Confessions of a Courier: Guard Dog on Duty

As a courier company open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, we interact with all types of people at many different locations whether it be a home, or a business. 

We have a driver named Jason that has been delivering to a particular client for years. Every time Jason has gone inside this client’s office, he sees a small dog that belongs to the receptionist. This dog has always been very friendly and he has never even heard the dog bark. One day Jason received an order and he was very familiar with the pickup since he had done it before. He rushed over because he knew this client always orders direct service which means your order should be picked up and delivered within one hour and forty five minutes to two hours in the Greater Los Angeles area.

Jason arrived at the location, said hi to the receptionist and walked around to see if the dog was there. He came to find out that the little dog he was familiar with had been replaced by a new dog. He tried to be friendly with the new dog, but as he approached the dog, it started to bark loudly and chased him around the front reception area. The receptionist kept telling him he doesn’t bite, but Jason wasn’t too sure since the dog was not being friendly and was jumping up at him.

Jason grabbed the package and quickly walked towards the door. As the receptionist put the dog on a leash, she assured him that the dog never gets like this with anyone.  Jason just felt lucky he had got his package and got back to his car to deliver unharmed. He wondered where the other friendly dog had gone after all these years. Guess the dog though Jason was the mailman.

Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany Michaels

Thank You Facebook Fans!

We officially hit 150 "likes" this week on Facebook!

We want to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to like our page. We're glad you're a part of our Facebook community of family, friends, employees and more! We hope you keep coming back to check out the new content we post and stay up to date on the latest news for couriers and the transportation industry.

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Keep Truckin

-Tiffany Michaels

2013 Global Courier and Delivery Services Report is in!

The Global Courier and Delivery Services Report from IBISWorld for 2013 is in!

The report explores new trends in the industry and forecasts the next 5 years. It expresses the "stagnant growth" of the past 5 years due to the recession in 2009, but shows a positive outlook on the future, including a 1.4% increase in revenue per year.

Couriers deliver various items like boxes, packages, letters, and many more. The increase in e-commerce is good news for the courier industry, according to the report. It will benefit all delivery services including the smaller companies by the increased demand for goods utilizing quick courier services. The fuel costs will start to level out as well, which is good for both suppliers and consumers.

Read the report here

 

 

 

Keep Truckin'

 

-Tiffany Michaels

2013 Supply Chain & Logistics Predictions

2013 is here! We want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! In light of the New Year, we are going to look at Supply Chain and Logistics Predictions for 2013.

There is always a lot going on in the logistics and supply chain industry that affect the driver community. Some key things to look out for in 2013 are:

1. Automation (robots/machines) will take the place of the human force in areas like inventory and the driverless car.

2. Same-day delivery will be a priority for all companies, online and physical stores.

3. More companies will start using alternative fuel vehicles such as hybrids, electric and natural gas.

4. Transportation Management. In the courier, trucking, warehouse and messenger business this means making sure we optimize travel costs as much as possible.

We wish you  a happy, healthy new year!

Keep on Truckin

-Tiffany Michaels

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Happy New Years!

As 2012 is coming to a close, all of us at 247 Delivers want to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy New Years. We wish you all the best for 2013!

AAA is offering free rides/tows to make sure you and your car get home safe. Call 1-800-400-4222 and tell them you need a Tipsy Tow! Have fun & be safe! 

Happy New Years!

Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany

FMCSA's New Entry Level Driver Training Rule

Being a trucking company in Los Angeles, we know that driving a truck takes a lot of practice and training.The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants to get thoughts and ideas on entry level driver training for commercial vehicles. Since the current highway bill passed a few months ago, the FMCSA needs to come up with entry-level driver training (ELDT) provisions by October of 2013.

“FMCSA will have to put in place a rule that will result not in drivers just trained to the CDL exam, but who are developed to be truly qualified to manage the real-world challenges faced when operating a truck out on the road." - David Heller of the Truckload Carriers Association

The FMCSA will hold a listening session January 7 for 9-11 and 2-4 in NC to gather ideas from the public on what ELDT rules should be in place. There will be a webcast as well as other opportunities online to give your opinion. Visit www.fmcsa.dot.gov for more information.

Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany Michaels

Read the original article here.

L.A. Auto Show: Going Green

A better fuel economy is a reoccurring theme at the L.A. Auto Show this year. This is good news for messengers in Los Angeles. The different car manufacturers, including the luxury brands, are all showcasing their new ideas and innovations to go green and get you the best mileage. 

Here are some of the cars unveiled so far in the "green" category:




1. Ford Fusion - Green Car of the Year
The newly designed 2013 model offers 3 fuel efficient options: gas, hybrid and plug-in Energi.



2. Toyota Prius c
The Toyota Prius still dominates the hybrid market. They rolled out a smaller model, The Prius c, which gets an estimated 53 mpg, the highest of any non-electric vehicle on the market. It is also equipped with many tech-savvy features making it America's favorite hybrid.


3. BMW i3 Concept
This is a high-end electric car. It's projected range is about 100 miles. BMW offers home charging stations, apps that locate public charging stations and other forms of public transportation such as a new car-sharing service.

"The models getting attention in L.A. are diverse in price and style. They reflect the demands of consumers who spend an inordinate amount of time on the road and want better fuel efficiency without compromising performance, seamless digital connectivity and at least the promise of a car that runs on electricity and is fun to drive." 

- Joseph White of the Wall Street Journal

The L.A. Auto show is open now through December 19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany Michaels

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Cyber Monday

We hope everyone had a nice, long holiday weekend with the family and are ready to go back to work. Today is Cyber Monday. It started back in 2005 and is the busiest on-line shopping day of the year. About 129 million Americans are predicted to make a purchase today with a projected $1.5 billion in sales! Almost 15% of sales will be done right from the customers smartphone.

Here is a list of a few Cyber Monday deals we've put together just for you:

Electronics
Amazon
Miscellaneous

Happy Shopping Everyone!! 

Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and we wanted to share what we are thankful for. We are thankful for our family and friends, our health, the wonderful people we work with, and YOU, our client.

Do something nice for somebody without them knowing. Tell your family you love them just because. It's the season of giving. Give love and thanks.

What are you thankful for?

Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany

IBM Announces their Innovative Traffic Detection System

A new innovative technology may help cut down on all that heavy traffic, which is great news to the transportation industry in Los Angeles. IBM teamed up with Lyon, France and announced today that they are working on a technology that both anticipates and detects traffic jams and decreases the impact they have on drivers.

This new system is called “Decision Support System Optimizer” or DSSO. It detects incidents and provides the best decisions for smooth, continuous traffic flow, like clearing the way for oncoming ambulances using traffic lights. They system can also estimate drive times and allows for continuous improvement. 

“Piloting this analytics technology will help the city anticipate and avoid many traffic jams before they happen, and lessen their impact on citizens," said Gerard Collomb, Lyon’s mayor. “Using the data that we are collecting to make more informed decisions will help us to promote about how to resolve unexpected traffic events, and optimize public transportation.”

TRAFFIC JAM!

Do you think this new traffic system would have a positive impact on our current traffic situation?

Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany Michaels

Confessions of a Courier: Deer in the Headlights

The holidays are finally here! This is the busiest time of year in the courier industry. Everyone is in a hurry during the holidays and it gets dark earlier, so drivers have to be especially careful and alert. Last year, one of our drivers had an animal encounter he would never forget.

This time last year, a driver received an order picking up in the Hollywood Hills at 7 P.M. coming back to Santa Monica. By this time, it was dark and cold outside. The driver hurried up to the door to pick up the package and wanted to get back to his car quickly because it was freezing up there in the hills. The client made some small talk but realized the driver was cold and let him go on his way.

On the way back to the car, the driver thought he heard something in the bushes. He assumed it was just a dog or the wind. He got into his car quickly and as he was pulling out he noticed that it was not a house pet, it was a baby deer! He reached for his phone to take a picture, but he was too late, the deer had already scurried away. 

Happy Holidays and Keep on Truckin’.

-Tiffany Michaels

Positive Growth for the Same Day Delivery Industry

Things are looking up for the Same Day Delivery Insdustry, servicing the supply chain. A recent study reported by the Messenger and Courier Association of America (MCAA) stated their is an increased demand by consumers to have their service right away. It also states that small businesses dominate this industry.

