GE industry experts answer questions

Ask the Expert question: As a carrier, how can a trailer management company help me with some of the productivity challenges I may be facing due to the new Hours of Service (HOS) regulations?

GE TIP Sr. VP of Asset Management, Thomas Konditi, answers: One of the biggest challenges facing our customers in regards to the new HOS regulations is how to optimize the productivity of your trailer assets. As a carrier, you will likely need to modify the way you do business to comply with the new regulations.

One of the biggest challenges facing our customers as a result of the new HOS regulations is increasing driver productivity through optimizing trailer fleet productivity. As a carrier, you may need to modify the way you do business to be in compliance.

Under the new regulations, delays that your drivers routinely experience today will be considered on duty, such as...
          • Waiting for an open bay at a shipper's facility
          • Loading and unloading freight
          • Shift-change delays at shippers and receivers
          • Emergency repairs to trailers

These types of activities may cut into the number of hours they can drive, and the wages they earn as a result. Significantly increasing the number of drop-and-hook loads has been identified as a key measure in enabling carriers to provide service to their customers, without a painful increase in the price of that service.

To support this change, you may require more trailers within your fleet operations. Adding trailers to accommodate more drop-and-hook operations is probably the single-most cost effective means of improving driver productivity in the short term. The cost of increasing the size of the trailer fleet is relatively insignificant when compared to the cost of adding drivers and tractors.

Now, more than ever, having the right mix of available trailers within your fleet is important to stay competitive. Some carriers may be reluctant to commit to long-term capacity growth and will opt for the flexibility of renting or leasing. Whether your decision is to purchase, lease long-term or rent additional trailers, additional trailers, GE TIP can help you
     • Maintain the optimal trailer-to-tractor ratio for your operations through our flexible fleet options at over 100 locations.
     • Minimize trailer maintenance-related delays through our Mobile Maintenance Services
     • Determine the location of your trailers 24/7 with VeriWise asset tracking

There is a great deal of uncertainty around how the industry will adjust to these new regulations. Staying competitive while adjusting to them will mean maximizing productivity through significantly improved trailer fleet management.

GE TIP, an integrated trailer fleet management company, is here to assist customers with their trailer needs. Our goal is to help our customers be more efficient and productive so they can better serve their customers.