Equipment & Tech

DENVER — SambaSafety, a provider of mobility risk data solutions, said it is offering an enhancement to itsr Qorta monitoring platform. By incorporating CSA and motor vehicle records data (MVR) into a single monitoring solution, SambaSafety now provides the regulated trucking industry with a comprehensive driver monitoring solution in transportation, according to Steve Bryan, executive vice president and general manager of SambaSafety Transportation. “Since our initial launch of MVR monitoring solutions back in January, we are very excited to now include CSA monitoring into the Qorta platform,” Bryan said. “Qorta should be the platform of choice for any organization that is truly committed to enabling a culture of safety. A reactive mindset cannot form the foundation to support a positive safety culture.” With the Qorta monitoring platform, safety managers can proactively stay ahead of new roadside inspections and violations through near-real-time information summarized via carrier and driver scorecards, Bryan said. Also enabled is a preview of the new CSA item response theory model, mandated by the FAST Act. Planned for release this year, the model utilizes IRT methodology to measure a motor carrier’s safety culture with a single score. Bryan said Qorta’s comprehensive monitoring solution, Q Transportation offers a unique ability to continuously monitor drivers for violations, license status, medical certifications and endorsements, on- or off-duty, or in company or personal vehicles. By aggregating CSA and MVR data, robust scorecards elevate data into actionable intelligence, and empower decision-makers to enhance their safety culture through dramatic improvements in cost savings, productivity, a company’s image, and overall safety and stability. Since 1998, SambaSafety has been a North American provider of cloud-based mobility risk management software solutionsfor organizations with commercial and non-commercial drivers. Through the collection, correlation and analysis of driver information, Bryan said SambaSafety helps employers identify high-risk drivers and enforce safety policies; insurers to make informed decisions; and background screeners to perform accurate, efficient pre-hire checks. For more information, visit www.sambasafety.com.    

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bridgestone Americas has made a new addition to its fuel-efficient Bridgestone Ecopia commercial truck tire portfolio. The Bridgestone R123 Ecopia tire is a SmartWay verified trailer tire the company said is engineered to deliver low rolling resistance and exceptional wear in long-haul and regional service applications. Because of to its low rolling resistance design, the Bridgestone R123 Ecopia tire delivers nearly $400 in fuel savings over 100,000 miles when compared to the Bridgestone Ecopia R197 tire, according to Kyle Chen, brand manager, truck and bus radial tires, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO). “Bridgestone Ecopia tires are designed with features that reduce fuel consumption, and they are engineered to be fit for retreading later on, making them a smart, sustainable business choice for fleets on a number of levels,” Chen said. “Fuel-efficient tires that also deliver big on performance are a demonstration of our dedication to help lower the total cost of tire ownership and drive efficient mobility for all fleets.” Chen said the Bridgestone R123 Ecopia tire is engineered with features such as an IntelliShape sidewall designed to reduce the overall tire weight and minimize rolling resistance. The tire also uses patented NanoPro-Tech polymer technology to limit energy loss and help improve fuel economy, he said. Additional innovations include: A fuel-efficient tread design to lower rolling resistance and improve fuel economy An innovative tread pattern to increase traction and grip on wet roads, as well as absorption of tread edge stress to promote long, even wear An optimized tread volume that allows for long removal mileage, and; A specialized defense groove structure that helps establish even pressure at the tire shoulder and minimize tread edge wear. “Fleets can leverage fuel-efficient tires and retreads together to extend the life of their tire casings, further reduce fuel costs and lower the total cost of tire ownership,” Chen said. “Designed to maximize the total tire lifecycle, the Bridgestone R123 Ecopia tire provides excellent retreadability and works together with Bandag FuelTech retreads to capitalize on tire performance potential, drive down fuel costs and make mobility more efficient for fleets.” To learn more about the Bridgestone portfolio of Ecopia fuel-efficient tires, click here.    

SAN DIEGO — Netradyne, a provider artificial intelligence (AI) technology focusing on driver and fleet safety, said recently that Driveri has captured and analyzed over 200 million miles of road data as of the second week in June. With one of the largest and most complete AI vision-based databases in the commercial transportation industry, the information collected by Driveri is not only being utilized for fleet safety, but also helping to drive the autonomous vehicle (AV) industry forward, according to Netradyne President Sandeep Pandya. There are 2.7 million miles of paved roads in the United States, of which Netradyne has captured and analyzed over 1 million unique miles. The speed in which Netradyne is able to garner this data pays tribute to its rapidly expanding subscriber base, Pandya said. Each of these 200-plus million miles has been analyzed with AI and collected by professional drivers covering real road miles. With a subscriber base of users covering the entirety of U.S. roadways, Driveri is able to collect data coast to coast while also making numerous passes over these roads to provide deeper insights into the same road in different conditions throughout the year. “The HD mapping data and driver behavioral models being captured by Driveri daily will be a key component to the future of driving technology, including advancing AVs as they come to market,” said Avneesh Agrawal, CEO of Netradyne. “We believe we have the largest and most comprehensive AI vision-based database in the commercial transportation industry. Our network sees everything from congested roads in metro areas to stretches of rural highways, often many times, providing insights that no other company can.” The road to making AVs a reality in every day life is a complex one that will take companies working hand-in-hand to ensure driver and passenger safety. Netradyne’s ability to make numerous passes on the same road, which Driveri does, will complement other technologies to move the industry into the future, Agrawal said. “As a team with deep-rooted knowledge and experience within the transportation and technology industries, we are excited to use this vast know-how along with the sheer amount of miles mapped to keep our drivers and roadways safe, while launching the transportation industry forward,” Pandya said. “It’s a thrilling time to be a part of the ride!” Founded in 2015, Pandya said Netradyne leverages global technology centers in San Diego and Bangalore to push the boundaries of intelligent connectivity. For more information about Driveri or to inquire about commercial vehicle safety tools, please visit  www.netradyne.com.    

