Posted on Mon, Jul 26, 2010 @ 10:26 AM
There are many different programs truckers can use to make them more efficient. The most popular of the technologies are GPS, logging software, and accounting programs. GPS is very useful for plotting and following the most efficient route, and board tracking. Logging software and log calculators are used to calculate available work hours and to issue warnings of overworking and being over the allotted amount of driving hours. Accounting software usually keeps track of monthly, quarterly, and yearly pay. It makes tracking income and expenses easier and more efficient. There are many different versions of each type of software offered from different companies for different prices. The best way to find software that’s right for you is to find your price range, then find the program that you feel most comfortable with.
Truckers Helper
TruckersHelper.com has several different packages that are built to fit anyone’s price range based on the number of features the buyer receives. Their programs are highlighted in a chart on their webpage. They bundle certain features together to create basic, mid-level, and advanced packages. They base their prices off of the number of trucks that are owned. Drivers need the least technology so they are given the most basic programs. Owner/operators need slightly more technology to keep track of expenses as well as income. Fleet owners and bookkeepers need the numerous programs to keep track of loads, payroll, and billing as well as everything owner/operators and drivers need to account for.
Diesel Boss
Other websites such as Diesel Boss offer each program separately so drivers can pick and choose which ones they need. They offer five types of software for owner-operators, independents, and company drivers. Services include log calculator, driver log, accounting software, fuel tax program, and route tools. Each program is explained and each feature it offers is highlighted on the website.
The driver log is one of the standard programs to have because it covers all the basic functions a driver needs to complete, such as logs and roadside inspections. Also, the software offers a GPS interface, which makes tracking that much easier. They also offer 4 other programs for owners, fleet managers, accountants, and dispatchers. The programs offered are: log auditing software, a fuel tax program, route tools, and compliance spreadsheet. Some of the programs are similar to the ones offered for owner/operators but the others, such as the compliance spreadsheet, are offered specifically for fleet managers, accountants, and dispatchers. The program allows you to track up to 1000 drivers and 1000 pieces of equipment. It covers a wide array of features, including the ability to even track maintenance and inspections.
Drivers Daily Log
There are some websites that specialize in just one program such as Drivers Daily Log. It offers 3 different versions of the same program: Lite, Full, and iTruck. All of these are versions of a drivers’ daily log software. It does everything a normal logging program can do depending on which version you choose. For example, the Lite version does not offer GPS interface, expense records, or fuel records. Drivers who want those features must upgrade to the Full Version or iTruck.
The best way to evaluate which trucking programs to purchase is to first, pin point your needs and see which company offers software that satisfies your needs. Many sites offer free trials through which you can demo the product and see if it is something you’re interested in. Be sure to conduct throughout research so you do not end up needing to buy extra software later on or end up paying more for features you won’t use.
Posted on Thu, Jul 22, 2010 @ 09:37 AM
In what can only be heralded as a historic address, FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro spoke to the National Industrial Transportation League at their Washington Freight Transportation Policy Forum in Arlington VA June 10th.
In her remarks, Administrator Ferro told attendees that wasted “down time” at loading docks was a constant complaint that drivers said negatively impacted safety at numerous public listening sessions this past winter and spring.
Ferro went on to say, “I ask you to increase your stake in motor carrier safety. Practices that leave truckers waiting at the port or terminal for hours at a time do not take account of how long drivers may drive. I ask each of you today to take responsibility in your businesses to increase your stake in motor carrier safety. Between now and the end of the year, take the time to re-examine practices that short change the driver's ability to drive safely.” (The full text of her remarks can be found here.)
Clearly, time spent waiting at shippers and consignees to get loaded or unloaded is putting severe pressure on carriers' and drivers' ability to meet customer expectations while complying with federal hours of service regulations.
Shippers who do not respect drivers' regulated hours will likely find it more difficult to attract carriers to haul their product. (Drivers are limited to 14 hours of on-duty time once they start their day. Hours spent waiting to get loaded or unloaded reduce drivers' remaining work and driving time.)
Shippers and consignees must examine their operations and procedures and work with their trucking partners to find ways to expedite loading and unloading. Failure to do so may very well result in carriers diverting their trucks to more carrier-friendly customers leaving less carrier-friendly shippers with product on their dock or in their warehouse and no trucks to haul it.
