Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024:
New freight-fraud prevention tool now available
QuikSkope, a fraud protection tool securing the chain of custody for brokers, carriers and shippers, officially launched Tuesdsay.
Unlike other supply chain visibility tools, the company said QuikSkope is uniquely designed to provide real-time, load-level verification and security protocols to combat fraud and criminal activity at the ground level.
Using geofencing and photo verification, QuikSkope allows shippers and brokers to confirm that a driver associated with the carrier hired is physically on-site at the pickup location before a pickup number is released.
In addition to QuikSkope’s verification process, if fraud is detected or verification fails, QuikSkope will not release the pickup number and customers will be notified via email. The customer then can see the photo provided and intervene by manually approving the pickup number release or calling the carrier and notifying them they need to be replaced for failure to verify their identity. Bad actors will be reported and documented in real-time with QuikSkope making their findings available to those pursuing criminals and con artists.
“With over 75 years of experience between our team in the logistics industry, we’ve all experienced first-hand the devastating financial results of freight fraud and the snowball effect it can have on relationships between carriers and brokers,” said Michael Fullam, QuikSkope’s founder. “Our goal with QuikSkope was to make it as simple as possible for drivers to navigate the verification process and for brokers and shippers to respond. Clicking a text message link and uploading a quick photo encourages compliance by eliminating the need to download and employ yet another application and ultimately secures the full chain of custody.”
Many of today’s supply chain verification tools are focused on vetting carriers before they are hired to verify that their identities are correct, and they have the proper authority to operate. QuikSkope’s goal is not to replace that process, but to add another layer of security at the individual load level to ensure the carrier and driver hired are the ones that are executing the load, reducing double brokering, the company said.
QuikSkope offers the flexibility of deployment on a per-load basis or through a subscription plan.
J.J. Keller seeks fleet manager feedback in survey
The J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights has launched its fourth annual State of Fleet Management survey.
The benchmarking survey aims to gain valuable insights into the challenges faced by fleet managers, enabling the transportation industry to better understand their priorities and constraints as these change over time.
The survey, which is now open, will run through Monday, Feb. 12.
Fleet managers are encouraged to participate and share their experiences by accessing the survey here.
The J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights will share the survey results with the public through transportation media outlets, social media platforms and a webcast.
"Fleet managers play a critical role in the transportation sector, and their challenges and priorities are constantly evolving," said Susan Baranczyk, head of corporate communications at J. J. Keller & Associates. "Through our State of Fleet Management survey, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of their pain points and provide actionable insights to help them overcome these challenges."
The survey covers a wide range of topics, including regulatory compliance, safety, driver knowledge and skill, and leadership buy-in. Fleet managers from all sectors are encouraged to participate and contribute to this research.
Truck parking funding legislation picks up more support
A bill introduced in both chambers of Congress has continued to gain bipartisan support. The Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act is now up to 14 co-sponsors in the Senate and 41 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.
Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania) is the latest Senator to sign on in support of the legislation, while Reps. Donald Davis (D-North Carolina) and Deborah Ross (D-North Carolina) each joined as co-sponsors to the House version.
The bill was introduced in both the Senate and House in March 2023 and would provide $755 million in competitive grant funding to expand commercial truck parking capacity across the country.
The Senate version has seen no action since its introduction. The House version was passed by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in May, but has yet to see action on the full House floor.
