NATSO Training Course Focuses on Aiding Drivers in Distress

The NATSO Foundation truckstop trade association has launched an online course designed to promote highway safety by teaching truckstop owners, operators, and employees how to help drivers in physical, emotional, or financial distress.

Titled “How Truckstops Help Drivers in Distress,” the 30-minute course is the third online learning tool in a suite of four courses designed to help teach members of the truckstop and travel plaza industry how to respond to requests for help from people in need.

"Anything that distracts a driver from the primary task of driving significantly increases the chance of a driver being involved in a crash," said Jenny Love Meyer, NATSO Foundation chairman. "Truckstop and travel plaza employees have the ability to help drivers manage or eliminate driving distractions before they are on the Interstate.”

The course is available on the NATSO Foundation's learning management system free of charge and is available to any member of the truckstop and travel plaza industry.

The NATSO Foundation developed its online learning initiative in an effort to strengthen the nation's truckstop and travel plaza industry through comprehensive educational and safety training materials.

The first two modules, titled "The Role of Truckstops in Combating Human Trafficking" and "How Truckstops Help the Homeless," launched earlier this year. A fourth course planned for the "How Truckstops Help People" series will focus on how to help drivers during a natural disaster.

“Whether it's placing a call to emergency services, helping a driver who is unable to continue on as the operator of a vehicle, or making drivers aware of resources, truckstops and travel plazas have an important role to play,” said Meyer.

The course can be accessed at www.natso.com/onlinelearning.

Related: Driver Wellness Courses Address 3 Key Concerns

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

How to Rehire Former Drivers to Improve Retention

Lifetime employment may be a thing of the past, but lifetime relationships are more important than ever. Rehiring former professional drivers is a benefit for companies that build those kinds of relationships, because good drivers who depart are more likely to return if the circumstances are favorable. In our exit survey data, we typically see that more than 50% of drivers leaving for preventable reasons would be likely to consider returning to the organization. This is especially powerful in the trucking industry where good drivers can be difficult to find.

The best approach to creating an effective return program is a holistic one, incorporating elements of recruiting, culture, and employee relations to ensure that no good driver is left behind.

Think about the recruiting costs your organization incurs in pursuit of new drivers. It can range from job advertising to referral fees, and the more difficult-to-fill positions typically require additional costs. However, when pursuing organizational alumni, you can avoid those costs.

This approach should be a standard practice for recruiters because it creates a conversational opportunity, one that doesn't exist with candidates unfamiliar with your organization's purpose and mission. In addition, there is less overhead associated with rehiring former drivers because they do not require as much training or orientation time.

Taking the time to pursue a driver that left and asking them what it would take for them to return is a simple, low-stakes way to start the conversation. The challenge is to keep the tone open and conversational as you dig into the issues that caused them to leave in the first place. It's entirely possible that the original friction that caused the driver to depart is no longer an issue, opening the door for return employment.

For instance, if someone left due to a bad relationship with a supervisor, but ...Read the rest of this story

Economic Watch: Overall Growth Revised Higher, Business Investment Up

The economy expanded more than previously estimated in the third quarter, and separate reports offered up some relatively positive economic news just in time for the holidays..

The nation's gross domestic product, which measures the total output of goods and services, expanded at a rate of 3.5% in the third quarter of the year, according to the Commerce Department. This third and final estimate is up from a 3.2% rate estimated a month ago and a 2.9% estimate in late October.

It's the best performance since the third quarter of 2014 and compares to a 1.4% rate in the second quarter of this year. The reading also beat a consensus estimate from analysts who forecast the GDP would be revised upward to a 3.3% rate.

The revised figure is based on more complete data that showed nonresidential fixed investment, personal consumption expenditures, and state and local government spending increased more than previously thought, according to the department.

“The data remains consistent with our view that underlying economic activity has strengthened over the second half of the year," said Nathan Janzen, senior economist at RBC Economics.

However, he said, RBC analysts do not expect a repeat of the sizeable third quarter GDP gain in the fourth quarter. "A sizeable 0.9 of a percentage point addition to growth from net trade, much of which reflected a transitory jump in food exports, is unlikely to be repeated,” he explained. "And we expect a small subtraction, compared to a significant third quarter addition, from fourth quarter inventory growth.”

Despite this, RBC says it is forecasting a 2.1% annual gain in the fourth quarter GDP, led by further improvements in consumer spending, a pickup in residential investment, and a slightly stronger gain in business investment.

On a related note, a separate Commerce Department report showed consumer spending in November rose 0.2% following ...Read the rest of this story

Schneider National farmily taking fleet public

Truckers' needs championed in W&D talks

The Aftermarket in 2016: A Review

The truck parts and service aftermarket has grown to $107 billion, according to MacKay & Co., and as a result it is getting a great deal of attention. In 2016 there seemed to be a big focus on parts, alliances and training with other issues like DPFs, remanufacturing and some innovative ways to deal with the technician shortage also getting some play.

Here's a closer look at some of the key aftermarket concerns in 2016.

Fleets have myriad options when it comes to selecting parts for their vehicles. From private label to all makes to price point to aftermarket replacement things can get confusing when a truck is down and a part is needed for a repair. Worse yet, it can be very difficult to determine exactly whose part is actually in the box. Experts advise fleets to continually evaluate the requirement of the part based on the application it is needed in. Partnering with the right supplier — be it dealer or independent distributor — should provide fleet managers with the assurance they need that they are getting the part that will serve them best.

All too often the focus of a repair is getting a truck assessed rapidly, with less attention paid to whether or not parts are in stock and available. In 2016 several OEMs as well dealers and distributors began initiatives to get parts closer to the customer. Daimler Trucks North America, Paccar Parts and Hino all opened new parts distribution centers in 2016. According to Daimler, the new PDC was part of a “multifaceted plan to improve parts availability.” Stone Truck Parts in Garner, N.C., a member of HDA Truck Pride, moved into a 75,000-square-foot facility that “allows us to have the right parts in stock for [our ...Read the rest of this story

Schneider National family taking fleet public