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a tractor and 53-foot trailer carrying a lot of air and empty
trailer space at higher cost.” He points out that LTL carriers
who emphasize deploying more straight trucks and tractors
pulling 28-foot “pup” trailers in city operations are “some
of the most profitable carriers” because they are “better at
utilizing the smaller equipment.”
REGULATION REDUX
Major new regulatory mandates that went into effect in the
past 15 months also impact the industry and its prospects
going forward.
The implementation of electronic logging devices and
rollout of a nationwide driver drug-testing clearinghouse
meant fleets in many cases had to purchase and install new
ELD equipment in trucks, and update drug-testing policies
and procedures. In both cases, operating, societal, and safety benefits resulted as fleets got up to speed.
Old Dominion’s Freeman notes his company started
its ELD implementation in January 2019 and conducted
a “full-court press” throughout the year, completing the
changeover to new technology, processes, and procedures,
including new tablet computers in trucks, by November.
He looks for “good things” from ELDs in terms of more
comprehensive and timely data on driver and truck per-
formance, which can be utilized to improve safety and
operating efficiency.
There’s also potential for improving driver quality of life
and productivity, as ELDs have equipped fleets with tools
to more precisely and quickly measure detention and wait
times a driver must deal with at shipper docks. “Days of
giving [the shipper] two hours of free time at the dock …
should be [coming to an end],” says SJ Consulting’s Jindel,
adding that excessive detention by shippers is a waste that
reduces the driver’s earning power and inhibits productivity and utilization.
Like ODFL, YRC Worldwide was “fully compliant with
the transition from AOBRDs (automated on-board recording devices) to ELDs long before the deadline,” reports
Hawkins, adding that the two-year window afforded by the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) gave
carriers sufficient time for a smooth transition. “Among
other opportunities, we utilized peer-to-peer training with
our drivers to make sure they were prepared,” he says.
Hawkins notes as well the positive impact from the
launch of the federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, citing it as an example of the industry working in concert with
the FMCSA to advance safety. “The best way to approach
safety is as an investment,” Hawkins says. “The power of
partnership [among government, fleets, and shippers] is …
another avenue for us to collectively advance safety.”
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801 W. Markey Rd.
Belton, MO 64012
tel 816.331.7070
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