Shipfix raises $4.5M seed for its dry cargo shipping platform

Shipfix raises $4.5M seed for its dry cargo shipping platform  TechCrunch

Shipfix raises $4.5M seed for its dry cargo shipping platform

 
“techcrunch AND freight” – Google News 
2019 12 31

Shipfix, a relatively new startup aiming to drag the dry cargo shipping industry into the digital age, has raised $4.5 million in seed funding.

Leading the round is Idinvest Partners, with participation from Kima Ventures, The Family, Bpifrance and strategic business angels. The company was founded in December 2018 by Serge Alleyne (CEO) and Antoine Grisay (COO), and launched just two months ago.

“We’re trying to fix the email overload for everybody involved in the process of fixing a dry cargo ship by providing a comprehensive market monitor,” Alleyne tells TechCrunch.

“We’re also producing data-driven insights that are profoundly missing in the bulk/break-bulk space. Actually the last revolution of the dry cargo industry was email, and so far people still rely on indices based on a panel of brokers while all the data is available in emails”.

To solve this, Alleyne says that Shipfix connects to its clients’ email to extract and anonymously aggregate “billions of data points using deep learning technology”.

The idea is that, rather than spending hours scrolling through your inbox every morning to take the pulse of the market, you can search and filter structured market offers instantly via Shipfix.

In addition, you can browse what Alleyne calls “augmented directories” (ships, ports, companies and people available within emails and signatures — information that isn’t typically available on LinkedIn), and access data-driven benchmarks and indices.

Shipfix customers are primarily anyone chartering/fixing a ship, such as charterers, ship owners, ship operators, freight forwarders and “lots of brokers”.

However, longer term, the startup plans yo onboard commodity traders, insurers, banks, governments and investment firms, based on the granular benchmarks and indices it is building.

“We cover 430 cargo categories from salt, sand, iron ore, fertilizers, grain, steel, etc., and forecasting market pressures around the globe… [is useful] for everybody involved within the commodities space,” adds the Shipfix co-founder.

Meanwhile, the company currently employs 15 people, including senior engineers, shipping professionals, data scientists and analysts. The team is mostly remote-based and spread across 7 cities, with offices in London, Paris and Toulouse.

https://techcrunch.com/2019/12/31/shipfix/amp/

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https://www.fleetowner.com/resource-center/regulations/article/21691031/fmcsa-waives-driver-breaks-for-heavyhaul-calls-for-certification-stickers-on-all-cvs

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https://www.fleetowner.com/equipment/article/21690197/mack-adds-mdrive-hd-to-heavyhaul-titan

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https://www.trailer-bodybuilders.com/trailers/article/21742541/talbert-introduces-versatile-6065sa-heavyhaul-trailer

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https://www.bulktransporter.com/equipment/trucks/article/21657110/volvo-targets-heavy-haul-oilfield-with-new-vnx

Trucking in 2019: A look back the year’s top news and equipment and tech trends

As the sun sets on 2019, CCJ editors compiled a look back at some of the top trucking headlines from the year. From autonomous trucks to HOS reforms, California’s anti-owner-operator law to the latest in freight-matching tech — see a recap of the year here.

Trucking in 2019: A look back the year’s top news and equipment and tech trends

CCJ Staff Commercial Carrier Journal 2019 12 29

As the sun sets on 2019, CCJ editors compiled a look back at some of the top trucking headlines from the year. Think we missed something? Drop a comment below or email us.

California became the first state in the nation to effectively forbid fleets from contracting with owner-operators. In a sweeping legislative package passed in September, California set into state law an effective prohibition of fleets contracting with owner-operators. The law has spurred fleets of all sizes to move away from the traditional owner-operator set-up, in which drivers who own their own rig lease their truck to a larger carrier and operate under their authority.

The groundwork was laid by the state’s Supreme Court in 2018 in the case of Dynamex v. Superior Court, which began the flight away from owner-operators.

Celadon was one of a few high-profile sudden fleet closures in 2019.