Carriers must be able to get their trucks loaded and underway in reasonable time if they are to get maximum use of the equipment and driver. This is just good business practice and necessary for any kind of reasonable return on investment (ROI) on the $100,000+ they have tied up in a tractor and trailer.
Article posted by Kevin Mullen: Director, Safety- ADS Logistics
Posted on Wed, Jun 23, 2010 @ 02:31 PM
A recent study has found that B2B Companies, which comprise many of ADS Logistics Customers, will likely face 5 key supply chain challenges as they seek to take advantage of the economic recovery, according to a new study by PRTM Management Consultants.
The study, Lessons Learned from the Global Recession, (you have to fill out a form to read the full report so we did it for you) found that most of the 350 manufacturing and service companies surveyed now believe there will be a significant upturn in demand from their customer base over the next few years.
However, the study also warns that many companies lack the supply chain infrastructure critical for meeting the emerging demands of managing an increasingly complex global market.
The 5 emerging demands identified by the study are:
1. Supply chain volatility and uncertainty have permanently increased
: Market transparency and greater price sensitivity have led to lower customer loyalty. Product commoditization reduces true differentiation in the B2B environments, and companies need to respect this reality.
2. Securing growth requires truly global customer and supplier networks
: Future market growth depends on international customers and customized products. Expanding supply chain globalization and complexity need to be managed effectively. Thus, finding supply chain management companies with integrated services such as ADS Logistics will play an increasingly important role.
3. Market dynamics demand specialized, cost-optimized supply chain configurations:
Customer requirements and competitors necessitate custom-tailored supply chains and product offerings.
4: Risk management involves the end-to-end supply chain:
Risk and opportunity management should span the entire supply chain—from demand planning to expansion of manufacturing capacity—and should include the supply chains of key partners.
5. Existing supply chain organization are not truly integrated and empowered
: The supply chain organization needs to be treated as a single integrated process. To be effective, significant improvements require support across all supply chain functions.
More than 85 percent of companies expect the complexity of their supply chains to grow significantly by 2012, yet many did not strengthen critical capabilities during the Recession. Additionally, more than two-thirds expect a higher number of product variations will be required to fulfill local customer expectations. Having an integrated and reliable supply chain process will be critical.
The study concludes with a 5-Point Agenda for Chief Operating Officers over the next 2 years to help them strengthen their supply chain process:
1. Improve customer access to supply chain data
2. Increase upstream and downstream supply chain flexibility
3. Focus on total supply chain cost engineering
4. Implement end-to-end supply chain risk management
5. Integrate and empower the supply chain organization
Ultimately, the main challenge for many companies is not to redefine their organization models, but to transition and manage the organizational change. When it comes to the metals industry, a company like ADS Logistics is ahead of the curve by providing integrated services such as their online inventory management system. The next 20 years will be particularly insightful as winners and losers emerge across all industries in this new economy.
Posted on Wed, Jun 09, 2010 @ 08:55 AM
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research shows nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than 500,000 were injured. This is a national crisis and a growing concern for transportation safety officials.
To put this into perspective… on any given day in 2008 nearly 1 million vehicles (800,000 to be precise) were being operated by someone using a hand-held cell phone.
A recent study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 MPH, a vehicle travels more than the length of a football field (371 feet to be precise) in 4.6 seconds.
The high number of fatalities and injuries are small wonder when considering these factors. In fact, it’s hard to believe the numbers aren’t worse. It is, in no uncertain terms, a national disaster but one which we all have the capacity to correct.
No text message, no telephone call is so important as to justify putting another human being at risk of injury or death.
Drive time is not the time to catch up with family or friends.
Drive time is not the time to catch up on voice mails or e-mails.
Drive time is not the time to touch base with a customer or make a sales call.
Drive time is definitely not the time to be texting or reading texts.
None of these tasks will seem even remotely sufficient to justify or rationalize a crash and injuries or deaths. Certainly none of them will sway a jury should you face criminal charges as a result of a crash.
None of the excuses for performing these distracting behaviors behind the wheel will ever heel the pain if it is your loved one who is hurt or killed.
