Drivers are key to the success of any trucking operation, so it only makes sense to invest in how they are hired, retained and managed to be successful on the job. Implement a good driver-performance management program based on solid data and you could start to see results “almost immediately,” speakers Don Osterberg, senior vice president of safety, security & driver training for Schneider National, Inc. and Al LaCombe, director of safety, training & security for Dupre’ Logistics, LLC told representatives of 240 companies who recently attended a live webcast sponsored by GreenRoad and presented jointly by Fleet Owner and the Truckload Carriers’ Assn. (TCA). Continue Reading

All the practical implications of the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 (now Public Law 111-353) are not yet spelled out when it comes to the trucking industry. What is clear, however, is that the new law, if it withstands post-enactment efforts by opponents still seeking revisions and/or financing cuts, will further tighten federal control over the transportation of food – from equipment and procedures to traceability and accountability. Continue Reading

As of January 3, 2012, commercial truck or bus drivers will face civil penalties of up to $2,750, per violation, for using handheld cell phones while operating a vehicle. The new rule, announced in November by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, will include a maximum penalty of $11,000 for companies that permit this behavior. Continue Reading

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Thursday, Dec. 22, announced the long-anticipated Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration final rule that revises the hours-of-service safety requirements for commercial truck drivers. Continue Reading

Concerned for its global customers and truck operators, Shell Chemicals has developed a technology designed to prevent tanker rollovers. The device, the “rollover warning device (RWD),” is available for order now around the world, the company said, following testing in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Continue Reading

The turnover rate for truckload drivers at large fleets rose to 89% in the third quarter of 2011, the fourth straight quarterly increase, according to the American Trucking Assns. (ATA). The rising rate is an indication of increased demand and competition for drivers said ATA chief economist Bob Costello. Continue Reading

For years, fleet managers paid very little attention to wheels. As long as their vehicles kept rolling down the road, that was all they cared about. But that was then, and in today’s trucking, there are considerations that make choosing the proper wheel a critical decision. Continue Reading

A new display that mounts on the front corner of a trailer makes it easy for a driver to verify the temperature inside a trailer without leaving the cab. The dual-view temperature display from Carrier Transicold, is an LED display that mounts on the front corner of a refrigerated trailer. It displays large amber numerals for of up to three zones in Fahrenheit or Celsius. Continue Reading

Kinedyne Corp. has engineered a new line of tarp ties based on input from its customers, the company recently announced. Customers said price, product durability/longevity and the ability to use in cold climates were the most important attributes about the product, and Kinedyne kept those in mind when putting the new Pro-Grade series to the test. The result is exceptional strength, durability and Continue Reading

Harvard researchers have suggested a simple 10-minute screening tool to help identify drivers who may suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine published the results of a Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health that may hold promise for screening drivers as they renew their licenses. The psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) is administered Continue Reading