Blue Ink Tech Blog

You want to get the most out of your fleet vehicles, avoid unscheduled downtime, and keep them as long as possible. Here are some tips on how to lengthen the longevity of your vehicles and avoiding maintenance issues that generate DOT fines.  

As the trucking industry continues to change and develop with the best of technology, the old and antiquated is simply unneeded. It’s time to say goodbye to 3G networks. Mobile carriers announced devices using the 3G networks will be out of service and, now, more improved networks will now be used, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

The most effective way to optimize the life of vehicles, equipment, and driver retention is through great fleet management.

If you have been driving a truck for any amount of time then you have probably found yourself overloaded at some point. Shippers are moving more cargo faster than ever and many times it is the driver that has to deal with the consequences. With weight limits and road restrictions it's hard for drivers to know how much they are actually hauling. Trying to figure out how much a truck weighs is a job itself. Mechanical pressure gauges read different from trailer to trailer and trying to remember calibrations is almost impossible. If a driver finds out they are overweight the whole day can be wasted trying to fix the issue. Below are some of the cost that are hidden when being overloaded.

A lot of people really hate ELDs. If you’re a driver, a dispatcher, or an administrator, that’s not news to you. Not everyone hates them, of course. A recent survey reported by FleetOwner found an industry split on whether ELDs are good or bad. 47% of respondents said yes, they’re good for the industry, 38% said no, and the remaining 15% were unsure.

So, what are some of the reasons for the hate, and how do they look after a full year of the mandate enforcement? Some drivers would tell you it’s about privacy. Others would tell you they just don’t want to deal with a computer in their truck. But for most drivers, at least the ones I’ve talked to, the issue seems to come down to how ELDs impact time management.