Katapult

Blog Posts by Tag: "hours of service"

Brian Etchison

Driver Retention Approaches: Is The Clock Winning? Part 2

Last week I referred to the American Transportation Research Institute study, in part one of this blog, from October 12 that referenced the major concern for carriers in 2012, behind the economy as the #2 concern, is the new Hours of Service (HOS). We left off with the importance of the value of time and today we’ll pick up with what else affects the value of time for a professional driver.... Read More

Brian Etchison

Driver Retention Approaches: Is The Clock Winning? Part 1

Many years ago I used to watch a show called “Beat the Clock.” Participants were required to perform tasks (called "problems’) within a certain time limit, which was counted down on a huge 60-second clock. If the participant was successful, they were said to have "beaten the clock"; otherwise, "the clock was declared the winner". The successful participants won prizes, while unsuccessful participants were left with no winnings.... Read More

George Edwards

Improved Efficiency and Productivity Through Technology

The United States Economy is still in a very tenuous situation. While some leading indicators point to slight gains, the economy is not yet in a robust condition. Therefore, motor carriers must constantly strive to find innovative and creative means to gain increased efficiency and productivity in all daily operations and activities. Technology is a magnificent tool through which considerable progress can be made in improving service to customers, reducing costs, and positively impacting greater profitably.... Read More

Tom Kretsinger, Jr.

The Other National Holiday (Part 1)

Luke was 10 years, one month, one week and 2 days old. He saw his Dad last, one month, one week and 2 days ago on his birthday. Dad is a truck driver. Time moves slowly when you are 10 years, one month, one week and two days of age. It seemed like an eternity since Luke had seen Dad, but what a great birthday it was! Luke would never forget the excitement of the weekend. Dad told him he wasn’t allowed to have a gun until he was ten.... Read More

Ray Gompf

Good Samaritans

Recently, one of my trucker friends was ranting about the fact that one of his friends had been involved in a roll over incident and when he tried to flag down another trucker, that other trucker just drove on by.

He went on to say that in the old days, truckers would stop for any wreck and help motorists change tires. They’d go out of their way to offer a helping hand with no expectations, just because it was the right thing to do.... Read More

Editor's Choice

Why Drivers Are Paid By The Mile

Originally Posted at http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/daveashelman/2012/04/why-drivers-are-paid-by-the-mile

Ever since the mid-1700s, Social Scientist, including economists have been arguing about the best way to pay people for their labor. Of course since then, there have been many who have not paid at all vis-a-vis slavery. Trucking however, has almost always paid by the mile.... Read More

Rickey Gooch

When Truckers Cry

The message on my cell phone recorded a cry for help. I returned the call to the lady who told me she was a trucker and she was all alone. She then asked do you know about truck drivers. Three months had passed since she had been stopped on an interstate in Georgia. According to our transportation laws she had done some things wrong but that was not enough for the officer who stopped her. He had decided to make a couple of additional charges against her of his own.... Read More

Joe Morrison

Where Do We Go From Here?

It's interesting to note that the bulk of the Hours of Service changes don't take effect for 18 months. Is this possibly a reaction to the reality that there may be another court challenge? Since the regulations have been released neither the trucking industry nor the safety advocacy groups have been happy. Is this the sign of an attempt at a compromise?... Read More

Joe Morrison

Is the Trend Reversed?

A recent front page headline in Transport Topics stated that Truck Fatalities Rose 8.7%. The data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and refers to the number of large truck accident fatalities in 2010. This is the first increase in four years. Overall for all vehicles the 2010 statistics recorded 2.9% fewer fatalities. So what's to be made of this?... Read More

Joe Morrison

Who Formulates Safety Regulations?

In typical bureaucratic fashion the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration never met a problem it couldn't solve with additional regulations. Once they've determined what the solution is it's published as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Then the trucking industry responds, mostly with reasons why all or part of the proposal is flawed. Finally, after FMCSA has digested all of the comments and formulated a response, the Final Rule is published. On a certain date it becomes effective and that is the end. Several years ago this would have been the last sentence of this article.... Read More