Latest news
CSA, DataQ, SMS: What’s the Difference?
CSA, DataQ, SMS: What’s the Difference? By Nidasha Willis If you’re a truck driver or trucking company, you may hear acronyms like SMS, CSA, and DataQ tossed around a lot. In this short blog, we’ll teach you how to distinguish the three, why they’re useful to you, and how they facilitate safety. Let’s get started.[…]
Challenging DataQ
How to Challenge a DOT Violation Using DataQ by Nidasha Willis DataQ is an electronic process that allows you to request and track a review of federal and state data issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Often individuals or companies will go through this process if they receive alerts, violations, and investigations[…]
Understanding DATAQs – Tips to Help Through the Process
]Understanding DATAQS – Tips to Help Through the Process By Nidasha Willis This piece is an introduction of DataQ. Over the next several weeks, we will be adding more in depth pieces so you can be more comfortable with DataQ, its processes, and why you need to be cognizant of is relevance to you[…]
New Dash Cam Gives You the Perfect View
Gorilla Safety is proud to introduce the RoadRunner Cam, a new single dash cam designed to make managing your fleet easier than ever. From monitoring driver behavior to having proof that your driver wasn’t at fault in an accident, this single camera dash cam system gives you the perfect view of what’s going on in[…]
HOS Suspension Extended Through Mid-August
On July 13, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extended the HOS waiver for certain truck drivers through August 14. The original waiver was issued in March and has been extended multiple times in the past few months. What the HOS Waiver Allows The waiver was originally issued for truck drivers moving necessary goods[…]
FMCSA Relaxes Drug Testing Requirements
The impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt in unpredictable ways. The latest is a relaxation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) requirement for random drug-testing among drivers. The FMCSA made their announcement on July 6. Within the current requirements, carriers must randomly test 50 percent of their drivers (based on number of[…]
How the Trucking Industry is Rising Again
When 2020 began, the trucking industry was already in trouble. The month of January indicated that a recession was on the horizon, that tariffs were increasing, and that imports and exports were softening. Then, March hit, and COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Although truckers were declared essential workers, low freight rates and rest area closures[…]
Alternative Fuel Options Gaining Popularity
Alternative fuel options may have, at one point or another, seemed out of reach for the average fleet or owner/operator. But more options have been made available, more studies completed, and more cities and states have incentivized the adoption of alternative fuels. As a result, they’ve begun to gain popularity among fleets of all sizes.[…]
100 Deadliest Days On The Road
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the 100 deadliest days each year for driving. These days make up the vast majority of teen driver fatalities, and they’re largely due to speeding, drinking and driving, and distracting elements behind the wheel. However, while the “100 deadliest days” primarily aims to address teen driving, it extends[…]
Improving SAFER Scores By Changing Your Culture
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created the Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) program and the CSA score to help identify carriers who are at high-risk of unsafe practices on the road. These are the fleets who cause accidents because of unsafe drivers and/or poorly maintained vehicles. A carrier’s score impacts the health and[…]
What The INVEST Act Could Mean For Fleets
A bill was recently passed through the US House committee “Transportation and Infrastructure” called the INVEST Act. This bill is aimed at finding funding necessary to pay for the upkeep and the advancement of the United States’ crumbling surface road infrastructure. The bill passed committee by a 37-27 margin and has provided some interesting talking[…]
Spot Rates on the Rise
While the threat of the financial impact from the coronavirus continues to dominate the national headlines and infection rates around the country are on the rise, there is some good news to be had now that many pandemic-related lockdowns are over. Spot rates are on the rise as truck postings increased 13 percent for the[…]
How is the Low Freight Rate Affecting the Trucking Community?
The freight rate is a price at which a certain cargo can be delivered from one point to another. This price depends on a variety of factors such as the form of cargo, the weight of the cargo, the delivery distance, and the mode of transport. However, there is one additional factor that has been[…]
Preparing Your Fleet During a Time of Civil Unrest
It’s been nearly 30 years since truck driver Reginald Denny was pulled from his truck and beaten during the 1992 riots in Los Angeles. Some of your drivers may be too young to remember, but many aren’t. As a fleet operator, it’s likely weighing heavily on you as you watch the news today. Preparing your[…]
HOS Final Rule Update – Compliance and Gorilla Safety
Here at Gorilla Safety, we take compliance as seriously as you do. We keep up to date on the ever-evolving world of DOT/FMCSA regulations and how they could and do affect you. We want to help give you a voice whenever possible. Most importantly though, we want you to feel comfortable that our product meets[…]
Help is Here for Struggling Fleets Strapped for Cash
Times are tough right now. COVID-19 has impacted every facet of life — from home and health to your ability to work and earn a living. Small fleets have been hit harder than most, especially owner-operators. Not taking on available jobs isn’t an option, but to do it, you have to remain in compliance with[…]
How COVID-19 Has Impacted the Trucking Industry
As COVID-19 has spread across the world, it’s impacted all aspects of our “normal.” The trucking industry is no exception. While non-essential businesses shut down immediately to prevent further spread, truckers remained operational. After all, who else would continue to move essential items to and from hospitals and stores? Here’s everything you need to know[…]
Gorilla Safety and You
Over the next several weeks, you will notice an uptick in our blog posts, emails and social media presence. We are doing this to open a better line of communication with you, our much-appreciated clients. We want to let you know when releases are coming out, information on our product, new compliance rules and regulations[…]
Feature Spotlight: Break Button
You follow the rules, do what you’re required to do as a driver, and keep yourself safe out on the roads, which makes it frustrating when you discover you’re in violation of the 30-minute break rule on a technicality. Instead of taking 30 minutes, you actually took 29 minutes. There’s got to be a better[…]
Coronavirus Updates: Rule Changes, Clarifications, and Other Information Drivers and Fleets Need
The world is moving faster than ever while we all deal with the coronavirus and the changes it’s brought to our personal and business lives. It may feel impossible to keep up with the changes, information, programs, and news — especially as it relates to your drivers and your fleet. We’re here to help. Here[…]
Are You Getting the Most Out of Your DVIR?
Driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs) might be required but that doesn’t mean every fleet does them well or uses them wisely. If your drivers need help getting them done, and you spend too much time tracking down reports or trying to decipher them, you’re not alone. DVIRs are only useful when they’re completed, accurate, and[…]
What Dropping Oil Prices Could Mean for Your Fleet
We’ve all seen the change in gas prices for passenger vehicles, and if you’ve paid attention to economic news, you know crude oil has been at all time lows. The drop in oil prices is part of a trade war between Saudi Arabia and Russia, but it impacts the North American trucking industry. Lower Prices[…]
Coronavirus’ (COVID-19) Impact on Fleets
Coronavirus has had an immediate and obvious impact on the entire world. Schools and businesses have closed. People are staying home to keep from getting sick or spreading the virus. Hospitals are working at or beyond capacity. The trucking industry has not escaped the impact of COVID-19. HOS Regulation Change The biggest impact on fleets[…]
HOS Regulation Changes Due to COVID-19
COVID-19 has hit the world hard, and the US is no exception. Shortages of needed supplies are occurring across the country as people stock-up and hunker down and the pandemic impacts our healthcare system. This means that necessary supplies are running out quickly and need to be restocked just as fast. As always, truckers are[…]
Hiring 1099 Drivers May Not Be Worth the Risk
Are you considering expanding your fleet this year? Need to bring on new drivers to keep up with demand? Know the only way to grow is to start hiring? You can hire drivers who are employed by you or you can hire 1099 drivers (independent contractors). Deciding which is best for your fleet is a[…]
Getting Ready for the First Inspection Blitz of the Year
It’s never too early to get ready for an upcoming inspection, especially when you know it’s going to happen. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has planned it’s annual International Roadcheck Inspection blitz for May 5 through May 7. If that sounds early, you’re right. Typically this blitz occurs in June, but the timing was[…]
Reviewing Your Accident Procedures in 2020
No matter how hard you and your drivers work to prevent accidents on the road, they happen. What your driver does in the immediate aftermath can make the difference in what happens later — lawsuits, settlements, insurance disputes, and more. Now is a good time to review your accident procedures and prepare for future accidents. […]
It’s 10pm – Do You Know Where Your Trucks Are?
Back in the day, you worried about where your kids were at night. Now it’s not missed curfews that keep you up — it’s wondering where your fleet is. Figuring it out doesn’t have to be a stressful guessing game, not when you have the right technology at your fingertips. What Do You Need to[…]
Are You Doing Enough to Track Your Yellow Iron?
The equipment and heavy machinery your company uses is just as important as the trucks in your fleet. Yellow iron keeps your business moving forward. If you’re not tracking it, you’re missing out on important information and cost-saving measures. Maintenance and Repairs Just as you schedule oil changes, brake checks, and other maintenance for your[…]
How to Handle Roadside Inspections
In 2019, over 3.4 million roadside inspections were conducted by federal and state inspectors. Of those, 5 percent of drivers were placed out of service and 20 percent of vehicles were placed out of service. Many of these situations are completely avoidable, as long as you know what to expect in a roadside inspection. […]
How to Avoid an ELD Outage
You’ve used technology long enough to know that outages happen. Cell towers go down in storms. Your internet won’t connect on a laptop. Things happen. But when your equipment is what keeps your business moving (and legally compliant!), outages must be rare and long outages are unacceptable. Outages Happen, But They Shouldn’t Be Common At[…]
ELDs Lead to Better Rested, More Alert, and Safer Drivers
Time is money, but too much time, especially behind the wheel, leads to fatigue and accidents. The good news is that electronic logging devices (ELDs) lead to drivers who get more rest which leads to fewer accidents. Anecdotal Evidence The hard data isn’t available yet on the effectiveness of ELDs, but many in the industry[…]
How Can an ELD Impact Detention Times?
