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Life on the road

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Whether you’re new to the trucking world or you have been hauling for 20 plus years maintaining a good relationship with your partner, friends and family is much harder than non-truckdrivers.  

While on the road there are many things that run through our minds like, money problems, relationship insecurities and like Alan Jackson sings “Who’s Cheating Who?”.  Sometimes, time can become long and repetitive just because you cannot talk to people in person. You get caught up in small details and that leads to a lot of worry and can consume you, and your world can become very small. 

Keeping peace in your household is sometimes hard, but trying to keep an open line of communication open is key. Luckily, now with new technology, it’s much easier to keep in touch by Facetiming and Messenger. It makes the end of a long day easier and helps with all the little worries. Nothing like a video chat with your loved ones, family, favorite pets to make you feel more relaxed and appreciated. 

If ever worries pile up and you feel like there is no solution, there are always ways to talk to someone who can help sort out your worries Crisis Service Canada at 1-833-456-4566. 24/7. Yes, its cliché and many do not talk about it out loud, but many people can benefit from reaching out for help, there’s no shame, only help! 

Having something to look forward too is also another great coping technique, make plans to go on a date with your partner. Even if it’s watching a movie and sharing snacks or discovering a new place to eat or go over to your best buddy’s place and play cards. On your time off just don’t sleep or hang around the house. Try something new, it will give you plenty to think about on the road. 

Stay safe! 

Q1 Carrier Rate Report 2023

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sophie
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The freight transportation industry begins 2023 in a challenging economic environment, marked by high fuel and equipment prices that have eroded profit margins in 2022. Truck transportation demand declined over the course of the year due to persistent inflation, with plummeting spot market rates putting downward pressure on contractual rates.

Despite these difficulties, there are encouraging signs for the freight market. Inflation is expected to stabilize, and the situation is expected to improve in 2023. Financially well-positioned companies have an opportunity to gain market share, and interesting acquisitions for carriers looking to expand their operations may present themselves. Analysts predict a less eventful end of the year, and it is essential that carriers adopt an enlightened approach to face current market conditions.

In this context, current market conditions are manageable, provided that carriers adopt an enlightened approach to manage risks. The effects of these market conditions will not be felt equally by all companies, but those with a diversified and effective strategy are more likely to weather the storm. Business leaders must therefore be ready to make tough decisions to keep their operations afloat and seek growth opportunities, particularly by focusing on the most favorable markets and modes of transportation.

This is a challenging time, but with effective risk management, transportation companies can overcome these challenges and emerge stronger in the long run.

Source : FreightWaves

ISAAC will introduce the ISAAC Connect smartphone application at the Truckload 2023 event

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sophie
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The complementary technology of ISAAC InControl helps drivers stay connected.

Today, ISAAC Instruments announced that its new ISAAC Connect smartphone application will be presented at the Truckload 2023 event of TCA from March 4 to 7 in Orlando, Florida.

ISAAC Connect is complementary technology to the main ISAAC InControl solution and its rugged tablet. The smartphone application allows drivers to stay connected with their carrier on their personal devices when they are not in the truck cab or when they are off duty.

With ISAAC Connect, drivers can view information on hours of service (HOS), check with dispatchers for changes in travel schedules, access messages, and review important documents or ISAAC Coach reports.

All information is automatically synchronized between the cab tablet and the smartphone application. This provides a unified communication channel for all work-related activities, separate from personal text and voice messages.

“Our customers have told us that they need to simplify communication even further to better meet the needs of drivers,” said Jacques DeLarochellière, CEO and co-founder of ISAAC. “For the 500 fleets and 50,000 drivers who use our technology every day, critical functions must be executed on a rugged cab tablet. For other tasks, however, the use of a personal device may be suitable.”

The goal is to give drivers better control over their communications outside of working hours, for example, when they want to start preparing for their first delivery of the coming week. Also, the new smartphone application allows drivers to communicate with the dispatcher at their convenience when they are away from their vehicle at a rest stop or shipper.

“ISAAC is constantly evolving to ensure that our solution meets the needs of carriers and drivers,” said Manon L’Espérance, Product Manager at ISAAC. “ISAAC Connect makes it easier for drivers and operations to access information when they need it to improve planning and productivity.”

ISAAC Connect will be available for Android devices on Google Play starting in March and on Apple’s App Store later in the second quarter.

Participants at the annual Truckload Carriers Association event can meet with ISAAC experts at booth 423 or schedule a demo by visiting the events page.

TFI International Acquires Axsun

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sophie
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Image : La Presse
Image : La Presse

TFI International Inc. has announced its acquisition of Axsun Group, a North American intermodal and freight brokerage services provider. With multiple locations in Canada and the US, Axsun offers a range of intermodal services as well as over-the-road highway, drayage, logistics and warehousing. Under the leadership of President and CEO Steve Ramescu, the company operates a small fleet of approximately 20 tractors and 300 trailers, generating annualized revenues of around CAD$90 million.

