The Impact of CSA 2010 Metrics on Profitability of Motor Carriers

Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA) 2010 was launched in the third quarter of 2010 by the FMCSA despite the extreme trepidation of the motor carrier industry. The main focus of the new rules was to track seven metrics and make some of them publicly available to encourage carriers to hire safer drivers. This article examines the impact of CSA 2010 metrics on the profitability of motor carriers. In other words, is it more beneficial to adhere to all rules or break some of the rules and pay the fines when you are caught? The costs of poor CSA 2010 metrics could include other costs such as lost sales because the data is publicly available for most of the metrics calculated. Results of the analysis reveal that worse numbers on several metrics are related to worse performance on some aspect of financial performance, and vehicle maintenance violations are related to worse financial performanc

U.S. motor carrier hours of service regulations: Their impact on carrier profitability and productivity

This paper discusses the history of hours of service regulations for U.S. motor carriers and investigates the changes to individual carrier profitability and productivity from the last major change to those regulations in 2003. The results of the analysis indicate that operating ratio worsened and sales per employee improved, and return on assets and return on equity were unchanged due to hours of service changes. The implications of these results given the recent changes to hours of service regulations in 2011 are also discussed

U.S. Federal Regulations and Motor Carrier Profitability

This study explores the impact of recent federal regulations, such as Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA) 2010, Hours of Service Changes, Environmental Regulations, and electronic logbooks on motor carrier profitability. Quarterly data from 2004–2015 from U.S. publicly traded motor carriers isused to estimate the temporal trends on various financial ratios after controlling for general economic and carrier specific characteristics. Results of the analysis reveal that motor carrier profitability was declining between 2004 and 2009 but has been improving since that time

The relationship between measures of operations efficiency and financial success of truckload motor carriers: An empirical analysis

This research paper examines the statistical relationship between clay to day performance and effi­ ciency measures and financial performance in the motor carrier industry. Key findings are that carriers with more miles per tractor per year, a larger average length of haul, more revenue per mile, and more revenue per tractor per week tend to perform better financially as measured in three separate models by operating ratio, return on assets, or return on equity. Unexpectedly, for the eight publicly traded carriers included in the analysis, there was a negative relationship between empty mile percentage and financial performance, indicating that carriers with a higher empty mile percentage have better financial perfor­ mance. Possible explanations for these counterintuitive results could be due to a focus on better cus­ tomer service or driver satisfaction causing slight increases in empty miles. Therefore the increased costs resulting from empty miles could be offset by higher revenue or decreased costs in other aspects of the operation. These results suggest that managers should focus not on minimizing empty miles but rather on keeping them within an acceptable range

Trends in Manufacturing Inventory Efficiency: 1980-2013

This study was motivated by Cooke’s 2013 article questioning the inclusion on inventory carrying costs in CSCMP’s Annual State of Logistics Report since it is based on interest rates. This paper explores that question more fully and goes on to look at trends in inventory efficiency based on inventory turnover for U.S. manufacturing firms. Results of the study reveal that there has been a level trend between 1980 and 2013 after firm size is controlled for. Since these results are contradictory to those obtained by looking at inventory carrying costs as a percent of GDP, they suggest the need for a measure which controls for interest rate to be included in the State of Logistics Report

Cerulean Warbler (\u3cem\u3e Dendroica cerulea \u3c/em\u3e Breeding Ecology and Habitat Selection, Initial Response to Forest Management, and Association with Anthropogenic Disturbances in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee

The objectives of this research were to (1) assess the pre-treatment conditions on Royal Blue and Sundquist Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) in terms of Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) habitat selection, territory density, and nest survival, (2) summarize the initial response of cerulean nest-site habitat selection, territory density, and nest survival to silvicultural treatments, and (3) to examine the relationship between anthropogenic disturbances and cerulean abundance and occurrence in the Cumberland Mountains. Cerulean Warblers consistently selected territories and nest sites that differed from the available habitat in 2005 and 2006. Specifically, ceruleans on Royal Blue tended to choose areas with larger trees that provided more overstory cover with more vines whereas ceruleans on Sundquist selected for more open conditions. This variation may be driven by the current habitat conditions on Royal Blue and Sundquist WMA. There were consistently more cerulean territories on Royal Blue than Sundquist. Cerulean Warbler nest survival during 2005 and 2006 was affected by temporal (year and nest stage) and habitat-related factors. Cerulean micro-site selection within the nest tree appeared to be linked to nest survival. The study plots on Royal Blue and Sundquist WMAs were subjected to either a modified-shelterwood, shelterwood, or single-tree selection treatment; one plot per site was a control. Each treated plot on Sundquist gained at least one territory after the harvest; the treated plots on Royal Blue maintained the same number of territories. Nest success was lower in 2007 than in 2005; nest site selection did not differ between years. Continued study is needed to examine the effect of the silvicultural treatments on cerulean habitat selection, territory density and nest survival over time. Cerulean Warbler abundance and occurrence did not change with distance from the edge of clearcuts, mines, and older successional disturbances. These findings suggest that the current configuration of forest and edge habitat in the Cumberland Mountains may not have a significant effect on cerulean distribution. We do not know whether habitat quality in terms of fecundity differs between edge and interior forests. This is an important research need as the Cumberland Mountains become more fragmented by human development

Reinforcing the Teach-Back Method for Nurses Providing Stroke Patient Education

Literature indicates an opportunity to improve the stroke patient education experience. Enhancing stroke education for nurses is a method by which the patient education experience may be improved. The purpose of the problem-solving project is to provide educational sessions for nurses who have experience in caring for stroke patients and who have received prior education on utilization of the teach-back method. Analysis of the problem solving project helps gain understanding of what demographic factors play a role in nurses’ perceived usefulness of the teaching session. Identifying common demographic factors of nurses’ perceived usefulness will allow nurse educators to direct education efforts toward those groups which demonstrate a lack of understanding regarding the topic presented. The problem solving project was guided by the conceptual framework of Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory

Warning Times and Impact Predictions of Asteroids and Comets on a Collision Course with Earth

This study investigates the amount of data and time necessary to accurately predict Earth impacts of Earth Crossing Objects (ECOs). Trajectories are simulated by numerically integrating in an N-Body system. Given final impact parameters, the trajectory is propagated backwards to an earlier time, creating initial conditions and simulated observation data at requested intervals to which Gaussian random noise is introduced. Utilizing a Bayes Filter to estimate position and velocity from the simulated observation data, the estimate is then propagated forward in time to determine whether or not an impact can be accurately predicted. State vectors and covariance matrices are then propagated to the impact time and the one sigma error ellipsoid is analyzed