Solar Transport implements automated workflows to the tune of a 52% decrease in cross-drops2/28/2023 CCJ Innovators profiles carriers and fleets that have found innovative ways to overcome trucking’s challenges. If you know a carrier that has displayed innovation, contact CCJ Chief Editor Jason Cannon at [email protected] or 800-633-5953. The transportation industry saw record-breaking fuel prices in 2022, and with diesel prices average in excess of $4 a gallon in the U.S., mistakes are quite costly. Des Moines, Iowa-based fuel hauler Solar Transport, which has about 220 drivers and 120 trucks serving the Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions, was on track to hit almost $2 million in fuel delivery errors in 2022, said Director of Driver Services Jason Jones. Industry studies regarding tank-truck usage patterns across the U.S. show that the unintended mixing of octane types at a fueling site happens once in every 14,000 deliveries nationally. A diesel/gasoline mixup occurs once in every 45,000 fuel drops across the country, according to information compiled in a 2021 Civacon case study of R.B. Stewart Petroleum Products Inc.’s use of the CivaCommand Smart Tank System. Solar Transport made 126,713 deliveries in 2022. With so many manual steps drivers perform when dropping fuel, Jones said cross-drops – when the wrong product is loaded into a tank – are bound to happen. While Solar Transport continues to seek ways to further reduce errors, it has seen a 52% decrease in cross-drops and a drop in turnover from 56% to 23% since implementing customized automated workflows. “The driver’s job is very manual in terms of when he gets to the location. He has to hook up all the hoses to the appropriate compartment, make sure that he loads it correctly and so forth. There are a lot of steps that take place for delivery,” Jones said. “We had an overabundance of missed pulls (when a fuel hauler pulls the wrong product or the wrong supplier for the customer directive), which led to cross-drops, which turns into huge expenses on our behalf. That's where we wanted to come back and adjust our workflow with how the driver proceeds with the order… We've saved thousands, if not millions, of dollars by creating an automated workflow.” The carrier worked with Motorcity Systems to customize a workflow to reduce cross-drops and the resulting costs. Based on Solar Transport’s specific needs, Motorcity connected the dots using its cloud-based TORQUE integration platform and real-time driver communications and visibility app, RELAY, to improve operational efficiency and the driver experience. Solar Transport has integrated operational data and workflows between its Transportation Management System (TMS), ELD telematics, workflow and RELAY dispatch-driver messaging application using TORQUE. Solar Transport’s driver hours-of-service duty status and vehicle telematics data from Samsara is integrated with its dispatch-driver messaging platform. The integration gives dispatchers better visibility of mission-critical operational, safety and compliance information. Solar Transport’s workflow – further customized based on driver input – has been deployed via an app called Solar Mobile on every driver tablet. “Our customized workflow is different from anybody else out there,” Jones said. “The biggest thing I want to point out is when we choose vendors and try to create workflows and understand how they work, we like to involve our drivers, and they're able to help us out because … they're the ones that are doing it day in and day out. I think it has paid huge dividends to be able to include these drivers in our discussions and in our game plan.” A driver recommendation that was included in the app is a step Solar Transport never had before. That recommendation was to have a step where the driver reports back to dispatch what product was loaded so it could be confirmed that’s what was ordered prior to the driver taking it out for delivery. Jones said that step has prevented loading errors that previously weren’t being caught until the driver had already dropped the wrong product into the tank at the convenience store. Once that error has been made, the process to undo it is extensive and costly. If a cross-drop occurs, it shuts down pumps at the store, and the store isn’t able to sell product until the error is corrected. The driver then has to take the time they would spend making another delivery pumping 20,000 gallons of now-contaminated product back into the trailer and hauling it 300-plus miles away to be recycled, also taking that equipment out of service. The product then has to be replaced at the store. “By us creating this workflow, it puts a driver in a better position and provides the checks and balances necessary to really avoid the huge errors of the $80,000 to $100,000 errors that we've experienced in the past,” Jones said. With the automated workflow, a driver can login to their tablet the night before or day of their shift to view what loads have been assigned to them. Jones said some drivers haul one load a day, and some do six or seven. With the app, drivers can see their pickup and drop-off locations, what products they will be hauling, site maps of the stores (where to pull in, where the tanks are, location of any potential hazards and the best exit route) they’re dropping at and inventories, any special instructions on the order and more. When a driver starts their day, they select their first load in the workflow, and it’s communicated back to dispatch that they’ve begun their trip and are headed to the terminal to load. Arrival and departure times at both the loading point and dropping point are captured, and that data is provided to the office. At the terminal, or loading point, the driver validates in the workflow that they have picked up the product and which product they loaded before heading to the dropping point, or convenience