An Introduction to the RAIR Services and Business Philosophy
RAIR employs a very different and better approach to help companies manage the risks that are so inherent in the transportation industry. RAIR strongly believes that our company can help resolve many of these risks with programs that have been designed to assist carriers in managing the many problem areas of compliance with the federal rules. And, managing these risks ultimately leads to a safer company.
CSA 2010, Driver Log Auditing, Driver Qualification File Management and DVIR Program Management can create a volume of documents that are difficult for even the smallest transportation company to audit and manage. Companies who use the RAIR services have found that they have far more time to devote to their primary role of managing the safety of both their drivers and trucks with greater efficiency; and many times with less people and for less money.
What makes RAIR Such a Very Different (and better) Company?
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The ASP (Application Service Provider) Model
RAIR uses the ASP application as the basis for its document management services. In an “ASP” model, all work performed on documents is done centrally by our company. A client carrier is required to do no more than get the documents to us in any way convenient for the carrier. Since all audits or any other work performed for a client is done at RAIR there is never a need to purchase hardware, software or buy licenses – and all documents are available on the internet 24/7/365 and may be accessed from any computer with the proper identification codes from anywhere in the world.
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Processing documents with both speed and accuracy
RAIR deals with an enormous number of documents daily. Like some other companies, RAIR uses both OCR (optical character recognition) and IR (image recognition) to assist in auditing these documents. However, those of us who use this technology know that its accuracy has limits and there is no way that it can ever be a complete solution to reading and auditing documents. Then how does RAIR return less than 2% of all documents as unreadable when other companies return 20-30% of documents as unreadable? And, how does RAIR have a proven accuracy rate of 99.99% of all documents read? The answer is simple: When there is any question about the accuracy or the readability of any document in the RAIR system, a person actually looks at the document. Other companies are unwilling to invest either the time or the money to ensure the accuracy of the documents that are returned to the client.
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Transferring Your Documents to RAIR
You may transfer your documents to RAIR in almost any format that is convenient. Many carriers use a combination of methods. For example, a company may use truck stop scanning, in-office or terminal scanning, U.S. mail or any package delivery service (e.g. FedEx). Truck stop scanning has become increasingly popular as carriers try to get other important documents (e.g. Bills of Lading) to them quickly. Most log documents contain identifying marks (e.g. a bar code) that allows the log to be segregated to a separate folder when received. RAIR provides a software program (at no charge) that allows RAIR to simply “pick up” the logs electronically. Other carriers may use other methods of forwarding their logs. RAIR will work closely with any new client to make sure that the transfer of the log images meets the individual method most convenient for the client. If a carrier elects to mail the logs to us, RAIR scans them into its system at no charge. While we prefer not to have log images faxed, we can even handle those (it is a little more difficult for us). However, a “pdf” format is perfectly acceptable. In short – Just get us the documents and we can take it from there.
The Driver Qualification File auditing program requires a carrier to get the files to us in any way convenient to them. A carrier can simply box the files and send them to us. We will scan them at RAIR or if the files are contained in any electronic format, RAIR will take the data and reformat it so that it can be used in our system. Again, just get us the files and we will do the rest!
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Customer Service – Real Customer Service!
Every company tells every potential client that they have excellent customer service. Customer Service is not something that a customer can really know until that customer needs it –and then finds out that most of the claims that were made are simply not true. At RAIR, it is a true dedication and the pillar on which our entire company has been built. RAIR does not have an electronic answering service. Every client who calls the company will find that a real person answers the phone. But it goes well beyond that at RAIR. Each client is given a Customer Service Representative (CSR), who is their personal contact with our company. The CSR’s have their own direct dial number so that they can be reached directly at any time. If your CSR happens to be on the telephone, RAIR guarantees a return call within one hour. Even the e-signature lines of its executives list all numbers, including their home telephone numbers, so that they can be reached by a client 24/7/365.
In this electronic age many problems are handled by e-mail. But, there are times when nothing can replace the one-on-one contact with a person who knows who you are, who your company is and can handle a problem directly without the “blizzard” of e-mails that sometimes occur in order to get a problem solved. The service levels available at RAIR are what make us so very different from the other companies that try to offer the same service. Ask any of our present clients what they like best about RAIR, and many will tell you about the unparalleled customer service offered by our company.
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Data Analysis
RAIR accumulates vast amounts of data from its Driver Log Auditing Program, Driver Qualification File Auditing Program and its DVIR (Driver Vehicle Inspection Record) Auditing Program. Whether our clients participate in a single one of RAIR’s program offerings or in any combination of them, this data is subject to analysis that provides invaluable information regarding the trends that can become obvious when looking at an analysis of this incredibly large data base. For example, a 100-person company generates approximately 18,000 logs in a six-month period. Analysis of this data can provide insights into problems that a company may have with its drivers, their logs, their Driver Qualification Files or DVIR’s that would not become apparent unless the data was carefully scrutinized to pick up trends that are occurring.
This database is so large that an analysis (never using specific company names) has been used by the American Trucking Association (ATA) in its discussions with the government about impending changes in the rules and regulations regarding our industry. We cannot stress too much the importance to your company of these analyses. It becomes increasingly important to review this data as CSA 2010 is initiated. From HOS documentation using the Driver Log Auditing Program to all of the information contained in our Driver Qualification File auditing program, to DVIR’s – all may be reviewed by the new CSA 2010 program initiative.
RAIR has now taken our knowledge of the industry and its ability to analyze large masses of data to carefully construct a program of real solutions to help carriers avoid the penalties, interventions and the ultimate threat of being labeled as “unsafe” by the DOT and FMCSA. Please see the program on the website that specifically addresses this important issue.