New FDA Food Safety Rule Quickly Transforming Food Transportation

As part of the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently introduced a new law on the sanitary transportation of food. According to the new FDA food rule, carriers and shippers will be responsible for ensuring proper temperature has been maintained for the entire transportation of the food, within the US.

FSMA Deadling Approaching

The new sanitary transport rule results from a consultation process between the food and transportation industries and the government over the last two years. The rule applies to both animal and human food transported in bulk and open containers.

 

Who Must Comply with the Food Safety Rule?

 

Carriers, shippers, and receivers, transporting food in the United States by rail or motor vehicle are subject to the new rule. For shippers, the company will need to provide proof that the appropriate temperature was maintained at the shipping staging area prior to moving it into the carrier vehicle.

In turn, the carrier is then required to document the following two things:
1) The transport vehicle was pre-cooled to the appropriate temperature prior to the load transfer
2) Appropriate temperatures were maintained for the entire duration of the trip.

The carrier must ensure the food arrived at the receiving location at the appropriate temperature. The receiver may also request a report from both the carrier and shipper to confirm the right temperatures were maintained from point A to point B.

 

FDA Food Safety Rule Compliance Deadline

 

Larger fleets have one year from the publication date (April 2017) to comply, and smaller fleets have two years (April 2018) to comply.

 

Temperature Monitoring is Essential to Sanitary Transportation

 

Proper refrigeration of food during transportation is one of the main responsibilities under the food safety rule. Temperature tracking and telematics can significantly help with fleet compliance to new guidelines.

Temptrac, a solution developed by our partner Valor, is Cold Chain Custody Compliant, meeting both the US FMSA and European EN12830 requirements. The solution provides you with real-time temperature monitoring of your mobile and stationary refrigerated assets, anytime, anywhere. The Temptrac kit comes pre-programmed with two long lasting wireless sensor that allow you to track two different temperature zones independently, with the added option of expanding to four if needed.

temptrac-valor-truck-diagram

 

How Trailer Temperature Tracking Works

 

There are four components to the Valor TempTrac temperature tracking solution: sensors, antenna, CAN bus, and Geotab GO device:

  • Internally-mounted sensors simultaneously monitor and record 0.5 degree trailer temperature changes in real-time.
  • An antenna transmits data wirelessly from the sensors to the CAN bus and Geotab GO telematics device. In addition to trailer temperature data, the Geotab GO device collects a wealth of GPS location info and engine data.
  • Data can be accessed and managed through the MyGeotab fleet management software. Fleet managers can set customized temperature thresholds and immediate alerts for out of range breaches. The driver receives immediate SMS or email alerts for temperature changes over and under the pre-set range.

Temperature tracking doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple plug-&-play installation of the Valor TempTrac + Geotab solution means that a trailer or truck will be up and running again in 20 minutes, providing immediate temperature visibility.

In addition to meeting your end-to-end cold chain management needs, seamless telematics integration provides added-value.

 

Protecting Safety with Data-Driven Technology

 

The FDA’s new rule is a step forward for food safety and will help protect millions of people from foodborne illness. Temperature tracking technology will play a very important role in increasing monitoring accuracy and improving safety in the food supply chain.

Data-driven solutions are only as reliable as the sensors that capture them. It’s critical to select sensor technology that is robust, reliable, and precise. A comprehensive solution will track temperatures through the life of a shipment, and also show trends over time and provide driver alerts. Understanding temperature throughout the chain of custody enables shippers to deliver food safely and confidently to their customers.

 

Learn More

 

Valor TempTrac Reefer Temperature Monitoring – Valor TempTrac monitors up to four temperature zones simultaneously and transmits temperature readings through your Geotab GO device to MyGeotab in real time. Companies that ship fresh produce, frozen goods, or high-value assets such as pharmaceuticals via refrigerated transport can benefit from this solution.

Key Benefits:

  • Real-time monitoring of temperature, samples every four seconds, transmits every ten seconds, or 1 degree temperature change.
  • Immediate SMS or email alerts for over- and under-temperature changes.
  • Track temperatures through the life of a shipment and trend temperatures over time.

About Valor
Valor is a research and design institute as well as a manufacturer of advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems. Their Tire Pressure and Temperature Monitoring System (TPTMS) has been specifically engineered to meet the challenges of fleet management in reducing tire maintenance and fuel costs while increasing safety.

