Posted by Karen Thomas on Fri, Aug 27, 2010 @ 12:37 AM
RSI Insurance Brokers is now available in one touch. The RSI iPhone App was introduced yesterday – providing iPhone users with instant access to appointments, RSI news, customer information and much more. It's the iPhone App for fleet owners, owner operators, truck drivers, insurers and pretty much anyone affiliated with the transportation industry. While thousands of iPhone Apps are available for download – the RSI iPhone App is one that's specifically geared towards transportation professionals.
If you didn't receive the news yesterday from RSI, you'll be pleased to note the iPhone App offers the following features:
Directions to our locations
Click to make an appointment
List of our services
Take/send us a picture
RSI News
Customer Forums
And we're welcoming your opinion! Give the APP a test run and see if it fits your needs. If not – let us know and we'll do what we can to improve its capabilities.
The iPhone-specific specs are as follows:
Free
Category: Business
Released:Aug 25, 2010
Version:1.0
1.0
0.2 MB
Language:English
Seller:PTAJ Marketing, Inc.
© 2010 PTAJ Marketing, Inc.
Rated 4+
Requirements:Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iPhone OS 3.0 or later.
Chances are – if you're an iPhone owner – you downloaded a bunch of applications when you first purchased the phone. And while several of those applications may go untouched – there's a useful, industry-specific App at your disposal. To obtain the RSI iPhone App, please click here: http://itunes.apple.com/app/rsi-insurance-brokers/id387262634?mt=8
Posted by Karen Thomas on Mon, Aug 23, 2010 @ 11:39 PM
Is 100% transparency a realistic endeavor? Perhaps not. When it comes to business – and even governmental regulation – some secrets are best kept as just that. Proprietary technology, ventures, investments, etc. are best kept under-wraps at times. The Department of Transportation (DOT) though is commended for its transparency.
Transparency within the DOT is no accident. In fact – there's a plan. The DOT Open Government Plan is explained as follows:
“DOT leadership and employees from across the Department worked together to help create an Open Government Plan to meet the requirements of Open Government Directive. A PDF version and a Web version are both available. This plan is a living document. As we continue towards increased transparency, participation, collaboration, and innovation, we will be refining and enhancing our strategic efforts. We welcome public comments regarding the content of this plan on our Citizen Engagement Tool and at open@dot.gov.
[The] Open Government Plan. This framework enabled us to quickly identify planning steps; analyze and address the relevant technology, policy, and cultural issues that would impact Open Government activities; and get the best-suited people involved in Open Government efforts from the very beginning. Read more about this framework and our approach to Open Government here, (www.dot.gov)
While the DOT is subject to continued transparency, other sectors of the transportation industry are motivated to provide factual information on a day to day basis due to economic factors. Take for example, the oil industry. Real time data is accessible at a moment's notice (depending on your electronic device – smart phone, iPdad, desktop, land-line, etc.). The Energy Information Administration of the Department of Energy posts daily statistics in regards to the prices of gasoline and diesel prices. For example, the EIA reported today that the, “average weekly retail price of a gallon of on-highway diesel dropped for the second consecutive week, falling 2.2 cents to $2.957 for the week ending Aug. 23,” (www.eia.dot.gov.)
Seeing through something insinuates being able to see truth – whether it's the truth in numbers, or information in general. The transportation industry – being one that's subject to numerical data as well as regulatory initiatives, is doing its part to crystallize its plans.
Posted by Karen Thomas on Sun, Aug 22, 2010 @ 12:52 AM
Greenhouse gases are a concern in California. After all - California is a state complete with multiple freeways that span East, West, North and South as well as a handful of ports that are responsible for a bulk of the nation's imports and exports. Commercial vehicles hit California roads day in and day out – transporting goods and services within the Golden State (which includes an economy the size of a smal country's.) While all the commercial traffic is good for the economy, it also concerns those concerned with California's air quality.
That's where the California Air Resources Boards (CARB) comes into play.
A good kind of CARB? Yes.
The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards
The Air Resources Board (ARB) is responsible for conducting rulemakings to adopt and amend regulations covering a variety of areas. These rulemakings are brought to the Board for consideration and an archive of these "formal" rulemaking documents is retained by rulemaking action. For an alphabetical listing of ARB rulemaking actions considered in a particular year, with links to the formal rulemaking documents, click below
CARB's latest plan is to help California fleets adhere to current greenhouse gas regulations. Just this past January, CARB passed stringent greenhouse gas regulations that affect the transportation industry at large. According to FleetOwner.com, “The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has put together several “phase-in” plans to help fleets comply with its heavy-duty tractor-trailer greenhouse gas (GHG) regulation mandate that went into effect Jan. 1 this year – giving small fleets, in particular, a nearly seven-year window to meet the new rules if they participate in the state agency’s program,” (www.fleetowner.com.)
