latent demand” — a demand for something that consumers sort of didn't even know they had until someone pointed out it was possible.
“I think Amazon Prime will go down in history as one of the most brilliant combinations of marketing and logistics ever,” Metzler said. “They created the need for speed that leaves others trying to catch up.”
The e-commerce giant Amazon, with its Amazon Prime subscription service that includes free two-day shipping, has helped make the notion of free, fast shipping “table stakes” Metzler said. He questioned how much consumers really want same-day or even one-hour delivery from their e-commerce purchases — or if they want it enough to pay enough for delivery companies to be able to turn a profit doing it.
Metzler cited a "Future of Retail” study that found free shipping was two times more important to consumers than same-day shipping — 88% vs. 49%. Those who shopped online more frequently, however, had higher expectations for delivery speed.
Another survey found that in general, when shipping is free, people don't expect to get it as quickly — but Amazon Prime members are not as patient. When paying for shipping, people expect to get it faster.
The problem facing companies offering on-demand logistics, and the reason he believes many start-ups won't make it, are low route density and low revenue per stop, Metzler said.
How does on-demand shipping work? Sort of like Uber. A customer orders shoes online, the order is routed to the nearest stores that sell that style. A driver nearby accepts the order via a smartphone app, goes to the store, buys the shoes, then drives to the customer location, maybe for a $5 delivery charge.
It's just costs too much to the provider to offer same-day or one-hour delivery. He offered the case study of one company, Bloom, that was struggling to survive due to one-hour delivery cost economics. They cut service back to next day, didn't lose business and cut their costs by 25%.
“When it comes to delivering stuff there are only two ways to be productive,” Metzler said. One is massive route density, like FedEx, UPS, or Amazon. Or you get much higher revenue per stop, like Cargomatic or uShip. Most of the on demand startups have neither, he contends.
“Amazon built a massive infrastructure and almost has an unfair advantage over every other retailer out there,” Metzler said. “There doesn't seem to be anybody in the e-commerce world that's happy with their e-commerce channel because they're trying to out-Amazon Amazon.”
On the other hand, he said, although Amazon has been investing in planes, trailers and even trucks of its own, “I also think they have a long way to go to compete with UPS and FedEx.”
Nevertheless, he said, “If I was still sitting in Memphis [at FedEx], I would have a nuclear plan on the shelf just in case – and I'm sure they do.”
When the dust settles what are the likely outcome? Metzler outlined five distinct possibilities.
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Photo: Skyline Emissions
">Photo: Skyline Emissions
">FSX Equipment will distribute Skyline aftermarket diesel particulate filters nationally after entering into a mutual agreement with Skyline Emissions.
Skyline's DPFs are designed to be original equipment manufacturer part replacements and FSX says that it studied different manufacturers to determine the quality of Skyline's parts and technology.
“We want to offer a new, high quality OEM replacement DPF to fill a need in the market place for a cost saving alternative”, said Cole Waldo, president of FSX.
The Aftermarket DPFs are currently not available for sale or use in California.
Skyline Emissions specializes in retrofit and aftermarket heavy-duty diesel emissions, manufacturing, distribution and emission testing services.
Related: Keeping DPFs Clean
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Photo: J.J. Keller
">Photo: J.J. Keller
">J.J. Keller and Associates developed a method for allowing fleets to track hours of service data for multiple drivers on a single device within the J.J. Keller Encompass System.
With the new functionality, multiple mobile users can share a common device, reducing the cost to fleets and recurring monthly expenses to procuring, supporting and maintaining multiple devices.
The new functionality is particularly useful to industries with drivers who frequently transition from vehicle to vehicle, including hyrail, oil and gas, logging, utility and construction, according to J.J. Keller.
J.J. Keller has also expanded its electronic logging system to include the construction Hours of Service rule set. For drivers whose primary role is to maintain the supply of construction equipment, construction maintenance vehicles, or pavement materials to and from an active construction site, this exemption allows a 24-hour restart instead of 34 hours.
“Construction companies understand their business isn't like over-the-road truck operations. That's why they expect a flexible and compliant Hours of Service solution from their ELog provider that also takes advantage of operational efficiencies in line with FMCSA rules,” said Tom Bray, senior transportation editor for J. J. Keller. “Expanding the number of rule sets in our electronic logging system allows us to support the compliant use of exemptions by drivers in each specific segment of the industry.”
For more information, click here.
Related: J.J. Keller Expands ELog Training for Drivers
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TravelCenters of America has updated its TruckSmart Mobile App, allowing drivers to reserve and pay for an available parking space at any TA or Petro location up to 30 days in advance.
The feature is the mobile version of TA's Reserve-It! Parking program, designed to help truckers guarantee a spot to park at the end of a workday. Truckers can reserve a spot from within the app and make payment for it using a credit card.
“Reserve-It! was created by TravelCenters to help professional drivers increase their efficiency and productivity, and to help them ensure they can find truckstop parking at the end of their workday,” said Tom O'Brien, president and CEO of TravelCenters. “Adding functions to our TruckSmart app makes Reserve-It! more convenient than ever before.”
TruckSmart also includes access to UltraOne account balances and recent transactions, fuel prices, show and parking availability, maintenance services schedule queuing, store specials and RoadSquad emergency roadside service.
TruckSmart is available for Android and iOS smartphones through the Google Play and Apple App Store.
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