Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021: Hino debuts new fuel cell truckHino Trucks debuted Tuesday its Class 8 hydrogen at the 2021 ACT Expo in Long Beach, California. In October 2020, Hino unveiled its Project Z – a development path to zero emissions Class 4 through Class 8 trucks, leaning on partnerships with technology leaders in advanced electrification drive systems. Hino itself is a subsidiary of Toyota. Powered by a hydrogen fuel cell electric drivetrain, the Hino XL8 prototype is the first fruit of that effort. “It’s amazing what our team has been able to accomplish in a relative short period of time," said Glenn Ellis, Hino Trucks senior vice president of customer experience. “We are looking forward to validating the performance, reliability and efficiency of our hydrogen fuel cell electric system in the XL Series chassis." “From Project Z announcement last October, Hino Trucks Senior Vice President of Vehicle and Parts Sales Bob Petz aid the company has received significant interest from customers, "and now we have something tangible to show them in our prototype FCEV." Barr-Nunn expands pay platformBarr-Nunn Transportation, is expanding its Assured Pay fleet offering to solo and team drivers living in 43 states. Eligible Assured Pay fleet drivers hauling regional loads primarily in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Connecticut earn $265 for on-duty shifts and $90 for each load hauled during that shift. Drivers work 21 days on and are home for seven whole days. In addition to receiving safety bonuses and transition pay, drivers hauling seven loads and completing seven shifts earn $2485 per week. Eligible Assured Pay fleet drivers receive a fully loaded late model tractor equipped with a flat-screen TV, microwave, refrigerator, inverter, and other amenities for 21-day trips. Barr-Nunn Transportation also offers three weekly home-time Assured Pay Fleets, where solo drivers are home every weekend and earn up to $260 per shift and $90 per load. Five shifts and five loads equate to $1750 per week and home time on the weekends. Assured Pay fleet options are also available to qualified team drivers. Team drivers in the 21-day Assured Pay fleet each earn $400 per shift. Established teams living in the northeast or parts of the Midwest can be home weekends and earn $400 each per shift, equating to $2,000 each per week plus bonuses and home every weekend. In addition to Assured Pay, company drivers are eligible for safety bonuses, paid time off, Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, matching 401(k) program, paid life insurance and a free-rider program starting day one. Schneider adding 50 electric FreightlinersBeginning next year, Schneider (CCJ Top 250, No. 7) will add 50 Freightliner eCascadia to its Southern California intermodal operations, making the organization one of the largest battery-electric truck fleets in North America. Schneider has plans for more BEVs and route options. Funding for the 50 BEVs was announced Tuesday as part of the Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative (JETSI), sponsored by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD), California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC). The initiative is working to significantly increase the number of zero-emission heavy-duty trucks available for goods movement while achieving necessary emission reductions. “Schneider’s sustainability initiatives got a big boost when we were selected to participate in the state of California’s Joint Electric Truck Scaling Initiative,” said Schneider President and CEO Mark Rourke. “The scaling of zero-emission vehicles is a key component of our goal to reduce carbon emissions by 7.5% per mile by 2025 and by 60% per mile by 2035.” Schneider has piloted an eCascadia for six months through Freightliner’s Customer Experience fleet. “Our drivers who tested the eCascadia really enjoyed it,” said Schneider Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Rob Reich. “It’s a great driving experience.” Performance Team – A Maersk Company places largest order of VNR Electric modelsPerformance Team – A Maersk Company, a warehousing and distribution company, has ordered 16 Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 trucks — the largest commercial order of the North American zero-tailpipe emission model to date. The VNR Electric model from Volvo Trucks North America will be the first zero-tailpipe emission, battery-electric Class 8 truck in Performance Team’s fleet, which will be on the road by the end of this year. When put into service, all 16 vehicles will carry regional loads daily to customers across Southern California. Designed for local and regional freight distribution, the Volvo VNR Electric improves local residents’ quality of life by decarbonized and quiet transportation on urban streets and roadways. The significant reduction of noise and vibrations also creates a best-in-class, clean and comfortable working environment for drivers. “We’re seeing a 30% growth rate in our Warehousing and Distribution business,” said Jason Walker, executive vice president of operations of Performance Team – A Maersk Company. “Customers are looking for more truck power to meet high volume delivery demands. This new order of Volvo VNR Electric trucks will give us firsthand experience on their performance carrying regional loads and environmental benefits. Our findings will help determine next steps in our fleet modernization and the electric infrastructure necessary for future operations.” https://ift.tt/2ytPsnD
