How Holland Trucking Co. Is Coping With The Driver Shortage

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Image via Holland Trucking Co.

Holland Trucking Co.’s veteran apprenticeship program may combat their struggle with the driver shortage.

Ever since the driver shortage began nearly 15 years ago, freight companies across the nation felt its sting. Recruiters of Michigan-based Holland Trucking Co. face the same challenges. But, instead of waiting for a change, they face the issue head on.

Holland Trucking Co. partnered with the federal department of Labor and Veterans Affairs to create a veteran training program. Overall, the program helps vets transition back into civilian life.

“Veterans, certainly we’re interested in, because they’ve already got the quality we’re looking for in any of our employees.”

“The focus, the discipline, the critical thinking skills … we’re definitely interested in that pool of candidates entering the program,” Tamara Jalving, director of talent acquisition at Holland, told Transport Topics.

Vets without a commercial drivers license enter the Dock-to-Driver program. Then, they will complete training and engage in professional mentorship until they earn their CDL. Those vets who already have their CDL will continue to work with industry professionals, and earn any necessary hours and endorsements to complete their certification.

In addition, the driver training program is available in 51 of Holland’s 53 locations. The Dock-to-Driver program is available in 26 locations.

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Tech Thursday: The New ELD Every Trucker Is Talking About

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New ELD

PeopleNet’s new Android-powered PD.5 might be the one you’ve been searching for.

Image via TT News

Many truckers were shocked by the new ELD mandate passed in late December of 2015. Even more became uncomfortable in their attempt to comply with it after the mandatory installation of ELD’s in each commercial truck just months ago.

No one enjoys having the government track their every move. However, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration felt that the ELD’s automatic documentation was far sufficient to the pen and paper many truckers had used previously.

Whether you’re a fan or not, every commercial carrier must have an ELD installed in the dashboard. In addition, the device replaces the need for individual Record of Duty Status (RODS). Also, it shares similar features with both electronic on-boarding devices (EOBRs) and automatic on-boarding devices (AOBRDs).

However, the benefit of many ELDs goes far beyond the data collected through EOBRs and AOBRDs.

While other logging devices only look at speed and time spent driving, ELDs also focuses on driver behavior such as hard braking or idling. Many devices also include mapping features for easier navigation as well as automatic updates on a driver’s status to dispatch.

As the leading provider in fleet mobility technology, PeopleNet always aims to deliver the highest quality devices for their customers. Their newest toy, the PD.5, is no exception. Made with truckers in mind, the electric logging device accomplishes everything on the road. Their mounted display was made specifically for the trials of trucking, while still incorporating everything you could ever need.

In the words of PeopleNet, “The ELD mandate is a complicated thing. Our electronic logging devices help you simplify it.”

The new PD.5 runs on the familiar Android LCD display, which makes navigating this device easier than ever.

It is super lightweight, allowing for easy use both inside and outside of your cab. Plus, a higher bandwidth of 20MHz will make sure every mile you drive is logged quickly.

No matter if you’re dropping off in the city or traveling through the rural countryside, you can ensure that your ELD is connected and secure.

In addition, the PD.5 includes other features, such as Bluetooth, a six-hour battery life, 16GBs, and a case.

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Overworked and Overtired: Why Trucking is Headed in A Dangerous Direction

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Researchers confirmed that truckers who work more than 60-hours are too tired to be on the road.

On average, truckers work 50% more than other U.S. workers, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. With the roadways and highways as their workplace, this puts themselves and other motorists, at greater risk of crashing.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration over 3,830 roadway users–drivers, bicyclists, and truckers–died in heavy vehicle crashes in 2015.

2 in 5 truckers report they work over the recommended 60-hour work week, and 1 in 5 report working over 70+ hours. Therefore, it’s no wonder that these numbers are expected to rise.

A big factor in tracking the hours a driver spends on the road is the lack of pay for the time that truckers are waiting “off-duty”.

The time spent loading and unloading often goes unpaid, allowing truckers to extend their work week and drive more. Because this “off-duty” time is unpaid, cargo owners lack motivation to work quickly. As a result, they end up wasting over $1 billion dollars that would otherwise land in truckers’ pockets.

“There’s a lot of wasted time in trucking.”

