Technology

About Technology News...

Commercial freight transportation businesses rely on data, intelligence, and novel solutions for operational efficiency. Transport Topics technology coverage investigates available technologies, real-world applications of business solutions, and the strategies necessary for advancement. News topics focus on the latest applied science, and issues range from autonomous vehicle and robotics innovations to management software, tracking and transparency, data analytics, blockchain, and the internet of things.

Letters to the Editor, Business, Government, Safety, Technology, Logistics

Letters: Entry-Level Driver Training, Cost Containment

Readers discuss the regulatory side of entry-level driver training and the best way to maximize profit is containing costs.

March 20, 2017
Editorial, Business, Government, Safety, Autonomous, Technology, Logistics

Editorial: A Useful Discussion on Safety

Last week, we cheered the apparent demise of a federal regulatory provision regarding hours of service. Now we’d like to salute a positive development: a recent discussion on truck safety before a Senate subcommittee.

March 20, 2017
Perspective, Business, Government, Safety, Technology, Equipment, Autonomous

Opinion: Effectively Utilizing Telematics Solutions

The electronic logging device mandate for tracking hours of service has brought a lot of attention to truck telematics, and many experts are providing advice on how to prepare for that transition. But one aspect of telematics that few are addressing is how underutilized most existing systems are. In my estimate, only three in 10 fleets are utilizing their telematics system to the max.

March 20, 2017
Business, Government, Safety, Logistics, Technology, Equipment

Truckload Driver Pay Inches Up in 4th Quarter

Salaries for truckload drivers rose at the low rate of 0.04 point in the fourth quarter year-over-year, according to the latest National Transportation Institute index (or 0.03% on a preliminary basis), the slowest in 2016.

Ari Ashe | Staff Reporter
March 20, 2017
Government, Business, Technology, Equipment

FMCSA to Review ELDs, Entry-Level Policies at MATS

Federal trucking regulators intend to host seminars on the minimum training requirements for entry-level drivers and the implementation plan for electronic logging devices at the Mid-America Trucking Show next week.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
March 14, 2017
Government, Business, Technology

Capitol Agenda for the Week of March 14: The View From Jim Burnley

Former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Burnley weighs in on regulations, P3s, TIGER grants and more in a one-on-one interview with TT's Eugene Mulero. Here's the week ahead for trucking on Capitol Hill.

Eugene Mulero | Senior Reporter
March 14, 2017
Perspective, Business, Government, Safety, Technology, Autonomous

Opinion: Eight Predictions for Our Industry

In 2008, I wrote an article where I described a future scenario in which a driver in a truck is leading a convoy of several driverless trucks. In 2011, I began predicting that we would have autonomous cars on the market and on the roadways by 2020. These predictions seem to be turning out better than my 2007 prediction that Apple would not get much market share in the cellphone business.

March 13, 2017
Business, Technology, Autonomous

Waymo Alleges Former Self-Driving Engineer Plotted to Sell Trade Secrets to Uber

Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo alleged a former top self-driving car engineer plotted to sell trade secrets and talent to Uber Technologies Inc., according to an updated lawsuit filed March 10 against the ride-sharing company.

Mark Bergen | Bloomberg News
March 10, 2017
Business, Technology

California Says Autonomous Vehicles Don't Need Human Drivers

California relaxed several rules on self-driving cars as the state tries to maintain its status as a leading test bed for the future of transportation.

Shelly Hagan | Bloomberg News
March 10, 2017
Business, Technology

Replay: LiveOnWeb on Recruiting Young Drivers

Young drivers are appealing to fleets, but fleets often lose them as quickly as they find them. What new methods are fleets using in recruiting efforts? In our March 8 LiveOnWeb, hosted by Transport Topics Executive Editor Joe Howard, we looked at the challenge the industry faces in attracting young drivers to replace retiring drivers. Watch the replay.

March 9, 2017