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Load Trends (March)
According to TransCore’s Market Research, availability of exception freight in March continued to improve both on a month to month and year over year basis. March exception freight volumes improved by 40% when compared to February. Looking at volumes a year ago, March ’07 volumes were 32% below March ’08. In connection with the increase in load volume, we’re also beginning to see a slight tightening of capacity within our freight marketplace.
Looking forward to May, the best combinations of high freight volumes and favorable inbound-to-outbound load ratios come from Illinois, Alabama, Indiana, Ohio, Mississippi, and Wisconsin.
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TransCore Introduces Rate Index Pro for Bulk Rate Pricing and Real-time Negotiations Based on 12 Million Actual Freight Bills
In April, TransCore introduced Rate Index™ Pro, a web-based product enabling anyone involved in truckload lane rate pricing and contract negotiations to perform single-lane lookups in real time or submit a single multi-lane request in bulk format and receive prevailing market rate data in minutes. TransCore’s Rate Index Pro is available by monthly subscription priced according to customer usage.
To read the full press release go to: http://pressroom.transcore.com/portal/site/transcore/
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On May 15, at 3 pm EDT, TransCore and Transport Topics will host a webinar featuring survival tactics for carriers, including fuel incentive programs to control the ever-escalating cost of fuel and asset utilization analyses that have saved companies like Brown Trucking hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Mike Weaver, Director of Sales for TransCore's trailer tracking, monitoring, and in-cab communications solutions, will be joined by representatives from Brown Trucking, TFG Transport, and others to discuss best practices.
Share your best practices for fuel incentives and asset utilization and other ways to find the money in your fleet, and qualify for the "Survive-to-Thrive" Awards, to be presented at this year's annual ATA Conference in October.
Go to www://ttnews.com and click on the Webinar link to sign-up.
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Tom Genecco has seen it all during his career in freight transportation. He’s a carrier-broker based in Buffalo, New York, and his family has been in the business for three generations. Genecco rolls his eyes when he talks about life before TransCore’s GlobalWave satellite trailer tracking and monitoring.
“I had an owner operator leave one of my trailers in Baltimore, and it cost me $1,200 to hire a guy to go out and find my trailer,” Genecco says. “It was a three- or four-week ordeal.”
Since installing GlobalWave, Genecco’s results have improved dramatically. TFG Transport now can track and monitor its fleet nationwide in real time—effortlessly. Not only does it enable Tom and his team to track the location of trailers just about anywhere in North America, it also enables TFG to track the efficiency of its drivers to see who is—or isn’t—producing.
And whether a trailer goes missing because of a simple mistake or bad behavior on the part of a driver, GlobalWave saves Genecco’s team time and money.
“I had a guy quit in Tennessee, and I found out where my trailer was by using GlobalWave in about ten minutes,” Genecco says.
Getting refrigerated shipments down cold
TFG Transport owns 20 power units and 31 trailers, and the company specializes in refrigerated freight. So Genecco’s company takes advantage of TransCore’s Sense & Track, which adds cargo and temperature sensing to the standard Slap & Track satellite trailer tracking system. In addition to the ability to check the location of every trailer he’s responsible for at any time of the day, he can check the temperature inside his reefers, which is critical for getting his trailers loaded and the loads accepted by the consignee.
“When a customer is in Syracuse, New York, and the truck’s in Nogales, Arizona, I can go on the Web site and tell them that the trailer’s pre-cooled and ready to go,” said Genecco.
Reducing losses from fraudulent liability claims
Fraudulent insurance claims are a common hazard in the freight industry. Now Genecco and his team have the ultimate weapon to fight them. In fact, GlobalWave satellite trailer tracking has helped turn Genecco and his team into super sleuths.
“Someone once had a picture of my truck and trailer and said that one of my fenders flew off and caused hundreds of dollars of damage. They said the incident occurred in Mississippi,” Genecco says. “GlobalWave informed me that the truck was in Virginia. We sent the report to the insurance company, and the claim was denied.”
Case closed. End of story.
“It’s a no-brainer.”
Genecco and his company are representative of small-to-midsized operations that nevertheless have a national reach. TFG is headquartered in Canadaiqua, New York, and has satellite offices in Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Texas and Oregon—as well as a spacious warehouse on Long Island. That means Genecco and his team have to use technology to manage their fleet and the precious, perishable cargos of their customers spread across the country. Satellite tracking and monitoring provide complete visibility and accountability. Genecco knows within 35 feet where his trucks are and how fast they’re going. If they’re not moving, Genecco knows how long they’ve been sitting and the temperature inside the reefers, as well as other information critical to the viability of TFG’s business.
