Trinity Logistics, a prominent third-party logistics (3PL) provider, has teamed up with Truck Parking Club to offer discounted parking options for Carriers within its network.  

“We understand that Carriers face several challenges daily, but safe parking shouldn’t be one of them,” said Chad Taylor, Vice President of Carrier Development at Trinity Logistics. “This partnership allows us to ease that burden by offering an additional option for our Carrier relationships when they need safe, secure parking.” 

Carriers must be registered and set up with Trinity Logistics to take advantage of this new benefit. All current Carrier relationships will be sent email communications with instructions on how to receive their discount. Carriers who decide to capitalize on the for discount for Truck Parking Club will be able to: 

“Truck Parking Club was created to help truckers save time and fuel by finding and instantly reserving truck parking across the US,” said Evan Shelley, CEO at Truck Parking Club. “Our solution brings more truck parking online quickly by enabling owners to list space on their existing yards and properties. Our trucker members, and now Trinity Logistics carriers, are then able to quickly search and reserve available truck parking spaces, allowing them to plan a trip with confidence knowing they have a parking space. We are excited to partner with Trinity Logistics, as we think our solution is a great value add to their carrier partners.” 

For more information about the Truck Parking Club, visit truckparkingclub.com 

LEARN MORE ABOUT TRINITY LOGISTICS

About Trinity Logistics

Trinity Logistics is a Burris Logistics Company, offering People-Centric Freight Solutions®. Our mission is to deliver creative logistics solutions through a mix of human ingenuity and innovative technology, enriching the lives of those we serve. 

For the past 45 years, we’ve been arranging freight for businesses of all sizes in truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), warehousing, intermodal, drayage, expedited, international, and technology solutions.

We are currently recognized as a Top Freight Brokerage by Transport Topics and as a Top Company for Women to Work for in Transportation by Women in Trucking.

About Truck Parking Club  

Truck Parking Club is a network of instantly reservable hourly, daily, weekly and monthly truck parking locations across the US. Truck Parking Club connects truckers to truck parking locations throughout the US via truckparkingclub.com and the Truck Parking Club app. The network is made up of property owners that have locations adequate for truck parking to list on the platform: this includes trucking companies, storage companies, tow truck companies, CDL Schools, trailer leasing companies, real estate investors, truck parking operators and more. For more information, visit truckparkingclub.com. 

Don’t let your company get caught off guard by CVSA Brake Safety Week, August 25th to August 31st, 2024! 

Shippers and carriers, mark your calendars! Brake Safety Week is soon approaching. This annual event aims to improve commercial vehicle safety and make our roadways safer, however it does impact those in logistics! Shippers and carriers alike can see disruption to their businesses. To keep your operations moving forward, it’s helpful to understand what Brake Safety Week entails and its effect on the overall freight market. 

What is the CVSA? What is Brake Safety Week? 

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving commercial motor vehicle safety through collaboration between law enforcement, industry stakeholders, and the public sector. In partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the CVSA launched its Operation Airbrake program in 1998. The goal of this initiative is to improve commercial vehicle brake safety and highway crashes due to faulty brake systems.  

This initiative includes two annual events, Brake Safety Week and an unannounced one-day inspection event, that can happen at any time. During both events, commercial vehicle inspectors conduct brake safety inspections on large trucks and buses. The inspections take place across North America, so the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.  

Brake safety is an important focus because brake-related concerns or issues are the largest percentage of out-of-service violations during roadside inspections. In fact, brake safety violations were the top vehicle violation at 25.2 percent of all out-of-service violations during last year’s International Roadcheck Event.  

Each year has a primary focus surrounding brake safety, with this year’s being the condition of brake lining and pads. During roadside inspections, any commercial vehicles found to have brake-related out-of-service violations will be removed from the roadways until they can be corrected.  

Brake Safety Week Inspection Procedure 

These are the items the CVSA inspector will look over during your inspection: 

A typical inspection during Brake Safety Week will follow these steps: 

Why Should I Be Concerned About Brake Safety Week? 

It’s important to be aware of when Brake Safety Week takes place because of the impact it has on shipping freight. Even though it’s just one week out of the year, no one likes to be unprepared for potential disruption or delays to their business. 

Brake Safety Week Impact on Shippers 

Shippers may face potential delays, see reduced transportation capacity, and likely higher spot rates. 

Potential Delays 

There can be potential delays due to the brake safety inspections. 

Reduced Transportation Capacity 

The increased inspection effort sometimes leads carriers to strategically choose to close their business temporarily for the week to avoid any risk of fines or penalties. You might find it more difficult to secure reliable carriers for any last-minute shipments. 

Higher Spot Rates 

With the potential for fewer trucks available and delays, spot rates can be heightened during this time.  

Brake Safety Week Impact on Carriers 

Carriers are similarly affected, so there is the potential for delays and less freight volume. 

Transportation Delays 

Just like shippers, carriers should expect to see potential delays in the movement of traffic due to the increased inspections. This could disrupt your operations. 

Fewer Shipments Available 

Shippers may choose to plan around this week, reroute certain shipments, or even look into alternative modes. Less freight may be available during this week. 

How to Prepare for Brake Safety Week: 

Shippers 

Ensure Documentation Accuracy 

Double-check all shipment documentation. Ensure it is accurate and complete to avoid delays during any unexpected inspections. 

Communicate Sensitive Shipment Needs  

If you have any special requirements or time sensitivities, communicate this well in advance. This helps your logistics provider plan effectively. Any last-minute communication risks delays. 

Find Alternatives 

Consider alternative transportation modes or routes if you expect any delays. 

Keep Customers Aware 

Be proactive and communicate potential delays during this week to your customers to manage expectations. 

Share Any Concerns 

Discuss any concerns you might have with your logistics provider. They can offer valuable insights and help develop strategies to reduce disruptions. 

Pricing Awareness 

Be aware of possible higher spot rates during Brake Safety Week. When possible, plan shipments before or after this period to secure better pricing. 

Carriers 

Double-Check Credentials 

Ensure all required credentials, like operating authority, hazmat endorsements, TWIC cards, and any other relevant permits, are current and accessible. 

