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Eating Well on Wheels: Strategies for Healthy Eating During Truck Journeys

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Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Trucking

Eating Well on Wheels: Strategies for Healthy Eating During Truck Journeys

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Introduction

Welcome to the world of trucking, where long hours on the road can make it challenging to maintain a healthy diet. However, with the right strategies and a little planning, you can still enjoy nutritious meals and snacks while on your truck journeys. This article will provide you with practical tips and techniques to eat well on wheels and take care of your overall well-being.

1. Understanding the Challenges of Eating Healthy on the Road

Being on the road for extended periods presents unique challenges when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet. Limited access to fresh and healthy food options, time constraints, and the temptation of fast food are just a few obstacles that truckers often face. It is crucial to acknowledge these challenges and develop strategies to overcome them.

2. Planning Ahead: Preparing Meals and Snacks

One of the most effective ways to eat well on wheels is to plan your meals and snacks in advance. Utilizing convenient tools such as a Cutting Board With A Detachable Tray can make meal preparation more efficient and organized. Dedicate some time before your trip to prepare homemade meals and portion them into containers using the cutting board. Opt for nutrient-rich foods such as lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Additionally, pack healthy snacks like nuts, seeds, and yogurt in the detachable tray to satisfy your hunger between meals.

3. Making Smart Choices at Truck Stops and Rest Areas

When stopping at truck stops and rest areas, it’s essential to make smart choices when selecting your meals. Look for healthier options on the menu, such as grilled chicken, salads, or vegetable-based dishes. Avoid fried and greasy foods that are high in saturated fats and empty calories. Remember to watch your portion sizes and opt for water or unsweetened beverages instead of sugary drinks.

4. Incorporating Exercise into Your Routine

Staying physically active is crucial for your overall well-being while on the road. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine by taking short breaks to stretch, walk, or do simple exercises. Use rest areas as opportunities to move your body and get some fresh air. Additionally, consider investing in compact exercise equipment, such as resistance bands or dumbbells, to use during your breaks.

5. Staying Hydrated: The Importance of Water

Proper hydration is essential for maintaining good health, especially during long drives. Make sure to drink an adequate amount of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, and reduced cognitive function. Carry a reusable water bottle with you and refill it whenever you have the chance.

6. Managing Stress and Mental Well-being

Truck journeys can be mentally taxing due to the long hours and isolation. It’s important to prioritize your mental well-being by managing stress effectively. Find healthy ways to cope with stress, such as listening to music, practicing deep breathing exercises, or engaging in hobbies you enjoy. Stay connected with your loved ones through phone calls or video chats to combat feelings of loneliness.

7. Healthy Eating Tips for Specific Dietary Needs

If you have specific dietary needs or restrictions, it’s crucial to plan your meals accordingly. Whether you follow a vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or any other diet, there are options available to meet your nutritional requirements on the road. Research restaurants and grocery stores along your route that cater to your dietary needs and stock up on suitable food items in advance.

Conclusion

Maintaining a healthy diet during truck journeys is challenging but achievable with the right strategies in place. By planning your meals, making smart choices at truck stops, incorporating exercise, staying hydrated, managing stress, and considering specific dietary needs, you can prioritize your well-being while on the road. Remember, your health is vital, and taking care of yourself is crucial for long-term success in the trucking industry.

 

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Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Trucking

1099 or W-2, What is Better for Truck Drivers?

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There are a lot of differences between a W-2 and 1099 truck driver that should be considered before deciding what’s right for you. The Cliffs Notes version is, W-2 drivers can get paid benefits and have less to worry about come tax season, whereas 1099 drivers can earn a little bit more money because of tax write-offs, and they have more control over how they run and distribute their money. 

Whether someone is classified as a 1099 independent contractor, or a W-2 employee depends on three major categories. 

The first category is the relationship to the company. Are benefits included? Is the job going to be performed for an indefinite amount of time? Is the relationship more permanent or flexible? Next is the behavior. Does the company control what the driver does and what jobs they must carry out? Does the company decide how and when a job must be done? Then finally, the finances are considered. Does the company provide all supplies? Does the company handle all expenses involved? Does the company control if the driver can seek other work in the market?

According to Illinois law, an independent contractor is someone who is free from the control and direction of a company over the performance of their work, performs their work outside of the place of business, and is in an independently established trade, occupation, profession, or business.

As you might have realized at this point, there can be some gray area within these stipulations. It all comes down to how the driving positions are communicated and implemented. 

So, let’s talk about which one might be right for you!

1099 Overview

1099 drivers, known as independent contractors, are essentially business owners who can contract their services to different customers as they please. They are responsible for reporting their own income and payment of Self-Employment taxes. The general recommendation is that 1099 drivers set aside 20-25% of their net income for a quarterly Form 1040-ES tax payment. Because the companies that 1099 contractors work for don’t withhold Social Security or Medicare taxes for them, they are required to pay a self-employment tax of 15.3% if they fall within certain income thresholds.

The two types of 1099 drivers can be owner operators who own a truck, pay for all expenses, and have more authority over the loads they take and where they run. Or Independent company contractors who want to join a specific carrier for an indefinite amount of time, rent the equipment from the company, and have more specific guidelines for when and where to offer their business services.

1099 Negatives

One of the negatives for 1099 drivers is that they don’t get any benefits. They must provide their own health insurance, retirement savings, they don’t get paid vacation time, etc. They will also have deductions from their pay for occupational insurance, a security deposit, and possibly more.

Another issue that 1099 drivers face is the necessity to manage a lot of things on their own. As a business owner, they are required to oversee filing your taxes either on a quarterly or a yearly basis. This can seem daunting and complicated to people who have never done it before. They may also be required to open an LLC or small corporation to ensure they are being classified correctly.

Business owners are always responsible for their own success. As such, there is no company protection given to a 1099 driver. For instance, Payment for a 1099 driver is totally contingent on the value of the services offered. A W-2 employee may get paid $30 an hour no matter what they do, but a 1099 driver will be paid based on factors like the number of miles driven, or the amount of gross that was made on a delivered load.