As economic growth slowed, a few high-profile fleet closures followed. After a hot run for carriers in 2017 and 2018, thanks to strong rates and tight capacity, a return to normal in 2019 took its toll on some in the industry. A few large fleets suddenly ceased operations, while other fleets shrunk their workforce.

However, the industry mostly remains on solid ground. Trucking-focused economists noted at September’s FTR Transportation Conference that market conditions for trucking are still “historically strong.” Likewise, in-depth reporting from CCJ in November concluded that, despite an uptick in fleet closures and other effects of the general economic slowdown, carriers mostly are still running profitably.

The largest of the fleets to go under this year was Celadon (No. 41 on the CCJ Top 250), which abruptly announced its closure on Dec. 9 with its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Celadon followed New England Motor Freight (previously No. 67), which announced its closure in February; Falcon Transport, which closed its doors in April; LME in July; and HVH in August.

Some other large carriers to cut jobs or business segments included Roadrunner, which downsized its dry van segment by closing five terminals and eliminating 450 positions and sold off its flatbed division in December; Stevens Transport, which closed its oilfield tanker fleet of 500-plus trucks; and Swift Logistics, a branch of Swift Transportation and the Knight-Swift conglomerate, which closed a warehouse facility in Pennsylvania and laid off 56 employees.

Among reasons for the closures and cutbacks were rising overhead costs, difficulty finding drivers, an automotive plant closure and more.

The U.S. DOT, for the first time in nearly 15 years, proposed significant changes to federal hours of service regulations. Published in August, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration proposed a rule to allow drivers to pause their 14-hour clock, among other changes. Also, FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez resigned in October.

Freightliner’s 2020 Cascadia became the first series production truck to come standard with Level 2 automation.

Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) took a notable step forward. Daimler Trucks North America in February unveiled its next generation Cascadia for model year 2020, which went into production this fall. The truck’s ADAS – which include Active Lane Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with full braking – enables SAE Level 2 automated driving and give the truck the distinction of becoming the first production model capable of such. Level 2 automation means the truck can accelerate, decelerate and steer independently.

Volvo Trucks North America rolled out an updated version of its Volvo Active Driver Assist platform (VADA) 2.0, an enhancement to the original VADA platform with the integration of radar and camera capabilities to help drivers maintain a safe following distance through alerts and improved traffic awareness, as well as emergency braking to reduce the risk of collisions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 94% of crashes are caused by human error and advancements made in these platforms will go a long way to dropping that figure in the years ahead.

Electrification continued to be an industry buzzword. While Tesla has barely mentioned its vaunted electric Semi since its debut two years ago, DTNA said it delivered this year about half of the 20 eCascadia and 10 medium-duty eM2s allotted to its Innovation Fleet partners. Two of the eCascadia recently reached 10,000 miles in real world testing.

Hydrogen-electric trucks have also consistently remained a headline maker. Cummins started development of its fuel cell capabilities more than 20 years ago and recently acquired Hydrogenics, a developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products. Cummins made an investment in Loop Energy, a fuel cell electric range extender provider and signed a memo of understanding with Hyundai to collaborate on hydrogen fuel cell technology across commercial markets in North America. Kenworth and Toyota Motor North America kicked off a collaboration to develop 10 zero-emission Kenworth T680s powered by Toyota hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrains. Kenworth’s assembly plant in Renton, Wash., has produced about half of them already.

DTNA CEO Roger Nielsen said in October his company planned to, by the end of the 2020s, “bring fuel-cell powered vehicles into series production,” and Nikola Motor Company – the unofficial grandfather of the hydrogen in trucking movement – held a hydrogen showcase this year near its Phoenix-area headquarters and just a few weeks ago, in partnership with Anheuser-Busch and BYD Motors, completed what is to believed to be the first-ever zero-emission commercial delivery in the brewer’s hometown of St. Louis.

Lastly, the ELD mandate fully took effect. Four years after FMCSA finalized a rule to mandate the use of electronic logging devices by nearly all truck drivers required to keep records of duty status, the mandate took full effect, Dec. 17.

