Jan 08, 2020 • Carriers

Industry Update - January 8, 2020

Industry Update - January 8, 2020

By Paul DeCoste

Transitioning to New Trucker Path ELD?

Take a look at these resources for self on-boarding to your new Trucker Path Pro ELD:

Blog Post:https://truckerpath.com/blog/self-onboard-your-new-eld/

Web Application On-boarding:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCAhI4Byb5E&feature=youtu.be

Mobile Application On-boarding:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBAr9Lo9cpg

Cab Card Link:https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3Ab7f1d6a5-0ebd-4dc3-b9e4-f55dcbe9071c

Did you Know?

The FMCSA is increasing random drug screenings from 25% to 50% in 2020?

The rate of drug screenings was initially reduced from 50% to 25% in 2016 but is being raised again. With 3.2 million CDL holders participating in interstate commerce and 1 million CDL holders participating in intrastate commerce, there will be more than 2 million random tests organized in 2020.

Trucking Tip of the Week

This week, Love’s announced that 10 of their existing locations will now have Truck Care Centers and Speedco facilities. Take a look at which locations have been upgraded and are now accessible if you need tire, lube or mechanical services.

Diesel

How are diesel prices determined?

The price for diesel is established like most retail goods, by the shift of supply and demand in the market. But, interestingly enough, the wholesale price for diesel does not always translate to the retail price for the same good. Retail prices are determined solely by each individual enterprise that sells diesel to consumers via gas stations and fuel stations. The “rack price” is a term used to refer to the daily wholesale price of diesel and there are many different resources available to keep tabs on the diesel rack price across different wholesalers.

Celadon Employee Payout

This week, Celadon was granted approval to pay $4.6 million to drivers and employees that did not receive paychecks when the company shutdown. A federal bankruptcy judge granted this approval. This order allows $3.4 million to be spent on unpaid compensation and termination benefits for former employees, $900,000 to owner operators, and $300,000 owed for employee benefits. Although the company is approved to pay out the drivers and employees that deserve their finals paychecks, Celadon is not bound to do so.

TagsTruckloads drivers Truck Truck Driver truck drivers Owner Operator trucking FMCSA Trucker Path Freight Factoring Trucking Industry truck stops Truck driver tips Owner Operators Freight Brokers Industry Update Did you Know Technology Trucking Tips transportation

Truck Parking Issue Can Cost the Industry $5 Billion Annually [p]Finding safe truck parking is a looming issue that can cost the trucking industry an estimated $5.1 billion annually.[/p] [h2]3 Factors to Help Resolve the Truck Parking Issue[/h2] [p][b]1. Increase Capacity in Areas of Need[/b][/p] [p]After examining the data at over 270,000 truck parking spots in 2016, we found that in the Western areas of America, it is nearly impossible for a truck driver to find truck parking nearby within 45 minutes. After surveying over 3,000 truck drivers we discovered that [i]40 percent of truck drivers spend an hour or more searching for nearby truck parking.[/i] That's nearly 10 percent of their allotted daily driving time![/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/05/bottom-infgr-e.png" alt=""] [p][b]2. Increase the Use of Technology to Help Find Truck Parking[/b][/p] [p]Technology can provide truck drivers with necessary information to find nearby truck parking. [a href="https://app.appsflyer.com/com.sixdays.truckerpath?pid=Social Facebook"]Trucker Path[/a] is a necessity for truck drivers who need to find nearby truck parking. There are over 8,000 truck stops, rest areas, and travel centers in the app with real-time updates regarding the available truck parking.[/p] [p][b]3. Improve Trip Planning and Efficiency by Drivers[/b][/p] [p]Most drivers plan ahead by searching for truck parking along their route. However, on average, 16 percent of truck drivers say they start to plan for parking 30 minutes or less before hitting their HOS limit. For truck drivers to find available parking in a timely manner, especially in the Western part of the U.S., they should begin the process at least one hour ahead of hitting their HOS limit.[/p] [p]Fleets can also help their drivers by providing them with necessary recommendations or having technology like Trucker Path loaded onto in-cab devices. While some fleets are proactive, this is not standard as 86 percent of truck drivers say their fleets don't give them recommendations on how to find parking.[/p] [p][b]Using Trucker Path can save drivers an estimated 11 hours per month![/b][/p] [video id="NSSOwFRJaQw"] [h2]Lost Opportunity for Fleets and Truck Drivers[/h2] [p]Time spent searching for truck parking can limit a driver’s earning potential. [i]If over 1.6 million truck drivers in America lose 11 hours every month, then the trucking industry is losing about $5.1 billion annually.[/i] Here is a detailed breakdown of the potential lost opportunity.[/p] [images src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/05/chartcaption.png" alt="Cost of parking" width="316px" align="left"] [h2]Unauthorized Truck Parking is Unsafe[/h2] [p]Truck driver safety also plays a role in the truck parking issue. In 2015, 852 truck drivers lost their life while working, making it the most dangerous job in the USA. [i]79 percent of drivers were forced to violate their HOS because they couldn't find truck parking.[/i] Meanwhile, drivers have been forced to park in unauthorized locations such as highway shoulders, store lots, and off-ramps. These areas are unsafe for truck drivers, leading to potential cargo theft or accidents when merging off or back onto roads.[/p] [h2]What's Being Done to Help Truck Drivers?[/h2] [p]Truck drivers don't feel enough measures are being implemented to help them. [i]86 percent of truck drivers we surveyed said they feel the government isn't doing enough to help alleviate the truck parking issue.[/i] There are a few states that have taken the initiative in helping provide solutions for truck drivers.[/p] [p]States such as Kentucky and Florida (among others) now utilize weigh stations for truck parking, known as “rest havens”. Meanwhile, Maryland and Delaware have provided corridor parking for trucks along I-95 resulting in 220 available truck parking spots.[/p] [p]Reopening rest areas for trucks to use for parking is another potential opportunity. Many rest areas were closed since 2008 due to state and city budget decreases. Rest areas that are closed like in California, where there are 13 not in operation could provide an average of 10 truck parking spots per location. The operational costs could be limited by providing only basic restrooms and security like surveillance or a rotation of a security officer on duty.[/p] [button-white href="http://assets.truckerpath.com/external/2017-05-04-pdf/parking-shortage-costs-the-trucking-industry-5B-annually.pdf"]Entire Report[/button-white]