It’s likely that nothing will make Tom’s job easy, but with TransCore services like GlobalWave satellite tracking and monitoring, Genecco isn’t flying blind any more. His drivers, shippers and consignees know that when Tom speaks, he’s speaking with facts.
“To be honest,” Genecco says, “I look back and say, ‘How did I get by without this product.’”
“It’s a no-brainer.”
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2008 offers one of the most interesting political races in recent memory. For the first time since 1952 the presidential race contains neither a sitting president nor a vice president, and we could see the first woman or African American president in U.S. history. With issues like the economy, immigration, NAFTA, national health care, the future of Social Security and the War in Iraq on voters’ minds, this could be an election that resonates for decades.
Drivers face special obstacles in voting because of the restrictions of a life on the road. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t dozens of issues that affect carriers and the future of the freight industry itself. Highway safety, homeland security, the influx of foreign drivers, and the enforcement of federal cabotage laws are just a few examples of issues decided by Congress that have an impact on carriers’ lives.
TruckVote.com ensures that truckers have a voice.
TruckVote.com is dedicated to two things: keeping carriers informed and ensuring that carriers participate in the election process. The site partnered with Project VoteSmart (a volunteer non-profit dedicated to making all information on candidates and their voting records available on line) and the Owner-Operator Independent Driver’s Association (OOIDA) to bring all the facts to carriers nationwide.
Through TruckVote.com a carrier can find out how and where to register to vote and how the process of absentee or mail-in voting works in each state. It covers each state’s important deadlines and regulations that must be met to qualify for an official mail-in ballot.
The site is also a truckload of information for the undecided voter. Drivers’ schedules might not allow them to follow the political pundits who break down the candidates and their stances on the issues. That’s why TruckVote.com allows the user to see a candidate’s voting records on an issue-by-issue basis. By typing in your zip code you will receive the name, address and contact information of every single local, state and federal official that represents you. With the stream of advertising designed to blur a candidate’s record constantly bombarding us, it’s hard to tell where they really stand: TruckVote.com offers unbiased facts based on candidates’ voting records and documented experience. No candidates are endorsed or pushed—just the facts you need to make an informed decision.
With November approaching, the time is now to do the research that will help you make a decision based on how the candidates will represent your interests. TruckVote.com provides the tools needed for drivers to take part in the 2008 election.
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The phrase “hot fuel” refers to diesel fuel or gasoline sold at retail pumps at temperatures higher than the century-old government standard of 60 degrees. That is the temperature used in the petro-chemical industry to measure all petroleum liquids.
At the 60-degree standard, a gallon of diesel delivers a certain amount of measurable energy to move a truck down the road. But when expanded by higher temperatures, a gallon actually contains less fuel and delivers less energy.
Let’s say your tanks hold 200 gallons of fuel. Here’s what happens if you fill them with 75-degree diesel: It still takes 200 gallons to fill the tanks, but because you’re buying temperature-expanded fuel you’re effectively buying 198.8 gallons (as measured at 60º) for the 200-gallon price. If your truck gets six miles per gallon, you’ll travel 7.15 fewer miles down the road, and you’ll pay $4.43 dollars more than you should have (at the March 2008, average price of $3.71per gallon). At 90 degrees—not unheard of—you’d 14.2 miles fewer down the road and out $8.80.
Then again, it’s only money.
But if hot fuel makes you hot under the collar, visit www.turndownhotfuel.com. The purpose of Owner-Operator Independent Driver’s Associations (OOIDA) Turn Down Hot Fuel campaign is to educate consumers about how selling fuel at temperatures above the standard affects the real cost of fuel. It also provides an avenue for communicating to lawmakers the need for automatic temperature compensation at every retail fuel pump. Without input from drivers this issue will continue to be ignored. It will take a unified voice to bring this issue to Congress and achieve a solution. Visit www.turndownhotfuel.com now to learn more and to find a way to make your voice heard on this issue.
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1click2call is a great new feature of our 3sixty Freight Match load board that lets you place calls to prospects and customers directly from the load board. 1click2call uses Skype, a free PC-to-PC phone service that lets you call any other Skype user, anywhere in the world, for FREE.
1click2call is a fast, easy way to boost your business’ bottom line. Here’s why:
1) It’s easy to install.