Two-thirds of those who participated in the survey work for a company with 100 or less employees. 9 out of 10 respondents said their business models utilizes independent contractors. Almost half of the respondents reported revenues between $1-5 million and reported being in business over 20 years.

The study showed positive growth for both revenue and profitability. “Fifty-eight percent of our members told us that their revenue was either much better or better today than it was a year ago,” said Rob Johnstone, MCAA’s president.

Overall, the outlook is good for both the courier and trucking industry and small businesses.

“This survey paints a picture of an industry that is made up of companies that have strength, flexible and longevity on their side.  It showcases the critical role these small businesses continue to play in the evolution of the supply chain, both locally and globally,” concludes Johnstone.

Read more here:       Press Release      Industry Survey 

Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany Michaels

Hurricane Sandy: Helping Those In Need

Please join us in supporting those affected by Hurricane Sandy by donating to the American Red Cross today. The American Red Cross is providing overnight shelter, meals, hygiene kits and more to those in need. Our courier company came together to support those on the East Coast, and we urge you to give back to those in need. 

Click here to donate.

Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany Michaels

Go With The Flow of Traffic

I read an article in the Wall Street Journal a couple weeks ago that I found interesting. Street signs are often very confusing and unclear. The article explained some possible innovations for street signs and signals to make delivery driving and sharing the road with bicycles a little easier.






One of the possible innovations it covered was having a separate turning light for bicycles. This would allow cyclists to go in any direction without having to yield to traffic. Another cyclist-centered idea was a small blue light that would let the cyclist know when he had triggered the light censor in the ground that turns the light green.










One of the innovations for drivers include animated timers at crosswalks, where the walking man moves quicker as the time left to cross the street decreases. Another is a new technology still in its developmental stage which would detect cars on a wireless network for real-time traffic alerts such as approaching traffic or the car in front of you braking. This would make driving as a courier in Los Angeles safer and more practical.






These and many more are further explained in this article from the Wall Street Journal, Singals Ahead.

Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany Michaels

Smart Cap Fatigue Monitoring System For The Trucking Industry

Last week we reported about the affects fatigue has on drivers. It is in the top ten factors that cause major accidents in the trucking industry. EdanSafe, an Australian company has invented the SmartCap. The SmartCap is a hat with sensors and a removable electronic card that measures fatigue by monitoring brain wave activity. It then reports it via wireless to an in-cab touchscreen system or to any Bluetooth enabled device. A visual and audible alarms will activate if the levels become unsafe.

The SmartCap has a lot of perks compared to other products. It looks like a baseball cap, so its comfortable to wear and its washable and waterproof. Also, it reads the brain wave (EEG) information through the hair, so no scalp preparation is necessary. The system automatically knows when the cap is off and will update in the system within 15 minutes.

SmartCap was field tested earlier this year and is now available commercially. Do you think this could be useful in same day delivery?

Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany

Confessions of a Courier: Halloween Edition

The holiday season has finally arrived! I can’t believe Halloween is already next week. Decorating for Halloween is always fun; whether you’re in it for the tricks or the treats. Our office is decked out with spiders, cobwebs and spooky decor.

Last Tuesday started off a little slower, which is a nice break from the fast-paced delivery in Los Angeles our drivers are used to. One of our drivers started with a few orders in the morning and as the day went on, it picked up. At that point, he was just going in and out of buildings dropping off and picking up packages, going with the flow and getting his job done at a steady pace.

 He got an order picking up a package on the lot at a building he had never been before. As he entered he could tell it was an old building going through renovations. He was picking up on the 3^rd floor and he decided to take the stairs.

 As the driver walked up the stairs, he looked at the time and was happy to see he was almost off and this was probably his last run. It had been a long day for him. He made it to the 3^rd floor, dropped off the package and when he turned around he couldn't believe what he saw, it made his whole body shiver. An alien figure about his size was sitting in one of the chairs!

He just stood there for a second when the receptionist asked him, “Are you OK? ” He just smiled and said, “Yeah, I’m fine. But that alien looks real!”  She said “You’re not the first person we've scared today.” 