“The industry could be a lot more efficient,” trucker Donald Rich told The Washington Post. “You sit outside a business for 6-8 hours waiting for someone to unload your truck. Businesses don’t care, but you lose hundreds or thousands of dollars of potential pay because you have to just wait.”

A possible solution here is a major increase in wages on both ends of the loading process. If drivers were compensated for their off-duty time, it would cost the industry billions. However, it might be more cost effective to simply cut down on the waiting time. If cargo workers were incentivized to move more quickly, perhaps that down time would decrease.

Another option is to both incentivize those responsible for loading and unloading cargo, as well as pay, even a half-wage, to truckers for off-duty time. This might offset the need for drivers to work regular overtime hours, and allow for a better work-life balance at home.

So, when will these wage increases take place?

Soon, hopefully. With the ever increasing demand for drivers nation wide, some companies are offering pay rates the likes of which have never been seen. For some companies, this already includes off-duty pay. As both benefits and wages increase, more and more drivers are beginning to notice the keen position they’ve been put in.

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Susan Fall Awarded PR World PR Champion of the Year

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Image via LaunchIt

Susan Fall, owner of LaunchIt Public Relations, received PR World’s PR Champion of the Year award for her work in the trucking and transportation industry.

“My personal passion is to improve the image of the truck driver. Because, without them, this country would come to a halt in a matter of days.”

Fall founded LaunchIt in 2000 with a goal of bringing innovative products into the trucking industry. She noticed a discrepancy between management within the industry, and the lack of technology being used to better transportation across the board.

Fall’s firm specifically focuses on maintaining their relationships with experts in the industry. And in return, Fall says this sets her firm apart. She spent the last 20+ years dedicated to media education of the transportation industry.

“Pretty proud of this award because it’s… a personal achievement that I’ve been passionate about since I got involved in the trucking industry 25 years ago,” Fall stated. “Word is spreading about the need to respect and appreciate America’s Truck Drivers! Finally!!”

Even in her acceptance speech, Fall chose to focus solely on raising awareness for the transportation industry.

“It’s not an industry many people think about. When you think about it, every material thing in this room was on a truck, yet a truck driver is perhaps one of the most least appreciated professions out there.”

From all of us here at Drive My Way, congratulations, Susan!

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Why Cherokee Freight Made the Switch to Renewable Diesel

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Northern California fleet finds success with renewable diesel.

After hearing about the savings in fuel costs and truck maintenance possible with Neste’s MY Renewable Diesel, Cherokee Freight tried the fuel. The food carrier, which specializes in kosher-certified hauling, test Neste’s fuel in February 2017. And, after about 18 months, the company reports great results.

Richard Damilano, Cherokee’s operations manager, told Neste that he found the transition to be easy. “It’s a drop-in fuel replacement, so the switch was seamless.”

In addition, Art Cortez, a Cherokee shop foreman, agreed. He believes the trucks run better than ever. Between Neste’s fuel and Cherokee’s new equipment, Cortez says he’s seen a serious improvement in fuel economy.

Regular diesel contains impurities that can clog diesel particulate filters (DPF), contaminate the fuel, and ruin fuel injectors. However, Neste’s renewable diesel is a a low-carbon biofuel, meaning it contains 33 percent fewer fine particulates than ordinary diesel. In addition, 100-percent renewable raw materials makes up the fuel, cutting greenhouse emissions by up to 80 percent. Also, unlike biodiesel, Neste’s fuel is a direct replacement fuel, so it is compatible with all engines and doesn’t require blending.

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500 Hours and You Too Can Be a Volvo Technician

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Volvo Trucks North America expands the Diesel Advanced Technology Education program for Volvo Technicians.

Image via Volvo Trucks

Volvo takes its trucks seriously.

The Volvo Trucks Academy instructs future dealer Volvo technicians over 500 hours so they learn each vehicle’s electrical systems, chassis components, powertrains, and software and engine diagnosis.

Matt Flynn, director of Volvo Trucks Academy, says, “The Diesel Advanced Technology Education program provides students with the education and skills needed to excel in a high-demand career.

“The program prepares graduates for a technician career in our dealer network. Also, they receive hands-on maintenance and repair training to service the advanced modern truck technologies delivering unprecedented efficiency, performance, and safety benefits.”

In addition, Volvo partnered with three colleges to develop the program:

  • Jones Technical Institute in Jacksonville, Fla.
  • University of Northwestern Ohio in Lima, Ohio
  • Western Technical College in El Paso, Texas.

