Each generation of trucking has tried to find new technologies to help drivers feel more at home on the road. In the 1970s and \u201980s, the CB radio gave drivers a lifeline to the world beyond the cab. More recently, smartphones and social media have provided outlets to help drivers.<\/p>\n
Comfort on the road can go a long way for a long-hauler. In the continuing battle against the driver shortage plaguing the industry, fleets find that in-cab amenities can be the difference in attracting and retaining quality drivers. Many of these technologies help relieve driver isolation on the road, thus improving their quality of life. \u201cThat\u2019s what drives everything for these folks because they have a very unique existence,\u201d said Kem Wallace, McLeod Software\u2019s senior solutions architect. \u201cIt is important to be able to shrink their world.\u201d<\/p>\n
While many drivers aren\u2019t fans of technologies that track their work\u2014such as electronic logging devices and in-cab cameras\u2014the profession has a long history of embracing technology that improves their quality of life. Along with CBs, drivers were among the first to embrace debit cards, fuel cards, and prepaid calling cards in the 1980s and 1990s, Wallace noted.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Creature comforts<\/h4>\n
A modern truck with new amenities can go a long way. \u201cWe\u2019re constantly turning the trucks over, and that\u2019s a big draw for our drivers,\u201d said Craig Turner, general manager of TP Trucking. \u201cThese guys spend so much time\u2014weeks at a time if they choose to\u2014in these trucks. You have to make it as comfortable as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
TP Trucking leases its vehicles, replacing trucks on a five-year schedule to ensure its drivers have the latest technology and creature comforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s face it, most truck drivers are creatures of habit,\u201d Turner said. To help these professional drivers on the road, TP equips all its trucks with refrigerators, microwaves, televisions, and more.<\/p>\n
The Oregon-based fleet provides power inverters for its cabs so drivers can plug in coffee machines, crockpots, or other small appliances that help make the truck feel like home. And with a lot of his fleet spending time in the hot Southwest, Turner said he\u2019s now providing the Kenworth Idle Management System (KIMS), which provides a no-idle sleeper climate control solution that reduces emissions and lowers fuel costs while drivers are off duty. It can run for 10 hours on a single charge, providing air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter.<\/p>\n Even though diesel prices have been flat much of 2020, Turner said idle management systems help keep operating costs down and reduce wear and tear on the engine when trucks are parked while still making drivers comfortable.<\/p>\n About four years ago, Turner was looking for \u201canything we could do to get a leg up and that\u2019s when we found EpicVue,\u201d the in-cab satellite TV company that transmits DirecTV signals right into the truck.<\/p>\n The EpicVue dome, mounted outside the cab, connects to a DirecTV receiver inside that cab that offers drivers up to 212 channels when stationary. To get a signal, trucks must be parked with an unobstructed view of the southeastern sky. Within a few minutes of switching on the system, a signal is acquired and drivers can catch up on their favorite shows and sports.<\/p>\n DirecTV\u2019s exclusive rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, which gives drivers access to every Sunday NFL game, is a huge perk, Tuner said. \u201cSome of the guys might get in the truck early on a Sunday before heading out for seven days to watch some football,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe drivers love the system. They like the NFL Sunday Ticket and EpicVue is a nice attention-getting device,\u201d he noted. \u201cIt goes back to our culture and how we treat our drivers, which is why we have a high retention rate.\u201d<\/p>\n While access to live sports is a big draw for many truckers, there is also a growing foodie movement in the industry, Turner noted. \u201cThere\u2019s a percentage of them who like to watch the cooking shows\u2014and we see it when they bring the trucks in for maintenance. They have griddles or crockpots and stuff like that on board.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a lot easier to cook and eat better with fresh ingredients. That\u2019s why the in-cab refrigerators have become a near-necessity for TP drivers, Turner said. \u201cIt keeps them from spending money out on the road,\u201d he said. \u201cThe refrigerators are a big one for them. A lot of them take their vegetables or home-cooked meals, sandwiches, and lunch meats with them. There\u2019s really a health-conscious movement in the industry right now.