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Why are on-the-job deaths of large-truck drivers on the rise?

Terri Williams Transportation Technology & Automotive

The number of large-truck drivers who died in a traffic fatality reached a record level in 2017 — the last year with complete data available. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, large-truck occupant fatalities in multiple-vehicle crashes increased by 28.5 percent from 2016. Large-truck occupant fatalities in single-vehicle crashes increased by 8.7 percent from 2016. This increase is the result of several factors. "Behavior is at the root of most safety failures," according to Brian Fielkow, CEO of Jetco Delivery, a trucking company based in Houston that has been praised for its safety record.

Infographic: How to create an effective business continuity plan

Gaetano DiNardi Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Let’s say your company is thriving. The amount of profits, clients, employees and even products are steadily increasing. Every moving component is working seamlessly, and you’re making a name for yourself in the city and industry. Everything is going so well that you should keep on keeping on, right? Not necessarily. Just because the business is flourishing in the present doesn’t mean everything is peachy keen. What would happen if a disaster, natural or otherwise, were to occur tomorrow?

Partial federal government shutdown ends but political impasse remains

Seth Sandronsky Civil & Government

Last Friday, President Trump signed a bill in effect through Feb. 15 that ends the 35-day partial federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. What is likely to or could happen over the next three weeks as border security talks between the president, GOP and Democrats proceed? What are the prospects for a resumed shutdown if both sides fail to reach a compromise? We turn to Frank Knapp, head of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce. "The (4.8 million) contract federal workers will not get any back pay," he said in an email to MultiBriefs.

The difference between the internet of things and the industrial internet…

Joseph Zulick Science & Technology

The internet of things is one of the most controversial topics of the current generation. People on one side of the debate think that it will bring forward a more ecofriendly and connected society, whereas people on the other side of the debate insist that it will mean data security will go lacking. While the internet of things will forever create a divide between security and connectivity, one of its branches is becoming the new talk of the town. The industrial internet of things is an equally controversial, yet interesting topic. For those who don’t know the difference between the two, here is a guide.

Negotiating commercial leases: Reduce your square footage

Dale Willerton and Jeff Grandfield Retail

For many commercial tenants, negotiating a good lease or lease renewal against an experienced agent or landlord can be a challenge. While an entrepreneur focuses on marketing and managing, savvy real estate agents and brokers are specialized salespeople. Their job is to sell tenants on leasing their location at the highest possible rental rate. Whether you are leasing a new location for the first time or negotiating a lease renewal for your business, here are two money-saving tips.

What happens after go-live?

Deborah Ike Business Management, Services & Risk Management

You've launched the new product or went live with the software upgrade. The team completed the mission. So, what happens next? Do you forget the work of the last several months and move on to the next project? That's the simplest thing to do since, after all, there's always another project to jump into. However, what about all the lessons the team learned along the way? You don't want to lose those and repeat the same mistakes with the next project.

Make your company’s email practices more effective than ever

Lisa Mulcahy Communications

Email — it's essential for your business, of course. But are you using it as productively as possible or is it actually taking away from your company's efficiency? From shaping email content to helping your employees deal with the onslaught from their inboxes, there are easy and effective strategies you can adopt so email further enhances your overall success throughout every single workday. Use these pieces of science-driven advice to whip your email system into shape today.

3 ways to better manage retail sales staffing

Catherine Iste Retail

The best business schools have always praised two things: efficiency and numbers. So, in retail, when sales go down, it makes sense to cut staff and hours, right? And from this "cut" mindset, we look for minimums: how few people do we need to stay open? What other costs can we cut to save money? Then, when we look at the bottom line, we see results from doing this and continue the same behaviors. However, this approach is not sustainable, and it excludes consideration of critical data that is less easy to measure but just as impactful on the bottom line.

Fire fast, even in an employee market

Catherine Iste Business Management, Services & Risk Management

Pay is up. Jobs are increasing. And the opportunities of the gig economy continue to unsettle traditional job paths. None of this changes the fact that it is better for culture, retention and the bottom line to fire fast. But how do we balance the imperative to fire fast with the more basic need to have staff? Here are a few tips on how to fire fast, even in an employee market.

Facility management staffing levels appear to be rising

Scott E. Rupp Facilities & Grounds

According to a new study released by FacilitiesNet, more facility managers have reported increases in capital and operating expense budgets in the last year, and there have been more increases in staffing than reported decreases. The data was gathered by Building Operating Management. The information came from facility managers representing a number of different building types, including corporate offices; colleges and universities; government, with breakdowns for federal, municipal, and state buildings; hospitality; K-12 schools; leased space; and healthcare facilities.

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