store. At the store, they follow the workflow: stick-measure the tank to confirm the inventory and that it will fit, and validate color-coded tags on the tanks to ensure they’re dropping in the proper area. Once the drop is complete, they fill out a form in the app that includes details like confirming they stuck the tank, if they had a wait time or whether they had to move the truck to access another drop. When that process is complete, the automated workflow triggers the next load, and they repeat the same steps. Drivers aren’t able to work on another load until the previous one is finished. The biggest benefit to the workflow, Jones said, is the real-time updates to load changes. Motorcity connects with Solar Transport’s TMS and notifies the driver of any changes the moment they’re made. “There's a constant sync of letting the driver know if there was any changes made to a particular order, where before we could change something and drivers wouldn't know about it,” he said. “All of a sudden, they've delivered to the wrong location or delivered the wrong product because they didn't have the update.” Similarly, the customer also receives real-time updates. Jones said when drivers feed information into the dispatch system, it sends that “extremely valuable” information – like product and supplier details – amount of gallons being delivered, estimated times of arrival and more, to the customer. And the customer and driver satisfaction has proven the app beneficial in a short period of time. “If we're able to create capacity with our customers and have the trucks and drivers available, that gives us the flexibility and capacity to bring on new customers, which we've been able to add,” Jones said. And he said driver feedback has been phenomenal. Drivers have reported that the workflow has made it easier to train new drivers, easier to deliver to new locations with the site maps, and easier to determine if loads are going to fit with clear visibility into inventories in the ground at certain locations. He said Solar Transport wants to see a greater percent decrease in cross-drops and is making additional investments in technology to do that and improve customer and driver satisfaction. The carrier also began using an imaging app through EBE Technologies that allows drivers to scan their paperwork from inside their truck, which then is entered into the automated workflow system that shares that information with the customer and back office electronically. Jones said the carrier is now working to onboard an optical character recognition solution, also through EBE, to read that paperwork and enter the bill of lading information on behalf of the driver to reduce errors. “We're going to continue to push, providing these drivers with the resources and the tools necessary to do their job,” he said. The CCJ Innovators program is brought to you by Bendix, Comdata, Freightliner Trucks, SkyBitz and Valvoline. https://ift.tt/vly6zS3
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The following was published in CCJ's Air Brake Book, 11th edition, sponsored by SilverbackHD. CCJ's Air Brake Book is a complementary industry resource, courtesy of our partnership with SilverbackHD, the Technology and Maintenance Council and Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. You can download the entire Air Brake Book here. A balanced brake system is when the entire brake system, from front to back, (including the tractor and trailer) react at the correct time to produce equal timing and brake pressure. According to SilverbackHD, brake imbalance can be caused by many factors:• Disc and drum brakes perform differently, so matching like brake designs will provide more consistent performance. • Various brands of friction and material types within those brands have different performance characteristics. • Each friction formula has different stopping power vs other friction formulas • If different friction formulas are used on different axles (or sides of a vehicle), the brake with the higher coefficient of friction will do more work; the lower friction may gradually glaze over due to lack of work, and the results are unstable braking (or worse); the higher friction wheels will deliver faster wear rates and more stopping power; the lower friction wheels won’t do their share of the work and instability results; and certain brakes, when overworked, can also potentially fade and cause instability under load. To ensure you have proper brake balance, SilverbackHD suggests the following:• Challenge your parts supplier to assist you in selecting the right friction for your application. • Utilize one brand and formula of friction on all axles and wheels on a given tractor trailer combination whenever possible. For instance, a fleet hauling potato chips on the Plains will need a much lighter friction than a refuse or cement hauler running with heavy loads in hilly country or stop and go city. Fleets should understand what friction brand and formula helps them accomplish their maintenance goals and stick with it. New steel shoes will provide the longest life cycle possible for the chosen friction. • Always perform complete vehicle brake jobs, never one axle or one wheel at a time. • Resist the temptation to fix symptoms. Look for causes of rapid wear and/or very low wear as compared to other wheels. Dig deep to fix the cause as opposed to just what’s on the surface. With the exception of a steer axle, all wheels should wear out at the same rate. If that’s not the case, you have a maintenance problem that needs to be found. https://ift.tt/vly6zS3 Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, March 1, 2023: IMC subsidiaries to transition to IMC brand this yearIMC (CCJ Top 250, No. 59), one of the largest marine drayage company in the United States, has announced that all of its operating companies will transition to do business under the IMC name in 