Logging in: The ins and outs of the ELD mandate
The long-awaited final rule on Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) is expected to be published by the end of October. The rule has been undergoing review by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) since late July. Approval from the OMB is the last step before a final ELD rule can be published. We
Smoot Brothers Transportation: Conquering CSA citations
Smoot Brothers Transportation (SBT) was founded in 1988—with one truck—by Mike and Matt Smoot. In 1991, Kenny Smoot, who is now the vice president, joined his brothers in the company. SBT has since grown to more than 50 trucks and can be seen on highways across the entire continental United States and Canada. The fleet
GPS Insight announces new ELD fleet management solution
GPS Insight, a provider of GPS vehicle and asset tracking solutions for fleets, has announced the release of the new GPS Insight Hours of Service solution, enabling organizations with a paperless Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliant system. GPS Insight’s hours-of-service (HOS) solution leverages Innovative Software Engineering’s (ISE) eFleetSuite application and the ELD-2000, a
Safety systems that reduce CSA violations
Safety is the top priority for motor carriers. Running a safe operation requires thorough knowledge and understanding of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. In addition to educating drivers on these regulations, there are specific company fleet safety policies and procedures that must be reviewed; such as the completion of roadside inspection paperwork
Gaining visibility with accurate load status information
“Capacity is not the constraining force for carriers, brokers and shippers,” says Glynn Spangenberg, general manager and executive vice president of MacroPoint, creators of freight tracking software designed to give third party visibility into load status. “The real governor on asset utilization, today, is driver availability, driven by a shortage of accessible drivers and new
Magellan, CalAmp launch Android-based mobile data terminal for fleets
Magellan and CalAmp announced the availability of the CalAmp Android-based mobile data terminal (MDT-7) featuring Magellan’s professional-grade fleet navigation software. Designed to increase safety and convenience, the MDT-7 provides fleet operators in the United States and Canada with access to advanced navigation features such as speed limit and speed alert notifications, turn-by-turn directions, trip planning enhancements
Digging into driver fatigue data to ensure fleet safety
Drowsiness and driving is a dangerous combination and while most drivers are aware of the consequences of driving while intoxicated, many don’t realize that driving while fatigued can be just as fatal. Not to be confused with sleepiness, fatigue can occur at all hours of the day and can be identified by symptoms such as
Shippers conditions Index dips into negative territory
FTR’s Shippers Conditions Index for February declined from January to a -1.0 reading as the short-term positive impact from one-time adjustments for rapidly dropping diesel prices and reversal of the 2013 hours-of-service changes runs out. From here, the index is expected to deteriorate under pressures building from new regulations hitting the trucking sector along with
Evaluating the total cost of ownership for your technology solution
“Most fleets spend a great deal of time evaluating and calculating the total cost of ownership (TCO) for a fleet vehicle,” says Deryk Powell, president of Velociti Inc., a global provider of technology deployment services. “However, one area that may be easy to overlook is the maintenance of technology products installed on the vehicle. “Ancillary
VDO RoadLog ELD software updated to restart rule revision
Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket will release a free VDO RoadLog ELD software update to address the FMCSA’s decision to temporarily suspend the 34-hour restart rule revision instituted in July 2013. The update will be available Monday, Jan. 26, 2015. The software updates are free and automatically available online to registered VDO RoadLog owners. On Dec. 16,