COLUMBUS, Ind. — According to ACT Research’s latest release of the North American Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK, current Class 8 build rates suggest upside to the 2019 forecast, but large new truck inventories and deteriorating freight and rate conditions suggest erring on the side of caution remains the right call: When the change comes, it is likely to come fast. “Since March 2018, ACT’s forecasts have targeted third quarter 2019 as the quarter in which the supply of Class 8 tractors and demand for freight services were likely to tip so far as to break the current period of peak vehicle production, as demand reverts to the mean,” said Steve Tam, ACT’s vice president. “Current data and anecdotes make a strong case that the call for a third quarter 2019 inflection point expectation remains intact.” Regarding heavy vehicle demand, Tam said, “At the heart of our cycle duration prediction, carrier profitability and production peaks always lag the freight cycle, so capacity building always accelerates relative to freight growth at exactly the wrong time. Hence, cycle duration ultimately comes down to timing and excluding the pre-buy and housing bubble impacted 2004-2006 cycle, peak of cycle build rates has historically lasted between 13 and 15 months. For this Class 8 cycle, we date peak build rates to June 2018, so we are currently in 12 months.” Regarding ACT’s medium duty forecasts, Tam said slower orders are negating upward pressure previously exerted on the forecast. “For trucks, segment analysis preliminary May orders were more than 2,500 units below the 12-month trend, with similar developments in the bus and RV segments leading to a like comparison for the total Classes 5-7 market,” he said. ACT Research is a publisher of commercial vehicle truck, trailer, and bus industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American and China markets. ACT’s analytical services are used by all major North American truck and trailer manufacturers and their suppliers, as well as banking and investment companies. More information can be found at www.actresearch.net.    

MONROVIA, Calif. — Double Coin and CMA, a tire manufacturer and marketer say their Thailand manufacturing facility is now working at full capacity to produce over-the-road (OTR) and truck bus and radial (TBR) products. “Our new Thailand manufacturing facility has full OTR and TRB availability and the production capacity to fulfill container-level orders,” said Tim Phillips vice president of marketing operations for Double Coin/CMA. “Not only does this production facility have the capacity to meet the demand for commercial tire products, we are offering them at competitive prices since they are not subject to anti-dumping and countervailing duties or tariffs penalties associated with products produced in China. With many of our competitors having to rely on China alone, Double Coin customers will be in an excellent purchasing position in the face of product shortages and higher prices from China.” Phillips said some U.S. suppliers claim they have production availability in Vietnam or Thailand, but it remains to be seen if older plants in these areas that are already running at full capacity can offer any additional TBR and OTR products. “The combination of our new state-of-art manufacturing facility and warehousing in Thailand where we can offer very competitive pricing, Double Coin is emerging as the clear choice for TBR and OTR tire products,” Phillips said. Built on a 3.6 million square-foot site, the Thailand facility has the capacity to manufacture over 1.8 million TBR tires as well as over 50,000 OTR tires. The entire plant is controlled by the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and is integrated with the SAP management system. Plans for expansion at the Thailand facility are currently underway. “In addition to our production capacity at our Thailand facility, we currently have full capacity of Double Coin tires at our five warehouses in Memphis, Tennessee, Rancho Cucamonga, California, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, San Jose, Costa Rica, and Queretaro, Mexico,” Phillips said. For more information about Double Coin Tires, visit www.doublecointires.com.  

