Take Action to Reduce Effects of Severe Driving
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By Counterman
Scheduling of delivery drivers can be one of the more difficult personnel-related tasks for any manager. Often at the lower end of your pay scale and frequently staffed by part-time employees, these positions can be difficult to screen, fill and maintain. They are a critical link to commercial success, yet their value is easily overlooked when weekly schedules are created.
In many retail environments, analysis of prior hour-by-hour sales figures often shapes the forecast for staffing future shifts. Adequate staffing at the front counter is critical to assisting customers and moving merchandise efficiently, but in order to accurately forecast demand for delivery drivers, we must ignore the majority of retail sales, which occur in-store or, increasingly, as online purchases. Unless your business model includes “home delivery” to retail customers, staffing your delivery needs will revolve exclusively around your commercial accounts.
Having adequate delivery capability to maintain (or strengthen) your commercial relationships can look different for each location. Vehicle and personnel numbers will vary based primarily on that individual store’s customer mix and the type of market served. Wholesale jobbers generally serve a broader geographic area than retailers, due in part to their smaller store network. A chain retailer is more likely to have a greater concentration of individual stores per square mile, each serving a smaller area, while the jobber maintains a larger commercial customer base spread across a larger geographic area.
As a result, jobbers tend to make better use of scheduled route delivery, in contrast to focusing on frequent short “on-demand” deliveries in the immediate area. These schedules are much easier to forecast, as they are somewhat consistent throughout the business day. When scheduling for the “hot-shot” portion of your delivery needs, however, the natural ebb and flow of your store’s daily routine become an important factor. There are key points throughout each day that require additional delivery staffing.
Many stores enjoy some form of overnight warehouse delivery, and those daily orders will be expected at shops across your territory as soon as possible the following morning. Between those “first thing in the morning” deliveries and the daily ritual of vehicle pre-checks, the first hour of the workday can be a beehive of activity for your delivery staff. By the time your trucks are returning from their early rounds, orders generated from those 8 a.m. diagnostic appointments at shops across your market have begun to filter in, resulting in another rush. Customer calls ramp up again before and during the traditional lunch hour, as shops try to arrange deliveries to arrive before technicians return from their breaks. Another flurry of dispatches will be in response to the afternoon’s diagnostics, with shops hoping to wrap up repairs before end of day, and to beat the overnight order deadlines for the next day’s business.
In addition to customer-driven rushes, we may also see a spike in driver demand centered around our own incoming deliveries. Stores with midday warehouse deliveries will see a surge in demand around these times, as well as those created by UPS or FedEx drop-offs. Most of our best customers already know what time to expect such special orders, and the volume of “where’s my stuff?” calls will add to the sense of immediacy felt by everyone on staff!
Delivery scheduling can also be adversely affected by seasonality and holidays. Freezing or snowy weather not only creates delays in parts deliveries from the warehouse and at store levels, but it can also limit an individual driver’s ability to report for duty as scheduled, creating a gap in coverage. Coupled with the longer delivery times required for the remaining staff to complete routes safely, it can create temporary bottlenecks. Holidays also create personnel issues, as we attempt to find coverage for those days that everyone wants to spend with family and friends. Travel-intensive holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day also create an increased demand from shops prepping vehicles for extended trips, with added pressure for everyone to complete repairs, often at the last minute.
