Invest VW settlement funds in clean diesel, group says

Roadnet Anywhere Update Improves on Route Optimization

Omnitracs has released Roadnet Anywhere version 4.4, incorporating tools to quantify savings and analyze the effectiveness of route optimization practices.

Through a new Optimal Routes Feature, users can measure the effectiveness and impact of routing decisions on cost, time, and distance. Users can generate theoretical route-level scenarios to compare against actual routes.

The Business Optimal feature represents the ideal route, taking into consideration customer delivery windows, order of deliveries, and other service-related constraints. True Optimal represents the theoretical best sequence with no constraints. Comparing actual routes to the Optimal Route scenarios can provide insight into the decisions made by routers, as well as highlight instances in which an over-emphasis on customer service has led to overall inefficiency.

“Route optimization is an area where small changes can make a big impact on the bottom line, but even if executives know that intuitively, instinct needs to be backed by data,” said Kevin Haugh, chief strategy and product officer at Omnitracs. “With Roadnet Anywhere v4.4, executives can see the current and potential ROI of their route optimization practices, thereby being given the ability to better hold the organization accountable for the performance improvements desired.”

Roadnet Anywhere version 4.4 also introduces the MyStats page within the Roadnet Mobile app for iOS and Android. MyStats gives drivers a real-time view into their performance, without having to interrupt their routes. Drivers who are ahead or behind schedule can adjust their performance without having to be notified by a manager. Managers are able to control which stats the drivers have access to, including adherence to schedule, how long they have been on the route, or remaining deliveries.

“A key ingredient to achieving operational improvement is providing drivers with timely input and coaching in how they are performing,” said Haugh. “This capability further enhances the ability of our customers to provide such feedback ...Read the rest of this story

Daimler truck and bus chief resigns

Mullen hopeful for 2017

Daimler’s Global Truck Chief Bernhard Resigns

Photo: Daimler AG

Wolfgang Bernhard has resigned from the Board of Management of Daimler AG, the company announced on Feb. 10. Daimler said that Bernhard, who was worldwide head of Daimler Trucks & Buses, “will be released from his duties with immediate effect.”

Chairman of the Board of Management and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Dr. Dieter Zetsche will head Daimler Trucks & Buses until a successor is named.

Bernhard notified Chairman of the Supervisory Board Manfred Bischoff and Zetsche of his intention not to extend his current contract, which expires in February 2018. “Wolfgang Bernhard will leave the company at his own request and for personal reasons,” the Germany-based company said in a statement.

"We regret this resolution, but we have a number of outstanding managers to succeed [him], said Bischoff. “We thank Wolfgang Bernhard for his committed work and respect his personal decision.”

Bernhard was named head of the Mercedes-Benz Vans division in 2009 and was appointed to the Board of Management of Daimler AG in February 2010. Until March 2013, he was Board of Management Member for Production and Procurement of Mercedes-Benz Cars & Mercedes-Benz Vans; since April 2013, he has been responsible for Daimler Trucks & Buses.

Related: Daimler Blueprints the Connected Truck

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YRC Worldwide to Present at Stifel Transportation & Logistics Conference

Is the tide turning for small trucking companies?

There's been enormous bottom-line pressure applied to small- to medium-sized trucking companies – those operating anywhere from three on up to 150 trucks – in recent years. Yet that pressure may be set to ease significant in 2017 if capacity cuts and a proposed “regulatory rollback” occur as expected.

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