MARKHAM, Ontario, Canada — CarriersEdge, a provider of online driver training for the trucking industry, has expanded its library of training courses. The company recently added two courses in its Practical Cargo Securement library, plus a bloodborne pathogens and a spotted lanternfly course. CarriersEdge also said it has added Spanish versions to two existing courses — “Lift Truck Operator Skills” and “Distracted Driving.” The new courses for cargo securement — on securing paper rolls and concrete pipes — expands the list of cargo securement courses CarriersEdge offers to 10. All CarriersEdge cargo securement courses are based on the Practical Cargo Securement handbook published by Techni-Com. “Practical Cargo Securement is considered the gold standard guide for cargo securement in North America,” said Jane Jazrawy, CarriersEdge co-founder and CEO. “Through our partnership with Techni-Com, CarriersEdge is the only driver training provider with exclusive rights to generate courses on its contents. This allows us to develop meaningful courses that help drivers improve their load securement practices.” The “Requirements for Paper Rolls” securement course details the special requirements needed to transport one or more paper rolls with a combined weight of 5,000 pounds or more. The course covers the importance of correctly restraining paper rolls, describes the common methods to properly secure paper rolls, as well as how to secure paper rolls with different orientations. The “Requirements for Concrete Pipes,” course details special requirements needed to transport one or more concrete pipes loaded onto a flatbed trailer, using the loading method of ‘eyes crosswise’ to prevent rolling. The course breaks down the importance of correctly securing concrete pipes, devices used to properly fasten concrete pipes and things to consider before loading concrete pipes onto a trailer. The course also includes techniques on how to properly secure concrete pipes on a flatbed trailer. Also new to CarriersEdge subscribers is a course on bloodborne pathogens, titled “Bloodborne Pathogens Safety Awareness.” This course is designed to help drivers understand the hazards associated with bloodborne pathogens and provide guidance on how to stay safe in potential exposure areas. Bloodborne pathogens are disease-causing micro-organisms that are transmitted through bodily fluid. After completing the course, drivers will be able to identify major bloodborne pathogens, how they are transmitted and what to do if exposed. Drivers will also learn ways to minimize the spread of an infection, and how to properly dispose of contaminated material. For those travelling through the Northeast region of the U.S., the “Preventing the Spread of Spotted Lanternfly” course CarriersEdge now offers teaches drivers how to identify a spotted lanternfly in different stages of its lifecycle, the threat spotted lanternfly poses, and how to kill, remove the eggs and report a spotted lanternfly sighting. The course also explains how to avoid having the insect attach to your vehicle and where it might “hide.” The spotted lanternfly is indigenous to parts of Asia, but has recently been found primarily in Pennsylvania, where there is a quarantine. The invasive insect is considered a threat to vegetation and valuable crops in the area. Lastly, CarriersEdge continues to offer courses in other languages. “We just added Spanish versions for our “Lift Truck Operator Skills” and “Distracted Driving” courses,” said Jazrawy. “Our goal is to help fleets become safer, and these additions are great resources for our clients to achieve that.”    

ELYRIA, Ohio — Every day, a growing number of fleets and owner-operators adopt the Bendix Wingman family of solutions, which is marking a decade of innovation, progress and helping to enhance the safety of vehicles and roadways across North America. “When we introduced the earliest generation of our Wingman product, we listened to what our customers were saying and knew it had the potential to provide significant value for fleets,” said Scott Burkhart, Bendix vice president – sales, marketing, and business development. “Our aim was to provide another effective building block that helped to deliver total lower cost of ownership and to maximize vehicle safety, reliability, and performance for fleets across North America. Ten years later, that approach is still driving us, as the current Wingman — Bendix Wingman Fusion — continues to evolve, and as we work closely with partners across the industry to shape tomorrow’s transportation.” Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems launched Bendix Wingman ACB — Active Cruise with Braking in March 2009. Then, two years later, Bendix Wingman Advanced — A Collision Mitigation Technology fulfilled the next step in the company’s safety technology road map, followed in 2015 by Wingman Fusion, Bendix’s flagship collision mitigation technology, currently in its second generation. “The foundational technology of all the Wingman systems goes back even further, to 2005, when we introduced the Bendix ESP Electronic Stability Program, which was North America’s first widely available commercial vehicle full-stability system,” said TJ Thomas, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions — controls. “With Bendix ESP in place, it was clear that additional safety advancements could be brought to market using full stability as the base. The vision of using ESP as the cornerstone to build active cruise control, collision mitigation, and Bendix  Wingman Fusion was all there very early on.” Prior to the launch of Wingman ACB, Bendix acquired the VORAD  (Vehicle On-Board Radar) radar-based collision mitigation system, which enabled forward collision warning and blind spot monitoring capabilities. The knowledge gained in radars, control algorithms, alert strategies, and component testing as a result of the VORAD acquisition fast-forwarded Bendix’s learning by several years. “When Wingman  Advanced came along in 2011, that’s really where we saw a big jump in adoption, because it works whether or not cruise control is activated – and again, we improved all the component technologies along the way as well,” Thomas said. “Once fleets saw it in action, and saw that it worked, and saw a reduction in rear-end accidents, they realized there’s a direct return on investment.” Take rates for Wingman Advanced more than quadrupled that of Wingman ACB, and the technology became available through almost all major North American Class 5-8 truck manufacturers, achieving standard position on models at Kenworth Truck Company, Peterbilt Motors Company, Mack Trucks, Volvo Trucks North America, and International Trucks. Wingman Fusion saw a similar advancement in its feature set: Bendix took something good and made it better, adding a forward-facing camera, deeper system integration, and new features including Lane Departure Warning, overspeed alerts and intervention, and – one of the crucial keys as the system became more complex – alert prioritization. What positions Fusion at the leading edge of safety and driver assistance is its integration of information from multiple sources “fused” together, and not just in parallel. Like its predecessor, Wingman Fusion is available on almost all major commercial truck brands, and has achieved standard position on many models. Across North America, a growing number of fleets of varying size, location, and vocation spec Wingman Fusion, reporting significant reductions in rear-end collisions – as much as 90 percent – and decreased severity of those that did occur. Also speaking to the effectiveness of systems like Bendix Wingman is the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) annual “Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements.” The latest installment, released in February, picks up a goal it has named in previous years: to increase implementation of collision avoidance systems in all new highway vehicles. In this year’s list, the NTSB recommends that commercial vehicle manufacturers include forward collision avoidance system as standard, noting that the number of combination trucks involved in fatal crashes in 2017 increased nearly 6 percent from 2016. “The men and women driving these trucks are also sharing positive feedback, including higher satisfaction with Bendix’s radar-and-camera systems than with radar-only technologies,” Thomas said. “And that’s not surprising, as more information about a situation – delivered into the system by two sensors instead of one – typically enables a more accurate reaction to a specific situation.” The next generation of Wingman  Fusion, launched in 2018, helps drivers deal with even more uncertainties on the road, adding highway departure braking, ACB (Active Cruise with Braking) Stop & Driver Go, ACB Auto-Resume, and multi-lane emergency braking to its features, along with even more enhanced collision mitigation and braking capabilities. Fusion can also now provide full braking power on the tractor, compared with the two-thirds power previously possible, along with pulsing air back to the trailer to provide trailer braking, whether the trailer has an ABS/TRSP unit. Combined with improved sensor and data analysis, this means that in many emergency situations, the system can reduce a vehicle’s speed by as much as 50 miles per hour. Never resting in its development cycle, Thomas said the company notes that the latest generation of Wingman Fusion is poised for release later in 2019. And to help keep fleets equipped with the latest safety technologies, Bendix Wingman  Advanced™ and Wingman Fusion are available for retrofitting on vehicles already equipped with Bendix  ESP . This enhances safety while also contributing to an improved driver experience vehicle to vehicle. Bendix emphasizes that no technology can replace a safe, alert, professional driver practicing safe driving habits, supported by proactive, ongoing driver training. Active safety systems are not intended to enable or encourage aggressive driving, and responsibility for safe vehicle operation remains with the driver at all times. “Ten years after Bendix introduced Wingman  to the drivers and roads of North America,” Burkhart said, “what was once new and felt experimental is now a combination of proven technologies making a difference every day and helping to pave the way toward a future of safer vehicles and highways for everyone.”  