Source: https://www.geotab.com/blog/fda-food-safety-rule/

Step Up Your Game with a Fleet Temperature Monitoring System

 

TEMPERATURE MONITORING SYSTEM BRINGS BIG SAVINGS

 

As an article from earlier this year in Fleet Equipment Magazine makes clear, shipping costs for refrigerated goods can be greatly reduced with a good fleet temperature monitoring system. Of course, putting a monitoring system in place requires an investment from the fleet manager who must decide if the anticipated savings will be worth the investment. However, now with the release of the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), temperature monitoring and reporting is a must. The potential gains range from the obvious to the more subtle.

The most obvious cost savings come from eliminating spoilage. Real-time temperature monitoring allows central oversight of truck temperatures and can allow easy verification that proper temperatures were maintained throughout a journey. These records can also be used to defend against claims that good were damaged by heat in transit. This is important for every product, including fresh produce and frozen food, but it is also incredibly important for high-value assets like pharmaceuticals.

A good fleet temperature monitoring system also allows fleet managers to better manage their people, especially when combined with sensors that monitor things like mileage, engine performance, location, and movement. An integrated monitoring system allows fleet managers to know if their vehicles suddenly begin to burn a lot more fuel than normal. That can be a sign that fuel is being lost because of a maintenance problem or even because of theft on the part of a driver. A monitoring system can track duty time of drivers and anticipate upcoming maintenance needs based on mileage or engine hours.

Perhaps just as importantly, real-time monitoring can eliminate countless hours of running around the yard locating trucks and checking their status one at a time. Because trucks are generally only making money when they are hauling a load, good data is necessary for a large fleet to maximize its utilization.

 

WHY CHOOSE US?

 

Our fleet temperature monitoring system is an industry leader in temperature monitoring systems and is cold chain custody compliant. It provides real-time temperature monitoring with a check every four seconds in up to four different zones in each truck. No manual inspections are required, and fleet managers can get an automatic alert when temperatures reach a critical level. These continuous temperature checks are also recorded to assure accountability and help maximize the usage of a fleet, and remain in compliance with the FSMA.

Our system is fully integrated with other add-ons and add-ins, including our GPS vehicle tracking device that collects data from a number of available sensors on board a vehicle and then provides that information to a fleet manager’s central monitoring system.

Our wireless temperature monitoring system relies on sensors from Valor, a leading research and design institute known for precise and reliable sensors. Valor designs and manufactures its own sensors; the in-house manufacturing component allows Valor to constantly innovate and keep costs down. Valor has partnered with Geotab, the manufacturer of our GPS-enabled tracking devices. The devices collect data from the vehicle and then our software collects presents this data to fleet managers in a user-friendly and stress-free interface.

Improve Driver Performance With Fleet Tracking Solutions & Employee Incentives

 

Fleet Tracking Solutions Improve Driver Performance

 

Fleet tracking solutions offer many advantages; one in particular is it can help identify which employees have poor driving habits. Not only does this cause safety issues for your drivers and other people on the road, it is wasting company money on fuel and could be adding extra wear and tear to the vehicle.

It is crucial to tell your drivers if fleet tracking solutions will be implemented because that alone is going to improve their driving habits. Many of our clients installed the solution and noticed huge improvements within the first few weeks without having to discuss their drivers poor driving habits. When fleet tracking solutions are introduced properly, and you clearly explain what you hope to accomplish with the solution (such as reduced fuel costs by reducing idling and speeding) they will likely want to improve their driving on their own.

 

To assist you on implementation check out this download:
How to Successfully Introduce GPS Tracking to Your Team.

 

For those drivers who don’t improve on their own, fleet tracking solutions will help identify what drivers are costing you the most money (through speeding, idling, hard braking etc.) You may want to start out by addressing your drivers as a group, to avoid singling anyone out. This way you can bring up the most commonly seen issues to your drivers as a whole – and hope they all improve. If you are still struggling with a few individual drivers, it’s then best you sit down with them to discuss how their habits are wasting fuel and causing a safety concern, and what they can do to improve.