With the mandate looming, many carriers in 2019 evaluated telematics vendors to find those who can best meet their technology needs. A major factor influencing technology decisions by fleets has been the sunsetting of 3G CDMA cellular networks. Many fleets were running AOBRDs with soon-to-be-outdated 3G technology in their trucks.

FMCSA’s proposed changes to hours-of-service rules also impacted fleet technology decisions. A study by EROAD found that a significant number of short-haul fleets plan to stop using ELDs if the proposal becomes law.

Another hot technology trend in 2019 was the use of machine learning technology in all levels of the supply chain, from shippers to 3PLs and carriers, to deliver instant freight matching recommendations. Developments on this front have leveled the playing field to give companies of all sizes new, affordable options to make better load planning decisions.

Trimble launched a new product that gives fleet customers using its transportation management software (TMS) platforms way to instantly see the best options for matching their loads with trucks.
Many freight matching technologies in the market are developed by companies who are funded by private equity investors. During the McLeod Software user conference in August, the president of the company, Tom McLeod, advised his customers to choose their vendors carefully. McLeod questioned if the level of private equity investment in transportation and other industries has created an economic bubble that could burst in 2020.

CCJ editors’ picks from 2019:

–Jason Cannon, Aaron Huff, Matt Cole and James Jaillet contributed to this report.

https://www.ccjdigital.com/trucking-in-2019-a-look-back-the-years-top-news-and-equipment-and-tech-trends/

Christmas / New Years 2019 Holiday Restrictions

Christmas / New Years 2019 Holiday Restrictions

Justin Lee | COO @OSOW.io | 12.18.19

With the holidays right around the corner, that means travel restrictions are right around the corner.  Be prepared this holiday season so you don’t get stuck on the road instead of celebrating with your families! Check the list below for travel restrictions by state, as well as state permit office closures during the holidays. (If you are looking for restriction information throughout the year, be sure to check out our ASSIST system!)