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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. YouTube can be a handy resource for many things, from learning how to change the engine oil in a 1997 Honda Civic to the basics of karate. For the drivers for Prime, Inc., (CCJ Top 250, No. 14) YouTube has become an invaluable enabler of staying connected with their company and fellow drivers. Driver meetings aren’t a new concept, especially at Prime, where they have taken place for more than 25 years. Former longtime Director of Safety Don Lacy, who retired in 2014, instituted safety meetings one Saturday per month, but with more than 2,000 drivers at the time, a large in-person turnout couldn't be expected. In order to reach drivers who couldn't attend, Steve Field – who now serves as Prime's director of safety – recorded them on cassette and had copies distributed at truck stops across the country for drivers to pick up. Over the years, the meetings transitioned to every Friday morning. The cassettes evolved to CDs, and eventually were distributed through the company’s app. Regardless of delivery method, the meetings have been a staple of Prime, Inc.'s culture since day one ... until the world was blindsided by a global pandemic. “Until March 13, 2020, we had never missed a Friday meeting," Field said. "We’ve had tornado warnings, bad weather, the day after Thanksgiving … and then COVID hit and we worked our way back to weekly face-to-face meetings.” The pandemic shiftRather than allow the meeting to become a COVID casualty, Field and Prime's social media team – spearheaded by Prime's Media and Onboarding Manager Andrea Mueller – sought to figure out a new path, and turned to live videos hosted through Facebook and YouTube. “We did pretty well on those because we could get questions from our drivers,” he said. “That really just progressed, so when we went back to the full meetings, we said, ‘Let’s keep that going and make it so our drivers that can’t attend can attend through technology – and hear and see the speakers and ask questions in real time.'” Departmental leaders are regularly featured during the meetings, giving drivers access to key decision-makers that they may otherwise never see. “Just for example, maybe we have our leasing department talking about what’s going on in leasing and they just have a few points they want to cover and then we open it up for questions,” Field said. “’Are we going to get any Kenworths?’ ‘When are the new Petes coming in?’ ‘Can I lease more than one truck?’ It’s just those questions that if we were in-person they’d be raising their hands and asking, but now we’ve cast the net so wide that anyone that has the opportunity to log in when we start at 8 o’clock Central on Friday can ask a question.” Field emphasized that Prime’s meetings are “extremely transparent,” as evidenced by the fact that anyone with an internet connection can watch them. The company also posts minutes from each meeting on its website. “It’s unscripted. Sometimes they go a little sideways, but that’s what makes them a better meeting. That’s what makes us a better company – when someone does stand up and is legitimately mad about something. Let’s hear it. It’s not going to do any good to not listen," Field said. “If it’s a tough question, we want it. If it’s something we’re doing wrong … that’s good for us to hear. "I think what takes us over the top is that probably out of the 52 weeks we have [the meetings] at least 45 of those weeks Robert Low, our founder and president, is at the meetings and he closes it out. I don’t think there’s many large trucking companies where the owner – the founder – stands up in front of his drivers and says ‘what can I do to help you?’” Field said the live-streamed meetings have also helped to cement the importance of drivers' role in the success of the company across all departments, because “if it’s important enough for Robert to be there, I’d better be there, too.” A five-fold increase in driver participationIn the days since the meetings first kicked off more than a quarter-century ago, Prime's driver force has more than doubled, but attendance at in-person meetings, Field said, was generally about 50 people. Live streams, on average, reach about 250 drivers. Where the impact really compounds is via YouTube, where views of the recorded weekly meetings generally hover around 2,000 before the next meeting is posted, and countless views and shares via Facebook. “Our challenge is to keep it interesting. To not be repetitive,” Field said. “We really try to make it a give and take.” For viewers of the recorded session, Prime’s social media team will follow up with answers to questions posted after the live broadcast has concluded, and often those questions are used to help drive topics for future driver meetings because, Field said, “it tells us which topics are the most interesting for our drivers.” The weekly meetings have also become a marketing tool, even if by accident. “We’ve noticed that we’re picking up a lot of non-Prime folks watching them, which we’re fine with. We’ve got nothing to hide,” Field said. “I think in a way it’s a recruiting tool. People go, ‘This company I’m driving for, they don’t share anything with us and here they’re doing this every Friday and taking questions and making the department heads available.” Original broadcasts started with a cell phone recording, but have since evolved with authentic production equipment and feeds are simulcast