 

Employee Incentives for Most Improved Drivers

 

We have experienced many of our clients in the past creating a friendly company competition between all the drivers to see who can be the most successful. It makes it more fun for the employees to all compete for the best driver scorecard for the week. Some of our clients also start an incentive program to encourage drivers to have the best driving behaviour in the company.

Here are a couple ideas for employee incentives to improve driver performance:

  • Financial Incentive/Gift Cards
    Everyone responds to financial incentives. This is better for larger fleets with fluctuating numbers. You could do a monthly or quarterly financial incentive or gift card to the driver with the lowest idling cost, the fewest amount of driving incidents, the lowest amount of speeding infractions or a combination of everything.
  • Employee of the Month
    This is a fun, easy, low cost incentive a company of any size can offer. You could reward the best driver for the month the title of “Employee of the Month” and this could grant them various privileges around the office.
  • Group Incentive
    If you would prefer to do an office reward you could set goals for the entire office to be involved with. This might be staying under a certain amount of idling or keeping the number of driving infractions for the fleet, under a specific goal. As a reward to the office if the goals are met, you could take them all out for lunch, throw a pizza party, or let everyone off early one Friday before a long weekend.

The ideas are endless and your drivers will respond to GPS vehicle tracking whether you offer an incentive or not; offering an incentive may simply give that extra boost to drivers who take a little more convincing of the benefits of fleet tracking solutions.

Driving the Fleet Safety Movement

 

What To Look for When Choosing an ELD Provider

Of course, every company claims they have the best features and hardware when it comes to telematics and e-logs, but you need to look for what’s best for you and your business in the long run.

So what should you look for when choosing your telematics and e-log provider?

  1. FMCSA Compliance
    Is the solution FMCSA Compliant? If not, stop looking. Without being compliant with the standards set out by the FMCSA, even with an e-log solution you could still be at risk of fines.
  2. Experience
    It hasn’t even been a year since the FMCSA released the final rule, and since then there has been a ton of new companies popping up offering ELD solution. Even before getting into the features of the solution, take a look at the supplier’s experience and expertise with the FMCSA and ELDs.
  3. Long-Term Solution
    As you know, the Commercial Vehicle industry deals with constantly evolving and changing regulations. It’s crucial your future supplier is comfortable with the industry to easily manage constant changes and updates, without any downtime. It’s also important the ELD equipment/software you have invested in will allow for easy updates to stay on par with any new regulations or changes, and in order to grow along with your business.
  4. Expandability & Integration
    You want to work with a company that will be a long-term fit, and that usually means being able to adapt and integrate with other technologies as necessary. Does the supplier allow for 3rd party apps to be connected? With an open platform you can easily integrate all your solutions, whether that be dispatching, accounting, or anything else, into an all-in-one solution platform for easier access and management.
  5. Compliant in Canada, Alaska and Oil Fields
    The FMCSA regulations are different in oil field operations, in Canada and in Alaska. If your business also operates in these areas, ensure your supplier is able to meet those requirements to prevent downtime and keep your business in compliance.

Preventative Maintenance Planning for Fleets

It’s well known across the fleet management industry that preventative maintenance (PM) will reduce downtime and save you money, yet so many companies still fail to have one in place. Here’s a quick introduction to setting up a top-notch PM program for your fleet.

What’s Preventative Maintenance and Why’s It Important?

Preventative maintenance is regularly scheduled maintenance on a vehicle to reduce breakdowns. PM is done while the vehicle is still in working condition, in order to keep it running at optimal performance levels and greatly reduce downtime.

PM is important because it minimizes downtime and maximizes revenue.

If you don’t have a preventative maintenance program in place, you are putting your vehicles and drivers at a much higher risk of breakdowns and costly downtime. Preventative maintenance also helps keep your vehicles running in top shape, which can directly have an effect on the efficiency and fuel economy of your vehicles.

Why Do So Many People Fail to Perform Preventative Maintenance?

While preventative maintenance saves time and money in the long run, fleet managers and business owners often only look at the initial costs and time investment necessary — and do not look at the entire big picture. Implementing a preventative maintenance program may take some initial costs and dedicated time from your team up front, but the pay off in the long run is well worth it.

Preventative Maintenance Made Easier With Telematics

There are multiple maintenance management software systems out there on the market, but many are missing one critical aspect, which is the ability to actually communicate with the vehicles. When a maintenance management system can communicate with your vehicles, the entire process can almost be automatic, with very little room for human error.