1099 Benefits

Most people get into trucking for the freedom it offers. 1099 drivers have more flexibility and ownership over how they perform their services. As a business owner they have more authority to choose the contracts they want to run.

In addition to the freedom, 1099 drivers can earn more money than W-2 drivers. They have the opportunity to deduct a significant amount more from their taxes. Per Diem, Qualified Business Income Deduction (QBI is a 20% pass-through deduction based on your income), health insurance premiums, and anything they can list as a business expense can all be listed on top of the Standard Deduction as a 1099 driver. 

Some may be content as a W-2 company driver for the entirety of their driving career but operating as a 1099 independent contractor can help to develop a great business acumen. Being a 1099 driver either as a company contractor, owner operator, or fleet owner, changes the way a driver approaches their career. The opportunities for 1099 drivers are endless. Take it from me, I started as a single 1099 owner operator and now I’m running DVL Express, a company of over 200 drivers, because of what I learned from that experience!

W-2 Overview

W-2 drivers are viewed as company employees. Taxes are taken out each paycheck and the company is responsible for ensuring that the appropriate taxes are taken out before payments are made to drivers. These taxes include federal and state income taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and in some cases even local tax withholdings. Company truck drivers receive a W-2 form in January of every year which reports the compensation paid to the employee, as well as the taxes that were withheld. 

W-2 Negatives

W-2 company drivers have less control over what, where, and when they drive. Forced dispatch may be a trigger word for many, and it’s typically a reality for the W-2 company driver. In addition to this, W-2 employees must trust the government to appropriately manage their money before they receive payment, whereas 1099 drivers have more money in hand per paycheck and more control over how they distribute their own money. 

As mentioned, W-2 employees can’t get a Per Diem tax break or write off expenses like their cell phone bill as a work expense. Therefore, despite the added bonus of a retirement plan and paid time off, W-2 employees are more limited with what they can write off on their taxes, and don’t have as much negotiation power as a 1099 contractor would have.

Hiring W-2 drivers will also cost the employer a lot more because they are responsible for unemployment insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits. It may sound like a good deal for the employee, but as we saw first-hand this year, this structure can lead to trucking companies shutting down in a bad market. It can also lead to less job opportunities within the company, and less room for financial growth as well. Fleet owners are at a much higher risk of financial strain when using a W-2 structure.

W-2 Positives

Company drivers are entitled to any benefits that might be offered by a company. These can include health insurance, 401(k), paid time off, unemployment, etc. For some, these perks are non-negotiable.

Tax season will also be easier for W-2 employees. When filing an income tax return, the IRS and state will determine if the taxes paid on every paycheck were the right amount and issue a refund or demand that the employee pay any taxes that may still be owed. W-2 employees are responsible for 50% of Medicare and Social Security taxes and these taxes are taken out automatically.

W-2 employees have more legal rights than an independent contractor would have. For instance, states like Illinois offer protection for drivers to ensure they are paid according to the contractual agreement. In California, company drivers are ensured the rights of a fair wage, a safe work environment, redundancy payments, and more.

Overall, there are pros and cons for the employer and the employee in both 1099 and W-2 scenarios. It’s wise to understand the intricacies of both sides and then choose according to what you believe is best for your situation in life. Is more control of your money and how you perform your job important to you? Then 1099 is a great route. Do you want benefits and less to manage? Then W-2 is a better choice for you.

 

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Sygic Partners with Samsara to Enable GPS Navigation Solutions on the Connected Operations Cloud

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Sygic, a global leader in navigation solutions, announced today an integration with Samsara, the pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud, to optimize fleet operations and enhance the driver experience.

Samsara is uniquely positioned to transform the world of physical operations. Using the Connected Operations Cloud, tens of thousands of customers can visualize their physical operations in real-time on one integrated platform. The Samsara Driver App allows fleets to streamline the driver experience with features designed to maintain compliance, optimize dispatching, and boost productivity.

Customers can now launch Sygic Professional GPS Navigation routes directly from the Samsara Driver App with this integration. It provides a seamless user experience and ensures drivers make it safely and efficiently to their destinations with turn-by-turn navigation solely on routes compliant with the vehicle and its cargo.


 

Along with routing based on specifics, such as height, weight, the number of axles, and other vehicle parameters, the Sygic Professional GPS Navigation solution also respects emission zones and HAZMAT restrictions. Map data is stored locally on the device, so drivers can always depend on the navigation, even in areas with weak or no connection. Additional features, such as lane assistance, live traffic, disabled left turns, and more, help protect drivers and avoid risky situations on the road.

“We are thrilled to have our Sygic solution listed on the Samsara App Marketplace. This integration enables customers to launch Sygic routes with a single touch via the Samsara Driver App. This brings fleet dispatchers peace of mind and confidence when planning their transportation schedules – knowing they can rely on market-leading features already trusted by over 3,000 fleets and 3 million drivers,” said Miroslav Remecky, Chief Commercial Officer at Sygic.

“As digital workflows and mobile technologies become increasingly important for drivers on the road, it’s critical to ensure intuitive tools to do their work safely and efficiently,” explained Chris Mozzocchi, Senior Director of Product Management, Product, and Ecosystem Integrations at Samsara. “We’re excited to be partnering with Sygic to provide the best possible driver experience for our customers and enable them to make the most of their mobile applications.”

Sygic Professional GPS Navigation is available on the Samsara App Marketplace at: www.samsara.com/resources/marketplace/sygic/

__________________________________________________________________

ABOUT SYGIC

Founded in Bratislava, Slovakia, in 2004, Sygic is a Deloitte Fast 50 Company and, in 2012, was added to Deloitte’s Fast 500 EMEA listing. In 2009, Sygic produced the first-ever turn-by-turn navigation app for the iPhone. The company was the first offline navigation vendor supporting Apple CarPlay Connectivity and Google’s Android Auto. Sygic GPS Navigation as the most popular Sygic app has reached over 200 million downloads worldwide. The real-time Traffic Lights add-on for Sygic GPS Navigation has been awarded by the jury of leading technology experts as a top CES 2020 innovation.

