Trucking news and briefs for Dec. 26, 2019
GDS Express closes shop days ahead of the Christmas holiday
With Christmas just days away, Akron, Ohio-based carrier GDS Express closed abruptly Tuesday, Dec. 17. The fleet shut off fuel cards for drivers still on the road Wednesday, Dec. 18, and office staff and drivers were reportedly not paid as of Friday, Dec. 19, David Hollis reported for Overdrive sister publication Truckers News. That was according to truckers and others familiar with the company’s closure.
While the sudden bankruptcy of mega-carrier Celadon was news heard ’round the industry the previous week, smaller fleets can – and sometimes do – close their doors without warning, sometimes leaving drivers stranded in the process.
“We were blindsided,” said Jacob Keaton, eastern operations manager at G.D.S, which runs 75 trucks, according to FMCSA data. He said Thursday that he and his in-office colleagues learned of the closing December 17 afternoon from company owner Craig Stacy. However, Keaton said they received no clear explanation as to why the company was being shut down.
Read more about the closure via Hollis’ reporting at Truckers News.
What’s your preferred form of load tracking, when it comes to technology?
Overdrive covered the proliferation of track-and-trace providers with mobile technologies in the December 2018 issue, then in the context of required electronic logging devices in later coverage of the use of ELD data in June and July of this year. The Trucker Tools app and tracking service provider to brokers and carriers (among other services the company offers) launched a new brief survey intended to explore owner-ops’, drivers’ and small fleet owners’ preferences when it comes to tracking loads hauled for brokers, whether tracking via traditional check calls, tracking apps of various types or ELDs.
Those interested can access the survey module via this link.
Automated location sharing with a carrier, broker or shipper was a reality for about half of Overdrive’s mostly owner-operator readers when this poll was conducted in late 2018.New connected-dashcam system available
Michelin Group company NexTraq announced availability of its new NexTraq Dashcam high-def vehicle incident camera system, configured for 4G LTE connectivity. The dashcam provides downloadable videos, real-time alerts and live GPS location for use in a variety of applications.
NexTraq shared this example view from one of its new forward-facing Dashcams.Available in the United States and Canada, the NexTraq Dashcam provides HD-video coverage of the moments before, during and after a vehicle event. It comes equipped with a with wide-angle lens, an optional second camera for an in-cab view, nine infrared LEDs for night-time recording, real-time incident alerts with video and GPS location via email, and more.