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By Counterman
The
link hidden, please login to view has released its 2024 American Driving Survey, which quantifies daily driving in 2024 and compares results to 2023 and 2022. Similar to 2023, the brief analyzes the age of vehicles driven and explores differences by population groups. This year, new analyses of vehicle engine type are included. Vehicle age and engine type are important components of both crash risk and environmental impact, as newer vehicles are equipped with more advanced safety features and alternative engines can reduce emissions. Key Findings Included:
94.2% of U.S. residents ages 16 and older drove at least occasionally in 2023, statistically unchanged from 2023 and 2022. In 2024, drivers made an average of 2.44 driving trips per day, spent 60.4 minutes driving and traveled 31.1 miles daily, with no statistically significant differences from 2023. Projecting these results to the national population, drivers collectively made 232 billion trips, spent 96 billion hours driving and drove 2.95 trillion miles in 2024. Some of the travel patterns reported by population groups were consistent with both previous years’ trends:
Male respondents reported more minutes, miles driven and trips taken as compared to female respondents. Drivers from the Northeast made more and longer trips, while drivers from the South spent more time driving. Other travel patterns, stabilized post-2021, have continued in 2024:
Drivers with a bachelor’s degree or higher took more trips and spent more time behind the wheel compared to other groups. White non-Hispanic drivers recorded the greatest number of trips and miles driven, while Black non-Hispanic drivers spent more time behind the wheel than other groups. Younger drivers continued using older vehicles (greater than 14 years old), whereas older, retired drivers tended to use newer cars ( less than four years old). Findings Related to Engine Type Included:
In 2024, gas-powered vehicles made up the majority of driving trips (91.0%), while hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for a smaller share (6.4% and 2.5% respectively). Respondents driving EVs recorded the longest average trip times (16.0 minutes) and distances (32.9 miles), indicating that EVs were often used for longer journeys. For more information on the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, visit
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view announced the release of several new part numbers across its ProACT®, EURO and Severe Duty product lines, extending its coverage by more than 3 million vehicles in operation (VIO). The latest expansion is part of
link hidden, please login to view’s ongoing commitment to provide unparalleled coverage, OE-quality performance and premium friction solutions to the aftermarket, the company said. The newly released part numbers include:
ProACT Ultra-Premium:
• ACT2219
EURO Ultra-Premium:
• EUR1426B
• EUR1692B
• EUR1867D
• EUR2365
Severe Duty Ultra-Premium:
• SDF1333A
“This coverage expansion represents another significant step forward, adding more than three million vehicles to our catalog and strengthening our leadership in ultra-premium brake technology,” said Kirby Pruitt, product development manager. “Akebono remains dedicated to delivering the performance, reliability and coverage the aftermarket demands.”
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By jack552
Hey everyone,
I’ve been checking different options for good-quality auto parts and also exploring some driving-related stuff recently. It’s interesting how real some driving simulators visit: bussimulator-apk.com can feel — great for anyone who loves vehicles and the road experience.
Also, where do you guys usually buy your parts — local shops or online? Would love to hear your thoughts.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view unveiled its new line of XTRA Ceramic Severe Duty Brake Pads at AAPEX. Brembo Severe Duty, available early 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico, is an ideal solution for pickup trucks, SUVs, commercial vehicles and police vehicles facing extreme environments and demanding driving conditions, the company noted. The new Severe Duty will launch with 52 part numbers, covering trucks, vans and SUVs from most automakers. Key applications include Ford F-150 & Super Duty, Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Ram 1500 & Ram HD, Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra, Chevrolet Tahoe & Suburban, GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition, Jeep Wrangler, Ford Explorer & Taurus Police Interceptor, Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit and Chevrolet Express.
The pads use a copper-free ceramic compound for safe, consistent braking performance. Brembo said it subjected the new Severe Duty Pads to several SAE-certified instrumented tests to validate performance. According to Brembo, when compared to the equivalent OE pad, Brembo Severe Duty displayed:
18% better stopping performance; 10% improvement in fade resistance; 33% noise reduction in noise; and 13% improvement in wear resistance. “Brembo Severe Duty is the perfect solution for customers that demand ‘XTRA’ braking solutions that can withstand the toughest driving and environmental conditions,” said Greg Tackett, vice president aftermarket Americas. “Whether you’re a police officer in the line of duty or towing through extreme conditions regularly, Brembo’s renown global quality and unparalleled performance has now changed the game in the popular Severe Duty category.”
For fleet applications, Brembo Severe Duty can help police fleets or commercial vehicles with enhanced safety and durability in heavy brake use. Severe Duty is also a great solution for SUV or truck drivers who tow regularly, delivering reduced fade and greater safety. The ceramic compound also delivers quiet, vibration free comfort with low dust output.
Brembo Severe Duty joins the XTRA product line, which is for drivers seeking a solution with enhanced performance and design. Severe Duty pads will feature a silver backing plate and Brembored shim.
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