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But between the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), U.S. Congress, and state legislation, changing rules and laws can feel like flood-level precipitation if your company isn’t up on the latest developments.  Regulatory issues were a huge point of discussion at the recent Truckload 2024 conference, held by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) from March 23-26 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville. 2023-24 TCA chairman Dave Williams, the Senior Vice President of Equipment and Government Relations at Knight-Swift Transportation noted that, “Every time we turn around there’s something that ends up bringing a significant challenge.” One such challenge in the transportation industry is navigating changing labor rules governing independent contractors, which have made business difficult for owner-operators and carriers that use them, particularly in California. However, several other regulatory and legislative items were brought up in TCA’s Highway Policy Committee and Regulatory Policy Committee at Truckload 2024, each of which held sessions on March 24.  Let’s look at four items addressed by the committees at Truckload 2024:   1. Truck parking The lack of available parking for trucks has been a topic of much interest in transportation for several years now. In a January webinar, TCA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Safety David Heller called parking the “No. 1 issue” for professional drivers and cited research showing that the average driver loses $5,000 per year in productivity looking for safe parking. Furthermore, the November 2021 infrastructure bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the White House lacked dedicated funding for truck parking.  The federal government and Congress are now addressing the issue, though. In January, the federal Department of Transportation announced $300 million in funding for truck parking in seven states. Currently, Congress is considering the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act, which has bipartisan support and 61 co-sponsors across the House and Senate. It would fund $755 million in new truck parking projects over three years.   2. Nuclear verdicts and tort reform Since 2010, the frequency of $1 million+ crash judgments against fleets has skyrocketed, while the frequency of fatal crashes per hundred million large truck miles has declined. To discuss this trend and how litigation can be taken advantage of by lawyers, Lee Parsley, general counsel at Texans for Lawsuit Reform, spoke to the Highway Policy Committee.  Just one verdict can cause a carrier’s insurance rates to soar or force it out of business completely. In 2023, at the state level, Florida, Georgia, and Iowa took action and either passed comprehensive tort reform or laws that directly address trucking litigation and protect carriers from frivolous or inflated judgments. However, some regions may not have judicial systems that are as likely to side with a carrier, so this issue is worth keeping an eye on.   3. Speed limiters In 2016 and 2022, the FMCSA proposed – and later rescinded – rulemaking that would force large commercial vehicles to be equipped with a speed limiter. While another limiter proposal was expected at two different points last year, it now seems certain to arrive in May. If the rule is not pushed back again, carriers and drivers will get plenty of opportunity for public comment on the proposal. It could be years before potential enforcement begins.  But that’s not the only speed limiter rule that could have a massive impact on the industry.  In California, state Sen. Scott Weiner has introduced legislation that would limit speeds on every new vehicle sold in the state starting with the 2027 model year – effectively, only two years from now. Almost 1 of every 8 people in the country lives in the Golden State, but the rest of the country often goes along with California automotive rules, whether it be from states piggybacking on the more stringent laws or because automakers deem it too expensive to sell more than one version of a car or truck.   4. Side underride guards In April 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for studying the effectiveness of mandating side underride guards to trailers. In that report, the government estimated that installing side underride guards on trailers would cost up to $1.2 billion per year. The ANPRM also estimated that 17.2 lives could be saved, and 69 serious injuries prevented annually.  Industry professionals don’t quite see the cost-benefit analysis of this rule as safety advocates do, as this would also decrease fuel efficiency by adding weight to the trailer. For fleets, a telematics solution like a sensor or side camera could conceivably warn a driver when an object is at the side of the trailer at a fraction of the cost.  Regulations and laws are unpredictable. Transflo isn’t.  Anticipating the exact laws and regulations that will affect transportation can sometimes be a fruitless endeavor – much like trying to nail down if that afternoon storm in May will bring tornadoes or a quick drenching. This year, an upcoming presidential election and the potential for some of these federal rules to be revoked next year makes the regulatory atmosphere that much more unstable.  What won’t be changing is Transflo’s commitment to products that make life easier and safer for fleet managers, industry executives, and drivers, whether you have 10 trucks or 1,000. Our telematics solutions, including ELDs, dashcams, and asset trackers, offer customizable integrations and fleet management platforms that allow a carrier to take safety and fleet maintenance steps on its own terms.   If you’re interested in learning more about telematics or any of Transflo’s products for carriers and drivers, contact us today. 