Driver Documents are Up to Date 

Have drivers verify that all paperwork is up to date and accessible in case of inspection. 

Vehicle Maintenance Check 

Double-check that all vehicles have undergone any necessary preventive maintenance and are in top operating condition to avoid delays due to roadside repairs. 

Prep Your Drivers 

Make sure drivers are aware of this week and the potential for stops or delays. Train drivers on what to expect and the inspection procedure. Share this CVSA inspection checklist or tips sheet to help them improve their own brake maintenance checks. Make sure they know the channels to communicate any disruptions to their journey. 

Book Ahead  

Shippers may choose to reroute shipments, choose alternative modes, or plan around this week. Consider booking shipments well in advance for this week. 

Remember – Safety First 

The importance of this week is not disruptions but brake safety. This is a great time to remind drivers of their role in proper vehicle checks and maintenance.  

Let’s Work Together to Keep Our Roads Safe 

We believe road safety is paramount. While Brake Safety Week might cause some temporary disruptions, it serves a vital purpose in keeping the importance of brake safety and its needed maintenance front of mind. 

By staying informed and taking proactive steps, you can likely see minimal effects of Brake Safety Week. 

For additional opportunities to stay ahead of disruption to your business during Brake Safety Week, consider working with Trinity Logistics. We have over 45 years of experience helping thousands of shipper and carrier companies conquer more complicated shipping situations, like CVSA inspection weeks. We’re confident in our ability to make this week (and all others) a painless one for your business. 

Shippers: Request a Free Quote  Carriers: Find an Available Trinity Shipment  Join Our Email List to Stay in the Know 

Don’t let your company get caught off guard by CVSA Operation Safe Driver Week, July 7th to July 13th, 2024!

Shippers and carriers, mark your calendars! Operation Safe Driver Week is approaching. While this annual event is designed to make our roadways safer, it’s also a crucial week for those in logistics. This pivotal time can impact operational efficiency for shippers and carriers alike. To be prepared, it’s important for all those involved in shipping freight to understand what Operation Safe Driver Week entails and its effect on the freight market.

What is the CVSA? What is Operation Safe Driver Week?

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving commercial motor vehicle safety through collaboration between law enforcement, industry stakeholders, and the public sector. In partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the CVSA launched the Operation Safe Driver initiative in 2007. The goal of this initiative is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from crashes involving large trucks, buses, and cars.

This initiative includes an annual event, Operation Safe Driver Week. It aims to improve driver behavior through education and increased enforcement efforts, focusing on unsafe driving behaviors. It takes place across North America, so the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Unlike the CVSA’s other two initiatives (International Road Check and Brake Safety Week), which solely focus on commercial drivers, this event affects all drivers on the road.

Each year has a primary focus with this year’s being reckless, careless, or dangerous driving. This includes actions like: 

Those drivers identified are pulled over by law enforcement and issued warnings or citations.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), drivers’ actions are the reason behind 94 percent of all traffic crashes. Research from the University of Missouri-Columbia has shown that interactions with law enforcement, not just education, are what brings change. During last year’s event, law enforcement interacted with 66,421 drivers! Drivers were informed and educated on how they can improve their driving behavior and do their part in reducing crashes.  

Why Should I Be Concerned About Operation Safe Driver Week?

It’s important to be aware of when Operation Safe Driver Week takes place because of the impact it has on shipping freight. Even though it’s just one week out of the year, no one likes to be unprepared for potential disruption or delays to their business.

Operation Safe Driver Week Impact on Shippers

Shippers may face potential delays, see reduced transportation capacity, and likely higher spot rates.

Potential Delays

Increased enforcement activity can lead to potential delays due to any road stop inspections or pullovers.

Reduced Transportation Capacity

The increased enforcement effort sometimes leads carriers to strategically choose to close their business temporarily for the week to avoid any risk of fines or penalties. You might find it more difficult to secure reliable carriers for any last-minute shipments.

Higher Spot Rates

With the potential for fewer trucks available and delays, spot rates can be heightened during this time.

Operation Safe Driver Week Impact on Carriers

Carriers are similarly affected, and there is the potential for delays, less freight volume, and higher scrutiny from law enforcement.

Transportation Delays

Just like shippers, carriers should expect to see potential delays in the movement of traffic due to the increased enforcement. This could disrupt your operations.

Fewer Shipments Available

Shippers may choose to plan around this week, reroute certain shipments, or even look into alternative modes. Less freight may be available during this week.

Increased Law Enforcement

Expect to see increased law enforcement, so more eyes will be looking for unsafe driver behavior, and drivers may receive fines.

How to Prepare for Operation Safe Driver Week:

Shippers

Ensure Documentation Accuracy

Double-check all shipment documentation. Ensure it is accurate and complete to avoid delays during any unexpected inspections.

Communicate Sensitive Shipment Needs 

If you have any special requirements or time sensitivities, communicate this well in advance. This helps your logistics provider plan effectively. Any last-minute communication risks delays.

Find Alternatives

Consider alternative transportation modes or routes if you expect any delays.

Keep Customers Aware

Be proactive and communicate potential delays during this week to your customers to manage expectations.

Share Any Concerns

Discuss any concerns you might have with your logistics provider. They can offer valuable insights and help develop strategies to reduce disruptions.

Pricing Awareness

Be aware of possible higher spot rates during Operation Safe Driver Week. When possible, plan shipments before or after this period to secure better pricing.

Carriers

Double-Check Credentials

Ensure all company credentials, like operating authority, hazmat endorsements, TWIC cards, and any other relevant permits, are current and accessible.

Driver Documents are Up to Date

Have drivers verify that all paperwork is up to date and accessible in case of inspection.

Vehicle Maintenance Check

Double-check that all vehicles have undergone any necessary preventive maintenance and are in top operating condition to avoid delays due to roadside repairs.

Prep Your Drivers

Make sure drivers are aware of this week and the potential for stops or delays. Train drivers on proper procedures for interacting with law enforcement. Make sure they know the channels to communicate any disruptions to their journey.

Book Ahead 

Shippers may choose to reroute shipments, choose alternative modes, or plan around this week. Consider booking shipments well in advance for this week.

