The Trucker News Staff

CLEVELAND — ContainerPort Group announced Wednesday the release of DrayPal, a mobile app designed exclusively for CPG owner operators, available on both iOS and Android devices. “With the launch of DrayPal, we are demonstrating our commitment to helping our owner operators run a smarter business,” TJ Frye, vice president of business innovation at CPG, said. “We developed the app using insights from our owner operators as a guide, which ensured it would provide them the game-changing solution they needed to work more efficiently and profitably.” “DrayPal’s interface provides a single place for drivers to manage critical documentation like credentials and endorsements, and view weekly gross revenue estimates, helping each driver hit their goals and run a smarter business,” a news release stated. “Instead of keeping physical paperwork in their cab at all times, or making multiple phone calls to track down information, owner operators can simply log in to DrayPal and find the information they need, getting them back on the road quickly and safely.” Partnering with Headstorm, DrayPal was built utilizing practices for user-centered design, including feedback gathering, listening sessions, and beta-testing with end users. “We put the needs of our owner operators first and turned to them for input regarding design and deliverables for DrayPal,” Dan Ambroziak, vice president of IT at CPG, said. “Their feedback regarding critical, must-have capabilities was essential in ensuring that we focused on what mattered most in addressing their everyday pain points.” The app’s features include: Settlements Management: Run a smarter business by estimating weekly revenue with convenient, comprehensive summaries of past settlements. Weekly Load Activity: Easily track estimated revenue and see dray, fuel and accessorials for each move completed. Staying Connected: Stay in the loop with in-app notifications for upcoming expirations, chargebacks, and important updates. Access To Documents: One place to manage credentials, endorsements, insurance information, tax documents, and inspections. View Safety Snapshots: Monitor safety progress and stay on-track with real-time insights into CSA and Samsara safety scores. Features Coming Soon: Set weekly goals, see fuel and highway tax deductions and so much more. “At CPG, we are continuously looking for new ways to help our growing roster of owner operators improve their business metrics,” Joey Palmer, president of CPG, said. “We understood the need for a custom solution and were committed to bringing it to our drivers quickly, using their feedback as guidance throughout the process. All parties are committed to making this a tool that evolves and changes as needed.”

SEATTLE — Zonar has announced that its Electronic Logging Device solution, Zonar Logs™, received third party certification from Transport Canada’s accreditation body, COMDriver, for use by Canadian fleets and federally regulated carriers crossing the U.S. and Canada border. For fleets that travel across the U.S.-Canada border, full enforcement of the Canadian ELD mandate begins on Jan. 1, 2023. In addition to receiving certification, Zonar Logs also meets the Canadian ELD Hours of Service requirement for fleets to switch from using paper logbooks to track HOS to ELDs. “Zonar Logs makes adoption and use simple for drivers by providing automated status updates based on vehicle data and alerts when approaching a violation. Zonar Logs also helps fleet managers monitor a driver’s live status, real-time location and avoid violations,” a news release stated. “The rigorous testing was completed over a several-week period.” “Zonar has worked with Transport Canada, the Canadian Trucking Alliance, and CCMTA on certification since the inception of Canada’s ELD mandate by providing input on ELD standards throughout the process,” Fred Fakkema, vice president of compliance at Zonar, said. “With more than 30 percent of U.S.-based freight companies conducting business in Canada, we feel that we’re best equipped to set our customers up for a successful transition and ensure compliance.” Key Compliance Features of Zonar Logs: Third Party Certification checks all the boxes from Transport Canada and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for certified use by federally regulated carriers in the U.S. and Canada. Compliance Insights provide managers with key driver data such as live status reports, availability, performance, and hours of service. Automated Regulation Updates ensure that as regulations evolve, drivers and fleet managers avoid violations and stay compliant. Zonar’s Dedicated Team of Experts make HOS compliance easier for drivers, managers, and law enforcement by providing around-the-clock support as well as educational resources. “By now, fleets should know whether or not their ELD vendors are certified and that they understand the difference in requirements for HOS,” Fakkema said. “Zonar conducts regular webinars and training programs to help fleets understand the differences between the U.S. and Canadian mandates, know which exemptions apply to their fleet, and develop a law-enforcement checklist to guide drivers through roadside inspections.”  

