5 Reasons Why You Are Losing Your Customers

Your ability to compete in the transportation industry requires a commitment to providing superb customer service and an awareness of your company's shortcomings. In particular, you must understand the reasons why your regular customers might decide to explore other transportation options. Below are five reasons why your customers might be tempted to turn to your competitors for their transportation needs.

1. You are not accessible. 

Few things are more frustrating to customers than being unable to reach their transportation provider when they need to schedule a pickup. Your customers should be able to reach you quickly by phone, e-mail, or chat.

2. You are slow to provide quotes. 

Many customers will not request your services without a formal quote. Failure to provide a prompt quote can drive your customers straight into the welcome arms of a transportation company that will provide a quote quickly.

3. You only retrieve loads on certain days of the week. 

You will not be able to compete in a growing industry if you restrict your pickup times. You can avoid this pitfall by striving to provide pickups quickly regardless of date or time.

4. You fail to keep up with current trends. 

Keeping an eye on your competitors is essential to ensuring that you are offering customers the latest transportation options. You can stay up to date on transportation trends by attending trade shows and industry meetings.

5. You do not reward your top customers. 

Loyal customers and those who pay on time deserve your appreciation and support. If you fail to reward top customers for their continued business, you run the risk of losing them to a competitor.

3 Easy Ways to Get Better Engagement Out of Your Drivers

As a manager, you shouldn't have to micromanage every little thing that your drivers are responsible for. And when it comes to compliance, your drivers are responsible for a lot! If you find yourself spending a lot of time making sure that your drivers are completing their daily inspections, keeping accurate logbooks, or doing other compliance-related tasks, it's time to change the way you manage your team. 

With these three strategies for discipline and motivation, you'll spend much less time micromanaging your team and much more time doing the best parts of your job. 

1. Use positive reinforcement. 

This strategy is simple - instead of punishing the people who break the rules, actively reward the people who follow them. Being positive will make you seem like the "good guy" in the situation instead of the hard-line manager. Not only will your team keep up with their compliance, but they will also earn a greater respect for you. Possible rewards could include a pay raise, extra days off, or even a promotion.

2. Have a compliance education day. 

Although your drivers know that inspection is part of their jobs, they might not know just how important it is. To educate your drivers about the importance of compliance, take one day and do an educational workshop about the different aspects of compliance and the consequences of not following the code. Chances are, your drivers' increased awareness of the issue will lead them to take more caution and care in their daily inspection tasks.

3. Delegate inspection management tasks to your most engaged drivers. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your duties, passing them off to your employees will help lighten your load. Plus, when less engaged drivers see that their compliant co-workers are getting promoted to managerial duties, it will inspire them to strive for excellence as well. With inspection software, it's easy for your drivers to be managers from anywhere in the country. 

These three strategies are just a few of the many ways that you can increase your driver engagement and lighten your load of keeping track of compliance. In the end, it's your drivers' responsibility to keep track of their own vehicles, and while you need to oversee their work, you shouldn't have to keep such a tight eye on each one. 

Looking for more ways to become a better manager? Try Whip Around, a mobile inspection platform designed for managers just like you. For more information, visit our website and take a look at what we have to offer. 

5 Ways to Optimize Your Fleet

Managing a fleet of commercial vehicles historically meant a lot of paperwork. Inspection reports, safety reports, fuel reports, inspection notices, maintenance notices and the list goes on. Monitoring all of this information and taking action when necessary can become a logistical nightmare.

Today many of these functions can be automated and simplified through the use of technology, thus increasing the ROI of each vehicle. Smartphone technology allows fleet managers to save money and time on some of the most frequently used reports and notices.

1. Daily Inspections

Paper inspection forms require time to complete as well as time to enter into the businesses tracking system. Using an electronic form allows drivers to complete the form quickly. There is an added benefit of being able to attach photos as necessary.  Electronic forms can also be uploaded directly into a fleet management system and so eliminates the need for data entry.

2. Monitoring Fuel

Fuel is often one of the most expensive items for fleet managers. In today’s world there are a variety of fuel options for vehicles; CNG, Propane, Diesel and regular gas. Determining which fuel is the correct one requires data. Monitoring the miles per gallon as well as cost per gallon over time will ensure a fleet manager can choose the right fuel type.

Equally important is monitoring fuel efficiency. Surprisingly fuel efficiency is significantly impacted by driver behavior.

3. Driver Behavior

The way a driver uses the vehicle can impact the overall cost to the fleet. Excessive idling uses up fuel, but so does driving too fast and braking too hard. The route a driver chooses to take can also impact fuel efficiency. Left turns burn more fuel than right turns because they often require the driver to wait, adding idle time.

Electronically monitoring driver behavior will allow fleet managers to provide training or feedback to drivers as needed.

4. Managing Maintenance

Preventative maintenance allows fleet managers to ensure vehicles run safely while extending the life of the vehicle. Tracking preventative maintenance schedules electronically allows both drivers and fleet managers to action these alerts effectively and track when they are complete.

