William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | Apr 01, 2013 8:23AM EDT Could adding team drivers help recover hours or productivity lost under the new hours-of-service rules? Not necessarily. In fact, the new rules may make teams less productive, according to U.S. Xpress.
Showing posts with label driver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label driver. Show all posts
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Saturday, 6 April 2013
Truck Driver Turnover Declined in Fourth Quarter
JOC Staff | Mar 14, 2013 12:16PM EDT
The turnover rate for drivers in the truckload sector took a “surprising dip” in the fourth quarter of 2012, probably driven by a weakened economy and overall freight volumes, according to the American Trucking Associations’ Trucking Activity Report.
Turnover at large truckload carriers fell from an annualized rate of 104 percent in the third quarter of 2012 to 90 percent in the fourth quarter, while turnover at smaller truckload fleets dropped from 94 percent in the previous quarter to 76 percent.
For the full year of 2012, turnover at large carriers averaged 98 percent, while turnover at smaller carriers averaged 82 percent. Both turnovers were the highest averages since 2007.
“As freight volumes slid a bit at the end of 2012, we saw turnover follow suit,” said Bob Costello, ATA chief economist, in a written statement. He claimed that as it stands now, the trucking industry is still short between 20,000 and 25,000 drivers, a figure he said that will increase as the freight economy accelerates.
“Once we see steadier, more robust economic growth, we could see the industry that is short by as many as 239,000 drivers by 2022,” Costello said.
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Roadcheck 2012's driver, vehicle out-of-service rates near record low
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The 25th annual Roadcheck safety blitz, conducted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) in June, saw a record number of truck and bus inspections and the second-lowest vehicle and driver out-of-service rates for Level 1 inspections in the event’s history.
Of the record 74,072 truck and bus inspections, 48,815 were North American Standard Level 1 inspections – the most comprehensive roadside inspection – of which 22.4% of vehicles and 3.9% of drivers were placed out of service.
The overall out-of-service rates for the entire event – which includes all inspection levels – were 20.9% for vehicles and 4.6% for drivers, both representing an increase from last year’s numbers.
Despite the positive trend on the Level 1s, the numbers indicate that one in five vehicles selected for inspection was found with a violation serious enough to be considered an imminent safety hazard. “These mixed results indicate that, while the attention paid by industry to maintenance and regulatory compliance generally is improving, more needs to be done by industry and enforcement alike,” officials said in a release.
Organizers said Roadcheck 2012 emphasized a focus on braking systems and Hours-of-Service, the top ranking violation categories for vehicles and drivers, respectively. Despite the increased focus on these areas, the proportions of brake-related and Hours-of-Service-related violations relative to all out-of-service violations declined slightly. In addition, seatbelt violations issued totalled 848, the fewest recorded since 2007.
During the event, CVSA estimates that over 9,500 CVSA and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration inspectors participated at approximately 2,500 locations across North America. As well, 10 US states and two Canadian provinces engaged part of their enforcement activities to focus on vehicles serving oil field and natural gas production sites, where increases in commercial truck traffic have raised significant safety concerns.
“Roadcheck continues to shine a spotlight on the critical importance of the roadside inspection program across North America and how vital it is to commercial vehicle safety and our march toward zero deaths on our roadways. I appreciate the continued focus by both enforcement and industry towards ensuring that it remains a top priority,” said CVSA president David Palmer, an assistant chief with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
“This is a clear indication that enforcement and industry’s efforts during Roadcheck are having a positive impact,” said CVSA’s executive director Stephen A. Keppler. “This goes to show that even in these difficult budgetary times for states, provinces and local agencies that each and every roadside inspection is important and makes a difference.”
Monday, 27 August 2012
Meritor Wabco offering lane departure warning with drowsy driver alert
ROCHESTER, Mich. -- Meritor Wabco has announced availability of lane departure warning system that offers drowsy driver detection capabilities.
The system, built on the SafeTrak technology developed by Takata Corp., will be available for fleet installation beginning in October, the company announced.
Meritor Wabco’s LDW system is a forward-looking, vision-based system that monitors the road and the vehicle’s position in the lane. It provides audible alerts when the driver strays from his or her own lane without the turn signal activated.
The system uses “advanced image analysis algorithms” to detect a wide variety of lane markings and can even determine the lane parameters in bad weather, including snow, officials say.
Included in the system is a Driver Alertness Warning (DAW) function that notifies a driver when they have been weaving within their lane of travel. Company officials cited Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) data that shows “failure to keep in proper lane” is the third most cited reason for a fatal truck accident. The FMCSA has also projected that fleets can achieve a payback of as much as US$6.55 for every dollar spent on lane departure warnings systems.
