ELD Changes Impact More Than Just the Trucking Industry

ELD Changes Impact More Than Just the Trucking Industry
ELD Changes Impact More Than Just the Trucking Industry

One of the advantages of our terminal tractors is that no special licensing is required to operate them. Other elements of the trucking industry are subject to extensive regulations, and nowhere is that more evident than with implementation of the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate.

While the news has been full of stories about transportation companies and drivers dealing with the transition, an unexpected but serious consequence has arisen: customers are being affected by significant delays in delivery times.

Coping with Extended Delivery Times

One such business is Dakota Gasification Co., which depends on deliveries of supplies to its Great Plains Synfuel Plant near Beulah, ND. According to senior logistics administrator Nathan Johnson, single-day deliveries are now taking as much as three to four days.

Another company experiencing extended delivery times is McQuade, a distributor of specialty, import and craft beers located in Bismarck. President Shannon McQuade-Ely explains that many of their shipments come from Colorado, but loaded trucks often sit idle because no drivers are available.

What’s Behind the Delays?

The ELD mandate didn’t change service time requirements, but it did have a significant effect on how time is tracked. For example, the clock used to stop during loading and unloading of trucks, but now ELDs continue to run so that no longer counts as down time.

Not surprisingly, freight rates are rising as demand outstrips supply. McQuade-Ely points to a couple of other factors contributing to a driver shortage:

– Department of Transportation physical requirements

– Spread of legalized marijuana, which prevents applicants from passing drug tests

Efficient, Cost-Effective Terminal Tractors from DJ Products

Our Electric Yard Dog moves trailers weighing up to 100,000 pounds for one-quarter the cost of a new shunt truck. Visit our website for more information.

Hotels Embrace the New Concept of ‘Lifestyle’ in Marketing

The Hospitality Industry
The Hospitality Industry

Hospitality leaders agree: lifestyle hotels are more than a passing fad. The new norm focuses on guest experience and upscale communal features like critically acclaimed restaurants and WiFi friendly lobby seating.

Travelers want their hotel to be a desirable place to hang out, and “have a room upstairs.” The results can vary depending on the target market (young millennials, business travelers, international tourists) but the emphasis on a unique experience runs across the board.

A recent profile of the Freehand Hotels shows how the new chain learned from its first project, a hostel-style boutique in Miami with private and shared rooms. Guests loved the community lounge spaces but strongly preferred private rooms. Freehand changed gears for its subsequent hotels, moving away from shared bathrooms but keeping the lounge spaces.

Pod Hotels in New York City show the same commitment to the “lifestyle” concept. Guests are greeted by a twenty-something concierge dressed to go DJ at a nightclub — and find themselves immersed in a trendy bar scene before reaching the front desk.

Mainstream hotels and business hotels are embracing lifestyle, too. Some spotlight the beauty of restored historic buildings, local artwork, or lobby filled with business productivity tools.

For hotel management, the shift toward lifestyle hotels means creating a consistent atmosphere. After  choosing new decor and lobby furniture, the hotel can streamline daily operations with new tools for hotel and hospitality cart movement. Employees work with motorized carts to get cleaning and maintenance done quickly — putting the best foot forward for the hotel’s lifestyle experience.

For more info on hotel and hospitality cart movement, visit DJ Products.com.