PeopleNet

2012 Innovator of the Year

American Central Transport Liberty, Missouri Missouri carrier develops new recruiting and driver pay programs to tackle driver shortage and improve fuel economy Escalating fuel prices and an ongoing driver shortage remain top worries for motor carriers nationwide. Even if companies are able to fill empty seats, fuel prices ...

By Jeff Crissey Published April 1, 2012

Beyond Driving

Today’s technology speeds driver-office interaction, workflow Until recently, new drivers for TransAm Trucking were being trained for 2½ hours on how to record hours of service properly on paper logbooks. Now training takes 15 minutes, and no paper is involved. “The learning curve is much less,” ...

By Aaron Huff Published March 1, 2012

Technology

Mobility on speed dial Smartphones expand technology options Smartphones are spreading like wildfire throughout the transportation industry. Executives, managers and drivers are consuming new apps that increase their connectivity and productivity. The cloud computing model – a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet – quickly has ...

By Aaron Huff Published March 1, 2012

Technology

Making the latest technology developments work for your fleet Zero tolerance? It takes more than policy to remove cell phone distractions Before the sun rose on March 26, 2010, a semi-truck departed the left lane of southbound Interstate 65 near Munfordville, Ky. After crossing a 60-foot-wide median into ...

By Aaron Huff Published January 4, 2012

Technology

Pay it forward Insurance providers and carriers reap rewards from technology Of all the technologies available to manage safety and compliance, do any qualify for instant discounts from insurance providers? For years, the answer has been resoundingly no. Traditionally, insurance companies have looked past technology to evaluate risk ...

By CCJ Staff Published December 1, 2011

Wired to Roll

5 ways consumer tech is impacting the trucking industry While eating dinner at a truckstop, a driver for U.S. Xpress uses an iPhone to select his next load. With corporate connectivity outside the cab, the driver gets his top choice in loads, and U.S. Xpress accelerates ...

By Aaron Huff Published November 1, 2011

Technology

Controlling more freight Carriers expand services through customer relationships, technology In June 2004, Robert Pike and Scott Smith started P&S Transportation after buying a 20-truck owner-operator fleet in Birmingham, Ala. Today, the company is an irregular-route flatbed carrier with 700 trucks and operates additional dedicated flatbed carriage, ...

By Aaron Huff Published November 1, 2011

Technology

Making the latest technology developments work for your fleet The right to harass Is it legal to use electronic logs to improve productivity? Motor carriers have an affirmative duty to neither require nor permit drivers to violate federal regulations. And when drivers and owner-operators accept a job, they ...

By Aaron Huff Published October 6, 2011

Aaron Huff

Timing is everything Trimble’s acquisition of PeopleNet provides continuity insurance The Internet was mostly a novelty when Ron Konezny, a telecommunications consultant, teamed up with some private investors to incorporate PeopleNet in 1994. To finance this new venture, the company offered stock to friends and family. During the ...

By Aaron Huff Published September 1, 2011

Technology

Training on demand New technologies add virtual driving instructors By Aaron Huff In an ideal world, training drivers in safety, fuel economy and other performance areas would be an automated process, similar to how fleets track shipments or invoice customers. Surprisingly, such a scenario is close to reality. Today, ...

By Aaron Huff Published August 5, 2011