Furthermore, Volvo-certified instructors teach the curriculum for the Volvo technicians. Also, DATE graduates receive an associate’s degree in diesel mechanics and a job at any of Volvo’s dealerships.

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Truck Driving Voted ‘Most Patriotic Job in America’

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We already know that America would not function without the hard work of truck drivers. And now, finally, someone has confirmed it.

Global job search engine Adzuna conducted research on the most patriotic jobs in the United States.

The analysis looked at what Adzuna deemed as “patriotic jobs”, or those available jobs whose description defined them as most responsible for the improvement and upkeep of the country.

For example, a construction worker, responsible for the betterment of roadways and gentrification of local cities, would be included here.

Adzuna analyzed the nearly 3.5 million jobs on its website, searching for open positions with different specifications, such as hours and job description. It found that “patriotic jobs”, such as truck drivers, nurse practitioners, construction workers, and teachers, made up over 90% of the most in-demand jobs. Of the more than 1.5 million available jobs, the majority of openings exist in Virginia, Texas, California, and Illinois.

Image via Adzuna

With so much national spotlight on these “patriotic jobs” lately, it’s no wonder that they represent such a large piece of the unfulfilled job openings on Adzuna. For example, teachers have gone on strike, advocating for better wages and improved classroom environments. Construction workers have one of the highest on-the-job mortality rates of any profession, with nearly 14 deaths reported each day.

Truck drivers aren’t far off. Truckers are dedicated members of society whose job is to transport over 70% of our nation’s goods. The country’s food, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and even waste are all in their hands.

Therefore, it’s ironic that such a necessary job is also the most dangerous. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, driving a truck is the deadliest occupation in America. Therefore, because of this and low wages, the demand for truckers is high.

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Why You Should Watch Your Speed Now More Than Ever

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Image via Pixabay

Increasing fuel prices are leaving many smaller fleets and owner-operators more financially challenged. Many between tractor-trailer speed and gas consumption to save some serious cash.

In March, diesel prices were at a moderate $2.99 per gallon. The price peaked at $3.24 per gallon in June, and, though it has fallen a few cents these past few weeks, is still expected to throughout the summer months. Heavier freight volumes and the new ELD , are pushing trucks’ capacities. The flatbed load-to-truck ratio has risen a stunning 171% from last year. In addition, the load-to-truck ratio has risen 34%.

What does all of this mean for drivers? It’s time to slow down. According to the American Trucking Association, a tractor-trailer traveling at 65 mph saves 27% more fuel than one going 75 mph. Though the recent drivers to increase their speed, now it is more important than ever to slow down to improve gas mileage.

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Are Your Brakes Working? Inspectors Want to Check

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The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will increase brakes inspections during Brake Safety Week.

Image via Pixabay

Brakes Safety Week is September 16-22, 2018. Enforcement personnel plan on doing everything in their power to ensure the safety and well-being of all highway travelers.

Overall, North American Standard Level 1 inspections assess everything from hydraulic fluid leaks and loose parts to defective rotor conditions. Also, vehicles that fall short of the minimum standards leave the road immediately.

In 2017, 14% of inspected trucks were put out of service. “Properly functioning brake systems remain crucial to safe CMV operation,” the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance wrote in a release. “Also, improperly installed or poorly maintained brake systems reduce braking efficiency. Therefore, this poses serious risk to public safety on our roadways.”

In addition, CVSA’s 2017 International Roadcheck inspections revealed the majority of violations involved brakes.

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Job of the Day: Uncommon Carrier Inc.

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Today’s Job of the Day comes from Uncommon Carrier Inc.

Uncommon is a local drayage carrier that hauls non-perishable goods and materials. Centrally located close to all NY / NJ Metro ports, the team of transportation, warehousing and distribution professionals is ready to move your products safely and expediently.

Currently, Uncommon hires CDL A Local Drivers in the South Kearny, New Jersey area. This is a drop and hook drayage position that runs from the Port of NY/NJ to local warehouses that are within a 200 miles.

In addition, the position requires Hazmat, TWIC, and Tanker endorsements. Also, the position offers great pay and benefits, and you’ll be home daily!

Interested in applying?

Learn more about the job requirements, benefits, pay and more.

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