\u201d<\/p>\n That health-conscious movement is gaining momentum throughout the industry. The sedentary lifestyle of the job puts drivers at a greater risk for high blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. In addition to bringing fresh food on the road so they don\u2019t have to rely on fast food when hunger strikes, more drivers are looking for ways to work out.<\/p>\n Traditional wellness programs aren\u2019t ideal for drivers, who spend so much of their time on the road. For that reason, Steve Kane created Rolling Strong nearly four years ago. \u201cTheir lifestyle is different,\u201d Kane told FleetOwner. \u201cEverything we do at Rolling Strong is built around what actually makes sense for drivers.\u201d<\/p>\n Rolling Strong offers wellness programs that drivers\u2014and other fleet employees\u2014can take part in to promote better nutrition, fitness, sleep, stress management, and weight management.<\/p>\n The company\u2019s RS Flex System workout kit, which can be taken on the road, features workout bands, clips, hand weights, and a kettlebell bag that can hook up inside a cab or a trailer to turn any truck into a mobile gym. The Rolling Strong smartphone app guides users through workout routines using the equipment. The app can be customized for each driver\u2019s lifestyle and uses GPS to help drivers find healthy meals and places to walk or run on the road. Drivers can also use the app to monitor sleep patterns and prepare for the Department of Transportation physical. The company also offers access to fitness coaches to help drivers devise wellness plans that work for them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s also built in a way that allows carrier leadership to become highly engaged with the program,\u201d Kane said. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen that the more leadership\u2014and mid-level management\u2014has engaged with the program, the better success the drivers have.\u201d<\/p>\n To do this, Kane enhanced the gamification aspects of Rolling Strong by creating competitions for drivers and fleets, where participants can compete against their co-workers or within the Rolling Strong community. Users earn points for eating healthy, getting enough sleep, working out, and staying hydrated. Those points can be converted into rewards such as Rolling Strong gear, truck stop gift cards, fitness trackers, and more.<\/p>\n The gamification aspect of Rolling Strong has helped fleets get more buy-in from employees, Kane said, which is making users healthier. \u201cEvery testimonial that we have from people that have engaged in a competition has a common theme: Being in a Rolling Strong competition has made them more mindful of their health,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s one thing to have a coach remind you to drink more water or make better choices on food. It\u2019s another thing when you\u2019re in a competition within your fleet and other people are also digging really hard to earn points as well and you can see your name on the leaderboard. If you do that for a month, the next thing you know, you\u2019ve built a habit. It\u2019s a fun game that leads to healthy habits.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Here are some of the standard and optional sleeper cab amenities for some of the industry\u2019s most popular long-haul trucks.<\/p>\n The Freightliner Cascadia\u2019s optional driver lounge features a dual-seat dining\/working area with a table-desk and a large, fold-down 40- by 80-in. bed. It also offers refrigerator options and storage spaces that include shelving. A swing-out TV bracket fits a 24-in. flatscreen TV to go with ambient lighting options and increased power outlets for added appliances on the road.<\/p>\n The International LT sleeper cab comes standard with 12-volt outlets to keep drivers connected while on the road. All versions of the LT sleeper have room for a microwave oven and flatscreen TV. All the various sleeper configurations feature a number of storage compartments. Larger sleepers also come standard with a utility cabinet, wardrobe tower, dresser cabinet, and room for a refrigerator.<\/p>\n The Kenworth T680 offers the optional Driver\u2019s Studio package, which includes a 180-degree swivel passenger seat and swivel table option, which can turn the cab into a studio. The driver can watch TV or eat from the chair rather than being confined to the back of the cab. Included is a swivel TV mount that can hold a 28-in. flatscreen, a premium audio package with 320-watt amp, 10-in. subwoofer, and eight speakers. The cab is also prewired for EpicVue satellite TV, and there is space for a microwave, DVD player or game console, and a drawer-style refrigerator\/freezer. Extra storage space includes a full-size wardrobe for hangers and under-bunk storage.