Total cost of ownership for vocational truck fleets is trending upward, primarily due to higher fuel prices, increased maintenance costs due to higher labor rates and parts prices, and commodity-driven increases in tire prices.
Can outsourcing help get eyeballs and hands on increasingly more sophisticated trailer assets?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration appears to be making progress in meeting the January 2020 deadline for implementation of its CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse for commercial driver’s license holders.
Making tires more environmentally friendly involves everything from finding rubber alternatives to retreading and recycling.
There’s a challenge that’s been haunting almost every maintenance and repair manager for as long as Executive Contributing Editor Rolf Lockwood has been writing about trucking.The shortage of skilled mechanics and technicians is a plague that just won’t go away.
We talk a lot about recruiting and retaining drivers and about how we can bring more drivers into the industry. But are we doing enough to address the weak point after drivers are hired?
Spec’ing and maintaining trucks for the best total cost of ownership is a tricky balancing act to master. Achieving the optimal total cost of ownership means weighing the benefits of every spec on a truck.
Extending replacements too long can result in added repair and maintenance costs but replacing a vehicle too soon can leave money on the table in terms of vehicle life.
The addition of selective catalytic reduction and diesel particulate filter aftertreatment to modern trucks forced fleets and manufacturers to shift expectations on the fly. These two fleets met the emissions maintenance monster head-on — and won.
With an industry-wide shortage of new truck drivers, it's tempting to just find and hire CDL holders as fast as they can be found. But one good way to hire better drivers, who stay longer, is to avoid hiring your turnover.
Preventive maintenance programs are yesterday’s news. Tomorrow’s fleet manager is working on predicting issues before they even occur.
Now that fleets have reported their 2018 earnings we take a dive into the results to see what it says about the current economic state of the trucking industry.
Transportation is the lifeblood of America's largest state, but challenges posed by geography and weather mean options are severely limited for eight months of the year.
Since fleet drivers spend most of their workdays on the road, they may feel more detached from their companies. Managers can help drivers feel more connected by offering opportunities for them to communicate their opinions, participate in company discussions, and take part in incentive programs.
A steady supply, thriving shipping market, and increased demand helped stabilize wholesale values going into 2019.
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