Port of Brisbane (POB) and QTLC Import Export (IMEX) Logistics …
The QTLC Operational Plan 2012-2014 commits to activities related to the collection of survey information on industry issues and concerns and freight and logistics data to inform QTLC activities and strategic priorities. The collection of survey information on industry issues and freight and logistics data is vital to informing the QTLC activities and strategic priorities.
As a result the POB and QTLC enlisted the services of the Victoria University to undertake the IMEX Logistics Chain Study. The aims of the IMEX study are to provide robust data on:
- traffic volumes
- freight movement and flow maps
- trade volumes
In addition to indentifying the land side movement of all full and empty import export containers through the POB, Acacia Ridge and the Brisbane Multimodal Terminal, the study will also capture landside movements of:
- motor vehicles
- bulk coal, cereals and grains
- break bulk, in particular steel, coal and project cargo (wide and heavy loads)
It will also take into consideration anticipated Port trade growth and the downstream on the network, truck movements and congestion.
The study, when completed will allow for a more informed assessment of freight movements and a greater understanding of impediments to its efficiency.
Weathering Technology: Cloud Facilitates Efficiencies, Cost-Savings …
DecisivConnect previously featured a post which highlighted some of the advantages of cloud computing. Today we wanted to take the opportunity again to note the many benefits of a web-based service management platform and how it can facilitate a better experience for all players.
Happy Thanksgiving and we look forward to sharing more insights next week.
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When it comes to technology, many of us don t care or understand how it works as long as it makes our lives easier, more convenient and maybe even more entertaining. This apparently holds true for cloud computing.
A recent survey commissioned by Citrix found that 51 percent of a group of nationally representative American adults believe bad weather affects cloud computing. And while more than half the respondents claim to have never utilized cloud-based services, some 95 percent of those surveyed rely on the cloud for banking, shopping, and social networking as well as music and photo applications.1
Kim DeCarlis, Citrix s vice president of corporate marketing, notes in a news release that significant market changes like this take time but the transition from the PC era to the cloud era is happening at a remarkable pace.
The most important takeaway from this survey is that the cloud is viewed favorably by the majority of Americans, DeCarlis adds. When people learn more about the cloud they understand it can vastly improve the balance between their work and personal lives.
With awareness growing, the trucking industry is also seeing just what the cloud can offer. A cloud or web-based service management platform helps the trucking ecosystem achieve a number of efficiencies and benefits by leveraging five fundamental elements: 2
Anytime, anywhere access: There are many players involved in keeping trucks on the road and moving freight. This includes operations, dispatch, breakdown, maintenance, and, service and parts departments along with the foreman, field service, field staff, and the corner office. These groups need to access their service management applications and information anytime and anywhere via the cloud not just at a desk or work station in an office, and not only during regular business hours.
Collaborative communications: Breaking down the natural communication barriers between operations and maintenance, fleet and service providers, parts and service, and, dealers and manufacturers is key. The cloud can provide a common workspace for all these players to get and stay on the same page using date and time-stamped messages, status updates, notifications, authorizations and electronic documentation.
Ecosystem interconnection: The connected world is here and the trucking ecosystem should be no different. This means connecting the truck to fleet and service provider systems via telematics, interconnecting fleet and service provider systems to each other, and integrating manufacturer and third party data sources. Every entity trucks, depots, fleets, shops, service locations and users has a profile known to other entities and every entity interconnects via standard interfaces, enabling an end-to-end service management process and flow of data.
Rapid introduction of new programs: Between outdated technology and lack of interconnection, it is a costly and lengthy process to roll out any new IT programs and business processes. This is true among departments, in company shops, within dealer and distributor networks, and across company shops and external service providers. Interconnect these players and their systems via the cloud, and you now have a platform for delivering and implementing new initiatives such as a CSA inspection program, contract maintenance, parts and service promotions, or a consistent service process.
Data aggregation and analysis: Breaking down the traditional silos of information among trucking ecosystem participants is critical. Build data, warranty information, part schematics, standard repair times and instructions, pricing, VMRS codes, and service history offer value when provided within the context of a given repair or service event. These details can offer additional insight on an aggregated basis and help to analyze breakdown data, inspection results, maintenance costs, downtime and performance metrics.