Smaller fleet owners (those with less than 22 vehicles) take note – compliance is in order until January 2012.
Compliance isn't always cost effective. Fortunately, CARB recognizes this and modified the $28 million Voucher Incentive Program (VIP) to help more independent truckers qualify for the purchase of a cleaner-running vehicle.
The Fleetowner.com article noted, “Modifications to the VIP program, made in March, allowed for the inclusion of trucks with 2002 and older engines, whereas previously only trucks with 1993 and older engines were eligible. Also tucks with mileage as low as 15,000 miles per year are now eligible, whereas before a truck had to operate a minimum of 30,000 miles per year or consume 4,700 gallons of diesel fuel per year during the previous two years to qualify.”
Posted by Karen Thomas on Wed, Aug 18, 2010 @ 11:15 PM
It was only a few years ago, renewable energy and fuel alternatives were all over the place. Fleet owners, independent operators, and regular car owners were hitting up their local Chinese restaurant for excess corn oil, and spending thousands of dollars retrofitting their vehicles (including sixteen wheelers) to burn fuel more efficiently. While major corporations including Wal-Mart and FedEx have incorporated hybrid vehicles into their fleet – renewable energy isn't the norm in the transportation industry. Oil spills and oil dependencies in general though have renewed interest in renewable energies.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy was created with the intention of, “Recognizing the need to reevaluate the way the United States spurs innovation, the National Academies released a 2006 report, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm”, that included the recommendation to establish an Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy (ARPA-E) within the Department of Energy (DOE). The America COMPETES Act (PDF 39 KB), signed into law in August of 2007, codified many of the recommendations in the National Academies report. Authorized but without an initial budget, ARPA-E received $400 million funding in April 2009 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA),” (http://arpa-e.energy.gov/About/About.aspx.)
Today, the New York Times posted/printed an article detailing the ARPA's $400 million dollar budget dedicated towards the transportation industry and improving the use of renewable energies.
According to the New York Times article, a number of renewable energy projects are already in the works. Lighter batteries, (the article stated a pound of gasoline holds about 35 times more energy than a pound of lead-acid batteries and about six times more than lithium-ion batteries) that automatically shut down when a vehicle stops is just one type of ARPA-funded project. The battery spoken of is intended to ultimately be no larger than the size of a flashlight battery.
“ARPA-E invested $3.2 million in a battery developed with a materials genome in a start-up company, run by Professor Ceder, that is exploring magnesium. In batteries today, whether they are lithium-ion or old-fashioned lead-acid, an atom shuttles between the positive and negative terminal, carrying a single electron, as the battery charges and discharges. But a magnesium atom would carry two electrons, so a battery storing a given amount of energy could be nearly halved in size and weight,” (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/business/energy-environment/19fuel.html.)
Posted by Karen Thomas on Sat, Aug 07, 2010 @ 09:09 PM
The Open Road Blog often includes posts about safety – whether it's a general commentary on the transportation industry or aimed at specific seasons and ways commercial drivers can safely navigate the roads. Fortunately for the transportation industry, there are federal and state departments as well as independent organizations that focus solely on the safety of passenger and commercial vehicles. The Open Road Blog though is primarily concerned with safety measures that affect commercial drivers as is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). And speaking of safety – commercial vehicle drivers are eligible for one million dollars in grant monies made available by the FMCSA.
Last week the FMCSA announced that, “Seven community and technical colleges and two state government training facilities received a share of $1 million in Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration grants to enhance behind-the-wheel safety training courses for students enrolled in commercial driver's license (CDL) training programs, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today,” (www.fmcsa.dot.gov.)
Truck drivers and drivers of commercial vehicles in general are typically well aware of the hazards faced on the open road. A fifty thousand pound-plus vehicle just doesn't have the same reaction time as say a two-door Honda Civic. A properly trained commercial driver though is skilled at recognizing potentially precarious road hazards and adjusting appropriately.
"We depend on professional truck and bus drivers to safely move our economy," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "This grant program makes an investment in our workforce, while ensuring that new commercial drivers are well-trained and focused on safety, (www.fmcsa.dot.gov.)
Posted by Karen Thomas on Fri, Aug 06, 2010 @ 01:23 AM
The Open Road Blog Gas Saving Tip of the day: Department of Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, made an official announcement to the DOT one month ago regarding the Distracted Driving campaign.
