Key Factors to Consider in a Roadside Assistance Plan

1. Comprehensive Coverage

Ensure the plan covers a wide range of services, including:

• Towing (both tractor and trailer)
• Flat tire assistance
• Battery jump-starts
• Fuel delivery
• Lockout services
• Winching/extrication

For instance, Roadside Masters offers heavy-duty towing up to 50 miles free of charge, along with services like fuel delivery and lockout assistance.

2. Response Time and Availability

Time is money in the trucking industry. Look for providers that offer 24/7/365 assistance with quick response times. Verizon Connect, for example, provides 24-hour roadside assistance accessible via their mobile app, ensuring help is just a tap away.

3. Coverage Area

Your roadside assistance should cover all the regions you operate in. Progressive’s Heavy Truck Roadside Assistance is available throughout the United States and in 10 Canadian provinces, making it suitable for cross-border operations.

4. Cost and Value

Compare the costs of different plans against the services they offer. Some providers offer tiered pricing based on fleet size. For example, Roadside Masters charges $49.99 per month for individual memberships, while commercial memberships for fleets of 10 or more vehicles are priced at $34.99 per month per vehicle.

5. Limitations and Restrictions

Be aware of any limitations, such as the number of service calls allowed per year or restrictions on the types of vehicles covered. Access Roadside Assistance’s Road King plan, for instance, includes five roadside assistance calls per year, with specific limits on towing and service calls.

Top Commercial Truck Roadside Assistance Providers

Progressive Heavy Truck Roadside Assistance

• Coverage: Up to $500 in labor and $5,000 in towing per incident
• Services: Towing, winching, battery jump-starts, fuel delivery, lockout services, flat tire replacement
• Availability: U.S. and 10 Canadian provinces
• Limitations: Three incidents per vehicle per six-month period
• Deductible: $250 per service

Roadside Masters

• Coverage: Heavy-duty towing up to 50 miles free
• Services: Fuel delivery, lockout assistance, jump-starts, tire changes
• Availability: U.S. and Canada
• Cost: $49.99/month for individuals; $34.99/month per vehicle for fleets of 10+

Verizon Connect

• Coverage: First 25 miles of towing for both light- and heavy-duty vehicles
• Services: Lockout service, tire service, jump-starts, fuel delivery, winching
• Availability: U.S.
• Access: Via mobile and desktop apps

Access Roadside Assistance – Road King Plan

• Coverage: Towing up to 80 km/50 miles or 2 hours port-to-port
• Services: Flat tire assistance, tire replacement, mobile mechanic service, fuel delivery, jump-starts
• Cost: $595/year
• Limitations: Five roadside assistance calls per year (two tows, three service calls)

Choosing the right commercial truck roadside assistance plan requires careful consideration of your specific needs, operating regions, and budget. By evaluating the coverage, services, availability, and costs of various providers, you can select a plan that ensures minimal downtime and keeps your operations running smoothly.

The post What Every Truck Driver Needs to Know Before Choosing Roadside Assistance appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Fleet Optimization Through AI and Data

Fleet Advantage executives aim to discuss strategies for optimizing fleet operations using artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics. Their topics will include how AI is transforming logistics, equipment procurement, asset management, and financing models. Additionally, attendees can learn about the newly launched Tariff-Readiness Plan that tackles tariff-influenced equipment cost challenges.

“Today’s transportation industry continues to undergo a significant period of digital transformation driven by AI with innovations that promise to modernize every part of the supply chain, from vehicle design and equipment financing to logistics and truck maintenance scheduling,” Fleet Aadvantage said. “At this year’s ACT Expo, Fleet Advantage executives will address the abundance of data and analytics available today, and the right use of AI-driven insights to make the best decisions for each fleet.”

At the expo, Fleet Advantage experts will highlight methods for using AI-driven insights and real-time data analytics to help organizations make better fleet management decisions.

Revolutionizing Fleet Decisions with AI

The transportation sector is increasingly deploying AI across diverse operational aspects like route planning and maintenance. For instance, a fleet recently consolidated five external systems into one in-house AI-powered platform that uses historical traffic data, weather conditions, and delivery schedules. This resulted in significant fuel savings, reduced delivery times, improved adherence to deadlines, and overall boosted efficiency.