Remember – Safety First

The importance of this week is not disruptions but road safety. This is a great time to talk with drivers about safe driving behavior. You could also help educate the public on proper driving behavior when interacting with trucks. Remember, this week benefits everyone who shares the road.

Let’s Work Together to Keep Our Roads Safe

We believe road safety is paramount. While Operation Safe Driver Week might cause some temporary disruptions, it serves a vital purpose in promoting safe driving behaviors.

By staying informed and taking proactive steps, you can likely see minimal effects of Operation Safe Driver Week.

For additional opportunities to stay ahead of disruption to your business during Operation Safe Driver Week, consider working with Trinity Logistics. We have over 45 years of experience helping thousands of shipper and carrier companies conquer more complicated shipping situations, like CVSA inspection weeks. We’re confident in our ability to make this week (and all others) a painless one for your business.

Shippers: Request a Free Quote Carriers: Find an Available Trinity Shipment Join Our Email List to Stay in the Know

A carrier that receives their freight pay in a timely manner is a happy carrier. No one knows that better than us! If you’ve ever had a lengthy delay between hauling a load and receiving your freight pay, there may be a simple explanation. To avoid any hang-ups when hauling with Trinity Logistics and to get paid as quickly as possible, always follow these tips.

1. Fill Out the Carrier Registration Packet Completely

When you’re starting out as a newly registered carrier in our network, we require you to fill out our online carrier packet. You’ll receive an invitation from My Carrier Packet, allowing you to quickly fill out all the information we need to start hauling with Trinity. Not completely this will not only hold you up from your freight pay, but from you even being able to haul a shipment in the first place.

2. Meet Our Insurance Requirements

Not having the required insurance coverage will also hold up your setup and ability to be paid on time. To become registered within Trinity’s carrier network, motor carriers must meet these requirements:

3. Provide Accurate Contact Information for Us to Reach You

Make sure the contact information you give us is accurate and up-to-date. Also, be sure to answer when we contact you. If there’s an issue, we’ll want to solve it for you right away, and being able to reach you as soon as possible will speed up the process.

4. Send Us the BOL for All Pickups and Deliveries

Not receiving the proper shipment paperwork or it being sent to the wrong person/Team is something we see very often, holding carrier freight pay up. We can’t process your business and release your freight pay without having your bill-of-lading (BOL) on file for the shipment you’ve hauled. Please send all shipment paperwork [email protected]. You also have the option of uploading your shipment paperwork in the TriumphPay portal if that’s easier for you.

5. Doublecheck and Ensure All BOLs and PODs Are Legible

If we’re not able to clearly read your BOL and proof-of-delivery (POD), we’ll need to reach back out to you. If you’re not able to scan a clear copy, you can mail them to us instead.

6. Register With Trinity Logistics via TriumphPay (and Choose Quick Pay)

Trinity Logistics works with TriumphPay to get carriers paid quickly. As a carrier in our network, you’ll need to register on the TriumphPay website (if you’re not already) and choose your payment terms. We offer two different payment options to suit your needs. You can choose our Quick Pay option to get paid in two business days for a very competitive fee of 1.5 percent. Or you may choose our standard pay option, which is within 24 business days, for no additional cost.

7. Mail Original Shipping Documents if Required

If the rate confirmation states that “originals” are required, please don’t fax or email your documents as your shipping documents must be provided by mail.

8. Did You Receive a T-Check for a Lumper?

We’ll need the receipt of that included with your invoice, otherwise your freight pay might be short.

Wondering what lumper fees are? Click here to learn more about them.

9. Are There Any Scale Tickets?

If scale tickets are stated on your rate confirmation, please send them in when sending in your invoice.

10. Doublecheck That the POD Is Signed by the Receiver

If it’s a stamp, make sure it’s dark enough to be legible for the customer.

11. Send Your Invoice and the POD Together

If they are sent separately, it may appear that pieces are missing, and this can delay your freight pay.

12. Make Sure the Shipment Number Is on the Invoice and POD

Not having this information can hold up the process of filing your shipment documents and releasing your freight pay.

At Trinity, there’s never a question of if you’ll get paid. It’s simply a matter of how quickly you can get us the required documentation so that we can pay you within a reasonable timeframe.

Find Your Next Trinity Shipment

Sitting trucks cost your business money, so why not look into dedicated freight? 
 

Do you have times when your company’s trucks aren’t moving? Are you tired of working for different people, transporting different kinds of freight, and your drivers running different routes every day? 
 

For carriers looking for consistency in their schedules and stable revenue, dedicated freight is the key to keeping your trucks moving, developing strong business relationships, and steady earnings. 

What is Dedicated Freight? 

Dedicated freight is a contracted arrangement between a carrier and a shipper or freight broker. This differs from spot freight because the carrier agrees to haul consistent truckload shipments in the same lane and at a fixed rate for a specified amount of time – often three to six months or a year. Contract or primary freight are other names for it. 

In a dedicated contract, the carrier commits a certain amount of their driver capacity to the shipper and often must meet minimum service requirements, like on-time pickup or tender acceptance, to keep the lane. In turn, the shipper commits a certain amount of consistent freight to the carrier, with usually at least one load per week. Unlike fluctuating spot rates, contract rates stay the same, excluding any fuel changes. 

Is Dedicated Freight Pay Better? 

That depends on the market. 

If it’s a “carrier’s market”, one in which there is more freight available than carriers, the spot market often pays a higher rate than dedicated. 
 

If it’s a “shipper’s market”, one in which there are more carriers than freight available, then the spot market often pays a lower rate than dedicated since its pricing is locked in over the length of the contract. 
 

The biggest takeaway with dedicated freight is its consistency. Dedicated freight is steady freight with a locked-in rate, so you’ll have stable revenue, no matter the market conditions. Because of this, most carrier businesses aim to have a mix of spot and dedicated freight to get the best of both worlds. 

On the right is a photo of the back of a truck driving on the road towards mountains, on the left is a black rectangle with the phrase "dedicated freight equals consistent work and pay".
Original photo included in this graphic is attributed to Rodrigo Abreu on Unsplash.

How Many Trucks Do I Need for Dedicated Freight? 
 