That’s where telematics comes into play. By combining maintenance management software with vehicle engine data, such as odometer and engine faults, preventative maintenance can be triggered to schedule within the software automatically.

How to Set Up a Preventative Maintenance Plan Successfully
  1. Perform an inventory of all fleet vehicles. Review the maintenance records for each vehicle to determine regularly required maintenance activities and parts. Establish a list of priority vehicles.
  2. Set an annual budget for maintenance.
  3. Implement a maintenance management system to automate and streamline work orders, PM scheduling, inventory and parts management, purchasing, and reporting. By using an online maintenance assistant for reporting, you can measure and analyze key program metrics such as: closed work orders with all costs; work orders suggested vs. completion date; low stock report; and maintenance by type.
  4. Create a PM checklist & schedule. Be sure to consult the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedules for each vehicle to help establish appropriate frequencies. Implement a system for sending alerts when maintenance is due.
  5. Determine the best method for communicating maintenance plans and receiving reports and feedback, e.g. informal (emails, calls, weekly updates) or formal (monthly meetings with a structured agenda).
  6. Establish the method of record-keeping on ongoing maintenance activities. How will the information be reported and where will it be stored?
  7. Review and analyze the PM program regularly to ensure that it is meeting your budget and expectations. Look for areas of improvement where possible.
IFTA Software

Make Life Easier with IFTA Software

As you likely already know, there are four parts to IFTA fuel tax forms: mileage, fuel, state and filing date. This sounds pretty straight forward, until you realize the information needs to be filled out for every single trip.

Fortunately, there is now lots of different IFTA software options available that make it much easier to stay in compliance with IFTA fuel tax reporting requirements (and we all know that noncompliance and inaccurate records can cost a pretty penny!).

If you’re struggling to figure out your IFTA payments, you’re not alone. IFTA management software is here to help, and while yes some are definitely better than others, they all strive to solve the same problem.

 

Top 5 Benefits of Implementing IFTA Software

 

  1. Eliminate Errors
    With automated IFTA reporting, there is little to no room for error. You no longer have to rely on your drivers to fill out forms; the software will collect all data, including trip sheets, mileage tax reports, and monthly fuel data and mileage, directly from the vehicle.
  2. Eliminate Data Entry
    Data entry can be tedious, boring, and time consuming. With IFTA software you’ll eliminate data entry all together freeing up time for more important tasks.
  3. Save Money
    IFTA is madatory, and when filled out incorrectly can result in a costly fine. By automating your IFTA reporting there is no human error meaning there will be no expensive fines.
  4. Go Green
    With automated IFTA reporting, you eliminate the need for paper entry – cutting down on costs and taking another step to being a greener company.
  5. Eliminate Outsourcing
    IFTA reporting can be complicated and time consuming, which is why you may outsource it to another company. With automated IFTA reporting built right into a GPS solution, you eliminate the extra cost and hassle of outsourcing.

So what are you waiting for? Make the switch to IFTA software and start enjoying all the benefits of automated IFTA reporting today!

 

It’s easy to access automated IFTA reports with MyGeotab.
Check it out for yourself:
Quick Guide: MyGeotab IFTA Management

 

Telematics Misconceptions

Telematics can often get a bad rep – from being too expensive to being like ‘Big Brother’. In this article we will take a closer look at some of the biggest telematics misconceptions.

First misconception: All telematics technologies are the same.
The truth: There is a huge difference between telematics providers. If you do your research, you’ll see there are a ton of choices when it comes to different software, hardware, features available, reports, alerts, dashboards, and more.

Second misconception: Cheaper is better.
The truth: If you find a solution to fit your specific business needs and goals, you will gain a better ROI. Better telematics software is often more expensive for a reason – more functionality and features, reliability, top notch customer service, making for a long-term valued business partner – NOT just the basic software and hardware. Bottom line: price should not be the driving factor in your final decision.

Third misconception: Telematics is too expensive.
The truth: It’s no secret that the initial up front investment in telematics can be expensive, however, when used correctly, telematics can help a fleet save significantly more that the first initial cost. When speaking with different providers, make sure to take a look initial investment and have them show you how you’ll save more than that. Telematics is only costly when you are not getting a ROI.