live to the company’s Springfield, Missouri, headquarters and terminals in Salt Lake City and Pittston, Pennsylvania. “We can see them and they can see us,” Field added. “When I think back to 25 years ago with me and cassette player trying to record, it’s just incredible what’s happened in a quarter century.” As pandemic restrictions eased and drivers could gather in-person again as of May, the online streaming component of the meetings remained and Field said it’s a permanent fixture. “It’s here to stay. It’s not going away," he said. "It just gives us another way to communicate with our drivers – two-way communication. It’s part of our culture now. I think everyone in trucking talks about communication – how important it is – but we’re doing a lot more than lip service with it here. When you're a long-haul fleet, like the majority of ours is, it’s tough to see guys face to face, see women face to face. This kind of gives us that opportunity.” The CCJ Innovators program is sponsored by Comdata, Omnitracs and EOX Vantage. https://ift.tt/2ytPsnD Data from Truckstop.com and FTR Transportation Intelligence for the week ending August 27 shows that the refrigerated segment posted its strongest weekly spot volume ever, surpassing a mid-February spike related to extreme winter weather. Daily load data shows a surge in load volume on Friday, suggesting that much of the week's gain likely is tied to the impending landfall of Hurricane Ida on the central Gulf Coast over the weekend and early this week. Refrigerated load postings were roughly three times the five-year average volume for the week and about 73% above the same week last year. Historical patterns would suggest that the current week heading into Labor Day will represent a peak for refrigerated until just before Thanksgiving, but ongoing disruptions in the supply chain and consumer spending could keep at near-record levels. Total load volume continues to outpace seasonal expectations, even in flatbed, which, according to Truckstop.com and FTR, has shifted from declining volume to mostly stable volume in recent weeks. The spot market is not reflecting any notion that the recent rise in the Delta variant is hurting the freight market. However, as noted, stronger demand in the latest week potentially is linked – at least in part – to Hurricane Ida. The increase in total spot rates in the latest week was not especially strong, but it is the first notable gain since late June. Rates technically did rise during the final week of July, but only by a tenth of a cent. Total rates are about 9% lower than the record level posted in May, but they are still 20% higher than the same 2020 week. Dry van rates are about 12% higher year over year, while flatbed rates are up about 21% and refrigerated about 24% higher. With a solid gain in load volume, a decline in truck postings resulted in the Market Demand Index rising to 155.8, which is its highest level since early July. As was the case with volume, the refrigerated MDI was the strongest on record in the latest week, surpassing Week 7 of this year. The dry van MDI was not a record, but it was the strongest since Week 8. The flatbed MDI barely moved at a level that is very strong by historical standards but far below the mid-May record. Load posting volume on Truckstop.com and Outbound Tender Rejections increased from last week, and both metrics remain elevated. Load volumes increased slightly week-over-week as normalization slowly continues. The daily high point for last week was 1,067,000 and there were three days of over one million loads posted (Normal load volumes are 400,000 per day.) Outbound Tender Rejections increased again week-over-week to 22.48 from 21.56 – still significantly elevated against a market normal of 5%. Capacity remained constrained at 37.28 week-over-week. The 5-year average is 93.89 Rates increased 4 cents to $2.95 per mile. Rates have spent 50 weeks above $2.40, and the 5 year average is $2.11. Van rates increased 8 cents to $2.74 and reefer increased 2 cents to $3.35, while flatbed remained flat at $2.90. For-Hire Trucking Index shows uptick in volume, pricing stabilizationThe latest release of ACT Research's For-Hire Trucking Index, which includes July data, reflect an uptick in volumes and pricing moderation, with a still-strong supply-demand balance. ACT Research Vice President and Senior Analyst Tim Denoyer noted the re-acceleration in truck volume is consistent with strong demand for inventory restocking ahead of the holidays, along with network congestion on the railroads. "With tight inventories, strong U.S. consumer balance sheets, improving capex, and infrastructure stimulus in the pipeline, the fundamentals of the freight cycle remain clearly positive," he said. As volume growth reaccelerated, ACT’s For-Hire Pricing Index increased, making July’s reading the second best since the survey’s inception in June of 2009, Denoyer added. "With the driver market still tight, new equipment production still challenged and demand still strong, the recipe is right for record rate increases," he said. "However, driver hiring has begun to improve since the extended unemployment curtailments started in June, and response to higher driver pay rates should lead to more gradual progress.” July’s 67.6 reading reflects tightness in the current freight environment, with capacity remaining constrained and the increase from June primarily due to higher volumes, Denoyer said, adding that Class 8 retail sales – which are constrained by tight inventories