Happy Halloween everybody!

Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany

The Facts About Trucker Fatigue

Being a driver for the trucking industry, you spend most of your time on the road. There have been numerous studies over the years to determine whether or not fatigue played a major issue in trucker related accidents. Accidents are a huge issue that costs many lives and its important to look at the facts to work toward lowering those statistics.

While fatigue may be a contributing factor, it is hard to isolate. "We have often been told by self-appointed 'experts' that fatigue is the leading cause of truck-involved crashes, and this report clearly demonstrates that is not true," said Bill Graves, ATA president & CEO. "While every crash on our nation's highways is a tragedy - particularly those that involve serious injuries or fatalities - the first step toward reducing crashes is being honest about what causes them."

By law you are permitted to drive up to 11 hours before having to take a rest. Studies show a steep incline in fatigue after the 11th hour. The report stated that 30-40% of all fatal trucking accidents were due to fatigue. That number is skewed due to the fact that there was always more than one contributing factor. Some other contributing factors are unsafe speeds, aggressive driving, and the use of drugs/alcohol. All of these areas should be addressed and improved on in order to promote safe driving and delivery.

Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany

Confessions of a Courier: Running on Empty

As a courier company, we have many different clients with different needs. Quick courier service in the Los Angeles entertainment industry is not always easy. Many of our clients have deadlines to meet and need direct service, while other are in no hurry so they use the 4 hour service. We also offer round-trip service. The tricky part is when the client calls near the end of the day with a strict deadline.

One driver told me a story of one of his experiences with round-trip service. It was 2:30 P.M. and the driver got a run sent to him and it was a round trip to pick up some documents to be signed and brought back with a deadline of 4 P.M and a total of 40 miles! It was going to be close, but from where he was at he was pretty sure he could meet the deadline. 

He arrived at the pick-up location and was in and out with the documents in no time. He heads toward the second location and gets stuck in some traffic, which was to be expected anywhere you drive in L.A.

He arrived at the second location, brought in the papers and waited for them to be signed and returned. As he was walking out he realized that it was 3:30 P.M. and he had to hurry if he was going make the 4 P.M. deadline. 

Less than 5 miles away, he realizes his tank is on empty and he has no idea how long he has been on empty. He only has 10 minutes to get there so he doesn’t have time to stop for gas if he wants to be on time. A few blocks away the car starts to slow down and by luck he makes it there with a few minutes to spare running out of gas right in front of the destination. He ran in to deliver the package and came back out to call AAA. He got lucky but learned his lesson to check his gas before he leaves and not to risk driving on an empty tank. 

Farewell to The American Driver

Today we want to pay our respects to Fred Schaffner, known from his work with The American Driver. He was always a part of the politics surrounding the trucking industry. In 2008, he was a part of the group of drivers who went to protest high prices of diesel gas in Washington, D.C. Fred was a part of the team who brought on the Energy Producting Act of 2008.

Fred was well known  as a a true "driver advocate" and a prominent voice through social media. He started off as the Administrator of the "True Patriots Stand Together" Facebook page to buying a radio network in Texas to speak out as an advocate for the American driver. 

Fred at the first annual Truck Driver Social Media convention. 

"Fred Schaffner believed in drivers' rights and standing together to make positive changes to the industry." - The Examiner

One of Fred's infamous sayings was "Stand up, speak out or accept what comes."

Join us here to join in the conversation: Facebook
Keep on Truckin'

-Tiffany

The 411 on 247 Delivers

247 Delivers, Inc. was founded in 1972 in North Hollywood. The next 25 years or so were spent building the foundation of the company.

In 1998, 247 Delivers started acquiring other courier companies. Pacific Express was the first company we merged with. Through the years we have also joined forces with All-on-time, Kev's courier, KQ courier, Covenant courier, and M&M courier.

We moved to a 500 square foot office in North Hollywood in 1998. We started growing and within two years, we moved to a 5,000 sq foot location. By 2002 we had to relocate again to a 7,000 square foot facility.

In 2004, we added a Santa Monica location, and in 2006 we added another location on the Paramount lot.
In 2009 we moved our home office and warehouse to a 10,000 square foot location, and here we are.