State Office Status Restrictions
ALABAMA CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL SS 23RD – SR 26TH AND NO TRAVEL SS 31ST – SR 2ND
ARIZONA CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH & NOON 31ST – SR 2ND IF OVER 10’W, 14’6H, 10′ ROH, 3’FOH OR 120’L
ARKANSAS CLOSED 24TH, 25TH AND 1ST NO TRAVEL SS 24TH – SR 26TH AND SS 31ST – SR 2ND
BRITISH COLUMBIA N/A N/A
CALIFORNIA CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL IF PILOT CAR IS REQUIRED 4PM-MIDNIGHT 24TH & 31ST, 12PM-12AM 25TH & 1ST
COLORADO CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
CONNECTICUT CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND 1ST
DELAWARE CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – 9AM 26TH AND NOON 31ST – 9AM 2ND
FLORIDA CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL 25TH OR 1ST IF OVER 14’6H, 80’L OR 10’W
GEORGIA CLOSED 24TH, 25TH AND 1ST NO TRAVEL 25TH & 1ST
IDAHO CLOSED 25TH & 1ST RED CODED ROUTES-NO TRAVEL AFTER 2 PM 24TH – SR 26TH & 31ST – SR 2ND. BLACK CODED ROUTES NO TRAVEL IF OVER 10’W 14’H 100’L FROM 4PM 24TH – SR 26TH AND 31ST – 1ST
ILLINOIS CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
INDIANA CLOSED 24TH, 25TH AND 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
IOWA CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
KANSAS CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
KENTUCKY CLOSED 24TH, 25TH, 31ST AND 1ST NO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
LOUISIANA CLOSED 24TH, 25TH, 31ST AND 1ST NO TRAVEL 24th, 25TH, 31ST, & 1ST
MAINE CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL 25TH & 1ST
MARYLAND CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – 9 AM 26TH AND NOON 31ST – 9 AM 2ND
MASSACHUSETTS CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
MICHIGAN CLOSED 24TH, 25TH, 31ST AND 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
MINNESOTA CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL 2PM 24TH – 2AM 26TH AND 2PM 31ST – 2AM 2ND
MISSISSIPPI CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24 – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND UNLESS 24/7 TRAVEL IS GRANTED
MISSOURI CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
MONTANA CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL 25TH & 1ST IF OVER 10’W, 110’L, OR 14’06H
NEBRASKA CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
NEVADA CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NO TRAVEL 25TH & 1ST FROM 6:00AM – 9:00PM IF OVER 12’W 15’H OR 110’L
NEW BRUNSWICK N/A N/A
NEW HAMPSHIRE CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL 25TH OR 1ST
NEW JERSEY CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL 25TH OR 1ST
NEW MEXICO CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL SS 24TH – SR 26TH AND SS 31ST – SR 2ND
NEW YORK CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
NEW YORK CITY CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL 4PM 24TH – 10AM 26TH AND 4PM 31ST – 10AM 2ND
NEW YORK THURWAY CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
NORTH CAROLINA CLOSED 24TH, 25TH, 26TH AND 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – NOON 26TH ( NO RESTRICTIONS ON 1ST)
NORTH DAKOTA CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH & NOON 31ST – SR 2ND IF OVER 16’W
NOVA SCOTIA N/A N/A
OHIO CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
OHIO TURNPIKE OPEN NO TRAVEL SS 16TH – SR 2ND IF OVER 10’W, 13’6H, 90’L OR 4’ROH
OKLAHOMA CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL 25TH & 1ST
ONTARIO N/A N/A
OREGON CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH & NOON 31ST SR 2ND. PLEASE REFER TO GREEN AND BLACK ROUTES FOR HOLIDAY TRAVEL EXCEPTIONS
PENNSYLVANIA CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIK CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL SS 19TH – SR 26TH
QUEBEC N/A N/A
RHODE ISLAND CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
SASKATCHEWAN N/A N/A
SOUTH CAROLINA CLOSED 24TH, 25TH, 26TH AND 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – NOON 26TH AND NOON 31ST – NOON 2ND
SOUTH DAKOTA OPEN NO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
TENNESSEE CLOSED 24TH, 25TH, 31ST AND 1ST NO TRAVEL IF ESCORT IS REQUIRED FROM NOON 24TH – SR 26TH & NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
TEXAS CLOSED 24TH, 25TH, 26TH AND 1ST NO TRAVEL 25TH AND 1ST IF OVER 14’W, 16’H OR 110’L
UTAH CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL 2PM 24TH – SR 26TH & 2PM 31ST & SR 2ND. IF OVER 10’W 14’H OR 105’L
VERMONT CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL 25TH AND 1ST IF OVER 10’6 W OR 108000 LBS
VIRGINIA CLOSED 24TH, 25TH AND 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
WASHINGTON CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL NOON 24TH – SR 26TH AND NOON 31ST – SR 2ND
WEST VIRGINIA CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL 25TH & 1ST
WISCONSIN CLOSED 25TH & 1ST IF LESS THEN 150’L 12’W 13’6H NO TRAVEL 4 PM – 8 PM 23RD, 24TH, 25TH, 30, 31ST, AND 1ST. IF OVER 150’L 12’W & 13’6 H NO TRAVEL NOON 23RD – SR 26TH & NOON 31ST – SR 2ND.
WYOMING CLOSED 25TH & 1ST NO TRAVEL SS 24TH – SR 26TH & SS 31ST – SR 2ND IF ESCORT IS REQUIRED

Driving a truck is the deadliest job in the U.S., feds say

Deadliest JobsNew data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms what most truckers already know — that they are doing the most dangerous job in America. A December 17 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics examined data from 2018 to confirm that “truck driver” topped their list of the five deadliest jobs. Deadliest […]

Driving a truck is the deadliest job in the U.S., feds say

Ashley CDLLife 2019 12 18

Deadliest Jobs

New data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms what most truckers already know — that they are doing the most dangerous job in America.

A December 17 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics examined data from 2018 to confirm that “truck driver” topped their list of the five deadliest jobs.