Use smartphones to send reminders to drivers that include information on where to take the vehicle,  scheduled appointments or when maintenance is overdue to further optimize the fleet.

5. Utilize Inspection Alerts

Preventative maintenance alerts are just one type of alert that helps fleet managers optimize the fleet. Inspection alerts notify fleet managers when a vehicle has a fault that needs addressing. Smartphones allow for quicker communication and quicker resolution to any inspection alerts on vehicles.

Regardless of the size of the fleet the use of electronic processes can significantly cut costs and optimize fleet efficiency. For more information on how to use electronic processes to optimize your fleet contact us.

CMV Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports: Avoiding Violations

DVIR Basics

Daily, post-trip Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs) are required by law for Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs). These inspections must be completed, with any defects and their subsequent repairs properly documented. Additional routine inspections, called "periodic inspections", must be completed and documented at least once a year.

Drivers and companies bear the responsibility of keeping all parts and accessories in "safe and proper operating condition at all times." Maintaining a properly working vehicle also saves money. Unexpected problems can be detected and repairs made before there is an accident, mechanical downtime, or a roadside vehicle inspection Out Of Service (OOS) violation.

Over 20% of the nearly 3.5 million vehicle inspections in the US in 2016 resulted in vehicle OOS violations. A CMV remains OOS until violations are corrected and deemed safe. The top 4 causes of roadside inspection OOS violations in 2016 were:

• Operating vehicle not having required operable lamps
• Clamp/Roto brake misalignment
• Operating CMV without a periodic inspection
• Inspection/repair and maintenance parts and accessories

The Whip Around app puts you in the driver's seat so you can avoid these costly violations! Whip Around:

• works on any smartphone or mobile device.
• lets you sync driver devices to home office for real-time inspection information.
• lets you and your mechanics monitor defect reports and resulting unplanned mechanical work.
• allows you to modify your inspection checklists to accommodate changing regulations.
• lets you assign individual log-ins for each driver so you know who did the inspections.
• has analytical data platforms to generate useful, company-specific reports.

You can try Whip Around for free! What do you have to lose except for missed inspections, overlooked repairs, fines, and unnecessary downtime? Contact us today!

Using Commercial Vehicle Technology to Conduct a Pre-trip Inspection

While the importance of conducting a post-trip inspection is always stressed, a pre-trip inspection can be just as beneficial. Documenting a pre-trip inspection using a paper-based system can quickly feel tedious and time-consuming. Fortunately, commercial vehicle technology makes conducting pre-trip inspections seamless and effortless.

Review Most Recent Inspection Report

A pre-trip inspection is most beneficial when you can review the most recent inspection report beforehand. This gives you a guideline that you can follow as you conduct the inspection. If there were any issues highlighted on the previous inspection, then you can use this time to verify that they are fixed or addressed. The mobile app makes it extremely easy to review previous inspections while on the go.

Flag Issues Through the Platform

The main reason for conducting a pre-trip inspection is to ensure that the driver is comfortable with the health of the vehicle. This is also done to catch any issues that may have gone unnoticed. If you notice issues during the inspection, they can easily be flagged in the platform.

Communicate with Drivers and Supervisors

The vehicle inspection technology makes it easy to keep anyone from managers to drivers in the loop. You can instantly update the status of vehicles and issues through the app. This helps to prevent idle or wasted time and cuts down the timeframe needed to find a solution for a problem.

Routine pre-trip inspections can be the difference between a well-running operation and one that is riddled with problems. Contact us to learn more about what commercial vehicle technology can offer your business.

Simple steps to consider when looking at new transport technology

Every day new and exciting technology is being designed to solve problems in almost every industry around the world.

Transport is one of the fastest growing tech sectors in the world today, and businesses need to ensure they are evaluating the options available, without taking too much time away from the day to day running of the business.

Here’s the top 5 tips to looking for, evaluating and implementing new technology into your fleet.

1.      Identify the problem you want solve or process you want to improve

Many of the day to day processes can be improved by removing paper, or speeding up the communication process. Generally, these take much longer than moving to real time, digital solutions which can cut

2.      Begin your search for the various options

By stepping past a simple google search, into a specific forum that ranks, evaluates and provides features and benefits of various technology platforms you can quickly shortlist suitable options. Sites like http://www.capterra.com/

Offer really relevant and real-world feedback and reviews of a wide range of software options for transport businesses.

3.      Evaluate pricing and features of the options available

There is a lot of variance in what is available, both in the features being offers as well as the costs and usability of each product. Assess what you need, and what the costs associated with the products on offer. If you don’t need a Ferrari to drive to the corner store, then you probably don’t need to pay for it either. There are a lot of great products out there, offering most of the features other products do but for more competitive pricing.

4.      Understand and trial the products properly

Most Software as a Service (SaaS) companies offer both a live demo (via a screen share to your computer) and a free trial, which are both extremely valuable and important to ensure you get the most out of your decision-making process and evaluation. Without some proper consideration and set up of a trial you won’t get to understand how the technology works within your systems and where the benefits of it will be felt. The easiest way to do this is to identify a smaller portion of your fleet – say 5-10 vehicles and invest the time to get the software installed and your staff working on using it.