Already use Skype? 1click2call will instantly recognize your Skype service and activate. What could be easier than that?
Don’t have Skype? Skype is a PC telephone service that lets you call any other Skype user, anywhere in the world, for FREE. For a small monthly charge, your Skype phone can also call any non-Skype user, too.
To sign up for Skype service, just visit Skype.com, click on the “Download Skype” button, and follow the simple directions to obtain your own FREE Skype account and software.
2) It helps you close the deal faster
Find a load or truck, click the 1click2call icon and you’re instantly connected to your prospect’s phone. 1click2call streamlines the contact process and saves you time. You’ll know who’s calling, what they’re calling about, because 1click2call gives you all the information you need to close the deal, right on the screen.
3) You don’t have to leave Freight Match to make a deal
1click2call lets you make your call directly from Freight Match. That means you can add the user to your Freight Match contacts list, bring others in on a conference call, put them on hold or transfer the call to someone else in your group…right from your call manager screen.
4) It saves you money on long distance charges, and gives you access to 220 million Skype users, FREE.
What are you paying for local and long-distance phone service right now? Skype lets you call any of the 220 million Skype users for free, and offers regular phone company services such as conference calling, voicemail and call forwarding, too. You can call non-Skype users, too: Just $29.95 buys you a full year of unlimited landline calling anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.
We know that your time is money. Using 1click2call lets you have more of both.
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By Michael Lee, Fleet-Tech Transport Services
We’re all (painfully) aware of the rising price of fuel and its effect on the bottom line. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that diesel fuel averages about $3.33/gallon across the U.S., or a more than 70 percent increase since this time last year.
EIA isn’t predicting much relief for 2008, either; some analysts say we could be paying as much as $4 per gallon at the pump by mid-year. That means that if business is slowing down, you must find new ways to save money and offset fuel costs. Fuel cards may offer one solution.
Increase your control. Fuel cards allow you to control the way drivers spend your company’s money. A fuel card lets you set the spending limits for fuel, minor repairs, oil, winter additives, and other items your drivers need while on the road. After a purchase is made you have instant access to the purchase information, allowing you to monitor, track, and make changes if necessary.
A fuel card can also specify where your drivers can make their purchases, making it possible for you to negotiate special rates with preferred vendors.
Boost convenience. Fuel cards eliminate the costs and hassles associated with filing expense reports or reimbursement requests. If you choose a card that is accepted at all truck stops, for example, you’ll give drivers choices in deciding where to stop for fuel, taking a shower, or having a good meal - an important and much-appreciated perk.
Fuel cards can also make it easier for the driver to obtain products such as tires and repairs and services (such as towing) in the event of an emergency. They can allow access to ATMs, payroll cards, and money drafts that can be used when the driver’s other payment forms are unavailable.
Improve security. Carrying large sums of cash can be dangerous, especially if word gets out. By giving drivers fuel cards, you eliminate the problem. Before a purchase is authorized the driver must provide certain information (such as pin number) to prevent fraudulent use of the card, giving you additional assurance that the driver, not a thief, is the one actually spending your money. If a fuel card is lost or stolen it can be turned off immediately, just like a credit card, with a simple phone call or visit to the Web.
Increase savings. The right fuel card can save you money by allowing you to obtain the cash price at the pump and reduce fraud associated with the use of cash. Many fuel cards offer discounts at selected locations, saving you on every gallon purchased.
The best fuel cards maximize cost efficiencies by giving your company access to real-time pricing along the route. That can help you plan the best, most cost-effective route. In addition, since transactions are recording electronically, the driver doesn’t have to spend additional hours—often on the clock—reconciling an expense report.
Save time. In the home office, fuel cards make it much easier for accounting. Drivers’ expenses are tallied on a single, consolidated bill, making it easier to track and manage individual spending.
There are a lot of fuel cards out there these days; compare features and locations carefully and choose one that best fits the needs of your company.
>>Learn more about TransCore fuel cards>>
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We've been asking the carrier industry what we can do to make our load boards better. You've been telling us...and we've listened. This week we've released a new version of 3sixty Freight match that answers a critical carrier request: Make it easier to find the right load.
Better search results
3sixty Freight Match has always had a great advanced search tool, SmartSearch, which can greatly increase your search results. Our newest release turns SmartSearch into the default tool for searching for great loads. Now you'll get more loads, faster.
SmartSearch examines your search request and automatically expands it until you find the right load. The tool lets you first display results that exactly match your request…but then provide additional lists of near-matches, based on your choice of "time posted" or "distance from origin."