The company is a member of the CharIN Association advocating for one universal charging standard – Combined Charging System (CCS) – and the leader in the electric mobility segment. Thanks to Electric Vehicle mode in Sygic GPS Navigation and other solutions, Sygic was honoured by a Global Champion Award 2021 for its contribution to a sustainable and innovation-driven emerging Europe.
Sygic’s solutions are navigating more than three million professional drivers and 2,000 fleets globally. The majority shareholder of Sygic is W. A. G. Payment solutions (known as Eurowag), which is one of the fastest-growing integrated payments and mobility platforms in Europe.

ABOUT SAMSARA

Samsara is the pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud, which allows businesses that depend on physical operations to harness IoT (Internet of Things) data to develop actionable business insights and improve their operations. Samsara operates in North America and Europe and serves tens of thousands of customers across various industries, including transportation, wholesale and retail trade, construction, field services, logistics, utilities and energy, government, healthcare and education, manufacturing, and food and beverage. The company’s mission is to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy.

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Creating an Employee Care Package for Trucking Employees

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Trucking professionals are indispensable global workforce members. Goods wouldn’t reach their destinations without them, leaving consumers everywhere seeing nothing but empty shelves at their favorite stores.

However, sometimes, these hard-working people who spend much of their time on the road can forget how much they’re needed and appreciated. That reality opens an excellent opportunity for their employers to make care packages for their team members. Here are some great gifts to consider for anyone in the trucking industry.

Seat Cushions

Being a professional truck driver means spending a lot of time seated. More specifically, federal trucking limits in the United States stipulate that a person can drive for a maximum of 14 consecutive hours before going into a mandated 10-hour off-duty period.

Being in the same position for so many hours at a time can cause a person to develop pressure points. However, specialized seat cushions can help drivers stay comfortable while they’re behind the wheel. Some seat cushions for truckers provide extra lumbar support. That makes them ideal for people who already deal with back discomfort or want to avoid developing it as a consequence of the job. However, others don’t have built-in backrests.

Many options also exist concerning what provides the necessary support to the user. Some are inflatable, but there are also memory foam and gel-filled possibilities. Choosing the outer material for the cushion is also important. Buyers should keep comfort and user-friendliness in mind by considering things like whether the fabric is extra soft, has moisture-wicking capabilities or a washable cover.

Anti-Sleep Alert Products

Even drivers who do everything they can to stay well-rested will inevitably have some instances where they start to feel sleepy. Unfortunately, if a person experiencing that doesn’t act in time, the sleepiness could result in disastrous consequences.

Data from the U.S.National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicated there were 697 fatalities caused by crashes associated with drowsy driving in 2019. Avoiding such accidents starts with encouraging drivers to take rest breaks when they start to feel tired. However, people don’t always know how tired they are until they begin nodding off.

That’s why people should consider adding an anti-sleep alarm to a care package for trucking team members. These small and lightweight accessories attach to various parts of the body, including the hands, behind the ear and the neck. They detect signs that people are getting tired, then emit audible warnings.

After hearing them, drivers would realize it’s time to pull over and take steps that’ll help them become more alert. However, feeling permitted to stop when necessary has a lot to do with the company culture. If a driver feels they will receive negative repercussions for resting when they truly need a break, some may try to push themselves too far.

Branded Coffee Mugs

When truck drivers need perking up during a long shift, coffee is usually one of the most accessible ways to get it. That’s why a coffee mug is a thoughtful item for a trucking care package. Statistics show that 62% of adults in the United States drink coffee daily.

However, the people giving these products to team members should go beyond picking a standard type sold in many online and physical stores. It’s ideal if the mug’s design features the employer’s name, logo, contact details and other specifics. Having an accessory like that helps a person take pride in where they work while appreciating the practicality of the present.

A branded coffee mug could also be an excellent recruitment tool. Truck drivers typically make from $50,000-$100,000 annually depending on experience and the nature of their duties. Those that your team member encounters at truck stops, hotels or otherwise along a route may be interested in working for a new company for various reasons.

A branded coffee mug is a smart way to promote a trucking company to others. It could all happen naturally while the recipient drinks their cup of joe while on a break. It’s also a good gift for people who aren’t coffee drinkers. After all, a person could use it for tea or even water. Staying hydrated is an essential part of remaining healthy while on the road.

Organizational Gifts

A truck is the driver’s home while they’re on the road. A clean desk can help office workers stay productive, and the same is true for a person who spends their time behind the wheel for work. Many professional truckers get creative with their methods. For example, Velcro strips are handy for attaching hard products, like boxes, to flat surfaces. However, there are also plenty of purposeful gifts that can help a trucker achieve an organizational level that helps them feel more comfortable and less stressed.

Many of them help people make the most of available space, such as by featuring designs that let storage containers hang over the back of a seat. A hanging toiletry bag is also a useful gift to include in a trucking care package, especially since so many professionals spend days on the road at a time. People choosing these gifts should also think about whether the budget might allow for getting an organizer monogrammed or adding another type of personalization.

It’s not always easy to know which challenges people encounter most while trying to get their trucks organized. Similarly, it may not be feasible to buy different products for each care package recipient depending on their needs. An alternative is to take a survey and find out what kinds of products would help recipients best stay organized. Then, purchase the items of most benefit to the largest number of truckers at the company.

12-Volt Coolers

Trying to have fast-food for every meal as a trucker likely isn’t sustainable from a financial point of view, and it’s not an ideal option for long-term health. That’s why many truckers prepare meals before going out on the road. After that, they need somewhere to keep them until it’s time to eat.

That’s why a 12-volt cooler is another fantastic addition to a care package for trucking professionals. Then, people can keep food cold without ice by plugging these gadgets into the truck’s cigarette lighter.

Some coolers even have settings that allow people to keep food hot, too. Others have extra-long cords that give people more flexibility in where they place the cooler inside the truck.