5.      Once you commit to the product that fits best, ensure you introduce it properly

The biggest failing for most companies attempts to adopt new technology is the failure to get the training and set up process right. It is so critical to the success of staff buy-in to be properly trained and supported throughout this process. The investment here will you have a far more beneficial impact on the business from the new technology, and much longer lasting impact with staff culture and even customer success if the focus is put on the front end of the adoption. Most SaaS companies will provide training and support to ensure this.

International Roadcheck 2017 Results Released by CVSA

The CVSA (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance) finally released its results for the 30th annual International Roadcheck event which was conducted from June 6 to June 8, 2017.

This year’s roadcheck event had a considerable increase in the number of drivers and CMVs (Commercial Motor Vehicles) that were placed out-of-service as compared to last year’s event.

In this post, we give you an overview of what the CVSA 2017 Roadcheck is all about and present to you the results that the wide-scale roadside inspection event yielded this year.

What is the CVSA International Roadcheck?

The CVSA International Roadcheck is the largest CMV-targeted enforcement program. In this event, approximately 15 CMV inspections happen every minute across the North American region. The event lasts for 72 hours.

This annual three-day event involves CVSA-certified inspectors conducting various enforcement, compliance, and educational initiatives that are targeted towards different areas of vehicle, carrier, and driver safety.

According to the president of CVSA, Julius Debuschewitz:

“…the goal of International Roadcheck was to conduct inspections to identify and remove unsafe commercial motor vehicles and/or drivers from our roadways. Thirty years and 1.5 million inspections later, the International Roadcheck enforcement initiative is still going strong, thanks to the more than 13,000 inspectors who work hard every day to reduce the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities on our roadways.”

Overview of the CVSA International Roadcheck 2017

There were over 62,000 CMV road-safety inspections that were conducted in both Canada and the United States in this year’s event.

These inspections happened at weigh stations, inspection sites, and roving patrol locations that were situated along the roadways of the North American Region during the 72-hour event.

Among the 62,013 Level I, II, and III inspections that occurred, 7,713 of them happened in Canada, while 54,300 were conducted in the United States.

Emphasis on Cargo Securement

In each year’s International Roadcheck event, the CVSA highlights and gives special attention to a themed violation category.

This year’s focus was on cargo securement to create awareness among commercial drivers and to reduce the possibility of road accidents because of inadequate cargo safety.

During this year’s roadcheck, cargo securement violations (which does not include the loading and securement of hazardous materials) represented a total of 15.7% of all the vehicle violations that resulted in the CMVs being placed out-of-service.

Out of a total of 3,282 instances that happened in the United States, here are the top five vehicle violations that are related to cargo securement and their respective frequencies:

• Lack of proper load securement — 423 instances
• Unsecured vehicle equipment — 379 instances
• Blowing, falling, leaking, and spilling cargo — 281 instances
• Lack of tie-downs to prevent loads that are not blocked by bulkhead, cargo, or header-board from moving forward — 256 instances
• Unsecured vehicle load — 178 instances

Eight Levels of Roadside Inspections

There are eight various levels of roadside inspections that CVSA-certified inspectors can conduct on both operators and CMVs — among which the Level I is this most comprehensive of all.

During instances where there are no critical violations detected during CVSA roadside inspections, a “Pass Inspection” CVSA decal would be affixed by the roadside inspector on the vehicle as a visual indicator of successfully completing and passing the inspection.

The issuance of these decals is only eligible for drivers and vehicles that go through and pass the NAS (North American Standard) Level I or Level V inspections.

Alternatively, vehicles that pass the special NAS Level VI roadside inspection can result in them having a CVSA Level VI decal applied onto the edge of their windshields.

1. Level I inspections involve a 37-step procedure in which the CVSA inspector examines both the driver and the CMV.

Driver violation inspection categories include the following:

• Commercial driver license (CDL)
• Hours of Service (HOS) compliance
• Medical examiner’s certificate
• Possible alcohol and drug use
• Records of duty status (RODS) compliance
• Seatbelt usage
• Skill performance evaluation (SPE) certificate

On the other hand, vehicle violation inspection categories include the following:

• Braking, electrical, exhaust, and fuel systems
• Cargo securement, hazardous material, and cargo tank specification compliance
• Coupling and lighting device operations
• Driveline/driveshafts and steering mechanisms
• Emergency exit and windshield wiper operations
• Open-top trailer and van bodies
• Suspension, hub, rim, tire, and wheel assemblies

2. Level II walk-around inspections consist of a driver and vehicle inspection generally limited to items that can be examined without the inspector having to physically go under the vehicle.

3. Level III driver-only inspections involve an examination of inspection categories that are limited to items on driver safety and credentials.

4. Level IV inspections generally include one-time examinations of a particular item that are normally made to support a study or to either refute or verify a suspected trend.

5. Level V vehicle-only inspections involve an examination that makes use of the vehicle inspection categories mentioned in Level I and is performed at any location without the need of a driver present.