DETROIT — Would you pay more for a car or SUV that warns you if you’re falling asleep or not paying attention behind the wheel? Auto companies are figuring that because your life could depend on it, you will. As safety features such as automatic emergency braking and lane-centering make their way from luxury vehicles down to lower-cost rides for the masses, distracted driver alert systems are coming with them. At last month’s New York International Auto Show, Hyundai and Subaru both announced such systems in mainstream vehicles. Every day, at least nine people are killed in the U.S. and 100 are injured in distracted driving crashes, according to the National Safety Council. Drivers who are preoccupied by cellphones, dashboard touch screens and other distractions caused 3,157 fatal crashes in the U.S. in 2016, the latest year that government statistics were available. That’s 9% of all fatal crashes in the country. Distracted driver alert systems started showing up in luxury cars about a decade ago. Mercedes-Benz had a system that displayed a lighted coffee cup icon on the dashboard. Over the years they’ve become more sophisticated and made their way into mainstream vehicles, usually on pricier versions. For instance, Subaru’s “DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System” uses a dashboard camera to watch the driver’s eyes and face. If it sees the driver is looking away from the front of the vehicle for an extended period, it will beep and show the message “Keep eyes on road” on the dashboard. The system watches for heads nodding or someone talking on the phone or texting, or even looking into the back seat, said Subaru spokesman Ron Kiino. On the newly redesigned 2020 Outback SUV, the system will be standard on the three priciest versions, the Touring, Touring XT and the Limited XT, and it will be an option on the Limited, the lowest cost version with leather seats. No prices for those models have been announced, and it won’t be available on cheaper versions. The Subaru system made its debut as standard equipment on the luxury version of its Forester SUV for the 2019 model year. To get it, you have to buy the priciest version, the Touring, which starts at $35,270, more than $10,000 above the lowest-priced model. Hyundai’s system is standard on the Venue, an entry-level SUV that will start under $19,000. It doesn’t watch the driver’s face. Instead, it uses the same front-facing camera as the standard automatic emergency braking and lane assist. If you swerve or veer, the Venue’s software will sound a bell and the dash display will politely show a coffee cup and the words “Take a Break.” Hyundai’s market research found that people want the feature, said Mike Evanoff, senior manager of product planning. “It’s just another layer that’s a ‘got your back’ kind of thing,” he said. The warning system is already on Hyundai’s Veloster sports car and will make its way to the entire lineup as vehicles are updated and outfitted with standard automatic emergency braking by September of 2022 in an industry agreement with the U.S. government, Evanoff said. Subaru, which has made safety a cornerstone of its marketing efforts, says its buyers are safety conscious and will be interested in the feature, even if it costs more. And if the system is too annoying, customers can turn it off, Kiino said. Other systems on luxury vehicles are more sophisticated. The one on Cadillac’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous system makes sure the driver is paying attention and will even pull to the side of the road if they aren’t. Mercedes’ Attention Assist system tracks more than 70 variables including time of day, elapsed driving time and steering movement to determine if a driver is tired or not paying attention. When a certain threshold is reached, it issues audible and visible warnings. Karl Brauer, executive publisher for Kelley Blue Book, said the devices are proliferating as vehicles make the transition from human drivers to full automation. Systems like Tesla’s Autopilot and Super Cruise, which control steering, braking and speed under certain conditions, are steps toward autonomous cars, but they can’t drive themselves because humans must be ready to take over, he said. “If you’re going to have systems like that, you need these driver monitoring systems to make sure that humans aren’t abusing the technology,” Brauer said. But not everyone will be interested in being monitored. Chris Cerino, 49, of Wadsworth, Ohio, near Cleveland, said he’s old enough to know that he has to pay attention while driving. “That kind of stuff is not going to make a terrible difference for me now. I understand. I learned my lessons,” said Cerino, who is selling a 2009 Subaru Outback. Cerino said there’s too much automation these days, but conceded he would probably want the feature if he still had young children. Then again, he might turn it off. “There’s a time and place for a lot of things, but I don’t need to be told when to hit the brakes or when to swerve or everything else,” he said.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — Trimble says it has integrated its TMW.Suite transportation management solution with SaferWatch software, an online solution from Truckstop.com that provides carrier information and compliance monitoring. Now, TMW.Suite customers have the capability to more effectively manage sourcing and on-boarding of carriers with automated carrier selection rules, on-demand certificates of insurance, CSA-e percentile scores and other key data points to ensure users work with qualified carriers, according to Jay Delaney, senior director, product management for Trimble’s Transportation Division. TMW.Suite is one of Trimble’s transportation management system (TMS) solutions, which enable transportation and logistics providers to better manage nearly every aspect of their business, he said. Delaney said the new integration enables streamlined carrier approvals to help increase efficiency, decrease internal costs and scale for growth. In addition, the automated carrier selection rules will enable customers to better reduce the risk of on-boarding and working with carriers that do not comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations. This will help Trimble users ensure that their operations are up and running at all times without having to worry about being shut down. “The integration between TMW.Suite and SaferWatch is meant for user ease-of-use while Trimble users look to work with new partners,” Delaney said. “With SaferWatch’s focus on staying up-to-date on FMCSA regulations and its insurance database, our customers can be confident that they are working with qualified carriers.” “We are very excited to be announcing this integration with TMW.Suite. Automating carrier compliance and management through integration gives our mutual customers the freedom to do what they do best — move more freight,” said Mark Draeb, general manager of SaferWatch. SaferWatch, a product of Truckstop.com, is a transportation industry technology for motor carrier information and innovative risk management tools. Draeb said SaferWatch helps brokers, 3PL’s and other industry participants verify, onboard and monitor trucking companies in one intelligent platform. SaferWatch software is built on comprehensive motor carrier information featuring best-in-class CSA-e percentile scores and certificates of insurance. For more information, visit www.saferwatch.com. Truckstop.com was the internet’s first load board and the nation’s largest provider of spot market freight matching solutions. Learn more about Truckstop.com at www.truckstop.com. Trimble Transportation is multi-modal and provides solutions for the long-haul trucking, field service management, rail and construction logistics industries to create a fully integrated supply chain. In trucking, Trimble provides enterprise and mobility solutions focused on business intelligence and data analytics; safety and regulatory compliance; navigation and routing; freight brokerage; supply chain visibility and final mile; transportation management and fleet maintenance. For more information about Trimble Transportation, visit https://www.trimble.com/transportation-logistics.    