2023. Currently, IMC serves its customers via seven regional brands, including Atlantic Intermodal Services (AIS), DNJ Intermodal Services (DNJ), Gulf Intermodal Services (GIS), H&M Intermodal (H&M), Intermodal Cartage Company (IMCG), Ohio Intermodal Services (OIS), and Pacific Drayage Services (PDS). The consolidation to operate under one brand name is strategic both in terms of marketing and operations, the company said. “We started as one company in 1982, and we’re still one company today,” said Mark H. George, IMC Chairman. “Over the years, we have grown both by expansion and acquisition. Now, it is time to unify our regional brands under the IMC name so that we fully leverage our national footprint via which we handle freight via every major rail and port in the country.” The transition to the IMC name will happen gradually over the course of 2023 as IMC integrates one operating company at a time. All IMC operating company presidents will retain ownership in IMC. “Operationally, nothing will change,” George added. “We will still retain the same regional expertise our customers have come to know and depend upon. Only now, we’ll all operate as one, enabling us to realize efficiencies that will benefit our customers, our team members and, ultimately, the industry.” Nikola recalls BEV trucks over brake issueNikola Corporation is recalling approximately 137 model year 2022 Tre BEV trucks, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents. In the affected trucks, the shaft locking screw on the brake pedal may be missing or may not be fully threaded, which can cause the brake pedal to detach. According to the recall report, all affected trucks were inspected and repaired by Nov. 1. Owners may contact Nikola customer service at 1-630-808-4531 with recall number 22VDC0908. NHTSA’s recall number is 23V-090. TMC appoints new leadershipBison Transport Director of Maintenance Todd Cotier was elected the Technology and Maintenance Council's 2023-2024 general chairman and treasurer during the organization’s Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition in Orlando.He succeeds Randy Obermeyer, vice president safety and maintenance for Online Transport Inc., of Greenfield, Indiana, as general chairman and treasurer. Cotier, from Bangor, Maine, served the past year as the Council’s vice chairman and chairman of meetings. Other TMC officers for 2023-2024 include Vice Chairman and Chairman of Meetings: Amanda Schuier, Jetco Delivery Inc.; Chairman of Study Groups: Radu Mihai, Burnco Rock Products; Chairman of Membership and Publicity: Peter Savage, Clark Power Services Inc.; Chairman of Associates: Roger Maye, ConMet. Directors-at-large include Scott Bartlein, Barry Trucking Inc.; Chris Disantis, Aim NationaLease; Ken Marko, US Foods; Anthony Marshall, UPS; Winston Minchew, Old Dominion Freight Line Inc.; Kevin Tomlinson, South Shore Transportation; Larry Rambeaux, Purkeys; and Justin Anderson, ZF. Saia adds more next-day lanes in Northeast, Mid-AtlanticSaia Inc. (CCJ Top 250, No. 21) announced this week that Saia LTL Freight now provides next-day service in 435 lanes across its Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. Saia added an additional 78 lanes to its next-day service, effective Feb. 27. The service enhancement includes points in, but not limited to, Albany, New York; Newark, New Jersey; Springfield and Boston, Massachusetts; New Haven, Connecticut; Youngstown, Ohio; Allentown, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Providence, Rhode Island; and Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia; as well as Wilmington, Delaware. Because of the reduced transit times, Saia said its customers will now receive a one-day delivery improvement on freight moving between these points, allowing for more direct schedules and enhanced service. “Since we began our expansion in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets, our primary goal has been to provide our customers with more direct service points, supported by our industry-leading transportation and logistics services,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Ray Ramu. “This one-day transit enhancement demonstrates our commitment to our ‘Customer First’ core value and builds on the success we’ve seen in the marketplace.” Cox Automotive acquiring FleetNet AmericaThe world’s largest automotive services and technology provider, Cox Automotive is acquiring FleetNet America from ArcBest, the companies announced Tuesday. FleetNet’s EMS offering utilizes a network of more than 60,000 independent service providers throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Services include brokering emergency mobile assistance, mobile truck repair, towing and recovery, preventative maintenance, and tire repair. Paired with Cox Automotive’s expertise in creating two-sided marketplaces, ability to deliver industry-leading data insights and operating at global scale, this acquisition will fuel the companies’ collective commitment to delivering greater flexibility, transparency, communication and ultimately keeping fleets doing what they do best, working for their customers. “While both FleetNet and Cox Automotive are leaders in the market today, we haven't even scratched the surface of where we will take fleet operations tomorrow,” said John Wood, president of FleetNet America. “Together, our teams will move the industry forward in a transformative way.” Women in Trucking Driver of the Year finalists announcedThe Women in Trucking Association announced Tuesday three finalists for its 2023 Driver of the Year award, sponsored by Walmart. The fourth annual award recognizes outstanding female professional drivers who lead the industry in safety standards while actively enhancing the public image of the trucking industry. The 2023 WIT Driver of the Year finalists are: Mary "Candy" Bass: She is a company driver for Transport Designs, Inc., out of