and unmet production demand due to parts shortages – means "equipment capacity is behind demand. With some structural driver issues likely to outlast the pandemic and a positive freight demand outlook, we do not expect the market balance to move quickly," he said. https://ift.tt/2ytPsnD The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is extending the COVID-19 emergency declaration, which waives Part 395.3 (maximum driving time) of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for carriers providing emergency relief related to the pandemic. The declaration, which was set to expire Tuesday, Aug. 31, is now effective through Nov. 30. The agency said it decided to extend the declaration because “the presidentially declared emergency remains in place and because, although the number of COVID-19 cases began to decline in the U.S. following widespread introduction of vaccinations, the delta variant and lagging vaccination rates reversed that downward trajectory and have resulted in a rapid rise in infections and hospitalizations around the country.” The hours waiver applies to drivers and carriers providing direct assistance, which means transportation and other relief services related to the immediate restoration of essential services (such as medical care) or essential supplies related to COVID-19 during the emergency. [Related: FMCSA hoping to study the extent of COVID HOS waiver use] The waiver is limited to transportation of:
[Related: COVID hours exemption not valid 'just because you're hauling food'] Direct assistance does not include non-emergency transportation of qualifying commodities or routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of this emergency declaration. To be eligible for the exemption, the transportation must be both of qualifying commodities and related to the immediate restoration of those essential supplies. https://ift.tt/2ytPsnD Navistar on Tuesday launched its fully electric International eMV Series. Available in 217-inch, 236-inch, 254-inch and 272-inch wheelbase, the eMV's battery electric motor provides peak power of more than 335 horsepower – or 250 kilowatts – with continuous power of 215 horsepower (160 kilowatts). The eMV features a 210 kilowatt capacity high voltage battery providing a range of 135 miles on a full charge. The International eMV offers both AC and DC charging capabilities as standard. The recommended Level 2 AC charging station is suitable for overnight charging and provides roughly 19.2 kilowatts of power. The DC Fast Charge station option provides up to 125 kilowatt hours of power. The Fast Charge station also has the capability to provide multiple power options. At its highest kWh input, it can provide a full charge to the eMV in under two hours. For supplemental charging, the eMV is equipped with three levels of regenerative braking, allowing the vehicle to collect kinetic energy from braking and store it in the battery. Batteries are packaged between the frame rails for additional protection and come with a five year or 100,000 mile warranty. A digital instrument cluster includes information on propulsion and regenerative load, state of charge indicator and regenerative braking indicator. International's NEXT eMobility Solutions, working alongside its dealer network, acts as "a complete ecosystem solution that will allow our customers to seamlessly integrate our EVs into their fleets and are confident the eMV will provide an extremely positive total ownership experience," said Gary Horvat, vice president of eMobility. NEXT eMobility Solutions acts as a resource for customers, providing all-inclusive zero emissions education and assistance beginning with buyer consultation and continuing through vehicle end of life. NEXT provides support throughout the entire fleet electrification process including vehicle charging complexities like requirements for proper charging, suitable infrastructure partners, charging installations and collaborations with local power companies to ensure adequate power is available for vehicle charging. The eMV Series is already under production and available for order. https://ift.tt/2ytPsnD With a flatbed load of steel, truck driver John Doe exited a truck stop and headed west on a highway. He flipped his right-turn signal and came to a stop at the next red light. When the traffic light turned green, Doe carefully scanned his mirrors before starting to turn north on a busy two-lane. Hidden from view was a purple sports car with an impatient driver directly behind his trailer. The car driver also wanted to turn right and was determined to not get stuck behind an 18-wheeler with no passing lanes. The driver drove off the road and onto a grassy corner at the intersection. Suddenly, the driver attempted to head off Doe’s truck before he could complete his turn. In an instant the car ran out of space and time, slamming into the side of Doe’s trailer. Was this accident preventable? John Doe contested that he could not have possibly seen the driver coming. The National Safety Council agreed, noting that there was nothing he could have done to avoid being blindsided. https://ift.tt/2ytPsnD What types of learning interactions do you use at your organization? Most interactions observed in the trucking industry are learner-to-content or learner-to-instructor. Did you know that other types of learning interactions can be designed in an online, face-to-face, or blended (a combination of online and face-to-face) learning environment? One example is a learner-to-learner