New technology aims to cut costs from truck idle time

Many companies are seeking new ways to manage their fleets with regards to trucking safety, conserving fuel and the health of their employees in an effort to cut costs. Some companies are searching for methods that will help them streamline how they track their drivers' idle time.

To address this need, U.S. Xpress, a Tennessee-based trucking company, recently announced that launch of a new comprehensive information management strategy that may help reduce costs, CIO Magazine reports.

Officials told the news source that trucking companies can now track the amount of time that trucks sit idling and use up costly fuel. The new measure aims to save approximately $6 million a year across a fleet of 8,000 tractors and 22,000 trailers.

"It is one of those things where, if you do not measure something, you do not manage it," Dale Langley, chief information officer for the company, told the news source. "So as soon as we began to measure [idling times], we started to have an impact."

Online truck driver training courses may help new drivers and veteran operators learn techniques that can prevent unnecessary idle time. Furthermore, these classes promote trucking safety, which can save the company and the employee money over time.

By Anna Byrne

New technology aims to cut costs from truck idle time

Monday, March 7th, 2011