6. Level VI radioactive material inspections consist of examinations on CMV compliance with regulations on handling and transporting transuranic wastes and radioactive materials.

7. Level VII inspections involve examinations that are jurisdictionally mandated and that do not meet the specific categorical requirements of other inspection levels.

These inspections often apply to intrastate/intra-provincial operations (e.g., school buses, hotel courtesy shuttles, shared-ride transportation, etc.) and can be performed by jurisdiction-approved contractors and other designated government employees.

8. Level VIII inspections, which are also known as NAS electronic inspections, are driver and CMV examinations that are conducted wirelessly and electronically while the vehicle is in motion.

This type of inspection does not require the driver or the vehicle to have any direct interaction with the safety inspection officer.

CVSA International Roadcheck 2017 Results

Safety officers generally use the CVSA’s NAS out-of-service criteria as the pass-or-fail criteria for roadside inspections.

Any critical violations that are observed by the inspector during the examination would render either the driver or vehicle as out-of-service. This status implies that the vehicle cannot be operated not unless its critical operating conditions or defects and/or its driver’s qualifications are corrected.

40,944 of the total inspections that occurred during the event belonged to the NAS Level I Inspection. On the other hand, 12,787 belonged to the Walk-Around NAS Level II Inspection, and 8,282 belonged to the Driver-Only NAS Level III Inspection.

The Level I-III roadside inspections that occurred during the International Roadcheck resulted in 19.4% of inspected CMVs and 4.7% of inspected drivers being placed out-of-service.

Here are some of the results that are related to vehicle-related violations assessed during the International Roadcheck 2017 event:

• For vehicle violations, the top three categories that garnered the highest out-of-service rates were for braking systems (26.9%), cargo securement (15.7%) and tire/wheel assemblies (15.1%).
• Among all the Level I inspections that were conducted, 23% (9,398 vehicles) were given the out-of-service status for vehicle-related violations.
• For vehicles transporting hazardous materials/dangerous goods (HM/DG), the top three out-of-service vehicle violation categories were for loading and securement (40.4%), shipping papers (22.7%), and placarding (20.8%).
• 12.8% out of the 2,267 HM/DG transports that were given Level I inspections were placed out-of-service because of vehicle-related violations.
• Brake adjustment and braking system violations represented 41.4% (7,743 vehicles) of all the assessed out-of-service vehicle-related violations.
• Among the 398 motor coaches that received Level I inspections, 10.1% of them were placed out-of-service because of vehicle-related violations.

On the other hand, results that pertained to driver-related violations include the following:

• For driver violations, the top three categories that obtained the largest out-of-service percentages went to hours-of-service (32.3%), wrong license class (14.9%), and falsified log books (11.3%).
• 4.7% (2,940 drivers) out of all the drivers who underwent Level I-III inspections were given the out-of-service status due to driver-related violations.
• Among all the Level I-III inspections that were conducted, 1.9% of HM/DG operators and 3.8% (23 drivers) of the 598 motor coach drivers were placed out-of-service because of driver-related violations.
• The CVSA International Roadcheck 2017 also recorded a total of 710 seatbelt violations.

Here is a quick look at the statistics on the specific percentage distribution of out-of-service (OOS) violations that were garnered from the 2017 CVSA International Roadcheck.

(Image Source: CVSA)

Parting Advice for Future Roadside Inspections

A lot of violations that were identified during this year’s 2017 International Roadcheck could have been prevented if only operators equipped their vehicles with electronic vehicle inspection software to make it quick and easy to record defects.

In fact, the unique design of e-DVIRs actually offers solutions to some of this year’s leading violation categories that resulted in both drivers and vehicles being placed out-of-service — such as hours-of-service, unsecured loads, braking systems, etc.

Equipping CMVs with electronic vehicle inspection software would drastically reduce the number of hours-of-service and falsified log book violations that could occur because of its warning system for potential violations and its tamper-resistant design.

The FMCSA expects there to be a significant reduction in the number of vehicle and driver violations when an electronic DVIR system is implemented.

Try Whip Around

If you are looking for a reliable DVIR software solution, Whip Around can help you.

Whip Around, have the highest-rated electronic DVIR app, and pricing starts from just $20 per month with no additional charges.

You can request a free demo now and experience all the amazing features yourself.

Call at +12133256591 or send us an email at sales@whip-around.com for more information.

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Are you feeling the driver shortage in your business?

Driver turnover at large truckload companies is as high as 90% as the industry faces a very real driver shortage.

With estimates of the shortfall of drivers at 48,000 and growing to 239,000 by 2025 – drivers have more choices than ever as to where they work and it’s up to trucking companies to provide the best workplaces for their drivers to ensure they retain their best.

When CCJ asked company drivers why fleets today are having a hard time finding drivers, 73% cited pay, and 67% felt that “fleets don’t respect drivers and the job they do.” These figures were mirrored almost exactly when drivers were asked why fleets have a hard time retaining the drivers they already have.

So, what else can you do to ensure your drivers feel appreciated, and stay loyal to your company?