As people browse for coolers to give truckers, they’ll get the best results by trying to envision themselves in the position of the recipients. Some of the administrative members at a trucking company may never spend the hours driving per day that the professional drivers do. However, imagining the features or design choices that users would find most valuable will increase the chances that recipients genuinely love their coolers and use them during all their trips.

Delight Trucking Professionals With These Ideas

The suggestions here will get people off to a good start as they shop for items to put into a trucking employee care package. When these professionals get reminders of how they’re valued members of the workforce, they’re more likely to have higher morale, which could cause associated benefits, such as better productivity and safer driving.

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8 Commonly Overlooked Maintenance Tasks in Modern Truck Fleets

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Maintenance is a crucial part of managing any fleet. Professionals know this going into the industry, and regular repair schedules are a standard part of most fleets’ operations, but many may not be thorough enough.

While most fleet managers understand the importance of changing their oil and rotating their tires, other maintenance tasks go overlooked. Here are eight commonly overlooked processes that should have a spot in every maintenance checklist.

1. Checking Brake Pads

Checking brake pads to ensure they have proper thickness is a standard part of many maintenance checks. However, commercial fleets often don’t check them frequently enough.

Since long-haul trucks are 20 to 30 times heavier than average passenger vehicles, they require far more force to stop. As a result, their brake pads wear out faster than even large consumer vehicles, requiring more frequent replacements. Many brake pads can also be difficult to see on a vehicle with multiple axles, so it’s easy to skim over this process.

Commercial fleet repair professionals frequently see truck brakes worn down to the brake caliper. Considering how much costlier caliper replacements are compared to brake pads, fleets should check their brakes more often.

2. Battery Testing

Another maintenance task that often goes overlooked in commercial fleets is battery testing. While most maintenance stops include checking to ensure electronic components are working correctly, they don’t check the battery itself. This is insufficient, as there are often no external warning signs of battery life draining until it’s entirely dead.

While truck batteries last several years, long-haul shipments can take their toll on this equipment faster than some may expect. For example, vibrations break down internal battery components, so traveling over miles of roads in poor condition will deteriorate batteries. To avoid any unplanned downtime, every maintenance check should involve testing batteries and, if necessary, replacing them.

3. Considering Idle Time

Any fleet manager or driver knows the importance of changing their trucks’ oil. However, many fleets may take too long to check and change their oil because they don’t consider truck idling time.

While newer vehicles can go 7,500 to 10,000 miles between oil changes, driving isn’t the only thing that works the engine. Spending a significant amount of time idling, as most commercial trucks do, also wears out the engine and its oil. Despite this degradation, many fleets overlook it because they go by what the odometer says, which doesn’t account for idling.

To account for idle time, fleets should change their oil more frequently than they would normally. Frequent checks can help determine when oil changes should happen. Internet of things (IoT) sensors can provide even more insight, alerting drivers and managers when to change their oil.

4. Preventing Corrosion on Underride Guards

Another maintenance task that’s easy to overlook is checking for rust on underride prevention guards. Since these parts don’t actively affect a truck’s performance, they often don’t come to mind when inspecting components for corrosion. Despite that, enough corrosion could make them weak, ultimately not preventing underride accidents if a crash occurs.

Workers should always inspect underride guards closely to ensure they’re not corroding, including looking at their underside and back. If there’s some rust, workers can use a biodegradable, non-acid-based rust remover. Acid removers can be expensive and cause disposal problems, so it’s best to avoid them.

5. Refrigerated Trailer Maintenance

Fleets that use refrigerated trailers should also be careful not to overlook their refrigeration systems. If these trailers start to fail, they could lead to spoiled products, costing companies thousands and costing fleets their reputations. This maintenance can also be easy to forget about since refrigerated trailers carry unique concerns that may not be immediately apparent.

Moisture can break down insulating materials faster than normal, so teams must check for leaks and moisture inside the trailer. Similarly, they should look for any punctures or tears in the walls and ensure the trailer doors seal properly. IoT temperature sensors can help inform these inspections, alerting workers of irregular fluctuations or rising internal temperatures.

6. Testing Collision Sensors

Many newer trucks come with sensors to detect potential collisions and keep drivers aware of their surroundings. Things like automatic braking and lane departure warning have significantly reduced collisions, so they’re becoming increasingly popular. As drivers rely more heavily on these systems, fleets must ensure they work properly.

The sensors themselves are the most important part to check with these systems. If they get dirty, misaligned or broken, they may not detect what they’re supposed to accurately, potentially leading to crashes. Consequently, every maintenance stop should include checking these sensors to ensure they’re safe.

Cleaning sensors and cameras will help them achieve maximum accuracy. Workers can also pull diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) from the truck’s onboard computer to see if there are any issues.

7. Looking for Leaks in Fluid Hoses

Most maintenance stops involve checking all of a vehicle’s fluids. Part of that inspection that may go overlooked is checking the fluid hoses, not just the reservoirs. A truck may have plenty of coolant, wiper fluid, oil or other fluids, but a dipstick test may not reveal smaller leaks in the hoses that could cause problems down the line.

Fluid checks should go beyond measuring levels with a dipstick. Even if these tests reveal a reservoir is full, maintenance workers should check under the truck to see if any hoses have leaks. If they do, they should replace them immediately, as even a small leak could cause substantial problems after a long drive.

8. Downloading Software Updates

Today’s trucks are technological marvels featuring a wide array of digital technologies. Since this abundance of technology is a relatively new trend, many fleets forget that proper maintenance now includes some IT considerations. More specifically, fleets must ensure all of their trucks’ onboard software is up-to-date.

Some devices may have an option to automatically download updates, which fleets should enable. If that’s not available, drivers should regularly check for updates and download them as soon as they’re available. If one driver notices a new update, they should inform the whole fleet to everyone can ensure their trucks feature the latest software.

Since 86% of commercial fleets today use telematics, they should apply this to these devices as well. Any IoT devices need regular software updates to stay safe from cybercrime and reach optimal performance.

