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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 elizabeth
Are you looking for a powerful and reliable Chevy Silverado at an affordable price? We offer an outstanding selection of Chevy Silverado trucks built for hard work, adventure, and everyday driving excellence. Each Chevy Silverado in our inventory is carefully inspected for performance, safety, and reliability, ensuring you get a truck that meets your highest expectations. Available in multiple trim levels, cab configurations, and engine options, we have the perfect Silverado to match your lifestyle and budget. Our dedicated team provides expert guidance, easy financing solutions, and exceptional customer support from start to finish. Whether you need a workhorse or a weekend warrior, shop our trusted Chevy Silverado inventory today and find your perfect truck!
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By elizabeth
Don't miss this incredible deal on a 2012 Toyota Camry transmission — quality you can trust at the best price available. The Camry is one of the most reliable midsize sedans ever built, and keeping it running smoothly starts with a dependable transmission. Compatible with the 2.5L four-cylinder and 3.5L V6 engine options, this unit supports smooth, precise shifting for both city and highway driving. Each transmission is inspected and tested to ensure it meets the high standards Camry owners expect. Whether you're dealing with slipping gears, hard shifting, or complete transmission failure, this replacement offers an affordable path back to peak performance. Don't overpay at the dealership — get the best price on a trusted Camry transmission today!
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By Counterman
The future of mobility is electric, notes
link hidden, please login to view, which predicts that in 2035, around 50% of the newly manufactured cars and light commercial vehicles worldwide will be fully electric and 30% hybrid. Another 20% of all newly manufactured passenger cars will have only an internal combustion engine in 2035. The regional markets paint a nuanced picture of the powertrain mix, as Matthias Zink, CEO, Powertrain & Chassis, explained in his keynote address at the 2026 Vienna Motor Symposium: “Whereas here in Europe, we are gearing up for a ban on internal combustion engines more or less due to current legislation, we are seeing significant demand for hybrid vehicles in markets outside the EU far beyond 2035.”
2035 Powertrain Mix and Regional Markets
Above all, in North and South America and in Southeast Asia, hybrids are set to dominate new vehicle production within the next 10 years. In Japan, hybrids will account for as much as around 77% of production.
“In this context, our technology-neutral product strategy embracing all powertrain system options helps us to manage these mixed market developments and above all, address increasing customer demand for hybrid solutions,” says Zink.
Volume Production for Dedicated Hybrid Transmissions
The company said it sees potential in the efficiency and flexibility of hybrid powertrain technologies in close collaboration with vehicle manufacturers worldwide. This is why Schaeffler offers components, including complete systems, for diverse hybrid topologies—mild, full, and plug-in hybrids and vehicles with range extenders. These vehicles play a role in reducing CO2 emissions and achieving fleet targets when driven predominantly in electric mode.
Schaeffler started developing complete systems for the hybrid powertrain more than 10 years ago. A current example is the company’s MultiMode dedicated hybrid transmission, which goes into volume production this year worldwide at various European and Asian vehicle manufacturers. It is an integrated system with two electric machines, power electronics, and hydraulics for cooling and actuation of the clutch and parking lock. Schaeffler supplies the associated software and functions from a single source.
The total weight of the compact module is 125 kilograms and delivers up to 145 kilowatts of peak power. It is suitable for full and plug-in hybrids and offers three driving modes: electric, serial and parallel. In serial mode, this flexibility allows the internal combustion engine to operate consistently at optimum efficiency. Several presentations at the Vienna Motor Symposium addressed the dedicated hybrid transmission.
Zink explained the strategic rationale behind it: “We are convinced that hybrids offer consumers an easy introduction to electric mobility. If driven extensively in electric mode, these vehicles make an important contribution to the decarbonization of the mobility sector. Every gram of CO2 saved counts.”
Components for the Hybrid Powertrain
Internal combustion engines in hybrid powertrains also have to be efficient and meet future emission standards and noise requirements. Ideally, they should be designed so that the driver doesn’t detect any difference between electric and internal combustion engine driving mode. Schaeffler sees innovation potential in this requirement.
The company said it is developing damping solutions like the spoke damper, which eliminates torsional vibrations at the crankshaft and minimizes installation space. Its position directly in the crankcase means there is no need to seal off the crankshaft, which reduces friction. The spoke damper is already in volume production at Chinese manufacturers, with further production starts set to take place in the course of this year.
To improve engine efficiency without compromising driving dynamics, Schaeffler also offers next-generation camshaft phasing units. These incorporate a brushless DC (BLDC) motor including control unit, integrated electronics, and software for optimized valve control across a wide range of loads and speeds. The high adjustment speed and precision allow for efficient combustion.
Last year, Schaeffler marked the production launch of the latest generation of camshaft phasing units at its plant in Taicang, China, and is supplying customers worldwide.
Growth Segment: Sensor Technology
Thanks to the merger with
link hidden, please login to view in 2024, Schaeffler said it now has a sensor technology portfolio used, for example, in emission control and exhaust gas aftertreatment. For improved emission control when using renewable fuels, Schaeffler offers the Flex Fuel sensor. This high-precision sensor is mounted between the fuel tank and engine and measures the ethanol content in the fuel before it is injected. “Following our merger with Vitesco Technologies, we have a well-rounded, innovative product portfolio, expanded capabilities in the key R&D segments, an increased global presence, and greater vertical integration,” said Zink. “We are therefore in a good position to work with our customers as a key partner to successfully shape the transformation – in Germany, Europe and worldwide.”
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