PHOENIX — HELP Inc., the provider of PrePass services, has changed its name to PrePass Safety Alliance. The new name better reflects the core mission and structure of the non-profit public/private partnership, according to CEO Karen Rasmussen. “Over more than a quarter-century, PrePass has become one of the most-recognized and trusted brands in the commercial trucking industry and with the agencies responsible for ensuring highway safety and protecting the infrastructure,” Rasmussen said. “As the organization grew geographically and technologically,  HELP’s board of directors determined it was time to adopt a name that reflected our commitment to highway safety and efficiency, as well as our unique public/private partnership.” HELP Inc. was chartered as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in 1993 following a multi-state, truck safety demonstration program to evaluate how best to pre-screen and weigh qualified, safe commercial vehicles at highway speeds and allow them to bypass weigh facilities. As an objective third-party entity, HELP was structured to ensure that the operation of the bypass system was balanced between safety and efficiency, and that carriers allowed to bypass were selected on the basis of strict adherence to standards of safety and compliance. The HELP name was an acronym for “Heavy-vehicle Electronic License Plate, Incorporated,” a term that loosely described the original transponders affixed near the license plates on the front of truck tractors and used for weigh station bypass in the early days of the program. While the original transponders soon moved into the truck cab, the name remained the same for over 26 years. Today, PrePass Safety Alliance continues to be comprised of member jurisdictions and governed by a board of directors made up equally of public sector and industry representatives. Rasmussen said these representatives provide oversight and strategic direction for the PrePass program and related safety services. The Alliance’s collaborative, non-profit approach is often cited as a model of how industry and government can work in partnership to improve highway safety, she said. The new name and accompanying logo apply to PrePass Safety Alliance only. The PrePass family of products and services, including the PrePass electronic bypass program and transponder, the PrePass Plus toll payment service, PrePass MOTION bypass app, ALERTS, PrePass ELD and the INFORM suite of data analysis products will retain their individual names and logos. For more information, visit www.prepass.com to learn more about PrePass products and services.    