Service providers that have employed a web-based service management platform report a 10 to 25 percent boost in effective labor rates, increases in labor hours, additional part sales per repair order, a rise in technician productivity, and higher customer satisfaction.
Fleet owners and maintenance managers using a cloud-based platform report average reductions in downtime per service event of three hours and, in many cases, up to a 50 percent reduction.
The trucking industry seems to be seeing the light. Web-based service management technology is helping to advance the commercial assets market and deliver a better experience for all players even if some of the technology is a bit cloudy to the end-user.
References
- ^ recent survey commissioned by Citrix (www.citrix.com)
- ^ web-based service management platform (decisiv.com)
2013 Super Series calendar revealed | 52superseries
After a successful debut the 52 Super Series is returning in 2013 and promises to be bigger and better with the introduction of a transatlantic competition and the 52 Super Series Atlantic Cup.
The series will open when competitors from Europe s 52 Super Series cross the ocean to compete against the best competitors in the US 52 Super Series in the Quantum Key West Race Week in January.
Arguably the highlight of the season will be the 52 World Championship, which takes place on March 5 to 9 and will be contested in either Miami or St Thomas.
The competition returns to the Mediterranean in May when the second 52 Super Series opens with the 40 Trofeo Conde de Godo in Barcelona from May 23-26.
Then the Royal Cup in Ibiza in July, followed by the Copa del Rey in Palma, Mallorca in August, before concluding in Porto Cervo with the Week of the Straits regatta in September.
As well as event and owner/driver trophies a new piece of silverware will be introduced, the 52 Super Series Atlantic Cup, The cup will be awarded to the team with the lowest overall score from the US 52 Super Series and the 52 Super Series.
Class manager Rob Weiland said several teams have already committed to competing in the US including Quantum Racing, Audi Azzurra Sailing Team and R n Racing.
Calendar
January Quantum Key West Race Week
5 9 March 52 World Championship (location TBC)
23 – 26 May 40th Trofeo Conde de Godo, Barcelona
3 6 July Royal Cup, Ibiza
29 July- 3 August Copa del Rey, Palma Mallorca
10- 14 September Week of the Straits, Porto Cervo
TROPHIES
Individual Event Trophies: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Owner Driver
52 Super Series Overall: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Owner Driver
The Overall Owner Driver Trophy will be the John Cook Trophy
52 SUPER SERIES ATLANTIC CUP Lowest Overall Score US 52 Super Series + 52 Super Series
The TruckCare Challenge
We are inviting our customers to put our commercial vehicle workshops to the test by taking The TruckCare Challenge.
More here:
The TruckCare Challenge
New Learner Driver Laws: Our View
The Government has announced plans to make it legal for learner drivers to be allowed on motorways. The plans, which Roads Minister Mike Penning has said should come into place by the summer, have sparked a mixed reaction in the transport sector and beyond so we thought we would give our thoughts on the issue. Firstly, and one thing that appears to be unanimously agreed upon is that additional motorway training for learner/new drivers is a good thing. Under current laws, the first time a new driver will experience the motorway is after they have passed their test – which can cause problems for both the new driver and regular motorway users alike. You could argue that the law has always been this way and “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” – but with UK roads getting ever busier (around 200,000 vehicles recorded per day on the M25 alone), additional learning on motorway driving should prove highly beneficial. (Direct Line also has some further interesting statistics related to this here ). One of the biggest objections to the plans however is that inexperienced learner drivers on busy motorways at peak times could prove a danger, but Mike Penning insists there is no evidence to support this claim. To us the most sensible compromise would be to set restrictions on what times learner drivers can go on the motorway i.e. not during the rush hour period – but the Government has said there are no plans for conditions such as this to exist within the law change. Looking at discussion on Twitter it seems that the general feeling might be that more training is needed full stop. Such as @thebigman69 who suggested a situation such as Finland’s would be more beneficial – whereby a new driver must pass a test to acquire their permit licence and then complete a further 6 months of driver training by law before they receive their full licence. The debate on whether the new Government plans is the right type or right amount of training for learner drivers on the motorway will continue for some time. However, it is true to say the new Government plans will give learner drivers the chance to experience motorway driving alongside their tutor or driving instructor, before going it alone once they pass their test. It seems the Government has already decided on the law change and we sincerely hope it increases driver safety for everyone on the roads. We want to hear your opinion on this subject too. Please post in the comments your thoughts on learner drivers being allowed on the motorway. — Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17093564