Don’t Overlook These Maintenance Steps

Maintenance is one of the most important parts of running a fleet. While these eight steps are not the only parts of a sufficient maintenance stop, many fleet managers overlook them, leading to unnecessarily high costs and risks. Incorporating these tasks into maintenance schedules will keep fleets efficient and safe.

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Reducing Incidents of Impaired Driving in the Trucking Industry

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Trucking can be a dangerous profession, and impaired driving makes it needlessly more so. Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs are a danger in any vehicle, but especially in a 17-ton semi-truck. Fleet managers must reduce impaired driving incidents in their fleets in light of this danger.

No fleet manager would argue against the need to eliminate impaired driving incidents. However, the path toward that goal can be less clear. The dangers are immediately evident, but it can be harder to determine which remediation strategies are most effective.

The State of Impaired Driving in Trucking

Thankfully, drunk driving incidents are far less common in truck drivers than among ordinary passenger vehicles. While 20.6% of drivers in passenger cars involved in fatal crashes were above the legal limit in 2017, just 2.5% of truck drivers were. However, that figure rises to 3.6% when considering truck drivers who had alcohol in their system but weren’t above the legal limit.

Drug use is a more common factor in impaired driving among truck drivers. Over-the-counter medication accounted for 17% of fatal and injury crashes among commercial drivers. While many of these medicines aren’t inherently dangerous, they may make drivers drowsy or unattentive, putting them at risk.

Impaired driving may not be a frequent issue for fleets, but considering how dangerous it is, just one incident is one too many. With that in mind, here are five ways fleet managers can reduce these incidents.

Implement Strict Policies

One of the most effective methods is also one of the most straightforward. Stricter impaired driving policies discourage these incidents, as heavier consequences provide more motivation to avoid unsafe behavior. Drunk driving laws reflect this, as DUI fatalities have trended downward as regulations have become stricter.

Fleet managers can apply this concept by establishing harsher penalties for incidents surrounding impaired driving. Ideally, these policies should be tighter than local laws, imposing sanctions for lower blood alcohol content (BAC) levels. Actions that break the law should result in termination, and smaller offenses should still carry consequences like temporary suspensions.

It’s also important to formalize these policies and communicate them early and often. The more drivers are aware of these actions and their penalties, the less likely they will engage in them. Management should also enforce these rules evenly to solidify their stance on their gravity.

Install Ignition Interlocks

Technology can also be a helpful resource in reducing impaired driving incidents. The most useful technology fleets can use is ignition interlocks, which require drivers to pass a BAC test to start their engines. Studies show that programs reduce repeat drunk driving offenses by 50% to 90% after installing these devices.

Ignition interlocks can take several forms, too. Some use traditional BAC tests that drivers blow into, and these may provide the most accurate readings. Other systems use passive sensors that detect alcohol vapors in the air. These are less disruptive but may not be as precise.

Fleet managers should also use ignition interlocks to measure data and track trends related to impaired driving. Even if someone is below the legal limit and can thus drive, their readings can show trends in alcohol consumption. Managers can then notice when a driver may be at risk and take appropriate intervention steps.

Monitor Impairment Risk in Hiring

Fleet operators can also reduce impaired driving by looking for risk signals in the hiring process. Hiring managers should perform background checks to look for any past impaired driving incidents. This should apply to more than just DUIs, including crashes where alcohol was present but below legal limits.

Past driving behavior is often a reliable indicator of how someone will act in the future. One study found that 20.7% of truck drivers involved in fatal crashes had a record of previous accidents. Past incidents of drug and alcohol use could likewise make an applicant more at-risk of driving while impaired.

Hiring managers should ask applicants about their history if any crash or substance abuse-related records come up. Some drivers may have made substantial strides and improved from past mistakes. Where fleets draw the line is up to the individual company’s discretion and ability to accept risk.

Improve Education

It can also help to ensure employees understand the risks of impaired driving. Drivers are likely already aware that they shouldn’t drive drunk but may feel like having a few drinks before driving isn’t a big deal. Fleet managers should educate drivers on how dangerous this can be to encourage safer behavior.

These sessions should focus on the less obvious factors, such as over-the-counter medications causing drowsiness. Point to figures like how BAC levels as low as 0.015% can impair hand-eye coordination by 20%. It may also help to stress how these factors impact the drivers’ personal safety to make it more resonant.

These training sessions should occur during onboarding and at regular intervals after. Educating employees and offering the latest facts and statistics at least once annually can help them retain this information. When they better understand the risks, they’ll be less likely to engage in dangerous behavior.

Minimize Related Risk Factors

Fleet managers can avoid impaired driving incidents by preventing situations that lead to them. Most drivers probably won’t drink on the job, but some circumstances could change that.

Professional drivers are especially vulnerable to having mental health issues like stress. This could lead them to drink or take medication when they otherwise wouldn’t, leading to impaired driving. Fleet managers can mitigate this risk by reducing on-the-job stress.

Improved route planning can help by making drivers feel less rushed, and keeping them informed of any changes has similar effects. Flexible schedules can also reduce stress by making it easier to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Fleet managers could also survey their drivers to see what would help them feel less strained, reducing the risk of impaired driving.

Reducing Impaired Driving Is a Must for Fleet Managers

Impaired driving may seem like a straightforward issue at first, but it can be multifaceted. Likewise, multiple prevention strategies should be used to attain the greatest risk reduction.

Fleet managers that employ these five steps can create safer operations for their drivers and others on the road. They can then prevent injury, ensure timely deliveries and avoid hefty legal consequences.

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Leveraging GPS Tracking for Automated Fleet Maintenance

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Maintenance is one of the most important parts of fleet management. A good maintenance strategy can help a business cut repair costs, improve fuel efficiency, and eliminate vehicle downtime.

Scheduling vehicle maintenance can be difficult, however, especially for businesses that don’t know exactly where their fleet vehicles are.

GPS tracking technology is one of the best tools that fleet managers can use to streamline maintenance — or even completely automate it.

