New DriverTech Device Supports Video Capture

DriverTech has launched the DT4000 Rev 7, a new mobile communications device with electronic logging device capabilities and a front-facing dash camera.

“Our brand new 7th generation DT4000 is a truly revolutionary device and a remarkable value for fleets,” said Mark Haslam, CEO of DriverTech. “We've created our most powerful system ever – it's packed with new capabilities such as 100% more computing capacity, installs in under twenty minutes and includes a front facing critical event camera.”

Beyond the new hardware, DriverTech has made multiple recent additions to its software including:

Other features include the ability to interface with Cummins Connected Diagnostics, and Meritor Tire Inflation System products.

The design team for the DT4000 put a special emphasis on distracted driving and has carefully followed the SAE J2571 standard for ‘Mode Control' which sets standards for truck and bus user interfaces and stipulates that certain functions are restricted while driving.

“Preventing the driver from using distracting elements of the smartphone is nearly impossible when you make the smartphone the primary driver interface for HOS or other applications,” said Steve Sanderson, director of sales for DriverTech. “Following SAE J2571 is the first and best method to limit distracting.”

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Trump vows “America first” approach to trade

Trucks Block Possible Terrorism in D.C., New York City

DSNY Mack Granite dump trucks, loaded with sand, were positioned at Trump Tower following now-President Donald Trump's election in November. Security was expensive. TV screen shots by Tom Berg

The inauguration is over and Donald Trump is now our president. But before we see how his administration plays out, let's acknowledge that trucks played a role in keeping him and everyone else there safe during the inauguration ceremonies, as they did from the time of his election on Nov. 8. TV news shows certainly did, and reporters repeatedly noted the presence of trucks as part of security measures surrounding the events.

Authorities placed heavy vehicles in blocking positions at many intersections in The District (as Washingtonians call their city), sealing off streets leading to the front of the Capitol building. In New York City, police got Sanitation Department trucks parked in front of Trump Tower in New York City (not to mention those and others blocking vehicular access to Times Square on New Year's Eve).

In Washington, military and civilian trucks helped close a large swath of the city, according to news reports I've seen. In NYC, they were DSNY Mack Granites with dump bodies filled with sand to add mass. Reporters began referring to them as “sand trucks.” Later, DSNY added more massive-looking trash collection trucks — Mack LEs toting Heil packer bodies, as most NYC garbage trucks are. But I doubt they carried sand.

Trucks as barriers to terrorism – specifically, against other trucks used as “weapons of mass destruction” – seem a great idea to me. A terrorist (a.k.a. ISIS “soldier”) is not going to drive a medium-duty delivery truck into a crowd, as the guy did in Nice, France, last summer, if there are big, heavy trucks in his way. And he won't get past hulking rigs even with a tractor-trailer, ...Read the rest of this story

With Video-Bases Safety Systems Seeing is Believing

Camera-based safety systems offer monitoring, analytical and training benefits, say providers. 

Photo: MiX Telematics

Fleets are still not making much use of video recorder-based systems that aim both to monitor and improve at-the-wheel safety performance of truck drivers. The current penetration of such technology is “superficial at best,” according to Mike Nalepka, CEO of VideoProtects.com, a consultancy that focuses on such technologies, in a speech at October's Bobit Business Media Fleet Technology Expo.

“Our estimates suggest only about 6% of fleets have fully integrated video cameras and recording systems into their safety infrastructure management systems,” he said. “That means 94% of fleets are not there at all or are just starting to investigate the possibilities. They are kicking the tires, doing their due diligence, talking to other carriers and trying to determine where the value lies.”

Providers of camera-based systems point to how the monitoring and analytical capabilities of their systems can be leveraged to address issues of concern raised about specific driver behaviors and to more effectively provide remedial training and “coaching” very soon after a recorded safety event. The aim is to address and correct bad habits to help drivers operate more safely over the long term through real-world lessons starring themselves.

Many providers recently announced improvements, including new technological advances they say further enhance the business case for adopting video recorder-based systems. New providers have entered the marketplace as well.