approach called communities of learners (COLs). This is not a new concept, but it has been missing in the trucking industry. The idea of COLs is to empower learners to collectively learn together and build on each other’s knowledge, instead of assimilating knowledge based simply on what they are told. Keith Maisch, the safety manager at America’s Service Line, a fleet of 200 tractors and 350 refrigerated trailers based in Green Bay, Wis, implemented COLs in the spring of 2021. Maisch noted that, historically, there hasn’t been a good way to get drivers together so they could learn from each other. However, technology makes it possible for drivers to interact, teach, and learn from each other while they’re waiting to get loaded or unloaded, or whenever they have the time. The Implementation StrategyOver a two-month period, Maisch implemented COLs as part of an online discussion format where drivers could learn from him and each other on the topics of defensive driving and health and wellness. The drivers went through eNuggets, or short micro-lessons, and then were prompted with divergent questions where drivers could respond to Maisch, respond to each other, or develop an original post. The drivers did not need to be online at the same time to participate. In fact, they could complete their work and go back later to see how drivers responded and comment on their posts. The timeline for each of the two discussions was one month. During the first month, the discussion replaced the traditional safety assessments, and during the second month, drivers had a choice to complete the safety assessments or discussion prompts for their monthly safety training. Through a content analysis, the responses were independently coded to examine the engagement of the drivers and the benefits to the industry. The full research report can be downloaded: A Springboard for Engagement and Retention Using a Community of Learners Approach With America’s Service Line. The ResultsWhen starting the process, Maisch worried that drivers might not post content that was appropriate or relevant to the questions he presented. However, the results were quite the opposite. Overwhelmingly, the drivers posted relevant information about distracted driving (94%, n=171) and health and wellness (100%, n=37). Maisch was surprised that drivers who he thought would give the most pushback actually shared relevant information and actively engaged with each other. It was clear that drivers wanted to share their outside knowledge and give examples from their own lives and experiences. Moreover, the COL approach gave all drivers, male and female, opportunities to connect with each other instead of learning in isolation or passively listening to videos. Of the posts in the defensive driving discussion, 81% (n=133) were posts between drivers or posts where drivers shared original ideas, instead of just interacting with Maisch. Moreover, female drivers (100%, n=5) responded to peers in the health and wellness discussion, sharing suggestions for healthy eating. Literature reviews of online learning discussions have shown that females are motivated to engage in learning communities to communicate and build social connections. More drivers completed the training when there was a choice of how to engage and learn (n=25 vs. n=91). Notifications were not set up to let drivers know that there was training available, but with the COL approach, drivers took the initiative to log in and complete their training. The Benefits for TruckingAmerica’s Service Line's research supports the general documented benefits for educating through a COL, but the approach has wider implications for trucking as noted below: 1. Makes learning relevant by bringing in multiple perspectives. COLs show learners that the knowledge they bring to the learning experience is valued. COLs use real-world experiences to make applications relevant to learners’ immediate lives. 2. Bridges the communication and connection barrier to retain drivers. COLs support the learner’s ability to work, learn, and communicate with others, and have the potential to engage learners during and beyond the formal educational learning experience. At America’s Service Line, Maisch found that over half of the posts involved drivers engaging with other drivers, instead of responding to the instructor or posting their thoughts in isolation. When drivers are actively engaged in the teaching process, they feel like they are an integral part of the company. 3. Helps with retention of knowledge while building a safety culture. Instead of being passive recipients of knowledge, this strategy requires learners to think abstractly and build on existing skills and knowledge structures. Making meaningful connections for learning is necessary for knowledge to enter into long-term memory. Lessons Learned from America’s Service Line1. Communicate expectations. The first step in implementing a COL is to communicate expectations. Do the drivers know how to participate? Do they know why they are participating? 2. Trust the driver. It is important to trust drivers to post appropriate and meaningful responses. They do have a lot of great knowledge to share, and they want to share it. The instructor can coach and redirect misinformation and can even moderate posts if desired or deemed necessary. 3. Provide choice. There is not just one way to learn information. In fact, we know that all adult learners appreciate having a choice on how to learn and also the mediums or ways in which they learn. Give drivers a choice on whether they demonstrate knowledge through discussions or through traditional assessment questions. 