Mobileye takes safety to another level for drivers

Mobileye, a technology company that develops vision-based Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) providing warnings for collision prevention and mitigation, has a new “enhancement box” that will increase safety for truck drivers. Fleet Owner reported that “the enhancement box can be used to automatically activate different functions of the vehicle, such as turning on the hazard lights or turning off the radio, when safety alerts are generated.” This version is a new and improved version that will allow the driver to “tailor the system to their needs.”

Cargo Thieves are becoming very tactful

Have you been a victim of cargo theft? If so, you are not alone, it seems to be a growing trend and the cargo thieves are becoming very tactful in how they operate. "Travelers Investigative Services, explained that these new “tactics” fall into three categories: identity theft, fictitious pickups and misdirected loads/fraudulent carriers." Fleet Owner reported the strategy of these thieves: "Rather than commit “straight theft,” where loads are physically stolen from parking lots or terminals – and risking getting spotted and/or potentially be involved in a high speed chase – he said cargo thieves are trying to be more “strategic” about thefts so they can better pinpoint and steal specific types of cargo."

Read the entire story: Fleet Owner

T. Boone Pickens and the need for energy independence

On Wednesday, at a Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference in Dallas, T. Boone Pickens voiced his support for the need for being energy independent. Pickens addressed the concerns for natural gas and the costs that could be high, but well worth it in the long run. Pickens went on to say,"We import millions of barrels of oil a day from OPEC and some of the money we spend on that oil eventually gets to terrorist organizations." 

"While Pickens said he strongly supports a national energy policy or even a North American Oil and Gas Alliance with Canada and Mexico, he spoke out against involving the government in actually building the country’s natural gas fueling infrastructure."

Read the entire story at Fleetowner.com

HOS is slowing the rate increases for trucks

"An uneven flow of freight volume combined with the still-uncertain impact of changes to hours of service (HOS) regulations that went into effect July 1 are retarding the ability of carriers to win significant rate increases, at least for the moment."

 According to Jonathan Gold, vice president of the National Retail Federation, told Fleet Owner than many of the group’s members are “still trying to figure out” what alternations they’ll need to make to their supply chain operations due to HOS changes. Gold went on to add, "Many are still trying to ascertain what changes will be needed, it’s all part of evaluating their supply chain needs.” What does this mean for the industry? It means that U.S. economic growth should continue to strengthen and thus boost freight demand and hopefully things can get to a consistent growing level again. 

Curtosey of Fleet Owner

Finding a way to get our drivers home

"Along with being compensated with good pay and benefits, it’s no secret that truck drivers place a premium on being offered more home time as well as more predictable scheduling by fleets...."

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