Deadliest Jobs in the U.S. in 2018

  1. Driver/Sales Workers and Truck Drivers
  2. Construction Laborers
  3. Farmers, Ranchers, and other Agricultural Managers
  4. Grounds Maintenance Workers
  5. Miscellaneous Agricultural Workers.

According to the report, “Driver/sales workers and truck drivers had the most fatalities of any broad occupation group at 966. Among all detailed occupations, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers had the most fatalities at 831.”

The report also confirmed that truck driver was the deadliest of the “independent worker” jobs (meaning contract or short term jobs): “Occupations with the most fatal work injuries to independent workers in 2018 were heavy and tractor trailer-truck drivers (96), followed by first-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers (61), and construction laborers (48).”

There were a total of 5,250 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2018. This is a a 2% increase from 5,147 in 2017.

https://cdllife.com/2019/driving-a-truck-is-the-deadliest-job-in-the-u-s-feds-say/

Top 10 Tech: The top trucking products of 2019

Top 10 Tech: The top trucking products of 2019

John Smith-38 
Today’s Trucking 
2019 12 18

Posted: December 17, 2019 by John G. Smith

TORONTO, Ont. — Picking favorites is not a task to be taken lightly. No matter who you include in a related list, someone will feel slighted because they were left behind. But as a new year comes upon us, it’s a tradition at Today’s Trucking to identify 10 new products that stood apart from the rest during a given year.

New trucks are excluded from consideration, simply because they all incorporate a wide array of individual products, but everything else is fair game. My chosen few represent advanced technology, creative thinking, and updates to solve practical challenges.

Given these rules of engagement, here is my list of the top trucking products of 2019.

  1. Detroit Assurance 5.0 – Daimler Trucks North America planted a flag earlier in the year when it became the first OEM to introduce a truck with Level 2 autonomous controls. The new Detroit Assurance 5.0 suite of safety systems can adjust and resume cruise control in stop-and-go traffic, apply full brakes when detecting moving pedestrians, warn drivers about vehicles sitting in their blind spots, and even help a Freightliner Cascadia track down the middle of its lane. That’s right. The steering wheel will nudge back and forth on its own. These are merely a few examples of what the underlying technology can do. The decisions are based on the readings from radar-based sensors and a windshield-mounted camera. Don’t mistake this for a truck that drives itself. A driver continues to sit behind the wheel. But it’s fair to describe Detroit Assurance 5.0 as a driver’s co-pilot.
    freightliner.com

  1. SAF-Holland SMAR-te Tire Pilot – The air within your tires is responsible for supporting the load above them, but what if one load is heavier than the next? SAF-Holland has come forward with a system that dynamically adjusts tire pressure based on the axle weight. In other words, a tire on a loaded trailer could be run at 100 psi, and drop to 70 psi when the trailer is empty. By combining AKTV8’s electro-pneumatic controls and SAF’s Tire Pilot Plus wheel-ends, the system can inflate, deflate and equalize tire pressures; optimize tire pressure based on axle loads to extend sidewall and tread life; notify drivers about overweight loads; and better cushion the vehicle and cargo, especially when equipment is lightly loaded. There’s a promise of marginally better fuel economy, too.
    safholland.ca

  1. Volvo Dynamic Steering – I was first exposed to Volvo’s Dynamic Steering system on a test track in Europe, and was quite impressed with the way it smoothed out the jarring sensation of a rough road surface. With some tweaks to accommodate the difference between European cabovers and North American conventional designs, it is now available here. The electric-over-hydraulic steering support will lessen steering effort by up to 85% at low speeds, but maintain a stiffer feel on the open highway. It all draws on an electric motor on top of the hydraulic steering gear to deliver extra torque as needed, and absorbs steering wheel torque originating at the wheels. A “zero return” feature will even return the steering wheel to the center position when a truck is in motion, making it easier to reverse, while a lead/pull compensation offers the torque to compensate for crowned roads and steady crosswinds.
    volvotrucks.ca