4. Build confidence. Not everyone feels confident in their typing skills or spelling abilities. Encourage them by reminding them that they are not being graded on their ability to type or spell. Provide examples of acceptable responses or recognize learners for their responses. 5. Give multiple opportunities to engage. Make this strategy part of an ongoing effort to connect learners to content and to each other. 6. Create an atmosphere of acceptance. Set boundaries and expectations for how the group should treat each other, and be the example. The supervisor/instructor should not dominate the discussion; rather, they should highlight positive interactions and point out exemplary behaviors and posts. Dr. Gina Anderson is the CEO of Luma, an instructional design and learning company. She has studied driver learning behaviors in trucking since 2014 and has published learning strategies for the trucking industry in the book Teaching Without a Teaching Degree: Luma Learning Lessons, which includes 106 different teaching strategies spread out over 52 lessons. https://ift.tt/2ytPsnD Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021: Ida storm fallout will put pressure on fuel pricesThe national average price of on-highway diesel reached $3.34 last week, up a cent-and-a-half from the week before, but is likely to face additional pricing pressure this week as the remnants of Hurricane Ida cut a path across the Southeast. The storm has already left more than a million people in Louisiana and Mississippi without power and likely taken about 13% of U.S. refining capacity offline, according to AAA. There were nine oil refineries in Ida’s path; at least four were believed to have shut down operations ahead of the storm. “Until the power is restored, it’s too early to know the full impact of any damage Ida caused on the oil and gas industry, but motorists regionally can expect price fluctuations leading into Labor Day weekend,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA spokesperson. “Typically, a category 4 storm could mean three plus weeks before refineries are back to normal operations, while offshore production is more likely to resume this week.” As a precautionary measure, Colonial Pipeline announced on Sunday that they shut down two main lines that run from Houston, Texas, to Greensboro, N.C.. The company added that following an infrastructure inspection after the storm, the pipeline would be back to full service. Gas prices nationally, especially in the southeast and east coast, will see minimal impact at the pump if the pipeline is down for a matter of hours versus days. Penske Truck Leasing piloting software to support EV chargingPenske Truck Leasing is working with with Stem, Inc., a developer of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven energy storage services, to pilot its Athena smart energy storage software and operate an advanced battery storage system. The project includes a 350 kilowatt (kW)/800 kilowatt hour (kWh) battery system powered by Stem's Athena at Penske's heavy-duty truck charging positions in Ontario, California. Penske previously collaborated with Stem and other suppliers in designing and implementing the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, noted Penske Vice President of Facilities Sean Yentsch. "We then used Stem's Athena smart energy software to optimize the electricity requirements associated with charging commercial electric trucks," he said. "We've been pleased with the initial results, and we continue to evaluate expanding the use of this AI-driven energy storage system as new charging positions equipped with supplemental battery storage are established." Stem's Athena predicts when the charging site's electricity demand will spike and uses the supplemental stored energy via on-site batteries at optimized times to drive off-peak electricity savings and minimize utility peak demand charges. Since starting the pilot, smart energy storage has driven a 40% decrease in Penske's site peak energy consumption. Stem collaborated with Penske and its other suppliers in project execution, including optimizing energy tariffs, utilizing energy storage to secure funds from California Air Quality Resources (CARB) as well as securing incentives from California's Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). DOE project to feature Kenworth T680Kenworth is participating in an advanced research demonstration project that will add wireless fast charging to Class 8 battery electric vehicles. Wireless charging at a 1-megawatt rate will enable battery electric vehicles in regional haul routes to fully charge the batteries in 30 minutes or less. This program is funded through an $8 million cost-share project funded by the Vehicle Technologies Office of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The project includes Kenworth, WAVE (Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification) and Utah State University. Kenworth will provide a T680 Next Generation battery electric vehicle with a traction motor rated at 420 kW and 560 hp, battery capacity of 660 kWh, and target range of at least 170 miles before requiring a recharge. The T680 Next Gen will operate in a two-shift operation to and from Seattle and Portland, Oregon, with regional deliveries en route combined with local in-city deliveries to exceed 400 miles daily. Kevin Baney, Kenworth general manager