Since introducing the electronic logging device (ELD) regulation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has experienced pushback from independent drivers and fleets alike. However, when looking closely at their concerns, the problem lies more with the existing hours of service (HOS) regulations rather than the ELDs themselves. FMCSA requested comments regarding this issue, and [...]
Fleet managers are always looking for ways to improve driver safety and many of them rely on telematics to do so. However, while having the data is useful, combining it with outward facing cameras provides the visual component required to take safety initiatives to the next level. Many drivers’ initial reactions to having a camera [...]
Trucking companies rely on their vehicles and their drivers to remain in business. This puts safety high on the priority list as unsafe habits can damage fleet vehicles, injure drivers, and hurt the company’s reputation. Of course, implementing changes that produce measurable results can be difficult. Fleet managers can’t be with each driver every moment [...]
Fleet owners have many questions regarding integrating GPS technology. While software updates and installing hardware may take some technical experience, their primary concern usually focuses on how to tell truck drivers about the change. While many fleet owners invest in GPS tracking to improve safety, efficiency, and accountability, many drivers take the stance that their [...]
When a text message alert pings a driver’s phone, the impulse to pick it up and read it is automatic. However, that brief glance away from the road can prove lethal for the drivers who earn their living behind the wheel. Texting while driving is bad enough for passenger vehicles; however, for drivers operating large [...]
The electronic logging device (ELD) mandate has warped the perception of telematics for many fleets. Some are coming to view telematics and ELDs as synchronized technology, but this isn’t the case. While ELDs do provide telematics data, telematics uses go beyond hours of service (HOS) compliance. The trouble is getting the industry to realize this. [...]
Truck drivers sacrifice a lot by spending so much time on the road. They are away from their families, often work alone, and work unusual hours to meet shipping demands. This can result in exhaustion, anxiety, and fatigue. With fleets focusing so much on driver safety, they sometimes overlook their drivers’ health. Of course, fleets [...]
Improving fleet safety is a top priority for fleet managers. When a fleet imbues itself with a culture of safety, drivers are less prone to taking risks and accident rates decrease. A fleet’s overall safety also affects its Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) score, so it behooves drivers and managers alike to adhere to best safety [...]
In trucking, the single largest operating cost is diesel fuel. To put it in perspective, the average passenger vehicle consumes 500 gallons of fuel per year while a commercial vehicle consumes 20,500—that is 41 times the amount of fuel. This represents nearly 40% of the total operating cost of a commercial truck. While most drivers [...]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issues out-of-service notices to drivers and trucking companies that commit egregious or numerous safety violations. However, not every company takes the message to heart and tries to flout the transportation agency’s orders. Ekam Truck Line, LLC, a Georgia-based trucking company, attempted just such a maneuver after the FMCSA [...]