Many carriers think that you need to have a large fleet, but that’s simply not true. There are many companies with 50 or fewer trucks hauling contracted freight. 

While there’s no set limit to how many trucks you need to handle dedicated opportunities, most find that around 15 trailers or more is what’s needed to be able to manage a shipper’s needs. 
 

Benefits of Moving Dedicated Freight 

Consistent freight to haul and a stable payday aren’t the only benefits of running dedicated freight. 

Improved Driver Safety and Satisfaction 

Consistent freight in the same lanes means your drivers are going to get familiar with their routes, the facilities, and the staff. They will quickly learn how to better navigate their journey, reducing their risk of getting lost, and being less prone to accidents. On top of this, they’ll gain a more predictable schedule, meaning they know exactly when they should be getting home to their families. This also means it may be easier to keep current and recruit new drivers for your business. 

Happier Dispatchers 

Your dispatchers will be happier too! Having dedicated lanes frees up time for your dispatchers to focus on finding tougher backhauls, keeping your drivers happy, and getting reimbursed for any accessorials. 

No More Fighting Over Available Loads 

Have you ever seen a load that you were ready to book on a load board only to find another carrier snagged it first? With dedicated freight, there will be no more fighting over posted shipments since the tender goes right to you. 

Build Strong Customer Relationships 

Working with a consistent customer means you can build a strong relationship with them and possibly gain repeat business. 

More Efficient Business 

Since your drivers will become more familiar with their route and freight, your business will become more efficient in the process.  

Budget and Forecast Easier 

By having long-term agreements for steady shipments, you can budget and forecast your company finances more easily. 

Opportunities for Growth 

With dedicated freight, you don’t have to worry about the fluctuating freight market. You’ll have more time to manage the rest of your business and look into growing your fleet. 

How to Move Dedicated Freight with Trinity Logistics 

It can be difficult to find and win dedicated freight opportunities alone. That’s why it’s beneficial to work with a third-party logistics (3PL) company, like Trinity Logistics, to easily open the doors to them. 
 

Currently, carriers in the Trinity Logistics network move over 1,400 shipments each day. While most of what gets moved is on an as-needed basis, we constantly encourage our shipper relationships with consistent freight to try dedicated contracts. 

Now, you know your business best. That’s why we have a Carrier Development Team that works to better understand your company, your needs, and your business goals. This helps you out so that when we gain a dedicated freight opportunity or bidding opportunities on behalf of our shipper relationships, we know what carrier relationships to send them based on criteria such as location, equipment type, or visibility through tracking. 

So, if you’re already a carrier with Trinity Logistics, make sure your carrier profile is up to date. If you’re not sure whether yours is, send our Carrier Development Team a message at [email protected]. 
 

Not yet registered as a carrier with Trinity Logistics? 

Check Our Our Carrier Requirements

Motor carriers aren’t the only ones affected by deadheading.

While every mile driven takes a toll on the environment, research shows that deadhead miles account for over a third of carbon emissions in trucking. In fact, 36 percent of trucks travel empty in the U.S. every day, averaging roughly 61 billion miles deadheading every year.

Simply put, deadheading is an inefficiency problem within the logistics industry, one that we all know we need to improve. According to a survey by Convoy, 69 percent of respondents said reducing deadhead miles is important to them. By reducing deadhead miles, both shippers and carriers can slash their supply chain costs while also making an environmental impact.

WHAT IS DEADHEADING IN TRUCKING?

Deadheading, deadhead miles, or empty miles – they all mean the same thing – that a truck is driving empty. Usually, this happens once a driver has made a delivery to the receiver, and they don’t have freight to pick up until their next destination. This means they drive empty back to the original shipping point or to their next pickup location. Empty miles waste time for a carrier by failing to generate revenue. It also causes them to incur extra operating costs and contribute more emissions into our atmosphere.

Ideally, the most efficient use of a carrier’s time is finding a backhaul shipment. This is a nearby shipment that needs to be picked up and delivered close to or at their next destination, so either their pickup origin or next pickup.

HOW DEADHEADING POSES PROBLEMS

We’ve already discussed how deadheading contributes to C02 emissions and how carriers lose money running deadhead miles, but what about shippers? How are they affected?

Well, those carriers need to make up the money and time they lost deadheading somehow. They’re likely to charge a higher rate on their following shipments to do so.

Also, driving empty miles can be dangerous when severe weather occurs. A truck can weigh about half its weight empty than when it’s full, making it more susceptible to accidents. While truck drivers are trained in managing high winds and road safety, that’s often with a full truck and not an empty one. The same winds that shake a passenger car have been known to flip an empty truck.

WHY IS DEADHEADING SO COMMON?

It’s often difficult for a carrier to find their own backhauls, nor do shippers have the time to focus and invest their time in them. They need the truck to pick up and deliver and return to pick up the next shipment, not thinking of the in-between. Other carrier relationships and contracted shipments can get in the way, making it difficult to arrange or find backhauls.

HOW TO REDUCE DEADHEADING

It’s possible for shippers to keep backhauls for carriers in mind to both help keep carrier relationships moving and make headway on sustainability initiatives.

Make Use of Technology

Technology makes it much easier to match a truck with an available shipment. You can make use of digital freight matching (DFM) tools like Trucker Tools or DAT, which give shippers and carriers an easier way to find each other and match up based on suitable capacity for a shipment. Automation and machine learning in those applications help quickly find and create those matches.

A transportation management system (TMS) can also be helpful here. A TMS brings together information on all shipments and digital freight networks to help make sure trailers are utilized fully and backhauls gain the coverage they need. A TMS also gives you the opportunity to optimize your routes to reduce any deadheading.

Consider Consolidating Your Freight

Combining your partial shipments into a full truckload to one distribution point to then be delivered by a regional carrier or vice versa can allow for fewer empty miles and trucks on the road, saving you money and reducing your emissions.

Consider Continuous Move Planning

This plan involves stringing loads together to make the most of fleet utilization and driver time by bundling low-volume and high-volume lanes together. Carriers will add lanes across many customers, creating closed-loop routes to keep freight moving constantly. As a benefit, shippers often receive per-mile rates since they are making use of a carrier’s empty miles. This can be a bit more complex, but with a TMS and proper communication, can be an effective way to reduce deadheading.