Electronic logging devices make one thing irrefutable — exactly how much time a driver spends on the road or sitting around waiting. In the past, mileage was the main factor in determining value and rates. These days, thanks to ELDs, the most precious commodity is time, and it’s all being tracked, saved, and reported. That[…]
Personal Conveyance and Yard Moves: What You Need to Know
You know, better than anyone, that just because you’re behind the wheel of your truck, you’re not always logging miles and time toward your HOS. A big fear, in the early days when the ELD mandate was announced, is that these moments would not be taken into consideration or would be counted towards your daily[…]
Monitoring Your Fleet’s Performance
You’ve probably been managing fleets or working in the trucking industry long enough to remember when keeping up with drivers was something you had to take on faith. Sure, smartphones made it easier to check in and certain technology advancements improved communication, but you never really knew what was going on. Until there was an[…]
Improve Your SAFER Scores
Your SAFER score ranks your fleet’s safety and compliance, as well as your drivers’ safety and compliance, to help determine which fleets and drivers stay safe and maintain compliance on the road. These scores are publicly available and can be used to determine if a company should hire your fleet. From an internal standpoint, poor[…]
Getting the Most Out of Your ELD
The electronic logging device (ELD) in your trucks keep you compliant and out of trouble with the FMCSA. It probably wasn’t as big of a hassle as you originally feared when the mandate first came out. But if all you’re using your ELD for is to stay compliant, you may be missing out on big[…]
The Importance of a Thorough Driver Orientation
New hire orientation usually conjures up an image of a nameless person standing at the front of a room, droning on and on about company policies. Most people imagine excruciating boredom in freezing cold conference rooms while drinking lukewarm, stale coffee. New hires often leave with the bare minimum of information and little understanding of[…]
Using Driver Scorecards to Improve Your Fleet’s Performance
Name one improvement you’d like to make in your fleet’s performance this year. Is it reduced violations? Lower fuel costs? Fewer equipment replacements? Fewer accidents? Better delivery times? For most fleets, the answer is all of the above. The first place to start is to know how your drivers perform behind the wheel. This is[…]
New Year’s Resolutions: Avoid Citations and Ace Inspections
Do you want to avoid violations and citations this year? Of course you do! You’ll lower costs, reduce headaches, and keep your drivers on the road instead of being stuck on the sidelines during overly long roadside inspections. What you and your drivers do before they get on the road will make a big difference.[…]
Winter Driving Hazards and How to Avoid Them
Whether you’re driving a big truck or a small compact car, you know that winter driving can be hazardous. But it’s especially dangerous — for you and other vehicles on the road — when you’re a big truck hauling a 53 foot trailer and trying to keep 18 wheels on icy roads. Make sure you[…]
Rising Insurance Costs: What Can You Do?
Insurance premiums could increase as much as 20 to 25 percent in 2020, thanks in large part to the extremely high awards being determined by juries against carriers and fleets. With insurance rates on the rise, what can you do? Preparing for Insurance Rate Increases Insurance companies that service the trucking industry have been running[…]
Gearing Up for a Tough Year
During an economics session at CCJ‘s Solutions Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona recently, ACT Research President Kenny Vieth shared his projections on what the trucking industry can expect in 2020. In short, it’s going to be tough. As with all things related to the economy, there are opportunities and bright spots, but fleets that aren’t efficient[…]
Make 2020 the Year of Efficiency and Reduced Costs
You can’t control how much fuel costs or the price of a new truck, but that doesn’t mean you’re helpless in reducing your fleet’s expenses, either. As you plan for a more profitable 2020, consider how your fleet can become more efficient and reduce costs at the same time. Here’s what you can do. Plan[…]
Ring in 2020 with a Safer Fleet
Having a safer fleet out on the road is good for business. It keeps shippers working with you all year long, helps you build your fleet, and determines how well your company will grow in the future. Being safe isn’t just a good business decision. It also prevents unnecessary violations during inspections and makes life[…]
Retaining Good Drivers
Keeping a good driver isn’t always easy. Between driver shortages across the US and high turnover rates, you can easily find yourself in a cycle of hiring, training, and then saying goodbye to a driver with potential. If you’re ready to stop the cycle, here are a few things you can do to keep your[…]
Don’t Let Your Fleet Go Up In Smoke
The use of marijuana is legal, in some form, in 33 states and counting. And yet, it remains a Schedule 1 drug according to the federal government. While it’s imperative that drivers stay sober and unimpaired while they’re behind the wheel, it’s worth thinking about the risks of both hiring and not hiring a new[…]
Smoothly Transition from AOBRD to ELD
As the deadline approaches for AOBRDs to be phased out and for fleets to transition to ELDs, you might be tempted to panic if you still need to switch. Panic won’t help you at this point, but a plan will. Here’s what you need to know for a smooth transition. Pick Your Equipment Ultimately you[…]
Choosing the Right ELD — More Important Than Ever
You already know how important it is to make good business decisions — who you hire, what equipment to buy, what prices to charge — so that your business can succeed. One wrong choice can cost money and time. Choosing the right ELD system is one of those decisions that can have ripple effects in[…]
No More Extensions
The final deadline for electronic logging device (ELD) is coming fast. Spoiler alert: there will be no more extensions. The time for waiting is over. What You Need to Know As of December 16, 2019, any carriers still using non-ELD compliant logging software or AOBRDs will be in violation of FMCSA regulations. This means drivers[…]