Burnsville, Minnesota. Bass has been a long-haul truck driver for 50 years, accumulating 6 million accident-free miles. In 2016, Bass was awarded the TA-Petro Citizen Driver award. Recipients of this award exhibit citizenship, safety, community involvement and leadership. A Nashville, Tennessee, TA truck stop is named the Candy Bass Travel Center in honor of her. In 2023, she was named a Top Woman to Watch in Transportation by Redefining the Road, WIT’s official magazine. Bass is a lifetime member of WIT and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. She is involved in numerous charities, including the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, Hats for Heroes, Special Olympics, Trucker Buddy, and charities for troops. At 78, she is still driving long haul across the United States while encouraging and mentoring other women in the trucking industry. Ally Cooper: A professional driver for Penske Logistics, Cooper is the daughter of an owner-operator. She enlisted in the military upon graduating high school and served as a lead convoy driver in Iraq and Afghanistan in the mid-2000s. She then ran her own LLC as an owner-operator for six years before transitioning to driver roles with Midwest Logistics and Penske Logistics. Cooper supports her fellow drivers as a ride-along trainer, certified Worklete Champion and role model. A passionate advocate for working moms, Cooper played a key role in the implementation of nursing policies that improve the experience of new moms behind the wheel. Supervisors and colleagues praise Cooper’s positive attitude, dedication to safety, and commitment to work-life balance. “I absolutely love trucking and can't imagine doing anything else in life,” she said. “I hope to show women that you don't have to do the normal 9-to-5 job – you can do anything you set your mind to and be proud of it.” Ann McFarland: She is a consummate driving professional with an expert knowledge of the transportation industry. She exudes pride in her profession through her unshakeable dedication to safety and customer service. Her current position is with Leonard’s Express, but she also honed her talents previously with Holman Transportation and Apex, where she achieved the Hard Work & Dedication Award, Excellent Performance Award (Holman), and the Safe Driver Award twice (Apex). This year, McFarland will be honored with Leonard’s Express’ Million Mile Award for more than one million safe miles with the company. McFarland is an active trainer for women entering the industry and mentors both men and women in the career she believes in so strongly. She has a passion for helping new women drivers set up for career success. She takes that same level of work ethic and integrity to her home life as a wife, mother, grandmother and sole provider for her household. Through hardship and family illness, she doesn't falter, balancing family needs with professional reliability and responsibility. She currently lives in Fruitland, Idaho, with her husband, Richard. The winner will be announced at the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel event hosted by WIT on Friday, March 31 at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky. https://ift.tt/vly6zS3 Valvoline introduced its visionary Blue Restore Gen2 motor oil the company says is capable of reducing or eliminating engine overhauls for vehicle owners with extended ownership cycles this week during ATA's Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting and Expo in Orlando. Valvoline's Blue Restore is a unique formulation 10W-30 that is designed to provide advanced engine cleanup in a single service. Developed in partnership with Cummins and endorsed and recommended by the engine maker, Blue Restore is based on a blend of Group IV/Group V synthetic base oils coupled with a special additive package originating in Premium Blue CK-4 chemistry. The company says the unique formulation helps remove piston deposits that can originate from fuel and engine oil combustion. When implemented at the right time during a vehicle's life, Valvoline says the oil can clean an engine so well that a likely overhaul date is extended months or even years. The company recommends customers use Blue Restore Gen2 for one complete oil drain interval then run the oil until the next maintenance event, when it is the drained and replaced with the engine's prior oil as a low-cost option for consistent, long-life engine performance. Valvoline also notes because the product can produce considerable sediment evacuation, close monitoring of oil filter particulate capacity is recommended once the oil is in use. Oil filters also may require changing earlier than an oil drain interval due to sediment captured. Extensively tested for years by Cummins in both engine and field service, Blue Restore Gen2 has shown no harm to engine components and system performance. Blue Restore Gen2 is available in gallon, five-gallon and 55-gallon drums. https://ift.tt/vly6zS3 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company at the Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Expo in Orlando Tuesday introduced its new RangeMax RSD EV – the company's first electric vehicle-ready tire compatible with EV, gas- and diesel-powered regional vehicles. Designed to handle the higher load capacities of EVs – and the first regional drive tire embossed with Goodyear’s “Electric Drive Ready” designation – Goodyear engineered its RangeMax RSDEV with ultra-low rolling resistance to maximize the efficiency of the drivetrain, regardless of how its powered. “With the continued growth we’re observing in the regional EV segment, changing powertrains and fleets’ cost-savings and sustainability priorities, Goodyear recognized an opportunity to provide fleets and original equipment manufacturers with a tire designed for the unique needs of these vehicles," said Goodyear North America Senior Director or