Why Businesses Use GPS Tracking for Fleet Management

GPS tracking is a fleet tracking strategy that uses networked GPS systems to provide managers with the real-time location of each vehicle in the fleet. Location data is often used to streamline scheduling and routing, allowing administrators to make more informed decisions when they need to dispatch a vehicle or schedule a new job.

GPS data may also enable a system to track driver behavior, including unnecessary idling, speeding, and harsh braking events. This information can be provided to fleet managers and dispatchers, as well as passed on directly to drivers.

Fleet managers and dispatchers can use the information to improve their decision-making while drivers can learn more about their own habits and practices — allowing them to identify potential areas of improvement.

These tools are popular among businesses in parts of the country where idling laws may mean hefty fines for businesses that allow drivers to leave vehicles idling. They are also frequently used by businesses that want to track and reduce dangerous driving habits that can harm vehicle health, reduce fuel economy, and make drivers less safe.

The benefits of a GPS tracking system can vary from business to business, but most will see noticeable improvements to vehicle fuel efficiency, overall driving hours, driver behavior, compliance, and safety.

Many GPS tracking systems are also part of a larger telematics system that can provide managers with even more fleet data. These systems may also include dashboards and data visualization tools that help fleet managers better understand the data they’ve collected.

With the right solution, it can be much easier to predict fleet expenses and implement new business policies that help improve fleet performance.

Automating Maintenance With GPS Tracking

The most effective maintenance strategies are preventive. Long before small problems with a vehicle become serious issues, the business takes action to keep the vehicle in the best operating condition possible.

For example, a business may hire a mechanic to regularly inspect brakes, check oil levels, change filters, or check tire tread. These simple checks allow businesses to prevent most common vehicle issues, like brake failure, frequently seen in vehicles like semi-trucks or tractor-trailers when they’re not properly maintained.

The simplest maintenance tasks aren’t usually expensive or time-consuming, and they can help keep vehicles on the road while providing other benefits — like better fuel economy and a lower risk of breaking down.

Preventive maintenance can be hard to implement, however — especially for businesses that have relied on a reactive maintenance strategy in the past.

The time and money needed for preventive maintenance are usually repaid over time, as maintenance reduces the need for repairs or the frequency of breakdowns. Typically, preventive maintenance only becomes challenging when a business doesn’t have enough information on its vehicles, drivers, or maintenance providers.

This information could be a shipping estimate on essential replacement parts, a mechanic’s availability, or the current status of fleet vehicles.

Without the right information, fleet managers can struggle to coordinate the different parts of a preventive maintenance strategy — like the business’s mechanics, tools, replacement components, or the vehicles themselves.

How GPS Tracking Makes Maintenance Automation Possible

GPS tracking provides a valuable source of information on fleet vehicles’ location and driving conditions. The system is continuously updating managers on the position of each vehicle and how drivers are operating those vehicles.

With a GPS tracking solution, it’s typically possible to create automatic maintenance alerts that instantly notify managers when maintenance is needed.

These maintenance alerts are customizable, meaning managers can configure them to appear after a certain number of hours have passed, or when a vehicle passes a number of miles driven.

Many of these solutions also track how employees are driving their vehicles, allowing managers to draw connections between driver behaviors, maintenance costs, and specific repairs.

This data can help managers identify behaviors that harm vehicle health the most, allowing them to track driver behavior and maximize vehicle lifespan while minimizing maintenance costs.

A more advanced system could also provide additional benefits — for example, by automatically scheduling maintenance when it’s needed. Using information from the GPS trackers, the system could automatically schedule maintenance and generate a route to the maintenance garage based on the vehicle’s current location, the driver’s job status, and the distance to nearby maintenance locations.

Over time, information from GPS tracking systems can also help managers understand their fleet’s schedule. With this data, managers can know exactly when business tends to be slow or when specific vehicles are available, allowing them to schedule maintenance in a way that won’t disrupt work.

They may also be able to provide better availability estimates to customers and help their team dispatch vehicles more effectively.

For businesses that have struggled with creating driver schedules or meeting client needs, these tools could help them create better schedules for their team, making it easier to dispatch drivers and complete jobs.

Integrating GPS With Other Maintenance Automation Tools

Fleet managers that benefit from using GPS to automate fleet maintenance will probably also benefit from many of the other fleet maintenance automation tools available.

Many of these tools are built with technology like GPS tracking in mind, meaning they may integrate easily with existing GPS tracking solutions or be able to utilize the real-time data these solutions provide.

For example, a comprehensive telematics and maintenance automation system may be able to provide managers with automatic alerts based on both miles driven and data collected by vehicle components — like tire pressure sensors, brake system sensors, and the engine control unit.

Using GPS to Improve and Automate Fleet Maintenance

An automated preventive maintenance strategy can help any business keep its fleet on the road. Implementing preventive maintenance without the right information may be difficult, however.

GPS tracking systems provide real-time updates on fleet vehicle locations that managers can use to make preventive maintenance much more practical. These tools can also help managers identify reckless driving or bad habits, like idling.

Combined with other maintenance and telematics solutions, GPS tracking can also help make automating maintenance much easier. The right solution can provide automatic notices when a vehicle hits a major milestone or number of hours driven.

freight
Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Trucking

6 Tips On How To Properly Manage Your Commercial Freight

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Freight transportation is crucial to the success and growth of many businesses. In fact, it can be said that without it, many companies simply would not exist. But with all of the advantages freight has to offer, there are often many reasons why businesses fail to use this valuable resource. Here are some tips on properly managing your commercial freight business to attract more customers and increase your revenue.

The Role Of Freight In World Economies

Freight is the transportation of goods and materials from one location to another. It involves logistics, which is the management of products in a supply chain. Freight also includes customs and border crossings when items are exchanged between countries. Without freight, countries would not be able to trade with each other. However, the fact remains that even on a regional basis, freight is necessary to maintain a smooth economy and satisfy the ever-increasing demand of consumers. With the rapid expansion of online commerce over the past five years, freight has become increasingly important in all of its forms. So what are some things that you can do to ensure that you are getting your share of the business?

