The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) expanded the hours of service (HOS) exemptions given to commercial drivers participating in emergency relief efforts on March 18. However, while FMCSA provided clear guidelines for exempt freight and cargo, truckers and fleets have many lingering questions. To provide a rapid response, FMCSA put together answers to the [...]
As more states issue stay-at-home orders, the exemptions continue for truck drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued updated exemptions to include new items considered essential to aiding the emergency relief efforts underway. State officials are joining FMCSA as well to ensure truck drivers can continue making their vital deliveries across the nation. [...]
Most fleet managers are familiar with standard anti-theft measures such as never leaving the keys in the cab and parking in safe locations. However, fleets need to think beyond fundamental safety principals to protect their vehicles from thieves. Part of the problem is what is valuable to one thief isn’t to another. There is no [...]
The FMCSA has issued a national emergency declaration to provide HOS relief to commercial vehicle drivers who are transporting critical resources in response to the coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19). The declaration provides for regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicle operations directly supporting emergency relief efforts intended to meet immediate needs, such as: Food – for emergency [...]
Keeping trucks on the road and making deliveries is a constant challenge for fleet managers. The costs of unscheduled downtime add up rapidly as money isn’t coming in while overhead expenses to maintain operations continue unhindered. Even scheduled downtime can have unexpected costs if the shop maintenance bay is at maximum capacity already with emergency [...]
For light and medium-duty fleets, there is considerable debate over whether to invest in gasoline or diesel trucks. Upfront costs, maintenance, and fuel economy as well as the type of business the fleet performs all effect which kind of engine will be best. Breaking down initial expenses as well as costs over time can help [...]
Innovative technology has disrupted the trucking industry for the last several years. While trucking companies can expect that momentum to keep on rolling, there are several insights from 2019 worth revisiting. ELDs highlighting HOS troubles. Whether being lauded or reviled, the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate stirred up a lot of discussion within the trucking [...]
Trucking companies have several expenses they need to account for, many of which change on a regular basis. While some expenses remain relatively stable such as planned preventative maintenance, others can shift daily such as the cost for fuel. Less than a decade ago, trucking companies had a decent idea of what to expect financially [...]
Driver safety is always at the forefront of a fleet manager’s mind, and high-tech innovations have led to an explosion of new safety features for trucks. With millions of commercial vehicles hauling cargo at a rate of 2000-3000 miles per week, the industry can’t afford to overlook opportunities to improve safety. Basic safety features such [...]
Every year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) conducts a nationwide international roadcheck. In previous years, CVSA launched its vehicle inspection blitz the first week of June. The agency has recently announced its plans for an earlier inspection to take place from May 5-7, 2020. They also announced the safety focus for this year’s roadcheck—driver [...]