Category: Trucking News

Intermodal: new opportunities for trucking?

A new white paper compiled by J.B. Hunt Transportation Services argues that the “multiple impacts” from the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, the ongoing driver shortage, rising fuel costs, and the desire for a smaller “environmental footprint” will dovetail with intensive capital investment efforts by Class I railroads to make intermodal a more attractive option for shippers going forward.

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Rastrac, Magellan Partner on Fleet Telematics

Austin, Texas-based telematics provider Rastrac is partnering with Magellan on a system that vehicle tracking and reporting, including Hours of Service (HOS) compliance through an electronic logging device (ELD), according to the company.

Magellan's ELD will interface with Rastrac's GPS-based fleet tracking system. Magellan would provide real time mapping for a fleet's drivers, and the Rastrac system would provide historical GPS information including reports.

The mapping on the Magellan device is independent of Rastrac's system. The Magellan device provides HOS and interfaces with Rastrac hardware for tracking and reporting.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued HOS regulations aimed at managing the working hours of anyone who operates a commercial motor vehicle in the U.S.

Since 1938, these were recorded manually in paper logs and difficult to verify. In 2015, FMCSA added the Final Rule, which requires the use of an ELD that monitors engine hours, vehicle movement, miles driven, and location information. All paper logs need to be transitioned to ELDs no later than Dec. 18, 2017.

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GO More—STOP Less

In my last post, I mentioned the fuel savings that could be realized by driver assistance features, such as cruise control with braking and stop/start capability. This is where a vehicle uses its radar system, brakes, and driver assistance cruise controls to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, even when the vehicle slows down to a crawl. Only if it stops (in my 2010 Mercedes vehicle) do I have to touch the accelerator pedal to restart the vehicle. I'd like to take this thought a couple of steps further.

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