Maintain Your Vehicles Properly

The importance of keeping delivery vehicles in good condition cannot be understated. They are arguably one of your most significant initial expenses, and by neglecting their maintenance, you could end up with substantial repair bills and lost income due to immobile trucks. This will ensure the safety of the drivers and passengers, as well as the cargo. Furthermore, it will reduce the cost of your truck repairs and maintenance to an acceptable level. It’s a well-known fact that the best way to avoid problems is to confront them before they happen. This is true with vehicle maintenance, as well.

Utilizing a proactive approach can help you avoid expensive and time-consuming repairs that may be necessary after the damage has already been done. To that end, it could be worthwhile setting up a garage in your depot staffed with mechanics capable of performing the relevant repair as quickly as possible to ensure little downtime. A great option is to teach your drivers to perform basic checks before setting out in your vehicles. The training should be done with a combination of videos and demonstrations. Videos would show the driver how to check all required items, while demonstrations would show them what to look for and how to do it.

Hire The Best Drivers

In order to be successful in the freight business, you need to find and hire the best drivers. This is because they are the people that will get your goods from one place to another safely and on time while also complying with all state and federal regulations. One of the factors that you will need to consider when hiring a driver is their past driving history. When you do this, you can better understand how they may perform on your trucking routes. A driver who has experience on routes near yours is much more likely to succeed than one who has no experience in your area. Another critical factor is the amount of time they have been driving for companies like yours. In addition, veteran drivers are likely to be much more skilled than those new to the industry, but you can also expect to pay more.

Invest In Technology

Technology is a powerful tool that can be used to make the freight industry more efficient. It has allowed for the automation of many processes and will continue to do so in the future. Freight companies need to keep track of their inventories and customers’ orders. This means they need a comprehensive yet straightforward system. A freight management software can manage all the inventory and shipment data. It will be able to show companies where their inventory is and what quantity is needed for future orders. The customer-facing website can provide information about returned merchandise, shipping status, and tracking numbers. It will also handle the process for initiating exchanges or returns and providing downloadable packing slips and invoices.

Ensure You Are In Compliance With All Applicable Laws

Compliance with laws and regulations is one of the most critical factors when operating a freight business. It ensures that the business is not in violation of any safety, environmental, or other regulations. A freight company needs to be compliant with the law to maintain its license and stay in business. You should make a conscious effort to stay up to date with any changes in regulation that might occur.

Cover Your Business With The Right Insurance

One of the most important aspects of running a successful freight business is getting the right insurance. Without it, your business can suffer, and you may not recover from the financial repercussions. Your freight company needs to get insurance for its trucks that operate on public roads. You also need commercial automobile coverage for your business use of the truck’s cargo space and liability coverage for any problems that may arise. Plus, if you are shipping hazardous materials, you’ll need additional protection in case of an accident. It’s essential to get all levels of insurance because, without them, your company could be in serious trouble should accidents happen or something goes wrong while transporting cargo.

Manage Fuel Consumption

Fuel consumption is an essential factor when it comes to running a profitable fleet. Fuel efficiency can be decreased by driving too fast, using the wrong type of fuel, and driving with worn-out tires. Plus, if they are not adequately maintained, vehicles will lose their fuel efficiency. Most of this will ultimately come down to driver training and informing them of how you expect them to drive. Some other tips you can follow to decrease consumption include:

-Use a fuel management system

-If your drivers can save more, reward them

-Check the tachograph for speeding infractions

-Optimize routes to make them as efficient as possible

If you want to maximize your ROI, it is imperative that you know how to manage your commercial freight business properly. This can involve ensuring that your fleet is constantly maintained and that your drivers are fully trained, among other things.

hauliers
Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Trucking

How Can Hauliers Cope With an Even Higher Demand This Christmas?

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The Christmas rush is something hauliers anticipate every year. But it’s going to be felt more acutely this year with the additional pressures of a driver shortage and Brexit affecting the supply of some goods.

The haulage sector is set to experience its busiest Christmas period on record. On top of the usual increase in demands, there’s the perfect storm of the HGV driver shortage and supply chains impacted by Brexit and COVID. By focusing on increasing efficiency and reducing empty running, hauliers can meet these higher demands and ensure their customers receive the highest level of service.

This means hauliers will need to be even more efficient and prepared in order to meet the demands of businesses and consumers this Christmas.

Here, we cover how hauliers can cope with arguably the most demanding Christmas we’ve ever experienced.

Make planning more efficient

Efficient planning is paramount to success for all hauliers, but never has it been more important than right now. A Logistics UK survey revealed that 96% of hauliers are struggling to recruit drivers, with 13% saying their shortage is severe to very severe. To meet high demands with a potentially depleted workforce, hauliers need to get the most out of their available resources.

That’s where route planning software comes in. By feeding in all the collections and deliveries you need to make, and your vehicle and driver availability, you’ll be able to plan the most efficient routes and get the most out of your fleet.

With these solutions, you’ll have one view of your business supported by real-time information. Your planners can then make informed decisions. In the hectic traffic rush leading up to Christmas, it’s critical you can identify and manage exceptions as deliveries progress because it’s undoubtedly the busiest period on the road.

Eliminate empty running

When you have a larger-than-usual task on your hands to keep up with demand this Christmas, running empty seems even more wasteful than usual. Yet, for many hauliers, this is the case on their return journeys. If your drivers travel back empty from Glasgow to Plymouth on their return journey, for instance, that’s a lot of wasted mileage.

Using a freight exchange platform gives hauliers the opportunity to not only make the most of their journeys but also serve more customers in a time of increased demands. This can help optimize fleets in the short term and also enables hauliers to expand their network to connect with new shippers. Haulage companies with loyal customers but limited resources have the opportunity to subcontract their excess work on these platforms, meaning they can still take on additional haulage loads and get customers’ jobs done.

Allow your drivers to do more in their workday

The changes to drivers’ hours, which means drivers can work up to 11 hours a day twice a week, has been extended once again to January. But we know that making already overworked drivers work longer hours isn’t the solution, especially when many of the drivers who’ve left the sector have done so due to poor working conditions.