The latest release of SmartDrive's video-based analytics platform and safety program includes new capabilities for capturing and delivering videos, improving the video-coaching process and driver-performance analytics as well as custom policy configurations.

According to the company, the enhancements “target high-priority areas for fleets and deliver on top requests from existing customers, providing new levels of productivity and protection with an even faster ROI.” The system improvements include a range of features that provide ...Read the rest of this story

Is Your Electrical Maintenance Doing the Job?

It's a thankless and time-consuming job, but basic electrical maintenance requires a high level of discipline and the willingness to follow procedure. Photos: Jim Park

Most electrical maintenance isn't rocket science — but let's not confuse basic electrical maintenance with electronic troubleshooting, which truly is a science.

The idea is to keep the electrons flowing to where they are needed in the appropriate voltages and current. That means doing everything humanly possible to prevent restrictions to current flow, such as not allowing corrosion to eat away at a wire or a connector. Corroded wires do not conduct electricity very well at all, and that limits current flow to the component, such as an electric actuator on a turbocharger or the shifter servos in an automated manual transmission.

“I have seen AMTs pulled and overhauled for erratic shifting when it was actually a low-voltage problem,” says Darry Stuart, fleet maintenance consultant and frequent moderator at the Fleet Talk and Fleet Forum sessions at ATA's Technology & Maintenance Council meetings. “That's an expensive mistake.”

Basic electrical maintenance done right requires disciplined techs following proper procedures. Stuart says it's easy to take shortcuts, and since most techs don't really like doing battery maintenance, you have to require them to do the work properly.

“Whether or not to disconnect the cables, clean the connectors and load test the batteries should not be left to the technician's discretion,” Stuart says. “That work has to be done at each and every PM. No ifs, ands or buts.”

Cleaning the terminal posts and the cable connectors, along with inspecting the cables for corrosion and wicking, has to be done right or you're wasting your time.

However, Stuart says, somewhat controversially, that dielectric grease and anti-corrosion compounds should not be used on battery terminals.

“You can lose two volts right at the terminal posts just due to ...Read the rest of this story

Landstar Opens Large Facility to Support U.S./Mexico Services

Landstar System has opened a new, larger U.S./Mexico logistics service center in Laredo, Texas.

The 31,000-square-foot logistics facility is located on a 50-acre site that accommodates 450 trailers and provides room for future expansion. It features a secured C-TPAT certified site, including a 30-bay cross-dock and transload facility, along with a dedicated platform and heavy/specialized freight area with a custom 120-ton, stand-alone bridge crane.

“Landstar is known for its high level of service and extensive geographic coverage, servicing the Mexico market using more than 1,000 van and platform trailers to accommodate the broad range of commodities that comprise cross-border trade,” said Landstar Transportation Logistics Executive Vice President of Operations Eric Meyer. “The facility will better serve Landstar's customers, capacity providers and agents, and we believe it will position Landstar as the premier freight transport provider of cross-border operations.”

The 30-door cross dock is comprised of more than 20,000 square feet of space designed to bring efficiencies to Landstar's less-than-truckload and transload services. This will complement the company's LTL business by allowing the consolidation of several LTL shipments into one truckload before crossing the border into Mexico.

Landstar's Mexico service offerings include truckload, rail, LTL, transload and customs brokerage.

The new yard is capable of holding more than 450 trailers, which is 2.5 times the capacity of Landstar's previous facility, and has a dedicated heavy-haul section that includes a custom designed, 120-ton stand-alone bridge crane. The crane has a clearance area of 35 feet high and 37 feet wide to allow transloading many of the largest "super loads."

The Landstar center also features conference rooms and meeting space for customers and agents, and a state-of-the-art area for Landstar business capacity owners, the company's term for truck owner-operators leased to Landstar. The BCO area includes a lounge, media center, computer room, laundry and much more, all designed with ...Read the rest of this story

Safe Fleet buys Randall the reefer customizer