Provide the right tools for the job

Obviously, the most important tool for the job is a well maintained, safe truck. But you’re probably already providing your drivers with the best possible vehicles for the job, so what else?

Drivers want technology, and in today’s world, there is a lot of good affordable technology out there that can make a significant difference to your drivers work life. In the recent survey, the areas where drivers sought improvements were:

• Comfort
• Fuel efficiency
• Communication
• Safety & Compliance

The transport industry has seen huge advances in the technology available over the last 5 years, but there is still a resistance from many owners or fleet managers to adopt the various options available. 

What can you do?

Be open to change.

Most new technology is affordable, mobile or web-based software that you can pay as you go. New Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms enables fleets managers to adopt new technology on a ‘plug and play’ basis which doesn’t require high upfront costs or long-term commitments. These platforms can have a huge impact on fleet performance, safety and compliance as well as making your drivers feel like they are being valued and invested in.

To find out more about platform, visit our website: www.whip-around.com

3 Time-Saving Benefits of Digital Commercial Vehicle Inspections

Whip Around

Paper-based commercial vehicle inspections have long been the status-quo when it comes to conducting inspections. If everything goes according to plan, you should be able to find the inspection report you filed away a few months ago. However, as businesses quickly expand and become more complex, paper-based systems are becoming more time-consuming more than anything. A digital-based commercial vehicle inspection significantly cuts down on the time spent creating, filing, and looking for paper reports.

Your Vehicle Inspection is Always with You

A mobile platform takes away the hassle of trying to find a commercial inspection that was filed away long ago. Instead, with a simple search, you can pull up an inspection from last year, last week, or even a few minutes ago.

You can Address Maintenance Issues Immediately

Paper-based inspections are handed from one person to the next before issues are finally addressed. However, digital inspections allow you to view the inspection and flagged issues almost instantly. Anyone from the inspector to the manager to the maintenance supervisor can be allowed to view the report and start fixing issues immediately.

Improve Maintenance Process

Digital inspections allow you to look at metrics that can help to improve your maintenance process. You can identify trends using the analytics provided through the platform to better schedule inspections, parts purchasing, and prepare for unexpected issues.

Moving from a paper to a digital system makes sense as your business starts to grow. Contact us to see how we can help you elevate your vehicle inspection process.

Streamlining Your Inspections Using Commercial Vehicle Technology

Daily commercial vehicle inspections are almost necessary to ensure that your business remains operational and your rigs are always running smoothly. Unforeseen maintenance can arise at any time and if it goes unnoticed this can result in larger issues. However, conducting daily maintenance while using a paper-based system may not only increase costs but will also take longer to complete. The benefits of streamlining your inspections using Whip Around are almost countless.

Conduct Commercial Vehicle Inspections Anywhere

The mobile inspection platform allows you to carry and conduct vehicle inspections anywhere. The platform is even easily accessible both online and offline. Instead, of spending time looking for misplaced inspection forms you can easily access your digital inspections through the mobile platform.

Never Lose Track of Drivers and Vehicles

If your network is large and your business involves a number of moving parts, it is easy to lose track of vehicles. Commercial vehicle technology makes it easy to keep a close eye on drivers and vehicles. You’ll always know who is inspecting what vehicle and more. 

Immediate and Actionable Results

The digital inspection system allows inspectors to flag issues immediately. This makes it easy for you to take immediate action and fix any issues in order to get your vehicle back on the road. This is especially helpful for unforeseen maintenance issues that regularly arise.

Commercial vehicle technology may be what you need to make sure your business operations run as smooth as possible. Don’t hesitate to contact us to find out if digital inspections are right for you.

Why Should My Company Do Daily Vehicle Inspections?

Daily, comprehensive Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) inspections ultimately lower operating costs by decreasing downtime, identifying maintenance issues, and increasing safety. New technology makes inspections and defect (fault) documentation and correction simpler and faster than ever.

Daily inspections maintain regulatory compliance and decrease downtime!

According to the 2016 Pocket Guide to Large truck and Bus Statistics, US authorities conducted 3,318,172 roadside inspections in 2015. The roadside inspection list includes such things as tires, emergency equipment, lighting, and brakes. The 2015 inspections found 470,906 Out Of Service (OOS) violations. If OOS violations are found, Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers are not allowed to drive until all infractions are remedied, re-inspected, and deemed safe. This adds up to significant downtime and may even result in civil penalties and fines.

Daily inspections can identify unsafe conditions; including mechanical issues!

Mechanical issues can be a serious threat to safe driving. If parts of the truck fail to work, the result can be a costly crash that destroys property or, worse, a fatal accident. Relying solely on vehicle alert systems, which can also fail, to identify problems is not enough. Manual "eyes-on" inspections may uncover problems before they are able to be detected by an alert system. In addition to being required by law, inspections are listed on the NETS 10 Step Program to Minimize Crash Risk

With the Whip Around app, YOU have control! 

