Technology

At a time when trucking has its pick of more communications options than ever, an increasing number of federal regulations has influenced not only when carriers adopt technology but also what technology they invest in.

American Trucking Associations, along with several key industry groups and manufacturers, asked the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to change its final rule on electronic onboard recorders, saying the technical specifications laid out by the regulation were not achievable.

Transportation software firm Xata Corp. said it lost $402,000, or 23 cents per share, in its fiscal second quarter, compared with a profit of $91,000, or 5 cents, a year ago.

PRINCETON, N.J. — New federal safety regulations soon will drive a wave of purchases by U.S. trucking companies that have not yet adopted electronic onboard recorders and mobile communication systems that closely monitor driver performance, a technology vendor here said.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration likely will not meet a deadline to issue a more expansive rule requiring fleets to use electronic onboard recorders, according to a new report.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance said the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will “inevitably” move toward broader electronic onboard recorder requirements, if not a universal mandate.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last week issued a rule that could require as many as 5,700 trucking fleets to use electronic onboard recorders to monitor drivers’ hours by lowering the threshold for violations that trigger the EOBR mandate.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said last week it is pushing back the start of its new safety monitoring system, CSA 2010, until late this year, to give itself time to respond to criticisms and suggestions, and give fleets time to fix safety deficiencies.

Evans Distribution Systems, a third-party logistics operator, is adding new facilities in Lenexa, Kan., Houston and Memphis, Tenn.

TMW Systems and McLeod Software each said they signed fewer new customers in 2009 than the prior year, but overall sales remained strong as carriers sought to improve their operations and prep for an economic rebound.