It wasn't too long ago that fuel prices were lingering between $3.80 and $4.40 per gallon. At that point many companies took an aggressive stance on fuel conservation. However, for most it was just a flavor of the month. Many companies jumped on the U.S. EPA "SmartWay" bandwagon, which is designed to improve fuel efficiencies and reduced the environmental impact. That is all well and good but unfortunately, if a company doesn't have an aggressive fuel conservation program in place, being "SmartWay" certified should be considered consistent with permitting the tail to wag the dog. Or maybe Ready, Shoot, Aim is a more apt metaphor.... Read More

Since our last discussion in November, countless cultures across the world gathered with family and friends to celebrate various holidays, festivals and traditions. As a nation, our pride rests within our ability to practice these pillars of freedom, perseverance and faith, and recognizing the importance of spending time in reflection.... Read More

There always seems to be some "expert" or "guru" proclaiming they know the best and newest way to profitability, employee retention, or how to get another 15 miles out of a tank of fuel.

I will be the first to point out that industry issues need to be addressed and information disseminated for the benefit of everyone. This is part of what I do, and the lack of current and up to date information about industry issues can be scary.... Read More

Part IV: Moving from Administering Human Resources to Measuring the Workforce Investment

What Employee Optimization Can Tell Managers

Managers in the trucking industry have invested in workforce management tools, but until recently most money was spent to manage human resources from an administrative point of view. The true power of employee optimization is its ability to show cause and effect. It identifies problems that cut into profitability and shows how investments in human resources pay off.... Read More

Part I

A sound measurement framework is something every successful fleet operation would like to have. Yet today, most measurement systems focus on asset utilization or production as measurement of revenue per mile. Most fleets measure time and mileage carefully, but beyond that, few have a method for understanding the effective use of their workforce.... Read More

Trucking company CEOs have a deep concern for the future availability of qualified drivers as the combined impact of CSA 2010, increasing freight levels and aging demographics begin to unfold.... Read More

Your P & L statement is a useful tool, giving you a snapshot of how you're doing for a specific period of time. However, you can increase the value of the statement as an analytical tool by comparing it to your budget, your past performance and other drivers at your carrier, or in the industry.... Read More

Preserving evidence in the event of an accident is crucial to minimizing one's liability exposure. This is Part 4 in a nine part series of related discussions. The full list of the parts to this series appears following this installment.

A key component of the physical evidence in any truck accident is the data available from any ECM or EOBR on the power unit or straight truck involved. One should attempt to promptly identify the types of devices that are on the unit, and to have someone with the requisite expertise download and retain the data. It is imperative to confirm the devices before the unit is moved at the scene, as sometimes merely restarting the engine, or a subsequent "hard stop", can erase data. ... Read More

How much money am I making? How are certain actions affecting my business? How much do I owe in taxes? What are my problem areas? Is my budget accurate?

The Profit and Loss Statement (P & L), also called the Income Statement or Earnings Statement, is one of the most valuable financial reports for viewing the status of your business. It measures your revenue and expenses during a specified period of time and shows your financial progress for that time period. The massive amount of numbers listed on the P & L statement can often be confusing and intimidating but understanding what they all mean can help you answer the important questions listed above.... Read More

My favorite productivity analogy is this - Managing Driver Productivity is like Maintaining a Truck - and the following discussion explains why this analogy is so appropriate.

Truck manufacturers publish, and fleet operating companies establish, preventative maintenance (PM) programs that assure optimal equipment performance. Each component of a truck (engine, drivetrain, fuel system, etc...) has specific maintenance activities and schedules required to keep it running at peak efficiency. ... Read More