Giving your drivers the tools they need to achieve more in their workday is a much better solution. Not only will this allow your business to be more efficient, but you’ll also improve their satisfaction by making their jobs easier. Let’s face it, dealing with paper proof of deliveries is difficult to manage and adds time to their day.

It’s these inefficient processes that can frustrate drivers, cause delays, and even result in them finishing their day later than expected. It’s no wonder that drivers are leaving businesses that aren’t addressing this problem. Using digital tools like electronic proof of delivery and apps that provide real-time details of their deliveries allows them to focus on the job and get more done in their day.

Maintenance Inspections
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What New Fleet Managers Can Expect From Maintenance Inspections

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Managing a fleet can be a fulfilling experience, but it also includes a lot of responsibility. New managers must understand and anticipate these responsibilities so that they can operate legally, safely and efficiently.

One of the many considerations new fleet managers must keep in mind is the need for regular maintenance inspections. While anyone in the industry understands that regular maintenance is important, the specifics may be less clear.

With that in mind, here’s what new managers should expect in this area.

Why are Maintenance Inspections Necessary?

First, it’s important to understand that regular maintenance checks aren’t just recommended but mandatory. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all motor carriers to regularly inspect, repair and maintain all of their vehicles. Failure to do so can result in hefty fines and other legal damages.

Apart from the legality of the situation, these inspections can help fleet managers minimize operating costs. Failing to inspect some components can lead to costly repairs and replacements, so it’s best to catch any potential issues early when repairs are more straightforward.

These inspections are also a critical part of vehicle safety. Without them, drivers may unknowingly be putting themselves and others at risk, as equipment failures can cause accidents.

How Often Do You Need Maintenance Inspections?

Fleet managers should also know how often to perform these inspections to optimize their schedules. Since every vehicle carries unique maintenance needs, the FMCSA leaves some room for interpretation in this area. Fleets must perform inspections at least annually, but some emergency systems, like emergency doors, need inspections every 90 days.

For optimal performance and safety, inspections should be more frequent than the minimum requirement. Diesel vehicles require work less frequently than their gas counterparts, which can help save costs, but it’s still best to check them regularly. What this schedule should look like varies between use cases, but going by miles driven may be more effective than going by time.

What Should Maintenance Inspections Include?

When it comes time for the actual inspection, fleet managers should keep a few factors in mind. First, they can choose to either perform the inspection themselves or have a qualified third party do it. The former option may be more cost-effective, but it also requires a knowledge base and reporting system that smaller companies may not have.

Whether fleet managers perform their own inspections or rely on a third party, they should look for a few specific factors. Here’s a closer look at these specifics.

Qualified Inspectors

The FMCSA outlines some requirements for who can perform these maintenance inspections. These qualifications are fairly straightforward for most of the inspection process. Employees or third parties must have knowledge and proficiency in the necessary methods, procedures and tools, but the FMCSA doesn’t define what that specifically entails.

Brake inspection qualifications are more rigid. Brake inspectors must either complete a state, Canadian province or union-sponsored apprenticeship program or have at least one year’s experience in brake maintenance.

When looking for third-party inspectors, fleet managers should look for these qualifications or, ideally, higher standards. Similarly, if fleets inspect their own vehicles, they should require employees to meet these qualifications.

Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation

Fleet managers should also understand what specific components and systems they should check. The FMCSA says maintenance inspections must cover “parts and accessories which may affect safety,” which can apply to most parts of a vehicle. Inspectors can refer to the FMCSA’s extensive list of parts for reference, but the most important areas to cover are fairly evident.

Engines, steering systems, brakes, seatbelts, wheels and the like all fall under this scope. Some of these parts will require more regular inspection than others, so fleets should schedule inspections of varying depth. As for how often to inspect each area, it’s safest to go by the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Emergency Features

Vehicles with some extra emergency features need to undergo additional inspections, too. Many buses, for example, have systems like emergency doors, pushout windows and lights marking these features. If fleets have any vehicles with these types of systems, they need to check them every 90 days to ensure they work properly.

These emergency features can mean the difference between life and death in some scenarios, so the FMCSA takes them seriously. Fleet managers should likewise pay close attention to these systems, ensuring they receive more maintenance and inspection than other parts. If there’s anything wrong with them, fleets should repair or replace them as soon as possible.

Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports

Driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs) are another important part of maintenance inspections. These are reports that drivers write up at the end of each driving day that identify any potential issues they’ve noticed. Fleet managers likely already collect these records, but they must save them and ensure they meet standards to satisfy the FMCSA.

According to FMCSA guidelines, DVIRs should cover:

-Brakes

-Steering mechanisms

-Lighting devices and reflectors

-Tires

-Horns

-Windshield wipers

-Mirrors

-Coupling devices

-Wheels and rims

-Emergency equipment

Drivers can look at other parts and accessories, too, but these are the only required factors. If DVIRs report any issues, fleets must resolve them before operating the vehicle again.

Thorough Records

No matter what the specifics of a maintenance inspection look like, fleet managers must keep thorough records. Every time an employee performs a check, the company should record it in a safe, accessible place. If the fleet faces an audit from the FMCSA or needs to check the maintenance history to inform a repair, these records are crucial.

The FMCSA requires fleets to keep DVIRs for at least three months and records of annual and roadside inspections for at least a year. That will quickly add to a lot of storage, so fleet managers should consider using an electronic system for recording and organizing this information.

Fleets should also record any repairs they have to perform on vehicles. To help keep things organized, all reports should include vehicle identification information like the make, model, year and serial number.

Maintenance Inspections Are a Crucial Part of Fleet Management

Maintenance inspections can account for a significant portion of fleet operations. New fleet managers must understand these factors to prepare accordingly, enabling efficient, safe and compliant operations.

Every fleet’s maintenance inspections will look slightly different, but these general guidelines apply across every fleet. Managers should take these guidelines, then apply and adjust them to their specific situation. They can then meet relevant regulatory requirements and keep drivers safe.