Commercial Marketing Tom Lippello. RangeMax RSDEV is the newest addition to Goodyear’s EV tire portfolio. In response to increased usage of electric vehicles in parts of the industry, Goodyear last year introduced its first commercial truck tire with “Electric Drive Ready” designation, Endurance RSA ULT. In 2022, Goodyear also expanded its line of ElectricDrive tires built for passenger and high-performance vehicles to cover 44% more battery electric vehicles operating in the U.S., the company said. Available now in size 295/75R22.5, Goodyear says additional features and benefits of RangeMax RSDEV include Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake and Mud and Snow designations; SmartWay-verified premium casing construction, providing toughness and durability to maximize retread-ability; and enhanced tread pattern designed for high torque applications and an optimized footprint shape for even treadwear. https://ift.tt/vly6zS3 Many – maybe too many – powertrain technologies exist today for equipment users to spec on trucks, and the emergence of electrification, hydrogen and other budding solutions will only add more options to the mix. At the Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Expo in Orlando Tuesday during an S.11 study group presentation, a panel of freight and green technology experts discussed the coming reality for trucking as its emissions levels are further scrutinized. Corning Incorporated's Director of Emerging Technologies and Regulations Dr. Ameya Joshi noted that freight vehicles account for about 4% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally, and long haul trucks account for about half of particulate matter and NOx emissions. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations for model year 2027 will require an additional 90% reduction in NOx and practically mandates electrification, along with other considerations. In forthcoming regulations, EPA and CARB will require extended emissions warranties and an extended useful life of the emissions system. Electrification isn't as simple as it sounds, especially in long haul, Joshi said, adding that a greater than 1 megawatt hour battery pack would be needed to power a truck for 500 miles: a power level on par with the usage of an average U.S. household in a month. "There is no silver bullet," Joshi said. "We have to keep working on all technologies... if we are going to effectively decarbonize the transportation sector." PepsiCo, with more than 80,000 units, is among the largest private fleets in the country – a transportation force that includes biodiesel, electric, natural gas and many others. Pepsi has a goal of net zero emissions by 2040. Prior to 2010, Adam Buttgenbach, PepsiCo director of fleet engineering and sustainability, said the company started looking at improving its efficiency, spec'ing things like low rolling resistance tires and gravitating to lighter-weight vehicles. "As we look into the future, we think a lot of renewable fuels will play a role," he said. PepsiCo has deployed battery electric vehicles, renewable natural gas and renewable biodiesel trucks in its middle mile operations and electric delivery vans, electric box trucks and electric tractors in its last mile business. Buttgenbach said PepsiCo seeks to power its vehicles with renewable sources wherever possible, adding that a battery truck that is charged from a carbon-intense source only pushes emissions upstream. PepsiCo's Modesto, California, facility – one of the company's largest – has reduced its GHG emissions by more than 90% thanks to the heavy integration of solar and leaning into electric trucks, biodiesel, CNG and RNG, among other things. Cummins seeks to hit zero emissions by 2050 through several means both short- and long-term because powertrain selection will come down to what works for a fleet, not necessarily what the fleet wants. "We have to act now in order to meet our sustainability targets," said Mark Ulrich, Cummins' director of customer support. "It's not just about the powertrain; it's about the right powertrain for your company." Robert Reich, executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Schneider (CCJ Top 250, No. 9), said shippers are applying pressure on carriers to reduce emissions, but he said his company doesn't start that conversation with equipment. Rather that discussion starts with network optimization, potential freight consolidation and evaluating mode selection. "We're really committed to doubling our intermodal business," he said, adding that he sees intermodal having a major impact on Schneider's emissions goals of achieving a 7.5% reduction in reduced CO2 emission per mile, 60% reduction by 2035, and net zero emissions at company-owned facilities by 3035. "Charging needs to be onsite where the trucks are operating, so we think this is a great fit for our intermodal business." Schneider will deploy 90 Freightliner eCascadia this year in its SoCal operations, making it the largest EV trucking fleet in the U.S. There were, however, challenges in dealing with the utility and power availability, Reich said, adding a lot of time into a project that Reich thought would already be complete, but likely won't wrap until April this year. "Think about those utilities even before you start thinking about what your truck solution might be," he said, adding Schneider will have a hydrogen test truck this year. "I'm proud of where diesel is headed. I think natural gas is making a comeback. Bio-diesel, renewable diesel ... it's expensive, but it might be the quickest way to take care of a customer's desire to reduce emissions." Reich said Schneider has traditionally had a fairly standard and universal truck spec, but emissions regulations and the company's own goals to slash its carbon footprint, is changing that. "Three years from now, I think we've got all of this in our fleet," he said. "A lot of options. Some