The system uses a single camera that’s mounted to a bracket on the windshield. It offers automatic calibration and simple diagnostics, Meritor Wabco officials said during a press preview of the technology.
The first version, which will be available in October, will offer lane departure warnings and drowsy driver alerts. A more advanced system, to come later, will add video storage capabilities as well as a collision warning system.
“Customers recognize our continuous commitment to optimize safety products and have expressed great interest in our new system,” said Jon Morrison, president and general manager, Meritor Wabco. “With more than 800 million North American commercial truck miles logged, Meritor Wabco’s LDW system with the addition of next generation SafeTrak technology by Takata broadens our portfolio of active safety systems for the commercial vehicle, allows us to be a single, integrated supplier for all critical safety needs, and provides the fleet with a valuable tool in improving safety and reducing costs.”
Meritor Wabco will handle all sales and technical support for LDW, the company said.
Monday, 2 January 2012
N. Yanke Transfer driver named Highway Angel
SASKATOON, Sask. -- Gyslain 'Juice' Lemelin, a driver for N. Yanke Transfer, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) after he helped save a couple and their belongings from their burning pick-up truck.
Lemelin was driving on the Trans-Canada Highway on Oct. 23 of this year when he passed to motorists in a pick-up, who were travelling with their two dogs and pulling a camper.
As they passed Lemelin, he recognized the burning, chemical-like odour of a burning transmission.
"I had a feeling they weren't going to get very far," said Lemelin, who has had training as a mechanic. "I've smelled that smell before. I knew it was the transmission - transmission fluid is highly flammable."
Lemelin decided to follow the vehicle and soon after, he saw a puff of white smoke and knew they were in trouble. Lemelin pulled up to the vehicle and by then flames had spread all over the pick-up truck's hood. The battery was melting and the ground underneath the truck was on fire.
Lemelin used his fire extinguisher to put out the blaze while the motorists removed their valuables from the camper. He then remained at the scene and let them use his cell phone to call for help.
The motorists later wrote a letter to N. Yanke Transfer, praising Lemelin for his actions.
"Please tell (Lemelin) that random acts of kindness don't go without notice, and we are both grateful that he didn't just drive on by like everyone else," they wrote.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
It was a professional thief, not driver, that led police on truck chase: CTA
TORONTO, Ont. -- The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) says a much-publicized truck chase in Ontario is an indication that cargo crime is a growing problem.
The organization says while media reports focused on the 'trucker' who led the police chase along the QEW in a tractor pulling an empty flatbed trailer, in reality the trailer carried a load of wafer board when originally pilfered from a Niagara area truck stop.
The CTA also takes issue with the driver being referred to as a 'trucker' when it appears he was a professional thief - not driver. The driver was out on bail after being charged in December 2010 for possessing a load of stolen Sony Playstations valued at $1 million, the CTA indicated.
"Yesterday's incident highlights the need to take cargo crime more seriously and it demonstrates how truck drivers work together to protect themselves and to fight cargo crime," CTA CEO David Bradley said in a statement yesterday.
The CTA has also discovered an observant truck driver played a role in capturing the thief. The driver was a colleague of the owner/operator who owned the stolen truck and became suspicious when he saw it travelling along the 401 without a load. He called his friend's cell phone and found out his truck had been stolen. He then called police to report the location of the rig.
CTA's Bradley said it's alarming the truck was stolen from a well-lit, secure yard, where the owner had been safely parking it for 20 years. Further, the trailer was equipped with an immobilizing device.
"And, yet, the thief was still able to take the unit," said Bradley. "Thankfully, the event ended peacefully. The police should be commended for keeping the travelling public safe and bringing the stolen truck to a safe stop. But it could have been much worse. What happened shows us that the industry, government and the enforcement agencies must do a better job of working together to develop countermeasures to combat this serious area of criminality."
Bradley said truckers are at risk of personal harm during truck and cargo thefts while the cost to the industry is enormous.
"Often, there is little to no risk but potentially huge profits to be made (by thieves). If perpetrators keep getting out on bail or serve only very short sentences, what's stopping them from doing this again? Much tougher sentencing is needed," Bradley said.
The CTA, meanwhile, has developed a Cargo Crime Incident Report in partnership with the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Truck fleets are encouraged to report cargo theft incidences so the industry can better understand the true costs and strengthen its lobbying efforts for harsher sentences.