SAN FRANCISCO — Vector, the mobile-first scanning and workflow management solution for the trucking industry, has closed a $12 million Series A funding round led by Goldcrest Capital with participation by 8VC and Congruent Ventures. Vector will use the Series A funding to continue to expand its back office document management solutions, enabling fleets to manage higher volumes of freight with fewer resources. Vector connects trucking fleets and their drivers in real time via the driver’s smartphone — drivers can take a perfect scan of paperwork and send it to the back office in seconds with Vector’s app. Drivers can also get real-time dispatch information about their past, current, and scheduled load pickups and drop-offs. For the back office, Vector pulls and indexes structured information from documents—like addresses, SKUs, and other information (including bar codes and handwriting) — eliminating manual processing. It integrates with existing systems (like TMS and AS/400) and is highly customizable to specific needs and workflows, enabling real-time visibility and connection across a company’s operations. “We’re excited to leverage this funding into new product development and customer service support,” said Vector co-founder and CEO Will Chu. “This will enable trucking fleets to move more freight with fewer resources. The Vector platform does that by eliminating paper and automating processes — and enabling real-time communication, document sharing, and visibility across all of a fleet’s operations. We believe that even the most powerful business software can and should be as easy to use as any app on your smartphone, and we’ve built Vector from the ground up with that philosophy.” Vector is a mobile-first document scanning and workflow management platform built for trucking. The Vector app makes it easy for drivers to take high-quality scans of bills of lading, scale tickets, OS&Ds, and any other type of paperwork. Vector automatically sends each document type to the correct person or department in the back office using OCR and intelligent text extraction. Vector indexes structured information (including SKUs, bar codes and handwriting) to eliminate manual processing, and can automatically invoice shippers, including the specific documents they require and their billing preferences. For more information, visit https://withvector.com/overview    

LAFAYETTE, La. — Because of growing business opportunities and demand in the region, Dupré Logistics has expanded its shop and services in Pecos, Texas. Dupré Logistics has been operating in the West Texas area since late 2014. The new facility, which is four times the size of its predecessor, will open at noon, June 3, with a Grand Opening Celebration that is open to the public and will include lunch. The maintenance facility will service and maintain the Dupré fleet and will open for business to other Class 8 providers in the region. Along with the new and larger maintenance facility, Dupré is also building a housing unit to accommodate non-indigenous workers in light of the severe housing shortage in the area. “For our company to be successful, it’s critical that we have adequate support for our fleet,” said Dominic Dupré, director of operations, Crude Oil Group. “A major key to the success of our business in this area is the ability to maintain our equipment adequately and quickly. The combination of a dry, dusty environment and subpar road conditions creates an unforgiving environment for a tractor and trailer.” Dupré operates across Texas and southeast New Mexico hauling raw crude oil from the wellhead to pipeline injection sites and rail facilities. In the West Texas region, Dupré currently employs 40 drivers in the area and is looking to hire more. “We’ve created similar shops open to the public in a few other spots across the country, but based on the demand in Pecos — and the distance to other maintenance shops, we believe our new facility will be beneficial to the region and save other fleets time and money,” said Scott Allen, director of fleet assets and maintenance. Dupré Logistics is a privately held, asset-based provider of transportation and logistics services that include energy and chemical transport, dedicated truck transportation, site logistics, and freight brokerage. It specializes in tanker, hazmat, and petrochemical transportation and complex supply chain solutions in industrial and consumer products. For more information about Dupré Logistics, go to www.duprelogistics.com.    

DALLAS — The future for diesel technologies in freight transportation is bright, even as new fuels and technologies enter the marketplace, thanks to diesel’s improving efficiency, even lower emissions, advanced biofuel capabilities and unique combination of value for moving freight. This is the insight shared by Diesel Technology Forum Executive Director Allen Schaeffer, speaking Wednesday on a panel at Fuels2019, the annual meeting of the Fuels Institute. Schaeffer cited the continued overall dominant role of diesel technology in commercial trucking applications and offered perspective about its role in the future. “Forecasters seem to agree that, for the next five to 15 years and beyond, diesel will remain the primary technology for commercial trucking, thanks to its unique combination of features,” Schaeffer said. “Will there be some inroads made in niche fleets and operations using all electric, hybrid or hydrogen technologies? Yes, of course. Some of these technologies are in development and limited use today, as manufacturers are developing a range of fuels and technologies to best serve their customers. It’s safe to say we’ll also see an increasing use of biodiesel and renewable diesel fuels, as well as the next-generation of diesel that is even nearer-to-zero emissions.” Research from the Forum, conducted with IHS Markit, shows that numbers of the newest, most advanced and lowest emitting technologies in today’s commercial trucking fleet are rapidly on the rise. Today, more than one-third of all the largest heavy-duty trucks in operation use the newest generation of near-zero emissions clean diesel technology. The Forum said this translates into substantial societal benefits: 26 million tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 59 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) removed from the air; 98% fewer emissions of particulate matter; and an average $2,600 in fuel-cost savings per truck, adding up to 138 million barrels of crude oil saved. “The real winners in all of this will be truckers who will have more fuel-efficient fuel and technology choices than ever before,” Schaeffer said, adding that the Forum was confident diesel’s proven strengths will be challenging to beat. He listed what he felt were those strengths: The diesel engine is the most energy-efficient internal combustion engine, delivering power density, reliability and durability at a low cost of ownership. Diesel technologies retain a high resale value and are able to be remanufactured and rebuilt over and over again. Truckers have access to a nationwide network of fueling stations, and an unmatched global service and parts network. Modern diesel engines boast near-zero emissions performance for nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate matter (PM) – and new rules on the horizon from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board mean that we’ll soon see even further reductions in NOx emissions from heavy-duty commercial trucks. “Diesel technologies have a proven track-record of continuous improvement. Engine manufacturers are always looking to the horizon, developing new technologies and strategies to deliver more fuel efficiency, further emissions reductions, and more optimized performance,” Schaeffer said. “Breakthrough demonstrations of long-haul diesel truck efficiency have proved these technologies capable of nearly doubling the MPG of previous generations of commercial trucks. There are also some very thoughtful discussions about matching technologies with applications, such as dual-fuel battery/electric and diesel drayage trucks for port applications.” Schaeffer said today’s generation of heavy-duty diesel trucks are the cleanest, and most scrutinized, diesel vehicles ever made. “Over the last 15 years, truck and engine makers have worked to virtually eliminate emissions from diesel engines,” he said. “The transition to ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel coupled with advancements in engine combustion, turbocharging and high-pressure fuel injection, and the addition of advanced clean air chemistry achieved by utilizing diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems coupled with particulate filters, has enabled today’s heavy-duty diesel truck engines to achieve near-zero levels of emissions. “Five years from now, the new diesel trucks rolling off manufacturing lines will be even more fuel efficient and lower in emissions. We’re confident these clean, high-performance vehicles will continue to have a major role to play in ensuring fast, dependable freight delivery in the U.S. and around the world.”      