are here now. Others are coming soon," North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE) Executive Director Mike Roeth, warned. https://ift.tt/OYHAdlJ Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks North America (VTNA) on Tuesday at the Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Expo in Orlando announced the expansion of of their remote diagnostics bundle by adding three new updateable modules to the service. Remote programming services currently allows for software updates on the engine (EMS), aftertreatment system (ACM), and transmission (TECU) modules. Three new over-the-air update modules will be available for download on trucks delivered later this year: Instrument Cluster (IC) – Controls the dashboard lights, dials, and screens; Vehicle ECU (VECU) – Controls a wider variety of functions from the adaptive cruise control and overall engine management system to the tire pressure monitor and parking brake; and Body Builder Module (BBM) – Controls the functionality for specialty vehicle modifications for applications such as refuse trucks and transport refrigeration units (TRUs). Mack began offering driver-activated OTA updates at the end of 2020, and more than 57,000 trucks are enrolled to date. First launched in 2018, Volvo's Remote Programming has performed more than 40,000 software updates on these modules, and over 8,400 remote parameter updates. Both platforms enable drivers to download and install over-the-air software in minutes from anywhere cell signal is available. While Mack and Volvo's expanded remote update capabilities keep fleets out of the dealership, the sibling truck makers also on Tuesday announced programs designed to maximize the support fleets get from dealers when they do have to roll in. Volvo's Connected Vehicle Analytics (CVA)Volvo's Connected Vehicle Analytics (CVA) tool collects real-world data — including current truck configurations, daily routes, average speed and fuel efficiency — and enables dealers to recommend configurations for a new truck, based on its specific operation. Volvo said the CVA tool includes a robust dashboard where dealers can monitor how fleet customers are operating trucks and where there are opportunities to optimize efficiency and productivity with enhanced specs. Using Volvo Trucks’ CVA tool, dealers can gain quantitative insights into how a customer’s fleet is operating and what updates and changes can be made in the specifications when spec'ing new trucks to improve operations and total cost of ownership. Data is provided on a wide range of information that can affect the fuel efficiency and productivity of a vehicle, including specific route details (latitude and longitude for some stops and average speed); vehicle attributes (truck model, axle configuration, etc.); and fuel efficiency. Dealers can also access an anonymous pool of vehicles to benchmark how a given customer’s fleet is performing compared to other similarly spec’d vehicles. New Volvo, Mack service contractsBoth truck makers will slowly roll out contract service plans. The plans spent roughly a year being piloted and refined in a soft launch. Under the Volvo Blue service contract, Mike Furst, director of contract services and leasing technology solutions, all work is performed by Volvo certified technicians using genuine or authorized Volvo parts. Certified technicians have access to specialized equipment, diagnostic tools and the database systems required to service and maintain highly sophisticated vehicles and on-board software now standard on all Volvo Trucks vehicles. The service contract also includes real time monitoring and managing all software and recall updates. Through planned, preventative and thorough maintenance, including a 74-point inspection plan, dealers help fleets minimize the risk of coming to an unexpected standstill. The Volvo Blue service contract leverages real-time over-the-air truck data to tailor the service plan based on the actual usage and application of an operator’s individual truck. All maintenance is undertaken when it best suits the customer and follows a predetermined schedule to minimize disruptions to operations, reduce time spent at a dealership and provide customers with more predictable maintenance costs. Included in the Volvo Blue service contract, customers have access to the over-the-air Remote Diagnostics and Remote Programming suite throughout the duration of the contract. These services proactively identify anticipated breakdowns and send the vehicle’s diagnostic data automatically to the dealership or repair center before the truck arrives for its scheduled preferred service time. Through Remote Programming customers also have access to the full suite of remote parameter and remote software update services, elevating fleet uptime and efficiency. With the Volvo Blue service contract, fixed service fees can be spread evenly throughout the chosen contract period duration of 12 to 60 months. Customers may elect to be billed via bank draft (ACH), to their preferred account, or bundle with their loan or lease from Volvo Financial Services. There are more than 400 certified Volvo Trucks dealerships and thousands of service locations across North America that are prepared to assist their local customers with the full-service coverage of the contract. Mack's Premium Service Contracts offer dedicated maintenance management with a single point of contact at local dealers to manage the scheduling of maintenance; upfront parts and labor costs offering cost consistency; adaptive maintenance optimized based on each customer’s unique operations allowing for improved vehicle health; and consistent repair and maintenance through Mack Certified Uptime Dealers. “Premium Service Contracts help to ensure that maintenance is completed on-time and optimized for the customer’s operation, software is up to date, open campaigns are completed on-time, and