TRINITY CAN HELP YOU REDUCE DEADHEAD MILES

Deadheading is an industry-wide problem that we all need to work on together to resolve. Carriers need to dedicate time for searching and finding backhauls, just as shippers need to work with carriers to reduce their empty miles. That’s one way an intermediary, a 3PL like Trinity Logistics, can step in and help. We can work with both parties to arrange shipments so that each company has its unique needs met.

We have over 40 years of experience arranging shipments between shippers and carriers. Our Team of experts can help shippers plan and organize their shipments and recommend freight consolidation strategies when it’s suitable. We also have a Carrier Development Team dedicated to growing our carrier relationships by learning their wants and needs. We reach out and gather their preferred lanes and capacity to better match them to available shipments to keep them moving and generating revenue.

Trinity Logistics is also recognized as a Green Supply Chain partner for its sustainability initiatives and solutions available to offer shippers more options for their logistics that can reduce their carbon emissions.

If you’d like to talk to one of our experts about your shipping needs and find more sustainable options, click the button below so we can get started.

GET A FREE, NO-OBLIGATION SHIPPING QUOTE

Refrigerated trucking can be a complex, but rewarding job.

You might be transporting anything from fresh produce, frozen food, or important medicines like biologics. But, no matter what it is, the items you’re hauling are vital to many and there’s great pride that comes with that.

Refrigerated trucking is not only more specialized than dry freight hauling but offers more earning potential, and there are certain times of the year during which you can count on higher freight volumes to keep your company profitable.

Whether you’re new to refrigerated trucking or a veteran, it’s important your company knows how to properly transport temperature-controlled products, from pick-up through delivery. At Trinity Logistics, we sometimes see claims on temperature-controlled shipments, and we want to help you avoid any costly mistakes with a few tips specific to refrigerated trucking. So, we’ve crafted this guide to help you prepare for your hauling your next temperature-controlled shipment.‍

MOTOR CARRIER REFRIGERATED TRUCKING RESPONSIBILITIES

The purpose of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is to prevent foodborne diseases, and FSMA rules contain essential requirements for shippers, loaders, receivers, and carriers like you to follow with refrigerated trucking. FSMA requires those transporting food to follow best practices for sanitary transportation, such as proper personnel training, maintaining shipment records, and following shipper instructions to keep food properly temperature-controlled during transit.

FSMA Responsibilities for Motor Carriers

Keeping Your Equipment Clean and Operable

You must keep your refrigerated trailer clean between loads and make sure it is running efficiently to maintain any required temperatures to keep food safe while transporting.

Your Equipment Must Meet the Shipper’s Needs

Shippers are responsible for communicating any food safety requirements to providers they work with, such as specifying temperature and pre-cooling requirements in writing. It is your responsibility to adhere to those requirements specified by the shipper.

Keeping Records

When it comes to FSMA, verbal confirmations don’t stand. Shippers and providers you work with require records of previous cargo hauled, equipment cleaning, inspection, and temperature records. This includes recording if your reefer fails or containers are compromised, allowing contaminants in, and showing via documentation that you took action to correct the issue. Keeping thorough documentation will help you, in the long run, should you face any potential claims. It’s recommended to keep all records for 12 months, minimum.

Training Employees

Under FSMA, motor carriers must train all drivers and transportation personnel on their role, FSMA rules, the awareness of potential food safety problems like cross-contamination that can occur during transportation, and sanitary transportation practices. It’s also important to keep records of this training and hold refresher training from time to time.

PREPARING FOR REFRIGERATED TRUCKING AND TEMP-CONTROLLED TRANSIT

*This blog content provides suggestions only and is not meant to take the place of your own company procedures.*

Cleaning Your Refrigerated Trailer

1. If the previous receiver cleaned your trailer, request documentation from them to share with the shipper for your upcoming temperature-controlled shipment. It’s important to keep any trailer washout records and receipts to provide to shippers upon request.

2. Open your refrigerated trailer and remove any items that shouldn’t get wet.

3. Sweep out any debris.

4. Prepare a bucket of food-grade detergent and water.

5. Scrub all interior surfaces with a clean cloth and the detergent mix.

6. Use a hose to spray down the inside, including the ceiling and walls. Pay special attention to any cracks and crevices.

7. Keep doors to the trailer open, allowing the inside of the trailer to air dry.

8. If the outside of the truck and your trailer is dirty, wash down the exterior as well.

Pre-trip

1. Review shipping instructions and confirm the cargo is at the required temperature before it is loaded. Refrigerated trailers are meant to maintain temperature, not change it. For fresh produce, verifying temperature usually involves pulping product with a thermometer or probe dial. 

2. Run your refrigerated trailer for at least 20 minutes in “high speed cool” mode to remove any residual heat. Pre-cooling may take more than one hour depending on factors such as equipment and ambient temperatures. Therefore, be aware of the temperature requirements in advance to ensure equipment is at the proper temperature before you arrive at the shipper and the loading process starts.

3. Perform an automatic pre-trip test to confirm that your refrigerated trailer is running properly and confirm that it passes the test. Keep a record of this. If your auto pre-trip test fails, refer to your company’s prescribed procedures or contact your maintenance provider for repair.

4. It’s time to set your refrigerated trailer to the required temperature specified by the shipper. Verify the set temperature after adjusting it to its requirement to confirm it is set correctly. Next, confirm that the unit is set to the correct date and time. If this is not done and the shipper requests a reefer download after delivery, the data will be inaccurate. Some drivers will take a picture of the reefer unit dashboard to document settings before they leave the shipper.

5. Confirm that you have the correct mode of operation selected on the reefer unit prior to loading. Again, refer to your shipment instructions for this. Often, the shipper will require perishables to be hauled in continuous mode as opposed to cycle sentry or stop-start cycle.

6. Allow your refrigerated unit adequate time to pre-cool before loading.

7. Document all pre-trip cleaning, inspecting, and pre-cooling to share with the shipper upon request.

Loading

1. Ensure you witness the loading process, visually confirming product temperature, count, and quality match your shipment tender. If a carrier cannot verify loading conditions or discrepancies exist, the carrier notates the issue on the bill of lading and request the shipper to sign this. 