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Detroit Diesel launches new driver training video series
DETROIT, Mich. -- Detroit Diesel has launched the first of its new, four-part driver training video series. Officials say the videos were developed to help drivers enhance their engine's performance.
The four videos include general product background on Detroit Diesel's DD13, DD15 and DD16 family of engines; guidelines on driving for optimal fuel economy and power; specifics on BlueTec SCR Emissions Technology; detailed information about diesel exhaust fluid (DEF); and updates on DDEC, Detroit Diesel's proprietary electronic engine monitoring system.
The videos also provide step-by-step guidance for drivers on using Detroit Diesel's products, as well as information on driving trucks with older versus the newer engine models, detailing the differences in engine characteristics.
"Detroit Diesel's products are among the most reliable and fuel-efficient engines available today. We want to help our customers further maximize their performance by providing them with useful tips," said Brad Williamson, director, engine and component marketing for Detroit Diesel.
The new videos are part of Detroit Diesel's library of multimedia resources available here.
Sunday, 4 September 2011
Federalize Driver Training…
Why not? If TX Governor Perry has his way “our” government would control everything – including who can marry. A government by the Bible, for the Bible, and of the Bible. Bush took all the airport security screeners and created another bureaucracy. Congress passed national health care defined by the government, when States can’t even manage their unemployment programs.
But, “our” government knows best. They’ve done such an amazing job with the economy. 10 years later and the World Trade Center remains incomplete. Bin Laden is dead, but he still haunts us. We’re fighting in how many conflicts? Oh wait, that’s not us over there, it’s the CIA, I mean NATO. Old ladies and children are groped before getting on planes. It’s all about security stupid. That’s what they tell us.
That’s what the FMCSA is all about – safety. Not common sense, or efficiency or business or even jobs, but safety. They – “our” government” knows best. The ATA and their puppets, the DOT and its mini-me arm, the FMCSA – the Federal Motor Carrier SAFETY Administration, tell us what to do, when to do it and how to do every aspect of trucking. The same goes for the airlines, railroads, auto manufacturing and highways. All our lives are so much better, I mean safer, right?
Nobody in trucking and the few who care outside the industry, are happy with the way new truck drives are trained. Community colleges – the vocational schools – do a pretty good job, but the rest, fall well short of preparing an individual for the job of driving. Years ago, I went through such a program – 8 weeks – paid $450 – and nothing I was taught prepared me for life on the road. It could have, but it didn’t.
The business of driver training is like air conditioning or auto repair. Shyster’s abound. A lot of it is a rip off. Carriers tying themselves in with the schools has made little or no difference in the quality of the end product. New drivers “graduate” with the CDL, having no idea how to fuel a truck, pull through a weigh station or live on the road for more than a night or two. Follow-up “education” with a trainer, does little to improve the “package”.
So, Federalize the whole thing. Invest in, let’s say, four or five “regional” CDL truck driver centers, run by the FMCSA and get private business out of the equation. While we’re at it, let’s also Federalize the CDL. Centralize all the license records and every drivers personal information. It could be the first step toward a national identity card. That’s what TWIC was all about, right? That was a waste of time, but it taught “our” government something – when it comes to trucking, “they” can “order” drivers to do anything they want. No one will object.
What about OOIDA? Who? Tick on an elephant. That’s what OOIDA is when it comes to trucking. The FMCSA takes it’s orders from the ATA, not OOIDA. I believe the ATA, short of doing it themselves, would love “our” government to take over driver training. The “centers” could be run like prison boot camps. You, of course, couldn’t go if you were not legally. You would have to fill out lots of forms and go through a “pre” DOT physical before being accepted. Like joining the Marines or Army, you would have to take an ASFAB type of test. Some intelligence and knowledge of English would be required.
Once approved, you’re on a bus to the nearest regional training center. The “experts” at the FMCSA would design and administer everything, paid for with our taxes. You and another “newbie” would be assigned a sleeper truck. No going home at night, motels or dorms. Better to start with what it’s like to be a “real” truck driver from day one. It would last for about 8-10 weeks. During the training, if you can’t take it, you can go to the main part of the “campus” ring the bell, then go home and work for CSX or Applebee’s.
Nobody will be truly happy until driver training is Federalized. Private business will never come around with what the government wants or needs in terms of who they want behind the wheel. We all want driver with no health “issues”, BMI within government standards, complete acceptance of the 14/11 hour HOS and an understanding that they are classified as non-skilled labor and subject to all the applicable rules, like no overtime.
Thanks to “our” government, we all might just finally end up with the perfect truck driver.