Stop! Think! Resolve not to drive distracted. The reasons to drive distracted are hollow and the consequences are devastating and life changing.
Safety is no accident. Safety is personal. Safety is in your hands.
Posted by Kevin Mullen: Director- Saftey, ADS Logistics
Posted on Thu, Jun 03, 2010 @ 02:50 PM
The shortage of marine containers for export and domestic use has been a topic of concern for the last couple of years. This predated the economic collapse at the end of 2008, but it has been intensified by the recession. The drastic reduction of imports in early 2009 brought far fewer containers into the country. In addition, many steamship lines canceled lanes and their frequency of service and moved many ships to anchor, often loaded with empty containers that were no longer needed. These marine containers (20’, 40’ and 45’ containers) are a widely desired unit for international and domestic transport.
In the May 3rd article “Needed: More Boxes” from The Journal of Commerce, Peter Leach reports that in 2009 there were about 350,000 new containers manufactured, down from about 3 million in 2008. He goes on to report that the Federal Maritime Commission is concerned about container availability as it tries to increase their export levels now that the economy is showing signs of recovery. Many exporters are having difficulty obtaining containers, both standard and specialty models. Exporters need these units in order to ship many common goods including grains, perishable goods, lumber, paper, and scrap metal.
Michael Marley’s article “Where Have All the Containers Gone?” in the May issue of American Metal Market details the extreme difficulty many of the scrap metal dealers have been encountering. When breakbulk ocean freight rates skyrocketed in 2006, many scrap metal dealers shifted to containers, and eventually came to prefer this method of shipping. Today there is more competition for these limited units, and many dealers are having difficulty obtaining the containers they need and booking the shipping lines they desire.
The shortage is felt because the shipping lines are enjoying a surge in demand for exports from the USA. This continues to grow as the improvement in the economy that began in the second half of 2009 continues to grow. Lines are putting previously idle vessels back into service and restoring old lanes. With the increase in imports more containers are entering again, but not at a pace to fully satisfy demand. Domestic transporters have to contend with the Marine Department's decision to make empty containers first available for exports. Although there are some regions where container supply seems to be in surplus (namely New York and Memphis), in most major shipping points there is a supply shortage, particularly of the longer units.
ADS Logistics Co, LLC, Western Intermodal division supports export shipping as well as operates a domestic transportation service. We have been able to keep a steady supply of containers and equipment through our long-term relationships, cooperative repositioning of some equipment, private equipment, and constant attention. Transportation is a world of moving parts and the art is getting the parts to move where and when you need them.
Posted by Steve Klok, ADS Logistics.JR6DKH597WTN
Posted on Fri, May 21, 2010 @ 08:49 AM
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released the results of a study which indicated nearly 80% of crashes are caused by driver inattention or distraction within three seconds of the crash- 80%!
We are a nation of doers. We get it done. We work longer hours than most other industrial nations and we pride ourselves on being able to multi-task. All admirable qualities… except when we’re behind the wheel.
The most common distraction cited was reaching for something. A recent AA Foundation for Traffic Safety study showed that 100% of participants were distracted at some point, 97% reaching for something. A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) found that reaching for a moving object (dropped phone, spilled drink, etc.) was twice as dangerous as any other non-driving task. The other items (in order):
- reading and writing (behind the wheel?)
- grooming and applying makeup
- dialing a phone
- eating and drinking
- texting
- talking and listening on a phone
- adjusting the radio or changing a CD
- interacting with passengers
- daydreaming
The average driver is faced with approximately 200 driving decisions per mile. We can ill-afford to be distracted faced with such responsibility.
Imagine how hollow the following statements would sound… to a police officer investigating a crash… or on the stand in front of a jury.
"I was putting on my makeup when traffic stopped suddenly and I struck the victim."
"I was talking to my girlfriend and didn’t realize how fast I was going until I ran into the victim."
"I was in a hurry to get to [fill in the blank] when I lost control and crashed, killing my [child/spouse/friend]."
We are in too much of a hurry today. We are trying to do too much. We are trying to be all and have all.
We need to resolve to slow down. Leave home earlier so we don’t need to speed to get where we’re going. We need to hang up or turn off our phones while driving. We need to focus on driving safely. It will be too late after the crash and all the excuses will ring hollow.
