Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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TECHNOLOGY: DRIVER TRAINING learned from the computer-based training, Osterberg says. Schneider's drivers also complete an integrated training module if they have a low-severity crash incident or are cited for unsafe driving. The company previously assessed these incidents solely through the lens of drivers having a skill deficiency; it now uses technology to determine if the incident was skill- or behavior-related. A simulation check ride to assess skills versus behavior replicates the conditions of the incident. If the driver succeeds in the check ride, he likely has the skill, so the incident probably was caused by a behavioral issue. The results of the test are mapped with the appropriate intervention. "The days of 'one-size-fits-all' training are over," Osterberg says. Customizing the training to meet the specific needs of each driver is where the success lies. "Technology enables us to do that more effectively." IN-CAB COACHING Terpening Trucking uses its 60-plus tanker trucks to deliver more than 400 million gallons of fuel products across seven states and Canada annually. The Syracuse, N.Y.-based company is using Vnomics' In-Cab Advisor system to coach drivers in the cab. Drivers receive audio alerts for improper speeding, shifting, hard acceleration and idling. Drivers can view their performance scorecards in the cab, allowing them to manage their own progress throughout the day. Each day, Terpening supervisors use an online portal to review Vnomics' driver safety and performance alerts to address adverse behavior. The top- and bottom-ranked driver scores also are displayed on a large screen in the drivers' break room to encourage friendly competition. Vnomics has developed proprietary algorithms that calculate the "true" fuel economy of vehicles and drivers; load weight, terrain, temperature, headwind and other factors are removed from the mpg equation. The system also identifies the "potential" fuel economy based on the variables drivers and fleets can control. After partnering with Vnomics, Terpening improved its fleet mpg by 9 percent in the first two months of use and by 9.8 percent within the first two years. Safe driving miles also have increased by 73 percent, says Brian Brundige, safety director. Terpening credits the cost savings and performance gains from using Vnomics for accelerating its growth. In 2010, when Terpening first integrated the Vnomics system into its vehicles, the company had 36 tanker trucks. Face-to-face training meetings still are effective, but for many fleets, such opportunities with drivers are limited. Engaging drivers online and through smart devices might be the best strategy to sustain their interest. Insurance, Inc. w w www. AITAInsurance.com For more information, please visit: AITAonline.com Providing products and services to the Transportation Industry since 1997 Visit our website for more information AITAonline.com AITAonline.com Text INFO to 205-289-3554 or visit www.ccjdigital.com/info COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | DECEMBER 2013 49