and Paccar vice president, said the project offers an opportunity to foster important advancements that extend Class 8 battery electric vehicle range and reduce recharge times. WAVE’s high-power wireless chargers have been used in mass transit applications since 2017. The company is working with power electronics researchers at Utah State University to design a 1-megawatt, wireless inductive charging solution for a designated facility in both Seattle and Portland. Seattle City Light and Portland General Electric will be involved in the respective site installation in their cities. The project expects to complete the installations in 2022. “At the megawatt power levels required by Class 8 EVs, there are significant advantages to eliminating mechanical movement and human contact associated with current charging technologies," said WAVE CEO Michael Masquelier. "The work we are doing with Kenworth and Utah State University will help enable fleet operators to extend the range of heavy-duty EVs, making the industry's zero emission goals more attainable.” https://ift.tt/2ytPsnD Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Aug. 30, 2021: HOS suspended for Hurricane Ida emergency relief haulersThe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Southern and Western Service Centers issued a Regional Emergency Declaration, suspending certain requirements of Part 395 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for certain carriers in six states affected by Hurricane Ida, which made landfall around midday Sunday along the southeastern Louisiana coast as a Category 4 storm. The declaration covers carriers and truck drivers providing direct assistance to the emergency related to Hurricane Ida in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. The declaration exempts these carriers and drivers from 49 CFR Part 395.3, maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles. Carriers transporting supplies, goods, equipment and fuel, or providing other assistance in the form of emergency services during the emergency related to Hurricane Ida, into the affected states can operate under the exemption. The declaration is effective through the end of the emergency, or through Sept. 28, whichever is sooner. Uber Freight trailer pool expands to GeorgiaUber Freight said its affiliate drop and hook trailer pool company, Powerloop, is expanding into Georgia. With Powerloop, drivers can drop off and pick up preloaded trailers to get back on the road faster, enabling more than a 30% reduction in live loading and unloading dwell time, Uber Freight said. Since its inception, the Powerloop carrier base has grown by thousands in Texas and California, operating out of hundreds of Fortune 500 customer facilities. In 2020, the number of loads using Powerloop trailers increased by approximately 40%, while carrier density grew 10x. Today there are more than 7,000 carriers leveraging the Powerloop network. CVSA bringing back in-person training with roadside courseCVSA will resume in-person, industry-only roadside inspection training courses with a week-long training course on driver regulatory roadside inspection requirements and out-of-service conditions Nov. 1-5 in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. This will be the Alliance’s first industry roadside inspection training course since November 2019. The deadline for registration is Friday, Oct. 22. This course includes information on regulatory definitions, intrastate vs. interstate operations, commercial driver’s license and driver qualification requirements, hazardous materials, the updated 2020 U.S. hours-of-service rules, annual and trip inspections on commercial motor vehicles, human trafficking and the DataQ filing process. This course is intended to provide industry with training to better understand the roadside regulatory requirements. The goal of the training is to provide each carrier with the tools and knowledge to achieve compliance with the roadside safety regulations and a better understanding of the relationship between regulatory requirements and out-of-service conditions. ContainerPort Group expands with terminal in New OrleansContainerPort Group will open a new trucking terminal in New Orleans, Louisiana – its 26th terminal overall and third along the Gulf of Mexico. CPG Executive Vice President of Trucking Joey Palmer said the company's existing terminal in Mobile, Alabama, has a few drivers who run to New Orleans, "and with the increased demand for drayage services from our customers, we felt this was the time to find a permanent location near the port.” A brief drive to both the Port of New Orleans and the Norfolk Southern rail ramp, the new terminal features a secured yard on-site for contractors and their parked vehicles. In addition, CPG is backed by an extensive network of independent contractors and is celebrating 50 years in business in the month of September. https://ift.tt/2ytPsnD Technology news briefs for the week of Aug. 29: PrePass now available on Omnitracs OneOmnitracs has made the PrePass application for weigh station bypass available on the Omnitracs One platform. PrePass notifies drivers of upcoming weigh stations on trips, verifies carrier credentials and vehicle weights in advance for drivers to skip inspections. The PrePass Safety Alliance service is currently used by more than 650,000 trucks from more than 77,000 trucking fleets. With the application, trucks are bypassing stations more than 12 times per month, on average. Omnitracs also announced that