Using any mobile device, each driver can use a simple inspection checklist and send immediate inspection reports (including photos!) to your office database. You can monitor both truck and employee performance, maintain accurate inspection records, and react quickly to flagged defects. 

Whip Around templates allow you to custom design inspection checklists to maintain company standards and legal requirements specific to your area. This also offers the flexibility to make immediate and company-wide adjustments as your business grows and as regulations evolve.

Whip Around technology is affordable and appropriate for any company; regardless of fleet size! Contact us to access the newest CMV technology today! 

A Look At What Your DVIR Requires

A DVIR must show the previous inspection report that can be signed off by the driver - Whip Around 

A driver vehicle inspection report is necessary for anyone who is working a motor carrier or other types of transportation vehicles. If you are new to this business and aren't sure what your report requires, it is worth taking a look at the most important items you need to check.

Inspection Items

At the end of every day's work driving your vehicle, you need to check a variety of parts to ensure that they aren't worn down or broken. These items include:

• Service brakes
• Trailer brake connections
• Parking brakes
• Steering mechanisms
• Lighting devices
• Reflectors
• Tires, wheels, and rims
• Horn
• Windshield wipers
• All mirrors
• Coupling items
• Emergency items (such as repair items and first-aid kits)

Writing The Report

After identifying all of these items, you must identify the vehicle (including the make and model) and list all of its deficiencies. These are items that could result in a detriment to safely operating the vehicle. For example, worn brake pads should be note and identified, including an idea of how worn they have become. It is then necessary to sign the report.

Taking Corrective Action

After making the report, it is important to repair any of the deficiencies listed on the report. For example, worn brake pads should be replaced to ensure a vehicle can stop quickly enough. Minor damage may not need to be repaired immediately but anything that compromises the safety of the vehicle must be managed before it goes back on the road.

If you need help with your DVIR duties, please don't hesitate to contact us to learn more about the importance of these essential items.

Paper versus Digital? The Value of Electronic Inspection Reports

Whip Around's electronic DVIR software

In a high-speed universe where information is available at the touch of one's fingertips or even at a voice command, paper documentation is an archaic means of record keeping that costs valuable time and money in any industry--but particularly in the area of transportation. In the freight business, time is money because goods must be moved capably and in full DOT compliance. This is where paper forms can cost a business its efficiency.

Looking at the disadvantages of using paper, there are many aspects to consider. First, think about the sheer volume of paperwork involved in the big rig industry. There are pre- and post-inspection reports, en-route and annual inspection reports, drivers' logs, fuel and repair receipts, DOT inspections, bills of lading, toll and weigh station receipts--the list goes on. Many companies are concerned about the impact of their business on the environment, and eliminating some of the tangible paper usage is a means of reducing the carbon footprint.

Next, there is the question of where one stores the volume of paperwork involved in the trucking industry. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration mandates electronic drivers' log books (with a few exceptions) as of December 2017, thus reducing the cost of maintaining this means of paper documentation. The FMCSA estimates a $1-billion dollar savings to the industry based on electronic log books alone. Using electronic vehicle inspection records further reduces the need for a large physical location to store the multitude of papers that are required of those working in the freight business.

There is also an increased risk of human error in the use of paper forms. The consumption of time and demand of attention to detail of one who has been focused on driving for long hours increases this risk. Digital vehicle inspection reports are more efficient and accurate, available at the driver's fingertips in a click-and-go format. Time--and accuracy--is money.

When transitioning to electronic forms for vehicle inspections, customers will find the streamlined process offered by Whip Around to be both productive and profitable. We offer 24/7 customer support to our clients so that incorporating mobile device inspections for your driving team is a premium experience for drivers, all the while providing a customized tool for administrators to use while managing their fleet in the field. 

Visit us on the web to sign up for a free Whip Around account and learn more about how we our product can benefit your business.

FMCSA Requirements for Your DVIR

Is your current Driver-Vehicle Inspection Report meeting the requirements of the FMCSA? Here is a breakdown of the FMCSA Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance regulation:

Whip Around DVIR software meets the FMCSA requiremnts

Scope

• Everyone involved in your chain of responsibility is responsible for understanding FMCSA regulation, from drivers to management.

Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance

• Vehicles must be maintained and have a system in place for keeping records of maintenance, including a record of the date, time, and nature of maintenance done.

Inspection of Motor Vehicles

• FMCSA agents can inspect vehicles at any time and report back to the FMCSA with a Driver Vehicle Examination Report. If anything is not meeting regulations, they can mark a vehicle "Out of Service", and the vehicle will not be operable until the proper maintenance has been performed and paperwork has been reviewed and approved by the FMCSA.

DVIR(s)

• A daily report is required from each driver, for each vehicle operated, covering basic maintenance of parts such as the service brakes, steering mechanism, lighting devices, tires, and emergency equipment. This report must be recorded even if nothing is wrong with the maintenance of the vehicle.
• Repairs must be made and documented if something is wrong with the vehicle.
• Reports must be kept for three months after the date driven.