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. — Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co., said that its Glade Spring, Virginia, manufacturing plant has received the Liberty Mutual Silver Safety Award from Liberty Insurance. The award is based on the days away, restricted and transferred (DART) rate, which is calculated from the number of hours worked relative to the number of accidents at the plant In 2018, Utility’s Glade Spring plant had a DART rate of only 1.36, with over 1.3 million worked hours. The average DART rate for the trailer manufacturing industry is significantly higher, at 3.9.  A Silver Safety Award is presented for DART rates that are at least 40% lower than the industry average rate.  The Glade Spring plant’s DART rate was nearly 1/3 of the industry rate. “Receiving a safety award is an honor and takes a total team effort to accomplish. Keeping safety at the forefront everyday with employee participation is key to earning such an award. Employees identifying hazards, removing them, or managing them in the workplace, keeps us all safe,” said Keith Walsh, Utility’s Glade Spring Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Manager. “This is the fifth Liberty Safety Award for the Glade Spring plant. This is a huge honor, particularly considering less than 0.5% of Liberty’s customers receive this award. More importantly, our employees are continuously focused on the safety of themselves and each other,” said Bob Griffis, corporate EHS manager for Utility Trailer Manufacturing, Co. “Walking through the front door of the Glade Spring facility, the commitment this team has toward safety is obvious,” said Sam Cassell, Utility’s Glade Spring plant manager. “It is reflected by the five safety awards hanging on the wall. Each of our over 700 team members were part of achieving each of those awards. An award like this is more than a commitment towards doing the job safely, it is a commitment each team member has toward each other. Many of our employees will stop others, even managers, to point out safety issues. That is a commitment toward safety and to each other. I cannot express how proud I am of each person on the shop floor.” Richard Williams of Liberty Mutual Insurance, Risk Control Services, presented the Safety Award to a group of Glade Spring employees on behalf of all Utility’s Glade Spring employees. Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. was founded in 1914 and designs and manufactures dry freight vans, flatbeds, refrigerated vans, Tautliner curtain-sided trailers, and aerodynamic technologies. Utility currently operates six trailer manufacturing facilities across North America. For more information, visit www.utilitytrailer.com.    