In logistics, AI is being used today to bring productivity to a new level, with a significant amount of traditional manual work in the back office being reduced or automated thanks to AI-powered products. But most of the story of AI in logistics and trucking is yet to be written.  To separate fact from fiction in logistics AI adoption and development, Transflo Chief Product Officer Justin King joined the panel, “Beyond the Hype: Industry Leaders Chart the Future of AI Deployments” on Feb. 28 at the McLeod Software AI Conference in Birmingham, Alabama. Vooma Co-Founder Jesse Buckingham and Parade VP of Product Lindsay Watt joined King on the panel, moderated by Seth Clevenger of Transport Topics.  Here are three takeaways mentioned by King and the panel:  1. Humans aren’t going anywhere, but the nature of work will change. Predictions about autonomous trucks populating the freeways and AI handling every aspect of the shipper-carrier or driver-broker-carrier relationship may have a place in science fiction, but they’re not realistic now. Instead, the current role of AI in logistics lies in taking over time-consuming, everyday tasks.  During the panel, the experts mentioned a variety of opportunities for AI in the sector that can improve upon traditional workflows. To that end, AI models trained by a variety of data sets can approximate human decision-making power for many lower-risk decisions. Some use cases include:  Document processing  Document scanning  Chatbots to answer drivers’ questions  Driver safety risk  Fleet maintenance  Optimizing freight bids  Identifying trends  The panelists mentioned that the near future of AI in logistics should be a collaborative one, with humans in charge and using AI to get things accomplished, leaving brain power to more complex problems and important business relationships. Furthermore, human-AI collaboration will require a degree of additional workforce training to ensure employees understand and use the technology in the best ways for the business. 2. Al adoption may take time for organizations to adopt. While AI can help logistics and trucking companies save money and time, implementing it may make employees throughout the organization wary. On the management side, AI will evolve very rapidly in the coming years, which will make adapting and pivoting to new capabilities crucial.  This is why King and the rest of the panel believe it’s imperative for companies to clearly communicate the problems can be solved with AI and reassure the workforce that they – not any AI platform – are the most important parts of the business.  “It starts with leadership… and being intellectually curious, right?” said King. “If you’re running an IT department, for example, asking your QA folks, ‘Hey, have you used any sort of AI tool to debug this code?’”  King also mentioned that small-scale experimentation of AI tools across the board at a company can produce a “force multiplier” effect, leading to higher-quality code, a better overall product, and greater trust in AI as its capabilities evolve.  Meanwhile, carriers and brokers who are apprehensive of AI or want to hold on to the technologies of yesterday too long run the risk of being outpaced by the competition and having significant obstacles to AI development once the technology becomes inevitable.  “As with any new technology, the companies who embrace it early on and use it, even in small ways, don’t expect it to change the business overnight,” said King. “But even if you’re deploying it in small ways and you’re leveraging some technology of software to help your business, you will be on the forefront of your competitors.”  3. LLMs can help fuel the data engines of tomorrow. Without access to lots of data – and good data, at that – AI models don’t go anywhere and offer little value to logistics companies. Brokers and carriers typically have massive amounts of data in a transportation management system, but not all of it may be accurate or structured in a way that’s conducive to AI development.   Thankfully for those organizations, large language models (LLMs) used by a skilled and experienced technology provider will make it feasible to validate and clean up data for use in a practical, time-saving AI model powered by machine learning.  “Using AI to create the dataset is actually one of the most interesting opportunities that we have right now,” said King. “Historically, it would have been very costly to capture all of the data off of the documents. But now, using OCR (optical character recognition) and AI, you can do that in a fairly cost-effective way.”  How Transflo approaches AI  The Transflo team takes a customer-focused and sustainable approach to AI. They use multiple AI models, including LLMs, that are trained internally. The team also favors progressive AI development that takes time to learn and analyze customers’ business needs so they can deliver solutions that save time and money.  Transflo’s Workflow AI solution has helped customers drastically slash the time spent on formerly manual processes like billing and data extraction. In the case of Overland Park, Kansas-based freight brokerage Ryan Transportation, Workflow AI’s deployment saved up to two hours of daily work for every employee, which enabled staff to better utilize their skills and focus on more strategic work.  To learn more about Workflow AI and how Transflo’s solutions can help move your logistics business forward, contact sales today.  

