While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) electronic logging device (ELD) mandate has been in effect since December 2017, not everyone is compliant yet. Drivers operating a vehicle equipped with an automatic onboard recording device (AOBRD) have until December 2019 to implement an approved ELD. Many other drivers fall under exemptions as well; however, [...]
Since introducing the electronic logging device (ELD) regulation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has experienced pushback from independent drivers and fleets alike. However, when looking closely at their concerns, the problem lies more with the existing hours of service (HOS) regulations rather than the ELDs themselves. FMCSA requested comments regarding this issue, and [...]
The holiday season is in full swing and traffic won’t slow down for several more weeks. With more consumers making online purchases, stores are deploying additional trucks to keep up with delivery demands. The increased congestion isn’t the only safety concern on the roads, however. Wintry weather creates snowy and icy conditions, increasing the likelihood [...]
Fleet managers are always looking for ways to improve driver safety and many of them rely on telematics to do so. However, while having the data is useful, combining it with outward facing cameras provides the visual component required to take safety initiatives to the next level. Many drivers’ initial reactions to having a camera [...]
Trucking companies rely on their vehicles and their drivers to remain in business. This puts safety high on the priority list as unsafe habits can damage fleet vehicles, injure drivers, and hurt the company’s reputation. Of course, implementing changes that produce measurable results can be difficult. Fleet managers can’t be with each driver every moment [...]
Truck driving can be an isolating job, and a large number of drivers experience the effects of depression. Other issues contributing to the problem include long hours and uncomfortable working conditions. The fact that truck driving falls among the top eight professions likely to commit suicide underscores this issue. What often starts as burnout can [...]
Fleet owners have many questions regarding integrating GPS technology. While software updates and installing hardware may take some technical experience, their primary concern usually focuses on how to tell truck drivers about the change. While many fleet owners invest in GPS tracking to improve safety, efficiency, and accountability, many drivers take the stance that their [...]
It’s no secret that traffic congestion is getting worse. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released their annual study on traffic congestion across the nation and reported a 0.5% increase in traffic from 2015 to 2016. To put a dollar amount to it, traffic congestion cost the trucking industry $74.5 billion dollars in 2016. It [...]
When a text message alert pings a driver’s phone, the impulse to pick it up and read it is automatic. However, that brief glance away from the road can prove lethal for the drivers who earn their living behind the wheel. Texting while driving is bad enough for passenger vehicles; however, for drivers operating large [...]
In the trucking industry, the most common source of accidents is backing up a long tractor-trailer. The maneuver is difficult and takes years of practice to do well. Even veteran drivers struggle with reversing long tractor-trailers; however, this doesn’t mean fleets have to accept accidents as unavoidable. The damage and related costs of reversing accidents [...]