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 [...]
The electronic logging device (ELD) mandate has warped the perception of telematics for many fleets. Some are coming to view telematics and ELDs as synchronized technology, but this isn’t the case. While ELDs do provide telematics data, telematics uses go beyond hours of service (HOS) compliance. The trouble is getting the industry to realize this. [...]
Truck drivers sacrifice a lot by spending so much time on the road. They are away from their families, often work alone, and work unusual hours to meet shipping demands. This can result in exhaustion, anxiety, and fatigue. With fleets focusing so much on driver safety, they sometimes overlook their drivers’ health. Of course, fleets [...]
Safety is what keeps fleets thriving in today’s competitive environment. However, even though safety is every fleets’ number one priority, the rate of fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles has steadily increased since 2009. The reason why is obvious: a booming economy. As the economy recovered from the recession in 2008, more people starting ordering goods, [...]
Improving fleet safety is a top priority for fleet managers. When a fleet imbues itself with a culture of safety, drivers are less prone to taking risks and accident rates decrease. A fleet’s overall safety also affects its Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) score, so it behooves drivers and managers alike to adhere to best safety [...]
Now that school is in full swing across the nation, truck drivers need to adjust to the increased traffic and congestion on the roads. In addition, they also need to remain vigilant and keep an eye out for school buses, teenage drivers, and children walking to and from school. The following are several suggestions for [...]
When various agencies within the Department of Transportation (DOT) release their driver safety reports, they often pull their findings from accident statistics. Their intent is to inform fleet managers of the leading causes of accidents so they can gear their safety policies toward addressing the top risks. The most common risky driver behaviors reported include: [...]
Trucking consistently tops the charts for one of the most dangerous jobs in America. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), police reported 475,000 accidents involving large trucks in 2016. Of those, 104,000 resulted in injuries and 3864 resulted in fatalities. However, while driving commercial vehicles comes with several risks, it’s also a [...]
Fleets have a lot to consider when it comes to vehicle specifications. While all drivers want to be comfortable in their cab, there are numerous other aspects to take into account. Safety, fuel economy, and vehicle performance are all important, but fleets need to make smart choices for their trucks. Making fleet trucks more comfortable [...]