Almost two years ago, we described how many trucks were “stalled” due to fuel prices thanks to the highest inflation in more than 40 years and the geopolitical supply pressures of overseas conflicts. While both fuel prices and inflation have begun to level off (as of early 2024), problems continue for many fleets and brokerages trying to operate in the post-pandemic environment. But there is another problem that we haven’t discussed – fuel payments. In theory, fuel payments are supposed to make lives easier across the supply chain by advancing money for fuel upon load pickup. But even that approach has been constrained by the technologies of yesterday. A new era of fuel payments is required for brokers and carriers alike to reach optimal efficiency. In this blog, we’ll look at the typical cost of fuel, where fleets run into issues with fuel payments, and explore how new tech can keep trucks on the road and lessen fueling problems. The Prohibitive Cost of Fuel A Class 8 truck holds up to 150 gallons of fuel. As of late February 2024, the average price of a gallon of diesel in the U.S. is $4.109. If a driver is filling up with 100 gallons, the cost of a fill-up is approximately $411, but could climb up to $470 to $560 in a state with higher diesel prices. Assuming fuel economy of 7.2 miles per gallon as mandated by the federal Environmental Protection Agency in new trucks made after 2014, that 100-gallon fill can take a driver about 700 miles. For older trucks running closer to 6 mpg, the mileage is likely closer to 600 to 625 miles. Of course, the length of a haul can vary widely based on carrier needs and freight. According to American Trucking Associations as of February 2024, the average length of haul in the for-hire over-the-road truckload segment is between 450 to 500 miles. Depending on fuel mileage, that equates to an average fuel cost of anywhere between $270 to $325 per segment. Regardless of fleet size, those costs quickly multiply day after day and eat into margins. When Traditional Fuel Payments Can Falter If the cash flow required to keep trucks fueled and rolling was the biggest hurdle related to diesel, that would be challenging enough. Unfortunately, several sources of pain may arise in the fuel advance process, including: Fraud Fees Reconciling funds First, and most crucial, is fraud. Physical fuel cards that look like debit or credit cards are susceptible to card skimming devices that can steal important data, such as a physical card number and its security info. Furthermore, card skimmers are often placed at gas pumps and may be discreet or altogether imperceptible to the driver. A physical fuel card or traditional check may also get lost, which could put it in the wrong hands. Similarly, physical PINs that remain the same between transactions have a greater likelihood of getting stolen than digital methods where a specific PIN is used for a single transaction. While the process of a traditional fuel advance is simple in theory, there are fees levied on the broker or carrier for the service that can eat into profitability. In the broker space, reconciling unused advance funds using traditional fuel advance methods like cards or checks can be time-consuming and difficult. Fuel Payments in a New Era The days of fuel payments headaches may soon come to a merciful end. With Transflo Wallet, the industry can take advantage of the first all-digital fuel advance platform. This new secure technology means that drivers can access fuel advance funds using a smartphone and a one-time-use, fraud-resistant PIN. Advances with Wallet also feature lower fees, fuel discounts, reduced fraud risk, and real-time visibility of funds, and can be used at 14,000+ truck stops nationwide. And you won’t have to unnecessarily pay for more expensive gas. Wallet includes maps that list diesel prices in the driver’s current area, so the lowest price is within reach. While Transflo Wallet is available for carriers, it can provide unique value for brokerages. Even though some brokers have used traditional advances for years, Wallet’s easy-to-use functionality breaks down the barriers to entry for smaller brokers and streamlines the existing process for larger brokers. Additionally, a portion of the per gallon discount offered by Wallet can be recovered by the broker, potentially putting thousands of dollars back in brokers’ pocketbooks. Keeping freight on the road doesn’t have to be difficult or rely on payment methods that have been around for generations. With Transflo, a better method for fuel advances is available today. Get in touch with us to learn more about the new era of digital fuel advances.

TAMPA, April 17, 2024 – Transflo, a leader in transportation technology, is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with Mastery Logistics Systems (Mastery). Mastery has built MasterMind® TMS, an enterprise transportation management system designed to connect systems, people, and data. This collaboration brings together two innovators to deliver seamless cloud-to-cloud (C2I) integration for enhanced efficiency and accuracy in freight management processes. The partnership leverages the cutting-edge platforms provided by Mastery and Transflo to implement real-time load and document integration driven by load events. This integration enables the validation of invoice documents using up to date data from MasterMind TMS, enabling auto-approvals, ensuring precise exception resolution and alerts, and providing 24/7 automation. MasterMind TMS offers a direct integration with Workflow AI to automate the invoice audit process, leading to faster processing times and decreased manual work. Automated audits for rates and necessary documents improve Days Payable Outstanding (DPO) and boost customer and vendor satisfaction. Mastery and Transflo partnered with a mutual customer to enhance their end user experience through a direct integration. Overall, the partnership aims to enhance billing and payable accuracy, improve back-office efficiency, and utilize live load events from MasterMind TMS for automated exception handling. This integration saves brokers time while accelerating the delivery of accurate data. Moreover, it reduces the technical burden on the brokerage’s IT team, enabling them to focus on strategic initiatives. “We