2. Carriers are responsible for the final blocking and bracing of product, so make sure items are not over-stacked or loaded in a way that impedes airflow or circulation. As a carrier, if you are not comfortable with the load condition, you have the right to refuse the shipment. 

3. Once loaded and final blocking and bracing are completed, immediately close the doors to maintain temperature. Once again, verify that the correct cycle and temperature are set. If a trailer seal is required, its presence should be documented on the bill of lading by the shipper. 


During Transit

1. Make use of the strip curtains as this helps keep temperature-controlled air in and any outside air out.

2. Limit the number of door openings throughout transit to keep temperature-controlled air in and outside air out. Only allow doors to be opened by verified shippers or receivers. 

3. Keeping proper airflow is critical. Even with adequate running equipment, poor air distribution can cause spoilage. Verify all sides of the cargo have proper airflow before your trip and any time you make a stop.

PULPING FOR REFRIGERATED PRODUCE SHIPMENTS

Pulping is an essential task when hauling produce with your refrigerated trucking. Pulping is the act of taking the product’s temperature before and upon delivering the shipment.

How to Pulp Produce

For produce that is unbagged, one must insert a pulp thermometer into a piece of produce, inserting for three to four minutes to get the most accurate reading.

If the produce is bagged, like salad mixes, fold the bag in half and place the probe between the two sides, with the produce as close to the thermometer as possible.


Why Pulping is Important

Before loading, it is the shipper’s responsibility to pulp the product, and should be done in the presence of the driver. However, it is the carrier’s responsibility to confirm the proper temperature of the product before allowing it to be loaded on the truck, so there may be the case you need to pulp the product.

Pulping temperatures should be recorded on the shipment’s bill of lading and signed by both the shipper and driver. This can help protect both the shipper and motor carrier from claims if the product arrives at its destination off temperature.

Throughout transit, it is the carrier’s responsibility to monitor the refrigerated trailer temperature, usually with some sort of sensor technology providing real-time information, or with older refrigerated trailers, a temperature download that is available upon delivery.

Upon delivery, it is the receiver’s responsibility to pulp the product for a temperature read and to determine if the shipment will be accepted. 

Under FSMA, be prepared to provide a record of temperatures in transit via reefer download. Failure of a carrier to provide a record of unit temperatures in transit will prevent a carrier from disputing temperature deviations should there be a claim. 

TEMP VARIANCES – HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

One thing you may be asking with your refrigerated trucking is, how much is too much when it comes to temperature variances? Well, that can depend on several factors.

One factor is the type of product. For example, there are some perishable products that are very sensitive to temperature variances, where even a two-degree difference could reduce the shelf life by 50 percent.

Another cause could be the location where the temperature was taken in the trailer or the recording device’s accuracy. Or if a shipment has multiple stops versus one that goes right to the destination.

Temperature variances are usually expected, so it’s important to determine when a variation is tolerable versus when it places the product at risk for spoilage.

It’s also important to note the amount of time the product has been off temperature. For example, frozen goods might be subjected to some temperature variance without much effect on the shipment, whereas refrigerated goods often spoil at a quicker rate.

When it comes to claims due to temperature variances, there simply is no one-size-fits-all for processing these. Shipment claims due to temperature variances are treated on a case-by-case basis depending on the above-mentioned factors. Verifying temperature prior to loading, maintaining proper temperature in transit, and the ability to provide a reefer download documenting transit conditions are ways for carriers to prevent temperature damage.

WHAT IF THERE’S AN ISSUE AT DELIVERY?

First and foremost, be sure to communicate your transportation status and any issues to your point of contact in real time. If there are any overage, shortage, or damage issues at delivery, the receiver should document it on your bill of lading (BOL). If there is a reported issue and you are unclear about the next steps, contact your insurance agent to report the issue and request direction. 

If the product is produce, a USDA inspection may be requested to document the condition of the product. 

Whenever a temperature problem is reported, get a reefer download for the trailer used for the shipment to document the temperature conditions for the time the cargo was on your truck. 

Your cargo policy will not pay for temperature damage if it is caused by an incorrect reefer setpoint or driver negligence. However, if your refrigerated trailer experiences issues during transit, your cargo insurance may step in to pay a cargo claim related to any temperature damage. However, be prepared to provide supporting documentation. To be proactive in the prevention of any issues caused by your equipment, it’s important to perform regular maintenance according to your cargo insurance requirements and company guidelines. 

REFRIGERATED TRUCKING – SHIPPER RED FLAGS TO LOOK FOR

There are a few shipper red flags to look out for before accepting a refrigerated trucking shipment or having your trailer loaded.

Mixed temperature shipments can be a red flag. Sometimes shippers will want to try to ship products together that need vastly different temperature requirements to reduce costs, like fresh and frozen products. These types of shipments are “high risk” and not recommended. Whether a shipper is using a bulkhead or not, to keep your company safe, it’s recommended to avoid shipments that combine frozen, fresh, or dry loads on the same truck.

Now, let’s say you’ve accepted a refrigerated trucking shipment but when you arrive at the shipper you notice one of these things:

If you notice any of these things, do not get loaded and immediately contact the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS).

EASILY FIND THE TEMP-CONTROLLED SHIPMENTS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR

Now that you’re prepared to handle the complexities of refrigerated trucking, it’s time to find available shipments. Here’s where Trinity’s Carrier Portal is beneficial.

Our online load board allows you to search for available shipments, filtering by equipment, lanes, and more. Many of our available shipments even allow digital freight matching, providing you the opportunity to Quote Now or Book Now, saving you time from calling or emailing in. Additionally, new shipments get directed to our Carrier Portal first, meaning you’ll have access to exclusive Trinity loads before they get posted to the public load boards!

Find my next refrigerated trucking shipment

*This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.*

It’s no surprise that one of the hottest topics in the world lately is the pain felt at the pump. Rising fuel prices have been at an all-time high, surpassing the costs since 2008, and these prices will only continue to climb. As a result, businesses are being forced to pay more to operate, causing a ripple effect for everyone.

