Cargo theft is a problem that plagues the entire trucking industry. Trucks carry millions of dollars in goods across the country so drivers need to make themselves aware of hazardous locations and at-risk cargo. With the average loss incident costing around $100,000, reports of losses of $1,000,000 or more aren’t uncommon. Areas Prone to Theft [...]
The margins for small to mid-size trucking operations are often much tighter than larger fleets. They can’t weather major fluctuations in expenses as well as their bigger counterparts, which means small to mid-size fleets need to reign in and control costs as much as possible. Small to mid-size trucking companies can use the following tactics [...]
Truck drivers make their living by being on the road. However, this exposes them to enraged drivers more often than the average motorist. Drivers who make decisions while in a rage are dangerous to themselves and the drivers around them. Truck drivers who prepare themselves for these challenging situations can protect themselves and their cargo. [...]
Fleets have a lot to consider when improving their safety rating. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) considers seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) to determine a fleet’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) score. These scores help FMCSA pinpoint unsafe fleets, which they then target for interventions. These interventions can culminate in out-of-service [...]
Can predictive modeling improve fleet safety and reduce driver turnover? Let’s begin with a definition. Predictive modeling is a process used to create a statistical model of future behavior. Predictive analytics is a form of data mining concerned with forecasting probabilities and trends, and can be used to help a wide variety of businesses from [...]
With the growing driver shortage problem, fleets need to do everything they can to attract qualified and skilled individuals. While there is no one simple equation for running a successful fleet, some fleets have figured out common factors to recruit and retain talented drivers. The following are elements that help create and sustain a successful [...]
Every year in June, businesses around the world observe National Safety Month. The goal is to reduce accidents and deaths in the workplace, on the road, and in the home. For commercial truck drivers, their work and their vehicle are often one in the same. However, fleets often have a hard time investing in safety [...]
Many drivers and fleets view roadside inspections as a necessary evil. No one relishes them, but they are well aware that inspection help keep the roads safe. Unfortunately, inspections take time and can eat into a driver’s hours of service (HOS). Drivers aren’t alone in their desire for a rapid inspection, either. Inspectors and officers [...]
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 [...]