Key points included, "We launched pilot programs in Hartford, Connecticut, and Syracuse, New York, which test whether high visibility enforcement and public service announcements change drivers’ minds and actions. Called Phone in One Hand. Ticket in the Other, these programs will ultimately serve as a model for other cities working to make their roadways safer. During the pilot’s first week, Hartford police cited more than 2,000 drivers for talking on cell phones – and 200 more for texting while driving. That’s in just one city – in just seven days.
And since distracted driving is a challenge around the world, not just in the United States, we’ve issued a global call to end it. Jennifer and I stood with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon this past May as he issued a new directive that forbids more than 40,000 U.N. employees from texting while driving on the job." Read the full release at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2010/lahood07072010.html.
County: San Bernardino
Date: August 5th, 2010
Station: Mohsen Truck Stop
Address: 35680 Daggett-Yermo Road and Yermo Road, Yermo
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.02
Date: August 5th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 31340 Yucaipa Blvd. and Hampton Road, Yucaipa
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.05
Date: August 5th, 2010
Station: 76
Address: 24913 Redlands Blvd. and Anderson Street, Loma Linda
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.09
(Gas prices found at www.sanbernardinogasprices.com)
County: Los Angeles
Date: August 5th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 9706 Telegraph Road and True Ave., Downey
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.05
Date: August 5th, 2010
Station: ARCO
Address: 1110 West Manchester Blvd. and Isis Ave., Inglewood
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.09
Date: August 5th, 2010
Station: Mobil
Address: 6423 Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Victory Blvd., Canoga Park
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.09
(Gas prices found at www.losangelesgasprices.com)
County: Riverside
Date: August 5th, 2010
Station: Morongo Travel Center
Address: 49020 Seminole Drive and Apache Trail, Cabazon
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: August 5th, 2010
Station: Food 4 Less
Address: 49245 Grapefruit Blvd., Coachella
Price of Diesel Fuel: $2.99
Date: August 5th, 2010
Station: Mobil
Address: 75000 Gerald Ford Drive and Cook Street, Palm Desert
Price of Diesel Fuel: $3.02
(Gas prices found at www.riversidegasprices.com)
Return to RSI HOME: http://www.rsiinsurancebrokers.com
Posted by Karen Thomas on Wed, Aug 04, 2010 @ 11:00 PM
Safety in the
transportation industry is an international effort. The
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) for example, is a not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from not just the
United States but Canada, and Mexico as well . The purpose of the CBSA's existence is commercial vehicle safety.
According to CVSA.org., “member jurisdictions are represented by various Departments of Transportation, Public Utility and Service Commissions, State Police, Highway Patrols and Ministries of Transport. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security,” (http://cvsa.org.)
One of the CVSA's transportation industry initiatives is its annual roadcheck. Each year the CVSA conducts a roadcheck that inspects thousands of commercial vehicles in an effort t determine whether or not they're compliant with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)'s regulations.
A glance this year's results show positive signs in the transportation industry. According to Truckline.com, “Roadcheck 2010 show that the commercial motor vehicle industry is hovering close to the record low out-of-service rates set during 2009. Figures show the overall vehicle compliance rate at 80 percent, slightly down from 80.4 percent in 2009, with an overall driver compliance rate of 95.6 percent, which is unchanged from last year.”
More than 65,000 commercial vehicles were inspected during the roadcheck that occurred in June.
Posted by Karen Thomas on Mon, Aug 02, 2010 @ 10:34 PM
65,000 pounds is impressive, but not always easy to maintain. Especially if you're a big rig. There's a price tag that comes with keeping up one's figure (and functionality). A 65,000 lb truck can easily ring up a thousand dollar price tag at the pump. Fortunately, engineers, environmental activists, local and national governments, and the transportation industry as a whole have welcomed hybrid commercial vehicles that not only produce less emissions, but save money when it comes to filling up.
Hybrid big rigs have been around now for a few years. Major corporations like WalMart and FedEx have added hybrid trucks to their fleets – saving money – improving the environment – and gaining positive media attention.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is largely responsible for making hybrid commercial vehicles mainstream – and is effective in doing so as it can write standards into laws. Much of the hybrid technology developed for gasoline engines can work with a diesel engine. The benefits of a hybrid truck include delivering fuel savings of 5% to 60%. That's quite a range, but also dependent upon how a truck is driven. In 2007, the EPA estimated the average urban delivery truck could save more than 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year.
While the positive impacts of going hybrid are well-known, it's not always an easy transition. First – there's the cost. A fleet owner and owner operator can either retrofit their current fleet or purchase a new hybrid vehicle – either option's sticker price is a harder to digest than a $1,000 bill at the gas station.