May 04, 2017 • Carriers

Freight Factoring Fees [p]Some companies will charge freight factoring fees compounding the actual factoring cost for your trucking company to factor a load. [/p] [h2] Freight Factoring Fees [/h2] [p] Review the fine print of freight contracts and understand the factoring fees that sneaky freight factoring companies sometimes have hidden from the advertised factoring rate. [/p] [p]Freight factoring can be a great tool to streamline your cash flow and grow your business as it eliminates the wait to get paid for owner-operators. However, some factoring companies have contracts with complicated jargon and disclaimers hidden in the fine print. [/p] [h2] Hidden Costs and Factoring Fees [/h2] [p]Sometimes a factoring company will advertise a great rate, far lower than any competitor. It's a perfect scenario for you, right? Well, not exactly. [/p] [p]Those rates that seem too good to be true are typically just that. Although a low rate is optimal, the associated factoring fees that you will incur in addition to the rate can balloon the overall cost for you to factor. [/p] [video id="IBCMtru_QMQ"] [h2] ACH Transfer Fee [/h2] [p]ACH Transfer fees can be issued each time you factor and range from $10 to upwards of $25 depending on the type of transfer or deposit. This cost can surely add up over time and frankly, it's ridiculous for to you to pay a fee just to receive your money. [/p] [h2] Minimum Volume Fee [/h2] [p]Often times a factoring company will require you to commit to factoring a minimum volume of invoices. Failure to meet the agreed minimum amount can result in extra fees or a percentage surcharge. Take into account your typical invoice amounts and calculate if you will have an issue trying to meet the minimum requirements. Keep in mind not all factoring companies have this policy or fee. [/p] [h2] Client's Credit Check Fee [/h2] [p]Although your credit is not taken into account, your client's credit is. The creditworthiness of your client must meet a certain standard for certain factoring companies before they agree to factor your invoices. That's right, some companies will charge you a fee for that credit check. [/p] [h2] Length of Terms [/h2] [p]You might decide to factor for a variety of reasons. Unavoidable circumstances might arise making it difficult to cover your operational costs. Truck repairs are extremely costly and unpredictable at times, especially for owner-operators and having a reliable truck that is fully functional is essential to your business. If you run a small fleet, wages, insurance, and taxes further compound your expenses. [/p] [p]This brings the length of terms to factor into play. Most factoring companies offer three to six-month term agreements to factor with some even require one-year contracts. It's important that you review and consider your options when considering the length of terms.[/p] [p]Be sure to choose the best fit for you. If you're confident that you won't be factoring for an entire year or that you want to explore other options after a few months, you should consider factoring with a company that doesn't have a minimum length of terms agreement. [/p] [h2] Termination Fee [/h2] [p]Let's say you have been factoring with a company for six months now. You have received payment days after hauling a load and it's been beneficial in helping you generate cash quicker to cover your expenses. Now you have ample funds and decide that you don't need to factor for the next few months.[/p] [p]The factoring company won't let you out of the contract because you agreed to factor for a certain length of time. In order for you to stop factoring, you have to pay a fee up to $1,000. [/p] [p]That's ridiculous, right? [/p] [giphy] <iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/KE58LJF3k8jug" width="480" height="426" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/roger-KE58LJF3k8jug"> [/giphy] [h2] Choosing a Freight Factoring Company [/h2] [p]The list of factoring fees can be costly and limit your trucking company's ability to sustain a stable cash flow. [/p] [p]Before choosing to do business with a factoring company, you should take into account these potential hidden costs and fees in the fine print of a contract. Freight Factoring helps manage your trucking company's cash flow and takes the hassle away from client collections, allowing you to focus on growing your business and hauling more freight. [/p] [p]You shouldn't feel that you are being fleeced by an unusual amount of fees that you weren't aware of or deal with. <strong>Trucker Path InstaPay</strong> is freight factoring that pays you in a day with no hidden costs, fees, minimum commitments or contracts with pages and pages of fine print to sift through. [/p] [button text="LEARN ABOUT INSTAPAY" href="https://truckerpath.com/sign-up-instapay/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=factoringfeesAug29" width="250px"]