Wait, How Did This Even Start? 

You may be wondering how fuel prices even got to this all-time high. Well, they can’t be blamed on any specific event or occurrence as many different factors caused fuel prices to surge. 

World Conflict

World conflict is one issue affecting fuel prices, specifically those in Western Europe. The Russia-Ukraine war has been brewing for some time now, and due to attacks, the United States among others has stopped imports, like oil, coming from Russia.

Russia is one of the world’s largest oil exporters, exporting nearly eight million barrels in one month. The drastic change in accepting oil imports from Russia has caused the price of fuel to rise because it’s not as available as it once was.  

The Dreaded “C” Word

Another catalyst for the spike in fuel prices is the continual effect of Covid-19. I’m sure you’re tired of hearing it, but the world is still feeling the pains of the virus while we aim to return to life. Recently, Covid forced Chinese ports to close for a brief period and now that the ports are opening back up, supply cannot keep up with demand. 

As people try to live alongside Covid-19, office workers are going back to in-person work and people are returning to travel after two years of staying put. With more people leaving their homes, it’s causing a greater demand for fuel while our supply is limited. 

The Effects of These Issues

Fuel prices are affecting everyone, including consumers, and businesses, but those in the logistics industry are seeing greater challenges. That’s because the logistics sector has seen disruption after disruption. First, with the issues started by the pandemic, then the port congestion once businesses began to reopen, and so on to now with increased fuel prices. This industry has barely had a moment to catch its breath. 

Logistics is at a crossroads; with the United States economy looking at a recession, and world conflicts yet to improve, it’s going to be hard for fuel prices to drop back to normal levels until everything balances out.

How Bad is it Actually?

Even though everyone has been hearing and seeing the high fuel prices, how bad are these prices? Well, in June, the U.S. national average price per gallon topped $5, which is 50 percent higher than it was this time last year. Even pre-pandemic prices were at $2.55 average for that month, showing the direct impact that covid and other issues have caused.  

These prices only continue to rise when we talk about the cost of diesel fuel. This type is often more expensive than regular gas, and this is what truck drivers use to fill up their tanks. In June, diesel fuel averaged $5.50 per gallon in the U.S., which is a .50-cent increase from regular fuel. While this increase seems small, when truckers are driving over 500 miles per day, the extra cost can add up quickly.  

President Joe Biden has tried to take steps to lower fuel prices in the United States. He has called on Congress to do a Federal Gas Tax Holiday, releasing the charges that the federal government has on fuel. Typically, the government charges an 18-cent tax per gallon on gasoline and a 24-cent tax per gallon on diesel, but President Biden has called for the Tax Holiday to give Americans breathing room as they battle other economic issues like inflation.

High fuel prices are not an issue solely faced by the United States. In fact, gas prices in the United States are on the lower end of the spectrum compared to other countries. For example, while the average in June for the United States was $5 per gallon, in Germany, it averaged $8.26 per liter, while one of the highest fuel prices was in Hong Kong, where gas was $10.71 per liter in June.

How Do High Fuel Prices Impact You?

So, how do the rising fuel prices affect those in the logistics industry? Well, let’s take a look.

Shippers

Increased fuel prices mean higher logistics costs because it’s now more expensive to move their products from point A to point B.

Consumers

Consumers see a direct cost increase on products due to fuel prices. Because it now costs more for shippers to move their products to their destinations, they must also raise the price of their products to continue to make a profit. 

Carriers

The biggest issue carriers are seeing with the high fuel prices is the impact on their income. Their operating costs have increased due to the rising fuel and product prices. And with rates lower than they’ve been throughout the pandemic, many carriers have decided to put a pause on driving until the market return to normal. This could cause added chaos to the market. Should more carriers halt their work, there could be an imbalance in the industry, causing more backlogs and shipping delays as a result.

Trinity is Here to Help

As an experienced third-party logistics company with over 40 years in business, we’ve worked with many shippers and motor carriers through the ups and downs faced in this industry, including this one. We’ve seen it all and are here to help you through these troubling times.

Whether you’re a shipper looking for better logistics management or a motor carrier looking for dedicated freight to keep you consistently moving, you can find all the solutions you need with our People-Centric approach.

Get connected with us today so you can start having Trinity Logistics, a Burris Logistics Company, by your side, no matter the state of the market. 

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If you follow any of the transportation or trucking-related publications or are situated on the West Coast, you probably have seen or heard the term “AB5”. The AB5 law, popularly known as the “gig worker bill”, is formerly known as California Assembly Bill 5. Here’s a quick rundown of how it came to be, what it means, and who is affected.

WHAT IS THE AB5 LAW TIMELINE?

  1. Passed by the California Senate and House, and signed into law by the Governor of California in September 2019
  2. A preliminary injunction delayed the enactment of the bill in 2020
  3. In June 2022, the Supreme Court of the U.S. declined to hear the appeal, thus rendering the injunction defunct and AB5 cleared to be enacted

WHAT DOES THE AB5 LAW MEAN?

At its core, the bill was passed to decide if a worker meets the classification of an employee or maintains independent contractor status. The bill uses a three-prong test to determine a worker’s classification. To be identified as an independent contractor, a worker must:

  1. Be free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work, both under the contract for the performance of the work and in fact.
  2. Perform work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business.
  3. Be customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as that involved in the work performed.

WHO GETS AFFECTED?

Like any piece of legislation, there are exceptions. Unfortunately, independent contractor truck drivers, otherwise known as owner-operators are not part of the exception list, and that number is approximately 70,000 in the state of California. Trucking companies that utilize the service of owner-operators to run their business are at risk of being in violation of the law.

IF I WANT TO WORK WITH A motor CARRIER BASED IN CALIFORNIA, DO I NEED TO VERIFY THAT THEY ARE AB5 COMPLIANT?

As with any carrier, whether they are based in California or any other state, they are required to comply with all federal and state regulations. Some states have more regulations than others, with the California CARB regulation being a good example. As with those regulations, the responsibility to comply 100 percent lies with the carrier.

WHAT COULD BE THE IMPACT OF THIS LEGISLATION TAKING EFFECT? 

