Manager: Chris Smallwood
Title: Director of finance
Company: U.S. Xpress Enterprises
Operation: Privately held TL carrier with a fleet of 8,000 over-the road tractors and 22,000 trailers
Problem:
One of the challenges facing fleets is keeping tabs on all of its trailers—and not just in terms of obtaining location data.
“It’s about using trailer information to make better decisions and drive efficiencies within our operation,” explains Chris Smallwood, director of finance for U.S. Xpress Enterprises.
The Chattanooga, TN-based carrier began the process of installing SkyBitz tracking technology in both its new and old dry van trailers back in March.
U.S. Xpress expects the SkyBitz tracking package to provide “complete visibility” of the trailers and the cargo within them throughout its North American supply chain. This helps the company optimize the use of its assets, improve security and improve customer service.
In addition to real-time visibility of the location of its trailer-fleet, U.S. Xpress will also monitor and analyze reports for idle time, turn times, detention time, trailer pools, mileage and cargo status, as well as perform yard checks remotely.
How could U.S. Xpress tap this tracking technology to improve its trailer maintenance operation and further boost cost savings to the fleet?
Solution:
Smallwood says U.S. Xpress took a maintenance approach to trailer data that mirrored its information guidance for detention time charges. The goal isn’t to create detention time billing; rather, it’s to get equipment back onto the road where it can make more money.
“For us it’s about connecting the dots,” he stresses. “Before, we relied on vary manual processes loading trailer data into our [back office] systems. That took time and effort. Now we’re automatically uploading all sorts of trailer data into our systems, such as arrival/departure and load status. That automated process is faster and far more accurate.”
As for trailer maintenance, U.S. Xpress is integrating information such as tire pressure monitoring data right into its maintenance software. Connecting SkyBitz trailer tracking technology to its maintenance software allows the fleet to automatically put a “hold” on trailers due for preventive maintenance (PM) checks by putting them on lockdown so they don’t get dispatched.
“The speed, integrity and accuracy of such data impacts our organization in many ways, and it is also changing some of our metrics,” Smallwood points out.
“For example, when it comes to trailer tire management, we’re now looking at miles and not time from a PM perspective,” he explains. “It is not just about how this data is presented to us but how we use it. We hope to connect that trailer tire [air pressure] data so the [driver] and our maintenance shop know if there is an issue,” he continues. “We’re also using it for exception-based reporting, so we narrow our focus on trailers with maintenance needs.”
Additionally, Wabash National Corp., U.S. Xpress’s trailer vendor, is installing the SkyBitz devices right at the factory on its new dry van units to help hasten the deployment across the carrier’s far-flung trailer pool.
While Smallwood adds that it’s still early in this trailer data-streaming process, the goal is to drive a near-term return on investment of 12 to 18 months in part by helping to shrink the overall size of the U.S. Xpress trailer pool.
“We anticipate eventually reducing the amount of trailer equipment we’ll need because our data capability will make our existing units more productive,” he points out. “Innovation with technology got us [U.S. Xpress] to where we are today and will only help us to continue getting better in the future.”