ATHENS, Ga. — Carrier Transicold’s free app for mobile devices that helps refrigerated truck operators find nearby Carrier Transicold dealerships has been upgraded with a fresh appearance, a significantly expanded dealer database and helpful new user features. Now called “Carrier Transicold Dealers,” the app works with smartphones and tablets, so drivers can quickly and easily locate and connect to service operations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and, thanks to the 2019 update, Central America, South America and the Caribbean, according to Mary Udry, marketing manager, Carrier Transicold. “The improved app now covers the entirety of the Americas – more than 300 dealerships in all,” Udry said. “And for the first time, it offers users multi-language support, enabling the choice of English, French, Spanish or Portuguese. The look and feel of the app has been modernized, making it more intuitive to use, and the amount of helpful reference material has been expanded.” As part of the app’s expanded offering, Carrier Transicold Dealers now enables access to more operator manuals for current and legacy Carrier Transicold truck and trailer refrigeration systems, heating systems and auxiliary power units (APUs). As before, the app includes a convenient alarm code list for the Carrier Transicold APX control system, providing descriptions of potential problems and corrective steps for different warnings. The “Nearby Dealers” function finds the closest dealer to the user’s location, including a map, address, contact details and hours of operation. Depending on device and connection, the app can auto-dial the dealership and can help provide navigation to the dealership. Where applicable, quick links are provided to connect to individual dealer websites or to share dealership details via an emailed link to content within Carrier Transicold’s online dealer locator at https://locator.ttdealers.carrier.com/ Most of the app’s resources require a cell or wi-fi connection, however the dealer lookup menu is available offline – users can always find dealers by selecting a country, plus state or province if applicable, from alphabetical listings. Carrier Transicold Dealers works on smartphones and tablets using Google’s Android and Apple Inc.’s iOS operating systems. The latest version (3.0) can be downloaded through Google Play or the Apple App Store. For more information, visit www.transicold.carrier.com. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — McLeod Software Monday released version 19.1 of its LoadMaster Enterprise, LoadMaster LTL and PowerBroker software solutions. With the release of Version 19.1, McLeod Software has introduced LoadMaster Driver Choice, a tool fleets can use to give drivers the ability to record their load preferences, effectively requesting the loads that are the best match for those preferences, according to Kristan Hill, marketing manager. LoadMaster Driver Choice also gives carriers the ability to offer drivers choices about available loads when possible, all while ensuring their success with any load offered to them, she said. For owner operators in those fleets using Driver Choice, it means their carrier is giving the driver better tools to “run their business” successfully within the fleet, especially when paired with the McLeod Driver Mobile App and the information that app provides about pay, and the ways it expedites the entire settlement process. LoadMaster Trip Management is also being introduced as part of McLeod’s Version 19.1 release. The new Trip Management module gives carriers the tools to interactively plan details of trips with the driver’s input, and actively manage those trips while they are under way. “Using a driver’s current Hours of Service and position information, a trip plan is created and displayed in LoadMaster,” Hill said. “Taking into account road conditions, live and historical traffic patterns, and driver breaks provides better visibility for customers to enhance the accuracy of real-time estimated time of arrival at customer stops and actual arrival time at locations, giving planners and driver managers the ability to proactively deal with potential service incidents at future stops.” The trip plan feeds McLeod’s ETA/out-of-route module to let the carrier’s staff know when trucks are late for scheduled stops or out of their recommended routes. It also interacts with McLeod’s existing driver feasibility functions to enhance the accuracy of planning. McLeod’s driver feasibility function determines whether or not a driver can physically pick up and deliver the load on time based on their current position, the distances involved, the appointment windows for pick-up and delivery, and their available HOS to accomplish the trip. Hill said using all of this information to account for events, rest breaks, delays, detention, changing situations in weather, and even rerouting when necessary, allows planners to generate a significantly better dispatch trip plan. The interactive nature of McLeod’s new Trip Management module gives the driver the opportunity to be part of the planning process. The delivery routing optimization module in LoadMaster LTL now optimizes the sequence of deliveries routed on a local movement. Route Optimization takes a set of routed deliveries and optimizes the stops based on minimal drive time, while also considering appointment commitment freight, a location’s open and close times, and the time spent unloading per stop. This module also considers potential turn time McLeod Software offers PowerBroker users a new integration with HubTran to quickly process incoming carrier documents and invoices. Powerbroker communicates load and carrier data to HubTran and returns approved invoice data and documents to PowerBroker. When the carrier sends in invoices and supporting documents for billing, the audit process is completed more quickly to allow brokers to bill faster with less cost and effort from the back office. Hill also said McLeod Software is also introducing expanded integration solutions with Manhattan Associates. A new interface offers visibility to Manhattan’s Load Analyzer scoring metrics upon receiving an EDI load tender. Tenders can be accepted and orders created automatically based upon predetermined score criteria. Another key interface introduced in version 19.1 is Manhattan Profit Analyzer. LoadMaster general ledger revenue and expense information is sent to analyze the key factors affecting profitability and target problem areas with poor utilization. With the Manhattan Fuel & Route interface, LoadMaster version 19.1 will automatically communicate movement data and current fuel levels to Fuel & Route during dispatch to determine optimal door-to-door routing and fuel recommendations while balancing driver requests and preferences. For more information, visit www.McLeodSoftware.com.  

NEENAH, Wis. — The new J.J. Keller Encompass Video Event Management and Dash Cam Pro are now available. Using artificial intelligence to detect and record dangerous driving behavior in combination with the advanced reporting and diagnostic capabilities of J.J. Keller’s compliance dashboard, the platform offers an end-to-end solution for fleets interested in improving driver behaviors that will result in better CSA scores and safer highways, according to Tom Reader, senior director of marketing. “This is one of many substantial new product and service releases for the Encompass® Fleet Management System in 2019,” Reader said. “We’re excited to continue offering technologies and advisory tools our customers depend on to improve performance and make informed safety decisions for their fleets.” Beyond using dash cam technology to capture video footage of events and accidents, fleets can use the data provided to build better coaching programs, exonerate innocent drivers, and reward drivers for good behavior. The compliance dashboard allows companies to perform queries by overall fleet performance and by driver, including: Top drivers: Drivers with the lowest incident rates Event rates and trends: Frequency of driving behaviors Coaching required: Drivers with events Find more information and videos of driving events captured by the dash cam by visiting KellerEncompass.com/Dash-Cam-Pro. J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. is a well-known name in safety and regulatory compliance. Since its beginning as a one-man consulting firm in 1953, the company has grown to over 1,400 associates serving more than 600,000 customers — including over 90% of the Fortune 1000 companies. The company’s subject-matter spans nearly 1,500 topics, and its diverse solutions include ELogs and mobile technology; training via online courses, streaming video or DVD; online management tools; managed services; consulting services; online and print publications; forms and supplies. For more information, visit JJKeller.com.