Posted by Kevin Mullen- Director: Safety
Posted on Mon, May 10, 2010 @ 10:47 AM
There may have been no more challenging a period in trucking than what we face in 2010 and beyond. As previously discussed, a great deal of capacity has been eliminated over the past 18 months. Much of it is not coming back. The regulatory pressures of CSA 2010 promise to further exacerbate this problem by contributing to an already burgeoning driver shortage.
Rates (and along with them driver wages) have been driven down by seemingly savvy shippers during the economic downturn which will only serve to stoke the perfect storm forming on the horizon.
Self-serving carriers have undercut their competition in the misguided assumption that any rate is better than no freight at all. Carriers need to get a moderate return on their investment. Those who under-priced their services are not long for this world.
Shippers now face the reality of steep rate increases in order to ensure sufficient capacity to move their product. The second-tier carriers who were willing to cut their rates in order to obtain their freight will be unable to supply trucks. Worse still, the trucks and drivers they do supply will be substandard. Carriers who accept less-than-market rates have to cut somewhere… maintenance and safety are usually the first casualties.
Regulations restrict the hours a truck can operate. Shippers will need to stop “talking” about being carrier-friendly and become carrier-friendly. No more can trucks afford to sit for hours at the shippers’ dock or their vendors’ dock. Trucks will be diverted to shippers who can get them loaded in a timely manner and ensure the carrier (and driver) can maximize their available hours thus providing a return on investment.
Carriers who cut rates to ensure cash flow (or for whatever reason) will now need to pay the piper. We’ve “trained” West Coast shippers by taking $1.00/mile freight for years. Why would the rates ever go up if we continue to haul their freight for less than it costs to run a truck? Is any rate really better than no freight (deadheading) in the short or long term? We’ve hurt ourselves in the past. It’s time to stop this self-destructive behavior.
The FMCSA is tasked with getting unsafe carriers off the roads. CSA 2010 is their latest and greatest tool to do so. So why are all these fly-by-night and renegade carriers still out there undercutting rates? I suspect the number of carriers who have gone out of business (failed) in the past eighteen months is a hundred times the number the FMCSA has put out of business. Is market economics the real regulator of our industry? If so the market it poised to act.
In order to ensure our industry is running safe, compliant trucks driven by safe, compliant drivers, it must get reasonable rates and be able to maximize the utilization of both. Anything that does not support that premise (second-tier carriers, shippers or enforcement) does the entire supply chain a disservice.
Written by Kevin Mullen: Director- Safety, ADS Logistics
Posted on Tue, Apr 27, 2010 @ 11:06 AM
Here are 10 simple but important principals for any truck driver who desires to have a successful career:
1. Comply with all Company Policies and procedures and all Federal, State and local laws, regulations and ordinances. A Professional Driver knows the regulations and complies with them.
2. Watch your speed. Speed is the most often cited contributing factor in accidents. A Professional Driver obeys speed limits and reduces speed when road, weather and traffic conditions dictate. Speeding decreases time to react to unforeseen events and increases the distance necessary to safely stop. Speed is not the answer to customer service. A Professional Driver knows that exit ramp speed limits are maximums for cars and his speed should be slower.
3. Drive defensively. A Professional Driver anticipates the errors other drivers commit and positions himself to avoid collisions.
4. Be aware. A Professional Driver recognizes the need for focusing all his attention on his driving. He does not carry on conversations (on the CB or cell phone) and he does not text or operate his Qualcomm while driving. The Professional Driver understands a hands-free device does not eliminate the distraction caused by the conversation.
5. Drive safe equipment. A Professional Driver conducts a thorough pre-trip daily to ensure his vehicle is safe to operate and does not pose a threat of equipment failure and possible injury to himself, his cargo, and the people with whom he shares the roads. A Professional Driver takes care of his equipment so that it can provide him with a steady income.
6. No job is complete. A Professional Driver understands that paperwork, however burdensome, is a necessary and unavoidable part of the job. His logs and delivery paperwork are completed accurately and neatly and submitted timely.
7. Look the part. A Professional Driver dresses appropriately. His clothes are clean, neat and comply with Company and customer guidelines. He recognizes that he represents the Company, not just himself.