Aug 29, 2017 • Carriers

Industry Update - December 5, 2019 <h4><strong>By Paul DeCoste</strong></h4> <h3><strong>Did you Know?</strong></h3> It is a safety violation to replace your truck seat with a <a href="https://cdllife.com/2019/nebraska-state-patrol-finds-unusual-violation/">lawn chair…</a> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Weather Report</strong></h3> Pennsylvania and New Jersey have <a href="https://cdllife.com/2019/states-issue-truck-bans-ahead-of-snow-storm/">issued travel bans for vehicles</a> in lieu of a massive snowstorm. Vehicles affected are double trailers, empty trailers, RVs, motorcycles, and non-commercial vehicles hauling trailers. This travel ban went into effect at 6 AM on Monday, December 2<sup>nd</sup>. <h3></h3> For more information on which roads are blocked from travel, take a look at the Pennsylvania DOT Facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation/">https://www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaDepartmentofTransportation/</a> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Regulations</strong></h3> California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced that it is <a href="https://www.ttnews.com/articles/carb-suspends-imminent-ghg-rule-trailers">suspending the enforcement of its greenhouse gas trailer standards.</a> The original standards could be met by adding features to trailers that reduce aerodynamic drag, upgrade the tire pressure monitoring system, introduce low-rolling-pressure tires or other weight reduction methods. <h3></h3> These standards were set to go into effect on January 1<sup>st</sup>, 2020 and had to be met by manufacturers of new trailers. However, due to the lack of federal enforcement and confusion among the definition of a “new trailer”, the CARB has suspended the implementation of these rules for the next two or three years. <h3></h3> <h3><strong>ELD Update</strong></h3> The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is warning <a href="https://cdllife.com/2019/cvsa-warns-truckers-no-soft-enforcement-for-eld-deadline/">that there will be no leeway on December 17<sup>th</sup></a> for drivers that have no transitioned to approved ELDs. <h3></h3> Look out drivers! The CVSA says that on December 17<sup>th</sup>, any driver caught without an FMCSA approved device will be considered to have no record of duty status and will be declared out of service for 10 hours. That’s valuable time that no one can afford to lose! Make sure your ELD is in line with the FMCSA rules: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/hours-service/elds/general-information-about-eld-rule <h3></h3> <h3><strong>Trucking Industry Serving the Community</strong></h3> Truckers serve the community in many different ways and styles. <a href="https://www.trucker.com/drivers/drivers-industry-leaders-lead-through-charitable-work">Here are just a couple of foundations making a difference this Christmas season:</a> <h3></h3> <ul> <li><strong>The Convoy of Care</strong> – Founded in 2016, Convoy of Care delivers critical supplies to families in need after natural disasters. They have delivered supplies to multiple states across the US and even found a way to get supplies to the Bahamas.</li> </ul> <h3></h3> <ul> <li><strong>The American Logistics Aid Network</strong> – The ALAN provides free logistics support to disaster relief organizations before, during and after natural disasters.</li> </ul> <h3></h3> <ul> <li><strong>CFI</strong> – CFI has been donating through its Truckloads of Treasure event since 1993 and has collected over $800,000 in donations from employees and contractors alike. They choose multiple charities to support each year and even hold fundraising events like chili cook-offs, silent auctions and ugly sweater contests.</li> </ul> <h3></h3> <ul> <li><strong>XPO Logistics</strong> – XPO supports the Ohio based non-profit, Elves and More which helped surprise over 800 children with bikes during the 2018 holidays. They even donated 500 bikes for a Christmas in July event this past summer.</li> </ul> <h3></h3> <ul> <li><strong>Wreaths Across America</strong> – Drivers throughout the industry look forward to participating in Wreaths Across America, a foundation that coordinates wreath laying ceremonies at more than 1,600 locations across the nation. Drivers support by delivering wreaths to different locations and even participating in the wreath laying events.</li> </ul>

Dec 05, 2019 • Carriers