AI-driven predictive systems are also revolutionizing vehicle health management. By analyzing telematics data and historical maintenance records, these solutions detect potential issues in advance, reducing operational downtime and lowering maintenance costs through proactive servicing schedules.

Despite its potential, AI’s role in critical fleet decisions, like negotiations with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or determining custom specs, is still limited. These high-stakes decisions often rely on human expertise and team collaboration supported by data insights.

Notably, industry confidence in AI-driven decision-making remains modest. According to recent survey results, just 19% of transportation companies expressed high confidence in AI’s procurement capabilities, and 24% highlighted concerns over data accuracy.

Modern Maintenance with AI-Assisted Systems

AI is transforming maintenance operations for private fleets. Agent-assisted AI can predict necessary maintenance and autonomously schedule services at optimal times using data from onboard sensors, historical maintenance logs, and external factors like weather. By minimizing disruptions, these solutions improve operational efficiency.

A recent survey revealed that 62% of fleet operators are interested in adopting agent-assisted AI for maintenance, highlighting the growing demand for such innovations.

“The integration of AI and agent-assisted AI for private fleets offers great potential, reimagining many areas of a fleet’s operations,” said Hadley Benton, CTP, executive vice president of business development for Fleet Advantage. “To truly harness these benefits, companies must rely on accurate and proven data sources to ensure AI solutions are deployed safely, responsibly, and effectively to drive sustainable growth and operational excellence.”

Explore Fleet Advantage at ACT Expo

Fleet Advantage’s presence at ACT Expo offers fleet managers a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge AI technologies, discuss their Tariff-Readiness Plan, and understand how data-driven solutions are solving key industry challenges.

Click here to schedule a session with a Fleet Advantage executive or learn more about their strategies.

Source: The Trucker

The post Fleet Advantage Offers Complimentary Fleet Audits at ACT Expo 2025 appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Recognition of Excellence

Headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., MHC Truck Leasing has earned this distinguished title for the second time since receiving its first recognition in 2018. Serving 33 locations across 11 states, this franchise has paved the way for excellence since its partnership with PacLease began in 1982.

Ken Roemer, president of PACCAR Leasing, highlighted MHC Truck Leasing’s steadfast commitment to facility investments and operational efficiency as key factors behind their success. MHC continues to enhance their locations with modern upgrades and expanded service bays to accelerate vehicle servicing. Additionally, their fleet of 20 mobile service vehicles empowers them to service customers directly at their locations, bringing convenience and efficiency to the forefront.

Driven by Superior Customer Service

MHC’s success emphasizes more than just operational capabilities.

“Along with a commitment to facilities and operational excellence, MHC’s dedication to customer service has helped the group continue to thrive,” Roemer said. “They understand the value of offering programs tailored to their customers, backed by a service team that ensures exceptional uptime and driver satisfaction. This is a very well-deserved award for MHC.”

Recognizing Other Top Franchises

PacLease also applauded outstanding performers in other regions, highlighting excellence among its U.S., Canadian, and medium-duty franchises.

• The Pete Store Truck Leasing (Baltimore) took home the top honor for Peterbilt’s U.S. franchise.

• Kenworth Sales Company PacLease (Salt Lake City) was awarded Kenworth’s top U.S. franchise.

• PacLease Edmonton Kenworth received recognition as Canada’s Franchise of the Year, marking its third win for this accolade. Additionally, they were a previous North American Franchise honoree.

• Rush Truck Leasing earned the title of Medium Duty Franchise of the Year, thanks to impressive sales performance and extensive customer support.

“I can’t say enough about each of these franchises,” Roemer said. “They’re consistently recognized for their excellence that’s been upheld for years, and in some cases, decades.”

Milestones and Achievements

Each franchise recognized by PacLease exemplifies exceptional growth and commitment.

• The Pete Store Truck Leasing: With 18 locations along the East Coast, this franchise expanded by adding two more locations in the past year. “Their strong leadership has taken this franchise to another level,” remarked Roemer.

• Kenworth Sales Company PacLease: Operating across 19 locations in eight states, this long-standing franchise has been in business since 1945 and became a PacLease partner in 1997. “They do things the right way, with a dedicated focus on their customers, which is why they’ve been a top franchise many times in the past,” said Roemer.

• PacLease Edmonton Kenworth: A Canadian powerhouse, this franchise has been with PacLease since 1982 and has earned numerous accolades, including the 2024 Canadian Franchise of the Year award. “Their dedication to top-tier service and expertise with Kenworth products make them stand out,” noted Roemer.