  1. Link ROI Cabmate – Link Mfg. has introduced its own way to smooth out your ride with a semi-active cab suspension that responds to everything from rough roads to harsh crosswinds. The electronic control unit at the heart of the system draws data from an accelerometer that monitors cab motion, and a position sensor that tracks the cab’s position and velocity relative to the frame. The suspension’s shock absorbers are adjusted by filling or exhausting the air springs. It means there’s a soft shock when traveling a smooth highway, and a stiff shock for uneven terrain. Adjustments to offset things like potholes are made in real time, too. linkmfg.com

  1. Rocketail Wing – Aerodynamic fairings can make a measurable difference in fuel economy when mounted at the rear of a trailer. But they have to be deployed to make a difference, and be protected from damage. The Rocketail Wing promises to save 8.42 liters of fuel per 1,000 km by smoothing out the rearward flow of air behind the trailer, while also producing lift like the wing on an aircraft. The wings sit an inch from the trailer wall to support a uniform air flow, and extend just 14 inches behind the barn door. When the doors are open, these wings also sit flush at the side of the trailer, so the doors can swing a full 270 degrees without being blocked. Close the doors and everything is ready to flow. rocketail.com

  1. Integrated Filter Gladhands – I’ve seen some strange things pulled out of air lines over the years — from grass clippings to bee hives. But what can be done when equipment is parked for an extended period of time? Tramec Sloan has unveiled a gladhand with a protective filter and cover to keep things clean. It’s an elegant solution that doesn’t require separate line filters, fittings or mounting hardware. When a vehicle is uncoupled, the color-coded swivel simply covers the gladhand’s seal. tramecsloan.com

  1. Purkey’s SteadyCharge – Trailer refrigeration and heating units rely on accessory batteries, but inactive batteries will naturally discharge over time. To compound matters, emerging trailer telematics systems can steadily drain power from starter batteries. The Purkey’s SteadyCharge will maintain such batteries for months on end, without the risk of overcharging, and will run whenever the tractor is connected to the trailer. No extra charging cables are needed, either. The system automatically recharges over the seven-way connector without interfering with other devices that rely on the auxiliary circuit.
    purkeys.net

  1. VanGripper Restraint System – A new personal restraint system offers a portable option to secure workers as they walk on top of trailers. The Van Gripper from Deneigement Toitures Excel attaches to opposing edges of a trailer or van rooftop, and workers attach their safety lines to it. The related grips then slide along with the personnel as they remove snow or complete other repairs. It all helps to comply with rules that require people to be restrained while working more than three meters above the ground, and also to meet the regulations that require snow to be removed from trailer rooftops.
    vangripper.com
  2. Continental’s “intelligent” tires – Every tire can tell a story if you know how to read the patterns in tread wear. But Continental has developed a steer tire and line of construction tires that will deliver direct information about temperatures and pressures thanks to an integrated sensor. The sensor itself is mounted to the inner liner, while the data can be monitored through a ContiConnect Yard Reader or the in-cab ContiPressureCheck. The capabilities currently come in the Conti HSC 3 steer tire, HAC 3 all-position tire, HDC 3 drive tire, and HS3 regional haul steer tire.
    continental-truck.com
  3. Ancra’s AutoDeck – Ancra Cargo has automated its integrated decking system, making it possible to adjust trailer deck heights at the touch of a button. Deck heights are controlled using a panel at the rear of the trailer, and a manual override option is also available in the case of lost power. The company believes it can reduce loading times by 20%, in part because forklift operators can stay in their seats as adjustments are made.
    ancracargo.com

https://www.todaystrucking.com/top-10-tech-the-top-trucking-products-of-2019/

Forward Air to Acquire Linn Star for $57.2 Million

Forward Air Corp. will acquire Linn Star Holdings Inc., Linn Star Transfer Inc. and Linn Star Logistics, a privately held final-mile provider, for $57.2 million, according to a Forward Air news release Dec. 16.

Forward Air to Acquire Linn Star for $57.2 Million

Jim Stinson Transport Topics 2019 12 16

https://www.ttnews.com/articles/forward-air-acquire-linn-star-572-million