As September fades into a collage of autumnal colors and football season reaches its peak, let’s draw a parallel between this beloved sport and the realm of fleet operations.
Much like the playbook of high school, college, and professional football teams, there’s a shared strategy in play–the art of film study. Unlike the grueling physical workouts of running laps, running plays or pushups until your arms quiver, this form of training offers a different kind of exercise. It serves as an opportunity for the team to meticulously dissect plays, identify areas ripe for improvement, and revel in moments of exceptional prowess.
Similarly, fleet operators have crafted their own playbook–one centered around data analysis and benchmarking. Just as football teams meticulously dissect game footage, fleet managers delve into data, meticulously scrutinizing metrics and benchmarks to pinpoint areas for improvement, benefiting drivers and technicians alike. You’re not just managers; You’re coaches, fostering a culture of continuous enhancement in business operations. It’s a winning strategy shared by both fleets and football teams, driving them toward improvement.
Here at Fleet Equipment, we’ve curated a selection of the best resources that September has to offer. So, before we dive headlong into the next month filled with fresh content, expert insights, and advancements in the trucking industry, let’s rewind and explore the pages of our industry playbook in this truck trends takeaway, just like the pros in the NFL. Run it back!
5. Breaking down the benefits of well-trained techs
As time goes on, more and more technology becomes integrated into today’s trucks. Whether it be enhancements for driver comfort, advanced driver assist systems, sustainability or fuel efficiency, these components are growing increasingly complex. Ensuring your techs are prepared for anything rolling into your bays is critical to mitigate the negative effects of downtime and unplanned maintenance. In this episode of Fleet Uptime, we connected with Tim Hawes, senior manager of technician training and development, FleetPride, to discuss the evolution of technology and technician training.
4.Reflecting on safety, fuel economy
Mirrors, mirrors, on your fleet, is new technology hitting the street?
If you ask the industry professionals at Stoneridge, the answer would be ‘yes!’
In this episode of On The Road, learn how the company’s MirrorEye technology is impacting the commercial vehicle landscape, enhancing safety, and improving fuel efficiency. This camera monitoring system, designed to replace traditional mirrors, offers drivers increased visibility and reduced stress. Hop in the passenger seat of this Freightliner Cascadia spec’ed with camera technology and gain some operational insight from Mario Gafencu, responsible for fleet operations, testing and validation with Stoneridge.
3. Driving full speed ahead into greener operations
The industry is well on its way to a greener future. Experience the journey towards zero-emissions trucks as Volvo Trucks’ leaders share insights from a press event in Sweden. Roger Alm, president, Volvo Trucks, set the tone for a discussion on today’s battery electric truck performance and the upcoming arrival of hydrogen fuel cell technology. Learn more about how Volvo’s is paving the way for sustainable, long-distance trucking with extended range capabilities. What alternative fueling options will be available down the line and how will they mutually support the goal of eco-friendly transport? Read on to find out.
2. Watts happening this school year?
With a whopping 25,000 students scattered across 52 schools spanning 14 counties, It doesn’t take a math wizard to realize the task of transporting them all five days a week is nothing short of monumental. However, Twin Rivers Unified School District doesn’t back down from a challenge. In fact, back in 2016, they etched their name in history as the first major school bus fleet to make the leap to electric vehicles. Fast forward over seven years of unwavering commitment to sustainability, and they stand as one of the largest operators of electric school buses in the entire nation.
With a fleet of 60 EV school buses, sustainable and profitable operations is all the buzz for the community. In this story, find out how Blue Bird and Twin Rivers is leading the charge in electrifying student transportation.
1. A.I. meets trucking data
Searching for specific truck service information within a vast sea of data can consume a significant amount of time. The process of sifting through numerous spreadsheets and dashboards just to locate a single data set can occupy a substantial portion of your day.
Enter Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)
Geotab’s Chat-GPT-like large language model (LLM) offers users the ability to engage with data instead of grappling with static displays and a multitude of telematics dashboards. Mike Branch, vice president of Data and Analytics at Geotab, provided an example: “Show me the outliers for idling over the last month.” He explained that Geotab’s Project G is currently in beta testing, and with each interaction, it continues to refine its performance. This iterative process is aimed at ensuring that the A.I.’s responses become increasingly accurate over time. Check out this new Unscripted episode to see it in action.
