Howard Sheppard

We are living in very exciting times with technological advances and the changes that happen daily. I am no expert in logistics and have never formally trained in this field, but I’ve been in the transportation industry for almost 50 years. I’ve learned a lot of lessons, sometimes the hard way, but mostly from the young, smart, tech savvy folks that I have the pleasure of getting acquainted with. The future looks very bright, and I am excited to see what develops. As new technology unfolds, and a continuous stream of bright, super intelligent young folks come into the workforce the industry is in very capable hands.

My career has revolved around maintenance so my perspective and attitude regarding transportation logistics involves equipment acquisition which includes proper vehicle specs with the right mix of functionality and amenities to keep a driver happy, plus something affordable. Standardization across the fleet is important, it minimizes the amount of inventory to keep on hand and facilitates parts swapping to keep equipment running. Advancements in safety technology have been a game changer throughout the transportation industry. Many systems started voluntarily and are now required by law and this changes at warp speed. The best example of this is the vehicle roll stability system, once an option, now required.

One critical function is keeping an accurate account of equipment status and availability. Planners and dispatchers need to know what equipment is available or when it will be available, otherwise all the planning is lost if the equipment is not ready. To accomplish the state of readiness required, someone has got to be inconvenienced. It requires overtime hours, working when the equipment is available, including nights and weekends, and communicating the progress. Just like many drivers who work nights and weekends, maintenance must do the same thing. Of course, all this comes at a cost in higher wages and overtime to incentivize drivers and mechanics to be inconvenienced. 

Many managers are seasoned professionals from their own disciplines and these ‘been there and done that’ experiences go a very long way to smooth out the speed bumps or negotiate the obstacles that come up.

Autonomous vehicles are front and center on most everyone’s radar and it’s amazing to see this technology unfold. At this point autonomous vehicles refer to trucks without drivers. Trucks without maintenance technicians are still a long way off. Of course, precision vehicle travel is infinitely more important than robots changing tires or performing a PM. 

Another component, managers must be available when all this work is going on. Seldom does everything go as planned. Life happens, people get sick, supply chains break down and a myriad of other things prevent your best laid plans from coming to fruition. Contingency planning is critical, and many times goes beyond the “plan B” mentality. Sometimes C & D are required, and this is where experience and a thorough understanding of the workflow is critical. Many managers are seasoned professionals from their own disciplines and the “been there and done that” experiences go a very long way to smooth out the speed bumps or negotiate the obstacles that come up. 

Equipment, consequently, the transportation industry has benefited greatly from new technology that performs many basic functions and has a tremendous impact on successful equipment operation and successful mission completion. One such advancement is Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and Tire Inflation Systems (TIS). These two systems, in my opinion, have made the greatest positive impact in cost reduction to tire costs and safety enhancements. Plus, properly inflated tires reduce fuel consumption and from an ecological perspective this is very beneficial. Without wading too far into the weeds about all the technology available, perform your due diligence and don’t be afraid to embrace changes in technology. Pay attention especially to your trusted partners and manufacturers you have a history with and help them help you and the industry. 

Don’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and dive in when there is a mission to accomplish. Utilize the new technology you have already proven but remember the old ways and adapt those to the new challenges.