Mr. Ramescu will continue to lead the business under TFI International’s Logistics segment, reporting to TFI Senior Executive Vice-President Steven Brookshaw. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Alain Bédard, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of TFI International, praised Axsun’s asset-light and technologically sophisticated approach to serving a demanding Fortune 100 customer base. He noted that the company’s existing business will complement TFI International’s service offerings in both Canada and the US, with many customers increasingly looking towards intermodal as a solution for their freight movement needs.

TFI International welcomes Axsun’s contributions to its continued growth and emphasis on service quality under its umbrella, and extends a warm welcome to Steve and his team.

Choosing the best transportation company for your professional trucking career

By
sophie
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0

If you’re searching for a job as a truck driver, it’s essential to find a transportation company that supports you in your work and ensures your safety on the road. During your job search, there are several key factors to consider in order to find the best company for you.

First, it’s important to consider all aspects of compensation when comparing hourly wages versus per-mile/kilometer wages, including bonuses and annual salary. You should also take into account other benefits offered by the company, such as social benefits and retirement plans, as well as quality of life and professional growth opportunities. By carefully examining all of this information, you can make an informed choice to find the transportation company that best suits your needs.

In addition to compensation, here are some key elements to consider when looking for a job as a truck driver: make sure the company adheres to regulations to ensure your safety and that of other road users. Also, check that working hours are reasonable and do not endanger your health. Next, make sure the equipment is in good working order and that the trucks are well-maintained and equipped with cutting-edge technology to improve your safety, comfort, and efficiency. It’s also important to choose a company that values its employees, offers an inclusive company culture, encourages training and professional growth, and offers attractive social benefits to provide you with a pleasant work environment.

Quality of life is an important element to consider. Make sure the company offers social benefits such as paid time off, wellness programs, insurance, and other benefits to allow you to maintain a good quality of life. Finally, look for a company that offers professional growth opportunities such as training, promotions, or opportunities to become an owner-operator if that is part of your future goals.

To ask the right questions during the interview, here are some examples:

• What is the hourly wage or per-mile/kilometer wage offered?
• What are the bonuses and annual salary?
• What social benefits are offered, such as retirement plans and wellness programs?
• How does the company ensure the safety of its employees?
• How does the company value its employees and encourage professional growth?
• What are the working hours and expected workload?
• What types of equipment does the company use and how are they maintained?
• What professional growth opportunities are offered by the company?

In addition to the previously mentioned elements, it can be helpful to ask specific questions to better understand the working conditions and expectations of the company. For example, you can ask what routes the company typically uses to ensure that you are comfortable with the routes and driving conditions. You can also inquire about how communication is done between you, as a trucker, and the dispatcher, to ensure that you are informed of the latest updates and potential route changes.

It can also be helpful to ask what a typical day or trip looks like, to better understand the expectations and challenges you may face. By better understanding the company’s requirements, you can better prepare yourself and ensure that you are able to meet the company’s needs.

By asking all of these questions, you can be sure to choose a transportation company that meets your needs and expectations, and that allows you to work in a positive and fulfilling environment. Good luck in your search for a professional trucking job!

Truck drivers in America face a number of health risks due to their job

By
sophie
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0

Truck drivers in America face a number of health risks due to their job, such as long hours of sitting, poor diet options on the road, and limited access to exercise facilities. Obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental health issues are some of the most common health problems among them. To mitigate these risks, truck drivers can take several steps to improve their health.

One of the most important steps is to get enough sleep, as lack of sleep can lead to fatigue and impair cognitive function. Getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night is recommended. Poor sleep quality can also increase the risk of developing health problems, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Eating a healthy and balanced diet, staying hydrated, and exercising regularly are also essential for good health. Even simple exercises such as stretching or walking can make a big difference.

Truck drivers can also take breaks every two hours during long hauls to help reduce stress and prevent fatigue. During these breaks, they can stretch, walk around, and get some fresh air. Maintaining proper posture while sitting for extended periods is also essential to avoid musculoskeletal disorders, such as back pain.

Mental health is also important, and truck drivers should seek help if they’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression. Stress-reducing activities like deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can also help. Social support, such as staying in touch with family and friends, can also be beneficial.

In summary, truck drivers face a variety of health risks due to their job, but by taking steps to prioritize their health, they can reduce the risk of developing health problems that may impact their ability to work. By getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, taking breaks, maintaining proper posture, and taking care of their mental health, truck drivers can improve their overall health and well-being, and continue to perform their essential role in the transportation industry.

U.S. auto manufacturers and carriers push for increased weight limits to transport electric vehicles

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sophie
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0

The Coalition for Electric Vehicle Transport (CEVT), which includes carriers, car manufacturers, and trailer makers, has written to Congress to demand a 10% (8,000 pounds) increase in weight limits for articulated auto carriers that transport electric vehicles (EVs). They are also calling for a 10% increase in single and tandem axle weight groups.

Industry professionals argue that truck weight laws have not been revised in 40 years and reduce EV carrying capacity by up to 28%. This makes transportation of these vehicles more difficult as they are heavier than gasoline-powered cars. Despite industry attempts to address the issue through innovation, they have been unsuccessful, leading the CEVT to turn to Congress as a last resort.

