Fees: Greed or Survival?
When was the last time you rented a car and you checked the fee? Were you assessed facility fees and recoup fees, local tax, city tax, state tax?
Investing in technology
The payoff in dynamic solutions is apparent for inherently mobile operations.
How Google Glasses could benefit fleets
Google’s Project Glasses point the way to new trucking efficiencies, particularly in the area of maintenance.
Electronic Data Interchange for standardization
The volume of data that has to be managed today by transportation companies poses a significant challenge. “The dissimilar methods in which data is delivered has caused the need to re-task personnel, turning staff members into human data translators,” says Terry Wood, vice president of business development and technology at Intelek Technologies Corp. “Where Electronic
The power of electronic onboard recorders
Once viewed by drivers as a diabolical “big brother,” EOBRs have proven their value in significantly reducing the cost of maintenance, safety, compliance and fuel.
‘VP of Mystery’
Whose job is it, anyway? Review job procedures with all employees on a regular basis.
Handheld devices
Newer, lower priced handheld devices are designed to be rugged enough to handle the demands of mobile operations and now have larger, better screens for viewing forms and entering data.
Communication and employee evaluations
Create a solid plan for employee evaluations to maximize performance and minimize problems.
Numbers, Numbers, Numbers
Maintenance managers are always challenged by the bean counters, and in some cases they need to be. There is no question that there’s value in measuring cash in and cash out and sticking to a business plan that manages income and expenses. We have vehicle maintenance reporting standards (VMRS) to guide us. Those standards work
Ensuring proper wheel bearing torque every time
Over-tightening can damage the lug nuts, wheels and hubs – and worse, result in a wheel-off situation.
MBWA: Management by wandering around, not walking away
Walking around the shop is a quick way to know what is going on. You need report data, but reports alone may not be the answer.
Increasing front axle capacity
Here’s a concern I’ve heard: “Our tractors wander, floating feelings and the drivers keep writing them up. I have done everything I can think of to repair the problem and even sent the tractors to the local frontend shop.” So what can you do? For years, when spec’ing tractors, I would increase the front axle