August 2010
From: Freight Access, Inc.

Freight Industry Uses New Technologies in Response to Greater Regulation

The transportation industry is certainly undergoing countless changes fueled by numerous beneficial technologies that have been introduced lately and pending legislation. The CSA 2010 safety-scoring system in addition to the possible Electronic Onboard Recorder (EOBR) regulations are all but certain to take the place of the time consuming, paper log books utilized for many years. Although onboard recording systems can be pricey, the added benefits and long term cost savings from some of these tools significantly out weight the upfront capital outlay for carriers, asset based logistics firms, and owner operators in the short term.

Although the ultimate effects of a mandatory participation in electronic onboard recording are now being criticized by several in the freight industry, a few companies such as CR England and Old Castle will be voluntarily adapting some of these most recent systems. These kinds of carriers along with numerous others are seeing several benefits to some of these systems as well as assistance with compliance of CSA 2010. Experts disagree that EOBR’s can give drivers an capability to proactively improve safety and compliance with current constraints as CSA 2010 can have a significant impact on their own personal driving records.

Electronic Onboard Recorder (EOBR) equipment are being touted as improved fuel management and planning systems, automation of driver logs for truck drivers, fleet driver accountability as well as data reporting which helps in many departments for carriers from planning / routing to payroll as well as mileage reports. Executives believe mileage and fuel costs will be able to be reduced by close to TEN PERCENT in addition to the ability to objectively evaluate operations and better analyze truck maintenance activity.

CR England had voluntarily adopted EOBRs more than one year ago. CR England recruits and educates their own freight drivers and had been exploring solutions for making log books less difficult to manage for new drivers, improving the Hours of Service violations and making log books easier to manage from a distance. With proper examination and reporting, the carrier was also able to improve planning and use of their equipment and review fuel consumption in real time. The benefits CR England reported were nothing short of impressive. Log Book Infractions were reduced by an amazing 63% and the truck driver out-of-service rate dropped by close to 75%.

CR England is looking to EOBR as its main solution regarding compliance with CSA 2010. Executives believe that utilizing electronic log books can certainly remove or reduce the bulk of log book violations. In addition to reducing Hours of Service violations, dispatchers can better manage truck drivers so that these people are able to curb fatigue and practice safer driver practices while driving.

Not all stakeholders in the freight industry promote CR England’s enthusiasm for this latest technology . Several have advised use of extreme care for a lot of freight carriers understanding CSA 2010. The latest regulatory system for evaluating compliance with the new safety regulations gives openness to all parties as well as plaintiffs’ law firms. The information accessible could potentially lead to increased lawsuits as attorneys could possibly attempt to correlate accidents to driver ratings and attempt to convince courts to view carriers or drivers as historically careless, based on only a a small number of violations.

Innovative technologies will continue to play an important part in the freight industry in the on-going future. Multiple cutting edge load matching platforms, dispatch programs, tracking systems will certainly have impact on the manner shippers, carriers, brokers, and owner operators conduct business in the future. It will be important to evaluate technologies relative to new legislation to make sure you are able to understand the issues facing the industry so you may be able to position yourself favorably among your competition.

Author Bio: Brad Hollister is the Director of Business Development for Freight Access, Inc.. Brad Hollister loves Networking with Entrepreneurs, and learning about new business Opportunities. His professional focus on the freight and logistics industry, particularly with carriers, shippers, freight brokers, and owner operators so they may find loads, cheap freight and serve freight quotes to new clients.