The coalition is made up of a diverse group of businesses, including the American Automobile Transporters Association, the American Trucking Association’s Automobile Transporters Conference, the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association, and car transport companies Hansen and Adkins Auto Transport and Jack Cooper Transport. They hope that Congress will consider their request and make changes to truck weight laws to help the electric vehicle industry grow and thrive.

TruckParkingClub.com, the start-up that wants to revolutionize truck parking.

By
sophie
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0

Truck Drivers Struggle to Find Parking Spaces in the United States

Truck drivers in the United States are having difficulty finding parking spaces. With only 313,000 spaces for around 3.5 million drivers, the situation is critical. On average, each parking space is contested by 11 drivers, forcing them to spend nearly an hour each day looking for a spot or even parking illegally three times a week. The government has added a few spaces, but it’s still not enough.

Evan Shelley: A Commercial Real Estate Professional

It was with this in mind that Evan Shelley joined the trucking industry. He had worked in commercial real estate for many years but had never been involved in the transportation industry as such. However, in 2021, he had the idea to use non-industrial land for truck parking, which put him in touch with the local community that opposed it.

Creating TruckParkingClub.com

Faced with this opposition, Evan Shelley decided to circumvent the obstacles by purchasing ideal parking locations all over the country, to bring them together under one brand. He met Keith Cristal of StoreMyTruck.com, who manages several parking facilities along the I-85 route between Atlanta and North Carolina, and together they created TruckParkingClub.com. This technological platform acts as an intermediary between property owners with parking space and truckers who need it.

Difficulties Encountered

However, the company faced difficulties due to the booming real estate market and high prices for parking locations. Nevertheless, they launched the company in November 2022.

TruckParkingClub.com: An Airbnb for Truck Parking Facilities

Since the launch of the company, Shelley and his team have focused on promoting their service to convince owners to list their locations through their platform. TruckParkingClub.com works a bit like Airbnb for truck parking facilities, attracting more and more truckers willing to invest in paid parking reservations.

Do you think the TruckParkingClub.com platform could solve the problems of parking shortages for trucks and make life easier for truck drivers looking for parking spaces?

Is avoiding toll roads profitable in 2023?

By
sophie
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0

Toll roads are becoming more expensive and are expanding in terms of miles, with many different state authorities setting tolls, leaving owner-operators to sort through a patchwork of options for toll collections. A five-axle truck running the Pennsylvania Turnpike on I-76 East can rack up a $212 toll by the time it exits the state near Scranton on I-81, without stopping once, and if the bill isn’t paid in 30 days, add another $5 on top of that.

State-collected toll fees and fuel taxes account for about 37% of all funding for highway and road spending. With so many toll authorities setting tolls, owner-operators are left to sort through a patchwork of options for toll collections, with plenty of regional and some national options.

However, services like BestPass and PrePass offer centralized platforms and provide summaries of recent toll transactions and help spot mistakes. They can also provide a single bill rather than taking on a piecemeal approach. Additionally, if a toll gets double-billed, these companies will initiate the process to fix things for you.

In the past, some trucking companies tried to avoid toll roads. With the rise of fuel prices, do you think it is profitable to avoid tolls?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is suggesting a much-needed overhaul of the Safety Measurement System (SMS) for CSA carriers.

By
sophie
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0

On Wednesday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will release a notice proposing changes to its Carrier Safety Measurement System (CSA) based on recommendations from a 2017 National Academy of Sciences study, which was required by Congress nearly a decade ago.

In its report, the Academy agreed that FMCSA’s approach to measuring carrier safety, which is based on accident prevention rather than prediction, is sound, but Wednesday’s notice clarifies that the Academy recommended a variety of improvements to the overall CSA SMS approach. The FMCSA’s notice focuses on one of six National Academy of Sciences recommendations to the FMCSA regarding improvements to the SMS, which is to develop an item response theory (IRT) model to more accurately target high-risk carriers for intervention.

However, the FMCSA is not adopting such a model, as the agency states in the notice that changes will be made to various aspects of the current SMS that FMCSA Director Robin Hutcheson believes will improve “the fairness, accuracy, and clarity of our prioritization system,” she said.

Among these changes, the FMCSA proposes to reorganize the current Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs), which will be renamed “Safety Categories,” to better identify specific issues. To accomplish this, the FMCSA proposes to group the 959 violations currently used in the SMS, as well as 14 additional violations not currently used in the SMS, into 116 new violation groups.

In addition, the proposed changes include a drastic simplification of the gravity weights of violations, currently rated on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the most negative for safety); changes aimed at eliminating percentile ranking jumps that occur when carriers move into a new safety event group, a well-known problem for small carriers; and adjusting the intervention threshold for safety categories, the percentile ranking at which a carrier is prioritized for agency/state investigation or other action.

Furthermore, a new website, the Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA) Prioritization Preview, which is now live, is the first phase of planned updates to the FMCSA’s SMS. Carriers can visit the website to preview how their data would appear under the proposed changes. Companies are encouraged to preview these results and submit comments on the proposed changes.

The FMCSA will accept comments on the proposed modifications starting from Wednesday, February 15th.

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