8. Know when to go. A Professional Driver knows when to go and recognizes when it's time to shut down, whether it is due to fatigue or road and weather conditions. A Professional Driver knows no load is so hot that it won’t cool off in a ditch or the median and no load is worth endangering his life or the lives of the people with whom he shares the road.
9. Protect your freight, protect your job. A Professional Driver knows that all we provide is service. If he doesn’t take care of the customer, someone else will. He protects his freight thereby protecting our customer and his job.
10. Work safely. A Professional Driver works safely. He recognizes hazards and avoids them. He reports hazards that can be corrected to management. He works at being safe so that he, his co-workers and the public can return safely to their families every day.
If you try to follow these 10 tips you will contribute to the success of the Company, be recognized as a valuable team player, and position yourself for continued professional growth.
Posted by Kevin Mullen- Director: Safety
Posted on Mon, Apr 26, 2010 @ 10:42 AM
Each of us within a company like ADS Logistics is at some point is a customer or will provide a service to a customer. It is imperative to the success of the company that the internal customers all work together to reach the company's specific goals. Employees within different departments need to mesh and communicate
through processes that in turn, will all result in servicing the needs of their external customers. It is those companies that do not understand this
strategy that could easily define its own demise.
Exactly who are the internal customers? They are you and me.... All employees within a company will interact in the customer process at some point;
whether it be the sales folks who visit a customer, a driver on customer property, a customer service agent handling the
customer calls, a warehouse person loading the customer product, the accounting folks who manage the behind the scenes paperwork and financials, safety, human resources, and our forever favorite department, payroll!
How do all of these departments affect the customer? Well, let me run you through this scenario.... A customer needs us to move product from one of our Roll & Hold or Western Intermodal Warehouses to another. Of course, Area Transportation has trucks for the job. Dispatch is contacted to arranged the delivery and prior to this, I am sure there was at least one sales call. Driver's show up at our warehouse, a crane person loads the product, and the driver
moves it "safely" to the destination. That is five different departments interacting with a customer because of this one simple request.
How do the other departments relate to this scenario? Let me continue .... the driver is safely moving the product;
therefore, our safety department is involved. Our accounting group makes sure that invoices are sent to the customer, with collections and payables
being performed as necessary, and creating and maintaining all the financial records and documentation. Last but definitely not least is Human
Resources and Payroll, who communicates our benefits and needs and of course, sends us our pay checks.
Short and sweet... if this process didn't
work, there would be no load to move, no invoice to the customer, no customer money for company application, and as a result, no pay check for the
internal customers and a loss of business....... Hhhmmm, just how happy would we internal customers be if that was the result?
Posted by Rose Cyphert: Manager of Billing and Collections- ADS Logistics Co, LLC
Posted on Tue, Apr 13, 2010 @ 09:49 AM
Weather is an integral part of our lives, whether we want to admit it or not (pun intended!). In fact, the model for every production, agriculture, and manufacturing business all take into account some element of weather. With 4 distinct seasons in North America, planners often take into account the seasons whether they are planning road construction, food processing, and in the case of Roll and Hold (the warehousing department of ADS Logistics)- steel processing logistics. In the latter field, precision and planning are key elements as the types of products that are handled can be affected by the varying types of weather. The recent winter storms in the Northeastern US shows the effect weather can have on everyday life.
The diverse locations of Roll and Hold Facilities often have to deal with varying weather conditions that affects transportation logistics. For example, Shreveport will probably be dealing more with tropical storms and hurricane conditions, while locations like Portage and Indy can be affected by tornados. Pickering is usually hammered with relentless winter storms and lake effect snow.
At Roll and Hold, recognition of the way weather affects the products we handle has led to the creation of SOP’s for winter receiving. In addition, the unique nature of each location and the varying weather patterns we face often influences the way we deal with our customers and the procedures we put in place. During winter months, our operations are altered to cater for inevitable delays due to snow. In addition, our customers usually place their orders a bit longer in advance and allow extra time due to weather delays.
Weather has always had an effect on mankind and that is not going to change. The recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and the continuous rumblings along the San Andreas Fault mean that we must pattern our lifestyle and business practices to the climate we live in.
Article submitted by Sean Bobb- Roll & Hold Customer Satisfaction Representative.
5DHABU57DE7K