<\/p>\n The Mack Anthem\u2019s 70-in. sleeper includes lots of storage options, including above- and below-bunk cabinets and a wardrobe for hangers. The flexible workspace behind the seats includes a pullout surface for work or eating. Mack offers a stainless-steel refrigerator or prep kits that include power outlets for a driver\u2019s own fridge, microwave, or flatscreen TV. The sleeper control panel in the Anthem, which also offers power outlets and ports, can control the sleeper stereo, interior LED lighting, and HVAC.<\/p>\n The Peterbilt 579 UltraLoft features an interior height of over 8 ft. and more than 70 cu. ft. of space in the sleeper. It provides multiple compartments, a large wardrobe closet, and several cubbies. Along with a workstation, the UltraLoft offers a flatscreen TV mount on a swivel. There is space for a refrigerator and microwave. A fold-away ladder provides access to a second upper bunk, and soundproofing in the cab helps keep out noises so drivers can rest easy.<\/p>\n Volvo said its VNL sleeper cabs offer the largest refrigerator in the industry and space for most small microwaves. There is an optional reclining lower bunk with a fold-away table beneath an optional upper bunk with a telescopic ladder. The sleeper control panel is right next to the lower bunk and offers lighting control, locks, an inverter, charging and audio ports, and a panic button to call attention to the vehicle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n by Josh Fisher<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Source: https:\/\/www.fleetowner.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The audit is a key tool to know the overall status and provide the analysis, the assessment, the advice, the suggestions and the actions to take in order to cut costs and increase the efficiency and efficacy of the fleet. We propose the following fleet management audit.<\/p>\n From satellite TV and portable fitness equipment to fridges stocked with fresh food, fleets are finding ways to keep drivers happy. Each generation of trucking has tried to find new technologies to help drivers feel more at home on the road. In the 1970s and \u201980s, the CB radio gave drivers a lifeline to the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18],"tags":[133],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9100"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9100"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9100\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9106,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9100\/revisions\/9106"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"The](\"https:\/\/base.imgix.net\/files\/base\/ebm\/fleetowner\/image\/2020\/12\/Volvo_vnl_studio_0111.5fe22369208dd.png?auto=format&fit=max&w=1440\")
The Volvo VNL sleeper cab puts the control panel next to the lower bunk and offers lighting control, locks, an inverter, charging and audio ports.<\/span>Photo: Volvo<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Freightliner](\"https:\/\/base.imgix.net\/files\/base\/ebm\/fleetowner\/image\/2020\/12\/Freightliner_Cascadia_interior.5fe223e615694.png?auto=format&fit=max&w=1440\")
Freightliner Cascadia’s optional driver lounge features a dual-seat dining area.<\/span>Photo: Freightliner<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/base.imgix.net\/files\/base\/ebm\/fleetowner\/image\/2020\/12\/EpicVue_Exterior_two_trucks.5fe2230a6cd0c.png?auto=format&fit=max&w=1440\")
The EpicVue, mounted on the back of the vehicle, connects to a DirecTV receiver inside the cab and offers up to 212 channels.<\/span>Photo: EpicVue<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Kenworth](\"https:\/\/base.imgix.net\/files\/base\/ebm\/fleetowner\/image\/2020\/12\/Kenworth_T680_interior.5fe22432c9c4b.png?auto=format&fit=max&w=1440\")
Kenworth offers an optional Driver’s Studio package that allows the passenger seat to swivel and become part of the sleeper cab layout.<\/span>Photo: Kenworth<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nHealth movement<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/base.imgix.net\/files\/base\/ebm\/fleetowner\/image\/2020\/12\/Peterbilt_579_interior.5fe224ec3976d.png?auto=format&fit=max&w=1440\")
The Peterbilt 579 UltraLoft has an interior height of 8 ft. to go with more than 70 cu. ft. of sleeper space.<\/span>Photo: Peterbilt<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nAll in a good night\u2019s sleeper cab<\/b><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Freightliner<\/h3>\n
International<\/h3>\n
Kenworth<\/h3>\n
Mack<\/h3>\n
Peterbilt<\/h3>\n
Volvo<\/h3>\n
CUT COTS OF THE FLEET WITH OUR AUDIT PROGRAM<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/04\/nueva-ley-auditoria.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFLEET MANAGEMENT AUDIT<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"