Procedures for Accepting Reports

• A system must be in place for maintaining reports of damage and maintenance.
• Reports must include: the company's USDOT number, the equipment provider's USDOT, vehicle ID number, date and time, list of needed maintenance, record of maintenance performed, and the vehicle driver's signature.

Keeping up with these regulations means plenty of paperwork that could easily be disorganized and hard to keep track of. With Whip Around DVIR software, your records stay in one place, accessible by drivers and inspectors alike. Each record is time and date stamped and synched with the cloud automatically. 

If you have more questions about FMCSA regulations and what Whip Around can do for you, let our experts know.

Whip Around: Meeting the New Requirements of CoR

Starting mid-2018, NVHR is stepping up the chain of responsibility regulations throughout Australia and New Zealand. These stricter regulations include:

1. On the road offences are not the only thing that you can be fined for. If your current practices and procedures aren't enough to prevent the offences before they happen, anyone in your company's CoR may be liable.
2. Higher penalties will be imposed, both monetarily (up to $300,000) or prison time (up to 5 years), based on the severity of the infringement.
3. NVHR authorized investigators will be looking for fault reporting procedures and documentation, specifically that "all reasonable steps" have been taken towards compliance and heavy vehicle safety. 

Make sure everyone from your drivers to your company director is keeping up with these new requirements well in advance with our Whip Around software. 

New and existing CoR requirements are easily met with our software keeping tabs on every step of your inspection process, instantaneously and from anywhere. Drivers can input their DVIRs straight into their smartphones, managers can generate work orders, and teams can be created for another layer of collaboration. Digital records are instantly created for documentation, and you can add photos, GPS stamping, and additional comments for more thorough records. If you are already using our software, update your forms quickly and easily with drag and drop technology.

Meeting these NVHR requirements keeps your whole chain of responsibility safe, and using Whip Around helps you do that. If you have any questions about the new requirements, or about how our software can help you meet them, let us know.

Whip Around Helps to Meet the Requirements of CoR

Whip Around DVIR software in action

New Zealand and Australian regulators continue to put more and more rule on heavy vehicle companies and operators. They want to ensure that the road is safe and that the drivers are alert, well-trained, capable and safe. In fact, anybody along the logistics chain including those that consign, pack, load or receive products may be subject to fines or violations if they do not abide by Chain of Responsibility requirements.

Their are two primary types of requirements. The first is that the goods are properly inspected, monitored, weighed and measured. This is to ensure that the products are not too heavy for the truck they are inside. Additionally, they must be in containers that are safe for the road. Finally, they goods of record must match the actual products in the container for obvious tax, regulatory and anti-smuggling reasons. Keeping all of this information tracked and stored adequately can be a major headache.

The second issue is the hours of operation. Drivers cannot work more than ten hours in a row. Any violation of those rules would result in alertness dramatically declining which is unsafe for themselves and other drivers on the road.

For both these issues, the Whip Around app is the easiest solution. This tool helps logistics professionals automatically log information on their phone where it is safely stored to the cloud. There is no need to file paper work, compare notes, read messy handwriting or do a detailed regulatory review. The Whip Around app enables these processes to occur automatically along each tough point to meet the chain of responsibility regulations. This saves a tremendous amount of time and money.

Whip Around is a leading provider of tools and solutions that help heavy vehicle operators, especially with their Chain of Responsibility. These solutions have helped to save time and money dealing with regulations. For more information, please contact us.

ELD Regulation and Digital DVIR

Whip Around's mobile app is FMCSA compliant

The U.S.'s FMCSAimplemented a new electronic logging device rule, or ELD rule, back in 2015. With the compliance date approaching, we wanted to review what this rule was and what this means for eDVIR in the future.

The rule is pretty simple: all vehicles built post-2000, logging more than 8 trips a month, and not for tow-away services or RV hauling must have an ELD installed in their engine to monitor hours and miles driven. The FMCSA is looking to reduce driver fatigue and the number of heavy truck related incidents, as well as reduce paperwork and keep record-keeping mistakes at a minimum.

It stands to reason that they will soon regulate the use of eDVIR as well, given the focus on driver safety and electronic solutions to paperwork. Electronic DVIRs keep your vehicle up to par with current regulations. Making sure they are well-maintained and safe to drive keeps unnecessary accidents from occurring and protects your drivers, management, and ownership from the consequences of them.

Whip Around is ahead of the regulation game with our mobile based vehicle inspection platform. Drivers can log DVIRs directly into their smartphones for ease of access. Inspection forms are immediately viewable by all involved parties, and are time and GPS stamped for transparent record keeping. If any problems are flagged, Whip Around software generates the work order right on the spot to keep your vehicles well-maintained. 

If you have any questions about complying with the new ELD rule or being prepared for future eDVIR regulations, contact our Whip Around experts today.

Whip Around Teams Module

The Whip Around software allows for your company to group your vehicles according to your unique needs, keeping all the need-to-know people in the know.