Fourth misconception: All telematics solutions are scalable & will adapt to your growing business.
The truth: Unfortunately, not every solution is scalable. Fleets will often grow out of some providers because of their limited functionality. It’s important to find out about the scalability of a telematics solution when looking at different providers. Make sure they have all the capabilities you are looking for right now, as well as many other features and add-ons that will allow the solution to grow along with your business.

Fifth misconception: Using telematics will make your drivers angry.
The truth: This is probably by far the most common misconception, and unfortunately yes, some drivers may have an issue with telematics. However, most of your drivers want to do a good job and make your company money, and the right telemaatics solution will only help them do an even better job. And the small percentage of drivers who do have an issue with it? Well, in our experience, they’re the ones who are doing something wrong and don’t want you to know about it.

 

Source:
Automotive Fleet: Telematics ROI Beyond Fuel Savings

 

Telematics ROI: Small & Medium Business Case Studies

It’s no secret small and medium sized businesses with fleets can benefit from telematics yet people often don’t see where the ROI can come from when they only have a few vehicles.

Let’s take a look at two case studies specifically for those in doubt, and see just how small and medium businesses are using telematics to increase productivity and save money.

Usually the key performance indicators (KPIs) for small and medium fleets are the same as larger fleets. Focusing on specifics like lowering fuel consumption, eliminating fuel theft, and improving driver behavior to reduce risk and increase safety.

However, every fleet is different and will have their own specific goals. Let’s look at the following two examples of how two different businesses use telematics:

Case Study 1: Food Production Company Saves Money on Mileage

Challenge: Company Abc is in food production and uses multiple contractors to transport their products. The contractors are paid by mileage, and drive their own trucks. The mileage is paid for trips from the factory door to the farm, and the mileage inside the factory facility is not included in the calculation.

Solution: A starter solution with a custom daily report to highlight the mileage of each truck. This report shows the mileage inside the factory perimeter as well, so the customer can measure exact savings in mileage – adding up to hundreds of kilometers saved per day! The higher level plans were not necessary at this time but, if they wish to expand their solution to include driver behaviour and fuel consumption details, it’s easy to do so.

Case Study 2: Company Verifies Accuracy of Vehicle Testing with Telematics

Challenge: Company Xyz has a small fleet of hybrids and is engaged in testing vehicles. Their main goal is to measure driving behaviour and compare fuel usage versus electrical usage. The company also needs to verify the accuracy of the data for speeding and other harsh driving events.

Solution: A custom dashboard report to allow the customer to easily view the percentage of fuel consumption versus electrical usage. The high quality of data we provide gives the customer confidence that all their testing measurements are accurate.

These examples demonstrate how important it is for your telematics solution to be flexible. A platform that is user-friendly is also essential for maximizing the telematics value for the customer.

Tips to Selecting the Best Telematics Solution for Your Business

Ask Questions Now to Avoid Problems Later

There are a ton of telematics providers that promise great functionality at very low prices. In our experience, we’ve seen far too many of these providers suddenly vanish, leaving their customers with useless hardware installed in their vehicles.

In many of these unfortunate cases, customers were attracted by pricing or an enticing sales pitch. When looking at different suppliers, they never asked some key questions such as:

  • How stable is this company’s technology?
  • How much revenue do they spend on developing future technologies and services?
  • What measures does the company take to protect personal data?
  • What security do they deliver on the device and cloud sides?

And most importantly:

  • What value will this solution bring to my business?
  • Can this solution be scaled regionally and globally?

Although these questions may seem obvious. We’ve seen far too many small businesses implement telematics without considering these crucial topics, only to later discover that the solution did not always fit their needs.

telematics-software-added-value

Top Features to Have in a Telematics Solution

Some of our customers were already using a telematics solution prior to GoFleet, so they ask directly for specific improvements that their previous fleet solution did not offer.