AVON, Ohio — All trucks get dirty. But some jobs are dirtier than others and require extra care to prevent contamination and corrosion that can affect brake performance and safety. This installment of the Bendix Tech Tips series provides fleets and drivers with advice on protecting wheel-ends in off-highway and severe-duty applications where dust and dirt can accumulate quickly and damage components. Chamber Checks “Air chambers have been required on air-braked commercial vehicles in the United States for decades, so the spring brake has been a crucial part of wheel-end safety for a long time now,” said Mark Holley, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions, Wheel-End. “By design, they help ensure you still have brakes even if you have a wheel-end that’s inoperable. Keeping the spring within the brake chamber intact and corrosion-free is key to maintaining this capability – a broken power spring is the number-one reason for failure, most often caused by contaminants that get into the chamber and weaken the spring.” It’s a critical enough component that the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Recommended Practice 604D stresses, “Always replace service or spring brake chambers if there is evidence of significant corrosion damage. Any holes that penetrate through the spring housing or service housing are dangerous and are cause for the chamber to be replaced immediately.” While standard chambers are manufactured with drain holes to prevent buildup of corrosive moisture inside, there’s an added risk of these holes becoming clogged by dirt or debris on trucks that operate in environments like construction sites, or on vehicles like cement trucks with axles that are regularly exposed to high levels of grit and dust. The same can be said of chambers on the axles of some types of bottom-dump trailers. Protecting the spring brake chamber life in these applications requires a combination of regular cleaning and inspection. “When the truck is in for regular maintenance or lubrication every 45 to 60 days, use a plastic pin to clear dust from the air holes,” Holley said. “If they’re blocked, then that spring is going to fail at some point. Then, remove the dust plug so you can use an air hose to clean the chamber. Don’t forget to replace the dust plug afterward. You should also use a pressure washer to clean the exterior, but again – you’ve got to make sure the drain holes are clear first so you don’t trap water in the chamber housing.” Added Protection There are also specialized parts you can add to in-service vehicles that will enhance protection against contaminants getting where you don’t want them. If you find you’re replacing spring brakes more often than expected, then consider switching to sealed spring brakes, which are engineered to prevent damaging elements from entering. There are a few different designs on the market. “The buildup of contaminants can also affect friction performance and durability, so Bendix also recommends pad shields for air disc brakes and dust shields for drums that go on the inboard side of the brake,” Holley said. “And again, make sure you’re taking a look at these components during regular preventive maintenance.” In the case of drum brake dust shields, check the mounting bolt torque: If you see egg-shaped holes or dents in the shield, then the bolt has likely been loose for a while and the shield will need to be replaced. Shield damage can also occur if the part is interfering with the drum or brake lining. “Don’t overlook friction selection in these applications,” said Holley. “High-duty cycle or severe-duty friction is designed to handle heavy loads, higher temperatures, and frequent stops. These frictions will give fleets better performance and longer service life.” Holley advises to not select a friction with a higher weight rating than you’re running – assuming it will provide the extra stopping power these applications demand. Always choose friction for your GAWR,” Holley advises. Don’t Overlook Lubrication Keeping the brakes’ cam tubes and slack adjusters properly greased is also of heightened importance in high dirt/dust environments, according to Kevin Pfost, Bendix technical service coordinator. “When you force new lubricant in, you’re also purging the old grease, along with any contaminants that have gotten in there,” Pfost said. “And the dustier the environment, the faster that grease loses its ability to protect and lubricate. In a slack adjuster, that’s going to affect your brake stroke and impede stopping performance.” With a little extra care and the right maintenance and equipment choices, you can protect your trucks and drivers – even when things get dirty. Information in the Bendix Tech Tips series can be found in the Bendix multimedia center at knowledge-dock.com. Further instructional videos and interactive training on stability systems and other safety technologies are available at the Bendix On-Line Brake School, www.brake-school.com. For more information, contact the Bendix Tech Team at 1-800-AIR-BRAKE.  

HOUSTON — Fr8Tech’s wholly owned Mexican subsidiary, Freight App de Mexico, SA de CV, is on schedule to automate alignment with CFDI 4.0, a legal requirement for companies that are registered to Mexico’s Tax Administration Service (SAT). Fr8App’s footprint in Mexico is extensive, providing only the foremost service to their clients and suppliers through technology. “We are on schedule to be prepared to support our clients with the new tax requirements by July 2022 and we will help our clients comply with this essential fiscal reporting requirement, which will allow us to reinforce our business relationships in Mexico,” Javier Selgas, CEO of Freight Technologies and Fr8App, said. “By addressing complex tax compliance issues with technology and automation, we increase the value-added nature of our services for anyone that requires CFDI compliance. We believe that smaller carriers can’t afford to develop these solutions in a timely way on their own, so our ability to provide them with an automated tool increases our value proposition for them.” CFDI 4.0 is the new version of the Internet Digital Tax Receipt, which will be used by taxpayers to issue their electronic invoices, replacing the previous version (CFDI 3.3). Reporting all transactions using the CFDI 4.0 standard was initially set to be mandatory as of July 2022, but the tax authorities granted an extension to January 2023. The new 4.0 version includes fields to identify the operations where there is an export of goods, identifies if the operations covered by the receipt are subject to indirect taxes and it incorporates new sections to report information regarding operations with the general public; as well as those that are made on behalf of third parties. Non-compliance could result in fines or halting of deliveries with non-compliant paperwork.