SmartSearch is a great way to see the largest list of available loads from a single search. It lets you control exactly how much—or how little—you want to see.
1Click2Call gets better than ever
We introduced 1click2call in our previous release, and were pleasantly surprised at the response. Since then, we’ve had overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers.
1click2call lets you search for a load, see if your prospect online in the program, and call him FREE directly through your PC. Just double-click on the prospect's name, and you’re connected instantly.
Customers tell us that 1click2call, powered by Skype, not only cuts the time it takes to reach your contact, but that—since it’s a FREE PC-to-PC call—it saves money on phone charges. Calls you make to another 1click2call or Skype user are absolutely free, so the more 1click2call users, the more you’ll save! (For a small annual fee, Skype can upgrade your free service to let you call non-Skype phones as well)
Many of you already had Skype voice-over-IP service and started using 1click2call as soon as we launched the service. And we’re thrilled to see so many of you become Skype subscribers just to take advantage of 1click2call’s free calling service.
If you haven’t used 1click2call, this is a good time to start. Just sign up for a free Skype phone account, then log into your 3sixty Freight Match load board. That’s all there is to it.
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Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or hanging out on a sunny beach someplace—lucky you), you probably heard that the FMCSA decided to retain the maximum 11-hour driving limit and restart provision for carrier fleets (along with most of the other provisions), at least for the time being.
They cited studies showing that driving for 11 hours is as safe as driving for ten, a claim that’s hotly disputed by many drivers’ organizations.
What’s your experience? Do you think the FMCSA will change its mind? Do you think they should? Post a comment here (by filling out the "Leave a Comment" form, below).
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It’s always hard when family members can’t be home for the holidays, but it’s especially tough when they’re soldiers, stationed overseas. Many of us at TransCore have loved ones serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait and, proud as we are of them, we sure wish that they were home.
Our fleet trailer tracking group donated 30,000 minutes’ worth of phone cards to American troops stationed in the Middle East, to let them call home for the holidays. The cards will let soldiers in base camps and forward combat areas call their families and, we hope, remind them that the folks at home are thinking about them.
You can learn more about TransCore's donation in this article. Better still, you can participate. Just connect with “Help Our Troops Call Home” program, sponsored by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, and let them know how much you wish to give. Visit the AAFES website or call 800-527-2345 to learn more.
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Join the "Help our Troops Call Home" program and keep military connected with families.
PORTLAND, Ore., - TransCore announced that its Fleet Trailer Tracking Division has made a donation to the American Red Cross®. The funds will be used to provide American troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait with more than 30,000 minutes of AT&T® Global Calling Cards.
"The calling cards will allow men and women in the Armed Forces stationed in the Middle East to call home from base camps and forward combat areas," said David Schrader, TransCore's vice president of Marketing, Commercial Technology Group.
"This is a perfect example of how corporations, like TransCore, can get directly involved helping our service men and women" said Neal Denton, senior vice president of Service to Armed Forces at the American Red Cross. "Enabling service members to connect with family and friends is one of the most valuable gifts we can provide."
The idea stemmed from discussions about TransCore's satellite-based trailer tracking solution.
"We were looking for a way to create a tie-in with our product and a worthy cause," said Schrader. "The donation was based on taking a portion of the monthly air-time TransCore trailer tracking customers spend and contributing it to the calling card program."
According to the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, 40 percent of owner operators are veterans, and many more are company drivers - "So it was a natural fit - a way to say thank you to our customers that served our country and help keep our troops connected to their families," said Schrader.
TransCore hopes its gift will inspire others to donate calling cards to military men and women. By participating in the "Help Our Troops Call Home" program sponsored by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, anyone can help keep military families stay connected. Visit the AAEFS website or call 800-527-2345. From there, Global Prepaid Phone cards may be sent to any service member through the American Red Cross and others. The Red Cross will handle logistics and distribution of the phone cards to service men and women in-theatre.
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About the Red Cross
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
About TransCore
With products and installations in 46 countries, more than 100 patents worldwide, and pioneering applications of radio frequency identification (RFID) and satellite communications technologies, TransCore's expertise is unparalleled in the markets it serves. TransCore's GlobalWave Satellite Communications Technology Center, the hub for the company's SatCom research and development, is based in Ottawa, Canada, while manufacturing for both RFID and satellite communications is based at TransCore's Amtech Technology Center in
Albuquerque, N. M.
For more information, visit http://www.transcore.com/.