refrigerated carrier Grand Island Express has selected Omnitracs One to be its unified platform for compliance, routing, driver to back-office communications, and customer support. TextLocate develops instant freight visibility toolStartup company TextLocate has developed a value-priced system that locates shipments using a proprietary text messaging platform. TextLocate allows logistics companies to verify the exact location of shipments by sending a text message to drivers. The technology uses a web application to determine the precise GPS location of freight in transit. This eliminates the need to download a mobile application, the company said. Also, it does not continuously track users’ location or require a software investment. TextLocate is offered in multiple pricing tiers that include a free introductory level. Individuals and businesses can sign up online to start using the tool in minutes. The company is headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn., and was founded in 2021 by logistics technology executive Ryan Rogers who has worked for Amazon, U.S. Xpress and Covenant Logistics. DriverReach sees record 2021 growth from driver recruiting marketThe hot freight market and severe driver shortage has created a boon for technology companies that assist fleets with driver recruiting. DriverReach has seen a 41% growth in customers using its recruiting and retention management software system during the first half of the year. It has also increased monthly revenue by 81%. The company has expanded its full-time headcount by 31% and full-time contractors for sales outreach, development, onboarding, and data tasks. New features added to the company's platform this year include:
CalAmp releases thermo tag for shipment monitoringAsset tracking and visibility provider CalAmp developed a new smart sensor, the iOn Xtreme Temperature Tag, for monitoring the environmental temperatures of assets in conditions as low as -270 and up to 400 degrees Celsius. The temperature range of the smart sensor is ideal for tracking and monitoring shipments of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biological materials and liquid nitrogen, the company said. When affixed to an asset or container, the tag captures proximity location and ambient temperature readings at a user-defined logging rate. It then transmits that data via proprietary Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signal to CalAmp gateway devices. The gateway devices track shipment conditions from the warehouse to the final destination by connecting to the CalAmp Telematics Cloud (CTC) platform. CalAmp partner Overhaul, a supply chain visibility provider, has deployed CalAmp’s new technology in its stack of cold chain tracking systems. U.S. Bank creates Voyager Mastercard productU.S. Bank added a Mastercard payment option to its Voyager Fleet Card. The new U.S. Bank Voyager Mastercard can be used for fleet-related expenses anywhere Voyager or Mastercard are accepted. The U.S. Bank Voyager Fleet Card can be used to pay for fuel, maintenance and other expenses at more than 320,000 locations across the U.S. that use the proprietary Voyager Network. The new card works at any merchant who accepts Mastercard, allowing drivers to use just one card for many fleet-related expenses beyond fuel and maintenance, including emergency travel purchases like tows and hotels. Fleets can tailor spend controls for individual drivers and vehicles. Axele expands cloud-based TMS for small carriersAxele, a cloud-based transportation management system (TMS) for carriers, has added new ELD integrations and expanded its rate confirmation data extraction feature. New companies participating in Axele’s rate confirmation data extraction are Logistics in Vision, Hazen Transfer, FLS Transportation Services, Schneider (CCJ Top 250, No. 7), Covenant Transport Systems (No. 38), Arrive Logistics, Dupré Logistics (No. 114), and FreightSource. Axele has an autofill feature that takes data from rate confirmations and populates new loads to save time and reduce errors. Luma wins ‘Best in Biz’ award for driver trainingLuma Brighter Learning’s online eNugget driver training platform has received the Gold prize from the Best in Biz Awards 2021 for the small or medium business product of the year. Luma provided specific data that demonstrated how clients that use the eNugget LMS improve training completions, reduce costs and driver turnover, and increase overall driver satisfaction and engagement all during a pandemic. Luma has tripled its growth since the start of 2020. Maven Machines appoints chief product officerFleet management and telematics software company Maven Machines appointed Bob Cunningham as chief product officer. As CPO, Cunningham will work closely with company leaders to address customer and partner needs, and lead product department with an emphasis on the user experience. Cunningham joins Maven from Tobii Dynavox, a global provider of eye-tracking enabled and touch-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices for individuals with special needs. Maven has an all-in-one planning and dispatch platform that optimizes routes and automates communication. “The trucking industry certainly isn't new to technology, but much of the technology that’s currently being used doesn't always provide fleets and drivers with the best user experience,” said Cunningham. https://ift.tt/2ytPsnD |
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April 2023
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