The grouping options are endless. Group vehicles together, then assign them to a team and specify which management, mechanics, drivers, or depot profiles are able to conduct or check inspections. Rearrange at will from your dashboard for unexpected projects or new drivers. You can also sort by vehicle type or within a specific business unit. You can make it as complex or simple as you'd like, with layers of teams responsible for other teams, or simply one individual assigned to one vehicle. From the employee perspective, they will only be able to view what you allow them to, within their team or management responsibility range.

For example: Your company operates across multiple states. You could set up teams of five vehicles, then add their drivers from various shifts to their team, plus a supervisor, the regional manager, and the state manager. Drivers can only see the vehicle they are assigned to, but the supervisor can keep tabs on the fleets they are responsible for, the regional manager can keep track of all vehicles at locations within the region, and the state manager can see all vehicles within the state.

Whip Around's grouping module can do all that, and more. Our team grouping module is truly as flexible as your company needs it to be.

Not only does our software allow for proper checks, but it alerts you when those checks aren't happening or if something is flagged during an inspection. Grouping ensures that the correct departments are notified as quickly as possible. Simply assign who you need to each team, and when anything is flagged during inspection, the team is alerted via the Whip Around mobile app, allowing for immediate action on the flagged item.

Whip Around team modules also allows you to view leaderboards and analytics by team. See who is doing best or needs improvement at a glance, and keep track of trends within your company. If one vehicle is having problems consistently, or one employee is regularly missing their inspection, you (or whoever is assigned to manage that team) will be able to see it right away.

Whip Around Team Modules help you keep your business under control and running smoothly. If there is anything we can do to make your experience better,contact ustoday.

Is Your Business Ready for Changes to the Australian/New Zealand CoR Laws?

Whip Around provides full transparency across the CoR through data sharing between companies.  

Some heavy vehicle Chain of Responsibility laws are coming into effect in 2018. These regulations can have steep consequences for those that fail to adhere to them, with the possibility of a $3 million penalty for non-complaint transgressive companies And the threat of imprisonment. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator or NHVR has declared that the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws now covering fatigue, speed, load mass dimension, and loading are going to be extended to maintenance and vehicle standards. According to a 2016 survey of 183 companies, only three organizations reached a level of compliance that lined up with updated CoR laws with twenty having reached an amorphous level of compliance while the rest failed.

What the NHVR Wants You to Know

At a panel discussion following a moot court where the regulations were tested, NHVR National Investigations Coordinator Bill Esteves advised business owners and councils to be proactive in their efforts to reach compliance. The NHVR Manager, Michael Crellin, in charge of the Chain of Responsibility explained that the changes require that the executive officer understand the risk management processes, the safety systems, and most importantly if these are operable.

The focus of these regulations is pointed at the business practices as well as the system controls in place. Investigators won’t need an inciting incident or substantive offense to act. All they have to do is look at the system and either make sure everything is in working order and efficient or failing. Investigators want business to make sure and inform their partners in the supply chain about these changes. Additionally, investigators want to impress upon businesses that technology integration and that assuring compliance in areas like fatigue management is crucial.

Penalties for Violations

Category III

Violation Situation: there is a breach of safety responsibilities discovered, with no inciting event.

Violation Penalties: $50,000 for a person, and $500,000 for a business.

Category II

Violation Situation: There is a breach of safety responsibilities found that is a risk of injury or death.

Violation Penalties: $100,000 for a person and $1 million for a business.

Category I

Situation: Reckless behavior is involved in a violation.  

Penalties: Five years of incarceration and/or $300,000 for a person, and $3 million for a business.

For more information on the changes to CoR laws, contact us at Whip Around today.

Governments are adding more regulation to health and safety for commercial vehicles

Preparing for the future is integral to any successful business plan, but also difficult to find time for in the present. Meanwhile, the world outside is moving on, ready or not. One ever-changing environment faced by commercial vehicle owners and operators is the regulatory one. Increased work safety regulation for vehicles has been growing steadily in the US and is likely spreading to the UK, Australia and New Zealand. 

Both federal and local regulations are expanding in the United States on issues from electronic tracking time for operators to new safety standards for mirrors and rear view cameras. The FMCSA is doing more than simply writing the new rules. It helps train and funds teams of state police across the country to help identify and address safety violations on the road. These stops can routinely include fines and forcing vehicles out of service. Incidents like these can do real harm to a businesses SLA's and reputation. Worse still are the resulting fines from regulations after an incident has already occurred. A rollover in Australia recently resulted in ten of thousands of dollars in fines for both the shipping company and its client. 

These occasional disasters highlight the dangers to operators, managers, and regulators. This is why places like Chicago and Australia are planning for regulatory enhancements or overhauls. As these governments plan new rules with new tools, don't be left unable to fulfill the needs of your company. Business owners and fleet managers need new tools as well to help stay on top of regulatory needs and fleet condition.

 Whip Around is an all digital system for managing fleet needs connecting operators through the cloud to managers and other stakeholders in real-time. These tools can help give you the information you need to stay ahead of breakdowns and inspections. The all digital medium also makes record keeping automatic to help facilitate discussions with inspectors. If you want more help keeping your fleet prepared for the future, contact us to learn more about what Whip Around can do for you.