Truck parking shortage is a productivity killer

What are the industry's biggest issues these days? Most everyone will say the driver shortage leads the way. Everyone except drivers, of course. I'd say top spot belongs to hours of service rules followed closely by the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, both of which are key reasons for the shortage... of drivers willing to work long hours within that arbitrarily constructed straitjacket. So it's no surprise that the top three issues for drivers are those two plus the lack of parking facilities.

Productive tech has transformed trucking

TORONTO, Ont. -- Imagine today, with the breakneck pace of our lives, having to wait until a driver arrived at a truck stop, parked, and waited to use the payphone before you knew the truck was empty. Imagine, too, the driver's frustration at hearing dispatch say, “Call me back in half an hour.” Life was different in days gone by.

IN PRINT — Tool Time: 8 tools shops can’t live without

Few things will improve a mechanic's productivity better than the proper tool. Sure, any wrench will turn a fastener, but a torque wrench will ensure exact clamping force. In the digital realm, the right app can offer quick access to underlying fault codes and even help to refine shop schedules.

IN PRINT — Tools that Work: Productive options for the shop

Most shop supervisors or maintenance managers have at least one secret -weapon in their tool crib. It could be a proven time or labor saver, or maybe a tool designed for lifting heavy stuff like tires and wheels. Tools that aid in -precision work, such as installing wheel bearings, can prove their worth many times over by reducing irregular tire wear and minimizing the possibility of a wheel-off.

Time is US $9.26 at a roadside scale

Time is money, and this is particularly true when you're stuck at a roadside scale. Even if everything is in running order, drivers still have to wait their turn before being waved on their way.