If you liked that post, then try these...Saturday, 3 September 2011
Driver Avoids Crashing Truck In The Last Moment (Amazing Video)
The driver avoids the crashing truck in a very amazing manner. 100% Pro
Related posts:
Crazy Finns Crashing 2 – with pure crashing soundsCrazy Accident: Truck breaking in the middle (heavy load, funny stupid driver)Crazy Finns Crashing – with pure crashing soundsCar crushed in a BUS vs TRUCK CRASH – Caught Live on TapeAmazing CAR Accident driver escape Unbelivable VideoTagged with: avoid accident • avoid crash • car crash • crash • driver • driver avoids crash • speed • truck • truck crash
Filed under: Accidents Car
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Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Driver Avoids Crashing Truck In The Last Moment (Amazing Video)
The driver avoids the crashing truck in a very amazing manner. 100% Pro
Related posts:
Crazy Finns Crashing 2 – with pure crashing soundsCrazy Accident: Truck breaking in the middle (heavy load, funny stupid driver)Crazy Finns Crashing – with pure crashing soundsCar crushed in a BUS vs TRUCK CRASH – Caught Live on TapeAmazing CAR Accident driver escape Unbelivable VideoTagged with: avoid accident • avoid crash • car crash • crash • driver • driver avoids crash • speed • truck • truck crash
Filed under: Accidents Car
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Sunday, 10 July 2011
ATA driver pay study released – We can’t afford it!
It’s a darn good thing that an official of the FMCSA is not here in my office. My 7-year old dog is curled up sleeping next to me and he’s snoring up a storm. He awoke a couple times to shift his position. He might have been dreaming or something, because his nose was wrinkling and his tail sort of wagging. Poor dog.
Maybe he ate too much for dinner at the doggie buffet. His BMI seems OK. But, we all know what the experts at the DOT and ATA would say, he most definitely, without a doubt, yes, sadly, must have sleep apnea. I need to get him a $2500 test at one of those cheesy clinics – then buy him one of those oxygen gizmos so he can sleep better at night. Thank goodness I discovered it early.
Speaking of the ATA – the American Trucking Association – the “enemy” of the American trucker – has just released their ATA Driver Compensation Study. I’m sure Evan – Kevin whatever Lockridge already has a call into their palace – I mean office – to get one of their overpaid “I’ve never been in a truck before” overpaid official mouthpieces to come on his satellite radio show to BS – I mean – discuss – the results.
"The trucking industry continues to face a number of challenges," ATA President and CEO Billy Graves said. "Retaining top-quality drivers as the economy recovers as our industry is called upon to haul more freight is of paramount importance. This study provides fleets critical regional and national data they need in today’s market." The PR release also states: “With data from 2010 and 2011, the new driver compensation study updates the previous report from 2007 and 2008. The 96-page report synthesizes information from 155 motor carriers of all types and sizes and includes a variety of data including:
Employee driver salaries on national and regional levels; Employee driver salaries by carrier type (flatbed, refrigerated, tank truck, and more); Employee driver benefits, including bonuses, insurance, retirement and vacation; Employee driver recruitment, training, and retention practices; Owner-operator employment and compensation structure; and Technician employment, salaries, and benefits.”
Isn’t this just special? Not really. I’m glad they “synthesized” the data for us. Read many of the posts on this blog and you can get a pretty good idea of what the pay and benefits are for driving a truck. Look at the first two bullet points – “employee driver salaries” – huh? What salaries? They must mean cents per mile or percentage of the load, because they’re the ATA - they certainly must know what their talking about. Right? Perhaps not.
The ATA would just love it if drivers were on salaries – then they – that is the rich elite trucking company owners who run the ATA – would not have to pay us for the miles we really do drive. Most of “them” already don’t pay real world miles. We are all paid like we’re driving (flying) a pigeon. Do you drive a pigeon? I didn’t. I used to call them fantasy miles when I looked at what the QUALCOM paid miles were and then glanced at my GPS for the reality. It’s not like we’re punching a time-clock.
The ATA – “always takes advantage” – of truck drivers. They’re the Earls and Barons and we’re the serfs. Read the post I wrote yesterday about “working” without net – I wrote that The New York Times reports that “The average American worker was taking home $752 a week in late 2010, up a mere 0.5 percent from a year earlier. Believe me that’s more than many truck drivers earn. I’m not taking about those “fringe” owner-operators, or specialty trucker drivers who earn much higher compensation for what they haul. There are those exceptions in every industry.
The proof of the pudding is that this “study” will set you back $350, and I don’t know any truck drivers that can afford it.
If you liked that post, then try these...
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