• Rush Truck Leasing: With 36 locations spanning 10 states, Rush has built an impressive network. “They consistently provide top-quality coverage to ensure their customers receive the best possible service, and their growth is a testament to their superior commitment,” Roemer added.

The Road Ahead

These recognitions highlight the remarkable achievements of PacLease’s franchises, but the common thread among them is their dedication to service excellence and a customer-first approach.

With MHC Truck Leasing and other franchises setting the benchmark for excellence, PacLease’s network’s future looks brighter than ever.

Source: MHC
Source: The Trucker

The post MHC Truck Leasing Earns Title of PacLease 2024 North American Franchise of the Year appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Targeting Freight’s Largest-Impact Segment

Based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, NACFE has explained their decision to focus this Run on what they call the “messy middle.”

“We chose to focus this Run on the messy middle and specifically on long-haul, return-to-base, and over-the-road duty cycles because it is the largest emitting market segment and there is confusion surrounding it,” said Mike Roeth, NACFE’s executive director.

Set to take place in September, the event will highlight four distinct powertrain options—diesel, natural gas, battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel cells. Each powertrain type will be represented by three trucks from different fleets, offering valuable real-world data to help better understand the long-haul segment.

“By having trucks with a variety of powertrains, we will be able to capture real-world data and bring some clarity to the long-haul portion of the messy middle,” Roeth noted.

NACFE is actively working with fleets to select an accurate mix of participants to reflect current industry trends. The organization has announced that details about the selected fleets will be shared this spring, followed by on-site visits to each of the 12 fleet locations.

Leveraging Data to Drive Insights

For this Run, like previous ones, each participating truck will be equipped with Geotab telematics devices. Geotab, NACFE’s official data partner for Run on Less – Messy Middle, will enable the event to collect and analyze critical data.

The Run on Less website will also play a central role, featuring updated fleet profiles, video stories, and a dashboard tracking various metrics. Additionally, information and results from the prior four Runs will still be accessible through the site, allowing for comprehensive knowledge sharing.

Educational Bootcamp Series Kicks Off in February

Complementing the September event is a 13-session Bootcamp series, set to begin on Wednesday, February 11, at 1 p.m. EST, with sessions continuing every other week. The Bootcamp is designed to educate and engage industry professionals across various fuel technologies, including diesel, natural gas, battery-electric, and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Three sessions will specifically cover each powertrain type, followed by dedicated recap workshops. A concluding session will address additional fuel-efficiency technologies critical to the messy middle.

Rachel Ellenberger, NACFE’s industry engagement manager, expressed her enthusiasm for the Bootcamp program, saying, “The NACFE team has been hard at work over the last few months putting together stellar programming for the Run on Less – Messy Middle Bootcamp, and I’m excited to unveil it to our audience.”

She added, “This year’s Bootcamp will include the educational sessions we all know and love along with workshops designed to be more conversational and encourage further audience participation. The agenda is set, and we’re excited to continue to recruit engaging speakers who are talented storytellers in their corner of the industry. I’m looking forward to seeing you in February!”

Participants can register for the Bootcamp today, with ACT News, published by TRC Companies, assisting NACFE in coordinating the program mechanics.

Event Sponsors and Industry Backing

NACFE has already secured two major title sponsors for the upcoming Run—Cummins and Shell. Additional sponsors announced include Chevron, Clean Energy, The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Eaton, ExxonMobil, FlowBelow, Geotab, PepsiCo, Prologis, and TeraWatt.

“We are grateful to the Title and Event Sponsors that have stepped up so early in the process to help sponsor Run on Less – Messy Middle,” Roeth stated. “The Run is not possible without industry support, and we still need Executive, Title, Event and Supporter Sponsors.”

Don’t Miss Out on the Action

The Run on Less – Messy Middle is poised to be another groundbreaking initiative by NACFE, offering game-changing insights into how fleets can tackle emissions, operational efficiency, and a clearer path through the so-called “messy middle.”

Follow NACFE for updates on participants, sponsor additions, and insights from the Bootcamp! Don’t forget to register for the Bootcamp today and stay ahead of the curve in exploring innovative solutions for freight efficiency.

Source: The Trucker  

The post NACFE Shares Plans for Run on Less – Messy Middle and Educational Bootcamp appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.