uptime is maximized,” said Patrick Brown, Mack Trucks services and solutions strategy manager. Eligible vehicles for the Premium Service Contract are those that are powered by Mack engines with fewer than 150,000 miles. Preventative maintenance, adaptive maintenance and fleet management by the dealer are included. The Mack Premium Service Contract is available for normal-duty applications in 100,000-mile increments, while Mack heavy-duty Premium Service Contracts are available in 50,000-mile increments. https://ift.tt/OYHAdlJ With more electric Class 8 trucks hitting North American roadways each day, ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) is racing to develop ideal safety processes for fleet owners and service shops to use on battery electric vehicles (BEV) in the field. On Monday at TMC’s Annual Meeting in Orlando, TMC’s Service Provider study group kicked off development of a proposed recommended practice for Safety Aspects for Electric Vehicles. Chaired by Navistar’s Chas Voyles, the task force hopes to develop a final document within the next two years and bring a fully formed RP to ballot at TMC’s Fall Meeting in 2024. Voyles admits the timeline is accelerated—most RP take twice as long to develop—but says it is necessary. Most technicians in heavy-duty service bays today have never serviced a BEV in any capacity. [RELATED: Dealers could be expected to invest six figures to support electric trucks] Voyles said, “50 volts can stop a human heart” and added “education is of the upmost importance.” Most of Monday’s discussion focused on the scope of the RP and what it should focus on. Voyles and his other task force officers shared their initial scope as “to bring knowledge to service providers and fleets by focusing on all aspects of safety when working on an electric vehicle by identifying all safety concerns that could potentially present itself during a service event.” The audience quickly added to the scope, noting the RP also must address roadside service, towing, vehicle storage, de-energize times and thermal events (battery fires). The discussion then touched on how technicians can safely identify if a truck is a BEV, how the RP can utilize language and safety terminology from OSHA, tooling and personal protective equipment required to service BEVs. [RELATED: NACFE stresses immediacy, partnerships as fleets navigate zero emission 'messy middle'] As expected, emergency response also covered a large portion of the hour. Attendees noted it would be useful for TMC to develop corresponding guidance and checklists for drivers to follow when using BEVs that can be easily communicated to and understood by technicians during a service event or dangerous situation. Warning signs would be useful too, such as interior and exterior notifications that signal a failure could be imminent or that a vehicle should be carefully avoided, attendees said. Even washing a BEV requires safety procedures. Attendees noted BEVs can’t just be run through a wash bay like a conventional Class 8 diesel tractor. https://ift.tt/OYHAdlJ Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023: FMCSA names new Deputy AdministratorEarl Adams Jr. was sworn in Monday as Deputy Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Adams has served as FMCSA’s Chief Counsel since July 2021. He takes over the role previously held by Robin Hutcheson, who was officially confirmed as FMCSA’s Administrator on Sept. 22, 2022. As Deputy Administrator, Adams will join Hutcheson to lead the agency and will oversee a portfolio of initiatives across the agency’s various program offices that supports FMCSA’s mission – to prevent crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. “Earl is a mission-driven leader and thinker who embodies the values of our agency and the entire Department of Transportation,” Hutcheson said. “His vast experience, intellect and people skills are exactly what the role of Deputy Administrator calls for.” Adams has extensive legal and executive experience across several modes, including surface transportation, rail and aviation. In his role as FMCSA Chief Counsel, Adams was responsible for legal policy on all aspects of agency programs and activities, including the development, issuance, interpretation, enforcement and defense of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations before state and federal courts. He also provided executive oversight for FMCSA’s technology and innovation portfolio, including rulemaking on autonomous vehicles. Prior to joining FMCSA, Adams worked in the private sector with several law firms, and most recently as a litigation partner with a national law firm, where he also served as the managing partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. His legal practice has always focused on providing clients with regulatory and compliance counsel across several sectors, including transportation, renewable energy, and procurement. Additionally, Adams served as Chief of Staff to Maryland’s former Lt. Governor and has held several leadership positions in impactful organizations, including serving as the former Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, former Vice Chairman of the Bowie State University Board of Visitors, and former board member of the Economic Club of Washington. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Boston College Law School, a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Morehouse College. FHWA updates memo prioritizing states’ use of infrastructure fundsThe American Trucking Associations said a revised memo outlining the Federal Highway Administration’s priorities for states’ use of funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will reduce confusion and accelerate important investments in improving freight capacity. In 2021, FHWA issued a memo outlining a wish list of priorities for states as they spent IIJA funds – priorities that ATA said ran counter to the bipartisan bill’s intent by directing funds to highway maintenance and non-highway projects over investments in expanding highway capacity. “As I told Congress earlier this month, FHWA’s memo didn’t just run counter to what lawmakers intended with IIJA, it was causing significant confusion for states at a time when those states needed to be working closely with FHWA to make sure the record-setting investment is directed to where it can do the most good,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “The IIJA was a good piece of bipartisan legislation and FHWA’s original memo was a misguided attempt to do an end-run around the priorities Congress set, and it is a positive sign that DOT leadership has issued new guidance more in line with those priorities.” Spear told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Feb. 1 that the effect of the memo was the country would have “really nice roads and bridges, but we're still sitting on them going nowhere. We need truck lanes, we need parking, we need new bridges. We need more capacity to move the freight.” FHWA’s new memo brings the agency’s guidance in line with IIJA’s language and clarifies that states can invest in critical freight capacity expansion projects, ATA added. “We are pleased that thanks to congressional leadership – notably House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves and Senator Shelley Moore Capito, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee – FHWA recognized their mistake and changed course,” Spear said. “We look forward to continuing to work with FHWA and Congress to make sure this historic investment goes to where it can do the most good for our country and economy.” Paccar recalling 8,000 medium-duty trucks over potential brake failureA recall has been issued by Paccar for approximately 8,008 model year 2021-2024 Kenworth T280, T380 and T480, and Peterbilt 536, 537 and 548 medium-duty trucks because the brakes in the affected trucks could potentially fail. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents, when the brake pedal in the affected trucks is fully applied and then released rapidly, the pedal plunger that connects the brake pedal to the brake valve may become disconnected, causing the brakes to fail. A remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 16. Owners can contact Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-588 with recall number 23KWB and Peterbilt's customer service at 1-940-591-4220 with recall number 23PBB. NHTSA’s recall number is 23V-087. https://ift.tt/OYHAdlJ Today’s fleets have a large flow of data at their disposal, and fleet managers must determine what they would like to measure. Your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will certainly lead you in the right direction, so look at areas that drive key business decisions. That can be on-time preventive maintenance (PM) completion, downtime, cost per mile (CPM), repair code analysis, en route failures, etc. Once you’ve established the topic for analysis, it’s best to look at what the leading indicator is for improving performance in that area. For example, we all know that a quality PM results in a reduction of costs, e.g., labor and parts costs versus emergency road service. Emergency road service will cost you 30% more than had you fixed a problem on a scheduled basis. We all have schedules for our PM services, but do we know what intervals we are actually running? Do we know how many times we are bringing a unit in for unscheduled repairs between service? Are we optimizing our touches while running oil out to a safe extended drain interval? These are just several questions that get the ball rolling toward your data aggregation on a single topic. In this example, we should be using the data to help us understand what our actual results were versus the schedule. Next it will tell us the quality of the PMs by showing us the touches between service. We have now identified what we are going to research, but there are more steps to follow on the data aggregation and analysis journey. To achieve best in class data aggregation and analysis, you should consider the following steps. Step 1Determine the scope of your data aggregation and analysis by identifying the questions you want to answer, the type of data you need, and the methods you will use to analyze the data.Step 2Collect the data you need from reliable and relevant sources, such as databases, surveys or other sources.Step 3Clean and prepare the data. Before analyzing the data you should clean and prepare it to ensure its accuracy and completeness. This involves removing duplicates, filling in missing data and checking for errors.Step 4Analyze the data. Use statistical and analytical methods such as clustering or machine learning algorithms to analyze the data. Choose the method that best fits your data as well as the questions you want to answer.Step 5Visualize the data. Use visualization techniques to help you identify patterns and trends in the data. This can help you concisely communicate your findings to others.Step 6Draw insights and make data driven decisions. This may involve creating new strategies, improving processes or identifying opportunities for improvement.Step 7Continuously monitor your data and refine your analysis as needed. This can help you stay up to date on changes and trends in your data and allow you to adjust your approach as needed.It’s important to use a combination of technical and analytical skills, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, to drive best in class data aggregation and analysis. Additionally, using the right tools and technologies, such as data management systems and analytic software, can also help streamline and improve your data aggregation and analysis process.
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April 2023
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