The estimate is that 70,000 truck drivers in the state of California could be impacted. Certainly, there is the option for companies that utilize these independent truck drivers to hire them as employees. That may be unlikely as these drivers enjoy the benefits of running their own business versus being a company driver. There is also the possibility that owner-operators will look to relocate outside the state of California. Nonetheless, this law will put further pressure on California’s capacity among current activity in ad around California’s ports, creating another disruption to the U.S.’s already stressed supply chains.

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How do we get supply chains back on track after years of constant disruption and setbacks? The supply chain backlogs came largely from the shock at the start of the pandemic, but even before then, there have been many supply chain vulnerabilities.

Supply Chain Resiliency: Alleviating Backlogs and Strengthening Long-Term Security

Recently, Congress met to discuss our national and global supply chains, current supply chain issues that we need to focus on now, and how to build supply chain resiliency for the long term. Congress invited individuals and organizations to come to testify, to present their views for inclusion on the topic. U.S. Senator for Delaware, Tom Carper, asked Doug Potvin, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Trinity Logistics to testify.

With 16 years of service at Trinity and over 30 years of industry experience, Doug sees first-hand the problems plaguing supply chains. Doug’s testimony gave the Members of this panel valuable insight into the continued problems in supply chains and how members of the Transportation Intermediary Association (TIA), like Trinity Logistics, continue to serve the nation amidst these difficult times.

Doug’s Testimony Before Congress

supply chains

“ I want to introduce myself as the CFO, Chief Fun Officer at Trinity Logistics because we like to have fun when we’re working hard. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today regarding how policymakers and business leaders are addressing the existing backlogs in the supply chain in the short term and building more resilient supply chains in the long term. My name is Doug Potvin. I’m the CFO of Trinity, a third-party logistics company (3PL) headquartered in Seaford. I’m privileged, honored, and humbled here today representing Trinity, our association, Transportation Intermediary Association, and the entire third-party logistics industry that we serve.

We serve as an intermediary in solving the logistical needs of our shipper customers by sourcing capacity from motor carriers and vendor partners. We are proud to report today that this past year we’ve generated over 1 billion dollars in revenue, arranged over half a million shipments, and offered 350 individuals full and part-time jobs. We truly are a proud Delaware company.

From Charles Dickens, the novel, The Tale of Two Cities; It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Season of light is the season of darkness, a spring of hope is a winter of despair. Over the last two years, the same could be said of the international supply chain and from our perspective, closer to home, the domestic transportation industry.

In March of 2020 as both domestic and international countries shut our businesses including the shutting of the port cities and operations in China and the fact most consumers were at home facing an uncertain future, freight volumes plummeted. Motor carrier capacity increased dramatically due to the steep drop in goods moving and the transportation market saw prices for motor carriers fall. In fact, Trinity Logistics was mentioned on a Facebook post that we were earning an average gross margin of 60 percent, which was simply wrong.

In addition, a small number of motor carriers came to Washington D.C. and demanded rate transparency. Interesting after the businesses, ports, and countries opened up freight volumes began to skyrocket, available motor carrier capacity tightened up, and rates paid to motor carriers increased due to reflecting the change in market conditions. Demand for rate transparency went silent.

The pricing in our industry is driven by market conditions, supply and demand. Large scale, no entity on either side of the equation has enough market share to drive rates. In addition, each shipment has its own variable considerations to take into account including everything from available to capacity in various regional markets, lead time for products, dwell time at shippers and consignees, commodities needing move, and type of equipment needed. All this happens in real-time to ensure goods get to market, keeping our economy moving forward.

Now more than ever, the role of third-party logistics professionals has become more valuable. Companies like Trinity and the other 28,000 licensed property brokers are working overtime to ensure that essential goods continue to be delivered in an efficient manner to meet our customer and consumer needs. Our industry along with motor carriers are the main component as the why during the crisis and disruption, the supply chain bent but never broke.

Trinity Logistics applauds the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives’ Bipartisan passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act, a historic investment into transportation and infrastructure. We’re very pleased to see how quickly the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) established the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program. Trinity hopes this three-year pilot program will be successful and made permanent so individuals ages 18 to 20 will explore interstate transport careers. Trinity also believes that as the spending on the Investment Act ramps up in the near future it will provide enough support to the economy to keep the motor carriers employed as we are starting to see freight volumes pull back over the last 30 to 60 days.

Trinity would also like to thank Chairman Carper, John Cornyn, Senator Menendez, and Senator Tim Scott for the support in offering legislation and getting the Senate to act unanimously in passing the Custom Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Act (CTPAT).

Currently, the vaccine mandate for truck drivers coming to the country to deliver freight from Canada and Mexico continues, these professional drivers spend most of their professional time alone in the truck cab, presenting a zero percent risk of spreading Covid-19. This should be lifted immediately to open up capacity and shorten the amount of time it takes to move goods across borders.

Another issue that greatly impacts not only the efficient movement of goods, but highway safety, is the lack of a federal motor carrier safety selection standard. Currently, because of broken safety rating systems from the FMCSA, almost 90 percent of trucking companies are considered unrated. There are no requirements in place before selecting a trucking company, that drastically impacts the overall safety of our nation’s highways. The latest report from the national highway traffic safety administration noted that the number of accidents involving commercial motor vehicles increased 13 percent in 2021. The status quo is not working, and highway safety needs to be improved. Trinity Logistics and our trade association, TIA, fully support legislation to create a motor carrier safety selection and mend the safety rating process.

The U.S. trucking spot market conditions have reflected towards weaker and more normal conditions, though we still will see what the future holds and how that trend continues. Hopefully as a result of this meeting and coordinated actions taken by the United States, our trading partners, manufacturers, supply chain vendors, our nations become resilient when facing similar conditions and uncertainty.”

Trinity Logistics would like to thank Chairman Tom Carper and the TIA for inviting Doug to testify before the Committee. He is a very valuable leader in the industry and Trinity Logistics appreciates all he does for our company, our industry, and our nation.

If you would like to watch the full hearing:

https://www.finance.senate.gov/hearings/supply-chain-resiliency-alleviating-backlogs-and-strengthening-long-term-security

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