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For TransCore Trailer Tracking inquiries:
Brad Aitkin
(905)-795-0580
brad.aitkin@transcore.com
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For media inquiries:
Barbara Catlin
(972) 733-6056
barbara.catlin@transcore.com |
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Crossing the U.S. border is a lot easier than most carriers think, but it can be confusing with recent changes in reporting systems. CrimsonLogic Inc’s Jeff Bielmann, who advises carriers on the best methods for hauling goods into the US from Canada and Mexico, says that a new reporting system should help streamline carrier entry.
After the September 11 terrorist attacks, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) implemented new systems for tracking what’s coming into the USA. The original Pre-Arrival Processing System (PAPS) barcode tracking system required that barcode stickers be placed on a cargo manifest, ready for scanning. Additionally, carriers needed to work through a customs broker to pre-register a “brokers entry summary” and obtain an entry number with U.S. Customs prior to arrival.
The system proved awkward for many carriers, but fortunately it was only a temporary security stopgap while the real electronic system, the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE ) was put in place. ACE has now become the new shipment reporting regulatory system for anyone delivery inward cargo manifests to US Customs.
More simply, ACE is now the way you file your manifest online before arriving at the US border. If you don’t get it right chances are you won’t get into the US with your load, and in some cases, you could wind up paying fines as high as $10,000.
CrimsonLogic is the first ACE service provider officially accredited by US Customs and Border Protection. TransCore has partnered with CrimsonLogic to make ACE easy for carriers in a few easy steps:
- First, get rid of your PAPS stickers. From now on, you’ll use Shipment Control Numbers (SCNs) within the ACE e-manifest system.
- Second, sign up for CrimsonLogic’s ACE help forum, which provides a 24x7 team of ACE experts to help you understand and use the ACE system. CrimsonLogic’s experts can help you submit e-manifests correctly and avoid lengthy delays at the border.
- You don’t need to buy expensive equipment or software for your computer—the CrimsonLogic forums are Web-based and user-friendly. You don’t need stickers, either—it’s all done electronically. Use the CrimsonLogic systems to efficiently (and successfully) submit your ACE e-manifests to the CBP for quick and painless clearance into the US.
Need more information? Visit TransCore's ACE website or call CrimsonLogic at 1-866-456-0053.
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The award is for small-to-medium-sized call centers, and we were picked from 5,000 different call centers in 50 countries. Kudos to our call center team members for doing such a great job.
Our call center is just one of many teams at TransCore working to provide products and services to the transportation industry. We help you move more than $40 billion in freight annually. As part of that service we've launched a new newsletter exclusively for carriers, to help you find better ways to manage your business, learn how we can make better products for you, and provide answers to tough industry questions from some of the best experts in the industry.
In this first edition we want to learn about you: How do you run your business? What do you need from us? In future issues we’ll be publishing your responses to our survey, profiling top carriers and brokers, and offering contests and opportunities for you to network with your peers. Got suggestions for the next edition?
Post a comment. We promise to listen.
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As a technologist, I tend to cut through the marketing spin--even our own--and simply look at the facts.
And when you look at all the through conflicting claims around
trailer tracking, such as battery life, GPS vs. GLS, and geofencing,
just looking at the facts can be a big help.
I made a feature-by-feature comparison of our trailer tracking
product, Slap & Track, and SkyBitz's GL200. When I did that,
certain telltale numbers appeared. The bottom line is that Slap &
Track has longer battery life, better and more accurate performance,
and lower maintenance requirements than SkyBitz's units.
How did we arrive at these claims? My co-worker Dave Sward and I
spoke about that recently, and we've posted an audio track of our
conversation on this blog (see below). We've also posted a few pages on our Web site that address the marketing spin currently confusing the industry and instead just speak with the facts.
I invite you to visit those pages, review what we have to say, and post your comments and questions here. I promise to respond with the facts, not a sales pitch.
--David Roscoe, Chief Technical Officer, TransCore 3sixty Fleet Management and GlobalWave
Click on the links below to view audio slidecasts:
Battery life: TransCore Slap & Track vs. SkyBitz (WMV 3 min. 50 sec.) GPS vs GLS: TransCore's breakthrough GPS leads the industry (WMV 3 min. 38 sec.) TransCore true geofencing vs. SkyBitz geofencing (WMV 2 min. 31 sec.) Speed and accuracy: TransCore Slap & Track vs. SkyBitz (WMV 1 min. 44 sec.)
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