Fleetowner.com suggested, “To significantly increase sales of hybrid commercial vehicles – trucks and buses alike – more standardized hybrid systems, such as batteries and motors, needs to be used, coupled with more government incentives to get sticker prices down low enough to attract more buyers.”
The outlook though may need to be more long-term. While governments in addition to the military have added hybrid trucks to their fleets, fleet owners and owner operators may have to wait out the cost-savings over the course of several years.
Posted by Karen Thomas on Thu, Jul 22, 2010 @ 12:52 AM
The transportation industry has been able to maintain despite a couple bumpy economic years. The movement of goods and services is still dependent upon vehicles outfitted with more than four wheels in most cases and often times with sixteen. Another side to the transportation industry exists though – one that moves people from point A to point B – points that are pivotal to people's livelihood and on another level - micro and macro economics.
Reports indicate the transportation industry is alive and well. This past week The Trucker reported that, “Net orders for heavy-duty Class 8 commercial vehicles reached the highest level of the year in June, posting an increase of 93 percent compared to June of 2009, according to the market analysts at ACT Research Co. (ACT).
In the latest release of the State of the Industry: Classes 5-8 Vehicles, ACT reported 15,999 net orders of Class 8 vehicles, an increase of 21 percent over May of this year. Net orders of medium-duty Classes 5-7 equipment also rebounded in June, increasing by 74 percent over the prior year June,” (www.thetrucker.com.)
When it comes to alternative transportation options that move people though (including buses and trains), more work – and money -is needed. The Federal Transportation Administration believes $77.7 billion is needed to repair both the nation's rail and bus transit systems. The report was initiated by the
FTA’s National State of Good Repair Assessment Study, requested by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood as a follow-up to the 2009 Rail Modernization Study report to Congress, provides a comprehensive analysis of the costs required to bring the nation’s rail and bus transit systems into good operating order.
Moving the masses via rail and bus is not only good for the economy, it's good for the environment. While most complaint are generally allocated towards lack of availability, the FTA and DOT are more concerned with proper repairs. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reinforced the focus on transportation safety, saying,
“Transit remains one of the safest forms of transportation, but this report shows the clear need to reinvest in our bus, subway and light rail systems. As a nation, we must lead when it comes to infrastructure development and commit ourselves to rebuilding America,” (www.dot.gov.)
Posted by Karen Thomas on Wed, Jul 21, 2010 @ 12:21 AM
Safety first. We've heard this as kids (before crossing the street) and as teenagers (when first learning to drive) and more than ever as adults (i.e. don't provide personal information online). Speaking of safety, the transportation industry maintains stringent safety standards. The departments (Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the National Highway Transportation Safety Board) are the most influential organizations that influence both commercial drivers and non-commercial drivers. Protecting drivers' well-being is first and foremost, and thousands of dollars and man-hours are spent each year trying to figure out new ways to protect those on the open road.
Take for example just a few initiatives put forth by the NHTSB:
■Traffic Safety Facts: Assessing the Attention-Getting Capability of Brake Signals: Evaluation of Candidate Enhanced Braking Signals and Features, Sponsored by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington D.C, June 2010 DOT HS 811 330
■Traffic Safety Facts: Development of a Simulation Model to Assess Effictivness and Safety Benefits of Enhanced Rear Brake Light Countermeasures, Sponsored by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington D.C, June 2010 DOT HS 811 331
■"Evaluation of Enhanced Brake Lights Using Surrogate Safety Metrics: Task 2 & 3 Report Development of a Rear Signaling Model and Work Plan for Large Scale Field Evaluation"- Sponsored by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington D.C, June 2010 DOT HS
811 329
While preventative measures are ideal, sometimes a retrospective reveals beneficial information. Take for example truck crash data. According to FleetOwner.com, “
Truck collisions and near-collisions are low from January through June, but more than triple at points between July and November, according to a new analysis of truck crash data,” (www.fleetowner.com.)
Sean Kilcarr of FleetOwner.com wrote that video event recorders assessed more than 18 million unique driving events that resulted in two billion miles or traveled roads. Kilcarr reported that, “DriveCam’s research found that collisions and near collisions in long-haul trucking are very low from January to June (between 1% and 5%), but start to spike in July, peaking at 18% and remaining above 14% through November,” (www.fleetowner.com.)
Analysis of the DriveCam data supports the statement that driving not just at night, but even later into the day is more dangerous than driving the early morning commute. Human factors including fatigue and difficulty seeing as the sun goes down are attributed to the likelihood of accidents occurring later in the day.