Examples of key added value features:

  • Reliability and Service Availability
  • Good Customer Support
  • Cost-effective
  • Quick Install/Uninstall
  • Easy Report Customization
  • Wide Engine Parameters
  • Scalability

Source:
Small to Medium Business Case Studies by: Antonio Venutelli, Solutions Engineer at Geotab
https://www.geotab.com/blog/small-and-medium-business/

5 Easy Fuel Saving Tips for Your Fleet

One of the biggest (if not the biggest) expense for fleet based companies is fuel. And with fuel being necessary to running your business you may often think there is nothing you can do about high fuel costs. However, properly maintaining vehicles and educating your drivers are two of the best ways to maximize fuel efficiency and reduce high fuel expenses.

 

Check out these 5 easy fuel saving tips to start reducing fuel expenses today:

 

 

  • Change Your Air FilterUp to 10% of your engine’s efficiency can be compromised and internal engine parts can be damaged from a clogged air filter. A clean air filter can improve a vehicle’s gas mileage by up to 10%, according to the federal government. If you change your air filter every 12,000 miles you will protect the engine as well as improve fuel economy.

 

 

  • Check Your Tire PressureThe U.S. Department of Energy states drivers could increase their fuel efficiency by 3% by simply keeping their tires inflated. Your fuel costs increase per mile even if your tires are just 1 psi under inflated. It’s important to ensure your fleet’s tires are all inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure to not only improve fuel efficiency but provide a safer ride as well.

 

 

  • Slow DownAnd Relax! If your drivers are stressed, they are much more likely to accelerate quickly and brake hard, reducing fuel efficiency. These poor driving habits can decrease fuel efficiency by up to 5% according to the EPA.

 

 

  • Reduce Vehicle Weight100 pounds of extra weight in your vehicle can reduce fuel efficiency by 2%. This is especially prominent in smaller vehicles. Have your fleet drivers empty out anything that is not essential from their vehicles and ensure in the winter they are cleaning snow and ice off thoroughly.

 

 

  • Plan RoutesSave on vehicle wear and tear and reduce miles driven by effectively planning your drivers routes. Also, try to keep track of where your drivers are throughout the day. This way if there is an emergency you can send the closest driver to the location. It’ll keep your customers happy by reaching them sooner and cut down on miles driven.

 

These are small changes that can result in big savings. Educate your drivers on how their driving habits effect fuel efficiency and start working towards fuel savings today!

Easy Fuel Saving Tips for Fleet

Sources:

Fact or Fiction? Gas Myths Debunked
10 Easy Ways to Save on Gas

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Fuel Saving Tips to Stretch Your Gas Dollars

How to Increase Fleet Productivity with Telematics

Telematics is here to stay, and in order to remain competitive within your market you may have started using some version of the technology. If not, you’re missing out.

There is so much more to telematics than simply GPS tracking; telematics can help decrease fuel costs, increase fleet productivity and safety, and so much more.

Fleets reported an average of 21.1% decrease in accident costs, and a 10% decrease in fuel consumption in a recent Bobit Business Media Survey. Some respondents saw up to a 40% decrease in fuel consumption and an average of 12% decrease in labor costs.

 

59% of fleets said productivity was a major benefit of implementing telematics.
However, almost all benefits from telematics can boost productivity.

 

The survey included over 1,000 government and commercial fleet responses from fleets of all sizes and 92% reported telematics had a positive impact on their fleet.

 

So, how exactly can telematics increase fleet productivity?

 

It is not a magical solution that you plug in and notice results – it is however an extremely powerful tool and when used correctly can result in a ton of savings. Through proper use of the software, paying attention to detail, small changes made over time and communication with your drivers, you will definitely get the results you are looking for.

  • Real-Time Visibility
    Better tracking of your assets means saving you time and money through more efficient job/field tracking, dispatching, billing, and reduced theft.
  • Maintenance Management
    Schedule preventative maintenance based on actual engine hour data instead of your drivers guessing.
  • Improved Routing & Dispatching
    By knowing where your drivers are in real-time you can respond quicker and increase fleet productivity.
  • Monitoring Safety
    Through tracking metrics like speeding, seat belt use, etc. you can educate your drivers and help prevent incidents on the road. The collected data can also be used to clear up any false claims.
  • Increase Employee Efficiency
    The factors above are important but without employee support, it won’t work. Educate your drivers and even make it a healthy competition to see who can get the best driving record.
  • + so much more!

Increase-Fleet-Productivity

 

Source:
Automotive Fleet: How to Increase Fleet Productivity Using Telematics by Kelsey Nolan