Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/630225
12 www.studentdriverplacement.com February '16 engine with a 10-speed automated manual transmission. Smith says Modern is the fi rst tanker fl eet – and one of only two fl eets in the nation – to have a natural gas-powered trac- tor with a 6×2 tag axle confi guration. The Super Diesel can achieve 8 mpg when pulling empty trail- ers, and 7.5 mpg overall. While the CNG- and LNG-powered trucks get the diesel equivalent of 6 mpg, they release half of the carbon and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, Cozzens says. The testing also includes a new spec for tank trailers with an auto- matic lift axle; this forward trailer axle applies more pressure to the wheels on the ground when loaded. Besides using its data warehouse to analyze the fuel effi ciency of this new equipment, management is looking at other cost-saving benefi ts by using this equipment across the fl eet to extend tire life, Smith says. Gaining deeper insights The data warehouse has proven to be a valuable tool for Modern to build its culture of innovation. "We challenge ourselves to get better ev- ery month, every quarter and every year," Cozzens says. "Without that data, you are not able to do that." Management is able to monitor the profi tability for every tractor, trailer and driver by doing projected weekly closings of the company's fi nancial reports to make faster and smarter decisions in near real time, he says. One critical measure to maximize fl eet profi tability is payload weight. As a bulk carrier, Modern bills cus- tomers by weight and holds manag- ers and drivers accountable. A daily report shows the opportunity costs for drivers who did not fi ll tankers to maximum capacity at quarries and other loading points. Another example of harnessing data is predicting freight seasonality. Modern is determining freight pat- terns and lane volumes to proactive- ly reassign equipment and drivers to different locations. Tools Trucking Patrick Cozzens, president of Modern Transportation