See original here:
New Learner Driver Laws: Our View
Employee of the Month in 2011
Our Employee of the Month scheme has been running for 12 months now and over the past year, each month’s winner has received £210 to donate to a charity of their choice. The scheme has been a great success with our Employee’s of the Month donating £2730.00 to 13 different charities. Supporting charities and good-causes is something we feel very passionate about at Alltruck and through linking our Employee of the Month scheme to charitable donations, we have been able to do this while also recognising the achievements of our staff. You can see the full list of previous winners in the Employee of the Month section of our blog archive . The Employee of the Month intiative was initially devised to mark our 21 st year and following it’s success we shall continue the scheme into our 22nd year, with each month’s winner in 2012 receiving £220 to donate to a good cause. With that in mind, we’re taking this opportunity to look back at some of the donations our winner’s have made in 2011, along with the letters and certificates they have received in response. Rachel Deacon (February) – Donation made to Beautiful Day Trust Rachel received the below letter after making her donation to the Beautiful Day Trust Beautiful Day Trust letter Ben Fullylove (May) – Donation made to LOROS Ben won the award for May and received the below certificate following his donation to LOROS. LOROS certificate Wayne Nicholson (August) – Donation made to British Red Cross Wayne split his £210 between Wishes 4 Kids and the British Red Cross following his award, see a letter he received back from the Red Cross below. British Red Cross letter Alex Rees (October) – Donation made to Leicestershire Parents Group of Diabetes UK Alex received the below thank you letter explaining where his donation would be spent LPG Diabetes UK letter Sleaford Workshop Team (Team of the Month October) – Donation made to Wear it Pink The Sleaford Team made their donation to Wear it Pink to add to the money the wider organisation had raised by “Wearing it Pink” Wear it Pink certificate
Go here to see the original:
Employee of the Month in 2011
Employee of the Month December 2011
Winner: Chris Stevens Donation made to: Heart Link Congratulations goes to Chris Stevens who is our final Employee of the Month for 2011, winning the award for December. It was tough to choose a winner in December with many examples throughout the company of employees going the extra mile to support both customers and colleagues. Chris was one such example and was awarded Employee of the Month as a result of his commitment and dedication across all the Alltruck depots, supporting both colleagues and customers when they needed it most. Well done Chris, who has fully demonstrated what the Alltruck values are all about. As winner of Employee of the Month, Chris receives £210 to donate to a good cause of his choice and Chris has made his donation to Heart Link, a Leicester-based charity raising money to support children affected by congenital heart disorders.
The rest is here:
Employee of the Month December 2011
Alltruck rugby sponsorship join forces
We have previously blogged about our sponsorship of both Nottingham Rugby and junior rugby side Sherwood Barbarians U17s . So we were delighted that we could help to bring the two parties together last weekend as Nottingham Rugby held a training session for the Sherwood Barbarians at Nottingham Rugby’s Lady Bay training ground. The training session was held by NRFC Community Manager Steve Smith, along with two Nottingham players Rhys Crane and Jonny Baird. Steve, Rhys and Jonny held a 1.5 hour session, which featured a number of drills and exercises to put the Barbarians through their paces with a focus on technique and mastering the basics. There were tired, but smiling faces after the 90 minute session as the Sherwood Barbarians came to the end of a challenging but memorable morning. Throughout the morning, the Sherwood Barbarians coaches also took the opportunity to share tips with Steve Smith and his team, to take back into their future training sessions. The day didn’t end there and following the training session, the Barbarians made there way over to Meadow Lane – the home of Nottingham Rugby – where they had something to eat and got the chance to hear from and ask questions of some more of the Nottingham Rugby first team. A big part of our decision to sponsor both Nottingham Rugby and the Sherwood Barbarians U17s is because we are passionate about getting involved with our local communities, so it is great to know that our sponsorship of both clubs could help make the day happen. Sherwood Barbarians’ Manager Ian Moore summed up the day by saying “All the lads thoroughly enjoyed it – it was an excellent day”.
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Alltruck rugby sponsorship join forces
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