are excited to partner with Mastery to bring unparalleled efficiency and accuracy to freight management processes,” said Renee Krug, CEO at Transflo. “By combining our expertise and technologies, we are empowering brokers, carriers, and vendors to streamline operations, reduce errors, and enhance overall customer satisfaction.” “Mastery is proud to partner with Transflo and continually provide MasterMind TMS users with integrated solutions,” said Danielle Prigge, Chief Commercial Officer, at Mastery. “Our partnership with Transflo was led on behalf of a mutual customer. The integration will help automate the document management process creating a hands-off experience for our end users allowing them to focus on exceptions. We are proud of the work done by all parties to make this solution possible!” About Transflo: Transflo® is a trusted industry leader in mobile, telematics, and business process automation solutions for the transportation sector in North America. Transflo’s customer-centric mobile and cloud-based technologies enable real-time communication for fleets, brokers, factors, shippers, and commercial vehicle drivers, digitizing 800 million shipping documents annually, representing approximately $118 billion in freight bills and 3.2 million downloads of the Mobile+ app. Organizations throughout Transflo’s ecosystem utilize the end-to-end solution suite and digital platform to increase efficiency, improve cash flow, and reduce costs. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, USA, Transflo has been at the forefront of innovation in transportation software for over 30 years. For more information, visit www.transflo.com. About Mastery: Mastery is partnering with enterprise carriers, shippers, and logistics companies to seamlessly connect their operations and deliver ever-evolving solutions on a single transportation management system. MasterMind® TMS empowers you to thrive in complexity and deliver on your commitments. To learn more visit: https://www.mastery.net/ For media inquiries or further information, please contact: TJ Muehlfeld [email protected] Vice President of Marketing, Transflo

1. Truck parking continues to be an area of concern, but things may be improving. The parking shortage in the U.S. and Florida is a long-standing issue that continues to slash fleet and owner-operator productivity because of time lost finding parking. The shortage leads to significant safety concerns when drivers are forced to use highway exit ramp shoulders and side streets.   Marie Tucker, the Commercial Vehicle Operations Manager for the Florida Department of Transportation, spoke about the issue during the summit with some hope, as the state and U.S. DOTs recently announced a $180 million infrastructure investment that will help build over 900 parking spots for trucks on Interstate 4 in Central Florida. Additionally, data indicate that the situation has improved since late 2021.  2. Generational differences in the industry are worth considering when managing employees. Baby boomers are retiring by the millions each year this decade. In trucking, the boomer retirement trend truly kicked off during the pandemic, when many drivers decided to walk away from the wheel. Throughout the industry, companies will need to take generational differences in mind when considering how to attract and retain drivers, brokers, and fleet managers.  Generation Z and Millennials typically place a greater emphasis on separating their work and home lives. In industry positions where work-from-home is an option, professionals in these generations are more likely to be comfortable with or pursue fully remote or hybrid positions. Their counterparts in the Gen X and boomer generations have more of an in-office mindset.  Additionally, Millennials are greater in number than both Generations X or Z, making those born between 1981 and 1996 the most dominant generation in the workforce for years to come.  3. It pays for carriers to know the ins and outs of FMCSA compliance. A conditional safety rating by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration – much less an unsatisfactory rating – can be a catastrophic result for a carrier. Insurance rates will skyrocket, and brokers will be apprehensive about working with a company that’s been shown to have inadequate safety controls by the feds.  But carriers can prevent the setback of an adverse rating by knowing when an FMCSA review may be coming, what the compliance investigators are looking for, and the sample sizes of fleets the investigators must look at to issue a conditional rating.  John Seidl, an experienced safety consultant and owner of Trucking Wins, comprehensively reviewed what carriers need to know. The key components of a fleet’s safety scores are:  Unsafe driving  Crashes  Hours-of-service compliance  Vehicle maintenance  Controlled substance and alcohol use  Hazardous materials compliance  Driver fitness  4. Dashcams are a must for today’s modern fleets. Dashcams have been seen by some in the industry as unnecessary at best and an invasion of privacy at worst. Fleets may also be hesitant to implement them due to costs. However, the evidence is clear that dashcams benefit the bottom line and road safety conditions.  In an accident, dashcam footage can help clear drivers who might otherwise be blamed for accidents, therefore preventing low safety scores and insurance increases. Additionally, modern dashcams combined with telematics and AI capabilities help coach drivers out of unsafe habits, leading to future accident prevention.  Forward-thinking carriers can make dashcam adoption easier by thoroughly evaluating return on investment and clearly communicating benefits to drivers.  5. Florida’s best drivers will compete in June at Daytona Beach. Finally, the FTA wants member companies to know that the Florida Truck Driving Championships are taking place June 13-15 at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. This competition features a written test and a skills course in multiple classes. Class winners earn the right to move onto the American Trucking Associations’ National Truck Driving Championships from August 21-24 in Indianapolis.  Carriers can register their drivers and book one of two oceanfront hotels at https://www.floridatrucking.org/tdc.